PWInsider.com is reporting that former NWA Women’s Tag Team champion Madi Wrenkowski was at the WWE Performance Center last week and is believed to have signed an NXT deal.
The Texas native made her pro wrestling debut in October 2019 and has mainly wrestled on the independent scene since then. She did some appearances for AEW during the Dark episodes but was never signed to a deal.
Wrenkowski also attended a WWE tryout a few months ago in September.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has become a household name through his various successes in athletics and acting career, but few take the time to consider how this Samoan athlete-turned-actor has used his platform for good.
Johnson is part of the 2024 Class of The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, alongside other influential athletes of Hawaiian descent.
🌴 INTRODUCING THE POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024 🌴
– DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON of Samoan Ancestry
– DOMATA PEKO of Samoan Ancestry
– RENO MAHE of Tongan AncestryView full release here: https://t.co/jvNszOyB7j pic.twitter.com/KQsvXpqdQZ
— Polynesian Football (@PolynesianFBHOF) November 9, 2023
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder, and Inductee Jesse Sapolu told Hawaii News Now that “these men represent the very best of our Polynesian people,” and it is obvious why with the Rock’s impact on Hawaiian sports.
Johnson played college football at the University of Miami and helped them win the 1991 National Championship. Although he mostly stuck to the background, he is known as having been an avid student speaker advocating for young adults to stay in school and away from drugs.
With his first taste of the spotlight, Johnson demonstrated to the world that a Hawaiian athlete could make it to the national stage.
After a stint on the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL, Johnson went on to have a long career in professional wrestling. In 1996, he began wrestling under his real name but then took the stage name “Flex Kavana,” where he managed to catch the eye of the WWE and was signed.
Johnson chose to make his debut in WWE under the name Rocky Maivia, which combined both his father’s and grandfather’s wrestling names. After a rocky stint with fans (no pun intended), Johnson dubbed himself “The Rock” in 1997.
27 years ago today, The Rock made his WWE debut as Rocky Maivia 🤙🏼 @TheRock pic.twitter.com/pMNcEOPLfS
— 90s WWE (@90sWWE) November 17, 2023
His extensive career in the WWE shot him to stardom and further demonstrated to young Hawaiian athletes that they could achieve great things in the world of sports. The program would be nothing without avid viewers, and one way to support the sport is to bet on the WWE.
Johnson has often used his platform for activism and to donate to various charities and organizations, including Malama Kauai, a nonprofit organization to help repair flood damage in Hawaii, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His activism has furthered his positive impact on Hawaiian sports in a substantial way.
In 2018, the former WWE legend donated a gym to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman, a military base in Hawaii. In an Instagram post, Johnson got personal as he explained, “When I was a little punk kid living in Hawaii, my grandfather (wrestler, High Chief Peter Maivia) used to promote tiny wrestling shows on this base every week and would draw a few hundred people at best.”
By donating the gym, Johnson honored the military men and women at the base while also showcasing how Hawaiian sports integrate with Hawaiian life and culture.
In 2020, Johnson purchased the XFL football league and helped their relaunched season in 2023. His acquisition provided the group with opportunities to potentially expand into additional live sports and entertainment programming beyond just football.
BREAKING: @therock has purchased the bankrupt football league, the XFL, for $15 million, split evenly between Johnson and investment partner Redbird Capital. pic.twitter.com/zg6Nz0ibud
— pointspreads (@pointspreads11) August 3, 2020
The deal gave the XFL control over intellectual property rights that could be used for future growth into related live events and original entertainment content.
When asked why the XFL in Hawaii is so important, Johnson said, “To be able to come back, put the showcase on, help create an opportunity for local boys, something that I once was because I will always be one.”
If you are as passionate about Hawaiian culture and sports as The Rock himself, you can discover the best Hawaiian online casinos and Hawaiian sportsbooks on gamblingsites.com.
Three former NXT stars will return to the show next week as Wes Lee continues his quest for the NXT North American title.
Dom Mysterio appeared on the show to tell Lee that to get another title shot at Deadline, he has to overcome three other former NXT North American champions. If Lee loses the match, he can never challenge for the title again as long as Mysterio is the champion.
Those names were later confirmed to be Cameron Grimes, Bronson Reed, and Johnny Gargano.
Speaking of next week’s show, the NXT Tag Team titles will be also up for grabs as Tony D’Angelo and Stacks will defend against Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo.
Monday Night Raw this week drew 1,458,000 viewers, down 9,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast while going head-to-head with an NFL game which drew a combined audience of a record 27 million viewers.
Raw kicked off the night with 1,616,000 viewers, the highest in a few weeks, and then dropped to 1,436,000 viewers in the second hour, and finished the night with 1,324,000 viewers.
The show was #7, #8, and #9 in the top 50 cable chart for the night with 0.52, 0.49, and 0.46 ratings respectively for an average of 0.49, up 0.06 from the prior week and the best number since September 4. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
John Cena has undergone his second arm surgery under the care of Dr. Jeffrey Dugas of the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 16-time world champion had surgery on the other arm after Crown Jewel.
“Thank you for the autograph, @JeffDugasMD! So very grateful to him and his whole team for two successful surgeries,” Cena wrote on X. “A world-class facility that has me ready to seize the day… with two repaired arms!”
Cena finished his two-month stint with WWE after losing to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel and has now resumed work on his movie and television projects. Cena’s return to WWE was made possible due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Sports have always been a crucial part of human society. Some of the oldest sports that we still practice today are martial arts. Of the numerous martial arts that people take part in, wrestling is the oldest and most respected. However, wrestling in 2023 has taken a completely different meaning for most people. For that, we have the WWE to thank.
An innovator in so-called sports entertainment, the WWE has brought the concept, if not the martial art, of wrestling to the mainstream. Some of the biggest stars in the world today began as wrestlers. Names that we all recognize, like Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, or Bautista, may be massive Hollywood stars now, but they started their acting career on the WWE stage.
In terms of sports entertainment, nothing matches the WWE. It is, by far, the biggest professional wrestling organization in the United States and, more broadly, the world. Some of the biggest names in wrestling have taken the WWE stage and have even leveraged their popularity there to pursue a career in film or music.
Though related, the WWE could not aptly be called a sport. After all, the matches are pre-determined. The fighting is undoubtedly genuine, but even then, the fighters attempt to hit in a way that does the most minor damage. Indeed, WWE has more in common with television shows, or even anime, than it does with legitimate sports.
Yet, sportsbooks often create odds and let fans wager on the WWE. If you want to try betting on the WWE, you’ll find great odds at Betnow, an excellent bookie that creates top-quality odds for sports and sports entertainment. But the question is, how can you bet on the WWE when the matches are pre-determined?
Placing bets on the WWE works much the same way as any sport. You visit a bookie, review the odds, and then place a wager. However, the question is: how do WWE odds work if the outcome is pre-planned?
Well, bookies have to get creative. Of course, athleticism comes into play. However, as the WWE’s goal is primarily to entertain, the oddsmakers consider dramatic effect, wrestler popularity, fan reactions, and storytelling elements when making the odds.
For example, if a wrestler has been set up as the new face of the WWE, they will likely win the championship belt. Bookies would place the odds on them to win the championship. To put it plainly, oddsmakers consider dramatic tension rather than pure athleticism when creating odds on the WWE.
Now that we know how WWE betting works, we should consider some betting strategies. For the most part, betting on pro wrestling follows the same rules as betting on any sport. However, due to the nature of WWE, there are some changes that you need to pay attention to.
Bankroll management is such an important aspect of wagering that we needed a separate section just for that. For the uninitiated, a bankroll refers to the cash you’ve set aside exclusively for betting. It is a subsection of money management, which we all know is one of the most important aspects of an adult’s life.
There are plenty of ways to improve bankroll management skills. First, you always want to set aside a sum you know you can afford to lose. The possibility of betting on the wrong fighter is always there, and you don’t want to lose money you might need.
Second, you always want to bet small doses over a long period of time. It may seem enticing to wager big on a sure thing. But, in the grand scheme of things, putting all your eggs in one basket usually doesn’t turn out well.
Finally, don’t be afraid to change things up. Maybe the sum you’ve set aside was too large, and you need to downsize. Perhaps the opposite is true. Experiment with your bankroll until you hit just the right sum. Until then, don’t go overboard with the wagers.
It depends on the definition of real. The WWE is scripted. However, the wrestlers still fight, even if the choreography is staged and practiced.
Despite the staged fights, it is possible to wager on the WWE. There are just different factors that you need to consider when doing so.
The biggest thing to pay attention to is the odds laid out by the bookie. If you understand those, everything else should fall in place.
Moneyline bets are by far the most popular choice. Other common betting options include parlays and point spreads.
Since Roman Reigns defeated real-life cousin Jey Uso in the main event of Summerslam at Ford Field back in August, the usually white-hot promotion has begun to run somewhat cold. The powers that be within the company – namely new owners Endavor and Head of Creative Triple H – won’t be too nervous though. The fall is traditionally WWE’s quieter period courtesy of the return of America’s major sporting leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and NHL.
But as we approach the festive period, business will begin to pick back up for the professional wrestling giant. The recent Crown Jewel event featured all of the company’s biggest stars including reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, and newly minted United States Champion Logan Paul. With further blockbuster events around the corner, here are three things fans can look forward to as WrestleMania season approaches.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, a potential CM Punk return has been mooted for months. Ever since the Second City Saint was released from AEW for yet another backstage altercation, all roads have seemingly led to a WWE reunion.
The 45-year-old left the company almost exactly a decade ago, citing a number of irreparable differences that saw him walk out on his employer the night after the 2014 Royal Rumble. A lot of bad blood has been spilled since – both by Punk and WWE brass in the form of the aforementioned Triple H and longtime chairman and founder Vince McMahon. But they say, never say never when it comes to WWE.
Fans are expecting Punk to return at the upcoming Survivor Series event on November 25th. The show is taking place in the two-time WWE Champion’s hometown of Chicago and for weeks, the company has been teasing his return both on WWE TV and on social media. Whether it actually comes to fruition or not remains to be seen, but fans will certainly leave the All-State Arena unhappy if their hometown hero doesn’t show his face.
The Royal Rumble is one of the most highly anticipated events on the WWE calendar. It takes place every January, with the winner of the 30-man over-the-top-rope extravaganza punching their ticket to the main event of WrestleMania. As the match draws near, even the mainstream outlets are jumping on the bandwagon, with bookmakers working overtime to keep up with the coverage.
Last year, a popular ufc mma sportsbook made Cody Rhodes the +125 favorite to win the big match, and he duly delivered, last eliminating Gunther to secure his spot in headlining Show of Shows against the reigning champion Roman Reigns. Many expected the challenger to get the victory and he was heavily favored both by the bookies and by fans. However, in a shocking twist of fate, it was the champion that retained his title, much to the amazement of the 83,000+ in attendance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Almost one year on, Reigns remains champion, a championship he has held for a mammoth 1,170 days and counting.
But with Rhodes’ story still unfinished, all eyes are on the American Nightmare winning the Royal Rumble match once more and earning his rematch with the Tribal Chief. Should that come to fruition, the former AEW star will become the first man since Stone Cold Steve Austin to win back-to-back Rumble matches, a feat that the Bionic Redneck achieved with consecutive victories in 1998 and 1999. Can Cody finally finish his story once and for all and will he take the first step up the mountain he intends to climb on January 27th at Tropicana Field?
WWE has been branching out into its overseas market more and more in recent years. The company puts on two shows in Saudi Arabia every year and in the last two years, it has also taken shows to the United Kingdom. Last September, Scotland’s Drew McIntyre was unsuccessful in his attempt to usurp Reigns as the undisputed champion while earlier this year, The Usos handed Reigns his first pinfall loss in three-and-a-half years, albeit in tag team action.
This February, WWE will take its annual Elimination Chamber event to Perth, Australia. The event will mark the first time in history that the company has taken a Premium Live Event down under and they will do so inside the 65,000-capacity Optus Stadium. Last year’s Elimination Chamber event was one of the most highly anticipated shows on the calendar.
It featured the culmination of Sami Zayn’s battle with Reigns and his Bloodline faction, and he would compete to become champion in his hometown of Montreal, Canada. Unfortunately for him, that particular contest would end in defeat, but who knows what may happen in the Land Down Under this February?
It was a rough night on Friday for AEW programming with Collision, Rampage, and the Countdown to Full Gear all getting very low viewership figures.
While WWE had the advantage of network with Smackdown and Collision airing outside its regular day, the 270,000 viewership for the two-hour show head-to-head with Smackdown was a record low and probably not expected to drop that much.
Rampage also did a record low, but actually beat Collision in viewers and demo. This is the third time that Rampage pulled one up over Collision, with the August 4 and September 1 episodes also doing better.
The Countdown to Full Gear did just 139,000 viewers from 11PM and a 0.04 rating in 18-49.
What is more striking is that all these three shows together – 270,0000 viewers, 280,0000 viewers, and 139,000 – had less combined audience than NXT in the same week.
AEW pulled a total of 689,000 viewers for a three-and-a-half hour block on Friday whereas NXT had 703,000 viewers on Tuesday.
Monday Night Raw set a new record for the amount of women appearing on a single show last night, with a total of 26 WWE Superstars featured throughout the three-hour broadcast.
Those who appeared on Raw included Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez, Becky Lynch, Xia Li, Lyra Valkyria, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Shotzi, Bayley, IYO SKY, Asuka, Kairi Sane, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Natalya, Tegan Nox, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Maxxine Dupri, Ivy Nile, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, and Valhalla.
Triple H has long been a supporter of the women’s division dating back to his NXT days so it’s not surprise to see this translating to the main roster as well.
Smackdown has also for the past two weeks featured the women heavily with the WarGames set up and the women main evented two Smackdowns in a row now, with last week’s show also having an episode-long angle for the WarGames match.
Do you want to find the safest vape juice? There is a lot of confusion surrounding selecting the right e-juice, especially for beginners. While you must understand your device and how different liquids interact with it, there are vital signs when choosing a smooth vaping experience that can be easily identified. In this blog post, we will look at what they are so that anyone looking for the safest possible vaping experience can learn more about their options.
When it comes to selecting a vape juice, beginners should prioritize safety. One way to do this is by looking for specific ingredients that have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These ingredients have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation, ensuring they meet certain quality and safety standards.
By choosing a vape juice with FDA-approved ingredients, beginners can feel more confident in the product they are using. However, it is essential to note that not all vape juices on the market meet this requirement, so individuals should research and carefully read labels before purchasing.
As a beginner in vaping, it’s essential to know what ingredients are in your vape juice and if they’ve been tested for purity. One way to ensure the safety of your vape juice is by looking for third-party lab tests. These independent tests assess the purity and quality of the ingredients in vape juice, giving you peace of mind knowing that you’re inhaling a safe product.
Third-party lab tests protect consumers from unscrupulous manufacturers who might use substandard or unsafe ingredients in their vape juice. So, always opt for vape juice that has been third-party lab tested as a sign of safety and quality.
When it comes to choosing the safest vape juice, there are a few things that beginners need to keep in mind. One of the most important factors to consider is the nicotine level. For many beginners, choosing a flavor they enjoy is the priority, but it’s essential to ensure the nicotine level is clearly labeled on the bottle.
Vape juices with high levels of nicotine can be dangerous for beginners who are not accustomed to the effects of nicotine on their bodies. By choosing a vape juice with a clearly labeled nicotine level, beginners can make informed decisions and avoid any potential dangers. While it may seem like a small detail, being able to easily see the nicotine level of a vape juice can make a big difference in ensuring a safe and enjoyable vaping experience.
Packaging is an important aspect to look for when searching for a safe vaping experience. Beginners must be aware of childproof packaging when selecting their vape juice. This type of packaging is designed to prevent children from accessing the contents inside. Childproof packaging can come in various forms, from bottles with locks to caps that require two hands to open.
This added security ensures that curious children will not accidentally ingest the e-liquid or harm themselves. By choosing vape juice with childproof packaging, beginners can have peace of mind knowing that their vaping experience is a safe one.
As a beginner, choosing the right vape juice can be daunting. With a myriad of options available, it’s essential to prioritize safety before anything else. One key sign of a safe vape juice is the absence of artificial flavors and colors. This is because artificial additives often contain harmful chemicals that can cause harm to the body.
By choosing a vape juice with all-natural ingredients, you can avoid exposing yourself to potentially dangerous substances. So, the next time you’re browsing for vape juice, look for products that are free from artificial flavors and colors to ensure a safer, more enjoyable vaping experience.
As a beginner in the vaping world, it’s crucial to know what makes vape juice safe for consumption. One important factor to consider is the cleanliness of the facility where the juice is made. Vape juice in a clean facility is typically free from harmful contaminants, ensuring a healthier vaping experience.
Cleanliness is essential to avoid exposure to harmful bacteria or chemicals that can lead to health risks. Look for vape juice brands that prioritize a clean manufacturing process to ensure that you are consuming a safe and healthy product.
For beginners who are new to vaping, one of the most important things to look out for when purchasing vape juice is the shelf life expiration date. This is a sign of a safe and reliable product carefully formulated and produced to meet specific standards. The expiration date should be marked on the packaging, and it is essential to always check this before using any vape juice.
A vape juice that has expired can be harmful to your health and may even pose a fire risk. By checking the expiration date, you can ensure that you are using a quality product that will provide you with a smooth and satisfying vaping experience.
Rampage, airing immediately following the conclusion of Collision, drew 280,000 viewers this week, down 42,000 viewers from the previous week but outdrawing Collision. This was the least-watched episode ever of Rampage so far. The show drew a 0.09 rating in 18-49, down 0.04 from the previous week and placed #34 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
A report by Deadline has revealed that Seven Bucks Productions, the Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia-led production company, is working with Vice Studios on a new docuseries “investigating the mysterious demise of World Championship Wrestling.”
There have been no additional details about this project but this follows their first series together which was named Tales from the Territories, produced in conjunction with the creators of Dark Side of the Ring.
That series was nowhere near popular as Dark Side of the Ring and is not returning for a new season.
Nothing is mysterious about the demise of WCW so the description of this production did raise some eyebrows.
Seven Bucks Productions has over 60 film and television projects in active development according to Deadline.
AEW will be announcing all the 12 competitors for the Continental Classic tournament in a stream airing on AEW’s social media accounts tomorrow. The announcement was made by Tony Khan in a post on X.
“This Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, AEW Continental Classic Selection Special, all 12 fighters announced, interviews + more!,” Khan said. “The Selection Special streams this Wednesday + that same night, celebrate Thanksgiving Eve with Continental Classic matches this Wednesday.”
Four of the 12 competitors have been announced already in the form of Bryan Danielson, Andrade El Idolo, Eddie Kingston, and Mark Briscoe.
The round-robin tournament, split in two groups of six, will crown the new AEW Triple Crown champion as AEW looks to merge the ROH World title, the NJPW Strong Openweight title, and the new Continental Classic title. Eddie Kingston is currently the ROH World and NJPW Strong Openweight champion.
Each match of the tournament will be held across AEW’s three television shows – Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision – with the final match set for the AEW Worlds End PPV on December 30.
Collision, which aired on Friday night instead of Saturday and against Smackdown, drew a record-low viewership of just 270,000 viewers, down 126,000 viewers from the previous week. The show had to change nights due to the Full Gear pay-per-view airing in its usual time slot on Saturday night. Collision drew a 0.08 rating in 18-49, down 0.03 from the previous show and placed #45 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
In a bid to boost attendance at this Wednesday’s Dynamite live from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, AEW is offering two tickets for the show for the price of just $14.50 plus fees.
The city will have three wrestling shows this week, although WWE’s shows are technically in Rosemont with Smackdown and Survivor Series this weekend.
The Thanksgiving Eve episode of Dynamite is a tradition to be held in Chicago but over-saturation of the market from AEW has led to record low attendance in the city which usually turns out in full force for the company.
Dynamite is nearing 4,000 in attendance for this Wednesday’s show and you can take advantage of the BOGO offer by using the code BG2XP1 on Ticketmaster.com.
Smackdown is at 15,500 while Survivor Series is on the way to a sell out with a capacity of around 17,000.
Both AEW World champion MJF and Juice Robinson are currently dealing with injuries according to two different reports.
The @WrestlePurists X account is reporting that MJF has hip and elbow issues stemming from his match against Jay White on Sunday. The champ suffered a dislocated hip and required medical attention after the match to have it popped back.
The injury happened when MJF hit a flying elbow on White who was positioned a table outside, but the table broke before MJF took flight. MJF still went ahead with the move.
MJF is not expected to miss any TV time but will not be wrestling until he is healed.
Meanwhile, Juice Robinson of The Bullet Club Gold has a back injury and needs surgery according to another report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select. While it’s not expected that Robinson will be out for a long time, it’s likely we won’t see him again until early in the new year.
Robinson was taken out on Rampage in a backstage segment which is likely the explanation why he won’t be on TV for several weeks.
Friday Night Smackdown on FOX drew 2,206,000 viewers for its latest show, up 11,000 viewers from the previous week despite having another wrestling show in Collision going head-to-head. Smackdown pulled the best 18-49 number since October 13, registering a 0.62 and easily winning the night on both network and cable television. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
Nick Hausman of Haus of Wrestling is reporting that there have been no talks between WWE and MJF and the belief is that the current AEW World champion has re-signed with the company.
MJF has been teasing a 2024 bidding war as his contract was set to expire in January 2024 but that narrative has not been pushed lately and MJF is sitting pretty with the title on a run of his career at the moment.
The popular star had said in a recent interview that Tony Khan is desperately trying to keep him and there’s a lot of things he like in WWE, and ultimately, it boils down to who will offer the most money.
MJF has been part of AEW since day one and has grown to become one of the most important individuals in the company, currently holding both the AEW World and ROH Tag Team titles.
Randy Orton will be returning at the Survivor Series to join the team of Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso in their war against Judgment Day.
The Orton announcement came after McIntyre beat Uso to get the WarGames advantage. With his team out, Rhodes said that they found a fifth member to join them in the match and he reached out to a guy who had a legacy and who is an apex predator.
As the crowd filled the arena with “Randy” chants, Cody played to it and said that we’re not hearing voices in our heads because the fans were correct.
Orton has not wrestled since the May 20, 2022 episode of Friday Night Smackdown where he and Riddle lost the tag team titles in a unification match to Jimmy and Jey Uso. He has been sidelined since that day with a back injury which also required extensive surgery and has been off WWE television for nearly 18 months.
The men’s WarGames match at this Saturday’s Survivor Series has been turned into the traditional five-on-five match.
As expected, Drew McIntyre has joined the group of Judgment Day for this match and on Raw he said that they’re the ones who offered the one thing he wanted: Jey Uso in a cage.
McIntyre went on the defeat Jey Uso in the main event of Raw to earn his team the WarGames advantage. Meanwhile, the faces also received some backup.
After looking for a partner, with Zayn and Rollins coming up empty handed, Cody Rhodes said he made a phone call and that “he’s in” and they are in business.
