WWE will be presenting a double dose of Hall of Fame action tonight as the 2020 and 2021 classes will both be inducted during a special presentation from the WWE ThunderDome on the WWE Network. The ceremonies, taped separately last Tuesday and Thursday, will air together starting at 8PM ET.
This will be a Hall of Fame like no other, with only virtual fans and no inductors reciting old stories and long speeches. Speaking of long speeches, each individual was allocated only a few minutes and with 13 different inductees, you can guess why.
The 2020 class will consist of John “Bradshaw” Layfield, The British Bulldog, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, the New World Order with Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Sean Waltman, Nikki Bella and Brie Bella of The Bella Twins, William Shatner who gets the celebrity nod, and Titus O’Neil who was given the Warrior Award.
The 2021 class is the smallest class yet with Molly Holly, Eric Bischoff, Kane, The Great Khali, Rob Van Dam, and Ozzy Osbourne as the celebrity. WWE employee Rich Hiring will be the recipient of the 2021 Warrior Award.
Batista, who was supposed to be part of the 2020 class, requested that he be inducted at a later year since he was not able to appear in person this year due to a scheduling conflict.
Wrestling is arguably one of the most entertaining sports. It is not just the wrestlers who have fun participating in the matches and make money hands-over-fists. However, fans of the sport can also enjoy the same and have a steady flow of cash, given that they are aware of what is happening in the wrestling world. The attraction of wresting is so great that people from across the countries watch these matches religiously, despite knowing that they are mostly scripted. The drama, thrill and excitement of the matches are no less than a thriller that has been our guilty pleasure. From the minute these wrestlers step inside the rings to the time they take on their opponents, fans wait with bated breath to see who is going down and how gruesome the fall would be. And while they wait for their favorites to emerge triumphant, they even move some money around and place a few bets on their favorite players. Having said that, today we shall talk about a few ways in which you can make some money with wrestling and as safely as possible.
People who normally engage in sports betting feel that wagering on wrestling might not always pay them well. This is because the matches are mostly scripted, and most of the times, the outcomes are decided. However, this is not knowledge that every punter can have access to. The matches, with all their twists and turns and pre-determined outcomes, can be difficult to bet on and might not prove to be much profitable for the bettors. However, there are several opportunities to bet on wrestling, even with all the drama. Wrestling has several iconic stars and leagues that leaves enough room for punters to bet on. Therefore, without any more delay, let us look at some of these options and see how punters could go about betting on this sport.
Through Online Slots:
Online slots make for one of the best ways to make money from wrestling. This option has not much been explored, and that is why you must consider using the Slot Online to make money from wrestling. Online slots have several wrestling-themed games that create the same environment as a real wrestling match. You can play these games any time of the day or night, which is something worth considering. These online slots range from the traditional reel games to video slots that simulate the ambiance of a wrestling match. Therefore, if you do not want to bet on a real wrestling match, you can bet on something that resembles it in every way and also increases your probability of winning the bet.
By Sports Betting:
The next simple thing to do to make money from the domain of wrestling is to bet on the real matches. You can indulge in some good old sports betting via a bookmaker. There are several online betting sites that enlist all the major wrestling events and provide fans with all the information they would ever need to bet on the matches. Here is a trick that can come in handy if you want to bet on real wrestling matches. Take some time and observe the players and the matches. Do not jump right in to place your bets. You need to see how each player is performing and get the hang of their dynamics before you can place the bet. This shall help you make better and more profitable wagering decisions.
Follow a Strategic Betting Routine:
One of the best ways to ensure that you are earning a steady income from betting is by keeping money aside for future events. You must always opt for dividing your bets so that you do not lose much. Keeping aside money for future betting events will make sure that you have enough to gamble throughout the year and also help you earn a regular income by betting on your favorite sport. Therefore, remember to divide your bets among multiple players so that your chances of winning are higher and so that you have a better strategy to minimize your losses and cushion yourself from the same.
Wrapping It Up:
There are a number of ways to explore the activity of betting besides wagering on the real match. However, you need to be aware of these options so that you can make the most out of this domain and make wise betting decisions. And while you are at that, always remember that you do not have to wager continuously on these matches just to make some money. It is okay to take a break and clear your head for a bit. This will help you reflect upon your betting strategies, understand the matches better and then choose the right form of betting for you.
The musical guests for WrestleMania and NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver were announced by WWE yesterday.
Nita Strauss, the lead guitarist for Alice Cooper and an NXT favorite, will be performing the U.S. national anthem on night one of Stand & Deliver. In a post on Instagram, Strauss said she’s incredibly excited to kick off the show with her rendition of the The Star-Spangled Banner while Alice Cooper adding he knows what it takes to create a spectacle and Nita will do just that.
Billboard.com also announced today that pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy will be performing and debuting a new song during NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver night two on the WWE Network. This is not the first time that Poppy has performed on NXT and the last time she was part of NXT was for the Halloween Havoc special in October.
Grammy Award nominee Bebe Rexha will be performing America The Beautiful on night one of WrestleMania. The singing of America The Beautiful is a long-standing tradition at WrestleMania where it is performed instead of the national anthem.
Meanwhile, Ash Costello of New Years Day, will be performing the vocals for Rhea Ripley’s entrance theme Brutality on night two of WrestleMania.
“I am honored to sing in support of such a genuine and strong woman,” Costello wrote in a social media post. She said as a wrestling fan, she’s excited to be part of something she loves and thanked Ripley for her support to make this dream a reality. “Now this is all our moment together,” she continued.
There were some changes announced to the WrestleMania card last night on Monday Night Raw, including an addition.
During the opening segment, Drew McIntyre said that the WWE title match against Bobby Lashley will be the main event of night one. For the past several days, Sasha Banks has been saying that her match against Belair is going to main event night one so something must have changed in the meantime and Drew and Bobby will now close night one.
The Bad Bunny vs Miz match, also set for night one, has been changed to a tag team match with Bad Bunny teaming with Damien Priest against Miz and John Morrison. This was the original expected match for the show until they threw a curveball and announced a one-on-one match between Bunny and Miz. This will be Bad Bunny’s in-ring debut and the Latino star has moved to Orlando where he has been training everyday at the Performance Center.
Also, a women’s tag team turmoil match has been added to night one and the winners of that match will advance to night two to take on the WWE Women’s Tag Team champions. The match will see Lana and Naomi vs Natalya and Tamina vs Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke vs Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott. One team will have the honor of saying they wrestled on both nights of WrestleMania as Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler await in the second night.
Several WWE Superstars have been put back on Cameo doing limited number of videos during WrestleMania Week…for a lot of money!
Cameo was one of the services which WWE ordered its Superstars to stop doing business with last year. Individuals were using their WWE name to promote themselves and the company did not like that and ordered a stop on the practice.
Now, Superstars such as Big E, Kofi Kingston, Alexa Bliss, Kevin Owens, Apollo Crews, Drew McIntyre, Bianca Belair, Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, Sheamus, Cesaro, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, and many others are back on the service with 15 bookings each, with prices ranging from $200 to $500.
Randy Orton and Shane McMahon are the most expensive ones with $500 each while Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, and Alexa Bliss follow with $400 per video.
If you would like a personalized video from any of the available stars, go to Cameo.com to book yours.
WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil has been named the recipient of the 2020 Warrior Award. Named after WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior, The Warrior Award is presented to an individual who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of The Ultimate Warrior.
Titus O’Neil is one of the most philanthropic Superstars in WWE history. A fixture in the Tampa Bay community and passionate about giving back to families in need, O’Neil founded The Bullard Family Foundation, an organization that provides families and children in need with special moments, programs, and resources to help build character, develop relationships, and strengthen communities around them. In addition, O’Neil is an Ambassador for WWE helping thousands of individuals through various nonprofits and WWE partners including Susan G. Komen, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics. His passion for community and uplifting others inspired him to write his first book, “There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid: How I Went from Stereotype to Prototype” in 2019. O’Neil is a Tampa Bay native and graduated from the University of Florida where he was a standout football player for the Gators.
“Titus is a dedicated father, humanitarian and WWE Global Ambassador. His unwavering passion to help others in need is simply unmatched,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “Although he does not seek recognition, I am thrilled that his work will be spotlighted to WWE fans around the world.”
The Warrior Award presentation will be part of the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, airing tomorrow at 8PM ET on the WWE Network.
WWE and G4 today announced they are partnering for a video game competition series premiering on G4 this fall. The program will be hosted by WWE Superstar Xavier Woods, G4’s first-announced on-air talent, and will pit some of the biggest content creators in gaming against each other, playing some of the most popular video games to settle scores.
“Getting a shot to be a G4 cast member is incredible and humbling in itself, and I couldn’t be more excited for the chance to have my own show,” said Woods. “Not only will I host, but I’ll also have a pivotal role to play as the top personalities in gaming try to settle their beef.”
“This partnership combines WWE’s sports-entertainment and G4’s competitive entertainment to bring a truly unique offering only these brands can offer,” said Brian Terwilliger, VP of Programming and Creative Strategy for G4. “The format of the show, along with WWE Superstar Xavier Woods AKA Austin Creed’s electric presence on-screen, will make it appealing for gamers, WWE fans, and those new to both as well.”
Jayar Donlan, WWE Executive Vice President, Advanced Media, added, “Xavier Woods has become a household name for WWE fans and gamers alike, and he is the perfect fit to headline our new series with G4. From console and mobile games to WWE’s successful UpUpDownDown YouTube channel, WWE’s influence on gaming is stronger than ever, and having our own gaming series on G4 is the next step in the evolution of the company’s gaming strategy.”
WWE will serve as an Executive Producer for the program. As part of the joint partnership, G4 and WWE will take the program to market together.
The popular British singer Ozzy Osbourne is joining the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.
The 72-year-old did not appear at the ceremony live in person but recorded a video message accepting the honor. The ceremony for the 2021 class was recorded on Thursday.
Osbourne has a long history with WWE, one that dates back all the way to 1986 where he made his first appearance at WrestleMania 2. On that pay-per-view, he accompanied Lou Albano and The British Bulldogs to their match against Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine.
He also sang at a Smackdown in 2007 and two years later he and his wife Sharon were the guest hosts of Monday Night Raw in Worcester, Massachusetts.
William Shatner was the other celebrity inductee in the 2020 class. Just like Osbourne, he did not appear live at the ceremony.
The 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame ceremonies will air tomorrow on the WWE Network in one broadcast. Unlike previous years, there were no inductors and speeches were limited to a few minutes only.
If you’re a wrestling fan, or better yet, a WWE fan, you have nine straight days of programming coming at you thanks to WrestleMania Week.
The fun starts tonight on USA Network with a three-hour episode of Monday Night Raw. On Tuesday, it’s the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony streaming exclusively on Peacock and the WWE Network. Night one of NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver kicks off at 8PM ET on USA Network on Wednesday and it’s also simulcast on Peacock. Thursday starts with NXT UK: Prelude at 3PM ET on Peacock and WWE Network and then night two of NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver continues on Peacock and WWE Network. A special WrestleMania episode of Smackdown on FOX airs on Friday at 8PM ET and then it is WrestleMania weekend, with night one kicking off at 8PM ET on Saturday and night two also at 8PM ET on Sunday. The post-Mania Raw takes place on Monday at 8PM ET on USA Network and then NXT moves to its new Tuesday night slot also at 8PM ET.
Tonight’s Raw, tomorrow’s Hall of Fame, and Friday’s Smackdown have all been pre-recorded at the ThunderDome inside Tropicana Field but all other broadcasts will be live.
Not much WrestleMania tickets have moved over the past week and the company still have tickets to sell for both night one and two.
Night two has less tickets remaining than night one but both nights have a big problem: hundreds of floor and ringside seats remain unsold.
Night one on April 10 has a total of 387 floor seats available for sale, 137 of which are classified as ringside. Seats as close to fifth row remain for sale.
Night two on April 11 has slightly less floor seats available with 297 but a higher percentage of ringside seats on sale with 115 available. Just like night one, seats as close as fifth row cane be purchased.
The higher price point of these tickets is a turn off for many fans, and with no international fans splashing cash, it looks like WWE will be giving some upgrades on the two nights to fill up these seats.
The highest tickets are selling for $2,000 for ringside and the cheapest floor seats are $200.
There are just over 1,000 seats in total available for night one and less than 800 available for night two.
Today is the last day that the WWE Network is available in its current format and app for viewers in the United States as Peacock takes over exclusivity tomorrow, April 5.
Current subscriptions to the Network for those with a U.S. address will expire today and will no longer be accessible anymore unless it’s accessed through Peacock. If your subscription was set to expire after April 4, you will receive credit for the remaining time through credit card or PayPal, depending on what payment method you have selected.
If you have unused gift cards, you can swap them for gift cards from hundreds of top-name brands or a general-use card from American Express or Visa. You can start that process at redeemcardusa.wwe.com.
If you’re new to Peacock, you can get four months of Peacock Premium for a single, one-time payment of $9.99. When the 4-month period expires, the service will auto-renew on a monthly basis at $4.99 until you cancel at any time. You can use the promo code PEACOCKMANIA to sign up and offer expires on April 9.
The WWE Network/Peacock deal was announced on January 25 and is reportedly worth over a whopping $1 billion over five years. You can check out a list of FAQs here on the move and a workaround to make Peacock TV work on Amazon Fire TV devices here.
In a short interview with India-based WrasslinNews promoting this year’s WrestleMania, Drew McIntyre said that he would not mind opening or closing the show this year as both have a special meaning, especially this year.
McIntyre admitted that if you’re in a WWE title match at WrestleMania, your aim is to be the main event and the main event is the one that closes the show.
“This is such a unique WrestleMania. Without having the fans there for an entire year, that first reaction is gonna be so, so special,” he said, adding that if they decide to put the WWE title match as the first match, it will be big for him.
If his match is the first, Drew will 99.9% be the first one out in front of fans in over a year as there will be no matches as part of the Kickoff show on night one.
“If I’m in the opening match…to me that’s also just as big because if you get to walk out in that first match and get the crowd full of energy and all those pent up reactions that we’ve been keeping inside for a year, that’s gonna be special too. So either way, I’m happy,” Drew said.
A giant pirate ship is being constructed inside the Raymond James Stadium to serve as the backdrop for the WrestleMania 37 stage.
Construction of the massive structure started a few days ago as WWE took over the facility to prepare for the two-night WrestleMania. A drone flown over the stadium gave a glimpse of what’s coming, showing the pirate ship, with three huge masts, already in place.
The structure surrounding the ring is also in place with the usual steel pillars occupying each corner which will serve as support for the video screens, lights, and sound system. Unfortunately, they will also block the view of those who are seated exactly opposite them.
You can see the video, which was posted on r/SquaredCircle, below.
AEW made some changes to their first-ever non-televised live event which will take place on Friday, April 9 during WrestleMania Week at their usual hangout of Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.
Cody Rhodes, who was set to face Ethan Page, is now facing Aaron Solow in a Duuuval Street Fight. The match change stems from the angle that took place on Wednesday’s Dynamite where Nightmare Family members turned on each other and split in two groups.
Ethan Page remains on the card but is now part of the battle Royale where the winner will face the TNT champion in the main event of the show.
Page will be joined by Lance Archer, Dustin Rhodes, Scorpio Sky, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks, The Butcher, The Blade, 10 of The Dark Order, and Colt Cabana in the battle royale.
The non-televised event is titled The House Always Wins and will feature a total of 10 matches so far on the card with all the top talent from AEW being involved.
Tickets for the show remain available at AEWTix.com.
Smackdown did 2,036,000 viewers in the overnight numbers last night, up 6,000 viewers from last week’s fast rating. Last week, the show ended with 2,191,000 viewers when Monday’s final number came in.
The first hour started with 1,963,000 viewers and then rose to 2,109,000 viewers for the second hour. The show was #2 in 18-34 with 0.3, #2 in 18-49 with 0.5, and #4 in 25-54 with 0.65 ratings respectively. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
WWE will release a bunch of new shows during WrestleMania week on the WWE Network.
Five new original series will debut including the WWE Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, the Steve Austin Broken Skull Sessions with Chris Jericho, Prime Target: Cole vs O’Reilly, The Ultimate NXT Takeover, and The Ultimate WrestleMania.
Four new documentaries are part of the several programming which will air next week. These are The Day Of: Fastlane 2021, Untold: Edge vs Mick Foley, Chronicle: Edge, and WWE 24: The Miz.
Several Best Of compilation shows include WrestleMania in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, along with WrestleMania Main Events, Randy Orton, Mankind, and Ronda Rousey.
And those are, of course, in addition to the live in-ring Takeover and WrestleMania and weekly episodes of NXT UK, and the independent wrestling shows.
All this will stream on the WWE Network and on Peacock in the United States.
Night one of NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver will have no commercials on Peacock but regular commercials on the USA Network broadcast. The show will be simulcast on the two on Wednesday, probably affecting the final rating for the show.
In the media call with the press yesterday, Triple H noted how preparing for this Takeover is like preparing for two Takeovers as the logistics are different for the two nights. On the first night, they have to time the show for commercials for USA Network while on night two it’s a different deal since they’re on the Network with no commercials.
Acknowledging that they’re still working on the logistics of night one with both USA and Peacock, Triple H said that there will probably be changes up until 7:59PM, which is one minute before they go on the air.
Night one of NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver is the last NXT broadcast to air on Wednesday and the show moves to Tuesday nights the week after.
Speaking with the press ahead of NXT Takeover: Stand & Deliver, Triple H revealed that AJ Styles did ask him for a match at WrestleMania this year but he did not have the time to get in “Mania shape” this time around.
Triple H said that he would have loved to square up with Styles but his corporate job doesn’t leave him much time to prepare, saying that staying in shape and getting ready for a WrestleMania match are completely different.
He mentioned how Ric Flair keeps telling him that he needs to lace up his boots again and he would love to do it but there’s simply is not enough time and is too busy right now. This will be the second WrestleMania in a row that Triple H is not involved in ring-wise.
AJ Styles used the same tactic for getting a match against The Undertaker last year, initiating the dialogue and straight up asking the Deadman for one more match.
Your immune system is the only guard you can rely on to fight against disease-causing microorganisms. trillions of bacteria live inside and on our body, but the bad bacteria is attacking our body every day and when the immune system works smoothly we don’t even notice the process of protection. But the life of athletes is different. In order to maintain the energy level the body needs, the athletes should add various food supplements and vitamins to their diet, strictly following that dietary regime so they can recover in the period of exercises and competitions. Intensive physical activities cause high stress levels, which should be again controlled and maintained in balance. The best step is a healthy lifestyle supported with supplements and vitamins. The last ones you can find on vitaliving.com with extremely useful information about them.
How does the immune system work?
A large part of the immune system belongs to the specific cells: Phagocytes and Lymphocytes (or the white blood cells). In other words they are called T-cells and B-cells. Phagocytes are responsible for “eating” the bacteria, viruses that already exist in our body and for some reason they became non useful (dead or injured body tissue). Lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and they recognize foreign bacteria and viruses that penetrate into our body. Lymphocytes or B-cells in this case are playing the “antibody” role fighting against bad and harmful bacteria destroying them. Plasma cells make antibodies.
Tips to Boost Immune System for Athletes
Immune system`s good work requires harmony and balance. Here are the tips on how to boost the immune system.
Follow your diet.
During intensive exercises your body needs energy to burn, so you should never restrict your calorie intake. Hard training causes high cortisol level (stress hormone) and the result is immune system weakening. Keep the calorie in balance.
Exercise but do not overtrain.
Working out and exercising is good for health, but as an athlete you have a very intensive program. Overtraining can cause weakened immune system, increased muscle soreness, inability to sleep, depression, and increased injury.
Sleep
When you are asleep at night, your body goes through several recovery processes. Blood flow becomes faster and it delivers restorative oxygen to your muscles. Athletes get injured and get less by 54-60% (NBA players study) when they get good sleep.
Supplements
Vitamin B Complex: controls energy production and the process of building or repairing muscle tissues.
Vitamin C: one of the best immune boosting supplements. Fight against bacteria and microorganisms.
Vitamin D and Calcium: keeps the bones, teeth, and muscles healthy, supports the immune system.
Zinc: your body doesn’t have the vitamin originally and the only way to get is to ingest from food and supplements. It maintains thyroid hormone metabolism, stimulates growth, building, and repair of muscle tissue.
Omega-3s: reduces muscle soreness and swelling
Protein Powder: it’s a popular nutrition supplement that builds muscle, repairs damaged tissue, and makes enzymes and hormones.
Sport probiotics: reduces stress, keeps you mood good, fights against anxiety and inflammation.
Magnesium: has several benefits. It improves bone health, boosts energy levels, controls stress management, balances blood sugar, regulates muscle and nerve function.
Be attentive to what you eat and use as a supplement. Make sure the supplements are certified and safe specifically for your body. Don’t forget about natural vitamins and stay close to nature.
Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso has a story on how the interview of Chris Jericho on the Steve Austin Broken Skull Sessions came around. The news spread like wildfire today when it was announced and it was met with many “holy” expletives.
Austin said that after the interview with The Undertaker aired, Jericho reached out to him to congratulate him on a great show and Austin replied with a few emojis.
“He called me right then and there. We got to talking. I’ve always respected the hell out of his career, and I’m glad they’re around – it gives the guys and girls in professional wrestling more places to work. I said, ‘I’d love to have you on the show.’ And he said he’d love to do it, so I checked with Vince about it,” Austin said.
Getting the approval from the big boss was a must so Austin texted Vince and asked him if it’s okay to have Jericho on the show.
“Vince goes, ‘It’s cool. Go ahead.’ But me and Vince don’t always do well with phones and texts and all that, so I texted one more time, ‘Are you sure it’s OK to have Chris Jericho on the show?’ Vince gave me the thumbs up, and Chris came out to do the show,” Austin recalled.
Barrasso also reported that AEW President Tony Khan signed off on the deal and gave his approval to Jericho to appear on the broadcast, which will air on WrestleMania Sunday.
“Jericho’s one of the most influential wrestlers over the last 30 years and he’s still going strong,” Austin said. “The guy has gotten over in every territory he’s ever been in. Chris has always been able to reinvent himself and do something new and fresh,” Austin continued.
The Rattlesnake confirmed that they’re going over everything, including All Elite Wrestling, during the interview.
“Jericho is one of the all-time greats, and it’s going to be cool to have someone from AEW on a WWE show. To bottom line it, I’m excited for people to watch this show,” Austin added.
