Let’s take a look at the top WWE News & Professional Wrestling stories of the day:
• Old School WWF Jobber Would Have Celebrated His Birthday
Today would have been the 54th birthday of Old School WWF Enhancement Talent Johnny K-9 (Real name: Ion William Croitoru).
While Johnny K-9 was doing jobs on WWF TV on a regular basis during the 80s, some of you might also remember him as Bruiser Bedlam from Jim Cornette’s SMW Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
In 2011 he was charged with first degree murder, but was released in 2016.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & REST IN PEACE
December 7, 1963 – February 21, 2017
• Ronda Rousey Signing With WWE Imminent
USA Today is reporting that former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey signing with WWE is imminent. She recently posted a video promoting the launch of her official website and it included footage of her training for WWE.
You can check it out below:
Our launch date is getting closer every day! Here's the latest preview for https://t.co/PsLSibFNz9 #RondaRouseyDOTcom pic.twitter.com/8T4RPxfANw
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) December 1, 2017
As we noted before, there are plans for Ronda Rousey to have a match at WrestleMania 34 (which most likely would be a singles match).
• 2 Raw Wrestlers Returning In-Time For Royal Rumble 2018
Raw wrestlers Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder, together known as The Revival, are expected to return to WWE programming in-time for the Royal Rumble 2018 PPV. Dawson has been out of action since August due to a biceps injury.
His tag team partner Dash Wilder has been kept of WWE programming as well. Wilder recently worked the Starrcade Live Event where he lost to Dustin Rhodes.
• Nia Jax’s Upcoming 205 Live Role Revealed
As seen on this week’s episode of Raw, a love angle between WWE Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore & Nia Jax began. We noted before how WWE is planning to do special 205 Live exclusive Live Events in January 2018.
Nia Jax is being advertised as being the special guest referee for the Cruiserweight Title matches between Enzo Amore & Kalisto for those events. Below are the special 205 Live Events that are planned:
– Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 – Kingston, RI – The Ryan Center
– Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 – Lowell, MA – Lowell Auditorium
– Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Mid Hudson Civic Center
• Matt Hardy To Have Creative License Over WOKEN Gimmick
According to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Old School WWF Veteran Matt Hardy will have creative license over his “WOKEN” gimmick in WWE.
Below is what SI reported:
“A contact within WWE reached out to inform Sports Illustrated that Hardy will be allowed a creative license by McMahon, who sees opportunity and the opportunity to cash in on a character that is already established.”
• Former WWE Wrestler Reveals That He Was Scheduled To Be Kane’s Brother At One Point
During a recent appearance on the WrestlingInc podcast, former WWE wrestler Matt Morgan revealed that there were plans for him to be Kane’s brother at one point.
Below is what Morgan said:
“They put a mask on me, first they said because it was going to improve my body language. What? Anyways, you shut up and do what you’re told. So I went to wrestling practice with a hood and a mask, and then I’d be on TV with a mask.
So Jim Cornette was like, ‘How the hell do I explain this? You’re the top babyface, you’re the champion, what do I do?’ So I lost a Loser Leaves Town match, come back as The Blueprint and wear a hood and I’m not Matt Morgan anymore, I’m just The Blueprint.
The cool part was they were going to turn this into, I was gonna be Kane’s brother Abel. And I would’ve killed for that! I would’ve worn a hood gladly for that just because I’m a huge ‘Taker and Kane fan. What leads to Kane leads to ‘Taker, right? Nine-year-old Matt Morgan inside was going bananas.
Vince stepped in and came up with stuttering Matt Morgan.”
• Triple H Comments On Possibly Being Cheered Over Jinder Mahal In India
During a recent interview with ESPN UK, Old School WWF Legend “The King of Kings” Triple H talked about his upcoming match with former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal this Saturday in India.
Below are the highlights:
On possibly being cheered over Jinder Mahal in India:
“I don’t know. I’m a lot better at being the villain. It would be interesting to see when we get there. I’ve been cheered and I’ve been booed. If the fans want to support me because they have been watching me for the last 20-plus years, that’s great.”
On how the match came to be:
“You could get some support because of nationalism. But once you are in the WWE, you become a global icon. When I was in India, a lot of people asked about Mahal and what I thought about him. Did I respect him? A lot of people have mixed feelings about Jinder Mahal as a representative.
In some ways he represents India, but a lot of people don’t like the way he represents himself as a WWE superstar. The question was asked so many times that I thought what better way to prove what I thought than stepping into the ring with him.
If Jinder wants to prove it to the fans in India, there could be no better way than by doing it against me there.”
On why he still competes:
“It’s still fun for me. It’s still something I enjoy. And it’s something that I will always enjoy. It’s fun to get out there and remember why you enjoy this in the first place.”
• Legendary Employee Wants To Return To WWE For One More Match, Says He Left Impact Wrestling Because Of A Lot Of Pay Cuts
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, legendary referee Earl Hebner talked about leaving Impact Wrestling and if he wants to return to WWE. Below are the highlights:
On why he left Impact Wrestling:
“We thought the new company had it all worked out when they bought it, but they’ve been having financial problems. I feel like I’ve been paying them. It’s been pay cut after pay cut, so I asked for my release. Some of the wrestlers were only getting paid $100 a day.
That’s a slap in the face to the wrestlers. My son, Brian, also wanted his release, and then they asked Brian Stiffler to be the senior ref. But the money he’d have made there would have been spent on expenses on the road, so he quit, too.”
On Impact Wrestling using local referees at Bound For Glory 2017 in Canada:
“They wanted local refs because it was cheaper. But that’s a risk, especially when it’s live. They wanted to take a cheap route, but as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.”
On if he wants to return to WWE:
“I would love to go back to WWE and finish my life in this business right there. Vince McMahon was always good to me, and he gave me the opportunity to be who I am and what I am. I would love to go back and, if nothing else, do one more match to say thank you very much for what you’ve done for me.”
• Chris Jericho vs. Giant Snake (Video)
Below is a video that Old School WWF Legend Chris Jericho posted on his YouTube channel which features his encounter with a giant snake:
• WWF Legend Files $1 Million Lawsuit Over A Botched Surgery
Calgary Sun is reporting that Old School WWF Legend Bret “Hitman” Hart has filed a $1 million lawsuit over a botched wrist surgery. Below is the story:
In 1981, while performing as a professional wrestler, Mr. Hart injured his right wrist by chipping his scaphoid. Dr. Yeung advised Mr. Hart that he could perform surgery to repair his right wrist by a partial fusion of the wrist bones.
— World Wrestling News (@WWENewsMafia) December 7, 2017
On Nov. 23, 2015, Hart underwent surgery. 6 weeks later, Hart returned to Yeung to have three pins removed and complained about ongoing swelling and pain, as well as the fact his index finger and thumb “did not function.” Dr. Yeung said that he should wait and see how he healed.
— World Wrestling News (@WWENewsMafia) December 7, 2017
However, Hart continued to report severe pain and lack of mobility. He is unable to use his right hand to pick up and functionally use objects, including pens, pencils, eating utensils and tools. He is unable to properly dress himself without assistance.
— World Wrestling News (@WWENewsMafia) December 7, 2017
• Ric Flair Is Calling Fans (Video)
Fans who make purchases of $100 or more on the Ric Flair Shop will get a phone call from “The Nature Boy” himself. Below is the video of Flair calling a fan:
• Nikki Bella Comments On John Cena Getting Emotional On Good Morning Britain
During a recent appearance on Good Morning Britain, 16 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena got a little emotional while talking about proposing Nikki Bella at WrestleMania 33.
Nikki Bella posted a video of this on Instagram and posted the following:
“Awww love this so much. Made me cry this morning!”
• Video of Lana & Nia Jax Shaking Their A$$
Below is a video that SmackDown Live Star Lana posted on Instagram:
• SmackDown Live Viewership For This Week
This week’s episode of SmackDown Live, which featured Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn in the main event, drew 2.49 million viewers. This is down from previous week’s 2.68 million viewers.
In comparison, this week’s episode of Raw, which featured two title matches, drew 2.81 million viewers. This is up from previous week’s 2.76 million viewers.
It should be noted that the first hour of Raw, which featured Roman Reigns defending his Intercontinental Championship against Jason Jordan, drew 3.15 million viewers. On the other hand, the third hour of Raw, which featured Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins challenging The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus) for the Raw Tag Team Titles, drew 2.43 million viewers. This means that Raw lost over 700,000 viewers between the first & third hour.
Below are the results from this week’s SmackDown Live:
– Randy Orton shut down the outspoken Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
– Rusev & Aiden English def. The New Day
– Bobby Roode def. United States Champion Baron Corbin via DQ
– The Bludgeon Brothers def. Adam James & Josh Carr
– SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair def. Tamina Snuka
– Randy Orton def. Sami Zayn
Below are the top 10 moments from the show:
• Spoilers From WWE Tribute To The Troops 2017 Tapings
Below are the results from the WWE Tribute To The Troops 2017 tapings:
– The Shield def. Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar & Samoa Joe
– SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair def. Ruby Riott
– SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos & The New Day def. Rusev, Aiden English, Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
– Paige, Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose def. Bayley, Mickie James & Sasha Banks
– Randy Orton, WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura def. Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn