Tonight’s episode of Dynamite on TBS is the themed Beach Break show live from Cleveland, Ohio. There were heavy rumors that Johnny Gargano, who is from Cleveland, will be appearing on the show tonight but those remain rumors and there is nothing confirmed that the former NXT champion will be appearing on camera.
So far, four matches have been announced for the show which will be headlined by a lights out match between Adam Cole and Orange Cassidy. Other matches set are Chris Jericho, Santana, and Ortiz vs Daniel Garcia and 2point0 in a trios match, Red Velvet vs Leyla Hirsch, and a ladder match to unify the TNT title between champion Cody Rhodes and interim champ Sammy Guevara.
Two other segments, interviews with CM Punk and AEW Women’s champion Britt Baker are also being advertised.
Ring of Honor today announced the establishment of the ROH Hall of Fame to coincide with the promotion’s 20th year anniversary.
The first inductee in the inaugural ROH Hall of Fame class will be revealed this Monday. Subsequent inductees will be announced on February 7, February 14 and February 21.
The company did not announce when and where it intends to hold to ceremony but at the moment the promotion is on pause to evaluate their business moving forward. The first show of 2022 will take place in Dallas during WrestleMania weekend.
Throughout the years, ROH was responsible for giving stars such as Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, Keith Lee, CM Punk, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, and many other of today’s top wrestlers a space where to perform.
WWE yesterday announced that the next NXT television special will take place on Tuesday, February 15 and will be titled Vengeance Day.
Airing live on USA Network, Vengeance Day follows New Year’s Evil as the brand’s second special event of the year. Last year, the same name was used for a Takeover event which was held on Valentine’s Day.
Only one match has been confirmed so far for the show and will see Carmelo Hayes defending his NXT North American title against Cameron Grimes. Grimes won a #1 contender’s match against Tony D’Angelo last night to set up the match.
NXT will also hold Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania week but it’s unknown yet if that will be a WWE Network special or else a television taping for USA Network.
With no Monday Night Football as competition anymore, Raw took a slight increase in viewership this week with the show getting an average of 1,766,000 viewers, up 153,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. This was the most-watched Raw since October 4, 2021.
The show started with 1,822,000 viewers, then increased to 1,882,000 viewers, but took a big hit to 1,594,000 viewers in the third and final hour. Raw lost 288,000 viewers from the second to the third hour alone.
The show did 0.45, 0.47, and 0.47 in the 18-49 demo for an average of 0.46, up 0.03 from last week. It placed #1, #2, and #3 in the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
During last night’s Monday Night Raw, a spelling bee contest was held between RK-Bro and The Alpha Academy, where each individual had to spell out a word to win the contest for their respective team.
Unfortunately, things got a bit awkward as Otis, who was given the word “Emmental” – a form of Swiss cheese – actually spelled the word wrong, going from “t” to “l” and skipping the “a.” Since the script called for him to spell the word correctly, they gave it to him correct although it was clearly evident that he mixed it up.
His partner Chad Gable got the word “disillusion” and went ahead to spell it wrong as he was supposed to, opening the way for RK-Bro to win the contest.
Riddle had the word “calibration” while Orton had the word “dumbbell” and both men got their spelling correct.
Despite the Otis mishap, the fans completely ate it up and seemed to have enjoyed the segment judging from their reaction. On the other hand, the reaction online was as hilarious as Otis legit getting the spelling incorrectly.
Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie has been cast to star alongside Randy Couture, Neal McDonough, Oleg Prudius, Bai Ling and Rashad Evans in a new movie titled Phoenix according to Deadline.com.
Phoenix is an action-thriller which centers on Eva Marie’s character Fiona “Phoenix” Grant, a U.S. Army veteran Sergeant who is teaching hand-to-hand combat skills in Afghanistan when she receives word that her father, played by Randy Couture, has been killed in Florida.
“The police report says it was suicide, but Fiona doesn’t believe it. Encouraged to take a leave of absence by her commanding officer (McDonough), she heads back to the U.S. and soon learns that the prime suspect is Maxim Vasiliiev (Prudius), a ruthless local drug kingpin with an army of mercenaries and enough legal, political and business influence to keep him outside the law. Armed to the teeth, she plans to take out Vasiliiev with her bare hands, and nothing is going to stop her,” reads the rest of the description of the movie from Deadline.
Prudius is former WWE star himself Vladimir Kozlov and of course both Couture and Evans are former UFC champions.
The live Rampage last Friday which featured Jon Moxley’s in-ring return following an absence of three months drew a total of 594,000 viewers, up 68,000 viewers from the prior week. The show did a 0.24 in the 18-49 demo and placed #6 in the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
The men’s Royal Rumble match had seven more participants added last night on Raw, bringing the total number of announced individuals to 22.
Chad Gable, Dolph Ziggler, Omos, Otis, Randy Orton, Riddle, and Robert Roode are the latest WWE Superstars who threw their name in the hat for the match and that now leaves eight open spots for surprises, legends, or NXT talent.
The others announced for the match are Angelo Dawkins, AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Big E, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Happy Corbin, Johnny Knoxville, Kevin Owens, Kofi Kingston, Madcap Moss, Montez Ford, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, and Sheamus.
Unlike previous years, there does not seem to be a clear-cut winner this year although from the names announced, Big E and AJ Styles are the ones making the most noise.
According to multiple industry insiders, it looks like Ronda Rousey is on her way back to WWE and an appearance this Saturday at the Royal Rumble is not as far fetched as some would think.
Sean Sapp from Fightful reports that Rousey’s name has been mentioned several times for the Rumble and she could be one of the surprise entrants in this year’s match. Rousey made her debut for WWE at the end of the first women’s Royal Rumble several years ago.
Rousey gave birth to her daughter back in September but is already in top physical shape and condition and doing training. Dave Meltzer of the Observer also reported that Rousey is pretty much a lock for WrestleMania, and considering they have to sell twice as much tickets this year in a huge stadium, they will need all the star power in the world to make it happen.
The former Raw Women’s champion last appeared for WWE at the main event of WrestleMania 35 where she lost the title to Becky Lynch in a triple threat match which also included Charlotte Flair.
Last night during THE WRLD ON GCW pay-per-view, Matt Cardona wore a red flannel shirt with “F*ck Mick Foley” written on the back and was welcomed with several middle fingers along the way to the ring.
Addressing Cardona’s choice of attire from the show, the WWE Hall Of Famer said that he’s happy that Cardona managed to reinvent himself after being let go by WWE and has since become one of the most valuable and enjoyable assets to watch in the wrestling industry. He said that when one leaves a major company, you have two options: either keep doing what you’re doing or else reinvent yourself, and that’s the option that Cardona took.
“Knowing that I’m playing just a small part in that reinvention…a tiny part…well, that makes me happy,” Foley said. “And in conclusion, f*ck Matt Cardona.”
WWE today announced via the Dallas Morning News that it will hold the Hall of Fame and NXT: Stand & Deliver shows during WrestleMania weekend in Dallas, Texas.
Dates and locations for these two events are to be determined and will be announced at a later date. The WrestleMania Superstore will also return this year, presumably in the same location where Axxess will be held.
The company has not held a Hall of Fame ceremony for the public since WrestleMania 35 weekend and Stand & Deliver was a two-day event last year held at the Performance Center following WrestleMania. The last time WWE held an NXT event during Mania weekend was Takeover: New York in 2019 held at the Barclays Center. Also, NXT has not taped outside Orlando since NXT Takeover: Portland in February 2020.
This will be the first WrestleMania since 35 where all the usual events surrounding the big show will take place in the host city.
Mickie James was not the only former WWE star under an Impact deal contacted by WWE to be part of the Royal Rumble as Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting that Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay, collectively now known as The IInspiration, were also offered a similar spot.
But the duo formerly known as The IIconics slammed the proverbial forbidden door shut, and refused to be part of the show. Both of them were released from WWE after WrestleMania last year, joining over 80 other Superstars who were given the pink slip throughout the year.
Sapp adds that Impact Wrestling was okay with having Lee and McKay appear and signed off on it but discussions stopped after the Impact Knockout Tag Team champions refused to invitation.
Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Lita, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Summer Rae, and Mickie James are so far the non-contracted stars who will be appearing at the Rumble. In total there are 21 women announced, with nine remaining.
If you’re not French, the chances are you haven’t heard of Teddy Riner. However, in France, he is one of the most influential sportspersons. It seems that martial arts have universal appeal. Regardless of country, there is some form of martial arts that is popular. Teddy Riner is Judoka by trade and fits into this category nicely. However, Riner’s influence goes well beyond the world of sports.
His involvement in projects led by UNICEF France, the Institute of Genetic Diseases, and other organizations made Riner one of the favorite celebrities in the country. Outside of France, Rider remains synonymous with judo, a combat sport in which he’s set numerous records over the course of his 15+ years’ long professional career.
Riner Making the French Obsess With Judo
Although Riner won a number of medals as a junior, the first time he really caught the media’s attention was when he became the European Champion. He won the title on his 18th birthday in 2007. A year later, he became the world champ in the +100 kg category. He was the youngest judoka to do so.
Since then, he has won another nine World Championship gold medals. Breaking the record for number of medals along the way. As of 2022, he remains at the top of the all time medals list.
In addition, Riner has also won three gold medals at the Olympics. The most recent of those at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where he won gold with the French judo team. His incredible success isn’t the only reason why the French public has gone into a “Riner Craze”. Standing at 6’8” (2.04m) and weighing about 290 pounds (~130kg), Riner is famous as a friendly giant with a reputation for fun interviews. His media-friendliness has made him one of the favorite guests of French talk shows and podcasters. For instance, we recently saw Riner making an appearance on a Spotify podcast by the French-American NBA legend Tony Parker.
Among the things the two sporting legends discussed are Riner’s future as a judoka, a potential transition to MMA, and his involvement in French youth sports.
Riner Trying to Prove That “Judo is for all”
Turning 33 this April, Riner needs to start thinking about his post-judo career. Judo athletes tend to retire in their thirties because of how intense the sport can be. David Douillet, one of Riner’s biggest influences, ended his professional career as a judoka at the age of 31. Just after he had won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
When Riner retires, his life isn’t going to get boring. On the contrary, it’s likely he’ll have plenty of work on his hands to keep him occupied. It’s because Riner has already started involving himself in a number of projects.
He’s been a UNICEF France goodwill ambassador for several years, focusing on the wellbeing of underprivileged children. Riner has also been involved with a project run by the Institute of Genetic Diseases, which involves raising money for the institute through a series of charity auctions.
On top of everything, Riner also runs his own judo organization. Named the Teddy Riner Judoka Foundation, runs under the motto “judo is for all” which explains what the organization is all about. By getting children and young adults interested in judo, Riner is hoping to get them off the streets and help them make healthy life choices.
What’s Next for Teddy Riner?
The next challenge on Riner’s professional agenda is to help the French national team dethrone Japan in the upcoming World Judo Team Championship. The Japanese have won the gold medal in each of the previous six instances of the competition, the most recent being the 2021 tournament held in Budapest, Hungary. The 2022 Championship is taking place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in August.
Three months earlier, Riner will have a chance to add a few more medals to his collection by winning the European Judo Championship. The continental championship is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria from April 29 through May 1.
Other judo competitions Riner might take part in the near future include the IJF Grand Slam and the IJF Grand Prix. Then, there’s also the Judo World Masters, which is the last championship where we saw him winning the gold medal. Held in January 2021 in Doha, Qatar, the event saw Riner win gold in the +100 category.
The same year, he took part in the Tokyo Olympics, but his campaign ended not with the gold medal but with bronze. He will probably have another shot at the Olympic gold in two years. That’s when his hometown of Paris will be hosting the 2021 Summer Olympics. Sure, Riner will be 35 at the time of the Games but with the support of his own crowd, he could get to his fourth Olympic gold.
Last night’s THE WRLD ON GCW pay-per-view at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York had tons of surprise appearances and a rowdy crowd to make it one of the most memorable indie shows of the past several years.
WWE Hall of Famer X-Pac, Hornswoggle, Virgil, Bryan Myers, and former ECW stars Sabu and Bill Alfonso all showed up throughout the evening.
The Matt Cardona vs Joey Janela match was responsible for most of these cameos with Hornswoggle and Marko Stunt brawling, Virgil coming out with a Vince McMahon mask, Myers attacking Janela rewinding the clocks to the infamous ECW One Night Stand 2006 show recreating the angle with Edge appearing with a motorcycle helmet, and X-Pac saving Janela from further damage.
Cardona entered the Hammerstein Ballroom ala Sandman, complete with Enter Sandman on the speakers and walking through the crowd with a red flannel shirt that had “F*ck Mick Foley” on the back.
The event also had the participation of Jeff Jarrett, Ruby Soho, Jon Moxley, Lio Rush, and the return of Nick Gage.
A replay of THE WRLD ON GCW is available on FITE.TV.
The UFC today announced that UFC 276 will take place on Saturday, July 2 from Las Vegas, the same day as WWE’s Money In The Bank also from Las Vegas.
UFC 276 will be the culmination of the yearly UFC International Fight Week which will be held from Monday, June 27 through Sunday, July 3. The T-Mobile Arena will play host to UFC 276 on pay-per-view.
The UFC will also host the 2022 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during the week.
This year’s Money In The Bank will be live from the Allegiant Stadium, one of the four stadium shows for WWE this year. The Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Money In The Bank, and SummerSlam will all be held in stadiums.
The Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena are around 1.5 miles apart from each other, a good 30 minute walk away. Since the main UFC pay-per-view card starts late, it will be possible for WWE fans to also make it to the UFC show in time to catch the majority of the main card.
PWInsider.com is reporting that both NXT champion Bron Breakker and Gunther, the man formerly known as Walter, are being flown to St Louis this weekend for the Royal Rumble.
Being there doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be part of the Royal Rumble match itself but with coronavirus around, you never know who might be taken out in the last day and replacements will certainly be needed as a contingency.
If he appears, this would not be the first main roster appearance for the former NXT UK champion Gunther, as when he was still Walter, he showed up at a Raw in the United Kingdom back in 2019 to challenge Seth Rollins. On the other hand, Breakker is still relatively new and this would be his first time on a non-NXT show.
Peter Avalon, who’s been appearing for AEW since their first show, is now a free agent as well and is accepting independent bookings and appearances.
“Book the #AEW Original, Dynamite since day 1, #PPAALLDAY, any date, any time, any place,” he wrote in a tweet.
The 32-year-old Nevada native signed with AEW in early 2019 and made his debut for the promotion at Fyter Fest, accompanied by Leva Bates, and wrestled his first match at Fight For The Fallen.
Avalon, who was mostly used for Dark shows, had 27 losses and two draws before getting his first win I the promotion.
Former AEW World champion Jon Moxley showed up unannounced at the Northeast Wrestling Wrestlefest 26 live event yesterday night, held in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Mox opened the show and wrestled Channing Thomas in the first match of the card. He was in New York originally for the Game Changer Wrestling show which will take place tonight at the Hammerstein Ballroom where he will defend the GCW title against Homicide.
This Wrestlefest show was the same show which was headlined by Bully Ray and NZO taking on Adam Scherr and Erick Redbeard. Earlier this week, Bully Ray criticized Moxley for not apologizing to fans for missing months of appearances for AEW when he entered into rehab.
His unjust criticism was met with a wave of backlash online, especially from Moxley’s wife Renee Paquette and also former WWE Divas champion Paige.
Friday Night Smackdown did 2,136,000 viewers in the overnight ratings, up 77,000 viewers from last week’s overnight. Last week’s show eventually ended with 2,174,000 viewers when the final number came in on Monday.
The first hour started with 2,145,000 viewers and then dropped slightly to 2,127,000 viewers in the second hour. The show did a 0.6 in the 18-49 demo, up from last week and tied first with Shark Tank for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV.com)
Lio Rush has suddenly announced that his contract with AEW will be expiring on February 14 and will become a free agent.
Rush was in the news earlier this month after AEW President Tony Khan took a swipe at Big Swole following her departure from the company. Rush told Khan to apologize in a tweet and even wrote, “If nobody says something, then I will. Because this is f*cked up and now I’m pissed.”
He later issued a statement and said he had a talk with Khan and all was good. Well, it looks like it was anything but good.
The former WWE Cruiserweight champion signed with AEW in late September of last year after Khan actively tried to recruit him.
Since then, he has won another nine World Championship gold medals. Breaking the record for number of medals along the way. As of 2022, he remains at the top of the all time medals list.
Three months earlier, Riner will have a chance to add a few more medals to his collection by winning the European Judo Championship. The continental championship is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria from April 29 through May 1.
