A new NXT UK champion was crowned at the NXT UK television tapings at BT Sport Studios in London, England last night after Ilja Dragunov vacated the title due to an injury.
The semi final and final matches were taped last night, 24 hours after the initial round of matches took place on the same night that Dragunov surrendered the belt, ending a near one-year run with the title which he won from Walter back in August of last year at NXT Takeover 36.
In the two semi finals, Trent Seven defeated Oliver Carter and Tyler Bate defeated Joe Coffey. This set up a final between Seven and Bate, two former team mates, and Bate won the final to be crowned champion.
Tyler Bate now becomes the first-ever two-time NXT UK champion. He won the inaugural tournament in January 2017, beating Pete Dunne.
The Great American Bash themed episode of NXT on USA Network did 593,000 viewers, up 23,000 viewers from the previous week. The show was #27 on the top 50 cable chart with a 0.12 rating in the 18-49 demo, up just 0.01 from the prior show. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
The Raw women have main evented all Monday Night Raw shows since May 2, and it was on April 25 the last time that the show featured men in the main event. That night, Cody Rhodes, Ezekiel, and RK-Bro took on Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and The Usos in an eight-man tag team match.
Becky Lynch and Asuka have been involved in most of these main events, often against each other.
The May 2 broadcast featured Asuka, Liv Morgan, and Bianca Belair teaming up against Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, and Sonya Deville in a six-woman tag match. That was followed by Asuka vs Bianca Belair in a championship contenders match on May 9. On May 16, Asuka battled Becky Lynch in a Raw Women’s title #1 contenders match and on May 23 it was Becky Lynch vs Asuka again.
On June 6, a fatal four-way between Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, and Doudrop in a Raw Women’s title #1 Contenders match was held. The June 13 episode of Raw featured no main event match and only had a posedown between Bobby Lashley and Theory. On June 20, Asuka beat Becky Lynch in a Money in the Bank qualifying match and on the June 27 Raw, Becky Lynch defeated Doudrop, Nikki A.S.H., Xia Li, Shayna Baszler, and Tamina in a last chance six-way Money in the Bank qualifying elimination match.
And finally, on the July 4 episode of Raw, Lynch and Asuka once again main evented the show in a no holds barred match which Lynch won.
NXT UK champion Ilja Dragunov has surrendered the NXT UK title during last night’s NXT UK television tapings in London due to an injury. It’s unknown what caused the injury but Dragunov had his leg in a protective boot.
With the title now vacant, an eight-man tournament will be held to crown the new champion. The episode with Dragunov surrendering the title will take a while to air as there are still a few episodes which have been taped and didn’t air yet.
The tournament began during yesterday’s tapings as well with the four, first-round matches taped.
Dragunov has been champion since August of last year when he beat Walter at NXT Takeover 36 in one of the matches of the year. He is the fourth person to hold the title which was originally introduced in 2017.
WWE today announced that Pat McAfee has signed a multi-year extension with WWE.
McAfee, who became one of the most beloved members of the company with his commentary, has been working as a Smackdown color commentator since April 2021.
The former NFL star is set to step in the ring once again later this month when he takes on Happy Corbin at SummerSlam. This will be his second match of the year after he wrestled Theory at WrestleMania in Dallas. He also had a “match” with Mr McMahon following that and was on the receiving end of a Stunner from Steve Austin.
McAfee has not commented on the new deal yet but retweeted the WWE story about him signing on the dotted line.
“After 25 years in ‘the booth,’ working with @PatMcAfeeShow is the highlight of each week. His excitement is contagious (even if he almost kicks me when standing on our table) and has helped revitalize my love for our business! @WWE, our fans, and I are lucky to have him,” Cole wrote.
Interestingly enough, a poll on Twitter from WWE asking which match fans are mostly looking forward to at SummerSlam, Corbin vs McAfee leads the pack with 50% of the vote!
WWE Board of Directors member Connor Schell resigned from his position effective yesterday, July 6. The resignation was confirmed in a new SEC filing by WWE.
“Mr. Schell resigned from the Board due to an increased slate of responsibilities resulting from his new, expanded role at the newly formed The North Road Company, a global, multi-genre content studio,” the filing said. “Mr. Schell’s decision to resign from the Board was not due to any dispute or disagreement with the Company, its management or the Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.”
Schell formed part of the independent board that was investigating Vince McMahon over the $3 million hush money payment to a former employee. That now leaves the WWE Board of Directors with 11 members, four of which are executive members.
Paige is officially gone from WWE and is now a free agent. With her contract not renewed, she is not subject to any no-compete clauses so technically she can show up anywhere, at anytime starting today.
Paige, real name Saraya, announced her departure from the company in a post on Twitter last month and thanked WWE for giving the “18-year old British pale emo girl that didn’t look like your average diva” a chance of a lifetime.
She said leaving was not her choice and she would have loved to do more for the company, but sitting on the sidelines for the last several years, she understood the decision.
Paige signed with WWE in 2011 and was part of NXT until 2014. She made her main roster debut on the Raw after Mania in 2014, beating AJ Lee for the Divas title on her first night. Unfortunately, a neck injury cut her wrestling career short and she retired in 2018. She then spent several months on Smackdown where she played the role of General Manager and then moved as a contributor to WWE Backstage on FS1. She is a former NXT Women’s champion and a two-time Divas champion.
During a Twitch stream, she was asked if she’s ready to get in the ring again and she said she would if the money was right.
“I feel like I can compete again, yeah. 1000%,” she responded.
This week, she wrote a heartfelt farewell letter to WWE and fans which was published on The Players Tribune.
Jeff Hardy’s arraignment, which was originally set for two days ago on July 5, has been pushed to Tuesday, August 2. The hearing, at Volusia County Court, is scheduled for 2:30PM.
Jeff waived his rights to attend any pre-trial hearings after filing a not guilty plea. He is being charged with one count of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, driving with a canceled/suspended/revoked license, and violating restrictions placed on a driver’s license.
Hardy was arrested on June 13, blowing nearly four times the alcohol legal limit. He is currently in rehab, something he had to go to if he wanted to keep his AEW job.
Last night on Dynamite, Christian Cage took a dig on Matt Hardy telling him that the stuff he’s saying makes his brother Jeff sound like the sober one.
AEW has announced that it will make its debut in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday, September 7 for the post-All Out episode of Dynamite.
The location of this show will be the KeyBank Center, a near 20,000-seater arena and the home of Buffalo Sabres team of the NHL. No tickets on-sale information has been released yet.
The location of All Out has not been announced yet but it’s expected to be Chicago as it has been the past couple of years.
There’s a new TNT champion in town and his name is Wardlow!
The 34-year-old AEW star beat Scorpio Sky in the opening match of Dynamite to win his first gold in the promotion. Wardlow hit three powerbombs and then just placed his foot on Sky for the pinfall. Wardlow’s celebration included gold confetti and pyro on the stage.
He becomes the seventh person to win the TNT title following Darby Allin, Cody Rhodes, Brodie Lee, Miro, Sammy Guevara, and Scorpio Sky.
Sky had won the title at Battle of the Belts II back in April and his run ended after 71 days. This was his second run with the TNT title after an initial 38-day run which started in early March.
AEW President Tony Khan said that Santana could be looking at a long road on the sidelines following the knee injury he suffered at Blood & Guts last week.
Khan, while not giving out any specifics, said it’s a “relatively long injury” and expects AEW to support Santana throughout his recovery.
Santana was injured just seconds after entering the Blood & Guts match and after delivering a urinage, he landed badly on his twisted knee and was out for the remainder of the match.
The former Impact Tag Team title holder thanked fans on Twitter this week, saying, “It’s been an overwhelming last few days. But I just want to take a sec to say THANK YOU.”
Online casinos are super hot these days, and it’s easy to understand why. They’re convenient, offer a wide variety of games, and provide a chance to win big money. However, some things casinos don’t want you to know about winning at slots.
You must always remember that winning big is what you’re after when playing slots, and you should never take your eye off the prize. However, here are three secrets that casinos don’t want you to know about winning at slots.
Slots have the highest payout percentages of any casino game
There’s a reason why people flock to login joker123 slots – they offer the highest payout percentages of any casino game. Slots typically have payouts ranging from 85% to 98%, making them one of the best ways to win big at the casino.
If you play a slot machine with a 98% payout percentage, that means that for every $100 you spend, you can expect to win back $98. So, if you’re looking to win big, the slots are the way to go.
You can win because the high payout percentages allow you to keep the wheels spinning longer, which increases your chances of hitting the jackpot.
It’s possible to beat the odds and win at slots
While the odds of winning at slots are stacked against you, it is possible to beat the odds and come out ahead. You can do a few things to increase your chances of winning, such as playing at a higher denomination and betting the maximum amount.
In addition, you can take advantage of casino promotions and bonuses to increase your bankroll and give yourself a better chance of winning. That gives you more spins which means more chances to win.
If you’re serious about winning at slots, then you need to be willing to put in the effort and do what it takes to beat the odds. It is possible to win, but you must be prepared to work for it.
Progressive slots are designed to draw you in
Casinos have a few tricks up their sleeves to keep you playing, one of which is progressive slots. Progressive slots are designed to draw you in with the promise of a huge jackpot.
It works because a portion of every bet goes into the progressive jackpot, which continues to grow until someone hits it. The problem is that the odds of winning the jackpot are astronomically low, and most people who play progressive slots will never walk away a winner.
The takeaway is to be aware of progressive slots and understand that they’re designed to keep you playing. On the other hand, if you’re looking to win big, then progressive slots are probably not the way to go.
Casinos don’t want you to know these three things
It’s true, online casinos would rather you didn’t know these three things. However, if you’re looking to win big at the slots, you need to be aware of them. So keep these secrets in mind, and you’ll be on your way to success while spinning the wheels on your favorite slot machine.
The 4th of July episode of Monday Night Raw was way down in the numbers as expected, getting an average of only 1,563,000 viewers, down a whopping 388,000 viewers from last week’s show.
Hour one started with 1,702,000 viewers, followed by 1,661,000 viewers in the second hour, and then a drop to 1,327,000 for the third and final hour. Raw lost 375,000 viewers from the first hour to the third as the night progressed.
Despite the low numbers, Raw was #1 in the 18-49 demo among all cable television with a 0.41, 0.40, and 0.31 for an average of 0.37. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Following a very successful Blood & Guts Dynamite, AEW returns live on TBS tonight for a show headlined by a match for the interim AEW World title.
Jon Moxley will be defending his newly-won title for the very first time tonight against Brody King of House of Black. King won a 20-man battle royal last week on Rampage, getting the number one contender spot.
The world title is not the only title on the line tonight as the TNT title is also up for grabs with Scorpio Sky defending against Wardlow. Also, Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm team up to take on Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir, and The Butcher and The Blade go against Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland.
One day before she is officially no longer Paige, the former WWE Divas champion wrote an article for The Players Tribune with the title “It’s Hard to Say Goodbye.”
In her piece, Saraya details her journey inside the WWE, noting how she’s been known as Paige for over 11 years and worked for the company her entire adult life.
“WWE — those three letters have given so much to me. In many ways, they’ve come to define me. And they’ve never lost their meaning. The idea of being a WWE Superstar … I’m still blown away by that, still humbled by it,” she wrote. “Which makes it hard to say goodbye.”
Saraya noted how she knew this moment would come but now that it’s here, it does not seem real, but one thing that’s real is gratitude. She gave thanks to AJ Lee, The Bella Twins, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, the guys and girls over at NXT, coaches, and the whole female locker room she shared with.
“And I want to thank YOU ALL — truly, anyone who might be reading. From my bosses to my coworkers to my friends to my fans. For the past 11 years, you’ve let me live out my dreams. More living to come. I’ll see you down the road,” she concluded.
When it comes to professional wrestling, WWE has already started creating the next league of stars by bringing up the most entertaining yet athletically fit wrestlers from around the world. In recent times, the industry has also seen quite a lot of versatility in terms of the wrestlers being brought into the competition. If you want a good grasp on the live betting odds in wrestling, then you need to know who the top 10 wrestlers of this year are; that is precisely what we will figure out in this article.
Brock Lesnar
Did you know that 2022 marks the completion of two decades since Brock Lesnar came into the WWE? Even now, he’s at the top of the chain. It doesn’t matter what you think of him; you can’t deny that the Beast Incarnate is definitely the main attraction this time. His Day 1 win has proven that he is here only for one thing; to win and nothing else. It has also been a breath of fresh air for the fans ever since Lesnar decided to show some of his personality on screen, and this definitely added to why he remained one of the must-see aspects of WWE all year.
Seth Rollins
Ever since Seth’s feud with Edge, he has garnered a lot of momentum and also become the no. 1 contender to the WWE Championship. After that, on SmackDown, he sort of rekindled his little rivalry over the Universal Championship with Roman Reigns, and all of this helped his cause, if nothing else. For now, Seth is in the Elimination Chamber, and lately, he has only been giving off certain babyface energy. Probably that’s what the company wants from him as WrestleMania 38 is knocking on the door.
Mustafa Ali
If we are to name some of the youngest stars of WWE, you cannot omit Mustafa Ali, who came into the league as part of the Cruiserweight Classic. But do you know what the funniest part is? He wasn’t even supposed to be part of the tournament. He actually replaced another player who was originally from Brazil and was having some issues with his visa. Ali went on to fight some unforgettable matches against Drew Gulak, Cedrik Alexander, and Buddy Murphy.
Britt Baker
If we were to talk about the first AEW women’s champion, it would be Riho, but no one has been featured as much as Britt Baker for the right reasons. But did you know that she was actually a real-life dentist before she became a wrestler? Yes! As she proved her talent, she has now built a loyal following. Baker has been an inspiration for the entire wrestling community, and she has verified that you need not have just one dream.
Bron Breakker
He is often considered the next face of WWE and is already a two-time NXT Champion. He is also a second-generation star. His uncle and father even gained their names in the WWE Hall of Fame, and you have probably even heard of them: Big Poppa Pump and Rick Steiner. Bron is one of the really fast-rising stars; hence, it would not be surprising to find him on the main roster soon.
Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley has got her name known as one of the best female wrestlers in the world. This Australian star was booked by WWE very recently, and if you see her on SmackDown or Raw before WrestleMania 36, it wouldn’t be that big of a surprise. She has not only immense strength but also a unique look.
Grayson Waller
Even though Waller started out in 2017, he did not do anything legendary that would put his name out into this world. But signing with WWE in 2021 was his big break. He has been a part of the NXT Wargames match, but during his farewell speech, he was brutally attacked by Gargano.
Tiffany Stratton
Tiffany is another up-and-coming star that WWE has picked up. She mainly caught the eyes owing to her excellent gymnastic abilities, but apart from that, she is also a professional bodybuilder. She went to competitions like Battle Creek and Winter Classic and has won there.
Sammy Guevara
You will find several names in AEW who have come up to the limelight from time to time, but no one has shined exceptionally bright like Sammy Guevara. When he was cut short by Cody Rhodes at the Rampage, it was only a brief setback from which he recovered quickly to become the interim TNT champion at Battle of the Belts, where he was up against Dustin Rhodes.
Andrade
Last but definitely not least, this list would have been incomplete without mentioning Andrade. He is called one of the most technical wrestlers WWE has ever seen. If you put him up with just about anyone, he has the capacity to make that match exciting – that’s who he is.
Conclusion
All the names mentioned in this list have bright futures in their career but let’s hope this gives you a clear idea of the big names in the industry right now.
Days after posting a statement to show the ugly side of social media, WWE star Shotzi deactivated her Twitter account.
Earlier this week, Shotzi wrote how she got abused online for having a few botches during the Money In The Bank show in Las Vegas, with fans calling for her termination from WWE among other things.
In the statement, Shotzi said that while she can take a joke and laugh at herself for the mistakes, the extreme feedback “hit hard.” She then proceeded to deactivate her account.
Reaching out to fans through her Instagram, Shotzi said she was doing fine but she’s going through the toughest year of her life, with her father passing away and the nasty comments.
“Twitter has not helped with my already fragile mind state,” Shotzi wrote. “Just trying to stay motivated and positive. I am focused on my goals and not what’s on the internet.”
Former NXT Cruiserweight champion Jordan Devlin, now known as JD McDonagh, returned to NXT last night and attacked NXT champion Bron Breakker at the end of the show.
Following his successful title defense against Cameron Grimes, Breakker was headed to the back when all of a sudden, McDonagh appeared and attacked him from behind. The Irish star then hit a side slam, sending Breakker through a table which was set up as part of the stage.
Earlier in the broadcast, a video vignette aired showing that McDonagh was being reintroduced to the NXT audience on next week’s show.
McDonagh was part of NXT UK until earlier this year and becomes the latest star to move over to NXT in the United States.
Rampage on Friday night did 486,000 viewers, headlined by a 20-man battle royal which determined the new number one contender for the interim AEW World title. That was up 64,000 viewers from the prior week and the show did a 0.16 in the 18-49 demo, up 0.04 from the last show and placed #3 in the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
He is known for numerous films and roles like the one in the Fast and Furious franchise. In addition to being a famous actor, Dwayne Johnson was once a professional wrestler.
The beginning
Dwayne was born in 1972 in Hayward, California. He lived in New Zealand for a while before starting school in the United States. Growing up, he was arrested a few times for fights, theft, and check fraud.
What is interesting is that Johnson comes from a wrestling family. His father was part of the first black team in American professional wrestling. Peter Maivia, his grandfather, was also a professional wrestler. In 2008, Johnson inducted them into the WWE Hall of Fame. He began his wrestling career in 1996 when he defeated Steve Lombardi and lost to Chris Candide and Owen Hart. Fighting for Jerry Lawler’s United States Wrestling Association, he won the team wrestling championship the same year with Bart Sawyer and signed a contract with the company we know today as WWE.
He made his debut for them in his first match in the eliminations, where he defeated the only two remaining opponents from the rival team. A year later, he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship by defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley or the famous Triple H. He defended the title by defeating Helmsley again.
The Rock vs. John Cena: The Rivalry
Source: YouTube
Of Johnson’s Rivalries, the one with John Cena from 2011 to 2013 stands out. Two super-strong men against each other guaranteed a spectacle in the ring. Their conflicts were initially verbal until they finally stepped into the ring. They did so at the 29th edition of the Wrestle Mania event when he lost the match and the belt to Cena. If you like predicting outcomes like this, click here. There were reports that The Rock and John Cena had animosity towards each other. Since then, they have become friends and support each other.
The Rock’s Mark
Since 2014, Johnson has appeared sporadically in events related to American wrestling until he officially withdrew from the ring in August last year.
His legacy in this sport is impressive. Many classify him side by side with other legends such as Hulk Hogan, Rick Fleur, and John Cena. In addition, his appearance significantly contributed to the ratings of WWE production, and he was part of the best-rated matches in the 21st century. Also, Johnson holds multiple records for shows such as Smackdown, RAW, and others. Now, Dwayne, The Rock Johnson is the highest-paid actor in the world.
