A tournament will be held to crown the next NXT Women’s champion after Indi Hartwell surrendered the title ahead of their move to Monday Night Raw.
The eight-woman tournament will have matches on the May 9 and 16 episodes of NXT. Semi finals will follow on the May 23 episode of NXT and the tournament final will be held on May 28 at the Battleground premium live event.
The quarter final matches are Gigi Dolin vs Tiffany Stratton and Roxanne Perez vs Jacy Jayne in the left bracket while Lyra Valkyria vs Kiana James and Fallon Henley vs Cora Jade are in the right bracket.
Rampage last week with The Firm Deletion headlining the show drew 294,000 viewers for a broadcast that started at 6:30PM ET. That was down 4,000 viewers from the prior week and drew the same 0.09 rating in the 18-49 demo. It was #25 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Dexter Lumis, and Indi Hartwell reunited on Monday Night Raw to reform The Way, the faction which they were part of during their time on NXT.
All four were involved in a backstage segment, refusing to sign the petition brought forward by Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green.
“Guys look at us, the whole family back together again,” Gargano said. “Like I was saying, he’s coming back soon and I think it’s gonna be great,” he continued, before LeRae cut him off to tell him she’s doesn’t agree.
Gargano did not elaborate on who he was referring to. Austin Theory was also a member of The Way but he is now busy over at Smackdown. Gargano’s former tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa was on Raw last time around so he could be the one Gargano was referring to.
Seth Rollins became the first finalist of the WWE World Heavyweight title tournament after yesterday he beat Finn Balor in the main event of Raw to book his ticket to Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions.
Earlier in the broadcast, Rollins defeated Damian Priest and Shinsuke Nakamura in the first triple threat match and later, Balor defeated Cody Rhodes and The Miz in the second triple threat match.
Cody Rhodes had the match won but Brock Lesnar came out from the crowd and broke the pin, dragged Rhodes out of the ring, and destroyed him with an F5 on the outside.
Rollins vs Balor had some flashbacks to the match the two had for the inaugural Universal title at SummerSlam with Balor even hitting a running power bomb to the security wall on Rollins, the same thing Rollins did to him to injure his shoulder during their SummerSlam match. Balor, who won the match, had to vacate the title the next day.
Rollins’ opponent will be determined this Friday on Smackdown. AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, and Edge will be in the first triple threat match while Sheamus, Austin Theory, and Bobby Lashley will be in the second triple threat match.
The winners of those two matches will meet in the main event for the other spot in the Night of Champions match.
Arena: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
City: Jacksonville, FL
The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes is out first and greatly appreciates the reception from his home during the pandemic. He said they made a lot of good memories and he wants to make more memories tonight. Since Backlash is over, he wants to turn his attention to the new World Championship. “Jacksonville, let the tournament begin” and Seth “Freakin” Rollins came out.
First match in the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament
Seth “Freakin” Rollins VS. Shinsuke Nakamura VS. Damian Priest
While Shinsuke has Damian locked in an ankle lock, Seth hits a frog splash then a pedigree on Shinsuke to get the win and advance in the tournament.
Winner: Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Imperium, without Gunther, are walking backstage ran into Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and they started yelling at Owens and Zayn for disrespecting them. Sami said if you have a problem with us, we will settle it tonight in the ring.
Otis VS. Mustafa Ali
Ali is down after Otis splashes him in the corner, then Otis rips off his T-Shirt and Chad Gable jumped up on the apron to tell him what to do next. Maxine jumped up on the other side also trying to get Otis to go cover Ali. They go back and forth for a few minutes. Ali gets up and Otis goes for another splash, but Ali moves and Otis hits the post with his shoulder and Ali hits a 450 splash for the win.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
The Miz says he is going to win the new World Championship.
The Miz VS. Cody Rhodes VS. Finn Balor * Winner will face Seth Rollins in the tournament.
After 3 Cross Rhodes on The Miz, Cody goes for the pin and is pulled out of the ring by Brock Lesnar and gets an F5 on the floor, Finn recovers and hits a Coup de Grace and pins the Miz.
Winner: Finn Balor
After the match Brock challenged Cody to a match at the Night of Champions
Rhea Ripley VS. Dana Brooke
Ripley hit a modified Riptide but instead of going for the pin she locked Dana’s legs in a submission move and Dana quickly tapped out.
Winner: Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley
After the match, she locked Dana back in what Cory Graves called the Prison Lock until Natalya comes out and Rhea just smiles in her face. Rhea and Dominik walk out of the ring after a brief stare down with Natalya.
Byron Saxton interviews Zoey Starks and she has Byron follow her over to Nikki Cross and called Nikki a weirdo and challenged Nikki to a match tonight.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS. Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci
Owens hits a Stunner on Kaiser who falls out of the ring, tag to Sami and Kevin goes for the splash on Vinci but Vinci threw Owens over the top rope only to be hit by a Helluva kick by Sami and the champions win.
Winners: The Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
In the back, Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green are circulating a petition trying to get signatures. They walk up to Johnny Gargano, Indi Hartwell and Candace LeRae and say this petition is for the injustice in the world so we can get a rematch for the tag team championship. Candace handed it to Johnny and Johnny handed it to Indi. Indi said what do you think, and Dexter Lumis walks into the crowd and just gives a thumbs down. Indi hands the petition back and says no thanks and Sonya tells her she is going to regret that. Johnny says look the whole family back together again.
Nikki Cross VS. Zoey Starks
Zoey hits what Corey calls Z360 for the win.
Winner: Zoey Starks
In the back, Rhea and Dominik are being interviewed when Tozawa comes in laughing and Dominik yells at him for interrupting Mami. Xavier Woods comes in and says he needs a match since he is now on Raw and says Dominik would be a great first match.
Trish Stratus comes to the ring next. Says Becky Lynch is missing then calls her daughter dumb for being two years old and not knowing her colors. Trish says Becky will not come back to Raw and no one will steal her spotlight. Becky’s music started playing and Trish laughed and said everyone is so gullible. Becky’s music started playing again and Trish said stop the music the joke is over and Becky slides in the ring behind her and gives Trish a Becksploader and sends Trish running.
Xavier Woods VS. Dominik Mysterio
Woods misses the elbow off the top rope and Dominik jumps over and rolls him up and held the tights for the win.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
Jinder Mahal, Sanga and Veer are coming to reshape Monday Night Raw.
The Miz in the back yelling at Shinsuke for not having his back and them both losing the match.
The Miz tries to get Shinsuke to tag with him and Shinsuke says the Miz and Shinsuke one on one.
As Sonya and Chelsea were looking for more signatures they ran into Raquel and Liv, and they said they would sign and if they wanted a rematch they could have just asked.
Cody Rhodes is interviewed by Cathy Kelly and talks about the 2nd time Brock has attacked him for no reason. Cody says the Night of Champions, I accept.
Finn Balor VS. Seth “Freakin” Rollins
With an injured arm Rollins hit a stomp on Finn to get the win.
Winner of the Raw Championship Tournament: Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Rollins will face the winner of the Smackdown Tournament on Friday at the Night of Champions.
Bianca Belair became the longest reigning women’s champion of the modern era on the main roster, crossing 400 consecutive days as Raw Women’s champion.
The previous record was held by Becky Lynch who held the title for 398 days before she had to surrender it due to her pregnancy.
You have to go back to 2005 and the WWE Women’s title to find someone who held the title longer than that. It was Trish Stratus, who won it at New Year’s Revolution in San Juan in January of that year, losing it to Mickie James at WrestleMania 22 in April 2006 for a title reign of 447 days.
Bianca’s next milestone after possibly surpassing Trish Stratus will be 501 days, a record held by Rockin’ Robin from October 1998 until the title was deactivated in February 1990.
NXT had three women who held the NXT Women’s title over 400 days, with Mandy Rose at 413, Shayna Baszler at 416, and Asuka at 522.
The new rosters which were decided during the two-night WWE Draft will come into effect today with Monday Night Raw.
The WWE website already updated the graphics for each brand, with Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens on the Raw banner and Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, Solo Sikoa, Charlotte Flair, Austin Theory, and Bobby Lashley on the Smackdown banner.
What happens to the Raw and Smackdown Women’s titles remains to be seen as Belair, who is the Raw Women’s champion is now on Smackdown and Ripley, who is the Smackdown Women’s champion, is on Raw. Last time this happened, WWE simply switched the titles and it didn’t go exactly according to plan, with Becky and Charlotte bringing their real-life drama in the ring.
The Intercontinental and United States titles also switched brands, with IC champion Gunther now on Raw as part of Imperium and U.S. champion Austin Theory on Smackdown.
NXT Women’s Tag Team champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn have also been called up to Smackdown and said that they’re bringing the titles with them. Indi Hartwell, who was the NXT Women’s champion when she was drafted to Raw, surrendered her title last week on NXT.
Are you a diehard UFC fan looking for excitement? Do you need an adrenaline rush from a knockout punch or the thrill of watching masterful grappling techniques just moments away from victory? Then get ready for some of the most action-packed upcoming fights in the UFC!
From historic main events to thrilling undercard matchups, we’re breaking down all the biggest fights scheduled over the next few months. There are sure to be some blockbusters that won’t disappoint even the most die-hard fight fans!
So crack those knuckles and lace up your gloves – it’s time to break down some compelling fights and figure out who will come out victorious in this ultimate battle royale!
A UFC Overview
Since it began in 1993, the UFC has risen in popularity. Every year, the UFC holds over 500 fights across its various divisions and weight classes combined for men and women. From the men’s heavyweight to the women’s featherweight division, fighters from around the globe compete in MMA bouts for glory and a shot at becoming champions. Many of these prized fights take place on Saturday nights for American viewers with championships up for grabs.
The UFC currently has 12 active divisions, with athletes of various backgrounds competing against each other in captivating battles that have fans on the edge of their seats. With so many different weight classes and hundreds of fights every year, something exciting is always happening inside the Octagon!
Examining the Most Anticipated UFC Fights
Fans of the ultimate fighting championship are in for a treat this year with the fights set to take place. The upcoming matchups have stirred up excitement and anticipation within the fighting community.
The last time we watched a Conor McGregor fight was in January 2021, when he lost to Dustin Poirier. McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon against Michael Chandler is expected to happen in the second half of 2023. Another match set to take place in the next couple of days is between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo, a battle of undefeated fighters.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is expected to put his title on the line later in 2023 against Stipe Miocic. Jones is rumored to potentially retire after the title fight. Meanwhile, women’s UFC champion Amanda Nunes will put her title on the line this summer when she goes up against Irene Aldana. Nicknamed “The Lioness,” Nunes is the No. 1 pound-for-pound women’s UFC fighter.
If you want to place a few bets on UFC’s upcoming fights and add excitement to the match, it’s important to do so safely. First, set a budget for yourself and stick to it. Second, do your research and only bet on fighters you understand well, particularly knowing their skills and track record.
How to View Each UFC Fight
If you’re a UFC fan, you don’t want to miss a single fight. But with so many events happening worldwide, it can be tough to track them all. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to view every bout. One popular option is to stream the fights online through services like UFC Fight Pass or ESPN+. You can also catch the action on television through providers like Fox Sports and ESPN.
If you’re feeling social, you can head to your local sports bar and catch the fights with fellow fans. Whichever route you choose, you’re sure to have a thrilling viewing experience watching the world’s best mixed martial artists battle it out in the UFC cage.
Behind-the-Scenes Facts About the Fighters
Fighters are highly-trained athletes who put their bodies and skills to the ultimate test inside the ring or cage. But did you know that behind the scenes, they must undergo a rigorous process before stepping into the arena? Prior to their fight, they typically go through a weight cut, which involves losing a certain amount of weight to compete in their respective weight class.
They must also follow a strict diet and undergo medical examinations to ensure they are physically fit to fight. During the fight itself, there’s more to it than just throwing punches and kicks. Fighters have to strategize and make split-second decisions to outsmart their opponents. It takes a lot of dedication, discipline, and hard work to make it to the top.
Conclusion
With the upcoming UFC year already filled with promise, now is the time to take advantage of the incredible matchups and events. As we prepare to see the amazing skill of each of these athletes, it’s important to remember that MMA fighters are more than just competitors—they’re athletes with their own stories that we can appreciate and learn from.
Knowing which fights are coming up, the odds on who will win, and tips for enjoying them safely, you will be ready no matter what happens. This year, we can eagerly anticipate an exciting and unpredictable adventure every time a fight begins!
In an Instagram story pushed to his 45 million followers, Bad Bunny uploaded an image of the LWO hoisting him up at Backlash, describing the day as a dream.
“I’m still processing this. There are no words to describe what I felt that day… wow! It was a dream,” Bunny wrote, translated from Spanish.
“Thank you PUERTO RICO!!! You were the stars these two nights! There is no energy like the one you provided!! People now know who the best wrestling fans in the world are world!! PFKNR!!!”
The global superstar had a busy few days, headlining Coachella, then Met Gala, and then a street fight against fellow Puerto Rican Damian Priest at the WWE premium live event.
WWE issued a press release today announcing that this past weekend’s Backlash was the highest-grossing and most-viewed Backlash in company history.
Viewership of Backlash saw a 28% increase versus the record set in 2022. It also had the largest gate ever for any WWE event held in Puerto Rico and the largest gate in the history of Backlash. Smackdown on Friday had 16,896 fans while Backlash followed with 17,944 fans for a complete sell out.
This year’s event also marked the most social Backlash of all-time, led by over 40 million views of the San Juan Street Fight featuring Bad Bunny vs. Damien Priest. The hashtag #WWEBacklash, accompanied by a custom Bad Bunny emoji, trended No. 1 across the entire evening of sports.
In addition, Backlash broke merchandise and sponsorship records. As the first-ever WWE event under the expanded partnership with Fanatics overseeing the on-site event retail experience, top-selling items included the WWE Backlash and LWO Puerto Rico t-shirts. Sponsorship revenue surpassed any Backlash event in history, breaking last year’s record with a 98% year-on-year increase through partnerships with Netflix’s FUBAR, Mike’s Harder Lemonade and Xfinity.
The wrestling sector is one of the largest industries worldwide, with WWE’s global success over the past five decades paving the way for independent shows and aspiring stars seeking to join major companies. However, wrestling in Africa remains largely unnoticed, with few stars being picked up from the region. Despite being a popular option for Congo sports betting, the industry in the continent has yet to reach its potential. Nevertheless, with WWE investing in talent across the region, the wrestling industry in Africa could be on the verge of a significant boom.
Africa’s Pro Wrestling Champions
The WWE investment in the continent is likely to be huge news for some of the independent shows that are already running in Africa. One of the most popular comes in the form of Africa’s Pro Wrestling Champions, which is the standout show staged in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The show has helped catapult the careers of many of its champions, including the Mighty Man, who held the National Heavyweight Championship.
The added investment in the region comes following the success that other African wrestlers have enjoyed during their time in the WWE. Below, we will look at some of the trail-blazing African WWE stars that have set the standard that future stars will be looking to follow.
Kofi Kingston
There have been few more popular stars throughout WWE history than Kofi Kingston. Born in Ghana, the wrestler moved to the United States to attend Boston College, before he was then picked up on a developmental deal by the WWE in 2006. He made his debut on weekly television just two years later, before then enjoying a hugely successful run between 2008 and 2013. During this period, he would win the Intercontinental Championship on four occasions, and hold the United States Championship three times.
However, it was the formation of The New Day in 2014 that saw his star elevate further. The tag team would become the most successful tag team in history and later helped set up a dream world title showdown with Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35. Kingston was successful in his pursuit, and his win would see him become the first, and to date, the only African-born world champion in WWE history.
Justin Gabriel
Justin Gabriel remains best known for his time in WWE after getting signed by the company after success in the independent circles in both South Africa and the United States. He made his debut in his homeland of South Africa aged just 16, and he later became the first WWP World Cruiserweight Champion in WWP as P.J. Black. However, it was his time in WWE that saw him amass a huge fanbase, as he competed in the inaugural edition of NXT, finishing third.
He then made his main roster debut in June 2010 as part of The Nexus. The faction was one of the most exciting stories in WWE throughout their early run, as they feuded with stars such as John Cena, Edge, and Bret Hart. Gabriel enjoyed a lot of success throughout his career in WWE, winning the Tag Team Championships on three occasions between 2010 and 2011. However, his stay in WWE came to an end in 2015, as he departed the company for TNA.
Omos
One of the fastest-growing African stars in the WWE at present is Omos. The WWE has signed the 28-year-old after opting for a career in professional wrestling after playing college basketball. He was signed by WWE in 2019 and began competing in NXT later in the year. However, he would be moved up to the main roster as part of Shane McMahon’s Raw Underground. Following the segment being scrapped, Omos became a familiar face on weekly television, as he aligned with former world champion AJ Styles in 2020.
The team later won the Raw Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 37, before they lost the gold to Randy Orton and Matt Riddle at SummerSlam. The team later split, before Omos joined forces with MVP in 2022. This has led to a gathering run of momentum for Omos, as he lost to Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 38, before defeating Apollo Crews later in the year. Omos later worked with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39, before losing to the former UFC Heavyweight champion.
Final Thoughts
There are a growing number of African stars on the WWE roster, and the investment from the company in the nations of the continent will help unearth future stars. The money spent by the WWE in Africa will have a huge impact on the recognition that it will get, and there will be a clear path to the top of the industry.
Eddie Kingston announced that he will be out for around two months due to a hernia surgery that he will be undergoing tomorrow.
The 41-year-old revealed the news during the end of the Sunday ROH television tapings in Orlando, Florida. He did not participate in any matches during the two-day tapings held at Universal Studios.
Kingston, who recently switched from AEW to Ring of Honor, had said earlier that he had been dealing with this injury for around eight months and has not wrestled since the Supercard of Honor pay-per-view at the end of March.
Typically, hernia surgeries require at least six weeks to heal before resuming any heavy lifting or exercise.
Reflecting on her unforgettable night at Backlash, Zelina Vega wrote a heartfelt post to thank several people who made it happen on Saturday.
She said she woke up on Sunday morning with happy tears and praying that it was not a dream like it always was.
“I wish I could hug every. single. one of you in the audience and everyone sending their love from home,” she wrote. The audience gave her a welcome of a lifetime and a standing ovation after the match, one which she will certainly remember forever.
“You have NO IDEA how much this meant to me. This weekend…my life changed forever. I’m so honored,” she continued.
Vega thanked the fans, her family, her co-workers, fellow LWO members, her husband, and the “village” who created her gear, hair, and make up to make her look like a superhero, a princess, and a rockstar all rolled into one.
Vega also noted that she finally heard Triple H telling her that he’s proud of her.
“He was talking to me this time. I’m crying even typing this,” Vega wrote.
“I’ll never ever forget this…neither will my family…and I promise, you’ll get all of me EVERY TIME. This is not over, this is just the beginning… someday I will become WWE Women’s Champion.”
The 12 WWE Superstars – six from Raw and six from Smackdown – who will battle in the tournament to crown the new WWE World Heavyweight champion were revealed.
Those from Raw are Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, Seth Rollins, and The Miz. Smackdown will be represented by AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley, Edge, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus.
The tournament will consist of four triple threat matches, two taking place on Raw tonight and two taking place on Smackdown this coming Friday. The winners of those triple threat matches will face each other in the main event of Raw and Smackdown respectively and then the final two standing will wrestle for the title at Night of Champions later this month in Saudi Arabia.
WWE and AEW have drawn talents from all around the world because of their ability to sell out huge arenas across the world. Australia is a sports-crazed country and betting on all sports, including wrestling, is incredibly popular at the best Australian online sports betting sites. Australia has enjoyed much international success in sports such as cricket and rugby but how good is Australia at wrestling? In this article, we will take a look at some of the best Australian wrestlers of all time.
Rhea Ripley
There are few more popular, or successful, Australian wrestlers in modern history than Rhea Ripley. The star was born in Adelaide, before moving to the United Kingdom to compete on the NXT UK platform. During her time with the promotion, she became the first-ever NXT UK Women’s Champion and later won the NXT Women’s Championship when moving up to the North American brand.
However, she has continued to showcase her skills on the main roster since being called up to the WWE, becoming the Raw Women’s champion in her first 12 months. She later completed the set at WrestleMania, as she became the SmackDown Women’s champion, becoming the first superstar to ever win all five titles during her career. Ripley also became the first Australian world champion in WWE history, and she also set the women’s record for the longest time spent in the Royal Rumble when winning the famous match in 2023.
The IIconics
Women’s wrestling has always flourished in Australia, and there was further evidence of that based on the success that The IIconics achieved throughout their run in WWE. The team consisted of best friends Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, who came through the independent circles together, before working their way up to the NXT roster in 2015. Despite working as jobbers, and failing to pick up a win in their first 12 months in NXT, they quickly transformed their characters to become one of the most formidable teams on the show. That was highlighted by their successful chase for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships. After dropping the gold, the team moved up to the main roster and won the Women’s Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 35.
In the process, they became the first all-Australian team to hold tag team titles in WWE history, and they also became the first Australians to win a major title at the flagship show. The team would later break up in August 2020, before being released by the WWE in April 2021.
Buddy Murphy
Buddy Murphy has competed in some of the biggest wrestling promotions throughout his career and is currently competing in All Elite Wrestling. Murphy wasted no time in making his mark at the company, as he captured the AEW World Trios Championship alongside Malakai Black and Brody King.
However, He is best known for his time in the WWE. Born in Melbourne, he signed with NXT in 2013. He quickly enjoyed success in North America on the developmental brand, as he won the NXT Tag Team Championships alongside Wesley Blake. That was a historic moment for Australian wrestling, as he became the first-ever Australian to win a title in WWE. At the start of 2018, he was moved to the main roster, first competing on 205 Live, before being assigned to the SmackDown brand in 2019.
However, later in the same year, he switched to Raw, and aligned himself with Seth Rollins, leading to the pair winning the Raw Tag Team Championships. But, Murphy was released from WWE in June 2021, before he then went to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling, before signing with AEW in February 2022.
Final Thoughts
The future of Australian wrestling looks brighter than ever, with some of the biggest stars on the major brands representing the nation. Not only are they holding their own with other big stars from across the globe, but they are landing major world titles. That success only looks set to continue for generations to come, as stars such as Ripley and Murphy have highlighted that there is a clear path to the top of the sport with the world’s biggest promotions. The popularity of the sport in Australia also remains extremely high, meaning that it isn’t out of the question that we could see both AEW and WWE regularly holding shows in Australia over the coming years.
Carlito’s return at Backlash last night was one of the many highlights the show had over its three-hour runtime.
In fact, among all the videos that WWE uploaded on social media from last night, Carlito blowing the roof off the Coliseo has proven to be the most popular.
How popular? In 13 hours, it racked up 1 million views on YouTube, 1.3 million views on Twitter, and an additional 1.6 million views on TikTok. And that is without counting the views on Facebook and Instagram.
The only other videos that come close to it are Bad Bunny’s intro at 1.3 million views on TikTok and Savio Vega beating Finn Balor with 1.1 million views on TikTok as well. On YouTube, the full Backlash highlights is the closest one with 660,000 views.
It looks like the LWO is here to stay, or at least, we hope so for the sake of its members!
Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, and Zelina Vega all got matching tattoos of the LWO logo while in Puerto Rico and ahead of Backlash.
“We’re solidifying the awesomeness of the LWO,” Vega said in a short WWE video as each member of the faction underwent the painful inking.
The LWO has proven to be a slam dunk as far as merchandise goes ever since its resurrection during WrestleMania season. As you can imagine LWO merchandise was pretty popular this weekend in Puerto Rico with WWE doing a customized version of the logo to include the Puerto Rican flag instead of the Mexican one.
The faction was originally introduced in WCW in 1998, captained by Eddie Guerrero. It included several members like La Parka, Rey Mysterio, Juventud Guerrera, Villano V, and many others before it was abandoned in January 1999.
That’s what Zelina Vega wrote after her part was done at Backlash.
It was a very emotional night for the young Vega who couldn’t even contain her emotions during the ring introductions. Sporting a Puerto Rican flag as part of her gear, the incredible Samantha Irvin gave her an intro to remember and the red-hot crowd did what they were supposed to do…and that moved Vega to tears.
Irvin took her time before introducing her challenger and champion Rhea Ripley, allowing Vega to let it sink in and savor the moment, a moment like which don’t come very often.
Vega did her best, but Ripley was just too powerful to overcome, and is it’s often the case, hometown favorites don’t get to enjoy a happy ending.
After the match was over, Vega slowly got back up in the middle of the ring as more tears started flowing. The Puerto Rico crowd gave her a standing ovation. Vega then blew a kiss to her family and exited the ring.
“Thank you you’ll never know what tonight meant to me. I love you all so much. Still crying,” Vega added.
As if you thought the Puerto Rico crowd couldn’t get any louder, Bad Bunny and the LWO had two aces up their sleeves: Puerto Rico’s own Savio Vega and Carlito.
Vega and Carlito might not have been the biggest WWE Superstars ever, but the duo have legendary status in Puerto Rico and you can imagine how crazy the crowd went when they each appeared during the street fight between Bad Bunny and Damian Priest.
Vega had appeared earlier in the show in a backstage segment where he gave Bunny a kendo stick with a Puerto Rican flag on it. But Carlito – and his apple – were kept as a surprise and the crowd went absolutely bananas when he appeared.
Both Vega and Carlito got in on the action as Judgment Day and the LWO brawled all over the place. Carlito even got to spit the apple in Dom’s face much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
Carlito enjoyed a seven-year career in WWE from 2003 to 2010 and then made sporadic appearances throughout the years. His last match in WWE was in February 2021 when he teamed up with Jeff Hardy against Elias and Jaxson Ryker. He is a former WWE United States, Intercontinental, Tag Team, and World Tag Team champion.
Vega worked for WWE between 1993 and 1999 and while he started as Kwang, things got better for him when he dumped the gimmick. He is mostly remembered for being part of the Nation of Domination and the leader of Los Boricuas. His last appearance before yesterday was in November 2020 when he showed up at the Survivor Series for The Undertaker’s retirement ceremony.
Wrestling has been a popular form of entertainment for many years. It has its roots in ancient Greek and Roman combat sports, and over the years, it has evolved into a spectacle that combines athleticism, showmanship, and drama. Some people argue that wrestling is not a real sport, but rather a form of entertainment, while others maintain that it is a legitimate athletic competition. In this article, we will explore both sides of the argument and try to determine whether wrestling is a sport or entertainment.
First of all, let’s examine the argument that wrestling is purely entertainment. There is no denying that wrestling is a highly theatrical event, with elaborate storylines, colorful costumes, and dramatic entrances. Wrestlers are often larger than life characters, with unique personas and catchphrases. The matches themselves are choreographed to create maximum excitement, with high-flying moves, impressive feats of strength, and dramatic finishes. It’s easy to see why some people might view wrestling as nothing more than a staged show.
However, it’s important to note that wrestling is also a physically demanding sport. Wrestlers must train extensively to build strength, endurance, and agility. They must master a variety of techniques, from holds and throws to submissions and escapes. Wrestling matches can be grueling affairs, lasting up to an hour or more, and requiring intense concentration and focus. In this sense, wrestling is no different from other combat sports, such as boxing or mixed martial arts.
So, where does that leave us? Is wrestling a sport or entertainment? The truth is, it’s both. Wrestling is a unique form of entertainment that combines athleticism and drama in a way that is unlike any other sport. It requires skill, strength, and endurance, just like any other athletic competition. But it also has an element of showmanship that sets it apart from traditional sports. And that’s where the venum logo comes in.
Venum is a brand that specializes in combat sports equipment, including wrestling gear. They understand that wrestling is both a sport and entertainment, and their products reflect that. Venum’s wrestling singlets are designed to be both functional and stylish, with bold colors and eye-catching graphics that make a statement in the ring. The venum logo represents the brand’s commitment to excellence in combat sports, whether it’s in the arena or on the big screen.
But wrestling isn’t just about flashy gear and high-flying moves. It’s also about hard work, dedication, and perseverance. And that’s where the Nike logo comes in.
Nike is a brand that is synonymous with athletic excellence. Their products are designed to help athletes perform at their best, whether it’s on the track, the court, or the wrestling mat. Nike understands that wrestling is a demanding sport that requires the right equipment and training. That’s why they offer a range of wrestling shoes that provide the support and traction wrestlers need to perform at their peak. The Nike logo represents the brand’s commitment to helping athletes achieve their goals, no matter what sport they play.
In conclusion, wrestling is a sport and entertainment. It’s a unique form of competition that requires skill, strength, and endurance, but also has an element of showmanship that sets it apart from traditional sports. Whether you’re a wrestler, a fan, or just someone who appreciates the spectacle of the ring, the venum logo and Nike logo represent the best of what wrestling has to offer – a commitment to excellence, both on and off the mat.
