You’d be forgiven for thinking Ronda Rousey was no longer with WWE as she hasn’t competed since her Raw Women’s Championship reign ended at 231 days at WrestleMania 35. However, she is still under contract and will be until mid-April 2021. This explains why WWE is still selling her merchandise on WWEShop.com.
Initially, when WWE was negotiating with Fox about bringing SmackDown to the network, they promised both Rousey and Brock Lesnar, so they fully intended for her to be part of their long-term plans, as the length of her contract reflects. Following her final appearance in April 2019, she stated she was stepping away from wrestling to start a family but later claimed on the podcast of Jackass star Steve-O to have not been happy with the schedule. She’d add that she’d never wrestle a full-time schedule again, and called WWE fans ungrateful.
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On Monday’s Raw, Mustafa Ali was revealed as Retribution’s true leader. T-Bar, Mace, and Slapjack accompanied him, but neither Mia Yim nor Mercedes Martinez were there. It was believed they were still isolating, but now there seems to be evidence indicating that Martinez may no longer be part of the stable.
Firstly of all the members, she is the only one not to either rename or open a new Twitter account. In fact, she is still tweeting like she is part of the NXT roster. That alone doesn’t mean much, but earlier today, Ali took to Twitter and shared the below photo acknowledging each member’s former identity and also indicating why the members are disgruntled. Mercedes Martinez was again conspicuous by her absence.
We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Martinez because, as of right now, it seems she might be out of Retribution.
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Erik of The Viking Raiders has joined his tag team partner Ivar on the WWE’s injury list as he has undergone surgery to remove a surgical screw from his arm. The screw was inserted along with 17 others in 2014 following a motorcycle accident. He would announce this today on Twitter.
Today I had hardware removed from my cyborg arm. I’ve been putting off this surgery for a long time and just worked thru the pain and limitations caused by a surgical screw protruding into my triceps. Thanks to the wonderful Dr Dugas, I’m excited to come back at full strength.Erik
While Erik didn’t confirm this, he likely opted to have the surgery now as his tag-partner Ivar is out for the foreseeable after having neck surgery. He’ll now get to spend time at home with his pregnant wife, former WWE wrestler Sarah Logan while he recovers.
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Game Changer Wrestling are presenting TWELVE events this upcoming weekend to watch on FITE, and one of the most eagerly anticipated is Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 3 which takes place on Sunday. Thanks to the good people at FITE, we have TWO codes to give away, so if you’re lucky, you can watch the show for free.
For those not familiar with Bloodsport, unlike traditional wrestling matches, a competitor can only win by submission or knockout. You can check out the full card below:
So, for your chance to win, just answer the following question:
Who did Jon Moxley defeat to become AEW Champion?
A) Chris Jericho
B) Cody Rhodes
[contact-form to=”james@webisjericho.com” subject=”Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 3″][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Answer” type=”text” required=”1″ options=”Chris Jericho,Cody Rhodes”][/contact-form]
If you’re not lucky enough to win, you can order the iPPV through FITE for just $19.99 at this link. Note only one entry per person. Entries close on Saturday, 10th October, at 10:00 AM ET, and the winner will be sent the FITE code via email by 11:00 AM ET. By submitting your entry, you will also be subscribing to the WIJ Newsletter, which you can unsubscribe from with one-click.
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For those unaware, the hit Netflix show GLOW was a dramatized version of the real-life Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling promotion, which ran between 1986–1990, which had a small but devoted following. In September 2019, GLOW was renewed for its fourth and final season, and filming had commenced in February 2020. Only a few episodes in and global events caused production to shut down, and Deadline.com has now reported that Netflix has decided to cancel the season.
The issue was GLOW was filming in Los Angeles, and it has been challenging to make the arrangements to resume filming, given the circumstances. In addition, the risk of the actors working in close proximity due to wrestling was considered a risk. With the earliest, the series being able to return to the streaming service being 2022, it was feared that a two and half year gap between series three and for was too long, and viewers wouldn’t return.
The show featured numerous professional wrestlers in various roles with Awesome Kong having a starring part. Other wrestlers to appear included John Morrison, Brodus Clay, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Alex Riley, Joey Ryan, Carlito, Christopher Daniels, and Frankie Kazarian. It’s also been revealed by Taya Valkyrie on her Twitter account that she had been recruited for season four and had been involved in filming.
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Wade Barrett surprised many fans when he returned to WWE to commentate for NXT on the August 26 episode. It was initially for only two shows taped on the same day. However, when Mauro Ranallo mutually agreed on his WWE release, Barret signed a one-year contract.
Now, in an interview with Stephanie Chase of Digital Spy, Barret has revealed what it would take for him to return to the ring for the first time in over four years.
In truth, if I was to come back as a full-time in-ring guy, I really would be chasing the sunset of my career. I don’t think there’s that many more years left in me. So the question is, what would I want to achieve?
The only thing I didn’t achieve in WWE that I always wanted to achieve was to become the WWE Champion, and that title is now held by an old friend of mine, Drew McIntyre. So taking him on for that title is something that certainly might tempt me back for a match or two.Wade Barrett
Barrett left WWE in 2016 and has stayed out of the ring since. He almost wrestled for Lucha Underground in 2018 as “The Lord,” but the promotion went on hiatus. Based on his comments, it doesn’t sound like a return is very likely, but anything can happen in wrestling, as we know by now.
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Jazz debuted in 1999 and quickly joined ECW, where she would regularly compete in intergender matches with the likes of Jason Knight and Simon Diamond. She’d sign with WWE in 2001, and her career highlight took place shortly after at WrestleMania X8 when she successfully defended the WWE Women’s Championship against Lita and Trish Stratus. Now speaking to Chris Van Vliet, she has announced she has officially retired, bringing to an end her 21-year wrestling career.
Honestly, I just had my last match this past Sunday. I am done in the ring. I was going to do a whole tour in 2020.
I’ve been having issues with my knees and my back and a lot more issues physically, mentally, and emotionally. That’s why I had to forfeit the NWA title. I have two beautiful daughters, and I have to focus on them right now.Jazz
Jazz will now spend her time with her husband, fellow wrestler Rodney Mack, and her twins, 11-year-old daughters Summer, and Skye in Lafayette, Louisiana. It’s expected she will continue to run her gym and wrestling school called The Dog Pound. Her final high profile appearance was at AEW’s inaugural All Out pay-per-view, where she participated in the Casino Battle Royal.
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Last night’s NXT TakeOver 31 event saw Finn Bálor and Kyle O’Reilly go to war over the NXT Championship. Many people are calling it a match of the year contender, despite the contest having to cut the match short after an O’Reilly knee strike possibly broke Bálor’s jaw. The pair would go to the finish, and Bálor won with the Coup de Grace.
After the match, Bálor was evaluated by WWE’s medical team and then sent to the hospital to receive CAT Scans to determine the extent of the injury. Even if his jaw isn’t broken, a fracture could still require surgery and likely means he would have to vacate the title.
Bálor wasn’t meant to currently be NXT Champion, as he won the vacated NXT Championship by defeating Adam Cole, following Karrion Kross having to give up the title due to a shoulder injury. It was expected that once Kross was passed fit to return to the ring, the pair would have worked a program together.
If the worst happens and Bálor has to relinquish the NXT Championship, it will be the second time he has had to forfeit a title due to injury. Back in 2016, he became the inaugural Universal Champion at SummerSlam by defeating Seth Rollins. However, during the match, he suffered a torn labrum of the shoulder, which required surgery.
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Following the second match of NXT TakeOver 31, WWE announced that Halloween Havoc is coming back as a special edition of NXT. The special will take place on October 28th and be hosted by Shotzi Blackheart.
Halloween Havoc was an annual WCW pay-per-view which run from 1989 through 2000, and over the years, featured matches such as Sting vs. Jake Roberts in a Coal Miner’s Glove match, Big Van Vader vs. Cactus Jack in a Texas Death Match, and Roddy Piper vs. Hollywood Hogan in a Steel Cage Match.
In July, WWE revived another former WCW pay-per-view event with The Great American Bash as two special editions of NXT. These shows were a big success and resulted in two rare victories for NXT in the Wednesday Night Wars.
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Triple H took part in a Q&A session earlier today to help promote NXT TakeOver 31. During this, he briefly discussed Velveteen Dream and how his immaturity has affected his career.
Coming off of what was a bit of a rough year for Velveteen Dream. Reorganizing himself, you know? Dream is one of those young guys that still hasn’t quite found his way yet of who he wants to be. I think sometimes that weighs on him. His immaturity in his life presents itself in his professional life and makes it difficult for him sometimes. Triple H
For those unaware, Velveteen Dream had serious accusations made against him both before and during the Speaking Out movement earlier this year. WWE says they carried out an investigation and found no evidence of any wrongdoing. It was thought these allegations were why he missed two months of television. However, it was apparently due to a car accident where he failed to stop at a red light and ended up hitting another car, which put him out of action.
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As reported earlier, WWE has renamed the Performance Center to the Capitol Wrestling Center. The name is in homage to the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, started by Vince McMahon’s grandfather Jess McMahon in 1953. In addition to the new name, the venue has a new look, which you can see in the below teaser video below.
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The first event to take place in the renovated and renamed venue will be tonight’s TakeOver event. It scheduled to be headlined by Finn Bálor defending his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly.
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Speaking to SI.com, Triple H has announced that from tonight’s NXT TakeOver 31 event, the Performance Center will be renamed to the Capitol Wrestling Center, and you can see the new logo below.
The name is a tribute to the Capitol Wrestling Corporation that was founded by Vince McMahon’s grandfather Jess McMahon in 1953 and was the professional wrestling and boxing promotion that would become WWE. In addition to a new name, a new set will also debut, which according to Triple H, will have all the bells and whistles of the ThunderDome, while going back to 1953.
The Capitol Wrestling Center captures the feel and the vibe of NXT. We will have all the bells and whistles of the ThunderDome, but we’ll keep that NXT feel. It’s edgier, darker and raw—you’re walking into the ultimate heavy metal soundstage.
We gutted the Performance Center and it’s now rebuilt, so it feels like we’re going back to the beginning. To me, it feels like we’re going back to 1953. Just like then, we’re doing something different and new, taking the business to a whole new level. Triple H
Triple H would also state that this rebranding and new set at the Capitol Wrestling Center did signify and an end to running NXT shows at Full Sail University in Winter Park.
We are not severing our relationship with Full Sail. I’m very proud of all we’ve done there. This move is the right decision for us from a tech standpoint, but I look forward to returning there soon and the partnership remains strong. Triple H
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