We’ve got a packed WrestleTalk News today with Roman Reigns shooting on CM Punk, why
Raw Underground wasn’t on this week’s episode, an AEW star no longer with the company
and more.
But first, our main story: Did Alan Angels poop his pants on last night’s
AEW Dark?
According to Alan Angels himself, no.
“I did not poop my pants tonight, it was luchasaurus’ face paint.
Wish I did though woulda been a much better story.”
Speaking of people who’ve crapped themselves in the ring segway.
Since turning heel on his return at last month’s SummerSlam, your Tribal Chief and mine Roman
Reigns has switched his usually very respectful interview persona, for a much harder, shooting
approach.
And in a recent interview with Complex’s Sports’ Load Management - which coincidentally
is also the name of your mum’s podcast.
She’s available wherever you get your podcasts - Roman had some harsh words for the man who
kayfabe introduced him to the main WWE roster, CM Punk:
“I don’t like the guy, I don’t know many people who do ... but I’m willing to
put business first and make really good content if that’s the case.
He’d probably have to be slapped around a few times in order to get his mind right.”
The last former Shield member who tried to beef with Punk didn’t go down so well, Roman.
Reigns referenced the explosively shooty 2014 Colt Cabana podcast with Punk after he had
left WWE - explaining his comments about Roman at that time “made my job a lot harder.”
In that podcast, Punk spoke about how the WWE agents wanted him to “make Roman look
strong” when he was feuding with the Shield.
While this was more an anecdote to describe WWE’s backstage booking, Roman appears to
have taken it personally, believing it encouraged the negative fan reaction to his babyface
push.
In those same podcasts, Punk also claimed he came up with the Shield idea - where he
handpicked Seth Rollins, Jon Moxley and Chris Hero for the faction, but WWE put in Roman
instead.
Reigns could legitimately not like Punk, or this could all be a Worky McWorkFace - the
technical term for when wrestlers present storylines as fact.
Punk was working with WWE via Fox for their Backstage studio show as recently as June
before it was cancelled.
And there were many reports late last year that Punk could be tempted back to a WWE ring
with a “big bag” of money.
It was later reported, though, that Vince McMahon never wanted to work with Punk again.
However those are also the words of a man who signed off on the wrestler name Slapjack,
so take that for what it’s worth.
Do you think Roman Reigns and CM Punk will have a match?
And how would that go down?
Let me know in the comments because I’ll be replying to people FROM OUTTA ALAN ANGELS
DEFINITELY NOT POOPED IN PANTS! Roman also spoke about how he could also feud
with future US President Rock ‘The Dwayne’ Johnson:
“I think I’m the guy.
If there is anybody that he would feel comfortable with in the ring, and have the proper build
up and can rise to that occasion, there’s no doubt I’m the guy.
We will definitely have to crack a lot of eggs to get to that.”
Confirmation there, that The Rock wants to be paid in eggs.
For the protein.
Before we get on with the rest of the news, I just want to say a huge thank you to this
episode’s returning sponsor… you wanted it back, the dance craze that’s sweeping
the SWAFT Nation, Oli does dem mega moves...
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Congratulations WWE Raw.
Because despite putting on two back-to-back terrible shows, and everyone speculating Monday’s
would be one of the lowest rated episodes ever because of competition from the NBA,
they didn’t do as bad as they normally do - pulling in 1.82 million viewers, which is
up 150,000 from the previous week.
There are many possible reasons why.
The Clash of Champions post-pay-per-view bump.
Cameos from Charlotte’s dad.
People’s remote controls breaking.
But also, most likely, there was no Raw Underground.
According to Fightful Select, this isn’t because Shane McMahon’s sweaty scuffle club
has been dropped indefinitely.
It’s reportedly yet another consequence of last week’s CoVid outbreak in the company.
Many of the Performance Center wrestlers were used as in-ring fighters and extras for the
crowd, but with many of those now self-isolating and Raw being brought down to a skeleton crew,
“the segment was deemed unnecessary.”
Rather than already filmed matches getting cut from the show, like had happened with
Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke’s debuts last month, Fightful notes this time nothing
was filmed in advance.
The CoVid outbreak is also reportedly why Meh-Tribution weren’t physically on this
week’s episode - only getting a light flickering spot.
Although the five core members tested negative for the disease, they are apparently self-isolating
for two weeks after coming into contact with a confirmed case.
Continuing their strong Twitter game, T-Bar called out those who were happy about this:
“If your response to the news that people were potentially exposed to COVID-19 was “Good”
then you should probably reassess your morals as a human being.”
It’s that exact sort of moral behaviour that makes Retribution such a force of chaos.
Like when they signed brand-exclusive WWE contracts.
Which were hopefully worth a lot more than other recent NXT call-ups were offered.
It was previously reported that this year’s Raw and SmackDown call-ups weren’t actually
given new main roster contracts.
With the uncertain nature of the pandemic and no touring shows, WWE were more hesitant
to commit to long term relationships than Megan after she went on that girls holiday
and meet Tommy, that son of a- Fightful Select is now reporting, though,
that WWE are starting to finalise new deals with call-ups, but “the money associated
with these contracts is way, way below what wrestlers were being offered last year.”Throughout
2019, wrestlers were able to play AEW and WWE off one another to leverage more money.
It’s not a good sign for the former Zack Ryder, now wrestling as Matt Cardona, if he
had any hopes to play one side against the other - as he’s also currently out of work
for AEW too.
Talking to the Pro Wrestling Junkies podcast, Cardona revealed that his AEW agreement actually
expired with September 5th’s All Out, as it was only a short-term deal.
While he struggled to get over in his brief run, he was optimistic about returning soon,
as he wants to win some titles in the company - and he wants a run longer than just “three
t-shirts.”
And now it’s time for a roundup of everything else in wrestling news!
According to the very reliable WrestleVotes, Sasha Banks vs Bayley is being planned as
the main event of Hell in a Cell, inside Hell in a Cell - who could’ve seen that stipulation
coming?
As it’s currently one of the longest running and hottest programs in the company, it’s
a well deserved slot.
And another example of how well WWE has presented and booked its women’s division this year.
Following several allegations of sexual assault as part of the SpeakingOut movement, former
Impact star Joey Ryan has filed a pair of lawsuits against his accusers according to
reports from Heelbynature.com and PWInsider.
The suits are worth several million dollars, and cover economic and non-economic damages,
including revenue lost from bookings and social media, as well as libel and emotional distress.
After initially tweeting her support of the storyline between her real-life ex-fiancé
Murphy and Aalyah Mysterio - posting “Honestly I don’t blame him lol #ShootYourShotBud”
in a since deleted tweet - Alexa Bliss temporarily locked her Twitter account when some fans
angrily pointed out Buddy is 32 and Aaliyah is 19, seemingly offended by the superficial
similarities to the Speaking Out movement’s expose of online grooming.
Alexa later clarified she wasn’t aware of Aalyah’s age, suggesting - shock - that
sometimes what people post online shouldn’t be interpreted in the worst possible way,
and she was “just happy Murphy is getting the success he’s worked for”.
What do you think about the Aalyah and Murphy storyline?
Let me know in the comments.
Some found last year’s Lana, Bobby Lashley, Liv Morgan lover, Rusev jumping out a cake
wedding angle offensive too.
Offensive because it was a steaming pile of horse crap.
And we now know one of the many reasons why - as Rusev, now going by Miro in AEW, told
Chris Van Vliet of WWE’s long term plans for the storyline:
“No plan.
One time pop.
No plan.
A lot of things were made for one time pops.
That was it.
People thought and they made up all these things.
No, it was a one time thing that was great and was going to get people talking because
at that time the showrunner was about getting people talking and controversy.”
The showrunner at that time being Paul Heyman.
And finally, in what might be the most significant wrestling business story this month, New Japan
Pro Wrestling announced yesterday that their President Harold Meij will be stepping down
effective October 23.
Meij served as President for two years, where he promised international expansion and a
big money television deal.
Neither really took off, because of a combination of their top US stars leaving to form AEW,
consistently underestimating ticket demand in the States, and the small matter of a global
pandemic.
Meij will be replaced by Takami Ohbari, who is the current CEO of New Japan of America.
Retribution was pulled from this week’s Raw!
Find out what happened backstage, and my review of the show, by clicking the video on the
right!
And what are the 14 greatest WWE video packages of all time?
Click the video below that for Adam Blampied’s latest list.
I’ve been Mr Davis, commanding you, to do the Muscle Hustle… download it using the
links below.