Former Raw and Smackdown Women’s champion Ronda Rousey will be appearing on the upcoming FOX reality TV show titled Stars on Mars.
Debuting on Monday, June 5, Stars on Mars will put 12 celebrities as they live, eat, sleep, strategize and bond with each other in the same “space station.” While onboard, they will be faced with authentic conditions that simulate life on Mars and compete in missions to test both their brains and strength.
A reality show is not complete without eliminations…off the “space station.”
Joining Rousey are Lance Armstrong, Marshawn Lynch, Adam Rippon, Tom Schwartz, Tinashe, Tallulah Willis, Natasha Leggero, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Porsha Williams Guobadia, Ariel Winter, and Tallulah Willis.
In an interview with Forbes, WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson said he would take on Logan Paul in a WWE ring and would even “kick his f*cking ass.”
Tyson said that when he sees Paul looking good and doing well, he always sticks up for him because he gets the credit too simply because without Mike Tyson, Logan Paul would have never had a platform.
“I don’t think he’s really that serious [about a boxing match], but I’m just happy he’s receiving the success that the has. For my ego, I feel I had so much to do with that,” Tyson noted.
Paul has called out Tyson before for a boxing exhibition match but both of them love wrestling and maybe, just maybe, they could do it in WWE.
“Have you ever seen me wrestle before?” Tyson said. “I would do it! I would kick his f*cking ass, yes I would do it. Even though I love him.”
Tyson’s last appearances in wrestling came for AEW but he did state recently that he’d rather be on WWE television instead of AEW.
“This is what I found out about WrestleMania: everybody says, ‘That’s fake, that’s fake.’ But the check is real. Deep down inside — don’t let WWE know — I would do this for free!”
All Elite Wrestling has hired Will Washington, the former podcaster at Fightful Wrestling, as the new Wrestling Administrator Coordinator.
AEW President Tony Khan confirmed the appointment via a tweet and the usual All Elite graphic.
“He’s the new AEW Wrestling Administration Coordinator, working in many areas of wrestling: live events, social media, creative, PR,” Khan wrote, adding that Washington has a great mind for the wrestling business.
Washington, who hosted the Grapsody and Day After Dynamite podcasts for the Fightful website, recently resigned from his position before taking the AEW job.
“Thank you everyone for the kind words. I appreciate every single one of you,” Washington wrote. “Those of you that know me know that I love pro wrestling. I think it’s the greatest form of entertainment on earth. And I’m ready to work hard for it. Thank you @TonyKhan. Thank you @AEW.”
This week’s episode of NXT on USA Network drew 568,000 viewers, down 79,000 viewers from the Spring Breakin’ themed episode of last week. The show drew a 0.14 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 0.04 from the prior week and placed #15 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
It looks like Alicia Fox is no longer under a WWE deal as the foxy one wrote on social media that she is now “employable.”
Fox also dumped her WWE name and is now using her real name of Victoria Crawford while listing in her bio that she worked for WWE between 2006 and 2013.
The 36-year-old had not appeared regularly on WWE television since late 2019 and only made sporadic appearances for the company over the last couple of years. Fox appeared last on WWE television at the 2022 Royal Rumble where she was part of the women’s Rumble match as a surprise entry.
Fox was also part of the Total Divas series, appearing in all eight seasons either as a main cast or a recurring guest. She is a former Divas and 24/7 champion.
WWE is now advertising the Undisputed Universal champion Roman Reigns for Money in The Bank at London’s O2 Arena in July.
Reigns was not originally part of the marketing for the show but WWE has added his name and graphic this week, giving the show some additional star power.
Money In The Bank, which is virtually sold out, will take place on July 1 from London and a live Smackdown the night before will also take place at the O2 Arena.
Reigns is not advertised for this weekend’s Backlash in Puerto Rico but will be at the Night of Champions premium live event in Jeddah later this month.
NBCUniversal and FOX, who had a one-month exclusivity when it comes to negotiating a deal to keep Raw and Smackdown respectively, are nearing the end of that month as WWE CEO Nick Khan said that the one-month period kicked off during WrestleMania weekend.
During that month, WWE could not talk with other potential broadcasters for either show since it’s in the contract that the current TV partners would have first dibs on keeping the shows if they wish to.
When Khan, during the conference call with investors, was asked if there are any other TV partners involved, Khan said no, because “exclusive means exclusive.”
WWE can talk to other potential bidders after the month is done and can solicit bids. Usually current TV partners have first right of refusal, meaning that if someone else bid more for either show, both NBCUniversal and FOX can either match or pass.
The Double or Nothing pay-per-view main event was confirmed last night and it will be a four-way match between the AEW Pillars – AEW champion MJF, Sammy Guevara, Jack Perry, and Darby Allin.
Perry and Allin won their way into the main event after last night they defeated MJF and Guevara in the tag team main event match. Had they lost, MJF would have defended his title against Guevara in a one-on-one match.
MJF and Guevara had been on the same page for the past few weeks but it all exploded last night after the two ended up turning on each other during the match. Allin, who got in the blind tag, won the match after he hit his Coffin Drop finisher on Guevara.
The four-way match for the AEW World title is the only match confirmed for Double or Nothing 2023 so far.
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD. After last week drawing 863,000 & 0.28 in the 18-49 demo.
The international ticket sales are good but 18-49 demo’s down about 20% through the same period last year; even more among males. Per a Torch report.
*****
A good start, Excalibur immediately hyped tonight’s main event, which’ll decide who faces MJF at DoN.
Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy, Bandido & Roderick Strong vs JAS (minus Jericho)
Backstory: Strong’s debut after saving Cole from a JAS beatdown last week
Before Dynamite started out the way it always does. WWE have twenty-minute promos; AEW have Orange Cassidy. Bandido came out with him, shades on. A nice, quick way to give some shine to the newcomer.
And despite my own reservations, the crowd here were pleased to see Strong, who got a nice pop and ‘Roddy’ chants.
Signing Strong is just the perfect example of too many guys. He’s good in the ring; so’s the whole roster. There’s a laundry list of guys who could’ve benefitted from the tv time he’s enjoyed already. Younger guys, with potential, charisma and mic skills.
The JAS have new mumble-rap music. And like a good heel, Jericho only came out once that wall of flesh was between he and Cole. Wearing that t-shirt of black-eyed Britt Baker.
Realize it’s a high standard, but my default in these situations is what would Stone Cold do? And he damn sure wouldn’t have stood there while the crowd sang Vince McMahon’s music like Cole did.
The Ocho’ll join on comms. Immediately calling Cole a coward once more. Great stuff.
Strong and Garcia got us going, stiff lockup through two rope breaks, stiff chops following as Cole tagged in, stomping a mudhole in Garcia in the corner. Then doing the same to Parker after pump kicking him as he entered. Aggressive here before tagging Bandido, who missed off the top but hit a snap powerslam, a cheap shot from Menard bringing in all eight as they got to sluggin’.
After splitting into pairs and brawling around ringside for several minutes, Bandido took out Hager & Garcia via tope con hiro. As Cole finally realized he could just go attack Jericho but kept being cut off by the other JAS.
Back in the ring, after both 2.0 had individual suplex attempts countered, they tried a double team one, only for Bandido to counter that too. Nice booking as the break beckoned.
Hager working over Cassidy as we came back, the face in the wrong corner as Garcia went to work. Walking over his back as the quick tags continued, Hager grabbing a bear hug against the backdrop of Jericho continuing to rant against that ‘coward’ Cole.
After the heels knocked all three tag options off the apron, Cassidy ducked, dodged and stundog millionaire’d his way to tagging Strong, who ran through the heels with catch-suplexes and backbreakers. Even taking Hager down with snapping enziguris and an Angle Slam.
Looking good before triple teaming got the better of him, Cole and Bandido apparently still falling in a parallel galaxy after a single punch off the apron. Leaving Cassidy his only option, who walked right into the Dragon Slayer until Cole finally returned with superkicks for all, everyone taking out everyone until Cassidy bagged two via beach break with the first pin of the match.
Stinging slaps from Garcia were returned by deliberately weak strikes from Cassidy, Hager dragging his teammate to safety only for Orange and Bandido to take to the air. As a Strong knee strike and tag to Cole led to the Boom and the win.
Fun, non-stop action to begin the show. The right guy got the win and they subtly continued the story of Cassidy taking a beating every week.
Cole immediately sprinted the ramp to pound Jericho from the mount. Until security separated them. That’s more like it.
All in all, strong opening segment.
Winner: Adam Cole, Orange Cassidy, Bandido & Roderick Strong
Renee backstage with Perry and Darby, to ask how they felt about teaming tonight. Managing to avoid the term ‘co-exist’ because she’s great.
Perry said they had some things in common: both here since day one, both have worked hard and neither’s main evented a ppv. Following up nicely, Allin emphatically stated that they were going to win tonight just like one of them will leave with the gold at Double or Nothing. ‘Cause tonight, it’s showtime.’
Great. Love it.
*****
As they returned to the commentary booth to show where Cole had charged Jericho through some of the set. Before cutting backstage where an enraged Cole was being dragged out of the arena by security, still shouting abuse at Jericho. Who was yelling that Cole was dangerous, as Britt showed up to slap Jericho across the face, the vet hitting the deck as Baker called him ‘Bitch Jericho’ while herself being dragged away.
More good stuff. This is exactly what I wanted last week. It felt heated and wasn’t over the top. Moreover, it didn’t leave Britt as the damsel in distress whose man got revenge for her. She’s tough in her own right.
‘Get him out of here’ yelled a dazed Jericho, while laying on the floor clutching his face. Just stellar heel work.
*****
To the BCC for a promo. The start of which we couldn’t hear because – drink at home – of a production snafu. Danielson repeated Bret Hart’s best there is, was, will be phrase before ranting against the egotism. The nerve that someone could believe no-one would ever better them. ‘I am better than that legend ever was.’
He’s the best in the world today, and if he’s not, it’s one of the men alongside him. But in the future, there will be wrestlers better than him because of the BCC paving the way today.
And that’s the difference between them and the Elite. They want to push people (to be better than them) so that AEW gets better and better. And they’ll do anything to make that happen.
Mox reiterated this – they’re blades looking for iron to sharpen them, the Elite should be thankful because the BCC are making them better. The Elite used to be innovative, cutting-edge, perhaps not anymore. Before hyping next week’s match – ‘Mox & Omega, that just hits different doesn’t it’.
Their past matches may aswell have been a decade ago because he’s so much different, so much better and they’ll find out what ‘2023 Kenny Omega is really all about’. Promising to leave ‘one hell of a mark’ (making a slashing gesture to insinuate this would be literal).
Mox was great, super job pushing next week’s main event and making it seem like a fresh one because they’re ‘different’ now. As for Danielson’s part, guess criticizing Bret=auto heel but the rest of it wasn’t necessarily the most boo-able.
Also makes you wonder if the Hitman’s making an appearance on the Canadian tour, though he was never actually named.
Saraya vs Willow Nightingale
Backstory: None
Big one for Saraya, interesting to see where she’s at six months into her comeback. Willow’s pop easily outdid the heels’ reaction. Many among the crowd clapping along as she made her way to the ring. Shame she’s losing again.
The former Paige immediately left the ring, Willow backed down from the other Outcasts and was blindsided by a Saraya dropkick. Bad case of DBS there. Aggressively, Saraya fired away in the ring but was quickly run over by Nightingale, who hit a middle rope dropkick as ‘Let’s go Willow’ played.
Chops in the corner and a big running clothesline begat more chops as Soho took the ref and Toni grabbed Willow’s leg. Literal sigh.
Saraya took advantage with knee strikes before dumping Willow outside, right in front of the sharks Ruby & Toni, which the ref clearly saw but decided to follow Saraya across the ring instead. Poor guy must have a crush.
You know what followed. This act is essentially the J’s with vaginas. The interference is so endemic, so expected, that it’s eye-rollingly meaningless.
Saraya fought free of Willow, a very loose inside cradle bagged two for Nightingale; Knightcap did the same for Saraya. Toni was on the apron before Willow had even finished a running DVD, Soho was dragged in on the other side then pounced back out, Toni too hit the deck, Saraya used the distraction to hit Goodknight to win.
And still doesn’t look a shadow of her former self in-ring. Poor Willow.
Afterward they started beating on Willow until Hikaru Shida finally returned to get her revenge. Or not, the brief pause giving it away as she hugged the heels. Preparing to spraypaint Willow as Britt & Jamie slipped behind the heels, Shida spraying Saraya in the face as the Originals got the better of the Outcasts.
Got me there.
Shida then blasted through Saraya & co. with her kendo stick. It’s about time they tied up that story. She then spray-painted ‘AEW’ across them. Bad match; very nice angle. Though when the swerve is that there’s not a swerve, there are too many swerves :).
‘I’m back!’ she yelled into the camera as the faces left together.
Winner: Saraya
This might not be on your drink at home list. The House of Black appeared on Dynamite! Throwing their titles down, they said some in the company get away with murder while some are punished for following the rules.
Then announced an ‘open house’ where ‘any three individuals’ can team up for a title shot. At least applying a twist to this over-used gimmick via House Rules:
20 second count-outs
No rope-breaks
DQ is enforced but the challengers choose what that constitutes (I think, this part was confusing)
House of Black on tv and something to make their matches different. I’ll take it.
Trios Battle Royal
Competitors: Rey Fenix, Penta & Vikingo (heart emoji); QT, Hobbs & Solo (turd emoji); Acclaimed & Billy Gunn; Dark Order; Butcher, Blade & Kip Sabian; Varsity Athletes & Ari Daivari
There are surely two teams tops who can win this right? They aren’t actually going to give it to QT? In that vein, those three were the only teams who got a televised entrance. Both face teams very popular with the crowd.
Uno eliminated via Hobbs & co. Tony Nese via Fenix rope-walk punt. Josh Woods via Vikingo hurracanrana. Alex Reynolds via QT. QT & Solo via Lucha Bros, the heels grabbing their feet from the outside so Hobbs could eliminate them in not the smoothest spot.
As with the tag battle royal before Revolution, there was heavy booing when the Bros were gone. Vikingo was then caught and thrown out by Hobbs too. Almost silencing what’d been a hot crowd.
The Acclaimed then ole’d Hobbs out of there. Leaving them to face off with Butcher & co. And Silver’s still in. B&B scissored. The crowd still flatter than flat outside of that since their favorites are gone.
Butcher got rid of Silver. Leaving Gunn & Bowens vs B&B & Kip. Gunn saved himself from a triple team elimination as Bowens got rid of Blade but lost a 2-on-1 fight with the other two. Gunn saving him from elimination. Stereo Fameassers led to the faces winning.
Really had my heart set on Lucha Bros & Vikingo vs HOB. So this was a massive disappointment both in-ring and in the booking.
Winner: the Acclaimed & Billy Gunn
Renee with Sammy. She wondered about he and MJF getting along tonight. Again without resorting to cliches. Max tried to rush in all friendly; Guevara was having none of it. Feigning tears, Max said he’s had back pains from carrying the company and had a flare-up. And was afraid of being seen to be weak. Made me chuckle.
Sammy kissed him on the forehead, promoing that we were looking at the winners tonight and the main event at the ppv. Max joined in, starting to say Sammy was going to lay down for him ‘like a little b… like my best friend!’, distracting Guevara by saying he’d had a mash-up theme made for them tonight. As they hugged to end the seg.
Sammy looked really dumb here. But he is a heel.
*****
Omega backstage with Callis. Who quickly interrupted to talk about the cut to his forehead. The one that reminds him every day what the BCC did to him. Mox might have the ‘heaviest hands’ in wrestling but against ‘this brain’ (himself) ‘and that talent’ (Omega) he’ll ‘lose every time’.
Before calling him a ‘sick, twisted, narcissistic sociopath’ and that ‘it’s all gonna come to an end, when you meet the God of Pro Wrestling’.
Omega said the cage gave Mox the advantage, he might make Omega bleed but ‘everything comes to an end in Detroit’. What the BCC have done to them all made it personal and it ends next week.
Was hard to tell here whether Omega was going for the distant, serious look or staring a hole through Callis for interrupting him. Particularly when Don was calling Mox ‘sick, twisted’ etc as if dude, that describes you perfectly.
I smell a big Von Erich style twist next week. Possibly Callis helping Mox win.
After promising the whole Elite would promo, the Bucks were nowhere to be seen.
Wardlow vs Logan LeRoux (I think, he never got a graphic)
Backstory: None
Lame rear-back punch, Symphony, win. As the commentators went on about the effect Arn Anderson’s had. Which is true. Before Arn, Wardlow never beat enhancement talent quickly.
While out of breath despite the short match, Wardlow insisted he hadn’t broken a sweat and demanded Luchasaurus come out and face him right now for the title. Cage said the match wasn’t gonna happen. Especially in Baltimore. Because the title shot’s not for Luchasaurus, it’s for him. Laughing as he walked away.
Was actually hoping for this. Not a fan of ‘Saurus, sick of Wardlow in big-man matches and Cage will get a much better contest out of him.
Winner: Wardlow
The J’s and etc went to visit Mark Briscoe. To help on the farm as they continued to manipulate him. Jarrett was about to sing ‘With My Baby Tonight’ when Briscoe’s dad turned up and the heels scarpered to dance. Father Briscoe warned him to watch his back.
As the heels announced they’ve got Mark a match on Rampage and Lethal challenged FTR for the titles at DoN. Lethal asked Mark how he’d beaten FTR, revealing the real purpose of their visit.
I’m totally not the audience for this in any way. All I’ll say is that the Lucha Bros better have something to do at the ppv if this is FTR’s competition.
Ricky Starks vs Juice Robinson
Backstory: A match supposed to happen weeks ago before Juice and the debuting Jay White attacked Starks 2-on-1
Straight to a lockup, Spears slapped Juice down then ran him over via lariat, sending him outside before launching him to the barricade. Until Robinson gouged the eyes. Heels cheating without interference, I see you Juice!
An attempted back drop was countered by Ricky onto the mats at ringside. Before Juice turned the tables via whipping him into the steps. Ricky down as the announcers again plugged All In. As Starks came back via introducing Robinson to the ringpost then slamming him from the steps to the floor.
Break.
Snapping lefts from Juice left Ricky reeling before rebounding off the ropes into a leaping lariat. Both guys down, Starks hopped to his feet to backdrop Juice once more, charging elbow in the corner, tornado ddt, count of two. DDT nearly ended very badly.
A suplex followed, to the top, Juice got the knees up. Both down once more. Light duelling-chants from a crowd quieted by a lack of quality matches and in-ring promos.
Robinson hit a hurracanrana from the top, then a lariat, another count of two. Robinson wildly looking for Juice is Loose, Ricky countering via rollup, Robinson popping up to hit a thrust to the throat, looking for JiL again, Starks fought free, hit the ropes, ducking under a leg lariat to hit a Spear on the other side.
Before polishing Robinson off via Roshambeaux.
Jay White attacked immediately. Shawn Spears not here tonight. Starks slipped out of a Bladerunner, readying Roshambeaux as Juice pulled his pal to safety and the heels fled.
Decent enough. Crowd not really into it.
Winner: Ricky Starks
Video recapping the whole Hardy/Firm feud.
*****
Perry and Darby backstage ahead of the match. They, perhaps too aggressively, shoved each other in a psyche each other up way. Darby heading off, leaving Perry alone as MJF came in.
Max repeated what he’s said previously about Perry going to the top if he drops the ‘goody two shoes’ act. The pair could run the company. Pointing out how Sammy’s benefitted from allying with him. And Perry’s ‘twice the wrestler’ Guevara is.
All Perry has to do is betray Darby, a man he doesn’t even like. Saying that Perry’s not title material anyway. He offered Perry a ‘spot next to the throne’.
Slapping his hand away, Perry said he wanted the crown. As Darby came back in. Perry was vague when asked what MJF wanted. Sewing the seeds of doubt as Darby ignored a fist bump.
This was nice work creating doubt ahead of the main event without making the faces behave like assholes. Even if a simple explanation could’ve prevented the issue. With Max the master manipulator. The story telling tonight much crisper.
Sammy Guevara & MJF vs Jack Perry & Darby Allin
Backstory: If Perry & Allin win, they’ll be added to the title match at DoN
Darby handed his skateboard to a kid in the crowd. He and Perry continued a vibrant discussion as the promised mash-up played (Max’s music with Sammy’s lyrics), bringing the united heels to the ring.
The crowd remained quiet as the heels took a page from the New Age Outlaws, playing Rock, Paper, Scissors for the right to start. Sammy won, starting off with a headlock then running through Perry before the face hit his springboard armdrag, kipping up as Sammy crawled for a hug in the corner.
Max and Darby in as the crowd began to wake. The pair circling, straight to a series of headlock takedowns from Max, Darby responding with a cradle for two and a springboard armdrag of his own before countering another headlock takeover into another pinfall for two.
Max heading for a hug in the corner too. He and Sammy going outside to talk strategy.
Really nice start, light-years ahead of anything since the opener.
Sammy demanded Perry come in to face MJF. The champ insisting Perry pulled his hair, the crowd booing as Max narrowly avoided knocking Guevara off the apron, before ducking, allowing Perry to do so.
Stiff chops to MJF followed before a tag to Darby led to double-teaming and another two count for Allin. As Sammy got Darby’s attention with a nice to the back from the apron, allowing Max to blast him from behind then take him to the heels’ corner.
Guevara in, using Max’s scarf to choke Darby as the ref talked to Perry. They were caught at the second attempt. And presumably weren’t supposed to be since the ref ignored and counted a cover anyway. Sammy going right back to the chinlock.
As Perry marched round to confront Max, forcing the ref to intervene outside as Guevara went back to the scarf-assisted choke until Allin turned the tables, choking Guevara via Burberry, doing the same to Max, leaving him down outside after an over-the-shoulder stunner.
With Darby desperate to tag, Max pulled Perry off the apron as the ads arrived.
Allin was still stuck in a hold – an abdominal stretch – as we returned, the match having really slowed down during several minutes of chokes and rest-holds. The heels using the ol’ hold hands for leverage ploy, the ref finally spotting it, kicking the hands, Darby finally free, making the crawl but cut off by Max, then both heels until diving between them for the tag.
As Perry came in off the top via cross body. Back elbows and a diving clothesline to both heels followed, then four suicide dives across opposite sides of the ring, culminating in a plancha onto Max. As Sammy avoided one himself only to be blasted by Darby’s best tope in the biz.
And flung back in to eat a tiger driver as Perry got two.
To the top, Max grabbed the boot, allowing Guevara to hit a Spanish fly from upstairs, tag to the champ who fired shots from the mount before quickly tagging Sammy back in, an attempted rocket launcher missed, allowing the tag to Allin.
Code red to Sammy, another planned for MJF who caught Allin mid-way, steering him back up into a Razor’s Edge. Looked great. Blind tag to Perry who immediately snatched the Snare Trap, Sammy down outside but breaking the hold just in time via stomp.
The heels starting a clap with the faces on the outside, Max of course stopping short as Guevara took flight onto both. Before sending Perry in to be planted via capture implant-ddt. Two slaps of the mat.
Guevara in, to the top, senton, Max tagged himself in to steal the pin. An unhappy Sammy pulling the same stunt as the heels argued. MJF slapped him, Sammy responded via thrust kick, Perry hit his running elbow smash only for Darby to tag himself in as Perry hit the ropes.
Perry only just avoiding being squashed himself as Darby came off the top via Coffin Drop to bag the win. If you wanted Perry to be taken seriously, he could’ve done with taking the pin here.
The faces bickered as Max fled up the ramp with his belt. Throwing a tantrum as the graphic announcing the four-way appearing on the screen behind him.
More story than action, though it had its moments.
A Four Pillars tag team match with Double or Nothing implications will headline tonight’s Dynamite on TBS.
AEW World champion MJF will team up with Sammy Guevara to take on Jack Perry and Darby Allin. If MJF and Guevara win, they will go on to headline the pay-per-view in a one-on-one match but if Allin and Perry win they will be added to the match and it becomes a four-way.
Also set for tonight are Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy, and Bandido versus the Jericho Appreciation Society in an eight-man tag match, Saraya takes on Willow Nightingale, Ricky Starks battles Juice Robinson, and a Tres de Mayo trios battle royal featuring six teams.
Speaking to Busted Open Radio, Trinity Fatu explained the reason why she decided to leave WWE and not return to the promotion, rather opting to go to Impact Wrestling.
Addressing her departure from May 2022, Fatu said, “I felt very stagnant and I wasn’t happy. I left that day because of the way I was talked to and handled.” She added that everything broke her that day and her actions had nothing to do with anything or anybody else.
“That was just it, I had to,” she continued, dismissing the rumors that she left because her former tag team partner Sasha Banks left too.
Trinity added that that period was the lowest she’s ever felt in her life due to going “through all the backlash and the negativity and the lies and the rumors.”
She said she has now learned from that experience and grown from it and is now extremely happy and thankful to Impact for the opportunity.
Fatu was being interviewed today by Mickie James, Tommy Dreamer, and Dave LaGreca.
Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast is reporting that AEW is ending their Dark and Dark: Elevation YouTube shows.
The decision was because AEW has recently signed an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for content and the shows aired on YouTube. The new deal will include the addition of a new Saturday night show which will be announced shortly.
Both Dark and Dark: Elevation did not air this week and usually they are uploaded on YouTube for Monday and Tuesday airing. No further tapings were held for the two shows.
Dark made its debut in October 2019 while Elevation followed in March 2021.
The shows were popular for indie wrestlers who got a shot at being on AEW programming while not under contract to the promotion. Some of those indie wrestlers impressed so much that they were eventually offered deals.
WWE has signed Olympic gold medal winner Tamyra Mensah-Stock, the 30-year old who became the first black woman to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in freestyle wrestling.
The news was revealed by ESPN in an interview with Mensah-Stock herself, where she announced that she’s retiring from competitive wrestling and joining WWE.
The Texas native reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this past Monday and will start her WWE journey there. She joins Gable Steveson who also won a gold medal at the same Olympics.
She told ESPN that her goal is to make it to the main roster in a year.
“I love watching the athletes just in the ring, just going what they do best,” Mensah-Stock said. “I just see their personalities just shine through the television, and I see their strength. Just everything about them resembles me, and I’ve just wanted to be a part of that.”
Mensah-Stock made an appearance at SummerSlam 2021 along with Steveson following their Olympics victory.
As more tickets continued to be sold for AEW’s All In show at London’s Wembley Stadium, AEW President Tony Khan declared that yesterday was “one of the best days in AEW history.”
With more than 43,000 tickets sold in the first two days of the pre-sale, the gate is now at a whopping £4.5 million, the equivalent of $5.7 million.
“We’re only getting started, more great seats are going on-sale,” said Khan.
This show will obliterate any previous AEW show when it comes to attendance, gate and merchandise revenue. The highest-attended show was the first AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam in 2021 with 20,177 fans in attendance.
Despite having the second night of the draft, Raw slipped to its lowest number since March 20, doing 1,778,000 viewers on average this week, down 37,000 viewers from the prior week. NBA and NHL Playoffs won the night in terms of ratings.
Raw started the night with 1,841,000 viewers in the second hour and then increased to 1,873,000 viewers in the second hour. But the third hour suffered a drop to 1,620,000 which dragged the overall number down.
Raw was #5, #6, and #7 in the top 50 cable chart for the night with 0.56, 0.56, and 0.50 ratings respectively for an average of 0.54, down 0.02 from the prior week. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
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When it comes to online casino bonuses, there are plenty of options. Each of these bonuses can provide something different and is tailored to the needs of certain players. Here’s a guide to the most popular online casino bonus types:
Free Spins
Free spins are a bonus that can be used to play slots at an online casino. Usually, these spins come with no deposit required, meaning that you don’t have to make any financial commitment to get them. You can get free spins and no deposit in the UK by making a deposit or claiming a bonus, so be sure to check out the different offers available. Free spins can often be found at different times throughout the year, such as during promotional periods or when a new slot game is released. With free spins, you can experience new games without risking any of your own money and potentially hit big wins.
No-deposit bonuses are a great way to get started at an online casino without making any financial commitment. This type of bonus allows players to try out games and find their favorite ones while also allowing them to win real money prizes with no risk involved. No-deposit bonuses can be found at many different casinos and come in various forms, such as free spins on slots or cash rewards for playing table games. With these bonuses, you don’t have to worry about making any deposits or risking your funds – all you need is a bit of luck. Whether you’re new to online gambling or an experienced player looking for extra value, no-deposit bonuses are worth considering.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are a great way for online casinos to reward new players who sign up. These types of bonuses usually come in match deposits, meaning you can get extra money when you make your first deposit. Sometimes, welcome bonuses may include spins on popular slots like Starburst or cash rewards for playing table games. Welcome bonuses are often accompanied by wagering requirements and other terms and conditions, so reading these carefully before claiming any bonus is essential. With the right welcome bonus, you can have more fun while playing at an online casino and increase your chances of winning real money prizes.
Deposit Bonuses
Deposit bonuses are one of the most common types of online casino bonuses. They offer players a way to get extra money when they deposit their accounts. These bonuses can come in various forms, such as match deposits or bonus spins on slots. With deposit bonuses, players can increase their winnings and enjoy more time playing at the casino. However, reading through any wagering requirements or other terms and conditions before claiming these bonuses to know what you’re getting into is essential. By taking advantage of deposit bonuses, you can maximize your chances for success while playing your favorite games at an online casino.
Cashback
Cashbacks are a type of bonus that can be claimed by players who have already made deposits at an online casino. These bonuses allow players to get some of their money back if they don’t win anything from their games. Cashbacks are usually calculated as a percentage of the deposit amount and can be found at many online casinos. With cashback, you can enjoy playing your favorite games without worrying about losing too much of your own money.
How to Claim and Use Online Casino Bonuses
Online casino bonuses can greatly boost your bankroll and increase your chances of winning your favorite games. However, to get the most out of these bonuses, it’s crucial to understand how to claim and use them effectively. The first step is to register for an account with the online casino of your choice. Once you’ve created your account, you must deposit to claim the bonus. This is typically done through various payment methods, such as credit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers.
Before claiming a bonus, it’s crucial to read the terms and conditions carefully. The most important conditions to look for include wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, maximum bet sizes, and withdrawal restrictions. Wagering requirements refer to the number of times you must wager the bonus amount before you can withdraw your winnings. Game restrictions indicate which games the bonus can be used on, while time limits indicate how long the bonus will be valid. Maximum bet sizes are essential, as exceeding them can result in the bonus forfeited. Finally, withdrawal restrictions indicate how much you can withdraw from your winnings.
To use bonuses effectively, it’s essential to stick to games you’re familiar with and have a low house edge. Reading the game rules before using a bonus on a specific game is also essential to understand how the bonus features work. Managing your bankroll is crucial to avoid losing your bonus funds and maximizing your winnings. Finally, remember that online casino games are meant to be entertaining so play for fun and don’t chase losses. By following these tips, you can make the most of online casino bonuses and increase your chances of winning.
In conclusion, taking advantage of online casino bonuses can greatly increase your chances of winning real money prizes. Deposit bonuses and cashback are two of the most common bonuses online casinos offer. Before claiming any bonus, it’s essential to read the terms and conditions carefully to know what you’re getting into. When using a bonus, play games you’re familiar with and manage your bankroll effectively. Doing so can maximize your chances of success and enjoy more time playing at the online casino.
Orlando is bidding to host next year’s Royal Rumble with Jason Siegel, Chief Executive Officer of Greater Orlando Sports Commission, spearheading the initiative.
Siegel made his plea in a 35-minute presentation during a tourist developmental tax sport incentive committee meeting in late March in front of the Orange County government, a presentation which is now online available to view in full.
The five-person board approved the presentation and signed off on the $850,000 request from Siegel to lure WWE back to its first major event to the city since 2017.
The Camping World Stadium, which previously hosted WrestleMania 24 and 33, is the proposed location for the Rumble.
WWE and the city of Orlando share a great working relationship and WWE has the Performance Center based there in the city as well.
NXT Women’s champion Indi Hartwell has surrendered her championship and a new champion will be crowned at the upcoming Battleground premium live event.
Hartwell surrendered the title in the main event of last night’s NXT on USA Network. Still with a protective boot and crutches following an ankle injury from last week’s title defense, Hartwell wondered how she’s going to get out of the ring. Enter Dexter Lumis, who helped her out in her final NXT appearance.
The former champ was drafted to Raw last week on Smackdown.
A tournament will start next week to determine who will battle for the title on May 28 and after Hartwell left the title in the middle of the ring, the NXT women’s roster came out for a brawl, all wanting to get their hands on the gold.
Hartwell won the title in a ladder match at NXT Stand & Deliver in Los Angeles on April 1.
FOX13 in Tampa Bay is reporting that the man accused of stalking and plotting to kidnap WWE Superstar Sonya Deville three years ago received 15 years in jail and 15 years probation after he struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
Back in 2020, Phillip Thomas drove from South Carolina to Tampa carrying a knife, zip ties, and duct tape with the plan of kidnapping Deville due to his obsession. That obsession turned into anger when he began stalking her, sending threatening text messages to her and her friends and family.
But in August, while Deville was at home with former WWE star Mandy Rose, the home alarm alerted them of an intrusion. A sliding door was opened and Deville then came face to face with her would-be kidnapper. Thankfully, both her and Rose escaped before things turned ugly.
On Tuesday, Thomas pleaded guilty to several charges, including attempted kidnapping, aggravated stalking, and armed burglary.
Deville left WWE for a bit after SummerSlam that year when her match against Rose was turned from a hair match to a loser leaves WWE stipulation. She eventually returned in early 2021.
WWE today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
“We are off to a strong start in 2023. Operationally, we continue to effectively execute our strategy, including staging the most successful WrestleMania of all time in early April. WrestleMania, as well as our other successful premium live events such as Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, and strong viewership for our weekly flagship programs, Raw and SmackDown, further expanded the reach of our brands and enhanced the value of our content,” said Nick Khan, WWE Chief Executive Officer.
“Strategically, we entered into a historic agreement with Endeavor to create a one-of-a-kind company. With WWE and UFC we intend to form a global sports and entertainment business that has the potential to unlock vast growth opportunities for both businesses. We believe that bringing these two iconic and highly complementary brands together will allow us to increasingly capitalize on the rapidly expanding, global appetite for live sports events and premium entertainment content, with the goal being to maximize value for our shareholders.”
Frank Riddick, WWE President & Chief Financial Officer, added “In the quarter, we exceeded the high end of our guidance. Adjusted OIBDA was $84 million on revenue of $298 million. Our financial performance was primarily driven by the contractual escalation of media rights fees for our flagship weekly programming and strong consumer demand for our live events. Our results in the quarter were also impacted by a shift in the timing of the staging of a large-scale international event.”
Revenue decreased 11%, or $35.8 million, to $297.6 million, primarily due to a shift in the timing of the staging of a large-scale international event, which occurred in the first quarter of 2022 but is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2023. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in revenue related to the contractual escalation of media rights fees for the Company’s flagship weekly programming, Raw and SmackDown, and higher North American ticket sales.
Operating Income decreased 43%, or $39.3 million, to $53.1 million, reflecting the decrease in revenue and relatively flat operating expenses. Operating expenses primarily reflected a decrease in production costs related to the timing of the Company’s premium live events essentially offset by the impact of certain costs related to the Company’s strategic alternatives review and recently announced agreement with Endeavor. The Company’s operating income margin decreased to 18% from 28%.
