Here's your wrestling news for July 14th, 2022.
And we're kicking off today with WWE and this Sunday, will mark two months to the day that Sasha banks and Naomi walked out of
the May 16th, raw over a creative difference with the planned main event, WWE have done all they can since then to distance themselves
from the now former WWE women's tag team champions with reports coming out, that banks has quietly been released from the company.
Neither side has confirmed those reports, but there has been a major sign that the boss has indeed gone from WWE, the
Chicago comic entertainment expo, or C2E2 have confirmed that banks will be appearing at their upcoming convention
in August, but did so in a very interesting way in a tweet, the expo referred to banks first as Mercedes her
real name, and also highlighted her work outside the ring.
Namely her role is Costa Reeves on the Disney plus hit the Mandalorian.
As if that wasn't enough, other wrestlers are set to appear, but they're being referred to as WWE Mick Foley, Trish Stratis and Lita.
But if not included banks on that list of WWE talent in an update Fightful Select reports that C2E2's announcement has led to
several other wrestling conventions to reach out to banks, but they were told that she can't make any more appearances until 2023.
One convention organizer told Fightful that representatives of the wrestler requested a firm specific rate for her to appear.
It's unclear if banks not accepting wrestling related bookings is a personal preference or tied to something contractual
with WWE while WWE haven't confirmed or denied reports of banks finishing with WWE one wrestling promoter told Fightful
they can't imagine her not being released at this point.
Several people in WWE are working under the impression that she is gone for good, including several high level talents.
And those in creative, it was just last week that PW insider report that banks may be engaging in
some signings outside of WWE, as early as this fall.
And it remains to be seen if these signings like C2E2 are non wrestling related.
It does seem all, but guaranteed that banks has finished up with WWE and we'll have to wait and see
what the future holds for the former women's champion.
Earlier this year, Roman reigns signed a new lucrative contract with WWE one that has seen him work far fewer dates, despite
being the undisputed WWE universal champion rains missed both.
June's Hell in a cell and July's money in the bank premium live events.
And he's now set to miss another important show.
Louis Dangoor reports that reigns is not expected to appear at extreme rules, 2022, which is scheduled to take place
at the Wells Fargo center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On October 8th,Dangoor writes Roman reigns is not expected to be at extreme rules.
On October 8th.
He missed Hell in a cell in money in the bank in June and July, but will be at summer slam later this
month and likely clash at the castle in September.
WWE recently shared a poster for extreme rules, which features Seth Rllons, Bobby Lashley, drew McIntyre, Becky
Lynch, riddle, and the currently injured Rhea Ripley.
But the tribal chief is nowhere to be seen.
Rain's next title defense will come in just over two weeks when he faces Brock Lesner at summer slam.
But no matter if he wins or loses reigns will still be missing.
One of the biggest shows of the year.
Over to a E w now as new world tag team champions were crowned on this week's fighter Fest edition of dynamite on the show.
The second reign for the young bucks ended rather abruptly courtesy of Keith Lee and swerve Strickland marking both men's
first taste of gold in a E w after the show went off the air.
Lee addressed the fans at the end market arena in Savannah, Georgia, and spoke about the personal issues he's endured this week.
I thank you also very much swerve.
I thank you.
From the bottom of my heart.
I have only three people in my world that I consider to be extremely close to me.
One of them I've known for about two and a half decades.
My friend, his name is Lascelles King , and I've known him since 1998.
I found out a little while ago that there's a chance he may have cancer.
Lee also spoke about his own health issues, noting his battle with COVID and a heart inflammation
that kept him off WWE TV for five months.
As most of you know, last year I nearly died.
I didn't say a word until the threat was gone and passed.
There's not much you could do to me to rattle me against me, but when it comes to the people I love, I found out two days ago that my
friend has stage four colon cancer, and I dedicated this match to him.
And another buddy of mine.
The fact is I don't care if we want a loss.
This is a brotherhood, and I'm devoting my everything to that.
So Lascelles King, this is more than just a victory for me, more than just a victory for our story.
This sir is a victory for you and a statement of my goddamn love.
Before dynamite Lee did state that he had received some less than stellar news in a tweet, which clearly turned out to be
his friend's diagnosis, fighting cancer, especially stage four.
Colon cancer is difficult for anyone to go through, but it'll be made that bit easier with great friends like Keith Lee
in March big E suffered a broken neck during an episode of SmackDown, when a suplex outside the ring went horribly wrong.
Despite his injury, big E has been able to avoid having surgery and his recovery process has been incredibly rapid.
Now we have another fantastic update on the former WWE champion as well.
He won't be wrestling yet.
He will have a new role.
Later this month.
Speaking to mark Marc Raimondo of ESPN big E said that he will be evaluating talent at the upcoming tryouts during summer slam week.
The role will see big E work closely with triple H with the final day of the tryouts being available for fans to see live for just $20.
There's no word yet on when big E will himself be wrestling again.
But the fact that WWE believes he's ready to oversee the tryouts is a great sign for the new day member Biggie's injury occurred
when Ridge Holland botched a suplex outside of the ring, an accident that the former rugby player feels horrible about.
After the injury Holland visited biggie in the hospital.
And while the new day star holds no ill will to Ridge he's issued a very unique form of apology.
Big e told Remondi that Holland sent him a huge package of red meat to make amends.
And while biggie doesn't eat red meat, the gesture was very much appreciated.
The former WWE champion realizes that they have a dangerous job and he knows what he signed up for.
So he holds no ill will with Holland.
As for the meat biggie gave the gift to a friend who enjoyed the food with his family, but meat or no meat Holland is
on good terms with bige in 2014.Tino Sabbatelli , signed to WWE after a career in football, but his career was derailed.
Thanks to an injury that kept him on the sidelines for two years.
Fans weren't too surprised to see, Sabbatelli released in April, 2020 as part of sweeping budget cuts, but they
were surprised to see him be brought back that October.
Sabbatelli returned after wrestling one match on a E w dark and triple H who was running NXT at the
time was keen to bring Tino back, speaking to sports.
Keda Sabbatelli recalled how he prepared for his big comeback, which came around the same time.
His longtime partner, madcapmos, then Riddick Moss was being pushed as part of raw underground.
That was dating back to like when the machine broke off my arm and I was out for almost two years, you know, I sat with triple H.
I said, H this was a mistake.
I was like, you want me to come back?
He was like, absolutely.
You know, mentally, physically revealed Tino Sabbatelli.
So I had to get back in prime shape.
And that was during that era where madcap Moss was doing raw underground.
And he got his first initiation kind of push.
Yeah, that was when I first started watching him.
Absolutely.
I remember.
Tino eventually departed WWE for the second time in 2021 and has not returned to the promotion and with triple H and a significantly
reduced role as part of NXT, 2.0, we doubt Sabbatelli will be getting a third chance with WWE during last week's NXT, 2.0 a QR code was
shared the took fans to a webpage bearing the numbers 8, 10, 11.
This week, a new QR code was shared, which led fans to a game of wordle.
And while WWE hasn't confirmed what this is building to some fans may have already figured it out.
Some sleuths in the WWE universe are suggesting that these codes are building up to the return of Zoe stark, who hasn't competed
for over half a year in NXT 2.0 when the QR code was shared, it had been exactly eight months and 10 days since her last appearance,
which explains the eight and 10 in the sequence of numbers.
As for the world game, some keen players have deduced that based on the guesses, the answer could be the word havoc and
it was at Halloween havoc, 2021 that stark last wrestled.
It was during the scare way to hell ladder match that stark suffered a torn MCL slash meniscus, which has kept her out of action for months.
But it appears that these clues are all building up to the return of the former NXT women's tag team champion.
Now Jesse Ventura is a legend of wrestling and has several major film roles to his name.
But these days, the former governor of Minnesota is fixated on conspiracy theories.
Ventura has hosted several TV shows about conspiracy theories and his latest gig came at the American arm
of one of Vladimir Putin's Russian propaganda outlets.
Ventura show the world, according to Jesse was hosted on Russia today, which is considered to be one of Putin's top propaganda networks.
The channel has been pulled for most major TV producers in the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine as the channel has reported in the past
that the invasion isn't happening and that Ukraine attacked Russia first, despite working for Putin, Ventura has said that he has been
granted full creative control and told Chris Jericho on the talk is Jericho podcast that he met with Putin and Michael Gorbachev.
Before he signed a deal, he added.
He came to me, held his hand out, said, thank you, governor called me by my title.
And he said, I want to assure you, you have total creative control and there will never be any interference in your show.
And I said, thank you, Mr.
President and Chris, I have to tell the truth for four years.
They never interfered in my show at all.
He was a man of his word, so I can only judge him by my relationship with him.
And I'm trying to figure out who this guy is today.
what the hell happened to him because I got the feeling.
When I met him, he truly wanted to be our friend.
That was the vibes I got from him.
And you know, me, Chris, I'm not too far off with my vibes, but this guy, whoever Putin is now either he
worked me like hell and working a wrestler is tough to do.
Ventura did go on to say that he does not agree with Putin's invasion and is vehemently against it.
An interesting take from someone who is happy to take the controversial president's money for years.
If you listen to WWE's PR team, the sports entertainment juggernaut has never been doing
better, which their handpicked numbers will prove.
WWE is always quick to tout how much content of theirs is streamed online every month.
But there may be another reason behind these figures.
Speaking on the Legion of raw former WWE writer, Vince Russo said that WWE focuses on their
streaming service to avoid criticism of the ratings.
He.
Bro.
I think they wanna go to a streaming service because if they go to a streaming service, there's no such thing as ratings anymore.
And the ratings are what killed the WWE.
Every time the ratings is brought up, they can't defend that.
It's clear that the ratings have fallen drastically in recent years, but WWE's product may not be entirely to blame for that.
As people around the world change their watching habits, TV ratings across the border, falling as viewers
turn off standard TV in favor of streaming sites.
But as far as Russo is concerned, WWE will do anything to not talk about their ratings.
And we're ending with Naomi who like Sasha banks was also suspended in may and has teased leaving WWE unlike banks, no
reports have come out that Naomi has already left the company, but her latest tweet seems to be a dig at the promotion.
On Twitter, Naomi shared a quote, reading, anything that costs you.
Your piece is too expensive.
And fans quickly said it was referencing WWE's treatment of her suspending her without pay, calling her unprofessional
on TV and stripping her of the women's tag team titles.
WWE has certainly cost Naomi her piece, and it may be that staying with WWE E simpl is not worth it for the glow.