Here's your more wrestling news for February 1st 2022 News 2
And your Headlines for today include
Former WWE Superstar Turned Down Returning At The Royal Rumble. Why Did They Say No?
Kelly Kelly Hits Back At Rude Fan After Being Accused Of Having Work Done !
“It Makes No Sense!” What Idea Pitched By Shane Mcmahon Was Refused At The Royal Rumble?
Tragedy As Smackdown Superstars Loses Her Father !
“It Was Easy.” Former WWE Champion Explains Why He Re-Signed With The Company Instead Of Going To AEW!
Last Saturday’s Rumble Set New Records In The 35-Year History Of The Royal Rumble!
WWE Hall Of Famer Set For First Title Match In Over 15 Years At Elimination Chamber In Jeddah!
Smackdown Superstar And TV Show Host Wife Announce Their Expecting Their First Child. ! And More !
We’re kicking off with the 2022 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, as plenty of names from the past
returned for the Women’s Rumble match, but not everyone agreed to take part.
It’s been previously reported that Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champions the IInspiration, formerly
the IIconics, declined two spots in the match, but we now know that CJ Perry also said no.
That’s according to PW Insider, who said that WWE wanted the former Lana to appear, with some
sources calling it a “done deal” but that obviously didn’t transpire.
That same report said that there were a lot of emotions backstage, especially from those women’s Superstars
who were part of the Divas era, and hadn’t seen each other in the years since they’d left WWE.
Ivory, one of the few attitude era Superstars to compete, is said to have recorded an episode of Table for 3,
, and we’re sure the former Women’s Champion, who competed aged 60 will have plenty to say when that episode comes out.
Kelly Kelly was also in the Women’s Rumble, entering at the #4 position, but some fans had more to
say about how she looked than her work in the ring.
On Twitter, one fan called the former Divas Champion “a perfect example of plastic surgery gone
wrong,” saying that Kelly was unrecognisable to how she once was.
This got a response from Kelly herself, who explained that she’s had no surgery, but the reason she
looks different is due to a process called aging.
Kelly, who retired from WWE in 2012 aged 25, went on to say that the fan should post two photos of
himself 10 years apart, and see if he looks the same as he once did.
The fan, who doesn’t have any pictures of themselves on Twitter, chose not to respond, and although Kelly didn’t earn
a Women’s title match at WrestleMania, she looked fantastic during the Women’s Rumble match.
Compared to the total 15 returns during the Women’s Rumble match, the men’s Rumble had very
few surprise appearances, but one name who did return was Shane McMahon.
The Prodigal Son of WWE was also one of the producers of the match, and the fact that he booked
himself to be in the final four has earned him significant heat backstage.
Not all of Shane’s ideas were used however, as Ringside News reports that one of Shane’s ideas was for Seth Rollins to be in the Men’s Rumble match.
This entrant would’ve come after Rollins had failed to win the Universal title earlier in the night, and
had received a major beatdown with a steel chair, curtosy of Roman Reigns.
Some backstage said that having Rollins in the Rumble “made no sense,” not only because he’d been
laid out by the Tribal Chief, but because Brock Lesnar was already slated to do double duty.
Thankfully, this idea wasn’t used, but with Shane back with the company, at least until WrestleMania 38,
who knows what the Best in the World will think of next.
We’ve got some sad news to report now, as the father of SmackDown Superstar Shotzi Blackheart has died.
On Instagram, Shotzi called her father, Paul Urbanksi her biggest role model and best friend, saying
she didn’t think anyone could be cooler than her dad.
Paul was certainly a cool dude, as Shotzi recalled being picked up from school on his Harley
Davidson, and watching her dad get new tattoos in the kitchen.
Last April, Shotzi lost her step-father, and has said she doesn’t know how she’s going to make her way through this latest loss,
and we at Slat Rock would like to extend our deepest condolences to her and her family at this awful time.
Now, in 2019, AJ Styles’ contract with WWE was coming to an end, and there were plenty of rumours that he’d leave for the upcoming AEW.
That didn’t happen, as Styles re-signed, and has now said that the decision to stay working for Vince mcmahon
was an easy one to make, as he told Wrestling Inc:
“It was easy. I want to be here, this is the place for me,” AJ Styles revealed. “If they let me I will retire
here, I hope to work in WWE in some capacity when I retire. I enjoy what I do.”
When asked about his post-retirement plans, Styles said he could see himself in a role like Shawn
Michaels, who currently serves as head trainer for NXT 2.0.
With decades in the business before coming to WWE, and an incredible 6-year tenure so far, Styles will make an invaluable asset
when he decides to retire, and although AEW has taken some of WWE’s top stars over the past three years, the Phenomenal One isn’t going anywhere.
More Rumble news next, as this year’s show has received mixed reviews from fans, who aren’t sold on the two part-time Rumble match
winners or the controversial Universal title match finish, but the show was a success in terms of numbers.
In metrics given by WWE to the Sports Business Journal, it’s revealed that 44,390 filled the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis,
the second-most attended WWE event of the past two years. The only better attended show was Summerslam 2021 at Allegiant Stadium, but the
2022 Rumble Premium Live Event did set a record for the most merchandise sales in the 35-year history of the Rumble.
The bulk of those sales came from Rumble- exclusive merch, including shirts promoting the likes of Bad Bunny and Ronda Rousey,
and we expect plenty more merchandise for the UFC legend now she’s back with the company for the foreseeable future
Rousey wasn’t the only huge return during the Women’s Royal Rumble match, as WWE Hall of Famer Lita returned to the ring,
in what was her first match for the company in over three years. Entering at the #26 spot, Lita lasted over 10 minutes and was the one to eliminate
Impact Knockouts World Champion Mickie James, and she’s not done in the ring just yet.
After a confrontation between Ronda Rousey and RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Lita laid out the challenge for a title match at Elimination Chamber
a request the Man originally declined, but after being accused of being afraid, Lynch accepted the challenge for later this month
Not only will this mark the first RAW Women’s title defence in Saudi Arabia, but will also be Lita’s first women’s title match since Survivor Series 2006.
As to whether Lita will win, it seems unlikely, as the reported Mania plan is for Lynch to defend against Bianca Belair,
but there’s always the chance WWE could swerve us all with a title change in Jeddah.
And we’re ending today with some huge news from Angel Garza, who is set to become a father for the first time.
On social media, Angel and his wife, TV host/Sports journalist Zaide Lozanzo made the big announcement,
and indicated that they learned of the pregnancy back on November 15th. The happy couple also posted baby ring gear
and should the child get into the business, they’d be a fourth-generation wrestler on their father’s side.
Garza and Lozanzo tired the knot back in July 2020, after the former Cruiserweight Champion proposed in the ring in December
2019 after winning the title, and we’d like to send our congratulations to Angel and Zaide on the newest member of their family.