Following last week’s Dynamite-themed episode of Holiday Bash comes the New Year Smash, airing live tonight on TBS. Five big matches have been announced for the final Dynamite of 2022.
The TNT championship will be on the line as double-champ Samoa Joe puts up his gold against former champion Wardlow. Match six in the best of seven series with Death Triangle vs The Elite also takes place, this time in a falls count anywhere match. The champions lead the series 3-2 and The Elite need to win this one to take it to the seventh match on January 11.
Other matches include Ethan Page vs Bryan Danielson, Ruby Soho teams with Willow Nightingale to take on Tay Melo and Anna Jay, and Top Flight battle Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley.
The taped episode of Smackdown last week on the eve of Christmas Eve did 2,376,000 viewers, up 185,000 viewers compared to the prior week. This was the most-watched Smackdown since September 23. Smackdown did a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.03 from last week, and was #1 in all of network television but #3 when including cable as well. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
The trailer for Dave Bautista’s upcoming movie, Knock at the Cabin, has been released.
Directed by M. Night Shymalan, the movie is about a gay couple who take their daughter on vacation in a remote cabin in the middle of the woods where they meet a group strangers led by Bautista’s character who break into the cabin and hold the family hostage, insisting that the world is about to end and the only way to save it is for the three to choose to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The movie also features Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Kristen Cue, Rupert Grint, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Abby Quinn.
Knock at the Cabin will be released in theaters by Universal Pictures on February 3.
The former champion can currently be seen in Knives Out: A Glass Onion Mystery, streaming now on Netflix.
The Holiday Bash Rampage on TNT last Friday pulled in 566,000 viewers, up a whopping 102,000 viewers from the prior week and the best number the show has done since the April 8 episode. A 0.18 rating in the 18-49 demo placed Rampage #5 on the chart, up 0.05 from the previous week. The show was headlined by the $300,000 Three Kings Christmas Casino Trios Royale match. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
In an interview with the Grapsody podcast, AEW President Tony Khan said that losing Cody Rhodes this year affected a number of other departments within All Elite Wrestling and Cody’s departure left a major impact.
“Whenever you lose a star the caliber of Cody Rhodes, it’s going to be a major impact on your company and it’s going to affect a number of different departments and a number of different things in terms of the presentation and the backstage,” Khan said.
Rhodes had different roles within the company, including one as an EVP, and was also filming the second season of his reality show Rhodes to the Top for TNT.
Khan put over Rhodes’ work in AEW and said that he really liked Cody and when he left, it was a major challenge for them as a company.
Both Rhodes and Khan never spoke freely about why the two parties decided to split and vowed to never speak badly about each other.
Rhodes and AEW announced that they have agreed to part ways on February 14, 2021, sending shockwaves throughout the industry. He returned to WWE at WrestleMania in April.
Four WWE Superstars missed their non-televised Holiday Tour last night in Columbus, Ohio due to travel issues.
The Raw brand tour was missing some heavyweights in the form of Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bobby Lashley, and Alexa Bliss. Rollins was supposed to headline the show against Austin Theory in a cage match but then it was changed to Theory vs Damien Priest vs Johnny Gargano in a triple threat cage match.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, Rollins apologized for missing the show, saying that their private bus broke down and there was no other way to make it to the show due to the harsh weather.
“I’m very sorry! We tried, but by the time the bus broke down on the side of the road we had no other recourse,” Rollins said.
Another fan wrote that he surprised his son with tickets to the show because he wanted to see Seth Rollins and he wasn’t there.
“Massive apologies my friend,” Rollins replied. “We tried everything to make it in time, but with flight delays and cancellations on top of our bus breaking down, it was impossible.”
Cody Rhodes appeared on the Absolute Best of 2022 episode of Monday Night Raw last night.
Rhodes, who is currently out nursing a torn pec, is nearing his in-ring return, with the Royal Rumble being a great possibility we’ll hear his theme song again.
The former AEW TNT champion spoke vaguely about an opportunity to “making it happen,” referring to being the first Rhodes to win the WWE championship.
“I’m being incredibly vague here, I get it. But I think anyone who is a fan of what we do can read between the lines,” Cody said, adding that he came back specifically for one thing and nothing will stop him from reaching that goal.
“That has to be done, it needs to be done, and I want to get it done,” he continued.
Rhodes said that when he returns, he wants to pick up right where he left off and that was chasing the WWE title, seemingly putting off a fourth rumored encounter against Seth Rollins to the sideline.
Cody last wrestled in June at Hell In A Cell, winning his third match against Seth Rollins.
Bray Wyatt returned to the ring for the first time since he came back to WWE in October, wrestling Jinder Mahal at the WWE Holiday Tour non-televised live event in Madison Square Garden.
As you probably have guessed, Wyatt came out victorious after ending Mahal with the Sister Abigail finisher.
Wyatt had not wrestled since his WrestleMania 37 match against Randy Orton on April 11, 2021. That was pretty much the end of The Fiend and a few months later, he was surprisingly released from his WWE contract.
Wyatt is currently in a program with LA Knight and there’s a rumored Pitch Black match for the Royal Rumble between the two.
The fifth installment of Battle of the Belts will be airing live on Friday, January 6 at 11PM ET immediately following the conclusion of Rampage on TNT.
This is the same format that was used for Battle of the Belts IV, with both shows airing live.
Even though the show is only just over a week away, there have been no matches announced yet. Typically there are three matches that form part of the broadcast and the previous Battle of the Belts was headlined by FTR vs Gates of Agony for the ROH Tag Team titles.
Rampage and Battle of the Belts V will take place from the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are still available at AEWTix.com.
Speaking on his latest episode of Keepin’ It 100 podcast, Konnan has revealed that both Dominik Mysterio and his sister Aalyah offered to donate their kidney to him as he continues to wait for a donor.
The former WCW Tag Team, TV, and United States champion has opened up lately about his health issues and how he is on a waiting list for another kidney, having already underwent a procedure to replace the other one. Konnan said being on dialysis has so far saved his life after reluctantly agreeing to do it.
Konnan, who held the WCW Tag Team titles with Rey Mysterio, said that while there have been seven people who came forward to donate their kidney, Rey’s two kids also wanted to donate.
“Believe it or not bro, this is beautiful…do you know who offered me their kidney? Dominik and Aalyah, both,” Konnan said.
He also explained how he destroyed his kidney during an extreme match in Tijuana. “A ladder came all the way from the top and I was looking the other way. It landed and it f*cking broke my kidney. And I didn’t even know it because I just thought it was normal pain,” he explained.
Konnan described this year as the worst year of his life health-wise and thought he wouldn’t be able to live through the end of 2022.
“I was very weak, very weak, really bad shape, despondent, sad, skinny. I lost 70 pounds and just in really bad shape,” he said.
The highly-anticipated Ric Flair documentary titled “Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair” is now streaming on Peacock.
Produced by WWE Network Documentaries, the brand-new documentary is described by The Nature Boy as “the most accurate depiction” of his life to date and features sit-down interviews with the likes of Triple H, Mike Tyson, Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Booker T, Shawn Michaels, etc.
The documentary will tackle Flair’s most controversial stories as well as his battle with death a few years ago. The 16-time world champ has spent his entire life wrestling to entertain the public but stories like the infamous Plane Ride from Hell left a dent in his legacy and Flair will set the record straight in this documentary.
“Very few people have professional careers as storied as Ric Flair,” said Rod Aissa, EVP of Unscripted Content for NBCUniversal. “We can’t wait to give Peacock audiences this revealing, in-depth and often raw look into the life of one of sports and wrestling’s most controversial icons.”
The UFC announced last night that UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar passed away on December 22 at the age of 45.
Impact Wrestling, where Bonnar performed a few times years ago, issued a statement following the announcement of his passing, writing, “We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Stephan Bonnar. We offer our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this difficult time.”
Bonnar made his Impact Wrestling debut in November 2017, teaming with Moose but losing to King Mo and Bobby Lashley in a match at Bound for Glory. Bonnar then faced Moose in a one-on-one match at Victory Road two years later but also ended up on the losing side. He also wrestled Moose again in a match which aired on Impact in a buildup towards Moose’s match against Ken Shamrock at Bound for Glory.
Former Impact Wrestling President Dixie Carter said she was saddened to hear about his passing, calling him an amazing fighter.
Scott D’Amore wrote that he was absolutely heartbroken with the news. “When Stephan was preparing for his Impact debut I had the honor of being called upon to coach him. A legendary fighter, a passionate professional, & an amazing person. I feel blessed to have had his friendship. RIP to a HoF human being,” the Impact VP wrote.
Current Impact World champion Josh Alexander also added, “I did a few shows w/Stephan Bonnar. Such a nice/real dude. I remember a curtain sell out for his match at @BLabelPro once. He hit a random Street Fighter Guile’ jumping spin kick out of nowhere. Biggest pop I’ve ever seen from the boys. Oh & he saved UFC too. RIP to a legend.”
There have been a number of WWE Superstars who have played soccer or have a background in the sport. Some of these wrestlers have even considered pursuing a career in professional soccer before deciding to become wrestlers. With soccer being one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans and players all around the globe, there is no wonder why some of the WWE superstars have a background in the sport. It is a sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages, and it is often seen as a way to bring people together and foster a sense of community. Soccer is played in almost every country on earth, and it has a rich history dating back hundreds of years. If you’re a fan of soccer bet and you’re looking for a place to bet on your favorite teams and players, Betway is a great option, offering with a wide range of betting options and great odds. Here are a few examples of WWE Superstars who have played soccer:
Roman Reigns: Before he became a WWE Superstar, Roman Reigns (also known as Joe Anoa’i) played college football as a defensive tackle for Georgia Tech. He also played professional football for a short time, signing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2007 and later joining the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. However, soccer was also a part of his childhood, as he grew up playing the sport in his native Samoa.
Rey Mysterio: Before he became a professional wrestler, Rey Mysterio was a soccer player. He played in various youth leagues in his native California and even considered pursuing a career as a professional soccer player before deciding to become a wrestler. Mysterio has mentioned in interviews that soccer was one of his favorite sports growing up, and he still enjoys playing the sport in his free time.
Titus O’Neil: Before joining WWE, Titus O’Neil (also known as Thaddeus Bullard) played college football as a defensive end for the University of Florida. He also played in the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League before becoming a professional wrestler. However, O’Neil has also mentioned that soccer was a big part of his childhood, and he enjoyed playing the sport with his friends and family.
R-Truth: R-Truth (also known as Ron Killings) played college football as a wide receiver for North Carolina A&T State University. He went on to play in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a professional wrestler. However, R-Truth has also mentioned that he enjoyed playing soccer when he was younger, and he still has a fondness for the sport.
Big E: Big E (also known as Ettore Ewen) played college football as a defensive tackle for the University of Iowa. He later signed with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers before becoming a professional wrestler. In addition to his football background, Big E has also mentioned that he enjoyed playing soccer when he was younger, and he still follows the sport today.
Apollo Crews: Before becoming a WWE Superstar, Apollo Crews (also known as Sesugh Uhaa) played college football as a defensive end for Illinois State University. He also played in the Arena Football League before becoming a professional wrestler. Crews has mentioned in interviews that soccer was one of his favorite sports growing up, and he still enjoys playing the sport in his free time.
In addition to these WWE Superstars, there are many other wrestlers who have a background in soccer or have expressed an interest in the sport. For example, wrestlers like Sheamus and Cesaro have both mentioned that they enjoy watching soccer and have even participated in charity soccer events. If you’re a fan of both wrestling and soccer, be sure to check out Betway for all your sports betting needs. With a wide range of betting options and great odds, Betway is the perfect place to get in on the action.
UFC President Dana White has been doing 12 days of giveaways leading up to Christmas Day and the final prize was announced today.
“Merry Christmas everyone, I saved the best one for last,” White said. “I’m partnering up with OnLocation and WWE to award the final winner a trip to WrestleMania.”
The prize includes flights, hotel, tickets to both nights of WrestleMania at SoFi Stadium, and everything else for two people.
WWE shot a Christmas Eve angle with the Mysterios again as Dominik and Rhea Ripley tried to spoil the party, like they did on Thanksgiving, for Rey and his family, this time at his grandparents’ house.
But things didn’t turn out quite good for Dominik and his mami.
When Dominik knocked on the door, his grandfather opened the door and welcomed him with a hug. His mother wasn’t that nice to Dominik and then Rey showed up telling him there was not going to be a repeat of Thanksgiving.
Dominik kept telling his father to hit him and they stepped outside, at which point, his mother tried to slap him but Rhea grabbed their hand…only to get hilariously slapped with the other hand!
Before things got even more out of hands, the police showed up and took Dominik in custody. He begged Rhea to call Finn and Priest and not to let him alone cause he won’t make it in jail!
Impact Wrestling has filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the name Santino Marella.
The trademark was previously owned by WWE for former Superstar Anthony Carelli who last appeared for WWE at the 2020 women’s Royal Rumble match, appearing as Santina Marella.
Impact’s application was done on December 19, filed under entertainment services and wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer. Michael Dockins, the attorney who usually helps a lot of wrestlers with the process of trademarking their name, filed the application on behalf of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC.
WWE abandoned the trademark of Santino Marella on October 20, 2021.
Whether this means that Carelli is on the way to Impact Wrestling remains to be seen but it would be unlikely that Impact would file for such a trademark if they’re not engaging his services.
WWE has achieved massive success since its inception in the early 1950s. Today, WWE is home to many superstars that have gone on to achieve mainstream success, such as ‘The Rock’, John Cena, and Alexa Bliss, to name just a few. The success of WWE is evident and still carries a devoted following, mainly due to the legendary superstars that made it so popular in the first place, the new personalities that continue to keep it relevant in the 21st century, and the engaging storylines that have managed to keep fans entertained till this very day.
With such a huge fanbase, it’s only normal that the world of the WWE goes beyond the actual wrestling show in today’s world. This is seen through the merchandise in several stores, the official WWE video games released, and even casino games such as the WWE Legends rtp slot game. As mentioned, a big part of this is due to the legends of the show that made it what it is today. However, in this article, we will solely focus on the legendary female WWE wrestlers that have contributed towards the popularity and success of the show. Read on the learn more about the best female WWE wrestlers of all time who made it to our list!
Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss is one of the most successful WWE wrestlers. She was the first woman to become a three-time time RAW Women’s Champion. When she moved on to WWE, she immediately drew attention thanks to her skills and stamina in the ring. Alexa quickly then became the first two-time Champion in Women’s Tag Team wrestling in WWE History. Later in 2018, she even won the women’s ‘Money in the Bank’ Ladder Match. Her stage persona is as frighting as her accomplishments, as well as her rivalry with Bayley and ongoing feud with Shayna Baszler.
Brie Bella
Brie Bella formed part of the popular wrestling duo ‘The Bella Twins’. She and her twin sister managed to develop a successful brand for themselves over the years and are also entrepreneurs. One of Brie’s main achievements was becoming the WWE Divas Champion along with her twin sister, making them the first twins in WWE to win this title.
She was also inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame and made sporadic appearances in the ring, the latest being on the 25th anniversary of Raw. On another note, It is also worth mentioning that Brie Bella is also famous for her work in the Women’s Revolution movement in WWE.
Natalya Neidhart
Natalya Neidhart hails from a WWE lineage and is one of the best WWE female wrestlers of all time. Her career began back in the 2000s, and she is still very much active today. Natalya is a skilled and ruthless wrestler that has won the prestigious Divas Championship, the SmackDown Women’s Championship, the SuperGirls Championship, and has even won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with her partner Tamina. Natalya is a legend to the WWE women’s division, being one of the most respected and hard-working wrestlers in history of the show.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Drew McIntyre will not be participating in the Holiday Tour live events for the week between Christmas and New Year due to an injury he’s been suffering from.
McIntyre, who like Reigns had a ruptured ear drum at the Survivor Series, has not wrestled since November 27. The Scottish warrior had several back issues throughout the year although this injury has not been disclosed.
The former WWE champion was supposed to be part of the Madison Square Garden show on December 26 in the main event, teaming with Kevin Owens, Sheamus, and Braun Strowman to take on The Usos, Sami Zayn, and Solo Sikoa in an eight-man tag team match. The new main event for MSG is now Braun Strowman and Kevin Owens vs The Usos.
A sneak peek at the new-look AEW aired yesterday during Rampage, a look which is being completely revamped starting with the January 4 episode of Dynamite.
Both Dynamite and Rampage are getting new sets and new looks, with a brand new graphics, marking the first time that AEW is freshening up its look since its debut in October 2019.
“We set out to create a new brand identity for #AEWDynamite with a comprehensive set of package elements,” Kevin Sullivan, the Vice President of Post Production for AEW, said in a tweet. “The team is thrilled to finally share our new, bold vision, that will help create a new spirit for the show. This is what 9 months of work looks like in :15. To be continued!”
Sullivan also put over the relationship AEW has with Warner Bros. Discovery, calling it incredible, and the respect he has for the AEW internal graphics team on what they’re always able to accomplish. “It also goes without saying that @TonyKhan vision is boundless,” Sullivan continued.
Sullivan worked for WWE for five years as a Senior Producer between 1998 and 2003 and was the VP or Production for TNA for 14 years between 2005 and 2019. He joined AEW from launch day in 2019.
You can see a preview of what the new AEW looks like below.
We set out to create a new brand identity for #AEWDynamite with a comprehensive set of package elements. The team is thrilled to finally share our new, bold vision, that will help create a new spirit for the show. This is what 9 months of work looks like in :15. To be continued! pic.twitter.com/72Pm3jB9WD
