Following the dual-brand non-televised live event in Erie, Pennsylvania last night, the Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns cut a babyface promo to send the crowd happy and jokingly asked fans not to post it online.
Fans at the Erie Insurance Arena got to see the best from two brands including Reigns, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and others in the first post-WrestleMania house show.
After beating Drew McIntyre in the main event, Reigns stood in the middle of the ring and thanked the fans for their energy, which makes it easier for them to do what they do.
With WWE’s biggest heel cutting a babyface promo, Reigns then said, “Don’t post this on social media cause I’ll deny it and say it’s a hologram,” as fans laughed.
Before he left, he did ask Eerie to “acknowledge him,” and the fans popped huge for that as well.
Cody Rhodes also seemed like had a good time out there in his first house show since being back and took selfies with fans at ringside after beating Seth Rollins.
WWE is now using the Saturday Night’s Main Event marketing for live events on Saturday night and this was the first one to use it. The Sunday shows are being marketed as Sunday Stunner.
It looks like FTR will be getting their wish of having Bret Hart corner them…but it won’t be for an AEW show.
Big Time Wrestling announced that two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Bret “Hit Man” Hart will be part of their upcoming event on June 10 in Webster, Massachusetts and he will be accompanying FTR for their match against Brock Anderson and Brian Pillman, with Arn Anderson in their corner.
Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler have been lobbying on social media to get Hart in their corner for the past several weeks and the two are big fans of the legendary Canadian.
“Everyone’s demanding it! Everyone thinks they know where it’s going to happen… well, it’s going to happen only one place and that place is Big Time Wrestling Friday, June 10th at the iconic Webster Town Hall in Webster, MA,” Big Time Wrestling said in a social media post. “It’s Old School 2022 when The Hitman Bret Hart leads FTR to battle with Brian Pillman Jr. and Brock Anderson accompanied by The Enforcer Arn Anderson! Plus an all star card!”
While Brock Lesnar was advertised on marketing material for the upcoming Backlash premium live event, the former WWE champion has been removed from all advertising and will not be appearing on the show now.
Lesnar has not appeared on WWE television since losing his WWE title to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania earlier this month but the Beast Incarnate is scheduled to be back in time for the Money In The Bank event in Las Vegas where he is expected to be a part of.
Brock is also advertised for SummerSlam in Nashville and chances are he’ll also do the Cardiff stadium show in September considering WWE has around 70,000 seats to fill.
Impact Wrestling this week rebounded in the ratings, getting 123,000 viewers on AXS TV, up 34,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. The show did 0.04 in the 18-49 demo, up 0.02, and placed #105 in the cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
We were welcomed by AEW’s best commentary team of Excalibur, Taz and Tony Schiavone. Does make the event feel different.
SCORPIO SKY VS SAMMY GUEVARA, TNT TITLE
Story going in: Sky cheated Sammy out of the belt and has been ducking him ever since
So, Sammy and Tay have basically inherited the Rhodes’ role. Every aspect of it. Despite being up against one of the most hated heels in the company, they’re vociferously booed. Neither is this on the booking; it’s all their own work.
Shooting out of the blocks, Guevara bombarded the champ with strikes in the corner until Scorpio dumped him on his back. The fast paced back and forth continued as audible – and very male – boos greeted the challenger.
‘Let’s go Sammy/SAMMY SUCKS.’
Nearly ending early when Sky caught Sammy in TKO position as he went for his patented series of flips, when the challenger did execute said flips, the boos got louder. It’s worth noting that he was in full ‘Sex Gods’ heel-mode here: tongue out, arrogant expression…
On the outside, Sky took control, dropping Guevara across the barricade.
‘Let’s go Sammy/SAMMY SUCKS.’
Until a moonsault off the steps seemed to have turned the tables. Sky had other ideas, snapping off a vicious TKO onto the apron as the first break beckoned.
Knees and blows sent Sammy to the outside when we returned, a backbreaker greeting Sammy as he did. ‘One more time…’ Obliging, Scorpio received rapturous cheers from the crowd.
Until he went to the well too often, Sammy flipping out, striking with an enziguri and following up with a Spanish Fly for two. Even indicating he was about to fly saw the challenger booed, and when Ethan Page came out to aid Sky, cheers played. Spectacularly, Sammy hit a shooting star from the top to the outside, catching both Men of the Year as he crashed to the ringside mats.
Back in the ring, a roll-up brought Sky a two, before Sammy returned the favor after Conti slapped Sky’s hands off the ropes. Which brought out Paige Vanzant to the crowd’s continued approval. Using this to his advantage, Guevara hit a low-blow and the GTH to regain the TNT belt.
As he exited, Sammy and Tay made-out as vociferously as they’d been booed. Tony tried to claim he was just ‘fighting fire with fire’, Excalibur thought vehemently otherwise.
This title reign did almost nothing for Sky: won with interference, retained on a fluke, lost.
WINNER: Sammy Guevara, new TNT Champion
A quick video package previewing the next match: Castle’s promo was excellent.
JONATHAN GRESHAM VS DALTON CASTLE, ROH WORLD TITLE
Story going in: If there is one, we weren’t told
With the ink still wet on his AEW contract, Jonathan Gresham defended his ROH title against Dalton Castle, who just from his entrance is very entertaining – a unique Jackie Moon-esque character.
A slow start as both looked for the upper hand, exchanging holds and rolling on the mat. A series of gut-wrenches culminated with Gresham landing hard.
Finally getting control with a springboard hurricanrana, Gresham followed up with a fake-out and a dropkick as the ads arrived.
A thoroughly amusing series of strikes and evasions in the corner ended with a brace of overhead throws from the challenger, bringing the first near-fall. Several more followed as each countered a sequence of roll-ups. A unique kip-up/flip-off combo from Gresham led to the champion slapping on the Octopus hold in the middle for the submission, kinda out of nowhere.
Dalton and the Boys (who have a sort-of Sandow with Miz shadowing of everything Castle does) are extremely entertaining.
Unfortunately, we weren’t done, Jay Lethal joining us along with Sonjay Dutt and Tony Khan’s Vince-McMahon-wet-dream Satnam Singh. Singh wiped out both competitors, then Lee Moriarty and Matt Sydal, who came to help. If there’s one thing wrestling needs, it’s a new Great Kali.
Mercifully, Samoa Joe’s music hit to the loudest ovation of the night. The new champ came strapped and with a lead pipe, sending the heels scattering before clinking belts with Gresham in the ring.
WINNER: Jonathan Gresham
THUNDER ROSA VS NYLA ROSE, AEW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Story going in: Nyla attacked Rosa at her ‘inauguration’ and ruined her moment. Also, Rosa ‘caused’ Nyla to strike Vickie Guerrero on Wednesday.
Rosa rivalled Joe’s reaction as she emerged, complete with cowboy hat. There’s not a more charismatic smile in wrestling than Rosa’s. It’s the good-guy equivalent of Bryan Danielson’s sarcastic smirk.
Dominating from the get-go with strikes and body blows, Nyla had the tables turned on her after Rosa used the ring-post for a spring-off bulldog. A shotgun dropkick from the top followed, then a clothesline, both gaining counts of one.
And the match continued like this. Whenever it slowed, Rose took control, whenever Rosa sustained pacy offense, she held the advantage.
Nyla caught Rosa attempting a hurricanrana off the apron, planting her back there with a powerbomb as the final break arrived.
Returning, Rosa was desperately trying to capsize her opponent with strikes and running lariats off-the-ropes, a stunner finally getting the job done before she followed with a double knee and a dropkick as Nyla was slumped in the corner.
A further dropkick through the ropes sent Nyla to the floor, leading to a twisting dive to the outside from the champ. Back inside, Rosa went to the top again for a cross body, Nyla dropping her but rolling through, draping her across the ropes before setting up the guillotine knee-drop. Dodging, Rosa was again caught as she came off the top, positioned for a Beast Bomb before reversing into a code red for a very close three (this was an awesome spot, probably should’ve been the finish).
Almost in tears with frustration, Rosa fired-up as the crowd roared her on. A short-arm clothesline cut Rosa off. An awkward-looking sequence followed, ending with a two for Nyla off a suplex/slam combo.
Both gained a bunch of two-counts via roll-up, before Rosa finally ended things with a hurricanrana into a pin (think West Coast Pop without the ropes). The last few minutes felt flat, as did the finish, confirming the fact that this should’ve ended with the Beast Bomb/code red sequence. The match would’ve been better for it.
Rosa went into the crowd to celebrate as we went to black. An entertaining hour of wrestling.
WINNER: Thunder Rosa
These shows always seem to catch Tony Khan unaware. As if there was no notice and he had to throw something together. Considering these are quarterly ‘specials’, there hasn’t been much special about them.
Scorpio Sky is really, really good and deserves more TV time. But he hasn’t had it. Barely featured for the majority of this unbeaten streak. If we don’t see it developing, it doesn’t mean anything.
Meanwhile, the ROH match suggests they were planning to put Cole/Page here until the Rampage ratings went to sleep. Also meaning Friday night’s Rampage had a much higher profile match with much bigger stakes than anything shown here the day after.
Lastly, not one person believed Nyla Rose was taking the title to bed with her tonight. As shown by the enthusiasm for Rosa and the silence which greeted the challenger. She’s a monster that’s been defeated too many times to really mean anything. If it took place on a Wednesday, this wouldn’t have closed the show. That should be the bare minimum for these quarterlies: would this match main event a Dynamite?
AEW has more than enough talent to make these worthwhile. Depending on what they want out of these – both ratings-wise and otherwise – number three needs to pack a punch, needs to have a match you’d otherwise see on a pay per view. With the mass of content fans have to choose from, and particularly on a Saturday night, it’s very easy to get a reputation of ‘can miss’.
GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO WATCH…
Nothing. The first two matches were very entertaining: if you have the time, check ‘em out. But don’t go out of your way.
One NXT guy who’s probably be going to be called up to the main roster soon is LA Knight…but judging from the dark match at Smackdown last night, he won’t be putting on his wrestling boots.
The former Impact champion was brought to the show as a manager of the newly-repackaged Mace from Retribution. Knight, decked in a full suit, said prior to the match that he was there to launch the Knight Model Management and Mace was his first client.
WWE typically uses dark matches to float new ideas and see how fans react live. Knight was last seen at NXT Stand & Deliver, losing a match to Gunther.
The 39-year-old signed with WWE in 2021 after a successful run with Impact Wrestling.
AEW is back on television tonight starting at 8PM ET with Battle of the Belts II. The show was taped yesterday after the live Rampage from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
Three matches will be part of tonight’s one-hour broadcast with Scorpio Sky defending the TNT title against Sammy Guevara, Jonathan Gresham defending the ROH World title against Dalton Castle, and Thunder Rosa defending the AEW Women’s title against Nyla Rose.
Battle of the Belts is a quarterly special that airs on TNT as part of the extended TV deal AEW reached with WarnerMedia last year. The first one which aired in January drew 704,000 viewers and a 0.27 rating in the 18-49 demo.
It looks like the WWE and Universal titles are not the only ones getting unified as WWE announced yesterday that the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team titles will be also heading in that direction at WrestleMania Backlash.
The Raw Tag Team champs RK-Bro will be colliding with the Smackdown Tag Team champs The Usos and the winners will be walking out with all the championships.
The current Raw titles were introduced in September 2016 after the brand split and took the lineage of the WWE Tag Team titles which were introduced in October 2002. The Smackdown Tag Team titles were introduced in August 2016.
This is the third match on the Backlash card so far along with Flair vs Rousey and Rhodes vs Rollins.
During Rampage last night, there was a familiar “twin magic” trick during the Ruby Soho vs Robyn Renegade match which unfortunately didn’t work out as it was supposed to for the Renegades.
While Soho was taking on Renegade in the Owen Hart Cup qualifier, Robyn switched out with her sister Charlette while the referee was trying to keep Soho away. It’s a trick made famous – although not created – by Nikki and Brie Bella during their early days in WWE dubbed “twin magic.”
The sisters eventually switched again but Soho still managed to overcome the double-team and won the match, advancing to the tournament which starts next month.
The Renegade Twins, trained by QT Marshall, have appeared on AEW Dark before and made their debut earlier this year for the promotion.
It’s Saturday morning, and you know what that means… it’s time for our Rampage Review!
Last week the stars returned to Rampage and so did the fans. We’ll see if a show including a world title match can continue the momentum.
BRYAN DANIELSON, WHEELER YUTA & JON MOXLEY VS GUNN CLUB
Story going in: Yuta fought his way into the Blackpool Combat Club last week
Kicking off with a bang, literally and figuratively, was extra pyro and the BCC. (Wheeler really needs to change his entrance, that multi-colored video doesn’t fit the vibe).
Loud ‘Yuta’ chants as the youngster began against Austin Gunn, followed by ‘ass-boys’ as Yuta went after the limbs before tagging in BD who went straight for the Romero Special, Austin tagging his dad straight in after scrambling to his feet. Danielson unloaded in the corner after Billy missed a splash, but a big right-hand from the former Outlaw floored Danielson as the break came.
Back ‘live’, the Gunns had Danielson down, until the burning hot tag to Moxley brought a loud ovation and a cacophony of clotheslines, half-and-halfs, back elbows, a superplex on Colton and a double DDT on the ass boys to cap it off. Victory nearly arrived after a king kong lariat and a tag to Yuta, who hit a cross body from up high.
With the other four fighting on the outside, Yuta avoided a Fame-Asser to roll-up Billy Gunn for the win.
Pacy and hard-hitting, nice opener to continue the rise of Yuta.
WINNER: BCC
THE BUTCHER VS ???
Story going in: MJF is paying the AFO to protect him from Wardlow, who the Butcher will face on Wednesday
As soon as the graphic ‘The Butcher in action’ appeared, that settled it: this show will break the record set by Punk’s debut back in August. Count-it. Even more of a guarantee, we were graced with the presence of Shawn Spears on commentary.
A cross-body from the top failed and it was all downhill from there for whoever Butcher’s opponent was (there was no graphic and the mumbled commentary couldn’t be clearly heard). A few blows preceded a powerbomb and the ref’s count.
WINNER: The Butcher
Dustin Rhodes cut his usual excellent promo, challenging ‘one of the greatest wrestlers’, a ‘dream match of mine’, CM Punk vs Dustin on Dynamite.
RUBY SOHO VS ROBYN RENEGADE, OWEN TOURNAMENT QUALIFIER
Story going in: Winner qualifies for Owen Hart tournament
Good to know Ruby’s still employed.
This went back and forth early, including rapid-fire headbutts to the air from Soho. An Ultimo Dragon style kick to the face with Ruby balanced in the corner brought a two for Renegade as the ads arrived.
Slaps, strikes and kicks brought Soho back into it as Robyn rolled to the outside after raking the eyes. As the ref checked on her, Robyn’s sister Charlette emerged from under the ring and took her place.
A senton from the top was easily countered as a result, but Ruby fought back with the No Future, leading to the twins switching again, Robyn getting a two with a roll-up from behind. Finally, Soho hit a sort-of reverse Cross-Rhodes for the win.
A lot of the strikes looked weak, especially following the BCC.
WINNER: Ruby Soho
Next week’s Dynamite was plugged, including yet another ‘huge announcement’ from the owner.
Ahead of the main event, Hangman vowed to end Cole’s obsession with him, and maybe even his career. Cole said he was better than Page. Hangman got the better of this.
HANGMAN ADAM PAGE VS ADAM COLE, AEW WORLD TITLE, TEXAS DEATH MATCH
Story going in: Cole and co. have been after Page for months, incl. recently stealing his title, leading to Hangman making this challenge
Perhaps AEW are trying to make this Hangman’s ‘match’. But it doesn’t seem all that long since the previous Texas Death Match. Not to mention since last week’s bloody finale.
Given a good twenty minutes, this was far longer than your average Rampage main event. The champ didn’t bother much with his entrance, striding straight down and backing Cole into the corner.
Dueling chairs started us off, quickly leading us to the outside, Page landing blows from the mount as the crowd cheered. Continuing the abuse, Cole was flung into the steps and the announce table as ‘Cowboy S***’ played in the background.
Spilling into the crowd, Page continued to dominate as Hangman beckoned for a beer, clubbing Cole’s head before taking a swig. The challenger fled back to the ring where the champ went topside, flipping off moonsault-style, landing a chair shot to Cole before taking a breather on said chair as a now-bloody Cole struggled to get back inside.
Solidly behind the champ, the crowd were enjoying this one as the break arrived.
We returned with Page still in control. Not for long though, Cole clotheslining his opponent with a chain and a kick to the face. Countering a superkick, Page dropped Cole spine-first onto a bridge made by back-to-back chairs; Taz, who knows about neck injuries, didn’t appear to be ‘selling’ as he audibly winced on commentary.
A Panama Sunrise was countered into the deadeye as both struggled to their feet, Cole using the ropes to help as he slid outside. Ready and waiting, he blasted Page with a superkick as he came in to land from an ourihara moonsault, then, back in the ring, made good with a second Panama Sunrise attempt, the champion wobbling to his feet at nine, bleeding from the chin.
Back to the top, the two fought on the buckle, leading to Cole being hurled with what Scott Hall used to call the ‘sack of ****’ drop onto a pile of chairs. Both were now struggling to answer the ten-count.
Placed on a chair, seated, mid-ring, Hangman sat himself down face-to-face with Cole, the two exchanging blows to the face up to their feet, upscaling into trading kicks as Cole cut-off Page readying the Buckshot, talking trash as the champion knelt on the ring apron before going to grab another chair.
Big mistake. You don’t turn your back on Hangman when he’s on the apron, Cole treated to the BOOM himself as he was blasted with a Buckshot Lariat.
Tying him to the ropes, Page went outside for a chair wrapped in barbed-wire, but couldn’t bring himself to strike his old friend. Cole had no such compunction, going after Hangman’s baby-maker, then landing superkicks but was cut-off by a lariat.
Pissed, the champion placed a barbed-wire crown on Cole, blasting him with a deadeye off the apron through a table. With nothing left, Cole failed to answer and the champ retained.
WINNER: Hangman
An excellent main-event which did as much for Hangman as anything in his nearly six-month (doesn’t feel like it, does it?) reign. Before a crowd which was solidly behind him, he dominated Adam Cole and gained a decisive win over a credible challenger.
Smackdown opens with a video package of The Usos on Monday Night Raw.
RK-Bro come out and Randy tells The Usos to get out here and get an answer to their question about a unification match from Monday night. The Usos come to the ring, after some remarks made by both sides, Randy accepts the challenge. The Usos then sneak attack Riddle before running up the ramp.
In the back they show Naomi and Sasha Banks talking when Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan show up. Sasha says the only thing Naomi needs to do is beat Ripley tonight. Naomi says the glow always beats the nightmare, and they laugh and walk away as Liv says they are wild and tells Rhea she looks great tonight. Naomi and Sasha make their way to the ring.
Commercial break
We come back from break and RK-Bro is talking with Adam Pearce in the back. Pearce tells Riddle he can go one on one with Jimmy Uso tonight.
Naomi VS. Rhea Ripley
Sasha is at ringside with Naomi and Liv Morgan comes to the ring with Ripley. Great back and forth match with high spots for both wrestlers, the end came when Ripley kicked out of a Naomi pin attempt and Ripley was able to get her hooked in a Riptide for the pin.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
After the match Sasha looks worried as Naomi sits and holds the back of her head and Rhea and Liv stand and raise each other’s arms in the ring.
The Usos are shown going into Roman Reigns’ locker room.
They show Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin split from last week as we go to another break.
Back from break we are shown the Happy Talk episode from last week.
Happy Corbin is interviewed in the back and can’t wait to see Madcap fall flat on his face. And he is happy without Madcap.
New Interviewer Drew Gulak interviews Madcap Moss in the back who comes in laughing. He says he feels bad for Happy that more people like him as a bum.
Madcap Moss VS. Humberto
Madcap is very physical and hits the punchline on Humberto for the win.
Winner: Madcap Moss
Charlotte Flair is in the back talking to Drew Gulak who was waiting for a review from Adam Pearce after his interview tryout and Charlotte tells him to wait and interview her in the middle of the ring before he gets his review.
Breaking News: It’s official at WrestleMania Backlash, The Usos and RK-Bro will face each other in a tag team unification match.
Drew Gulak is in the ring and announces Charlotte Flair. Charlotte said she did not decline the I Quit match with Rousey, she was trying to protect Rousey’s ego. Drew said he saw her tap out, and Charlotte says she didn’t tap out and Drew is out of line. Charlotte then asked Drew if he stopped being a competitor to stand there and ask stupid questions because she is not a quitter. Winning is in her DNA, Charlotte says/ She then says Drew doesn’t deserve to interview her and to get out of her ring NOW! Then Charlotte attacks Gulak from behind and Flair puts Gulak in a Figure 8 and made Gulak tap out and yell I Quit.
They show Sami Zayn running from his match with Drew McIntyre last week.
Drew McIntyre VS. Sami Zayn
Sami says he is not going to run and hide he is going to beat Drew in the middle of the ring and regain the respect from the people. Drew dominates Sami through most of the match and sets Sami up for the Claymore, but Sami stops and rolls out of the ring. Drew follows him out and throws him back inside. They cross each other bouncing off the ropes and as Drew goes again for the Claymore, Zayn again rolls out of the ring and this time into the crowd. As the referee counts McIntyre stands in the ring looking on in disbelief as Sami heads up the steps.
Winner By Count out: Drew McIntyre
After the match Drew chases Zayn up the steps but Zayn runs faster and gets away.
Ricochet is interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton. Ricochet says he sees Jinder Mahal as just another tree trunk that needs chopped down and the Intercontinental championship is not going anywhere tonight.
As we come back from break Sami is still on the run and runs right into Adam Pearce and Pearce says he is going to face Drew again next week in a Lumberjack Match because running from Drew is unacceptable
As Mahal made his way to the ring Michael Cole announces SummerSlam will be held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN on Saturday, July 30th this year.
Ricochet VS. Jinder Mahal for the Intercontinental Championship
Shanky comes out with Mahal. Mahal takes the early advantage and overpowers Ricochet, Ricochet comes back and hits the recoil and Ricochet went to the top rope, but Shanky pulls Mahal out of the ring and Ricochet leaps on both Mahal and Shanky. Ricochet throws Mahal back in the ring and hits Mahal with a shooting star splash for the win.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion Ricochet
Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch are interviewed backstage. Before the interview, they show Butch’s tantrum from last week after his loss. Sheamus says they have had bigger fights over the TV remote. Sheamus says there is no trouble as Butch takes off after pushing Sheamus, Ridge smacks Sheamus who at first shrugs him off and then after he smacks him again Shamus turns, and Holland says we lost Butch. We go to break as they look confused.
They show John Cena’s debut and The Undertaker congratulating him.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are shown signing autographs and talking as Butch shows up and attacks them.
Another segment with Lacy Evans, talking about her abusive father and was on the run with her father who was running from an assault charge. She says she has never been handled anything and she had to work and fight for everything.
Natalya and Shayna Baszler are shown after Evans’ interview. Natalya says our future is bleak.
Riddle VS. Jimmy Uso
During the match Orton and Jey Uso got into a verbal argument and Jimmy slides through the ropes and kicks Orton as Riddle gets to his feet. Jimmy turns around and Riddle hits him with a knee to the face. Riddle then goes up to the top rope, only for Jey to jump up and pull his leg causing Riddle to fall.
Orton on the apron is yelling at the referee and as Riddle gets to his feet, he is hit with a superkick from Jimmy. Jimmy then goes to the top rope as Orton and Jey start fighting on the floor.
Orton slams Jey on the announce desk as Jimmy gets to the top rope, Jimmy hesitates and looks what was going on with Orton and Jey then jumps but Riddle rolls out of the way and Jimmy lands on his feet. Riddle runs at Jimmy who throws Riddle in the air as Riddle comes down, he hits the RKO, Orton slides in the ring as the ref counts to 3.
Winner: Riddle
Show ends with RK-Bro celebrating in the ring and holding their Raw Tag Team Championships
Former WWE and WCW star Virgil revealed in a post on Twitter that he has been diagnosed with early stages of dementia.
Virgil said that over WrestleMania weekend he was feeling unwell and went to get checked.
The first news, which was also a surprise, was that he suffered from two strokes that he was unaware of. He called this “decent news” but was not ready for the next one.
“The worse news is that I have been told that I am fighting with an early stage of dementia,” Virgil said.
“I’m nervous, I’m scared & God knows I can’t afford 2 get through this & even make a living. It’s really sad as all I want to do is have fun & do what I always do. Survive.”
Dementia affects the brain and eventually results in forgetting to do even the most simple and basic things in life, requiring 24/7 care.
Khan said that while he approves everything that goes on, it wasn’t his idea to turn the lights off for the debut.
“I put the outline of the show together and when I came in Wednesday, I thought it was the best outline I had ever put together. One of them, at least,” he said, adding that Singh is an important player for them and it was important to have him debut in a meaningful way.
Khan said that the person who came up with the idea of turning the house lights off has “over 30 years of experience in professional wrestling” and no one during the production meeting shot down the idea.
“We have all these people in the room and somehow not one person brought up the negative. When we did it, all the negatives were very obvious,” he continued, before he shot down to reveal who came up with the idea. “I don’t need to list all the credentials of all the great people around me in the production meeting, but it was a lot of veteran people.”
Tonight’s Rampage on TNT will have a special start time of 7PM ET instead of 10PM due to NBA coverage on the network. This will be a live Rampage with three matches, headlined by an AEW World title bout.
The main event will be reigning champion Hangman Adam Page taking on Adam Cole in a Texas Death match. The Gunn Club will take on the Blackpool Combat Club in a six-man tag match and Ruby Soho battles Robyn Renegade in an Owen Hart Cup tournament qualifier match.
Fans in the arena will also have the Battle of the Belts tapings, an event which will air tomorrow also on TNT.
Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre will be headlining the upcoming London and Paris non-televised live events this month when WWE crosses the Atlantic for four days of shows.
The tour will take WWE Superstars to Newcastle, London, Paris, and Leipzig as the company slowly restarts its post-pandemic European tours.
The top three matches of the London and Paris shows include Reigns vs McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Universal title, Charlotte Flair vs Ronda Rousey for the Smackdown Women’s title, and RK-Bro vs The Usos in a non-title match.
Appearing on NBC Sports Boston’s Ten Count podcast with Steve Fall, one half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team champions Sasha Banks said her next goal is to main event a WWE show in Saudi Arabia.
The Legit Boss has pretty much done it all in WWE and wrestled in every kind of match, including main eventing WrestleMania, something that not too many people in this industry can say they did.
But one thing she wants next was thought to be impossible just two to three years ago.
“I want to keep on making history. I think for myself, I would love to main event a pay-per-view in Saudi,” Banks said. “I would love for the tag team women’s championships to be represented over there and to main event.”
Both Banks and Naomi have already wrestled in Saudi Arabia and now the women are a big part of these shows, a complete change to when WWE started their relationship with the Kingdom. Back then, no women were allowed for the first few shows and even after they were allowed, their ring gear consisted of a baggy shirt and neck-to-toe covering.
At Elimination Chamber earlier this year, 12 women participated in the show and all had form-fitting ring gear, although still covered neck-to-toe.
“The main event of any pay-per-view, representing these titles is the goal of 2022. Me and Naomi can accomplish that,” Banks continued.
Banks and Naomi captured the tag team titles at WrestleMania Sunday this year.
The Good Brothers will soon be out of a contract with Impact Wrestling as their deal with the promotion is coming up soon according to Doc Gallows.
Speaking to PWInsider.com, Gallows said that the duo are up to get a new deal or else look elsewhere, depending on the conditions. PWInsider confirmed that their deal will run out in late July.
The Good Brothers have been wrestling for Impact since May 2020 and came to the promotion after they were released from WWE. Since then, the two have also appeared multiple times for All Elite Wrestling when AEW and Impact had a “forbidden door” working relationship and also appeared for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Gallows and Anderson were released from WWE after signing new deals for far more money. They have taken major shots at the promotion since leaving and it doesn’t seem like they would want to work for WWE in the near future, limiting their options.
Pain is an inevitable part of wrestling. No matter how experienced you are, or how well you take care of your body, at some point, you’re going to feel pain. The best way to deal with pain is to avoid it in the first place. Here are some tips on how to do that. Additionally, if you do find yourself in pain, there are ways to treat it that will help you get back on the mat as soon as possible. Keep reading for more information.
Common Wrestling Injuries
Because wrestling is a contact sport, it’s important to be aware of the fact that you can get injuries from time to time, depending on how hard you train, how often you wrestle, and the intensity at which you do so. In terms of the types of injuries that you can receive whilst wrestling, these range quite dramatically anywhere from simple bruising to an ACL tear. Here are a few of the most common injuries;
ACL and MCL tear: ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament, and MCL stands for the medial collateral ligament. The ACL is a tissue that essentially connects the shin bone to the thigh bone and the base of the injury usually happens at the knee. Some symptoms that you might experience are intense pain, instability as well as swelling. The symptoms with MCL tears are the same.
Muscle soreness: Another common injury that you might experience is just general muscle soreness and this can be felt usually within 12 to 48 hours after an intense workout or a competition.
Shoulder injuries: All the injuries you might experience whilst wrestling the most common shoulder injuries, which include shoulder dislocation, separation, and a rotator cuff injury. This is usually caused by the nature of wrestling, such as the twisting of arms. Any restrictive holds you might be placed in, as well as impact with the mat.
Neck injuries: Much like shoulder injuries. Neck injuries are also relatively common and they are usually caused when you are placed in vulnerable positions or slammed on the mat. A few injuries that you could experience might be cervical fractures, whiplash, or neck strain.
How to Avoid Them
Depending on the type of injury that you are attempting to avoid, it might not be possible. Injuries such as neck injuries or shoulder injuries might not be avoidable depending on how they are received. For example, if you are slammed on the mat, no amount of stretching can prevent an injury. If your arm is forced behind your back and you happen to fall on it, there is nothing that can be done to stop an injury from occurring.
One thing that you can do to avoid any knee injuries such as an ACL or MCL tear, would be to wear knee pads that will absorb the impact. More than this, you should always make sure to stretch before practicing, and this is even more important if you are entering a competition. You should also ensure that proper nutrition is being maintained, as well as avoid any unnecessary or excessive weight loss.
CBD
In terms of what you can do to treat the injuries, one of the more popular methods in 2022 would be using CBD. It is very common in most contact sports for athletes to use painkillers to help treat the pain, and wrestling is no exception. Unfortunately, painkillers are opioids that are quite addictive and have quite bad side effects.
CBD, on the other hand, is not an opioid and is used to treat opioid addiction. More than this, it has anti-inflammatory properties and is fantastic at treating pain. There are numerous ways to consume CBD, which you can learn more about at Daily High Club. Since it is completely natural, it is illegal to be used even if you are competing.
Physiotherapy
Finally, no one knows your body better than you do. Having said that, you should know the difference between general muscle soreness after a competition or an intense workout and an actual injury. One of the best things that you can do is visit a physiotherapist since they are trained to diagnose as well as treat sports-related injuries.
The last thing that you want to do is receive an injury and brush it off as nothing, only to cause permanent damage that could potentially end your career. Another benefit of visiting a physiotherapist is anything that you learn from the physiotherapist can be used in the future, if you were to get a similar injury again.
The pay-per-view level card episode of Dynamite this week drew 977,000 viewers, down 12,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast and the lowest number since March 9. The show faced competition from the NBA playoff games on ESPN which did over 2 million viewers each. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite drew a 0.37, down 0.01 from last week and the lowest since March 2. It placed #3 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Impact’s William Morrissey, the man formerly known as Big Cass in WWE, will be part of the Impact Wrestling show tonight on AXS TV from the same arena which does not bring good memories for him.
“In December of 2018, I publicly suffered a seizure from alcohol withdrawal in the 2300 Arena,” Morrissey tweeted earlier today. “Tonight, I will stand in that same building on #IMPACTonAXSTV as a new man with a new appreciation for life & all its blessings,” he continued, before thanking everyone for their support.
Morrissey had a rocky road after getting released from WWE and things did not look good for him for quite a while. The 2300 Arena incident Morrissey was referring about happened on December 8, 2018 when he was wrestling for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore.
Morrissey collapsed backstage next to the merchandise tables and started shaking. Fans surrounded the area as they called for medical help with one individual holding him down. EMTs quickly arrived on the scene and took him to a hospital with an ambulance.
