The main event for UFC 200 has been changed once again, the third swap and second in an as many days with Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt now set to go second from last after they were fired into the main event by the UFC.
The original main event was Daniel Cormier vs Jon Jones but after Jones was popped by USADA for a potential substance violation, the UFC took the fight off the card and promoted WWE Superstar Brock Lesnar in the top spot with his opponent Mark Hunt.
UFC yesterday night took the decision to get the main event off the WWE contracted Lesnar, and giving it to Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes who will fight for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight title. The women’s position on this pay-per-view is pretty much equivalent to WWE giving the WWE Women’s title the last spot on the card at a WrestleMania.
Randy Orton will be returning to the ring and will be facing Brock Lesnar at this year’s SummerSlam. The announcement was made yesterday on Smackdown in a segment which was inserted in post-production.
Orton has been out of action since late September 2015 and had to undergo shoulder surgery. His recovery took longer than expected and by the time he steps into the ring against Lesnar it will be 11 months since he last wrestled on WWE television.
Lesnar will also be having his first WWE match in quite a few months. He last wrestled Dean Ambrose at WrestleMania 32.
The direction for this match will probably be dependent on the outcome of Brock’s fight against Mark Hunt tomorrow at UFC 200, a fight which WWE did not mention at all on Smackdown when announcing Orton as Lesnar’s opponent for SummerSlam.
Thursday Night Smackdown TV Report for July 7th, 2016
Introduction Segment: Video Promos and Welcoming
The Club – A.J. Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson – are discussing backstage. They will give their thoughts on Enzo Amore and Big Cass teaming up with John Cena. Chris Jericho is talking to himself about Sami Zayn, and Sami discusses beating Jericho in their match later tonight. Seth Rollins arrives and meets Jey Uso. He makes jokes about The Uso’s family, and they end up going for a match tonight!
The regular Smackdown video plays, the pyro explodes in the arena, and Mauro Ranallo greets us!
Match #1: Single – Jey Uso VS. Seth Rollins
Prior to this contest, WWE Champion Dean Ambrose cuts off JoJo, the ring announcer. He decides to take over that job since he is the WWE Champion. Dean introduces Jey properly, and of course, makes fun of Rollins.
Jey begins quick with a hip-toss and armlock, but Seth gets out and kicks at Jey in the corner. He whips Jey into the other one, but Uso stops on his own momentum and gives Rollins a backdrop. “The Architect” counters with a boot and a backdrop/backbreaker combo. Dean talks over everyone, plugging WWE Shop, which distracts Seth and allows Jey to roll him for a near-fall!
Rollins goes to confront Ambrose, but is put back in the ring by Jey and given a crossbody for another close one! Uso follows with a dive to the outside, and Dean continues to stay on the mike, calling for a break.
Commercials.
Seth is back in control, running off the apron with a knee-to-the-head. He wears Jey down with a face-stretch, and drops him with a neckbreaker. Rollins climbs to the second turnbuckle, but the WWE Champ makes another announcement, turning Seth’s attention. Jey counters the dive with a fist, and gears up with a clothesline, kick, and an uppercut. They reverse on each other, but Jey gets the better with a Samoan Drop off the ropes for two!
Uso runs in the corner, but Seth kicks and attempts The Pedigree; they both reverse on each other and Jey hits a Superkick! He goes to the top and splashes, but Rollins raises his knees! Seth drops Jey with The Pedigree and covers for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins
Post-match, Ambrose proclaims Seth “Slimy” Rollins as the winner. He gets in the ring, but Rollins escapes. Dean taunts him some more by showing off his WWE Championship.
Replays are shown of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’ confrontation on “The Highlight Reel” from last week’s Smackdown!
Zack Ryder makes his entrance for his bout, next!
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Match #2: Single – Zack Ryder VS. Sheamus
Sheamus dominates most of this bout until Ryder shoves him off the top turnbuckle and soars off with the elbow drop and subsequent 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Zack Ryder
Post-match, Tom Phillips ask Zack what he wants to do. Ryder declares that he wants to get back the U.S. Title. “Being a champion in the WWE, it means you are the absolute best at that given moment; and that is something every superstar needs to cherish and respect. And I’ll tell you what, our current champion, he doesn’t have respect for anything or anyone. So what’s next for the ‘Long Island Iced-Z?’ I officially challenge Rusev for the United States Championship! Woo, woo, woo! You know it!”
Up next, Becky Lynch is out!
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
The same Baron Corbin montage of his Raw/Smackdown! career from Raw airs.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
United States Champion Rusev, and Lana, accept Zack’s request.
Match #2: Single – Becky Lynch VS.
This one doesn’t get started as Natalya runs down and attacks Lynch; she locks her in the Sharpshooter until referees forces her to stop.
Winner: None due to No Official Start
Segment #4: Video Promos
Tag-Team Champions The New Day and The Wyatt Family’s verbal jousting from this past Raw is shown. Xavier Woods is interviewed on WWE.com. He says that they took The Wyatt’s dare to meet them in “The Compound” without thinking. He is not convinced that it can go well and are walking into more than they figure, but he is still going to be by Big E.’s and Kofi’s side.
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Segment #5: Arena Promo
Enzo Amore and Big Cass make their usual entrance, and then Cass says that the reason they went against The Club is to show that the trio can’t do it to everyone. A.J. Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows join on stage. They decide to “beat up Enzo and Cass,” and A.J. threatens Cass to “shut your big mouth.” Cass tells him to bring it on, but Styles was actually referring to Enzo, and Enzo accepts.
Commercials.
Match #3: Single – Enzo Amore (with Big Cass) VS. A.J. Styles (with The Club members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
A.J. is pretty cocky to start, but Enzo shows him up with a roll-up and tossing him to the floor! He follows with a very awkward/bad-looking dive, but Charles Robinson – the referee – assures he is ok. Styles controls now after a backbreaker. Amore battles back but is quickly pulled into the middle turnbuckle face-first.
A.J. misses a running forearm in the corner, and Enzo backslides for two! He punches away, but a Tornado-DDT try is reversed into a snap-suplex! “The Phenomenal One” props Enzo on the top turnbuckle, but Amore front-slams him to the canvas! On the outside, Cass boots Anderson, but both him and Luke give each other a boot! In the ring, A.J. grabs Enzo out of the turnbuckle and plants him with the Styles Clash to get the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: A.J. Styles (with The Club members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Chris Jericho is looking for his scarf, and he walks into Kevin Owens, who is wearing it. Jericho berates him, particularly since it is expensive. He discovers food on it, and Owens disputes the price, dropping change into Chris’ hand. Kevin wishes Jericho luck in facing Sami Zayn, and Jericho tells him to “mind your own business.”
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Match #4: Single – Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) VS. Kalisto (Non-Title)
Miz armlocks Kalisto right away, but Kalisto flips out of it from the ropes and gives Miz an armdrag. He headscissors Miz and runs at him in the corner, then twirls off the top turnbuckle into another armdrag that sends Miz to the floor! Kalisto goes for a dive, but Maryse goes between and Kalisto halts.
Commercials.
Miz is governing, spin-backbreaking Kalisto, and then repeatedly kneeing him in the back in the corner. He runs again, but eats two boots and a Tornado-DDT! Miz regains after a sit-down powerbomb for a near-fall! He runs with a kick, but Kalisto ducks and gives him a facebuster-hurricanrana! 1 – 2 – Miz kicks out!
Kalisto winds up and rolls-up Miz a couple of times, but the I.C. Champ kicks out of both and drives Kalisto to the canvas with his Skull-Krushing Finale to finish!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse)
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Rene Young interviews Sasha Banks about her actions against Women’s Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke. Sasha wants to attack again, but is interrupted by Charlotte and Dana, who ask for a match against her on next Monday’s Raw. Sasha accepts to wrestle Brooke and also predicts she will “take that title.”
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Segment #8: Video Promo
The same “Make Darren Young Great Again” promo from Monday’s Raw airs.
Sami Zayn makes his entrances to wrestle Chris Jericho, next!
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Sami Zayn VS. Chris Jericho
(Note; Kevin Owens is on commentary!) Both trade holds, and then Jericho chops away. Zayn backward-leapfrogs and armdrags Chris, but Jericho hits back with a springboard-dropkick! On the outside, Chris chops, but Sami runs onto the barricade and moonsaults back! In the ring, Jericho punches back.
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“The Ayatollah of Rock N’ Rollah” is governing, mule-kicking Zayn in the corner. Sami battles back with chops, but is elbowed down. Jericho follows with a springboard-Lionsault but only gets a two-count! He clamps on a rear chinlock, and then continues to punish Sami until Zayn hits back with a clothesline!
Sami gains some momentum with furry punches, and a running-clothesline on the floor! He ascends to the top turnbuckle and rockets off with a crossbody! Jericho counters with a second-turnbuckle enziguri! Chris slaps, but is kicked and Tornado-DDT’ed! Zayn bounces and swantons over the top rope onto Jericho! He is then splashes with Gatorade by Owens; Sami chucks Jericho into Owens, but back in the ring, Jericho kicks to get control back.
Jericho goes to the top turnbuckle and dives, but is caught into an Exploder-Suplex! Sami measures and runs with the Helluva-Kick, but Kevin hops the apron and Zayn hits him! Jericho tries the Walls of Jericho, but Sami reverses into a victory roll and receives the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Sami Zayn
Post-match, Jericho Codebreaks Sami and leaves, and then Owens slides in the ring and slams him to the mat with his Pop-Up Powerbomb! Kevin stands over a curled-up Zayn to close the show.
Former ECW champion Taz and The Rock had a little sparring on Twitter after the People’s Champion announced a new show for his YouTube channel called Rock The Promo, giving fans a chance to cut promos in a tournament.
The idea has been done for the past year by Taz on his live CBS radio show in a segment titled Hump Day Promos every Wednesday. Not happy with the announcement, Taz called out The Rock on Twitter. “My bro @TheRock straight up gimmick infringement on a weekly series I been doing for a YEAR on my show,” he wrote. “Been doing #humpdaypromos for ONE YEAR on #TheTazShow rules NEVER changed (45 sec promo). We all worked hard, now @TheRock doing it. Wow.”
Bombarded by responses from fans, The Rock reacted to the Taz tweets. “Bro just seeing this. Surprised to see all your tweets when you could’ve just reached out personally and we rap about it,” The Rock said. He then told Taz that he had no idea he even had a radio show. “No heat. This is silly. I’ll text U,” he continued.
Taz said that he has no beef with The Rock but he will defend his show and every person who submitted a promo the past year for his show. “Trust me, I am taking the high road,” Taz then replied to another tweet from a fan.
TNA President Dixie Carter announced on Twitter that Impact Wrestling is once again moving nights, going back to Thursdays with a new time slot of 8PM EST starting July 21. The move is to avoid going head to head with Smackdown which moves to Tuesday nights starting July 19.
Impact has switched days several times ever since it started. On Spike TV it debuted on Saturday nights and then it moved to Thursdays in April 2006. In March 2010 it moved to Monday nights, head to head with Raw, a move which wasn’t a very smart one. Just a month and a half later, the show moved back to Thursday nights due to the low ratings. When the show switched to Destination America in 2015, it moved to Friday nights and then to Tuesdays when the show transitioned to POP TV.
When Smackdown moved to Thursday from Friday, Impact moved to Friday and now with Smackdown moving to Tuesday, the company is avoiding direct competition by reverting to their Thursday slot.
WWE is sending the big guns for the Wizard World Comic Con Chicago next month with John Cena, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Sasha Banks, The Bella Twins and Becky Lynch all attending.
“We’re very excited to have such a large group of incredibly talented WWE® Superstars attending Wizard World Chicago,” said John Maatta, CEO of Wizard World. “The addition of these world-class athletes to Chicago’s already impressive lineup of stars from film, television, comics and more will give fans a unique and exciting experience, and shows Wizard World’s commitment to including all forms of pop culture entertainment at its shows.”
On August 18, Seth Rollins will be meeting fans between 4PM and 7PM while Sasha Banks will be there between 5PM and 8PM. On August 19, Becky Lynch starts at 2PM till 5PM, John Cena is there between 3PM and 7PM, and Dean Ambrose shows up between 4PM and 7PM. On August 20, The Bella Twins will be there between 11AM and 2PM for the only WWE-related appearance that day.
All of them will greet fans, pose for photo ops, sign autographs, and will be available for Q&A panels. Wizard World Comic Con Chicago will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. For ticket information go to http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon/chicago.
The short-form comedy series Camp WWE has been a hit on the WWE Network. The TV-MA animated series, featuring a bunch of WWE Superstars as kids in a summer camp, recently wrapped up the first season with 5 episodes of 22 minutes each.
Produced by Seth Green and Aaron Blitzstein from Stoopid Buddy Studios, the show has seen the likes of Vince McMahon, Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair, The Godfather, and others doing their own voice overs while other voice over artists took over the voices of the WWE Superstars at camp.
Voicing the characters of John Cena and The Rock is Ashley Bornancin, a young female actress, writer, and voice over artist. Yes, when you hear young Cena and young Rocky on Camp WWE, it’s really a woman’s voice behind it.
“I love when people on Twitter are so surprised that it’s me. I was a bit scared fans would be like, ‘why is it a girl?’ but the response has been amazing,” Bornancin told us. “I think it’s just really cool that the voice over world allows for that room to play and for you to really be anything you want to be.”
Bornancin admitted she wasn’t the biggest WWE fan until the gig came along although she was familiar with both John Cena and The Rock as her brother and father watched WWE growing up. After she auditioned for the roles, Ashley said she really dove into the WWE world and was “fascinated by this entire universe they created.”
But how did a casual WWE fan ended up getting to voice two of the most popular WWE Superstars in the history of the business? “My agents sent it to me and I sent in an MP3. I originally auditioned for Stephanie McMahon and the Bella Twins and ended up coming in for a callback with producers,” Ashley said.
Bornancin laughed when she was told to try out for The Rock, figuring she would never get a character like that. She went to a voice over studio to record the track and sent it in as requested.
“When I came in for callbacks for The Rock, they said, ‘Can you do other boy voices?’” she said. It wasn’t the first time she auditioned for male voices as she’s done that kind of work before. “So I took a stab at doing John Cena, whom they described as an All-American do-gooder type of camper that always sees the glass half full, but is so lovable the other campers find him annoying. I said, ‘Oh, that is basically me in real life!’”
To her surprise, not only she got The Rock, but her agents came back and told her she will be doing John Cena as well, calling it the “best surprise ever.” Ashley said she loved both characters and seeing the final animated work just warmed her heart, crediting the great animation behind the show.
Bornancin did not meet any of the WWE Legends who did their own voice overs as she recorded her parts solo with producers Aaron Blitzstein, Seth Green, and the team. “Sometimes we would play clips of the other characters. But they are so good at recreating each of the scenes for you, that recording solo is easier than you’d think.”
She described everyone at Stoopid Buddy Studios and the WWE Network as the best and a joy to work with them. “They are just so kind and fun, and we have so much fun improvising. They say if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life again. I can tell you that’s exactly what that team does. They make work so fun,” she added.
The fact that everyone on the team loved WWE helped as well, providing hilarious scripts from “the coolest people with creative genius minds.”
With season 1 already done, Ashley was noncommittal when we asked about another season. “Everyone keeps asking on Twitter. You will just have to wait and see,” she said with a laugh.
Apart from acting, directing, writing, and doing voice overs, Ashley is also active in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at a young age and she was still a teenager when the news hit the family.
“It was incredibly tough to go through as a teenager and young adult – the support from my family, especially my dad, and our faith in God and His ultimate plan for us has really been the #1 thing that has gotten us through these past 10 years of her having the disease,” Ashley explained.
She said the whole process has been a roller coaster of emotions and although it’s still very difficult, they try to make the best out of the situation.
“I just love more than anything taking my mom to the movies, and seeing her light up when I do voice overs. It’s difficult for her to do things like walk, talk, etc., but when she sees a really fun TV show or movie, she just lights up… which honestly keeps me going,” she said.
The latest movie the two saw together was The Rock’s Central Intelligence. “She thought it was hysterical. I was like – that’s me!”
Living with somebody who has Alzheimer’s is a tough, long, emotional battle and you go through different stages of grief. “But the more she became dependent on me and I realized it’s truly not her fault, the less mad I was, and the more my heart just yearned to help her,” Ashley said, adding that it took her around five years to accept the reality of it all.
Despite everything, the future is looking bright for Ashley. “I have had final callbacks for a number of big shows, and working consistently every day on my craft and producing my own work,” she said. “I love television and comedy, and I see myself just continuing to build a career in that world, but also writing and producing.”
Ashley mentioned that along with her writing partner, Don DiPetta, she wrote, directed and created a series which is titled ‘We’re NOT Friends,’ that is now getting the attention of agents.
“To be able to act and write is the ultimate world I love to live in and do every day. We are also working with the strong production team with Sylvia Versace at AwesomeSauce to create a feature length documentary on Alzheimer’s,” she concluded.
With Brock Lesnar – an under-contract WWE Superstar – now in the main event of UFC 200, WWE is now help “promoting” the fight, uploading different UFC-produced videos of Lesnar preparing for his fight against Mark Hunt on both the WWE YouTube account and WWE.COM.
There are two videos on WWE.COM so far, one of 7 minutes explaining Lesnar’s career in the UFC and his return, and the other an 11-minute in-depth sit-down interview with UFC’s Megan Olivi.
In a recent interview with the Business Insider, Stephanie McMahon said that WWE is not supporting Lesnar’s fight and they won’t do any cross-promotion with the UFC. “In Brock Lesnar’s case it was really a special case that we are allowing him to do this fight. We are not supporting the fight necessarily but, again, it’s not a competitor to us and the more that our superstars, that’s how we refer to our talent, the more they do outside of WWE, the more awareness it generates and the broader the audience can be that is then brought back into our properties. So we recognize the value of that,” McMahon said.
In typical Lesnar fashion, he told the press during a conference call that he does not care what Stephanie says or thinks.
On Tuesday night, TNA probably delivered their best segment in the show’s history, a Jeff vs Matt Hardy match that saw Broken Matt finally defeat Brother Nero.
Shot completely different from your typical wrestling match, the Final Deletion took place in Cameron, North Carolina in a backyard ring that had no TNA logos at all. The match was filmed like a movie with no commentary in the background but a continuous soundtrack that fit perfectly for the occasion. With smoke, fireworks, fire, insane bumps, water, and everything in between, this match would have made any Hollywood director pop.
The segment was met with praise from the majority of the online community, including WWE Superstar Chris Jericho who described it as brilliant, calling the Broken Matt character the best in TNA history.
The hype behind the match also helped TNA produce its best rating for Impact in a very long time. You can watch the match in full below.
Helped by the much-hyped Final Deletion match between Jeff and Matt Hardy, TNA Impact drew a record of 410,000 viewers on POP TV, up 112,000 viewers from last week.
Impact’s previous best number was on May 23 with 359,000 viewers tuning in. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
The Independence Day edition of Monday Night Raw got the worst number in well over 20 years and it was expected considering the show has been doing really low numbers compared to months before. Raw did 2,658,000 viewers, down 435,000 viewers from the previous week.
Hour one did 2,663,000 viewers, followed by 2,668,000 viewers in the second hour, and then 2,643,000 in the third hour. Despite the low number, Raw was by far the most watched show on cable on Monday night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
UFC President Dana White announced yesterday that Brock Lesnar will now be the main event of UFC 200 after Jon Jones was flagged for a potential anti-doping violation stemming from a June 16 test by USADA.
White called a quick press conference at MGM Grand to announce the news, which he called “super, super disappointing.” Daniel Cormier, who was going to fight Jon Jones, is now without a fight and highly unlikely someone will step in just 48 hours before showtime.
Jones’ mistake spells good news for Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt who are expected to headline one of the – if not the – biggest and highest grossing pay-per-view in UFC history. This will also mark the first time that a fighter not under a UFC deal will headline a pay-per-view.
Lesnar vs. Hunt will remain as a three-round bout, White said.
During yesterday’s WWE Off The Top Rope segment on ESPN SportsCenter, Bray Wyatt, accompanied by Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan in masks, challenged The Rock for a match at WrestleMania 33.
Former WWE announcer Todd Grisham, replacing Jonathan Coachman, welcomed the trio to the show and asked Bray how did the whole Wyatt Family character came about. Bray said that no one understood them, and no one cared but over time it has been rewarding. “We’ve grown, people respect us, it’s a beautiful thing,” Bray said.
Grisham asked what is the reaction of people when they see them at the airport or public places. Bray laughed and said most are hesitant to approach, especially when all of them are together, but he’s a charming individual and people respect them. Rowan and Strowman then took the masks off and Grisham passed a remark how they’re three of the most beautiful people on the roster, with Bray replying saying that not one member of the Wyatt Family ever had a struggle with women!
Asked about being in the ring with The Undertaker at WrestleMania, Bray said it was the best thing and the Undertaker is above titles. “It was fascinating being around him,” Bray said, adding that it’s a feeling he probably won’t be able to recreate.
He then issued a challenge to “the biggest star in the world” The Rock, saying they have unfinished business together and he’s free at WrestleMania 33. He said the segment they had with The Rock at WrestleMania this year “was cool” and it was great watching over 100,000 fireflies.
At the Smackdown tapings yesterday there was no mention of Brock Lesnar’s opponent for SummerSlam so it looks like the announcement will be made in post-production to give fans a reason to tune in.
WWE mentioned on Raw that Brock’s opponent will be made on the show and fans who were live in the arena expected the announcement. But since it would have been spoiled the second it was announced, WWE is opting to delay the announcement till the show airs on USA Network tomorrow.
While no hints were given on who Lesnar’s opponent will be, there are strong rumors that it will be the returning Randy Orton. Brock will face Mark Hunt this Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 200, his first fight back since December 2011.
WWE and Digicel Ltd. today announced a new agreement to broadcast Raw and Smackdown in the Pacific Islands. Beginning this Thursday, Digicel Play subscribers in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the other Pacific Islands will be able to watch WWE’s flagship programs on TVWAN Action for the first time.
Raw will air weekly at 5 pm every Thursday, while Smackdown will air weekly at 11 am starting this Sunday. The other Pacific Islands that will show WWE are Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.
“We are delighted to bring our fans in the Pacific WWE’s unique blend of action-packed, family entertainment every week,” said Ed Wells, WWE Executive Vice President, International. “With WWE’s upcoming brand extension, this is an incredibly exciting time for Digicel Play subscribers as they will have an opportunity to watch two distinctive programs, Raw and Smackdown.”
“WWE is very popular all around the world and we are looking forward to bringing it into the homes of people across the Pacific,” said Digicel Play CEO, Nico Meyer. “Digicel Play subscribers will now have the opportunity to watch Raw and Smackdown, with each episode airing the same week as the U.S.”
After Raw went off the air, John Cena brought in a Make-A-Wish kid in the ring and held up his bright green sign which read, “I am a pediatric cancer + bone marrow transplant survivor.”
Cena said that he always lives by the never give up motto and for two years, Isaac had been fighting cancer and then announces to everyone that Isaac is now cancer free, raising his hand to a standing ovation from the crowd.
The former WWE champion then asked the crowd to show Isaac what it means to be a WWE Superstar with each section of the arena trying to yell louder than the other.
Tonight’s Impact on POP is one of the most anticipated in the company’s history due to mind-blowing Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy match being billed as The Final Deletion.
The match was taped in the backyard of their house in Cameron, North Carolina in the dark and features lots of weapons, fireworks, jumping from trees, fire, and even a trip to the water.
TNA gave an advance copy of the match to several individuals in the business and the match is said to be as crazy as it sounds. This is supposed to be the last match in the Broken Matt Hardy vs Brother Nero series.
Brock Lesnar’s opponent for SummerSlam will be revealed this Thursday on Smackdown, just a couple of days before Lesnar returns to the UFC.
Brock has not on been on WWE television since his WrestleMania 32 match against Dean Ambrose and is expected to return to TV after UFC 200 to begin his SummerSlam program. On Saturday, July 9, Lesnar steps back in the Octagon for the first time since December 2011 and faces one of the toughest heavyweights in the UFC, Mark Hunt.
There could be different scenarios for Lesnar depending if he wins or loses his UFC return although Lesnar said he doesn’t care about his “drawing power” in the WWE if he loses his fight. A win would obviously be WWE’s best case scenario while a loss, depending how bad, will be challenging creatively since Lesnar is always portrayed as an unstoppable monster in the ring.
A lot of the roster is celebrating Independence Day, attired in red, white, and blue, and enjoying various foods. The Golden Truth – R-Truth and Goldust – are rapping on a mini-stage until The Vaudevillians stop them. Aiden English and Simon Gotch are not pleased with Golden’s musical skills, so Aiden decides to show his off by singing The Declaration of Independence. He is cut-off quickly by Bubba Ray Dudley and a handful of food; of course, a giant food-fight breaks out. Highlights include Kevin Owens hiding under the table and eating Lays potato chips; Bo Dallas getting punch dumped on his head after trying to pour it on somebody else; and Kane and Big Show grabbing each other’s throats and then deciding to double-chokeslam Heath Slater.
Kevin emerges after it is all over, and says “you know, this would never happen on Canada Day;” he turns around to have a cake pushed into his face. Owens screams in rage and tips over the remaining table(s) of food.
Segment #2: Video Promo and Welcoming
The regular Raw video plays, the pyro explodes in the arena, and Lillian Garcia sings the American National Anthem in honor of America’s birthday. The ring ropes are red, white, and blue too. (Which I think they should be from now on for the pay-per-views; I’m tired of the all-white ones every week. Raw then should go back to all red and Smackdown all blue.)
United States Champion Rusev and his real-life fiancée Lana make their entrance; Rusev will put his U.S. Title on the line, next!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single for the United States Championship – Rusev (Champion) (with Lana) VS. Titus O’Neil (Challenger)
Rusev punches and kicks away to start, but O’Neil comes back by hopping over Rusev from the turnbuckle and scoop-slamming him down. Titus continues to control with chops and punches in the corner, and then chucks him across the ring. Rusev kicks back and hurls him over the ropes to the floor!
Rusev throws O’Neil into the steps and lets referee Andrew count. Titus makes it back in but is punched at, and Rusev also hits a nice-looking dropkick! “The Bulgarian Brute” wears O’Neil down with a rear chinlock, but Titus powers out and knees Rusev in the gut. They both punch at each other, and then Titus gets the better with a running shoulder-block!
Titus has the momentum now with a powerbomb try, but Rusev drops out; Titus powerslams him and then plants him his “Clash of the Titus” sit-down-powerbomb finisher! 1 – 2 – Rusev raises his shoulder and grabs the bottom rope to break!
The U.S. Champ hits back and clamps on The Accolade – Camel Clutch – hold; Titus has to give up!
Winner via Submission and STILL United States Champion: Rusev (with Lana)
Post-match, Rusev clutches on The Accolade again, and then rips on the fans and America.
Later tonight, WWE Champion Dean Ambrose will wrestle Intercontinental Champion The Miz; and their will be an Eight-Man Tag-Team Elimination Match with Team U.S.A. taking on The Multi-National Alliance.
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Match #2: Tag-Team – The Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel) (with Social Outcast member Heath Slater) VS. Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Before this bout, The Outcasts are dressed as Revolutionary War participants; Heath is in an arm brace from his earlier chokeslam. As well, Enzo and Cass make fun of them, with Enzo impressively listing all 43 United States Presidents in order (my Dad said “good for him!”).
In short order, Amore and Big complete this one with their “Boom Shaka-Laka” Rocket Launcher Splash from the top turnbuckle!
Winner via Pinfall: Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Commercials.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
Women’s Champion Charlotte, and her friend Dana Brooke, are out. Charlotte berates the fans for cheering for Sasha Banks. “The Boss” joins them and goes up one side and down the other, declaring that she will “own” her when they wrestle one-on-one. Charlotte takes physical umbrage, but Banks capitalizes with her Banks Statement. Dana saves Charlotte and they leave.
WWE Champion Dean Ambrose is shown warming up backstage for his upcoming contest with Intercontinental Champion The Miz!
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Match #3: Single – Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) VS. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose (Non-Titles)
A waistlock begins, and Ambrose takes control with a hip-toss. He chops at Miz and then clotheslines him to the floor! He follows with a slingshot-plancha and chucks Miz into the barricade. Miz hits back and crotches Dean on the timekeeper’s area barricade, and then kisses Maryse.
Commercials.
Miz is still governing, kicking at Ambrose’s left knee. Miz tangles Dean in the Figure-4, but the WWE Champion struggles to hold the bottom rope for a break. Ambrose flings Miz to the outside, and recharges in the ring. he hits a running-clothesline, and props Miz up on the top turnbuckle shortly after. He goes for a superplex, but Miz stops him. The IC champ dives off with a double-axe-handle smash, but Dean kicks him and tries Dirty Deeds. Miz gets out of it, but Ambrose reverses into a small-package for a near-fall!
“The Lunatic Fringe” follows with a dive-to-the-outside, and reverses a Skull-Krushing Finale attempt into a victory roll for two! Miz misses a running-boot, and Dean drives Miz down with his Dirty Deeds DDT and then covers to receive the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: WWE Champion Dean Ambrose
Post-match as Ambrose is celebrating, Seth Rollins’ music plays. He walks out and glares at the WWE Champion. They meet at the bottom rope, and Dean pats Seth, who goes to the ring for a bout, next. Dean runs down like he’s going to attack, but hops out of the ring and sits at the Spanish announcer’s table!
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Match #4: Single – Seth Rollins VS. Dolph Ziggler
(Note: Ambrose is conversing with commentator Jerry Soto decently in Spanish; it is also announced that Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponent will be revealed this week on Smackdown!)
Dolph tries to takedown Seth with amateur moves, and upstages Rollins in doing so! Ziggler goes to the outside for a break and comes back in, where Seth baits him then kicks! Seth scoop-slams Dolph, but is hit with a dropkick as he ran off the ropes! “The Show-off” goes for a superkick, but Rollins drops and rolls to the floor. Ziggler climbs the turnbuckle but Seth enziguris him, and Dolph tumbles to the outside!
Commercials.
Ziggler punches back with furry, but Seth catches him and flatlines Dolph into the middle turnbuckle. He climbs the top turnbuckle, but Ziggler meets him up there and awkwardly brings him to the canvas with a sit-down facebuster. 1 – 2 – Seth gets his shoulder up. Ziggler’s knee appears to be injured, but he continues to work over Rollins! He almost takes this after an elbow drop, and then winds up Sweet Chin Music style! Seth counters and kicks him in the face; he covers and gets two! Rollins goes for the Pedigree, but Dolph reverses into a fireman’s-carry roll-up for a near-fall! Ziggler suddenly superkicks Seth and covers; 1 – 2 – Rollins just lifts his shoulder! Seth soon plants The Pedigree and takes this!
Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins
Post-match, Seth stands on the announce table and proclaims that he “will not have Roman Reigns tarnish my legacy.” He wants Reigns removed in the triple threat WWE Championship match at Battleground on Sunday, July 24th. He also demands Roman not be eligible for The Draft – on Smackdown!, Tuesday, July 19th – and berates Reigns for being a role model while being suspended for a Wellness Policy violation. He insults the fans about their jobs – or lack there of – until Dean stands on the announce table behind him; Rollins demands his title, and Ambrose throws it at him. “The Lunatic Fringe” Dirty Deeds DDT’s him on the Spanish Announcer’s Table.
Later tonight, John Cena will address his rivalry with The Club!
Segment #4: Video Promo
The Wyatt Family appear in their workshop; they preach about the difference between their world and Tag-Team Champion New Day’s. “This is an invitation;. So come on. Bring your sunshine, bring your laughter, bring your mendacity. And we will deliver you the truth. Because the ‘power of positivity’ is nothing more than a fairytale; a joke; a myth.” They dare Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E. to meet them there.
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Segment #5: Video Promo
A montage of Baron Corbin airs to rebuild his character.
Segment #6: Arena Promo
Former General Manager Vickie Guerrero walks out to the stage and makes her case as to why she should be rehired for Smackdown! on July 19th. Security soon takes her away.
Segment #7: Locker Room Promo
The Big Show delivers a Patriotic Speech to his teammates – Apollo Crews, Zack Ryder, Kane, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley, Mark Henry, and Jack Swagger for their Eight-Man Tag-Team Match.
Commercials.
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
Security is still hauling Vickie away when they walk into Dolph Ziggler; she want shim to vouch for who she is, but Ziggler takes the opposite route, saying “I’ve never seen this woman in my entire life!”
Match #5: Tag-Team – The Vaudevillians (Simon Gotch and Aiden English) VS. The Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth)
(Note: Breezango – Tyler Breeze and Fandango – are sitting beside the timekeeper’s/host’s area, secluded with a red velvet rope.)
The Golden Truth pick up a win after their powerbomb/Shattered Dreams combo, called Solid Gold!
Winners via Pinfall: The Golden Truth
Up next, John Cena talks about The Club!
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Segment #9: Video Promo
Bob Backlund is continuing to “make Darren Young great again,” by passing on his finisher – the Crossface Chicken Wing – to Darren.
Segment #10: Arena Promo
John Cena parades out and states that he and the fans are disappointed because A.J. Styles did not go it alone against him; he shows replays of Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and A.J. attacking him and planting him on the stage with the Magic Killer. Cena asserts “you want some, come get some!”
The Club joins on stage, speaking out against Cena, and that they “will run WWE.” A.J. says that “no WWE Superstar coming out to help you. You got nobody to help you. You want to know why, John? Because it’s you! You put yourself on an island most WWE Superstars can’t relate to.” Styles warns Cena that “every week you come here, we’re going to beat you up.” They all say that they will “beat up John Cena” through the end of the year on every special occasion, including today.
The Club surround the ring and all lay in kicks and punches, until Enzo and Cass give aide; they and Cena clear The Club!
Commercials.
Segment #11: Video Promo
The Shining Stars – Primo and Epico – put themselves over with American flags in their hands.
Match #6: Single – Summer Rae VS. Becky Lynch
(Note: It is announced that Becky will wrestle Natalya at Battleground!)
Summer gains control quickly with stomps and stretching Becky with the ropes; she spin-kicks Lynch for a two-count, and then clutches on a rear chinlock/armlock combo. Becky fights out, but is slammed to the mat by her hair. Summer uncomfortably suplexes Lynch, but Becky soon gets momentum. She forces Rae to tap to her Disarmer!
Winner via Submission: Becky Lynch
Segment #12: Locker Room Promo
Chris Jericho is trying to give his teammates of The Multi-National Alliance – Sami Zayn, Cesaro, The Lucha Dragons, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, and Kevin Owens – a pep talk but Del Rio argues who is the “captain.” Kevin pipes up and yells at everyone to “stay on the same page” to defeat “some idiot Americans.” He walks away, as Jericho echoes him, and Cesaro, Sami, and The Luchas are left. They agree to stay together, and speculate that the others will argue.
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Segment #13: Arena Promo
Tag-Team Champions The New Day prance to the ring; Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E. insinuate that The Wyatt Family are incestuous. Erik, Braun, and Bray appear on the Titantron in their workshop. They challenge The New Day again to meet them there. Back in the ring, Big and Kofi accept and are happy about it but Xavier is much more reserved.
Woods tells his “brothers” that The Wyatts are not to be messed with and to take them more seriously. He walks away with a questionable look on his face.
Commercials.
Michael Cole and Byron Saxton tell us that The Club will wrestle John Cena, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass at Battleground; as well Sami Zayn wrestles Kevin Owens there too!
Match #7: Eight-Man Elimination Tag-Team – The Multi-National Alliance (Cesaro, The Lucha Dragons [Kalisto and Sin Cara], Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, and Kevin Owens) VS. Team U.S.A. (The Big Show,
Sin is out first after a 3-D, then Bubba following a Brogue Kick from Sheamus and springboard Frogsplash by Kalisto!
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D-Von is eliminated next after a Big Swing by Cesaro and The Sharpshooter! Swagger comes in and he and Cesaro signal “we the people” together, then wrestle for a little. Jericho is now in and dominated by Jack until he eats double-boots and a Codebreaker! Swagger is ejected.
As Jericho raises his arms, Kane grabs both him and Kalisto by their throats. The rest of the teams enter and everyone brawls!
Commercials.
Apollo and Del Rio are going at it, with Crews countering a dive with a dropkick! He crawls for the tag and slaps hands with Henry! Alberto kicks Mark and tags in Kalisto, but “The World’s Strongest Man” World’s Strongest Slams Kalisto to take him out!
Owens follows up by Pop-Up powerbombing Henry and eliminating him! He then throws Ryder into Zayn, who then comes back in and punches at Kevin! Kane is in and tries a Chokeslam on Sami, but Owens re-enters and slams a chair against Zayn’s back, causing himself to be DQ’ed and eliminated! Kane then hits Kevin with the chair, and is thrown out by referee Charles “Little ‘Naitch” Robinson! Kane Chokeslams Sami still to make a point.
Apollo enters and standing-moonsaults Zayn and collects the 1 – 2 – 3 to exit Sami! Sheamus quickly Brogue Kicks Crews and pins him! We are left with Big Show and Zack Ryder against Cesaro, Chris Jericho, Alberto Del Rio, and Sheamus.
Cesaro soon goes against his own team, uppercutting them until he is small-packaged by Ryder to send him to the back! Ryder reverses a suplex on Sheamus into a neckbreaker, and then makes the hot-tag to Show, who cleans house!
Big hits the Knockout Punch on Jericho and deports him; then does the same to Alberto after a Chokeslam! Sheamus is left, and Show works him over until Sheamus hops out of a Chokeslam and low-dropkicks his knee. Show switches with Zack, but “Long Island Iced-Z” is quickly slammed. Sheamus goes after Big, but is clutched by his throat and turned around into a RoughRyder Leg-Lariat! Ryder covers and receives the victory!
Winners via Pinfall and Elimination: Team U.S.A.
Post-match, Ryder and Show celebrate, and pyro goes off around the Titantron as Cole wish a “Happy Fourth of July” to close the show.
End of Raw.
Until Smackdown! Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans, and Happy Independence Day to my American Readers!
As reported earlier, WWE will be dropping the Night of Champions pay-per-view name in favor of Clash of Champions, a name which was made famous by NWA/WCW although under a slightly different variation of Clash of the Champions.
WWE this week released the logo that will be used and while the name is similar, the logo is completely different from what the NWA/WCW did. However the logo is virtually identical to the Night of Champions one with WWE just replacing “Night” with “Clash.”
The first ever WWE Clash of Champions will take place on September 25, 2016 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
