New Impact Wrestling World Champion has issued a statement on Twitter regarding the accusations of racism made about her, specifically the use of the N-word after she spat in the face of La Rosa Negra.
If you take her statement at face value, it means that La Rosa Negra is a liar, as well as the other people who have said they witnessed the incident. It also fails to address the accusations of bullying made by numerous wrestlers. The statement is focused on the racist word, not if she’s a locker room bully.
If you take her statement at face value, it means that La Rosa Negra is a liar, as well as the other people who have said they witnessed the incident. It also fails to address the accusations of bullying made by numerous wrestlers. The statement is focused on the racist word, not if she’s a locker room bully. XYZ
On his latest podcast, Booker T discussed Impact Wrestling putting their world championship on Tessa Blanchard.
Big ups to Tessa Blanchard because she’s good. She’s really good at what she does, but this is the worst idea that Impact Wrestling ever had in the history of their company.
If Tessa Blanchard goes back and wrestles the women, she should be able to beat all of them. Now the woman that beat her, she’d be able to go out and beat the men too. The crossover of intergender wrestling is something that’s for independent companies, okay? If they want to be looked at as an indy group, keep doing stuff like this.
I don’t think this is what empowering women is what it really is meant to be, you know what I mean? I really don’t think so. Because I’m not saying that Ronda Rousey is not a tough woman, but you put Ronda Rousey in there with Jon Jones, and you watch what happens to her.
You can hear the full comments for yourself below.
XYZ
Last night was the Bash at the Beach edition of Dynamite going against NXT, and after a comfortable win in the Wednesday Night Wars last week, the momentum was firmly with AEW.
Dynamite featured Jon Moxley defeating Sammy Guevara but being attacked by The Inner Circle and stabbed in the eye by Chris Jericho. DDP also wrestled on the show, and Pac defeated Darby Allin in the main event.
NXT had the conclusion of the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and Bianca Belair winning a #1 contender’s battle royal.
The final ratings saw Dynamite having 940,000 average viewers down 0.7% from last, with NXT having 700,000 average viewers, which was down 2.9%.
This takes the score to 11-3-1 in AEW’s favor.
XYZ
As of writing Impact Wrestling has had their Twitch channel suspended due to content from this past Tuesday’s episode.
It was due to a video featuring RVD who is doing a Charlie Sheen 2011 gimmick with Katie Forbes and model Jennifer Barlow, who he is in a real-life three-way relationship with. You can watch the offending part of the segment below, but note it isn’t suitable for work.
XYZ
Triple H upset Paige when answering a question about her potentially returning to the ring by saying:
“I’d like to see them live healthy lives…Edge has kids…Paige…you know, she probably has a few she doesn’t know of…”Triple H
Paige would draw attention to the joke on Twitter with the tweet below.
Even my boss jokes about me.. no wonder you guys still do it too. https://t.co/dOmZAiwvyX
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) January 13, 2020
Now following an online backlash, Triple H has taken to Twitter and confirmed he has spoken to Paige and apologized.
I’ve reached out to @RealPaigeWWE to apologize. I made a terrible joke and I’m sorry if it offended her or anyone else.
— Triple H (@TripleH) January 15, 2020
Some people are unhappy that he used the word “if” but as long as Paige is happy with the apology, that is what matters.
XYZ
Rocky Johnson has sadly passed away at the age of 75.
Initially starting out in boxing, he would make pro wrestling history by breaking down racial barriers, becoming the first black man to win the Southern, Georgia, and Florida heavyweight titles. In addition, he also held the WWWF tag team championships with Tony Atlas.
He is well-known to modern-day fans for being the father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and WWE honored him with induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2008.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
XYZ
Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view takes place on Saturday, January 16 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, and is headlined by Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers vs. Rich Swann, Chris Sabin, and Moose. The show also features Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan in a Barbed Wire Massacre match, and Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo defending the title against Taya Valkyrie. It’s sure to be a newsworthy show, and thanks to FITE, we have two codes available to be won to watch it free.
So all you need to do is watch the official trailer for the event below and then answer the competition question to be included in the draw.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”saGWUsYi” upload-date=”2021-01-15T21:13:39.000Z” name=”Impact – Hard to Kill 2021 on FITE PPV _ Main Event teaser” description=”” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
Entries close on Saturday, January 16, at 2:00 pm ET, and the winner will be sent the FITE code via email by 3:00 pm ET. By submitting your entry, you will also be subscribing to the WIJ Newsletter, which you can unsubscribe from with one-click. Only one entry per person.
So, for your chance to win, please answer the following question:
In the above video, what does Don Callis say Kenny Omega makes?
A) Five Star Matches
B) History
[contact-form to=”james@webisjericho.com” subject=”Hard To Kill”][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=”2002,2020″][/contact-form]
If you’re not fortunate enough to win, you can order the PPV through FITE at this link.
XYZ
All Elite Wrestling has announced that AEW Dynamite’s contact with TNT has been extended through 2023. In a press release Kevin Reilly, president of TNT, TBS, and truTV said:
The fans have spoken and after only three months, we have seen AEW shake up the wrestling world and this will only continue as we build upon this momentum.Kevin Reilly
TNT was originally hoping for 500,000 viewers per week when Dynamite debuted and the show has vastly exceeded that figure despite head-to-head competition from NXT. Last week’s episode actually had 947,000 average viewers and comfortably beat NXT in the ratings.
Also announced is that there will be a second television show. Details of the second show aren’t yet known, but moving AEW Dark from YouTube to television is the most likely scenario.
XYZ
Over the weekend, the news went around the internet that Brian Cage had signed with AEW. We did not report this because we couldn’t get it confirmed, and even Cage’s wife, Melissa Santos, went on Twitter and denied he’d signed.
Really?? How can you confirm something that isn’t true???? I’m his wife and I can CONFIRM, he hasn’t signed on any dotted line.Melissa Santos
Often partners of wrestlers will deny claims as the promotions like to keep signings quiet until they are ready to announce, but in this case, she wasn’t kayfabing us.
We understand that Brian Cage has spoken to AEW, but he has also spoken with New Japan and is considering his options. Unfortunately, though he is currently injured with a torn bicep and estimates are he will be out of the ring for 4-6 months. This is will likely delay him signing with anyone.
We don’t know when the injury occurred but is the reason his match with RVD didn’t happen at Impact Wrestling’s Hard To Kill PPV. Instead of an actual match, Cage had a chair kicked in his face, and was hit with a Van Terminator. He rolled out the ring, and referees took him to the back.
Hopefully, Cage can return at his best because wherever he ends up, he will be should be a featured performer.
XYZ
During a recent interview, Triple H was asked about the potential in-ring returns of Edge and Paige. He would reply with the below, which upset Paige.
“I’d like to see them live healthy lives…Edge has kids…Paige…you know, she probably has a few she doesn’t know of…”Triple H
Obviously, the joke doesn’t make sense when about a woman, but it does imply Paige is promiscuous, and she called attention to this on Twitter.
Even my boss jokes about me.. no wonder you guys still do it too. https://t.co/dOmZAiwvyX
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) January 13, 2020
The ill-thought-out joke was also likely upsetting for Paige as she has previously suffered a miscarriage and isn’t sure she can have children.
Renee Young would also take to Twitter to defend her WWE Backstage colleague.
Big love to Paige. She’s been to hell and back but still some people wanna make jokes. We need (and she deserves) real change. https://t.co/vqdkWNyLMa
— Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) January 13, 2020
XYZ
Tessa Blanchard made history last night, being the first woman to win the Impact Wrestling World Championship. A title with a somewhat complicated lineage that includes Sting, AJ Styles, Mick Foley, and Kurt Angle as past holders.
She follows on from Sexy Star, who was the first female World Heavyweight Champion in a major wrestling promotion when she won the title in Lucha Underground.
Her win came against Sami Callihan at the Hard To Kill PPV after two Destroyers and a Hammerlock DDT. You can watch the historic moment below.
The title change had been in doubt after claims of racism and bullying were made against her on Saturday, but they didn’t cause Impact Wrestling to change their long-term booking plans.
Following the PPV going off-air, Tessa would address the crowd saying:
Over the past eight months, this has been my life. Sami and OVE have been a thorn in my side, and tonight we did it. Nobody in this life is perfect. We’re all human. And it doesn’t matter what you say about me. It doesn’t matter what you call me. I’ve got one of the strongest minds that I’ve ever known. So whenever you come for me, you come for all these people, and I am now the standard-bearer of Impact Wrestling and man or woman, pound for pound, I am one of the best in the world. And I am now your World Champion!Tessa Blanchard
XYZ
After Marty Scurll’s Ring of Honor contract expired in November, it was thought he was AEW bound due to his friendship with The Elite, having been a member of the Bullet Club, and then The Elite. But in what is considered a shock, he has re-signed with ROH.
It’s understood the deal is for two-years, for around 40 dates per year and for “WWE main roster money.” Also, and likely what swayed Scrull to re-sign was that he will become the head booker of the promotion, with existing booker Hunter “Delirious” Johnston working alongside him.
In addition, Luchador Bandido has also re-signed with the company for an undisclosed amount of time. It’s understood WWE was interested in signing him, and Daniel Bryan has publically spoken about how he felt he would be a big star with the company. Bandido is the current champion for the Mexican promotion Crash, as well as the PWG Heavyweight champion, and his ROH deal will allow him to continue working with them.
XYZ