Live tonight from the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee, WWE presents NXT Vengeance Day live on Peacock and WWE Network. The full card is as follows:
Ilja Dragunov vs Trick Williams for the NXT title; Lyra Valkyria vs Roxanne for the NXT Women’s title; Oba Femi vs Dragon Lee for the NXT North American title; Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker vs Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams in the Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic final; Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Adriana Rizzo vs Lucien Price, Bronco Nima, and Jaida Parker in a six-person mixed tag team match; and Dijak vs Joe Gacy in a no disqualification match.
The NXT Vengeance Day Kickoff show starts at 7PM ET and streams live on Peacock, WWE Network, and all of WWE’s social media properties while the action premium live event starts at 8PM ET.
News cycles, in today’s dynamic world, are inherently fleeting, marked by the constant influx and displacement of stories, ranging from natural disasters and conflicts to elections and scandals.
Last week, WWE faced a tumultuous period with the emergence of the Janel Grant lawsuit, casting a shadow over Vince McMahon and all of WWE. Media outlets and social media platforms were ablaze with discussions, overshadowing even the significant events like the Royal Rumble and a prominent Netflix deal that took place in the same week, not to mention the election of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the TKO Board of Directors.
However, the nature of news cycles dictates that attention shifts swiftly. Whether intentional or coincidental, the spotlight now revolves around The Rock’s return and the removal of Cody Rhodes from the main event of night two at WrestleMania. The fans’ frustration no longer is towards Vince, Brock Lesnar, or anything that the Janel Grant lawsuit said, but is now towards the WrestleMania main event and the politics behind the change.
The negative publicity stemming from the Janel Grant lawsuit has temporarily taken a back seat as fans mobilize their voices to advocate for Cody Rhodes’ reinstatement in the main event.
The surprising negative reaction to Rock vs Roman is obviously not something that WWE anticipated, but they will take that any day of the week over sexual trafficking, assault, exploitation, abuse, and defacing stories.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has seemingly acknowledged the online reaction to his involvement in the WrestleMania 40 main event in a post on Instagram, saying he has a tough skin but loves the passion of the fans.
“So f#%king blown away by this insane energy from the People,” Rock wrote as he posted a video of his Smackdown appearance, along with the massive pop from the crowd.
“Undeniable – and one of the loudest ovations I’ve ever experienced in my career. Thank you Birmingham, Alabama, thank you WWE, thank you to the man himself, Cody Rhodes – and most importantly, thank you to the People. Our connection is unbreakable and our bond is ELECTRIC.”
On X, he posted a slightly different message, saying that no matter the era, the decade, or the city, the energy and connection between the People’s Champ and the People can never be broken and is truly an electrifying experience that creates chills every single time.
He also thanked Cody Rhodes for the love and the house.
“Roman, there’s only one head of the table. I’ll see you in Vegas…Uso,” Rock concluded.
A young female fan at the non-televised live event in Knoxville last night held up a sign that read “legally blind but trying to see Cody Rhodes.”
Unfortunately, while she was on the floor, she was several rows back but after his match, Cody spotted the sign and got on the mic.
“Well, I think we could do better than seeing me,” Cody said as he left the ring with a piece of a broken table.
The fan was brought to ringside by one of the security and Cody embraced her with a long hug as fans cheered while seeing the video on the big screen. He then signed the piece of broken table and gave it to her along with another hug.
AEW announced last night that “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith is now “All Elite” following his loss to Eddie Kingston last night on Collision.
Tony Schiavone entered the ring to interview Keith and informed him that AEW would be picking up his services as the usual All Elite graphic appeared on the screen.
Kingston shook hands and hugged Keith as the crowd approved and then Bryan Danielson came down to the ring for the next match and also congratulated him.
Keith appeared first on AEW television on Rampage on an episode which aired on August 30, losing to Adam Page. From December onwards, he started making regular appearances on ROH and occasionally on AEW TV as well.
The 32-year-old is another product of Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school.
Well, so much for the rankings. What a three days that was.
Kingston got his usual nice pop and wore a ‘King of the Bums’ tee. Keith was already in the ring. Do you think he might not win?
Lockup, crowd hot for Kingston, a few light dueling chants for Keith. Who slapped Kingston after a rope break. Back to the grapple, another break, Keith again tried a slap but landed a cheap shot to the gut. Then nailed a diving shoulder but was chopped down to the mat before Kingston landed shots to the face then chops against the ropes, overhead belly to belly out, Keith got the ropes to block a submission.
Exchanging headbutts now, crowd clapping along, down to their knees, Kingston wilting, back with an open hand that rocked Keith, pair of knees as they rose to their feet. Keith lowered his weight to block a suplex, both did so for about thirty seconds until Kingston settled for a chop instead.
Keith fired up, they exchanged chops and forearms, Kingston was rocked by one, stopping to sell, crowd erupting as he finally responded but buckled after a dropkick to the knee, running boot to follow, Kingston down.
Armwringer heel kick a la Booker T (not seen one of those in years), Kingston down once more, rolling outside for a breather holding his face. But sweeping the youngster under the ropes, where Keith reversed a whip to the barricade and Kingston sold his right arm like he had a stinger.
Kingston flung back in, knee drop, count of two. The champ continuing to sell his face after that shot which rocked him earlier. Back to his feet now, another exchange of shots, Keith ran into a belly to belly, both down, ads.
This is really good. Helped by a hot crowd.
Kingston boot up in the corner, elbow too, Keith came back a third time with a leaping headbutt to the ‘injured’ jaw, Kingston collapsed over and out to the floor, selling as if he were dazed/dizzy. Crowd chanted for him once more as the ref’s count reached eight, he got to the apron, Keith booted him off then hit an apron cannonball.
Kingston flung back in, running gamengiri, nail in the coffin, Kingston out at two. Then countered out of a Liger Bomb via exploder, Keith hit back with one of his own, Kingston popped up, Keith ducked an Uriken to land the Liger Bomb, champ out at the last.
Kingston still looking dazed on the mat, crawling to the corner, Keith in pursuit, chops in the corner, whip out, Kingston countered into an Uriken, Keith hit back with a knee, Kingston landed a saito suplex, Keith out at two (Kelly has to keep subtly correcting Schiavone on move names). Good as this is, that’s officially too long now. Uriken out of a reverse whip = cool finish. And protects the least protected finish in the company.
Keith fired up to shake off machine guns in the corner. And a second set via enziguri but ran into a sleeper, Kingston held on twice as Keith tried to counter, span him round into a ddt for another two count. Keith fired off chops until Kingston span into another Uriken to win. Crowd went wild for the pin. Original Uriken still would’ve been a better finish.
Really good match. But reflective of the show – which is wrestling for wrestling’s sake. The idea was this made Keith – ‘career-defining performance’ per Schiavone. The problem is AEW have done this now for four years with younger guys. They have a good showing, there’s no follow-up and they remain firmly in place. Boy who cried wolf and all that.
Schiavone hit the ring and asked Eddie about a hard-fought win. Kingston called him ‘Captain Obvious’ and asked him to go talk to Keith. Tony announced that Keith was All Elite and the graphic came up. I thought that was already done?
Kingston was congratulating the youngster when Bryan Danielson again had a premature entrance to infringe on Kingston. Which is just a brilliant gimmick. It’s subtle, different and totally dickish.
The problem is he then held Keith’s arm aloft and posed on the buckle to cheers while working the crowd. BCC BCCing.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Back to footage of Moxley being beaten down by the CMLL dudes Wednesday. To a Mox promo post-show. He kept repeating ‘CMLL’ then talked about the respect BCC have for history. So they have respect for CMLL, the fans in Arena Mexico and the heritage of Lucha Libre. He’s not mad about their attack but ‘that behavior must be paid for’.
They must have thought this is ‘like that show on that other channel – easy, lazy American wrestlers’. But this is AEW and the BCC is the ‘Elite of the Elite’. They showed up in his backyard. The CMLL guys better hope and pray that the BCC don’t show up in theirs.
Far from Moxley’s best work. Outside of the scandal, it’s pretty rich for AEW to take shots at WWE over anything atm. They’re very firmly #2.
I also have no interest whatsoever in an inter-promotional feud with luchadors while the ones on the roster get no screen time. AEW should be making the most of Bryan Danielson’s last year in terms of ratings, ticket sales and ppv buys. Not in terms of letting him get through a ‘wish list’ of whacky oppponents.
Bryan Danielson vs Hechicero
Backstory: NONE (Yes, Mox was attacked; the match was announced before that)
Hechicero’s entrance is cool, does some nice stuff with fire, ‘cleansing the ring’ per Schiavone. Nigel put him over as the best technical wrestler in Mexico for twenty years. As they got right to grappling and Cero (I’m gonna go with that since Hechicero is a mother to type) quickly escaped.
Btw the tag match Weds is now tornado-style. Did I miss that or have they added a random stip late again?
Cero took Danielson down, both sought leglocks, stalemate as they lay on the mat until firing chops, legs still locked. Danielson flipped through, Cero countered again, and once more into a two count. Danielson slipped behind, tripping Cero down and setting up the Romero Special.
Cero again ‘escaped’. Looked suspiciously like BD just let go. Cero applied a Romero Special of his own and Nigel went on about what a great move it was after saying ‘Same old s…’ when Danielson applied it.
Cero kept rolling through maintaining the hold until Danielson got the ropes. Crowd chanted for the Mexican.
Danielson fired kicks and chops in the corner, on top as things moved to striking. Cero countered an avalanche rana into a sunset flip for two. Danielson began booting the legs as Nigel emphasized him ‘resorting’ to strikes after being outwrestled.
Cero ducked a series of lariats into a tejeiras which turned into a guillotine legdrop. Very cool. Then cazadora’d into popping Danielson into a rear-naked. BD very close to the ropes, rolling outside after the break.
Ads.
Btw they announced Hook had arrived and demanded a match which Khan had given him.
Stiff chops backed BD to the corner, gut shots and headbutts as Danielson tried and failed to cover up. Loud dueling chant, these fans are great. Danielson did his flip over off the buckle but Cero hit right back via springboard shotgun. Then a running double knees in the corner, shots atop the buckle, Danielson hit back via headbutt, the Mexican crumpled to the mat but caught Danielson diving down, capturing the arm, rolling through with both arms trapped, shoulders on the mat, Danielson out at two.
Nigel sold that he was lucky that ended up in a pin because there was no way he was getting out. Kelly keeps emphasizing that every wrestler has nights and opponents where the other guy just gets the best of them. Nice approach.
Danielson again resorted to strikes, Cero again a step ahead, rear naked across the ropes from the apron, ole’ing Danielson outside then the highest tope I’ve ever seen. BD sent back in, Cero to the top, diving cross body which didn’t quite land, Danielson nailed a double underhook suplex into the LeBell, dead center, crowd loud as Cero fought the tap, freeing his arm, hammering the leg with his elbow then hooking a twisting submission with the legs trapped and the arm wrenched behind Danielson’s own back. The Dragon again got the ropes.
Hook has apparently now said he’ll fight two people.
To their feet, Danielson kicks to the chest, Cero to his knees, yes! kicks, momentum building, until ducking the roundhouse, sweeping Danielson into a spinning hammerlock backbreaker. Danielson avoided a corner charge, dragon screw out, busaiku avoided into another submission. Danielson countered, fighting desperately to keep the Mexican down for the pin.
Schiavone wondered if that was Danielson’s biggest ever win in AEW.
Cero attacked after the bell as the crowd which’d been cheering him booed. Claudio hit the scene and Cero fled. Good match. With this style, I’m trying so hard to keep up with all the submissions and etc. that I don’t truly get into the action itself.
Still don’t think this is nearly the best use of the BCC or indeed AEW’s tv time. Are the CMLL guys going to sell tickets for them in May?
Winner: Bryan Danielson
Backstage, Lexy with FTR and Daniel Garcia. She asked if they were going to be a trio. Garcia said he was glad to have FTR by his side and Cash put him over. Dax said FTR hadn’t made the tag rankings but had made the trios ones so a new chapter starts tonight and Cage etc. are in the way.
Hook vs the Outrunners
Backstory: NONE
They replayed Hook saving Swerve from a two-on-one Wednesday as he made his entrance.
Even Dasha got the Outrunners’ names wrong.
Hook flung them around with suplexes and throws until the numerical advantage briefly saw the heels on top. Including a double suplex. From which Hook popped up, double lariat, more throws, crowd firmly behind him as he nailed cross faces, sent Floyd outside then hooked Redrum on the other guy.
Perfect use of a squash – as a palette cleanser after two longer matches. Hook needs a proper feud though. With someone who isn’t Bryan Cage.
Winner: Hook
Schiavone in the ring to bring out Mark Briscoe. Who he introduced as making a difference in the cage match last week. So you could see where this was going. A matter of when, not if, the lights will dim.
Briscoe played to the fans and said he and his brother spent their Saturdays watching Schiavone interview Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair and others. So this is special for him. A light ‘Tony’ chant started.
Onto business. He came out to help his ‘blood brothers’ FTR. ‘That’s what we do dammit we fight for our friends, we fight for our family’. But was jumped from behind by the HOB who ‘left me for dead’. But as the show ended, it was he and his crew with their hands held high as the House crawled back to lick their wounds.
(That’s the essence of wrestling – Briscoe has values he fights for, friends he fights for, and put over the sweet feeling of winning and pain of losing.)
It’s been the most challenging year of his life but he gets knocked down, he gets back up; shoot him you better kill him; ‘we fight till we can’t fight no more and then we fight some mo’. What a damn babyface.
The HOB killed the mood with their usual spooky promo. Malakai said he likes magic tricks – sure we’re all shocked. He likes when magicians make people disappear so that’s what they’ll do to Briscoe. He said it’d happen ‘just like this’, clicking his fingers as the lights came up and Briscoe prepared for an attack. Malakai said they were already in his head.
Fun promo until the HOB interruption which is now so redundant it’s redundant to mention its redundancy.
*****
‘Cope Open’ package. Basic.
Serena Deeb vs Queen Aminata
Backstory: NONE
Serena gave her banner to a kid in the front row who was absolutely made up. Aminata’s been ‘so successful’ per Schiavone. So anyone else only seen her lose or that just me? Kelly answered this by saying it wasn’t about wins and losses at Aminata’s young age.
Lockup, Deeb switching behind, floating really, Aminata tripped, Deeb posed over her. Back to the lockup, Aminata forced Deeb down then rubbed her ass in her face. Deeb swept the leg into a seesaw submission with the arms trapped. Quick pin bagging two.
Tentative lockup, Deeb behind once more, Aminata countered back, headlock, whip off, duck down, Deeb dropped by Aminata shoulder block. Deeb hit back with a single-leg, Aminata got the ropes to block a crab. Then kicked Deeb into the buckle and hit a snap suplex out.
Ads.
Back to nice chain wrestling, Deeb working the arm; Aminata countering to avoid being taken down, Deeb hit the ropes, couple duck unders before a beautiful diving forearm, snapping lefts, Aminata wobbling, discus right taking her down. Deeb to the apron where she drew Aminata in for her seesaw neckbreaker against the middle rope, swinging one to follow back inside, count of two.
Aminata countered Deebtox via back body, Deeb held on into a unset flip, Aminata sat down to bag two. Deeb twirled her round like nine times before a backslide, Aminata out at two then a headbutt left both down.
Hip attack in the corner, Deeb avoided a dropkick there (Aminata’s not playing with that, she came with force even knowing she was missing), hooking the legs around the ringpost for a figure four, Deeb perched on the steps to help.
Deebtox sought once more, Aminata blocked it again until a swinging neckbreaker left Aminata down, Serena smashing the knee against the mat before the immediate tap as the Serenity Lock was applied.
Not spectacular but not a lick of daylight in this one. Which is a base the women’s division needs to apply.
Winner: Serena Deeb
Was wondering what was coming before the main event. And found out as Schiavone called Swerve Strickland to the ring. Crowd went wild. And I threw my arms up. Why the in the blue hell would you not advertise and push this appearance? That’s two shows this week where they’ve failed to push the appearance of arguably their most popular performer.
Nana was back too. Schiavone asked about Swerve’s match with Hangman Wednesday.
Swerve said it was Black History Month. And is ‘noble enough’ to recognize all the people who paved the way for him. Like Ron Simmons. ‘My friends who made black history – Kofi Kingston’ and wrestlers ‘in house’ like Athena.
Wednesday he has a chance to do what he promised when he arrived in AEW – become the world champion. He admitted doing ‘terrible, horrible… reprehensible things’ to get here. ‘And I wouldn’t regret any of it’.
Crowd got quiet there because that’s what happens when people aren’t sure whether to cheer or boo, they don’t make any noise.
Schiavone mentioned Hangman to some boos. A ‘cowboy shit’ chant started behind that. Swerve called him ‘a man that’s in my way’ to becoming champ. Who’s left scars on his body. Who he’s beaten twice. Maybe he can finally put Page behind him once and for all and become Black History then become world champion.
Nana grabbed the mic and started talking about controlling things as the top faction. Swerve cut him off and told Nana sternly – ‘no interferences’.
Then said ‘Whose house?’.
Great presence, charisma and control of the room. But like Strickland’s character, this lack a little clarity. The gist was there but it wasn’t a home run.
Strickland pointed at Nana sternly as if to continue the warning.
*****
Over the top even by her own standards, Toni Storm was ranting about Purazzo when May interrupted to ask if she saw her match. Storm said ‘if you’ve seen one match you’ve seen them all’. Storm got right into the camera and threatened to ‘smell’ and ‘taste’ Deonna among other things.
Then asked Luther to book her a ‘public workout’ to highlight her own technical skills.
I thought that sounded fun until the announcers then made it clear that ‘workout’ is the match against Velvet Wednesday. Which they’d already announced. This company does not seem well organized. I present to you the last two segments.
Red Velvet vs Vertvixen
Backstory: NONE
Velvet won after a few minutes with an enziguri that missed very badly. See previous comments about establishing a base for women’s matches. It’s a shame because Velvet has a lot of charisma. Like many young women in the company, she needs more seasoning.
Winner: Red Velvet
FTR & Daniel Garcia vs Christian Cage & the Patriarchy
Backstory: NONE
Garcia’s ‘grown’ over the past couple months apparently. Comes out, wrestles well, dances. Yeah that sounds like same ol’ to me.
Wayne and Dax to start, Matt Menard joined on comms. Immediate armdrag from Wayne who stopped to pose. Dax wrestled circles around him into a headlock takeover then smacked him down with a nasty chop. Wayne certainly knows how to play heel – cocky on top, whining in defeat, nice facials too.
Tag to Cage who entered to boos, was run over by Dax and hooked into a cradle for two. A second got the same result. Cage hit a kick to the mid-section, Dax again hooked him into a pin and Cage bailed. But wouldn’t tag Killswitch.
Wayne smacked Dax and offered his face, Dax tagged Garcia instead. Who knocked Wayne down twice with his shoulder, exchange of armdrags, legsweeps, to their feet, stalemate. Very nice exchange. Garcia was going to dance, Wayne smacked him and danced instead then got ole’d outside through the ropes, Cage too.
Killswitch came in to stop Garcia dancing. All six in, ads.
Garcia down in the heels’ corner as we came back. Cage choked him against the ropes, Garcia fought to his feet but took a boot and hit the deck once more. Back to the corner, the Patriarchy held him by the arms as Cage talked smack, posed in front of FTR then readied an attack.
Garcia fought out, leaping for the tag, cut off by Cage, floating over into a sunset flip for two but quickly cut off once more. Cage upstairs, diving headbutt missed, both down. Both made tags, Wheeler vs Wayne, the face running wild: strikes, Manhattan drops, dropkicks, knife edges. Leapfrog on Wayne, blind tag to Dax, Killswitch entered to block a two-on-one (why do babyfaces bother with those pesky tags?), catching FTR in chokeslam position but settling for flinging them away.
Two-on-one now FTR fired rights before a high/low took the big guy down. Wayne hooked a sneaky cradle for two then a code red for the same. But was cut off up top, Dax thinking upstairs belly to back. And hitting. Killswitch saved the pin at two and again just hung around in the ring. Allowing Cage to send Dax into a chokeslam, Wayne to the pin, Dax out at two.
Ads. This is a brilliant six-man.
Dax’s turn to be cut-off, body drop to Cage who tagged Wayne and Harwood was again stuck in the wrong corner. Tyring to fight out, Wayne nailed a snap suplex for two then grabbed a chinlock. Fighting to his feet, Dax armdragged free, belly to back after ducking a lariat, both looking for tags now.
Cage back in, Dax cut off once more, flung outside on the heels’ side. Dax sent Luchasaurus to the steps (we didn’t see all of it), he and Cage then bumped heads and we were back to both needing out.
Wayne back in, rushing to cut off Dax but running right into a body drop, Garcia in, big boot to Wayne, open hand, saito suplex, corner lariat, Cage in to cut him off, Garcia fought off both; Cash evened the odds, synchronized ten punches in the corner, crowd loudly counting along, the faces then reversed whips to nail lariats to the heels, Garcia whipped Cash into a tope, leaving him to brainbuster Wayne for a near fall.
Breathless.
Dragontamer coming, Wayne kicked free, knee to the back, beautiful fisherman for two. This is easily the best Nick Wayne has looked in AEW. He mocked Garcia’s dance again to boos. Then paintbrushed an out-of-it Garcia on the mat, was suckered into a cradle for two, ducked a lariat, thinking Killswitch, Garcia elevated him over, Wayne landed on his feet, Garcia countered back via swinging neckbreaker.
These two together are something.
Cage cut Garcia off and introduced his head to the buckle. Dax fought him off. But then Cage just went right back and shoved Garcia off the top into Wayne’s World. Garcia kicked out. Like the opener, that seemed like a good way to finish.
Cash in to powerslam Wayne out of the air, Garcia sent Killswitch to the buckle but turned into a Cage spear, Dax swept Cage into the sharpshooter, Wayne hit Wayne’s World on Dax, only he and Garcia left.
Garcia avoided a charge, avoided Wayne’s World then hooked a jackknife pin. Fast becoming the deadliest finish in AEW.
Overall, nice mix of fast, modern wrestling with classic crowd-pleasing spots.
Garcia danced as Cage looked aghast. Kelly did a nice job emphasizing that the winning trio had beaten ‘quality’ opponents two weeks in a row so should be moving up the rankings. It was made pretty clear we’re getting a Garcia/Cage TNT Title match.
Going in, I wasn’t into this match. It was great. Wasn’t into Garcia or Nick Wayne. They were great and now I want to see them wrestle. Show ended on a high. Though once again it was wrestling masking general booking deficiencies.
Sting & Darby Allin vs Ricky Starks & Big Bill (Tag Titles, Tornado)
Tony Khan ‘Big Announcement’
Chris Jericho vs Konosuke Takeshita
Hangman Page vs Swerve Strickland (Winner faces Joe at Revolution for the title)
Red Velvet vs Toni Storm (Eliminator, Deonna Purazzo on comms)
CMLL Dudes vs BCC minus Yuta
Next Collision:
Adam Copeland promo
Thumbs Up/Down
Kingston vs Keith
If you’re starving for wrestling, wrestling and more wrestling…
Main event
*****
Not a single match had a reason to exist and only the six-man left any doubt as to the winner. Tony Khan needs to ask himself whether he’d watch a season’s worth of pre-season football/NFL/NBA and then think about what he’s putting out on Saturdays
Three days. Three days it took to undercut the rankings by putting Bryan Keith and Red Velvet in Eliminator matches
A baffling lack of promotion not only for Swerve Strickland himself but the fact he was addressing his upcoming #1 contender’s match. It sometimes feels like the other stuff merely gets in the way of Tony Khan putting on matches he wants to see
Appreciate you reading. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Sami Zayn cut a promo following his dark match against Drew McIntyre last night on Friday Night Smackdown, calling the night a “pretty crazy evening.”
Zayn said that while we are “super, super lucky” that The Rock came back to WWE, The Rock is just as lucky to have WWE.
“When I say that, I mean every single one of us in the back: whether it’s Sami Zayn or Drew McIntyre, or it’s Cody Rhodes or it’s Seth Rollins, or it’s Becky Lynch, or it’s The Bloodline,” Zayn said to the Birmingham crowd. “Right now, you have the best crop of wrestlers in decades.”
He added it’s not just special for fans, but it’s also special for them because for years and years, his generation of Superstars, those who have busting their ass every night, they have to constantly listen to people talk about the good old days.
“Well, I’ve got news for you. Tonight, 10,000 people sold out this building in Birmingham. To see the best crop of performers in the world. So I have news for you and for everybody. The good old days are right here, right now,” Zayn said to the fired-up crowd.
“And I want to thank you for letting me be a part of it. And I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, each and every one of you for being a part of it with us. Thank you so much. We are all doing something special right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you, thank you very much,” he concluded.
PWInsider.com is reporting that the WrestleMania main event change was not specifically done to harm Cody Rhodes or derail his story, but simply because TKO officials are of the belief that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is the best person to create most money at the moment.
As part of his new gig with TKO, The Rock has to deliver some milestones, and one of those is a return to the ring. The Rock pushed for this WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns and used his position to make it possible, backed by the likes of Ari Emanuel and Nick Khan. In addition, age is not on The Rock’s side so delaying the match could lead to more difficulties in the future.
Delivering this match now will also deflect some of the news from the Vince McMahon sexual trafficking lawsuit and helps bring back some positive news back about the company.
PWInsider adds that Brian Gewirtz, who is the Senior Vice President of the Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, will be pitching in with ideas that involves The Rock or any of his storylines and will be attending the major shows. Gewirtz was one of WWE’s head writers during the Attitude Era and contributes big time to most of The Rock’s in-ring promos.
It seems that Triple H, as head of creative, did not have much say in this development and clearly shows that if there’s some sort of a power struggle, Johnson will definitely come out on top.
There’s also the belief that the addition of this match will “save” the WrestleMania card following the removal of Brock Lesnar from all future creative plans and the CM Punk injury, which was a major blow to WWE’s plans.
The Rock vs Roman Reigns will headline night two of WrestleMania 40 and will be officially announced on Thursday at the press conference in Las Vegas.
Variety is reporting that Chris Jericho has teamed up with author and filmmaker Jay Bonansinga to produce a psychological thriller titled Self Storage.
Jericho will be one of the executive producers through his Babyface Assassin Productions company and will also have a supporting role in the movie.
Self Storage is based on Bonansinga’s 2016 novel and centers on a heroin-addicted father and his son who accidentally lock themselves inside a self-storage unit. Surviving will depend on a battle with demons both real and manufactured by drug withdrawal.
Jericho’s recent film credit is Country Hearts Christmas, a made-for-TV movie which was released last year.
AEW President Tony Khan announced on social media that current Women’s champion Toni Storm will be defending her title against Deonna Purrazzo at the upcoming Revolution pay-per-view.
“The Virtuosa came to AEW chasing the World Title, calling out the real Toni Storm, not ‘the delusional sham.’ It’s official: they’ll fight 1-on-1 for the Title at Revolution,” Khan wrote.
Purrazzo has been with the promotion for exactly a month and made her intentions very clear from the first day she appeared on AEW television.
This is the fourth match currently on the Revolution card.
It’s not often that a video featuring The Rock on WWE television gets thousands of dislikes on YouTube, but following last night’s Smackdown, the confrontation of The Rock and Roman Reigns has garnered over 200,000 thumbs down from the WWE Universe.
Clearly invested behind Cody Rhodes and the angle of him finishing his story, The Rock came out last night and pretty much took Cody’s spot in the main event of WrestleMania 40.
The video has already garnered over 50 million views across all of WWE’s social media properties but is likely set to become the most disliked WWE video on YouTube.
Over the past couple of years, YouTube has disabled the number of dislikes shown on videos but different plugins allow that number to be viewed.
CM Punk was backstage at Smackdown last night in Birmingham, Alabama, a day after he underwent triceps surgery at Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, conveniently also located in Birmingham.
Punk was backstage throughout the whole show and had his arm in a sling. The former WWE and AEW champion is expected to be out of action for the majority of 2024.
The injury he sustained at the Royal Rumble has reportedly altered the course of WrestleMania, with a big shakeup in the main events.
WWE issued a press release announcing that Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Triple H will all be at the WrestleMania XL Kickoff press conference next week.
The non-ticketed, open-to-the-public fan and media event sponsored by Pizza Hut will happen at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas starting at 4PM PT. Doors will open at 2:30PM PT.
Fans and media will hear from both The Rock and Roman Reigns, as well as WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Onsite interview opportunities for media will immediately follow the event with both participants, Cody Rhodes, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley.
The press conference will be hosted by Monday Night Raw commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, and stream live on WWE social and digital channels as well as Peacock.
VIP experiences for WrestleMania XL Kickoff through exclusive partner On Location are available for purchase at https://onlocationexp.com/wrestlemaniaxlkickoff.
The Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles will be up for grabs at the Elimination Chamber premium live event in Perth, Australia later this month.
A small tournament to crown the number one contenders for the titles kicked off last night on Smackdown, with Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne defeating Pretty Deadly, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro of the LWO, and Angel and Humberto of Legado del Fantasma in a fatal four-way.
Four tag teams from Raw will compete in a similar match this coming Monday and the winners will then face Bate and Dunne on Friday Night Smackdown and whoever wins that match advances to Elimination Chamber.
WWE has yet to announce who will be the four teams from Raw.
FTR’s Cash Wheeler, real name Daniel Wheeler, was officially charged in the state of Florida for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an incident on July 27, 2023.
Wheeler flashed his handgun at his victim after a “road rage-type of incident” and was released on a $2,500 bond. His arraignment nearly derailed his participation at All In but the judge did not confiscate his passport, allowing him to be part of the All In historic event in London.
“State of Florida in Orange County, by and through the undersigned Designated Assistant State Attorney, under oath, CHARGES that DANIEL MARSHALL WHEELER, on or about the 27th day of July, 2023, in said County and State, did, in violation of Florida Statute 784.021(1)(a), make an assault upon DANIEL MATTA, with a firearm, a deadly weapon, and in furtherance of said assault DANIEL MARSHALL WHEELER did intentionally threaten to do violence to DANIEL MATTA with said firearm, thus creating a well founded fear in DANIEL MATTA that such violence was imminent,” the charge said.
The WWE Women’s title match at WrestleMania 40 was made official last night after Bayley chose to take on IYO SKY at the show of shows after Damage CTRL turned on their leader.
Bayley, who apparently understands Japanese and knew everything that was being said behind her back by Asuka, IYO, and Kairi, asked the group why they constantly talked about her and all she wanted was the group to be successful.
The three Japanese stars then turned on Bayley, attacking her. But Bayley managed to grab a metal pipe and fend them off. Bayley paused as she came face-to-face with SKY who was about to hit her with the title herself.
She then grabbed the microphone and said, “About that announcement, IYO, I’ll see you at WrestleMania” as the crowd exploded.
A WrestleMania 40 press conference will be held in Las Vegas next Thursday on February 8 following the blockbuster news from last night after The Rock came in to challenge Roman Reigns.
The company has not announced where the press conference will be taking place but it was a smart move as pretty much every media outlet in the United States and some international ones will be in the city for the NFL Super Bowl that weekend.
The press conference, presumably attended also by WWE’s top stars including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, will be streamed live on Peacock starting at 7PM ET.
The Smackdown women’s division just got some additional members as both Naomi and Tiffany Stratton have joined the brand.
Both Superstars appeared in a backstage segment where they announced that they have signed with the blue brand, with Stratton slapping Michin as her first order of business. Stratton later defeated Michin in her first match on the main roster.
Jade Cargill also appeared on the broadcast in a backstage segment with Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis. Cargill is still “negotiating” with both brands so it’s not clear where she will land yet.
Elektra Lopez is also now part of the Smackdown brand following arrival last week.
Roman Reigns and the Bloodline are shown arriving at the arena.
Royal Rumble highlights are shown.
Damage Control was then shown walking backstage as they announce both Bayley and Cody Rhodes will make their respective decisions about their WrestleMania opponents tonight.
Out to the ring first the WWE United States Champion Logan Paul.
As Paul made his way to the ring Corey Graves announced his new partner Wade Barrett.
Paul says he underestimated Owens, but Owens lost, and Paul is still the champ. Paul then made fun of CM Punk and his injury. Owens came out to confront Paul. Owens said it was a moral victory knocking Paul out and Paul said the brass knuckles were a set up.
Paul tells Owens he is too close to him and smells horrible and to get away from him so he can find a real challenger. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller came out.
Kevin Owens VS. Austin Theory
Waller threw brass knuckles to Theory, but Owens caught them and hit Waller. Paul who was on commentary for the match, got on the apron and tried to tell the referee about the brass knuckles as Theory tried to roll Owens up, but Owens quickly kicks out and hits Theory and pins him.
Winner: Kevin Owens
After the match Owens went after Paul but did not catch him.
Rhea Ripley was shown coming to the arena.
Naomi meets up with Mia Yim, Shotzi and Bianca and they all hug and celebrate Naomi’s return and Tiffany Stratton comes in with a Smackdown folder and she says she too has been signed to Smackdown and slaps Yim. Aldis exits his office just in time to stop Yim from going after Stratton.
Bianca is talking to Nick Aldis about what was going to happen after Bayley picks Rhea and Logan Paul busts in and demanded a match and he and Bianca got into an argument.
Legado Del Fantasma is shown at a diner and Santos said his heart is full because this is family.
Pretty Deadly VS. Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate VS. L.W.O. VS. Angel & Humberto
Wilson tries to roll up Dunne, but Dunne kicks out and then Dunne snapped his fingers and tagged Bate in and they double teamed him and pinned him.
Winners: Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate
Asuka, Iyo and Kairi are in the locker room talking and said Bayley’s done tonight and as they exit Bayley walks in and stands at the back door.
Both Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are in the ring and Bayley is announced to come to the ring.
Bayley says she has done it all at WrestleMania and said she didn’t get here alone she had her girls behind her, and she said she needs to beat one of the best and that brings her to Rhea Ripley and then said I could go another route. She then started saying the people who you thought were your friends you sometimes must prove them wrong and then said something in Japanese and say she hears them talking about her behind her back.
As Bayley asked Iyo what happened, the Kabuki Warriors attacked Bayley. Bayley slid to the corner of the ring and got a pipe and started taking out the Kabuki Warriors. She stopped before she hit Iyo and picked up a microphone and said about that announcement Iyo, I will see you at WrestleMania.
The Final Testament VS. Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits
After a brief fight, B-Fab came out and took out Scarlett and the Final Testament left the ring.
Winners: No Contest
Nick Aldis is in the office talking to Bron Breaker with a Smackdown contract and Adam Pearce comes in and asked Bron what was going on and Bron tells Nick he will hang onto the contract, but he will see Adam on Monday. Jade Cargill comes in and Nick tells Adam to leave. He tells Jade to watch Nick he has an attitude tonight.
Tiffany Stratton VS. Michin
Tiffany gets the victory in her Smackdown debut after hitting her Prettiest Moonsault Ever and getting the pin.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce are again the ring and before anyone was announce the Tribal Chief and the Bloodline make their way to the ring. Roman said there were some things said on Monday he cannot let slide. He then says he beat everyone that wrestles for that title and Seth is not the guy. Roman then tells Cody he is not going to beg him like the other guy his choice is simple he can be the very best number 2 in this business or take a crack and number 1 again.
Cody comes out, Cody asked Roman if they could have the ring to themselves then after hesitation Solo and Jimmy leave, but Paul Heyman stayed. Cody then said he cheated him. Cody says he still wants that title. Cody says he is coming for that title and everything away from Roman Reigns but not at WrestleMania and Cody says one of the counsel he talked to knows him very well and the Rock’s music comes on and the Rock comes out.
Rock hugs Cody and Cody leaves the ring. After a stare down Rock and Roman move closer to the center of the ring and continue the stare down. As the show goes off the air.
Cody Rhodes will not get the chance to finish his story at WrestleMania as despite winning the Royal Rumble and making it obvious after who he was going after, Rhodes “gave up” his spot for none other than The Rock.
On Smackdown, Rhodes came face-to-face with the champion and wondered how finishing his story would eventually look like. He said that finishing his story will mean taking everything that Roman Reigns has and not just the Undisputed WWE title. Rhodes said that he was coming after Roman…just not at WrestleMania.
Rhodes continued saying that before making this important decision, he talked with his family, friends, and peers. He had even consulted with someone that Roman Reigns knows very well.
The Rock then made a surprise appearance, coming out to a massive ovation from the Birmingham crowd. Rock shook Cody’s hand and hugged him, whispered something in his ear, and Cody exited the ring.
The Rock and Reigns then faced off to close Smackdown.
