Here's more wrestling news for July 23rd, 2022.
And we're kicking off with SmackDown.
As the show saw the continuation of the live
Morgan Rhonda Rousey feud ahead of summer slam.
It may not be the most intense feud in WWE today, but it's worth
remembering that Morgan is still in the infancy of her title.
Run her promos and character have shown clear signs of
improvement, and she is remaining popular with fans each.
However, from how this feud is played out, WWE
still seems indecisive over who will walk out as
the SmackDown women's champion it's summer slam.
We can't count out that Charlotte flare could return next Saturday,
giving WWE a Double D Q finish and protecting both Morgan and rousey,
but WWE will have to decide eventually who's going to win this Feud.
July, 2022 has certainly been the month of liv Morgan, but this
push isn't just to the skills of the latest missed money in the
bank and the reigning SmackDown women's champion in the latest
wrestling observer newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that Morgan's
push was influenced by the actions of Sasha banks and Naomi who
walked out of the May 16th RAW over creative differences with WWE.
Part of the reason, if not the key reason for the recent
push of Morgan was the walking out of banks in Naomi.
When they left, the idea was that smackdown
needed a new top tier woman, baby face.
And Morgan was the one who got the pick of the draw.
It also worked out because the fan base was ready for her.
Perhaps if they hadn't walked out, it'd be banks or Naomi who
would be holding this SmackDown women's championship right now.
But their loss has proven to be live Morgan's gain.
SmackDown also saw Sheamus seem like he was ready to face drew
McIntyre after weeks of dodging matches with the Scottish warrior.
Instead though Sheamus delayed the match for another week
promising the first ever Donnybrook match where anything goes
except the use of swords, it should be a fun, hard hitting bout
and will likely mark the conclusion of the Sheamus Mcintire
feud, which has gone ahead without the two actually wrestling.
There is also the question as to why this
match isn't happening at summer slam.
But instead the day prior as with this stipulation, it could
easily have fit on the premium live event with the winner of
the match, earning in undisputed, WWE universal title match at
clash at the castle, expect both men to pull out all the stops
as we hopefully finally get the long awaited match on next week.
Smackdown.
Last year WWE made headlines by signing Gable Stevenson
to a contract as part of their next in line program.
Stevenson may be versed in amateur wrestling, being an
Olympic gold medalist, but he's also getting some extra
training from a former WWE superstar, speaking to insight.
Ken Anderson, AKA Mr.
Kennedy has confirmed that he's been showing Steves in
the ropes and the pro wrestler slash trainer said he
has some of his best students working with the Olympian.
Saying that Stevenson has an amazing
innate ability that you just can't teach.
Anderson has a high opinion of his student who seems
poised to take the world by storm down the line, whatever
Stevenson does next it's highly likely he'll succeed.
But in spite of his WWE contract, his
next big move may not be in the company.
Despite reports that WWE wanted to fast
track Stevenson to the main roster.
The Olympian hasn't had a match in WWE yet.
And as reported in the wrestling observer newsletter
Stevenson is considering other future options.
They made a big deal of him being drafted to raw.
The idea was for him to become a regular on raw after this
past semester ended at Minnesota, but he hasn't been used.
And he's talked about returning to college to go for
a third NCAA title in 2023 and even pondered if that
was the case going for a second gold medal in 2024.
WWE.
We're very pleased to have Stevenson under contract when he signed,
but the idea that they may have to wait until 20, 24, before he
begins as an onscreen talent could easily change those minds.
And we'll just have to see if it's months or years before
Gable Stevenson is a fully fledged WWE superstar yesterday.
Triple H return to the role of executive
vice president of talent relations.
And that's bad news for John Laurinaitis who
remains on indefinite leave from the company.
With Vince McMohan gone, the future does not look
good for the former general manager of Ron SmackDown.
And he's not expected back at all.
Sean Ross Sapp of fightfull has learned that
Laura Knight is effectively done with the company
and that no one seems to upset about this.
It was said that some of the company's top
superstars celebrated with one branding.
Johnny ace as a snake.
Laurinaitis is popularity within the locker room is a well known
fact by now, as he is often blamed for the poor treatment of female
superstars for years, and was infamously blasted as a Vince McMohan.
Yes, man, during cm, punk's infamous 2011 pipe bomb.
Triple H.
On the other hand is well liked and respected in WWE.
And while Laura is seemingly finished with WWE, he
shouldn't be expecting a goodbye card from the roster.
Over to AEW next, As Santana was injured during the recent
blood and guts match and has now had to go under the knife.
The wrestling observer newsletter reports that Santana has had
reconstructive knee surgery and looks to be out for around eight
months with Santana and Ortiz, reportedly having a real life
falling out And Santana, teasing his AEW contract ending soon.
His future remains unclear.
Well, one thing we do know is that he won't be wrestling.
WWE has been dealing with a lot of injuries as of late with
Cody, Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Rehay Ripley all on the shelf.
And now Sammy Zane is also out in the wrestling observer.
It's confirmed that the arm sling Zane was rocking on
last week's SmackDown is because he's legitimately hurt.
Thankfully, the former Intercontinental champion is only expected
to miss a few weeks of action, far quicker than the months.
Roads is expected to miss, or the indefinite amount of time.
Ripley and Orton will be.
Zane hasn't wrestled since competing in the men's money
in the bank ladder match earlier this month and fans will
have to wait a bit longer before he's back in the ring.
Last year, Braun Strowman was released from WWE and a shocking move.
Considering the push he had received for years,
Stroman has since competed for control your narrative
and has kept himself busy with numerous projects.
But this week was involved in a serious car accident.
On Twitter, the former universal champion shared a photo
revealing that his truck and boat wrecked in the crash, but
he's happy that nobody was hurt since his release from WWE
Strowman has continued to hype up control your narrative,
even if it has made little impact so far, but regardless,
we are glad Braun is safe after his nasty collision.
Now angel Garza and Humberto Carillo have been a tag team for
some time now, but are yet to hold championship gold in WWE.
The pair have been portraying Latin lovers with a
kiss cam gimmick that brings some laughs to the show.
And given that they're cousins, it makes
sense that they work well together.
It's no secret that angel and Humberto are related in real life.
But in an interview with Sean Ross, Sapp Garza said that
this is something WWE didn't know when they first tried out.
Garza said how WWE should have known this, especially as they tried
out for the company together and lived very close together in Orlando.
There was a time when WWE reportedly saw Garza as this generation's
Eddie Guerrero, but any plans for a push resembling Latino
heat seem to have been dropped, but at least he can always
rely on his cousin, even if WWE didn't know they were related.
And we're ending today with Biff Busick who proved himself
as part of WWE, N X T working under the name Oney Lorcan.
Music was released by the company in late 20, 21,
1 of many to fall to the dreaded budget cuts, but
he's now stepping away from the ring entirely.
The last time Busick wrestled was at a beyond
wrestling event on June 12th and on Twitter.
The former superstar explained that he is
taking a break from wrestling in his tweet.
Music apologized to all the promoters who have
messaged him, but that he hasn't replied to and gave
no indicator of when he will be taking bookings again.
After his non-compete clause expired music was incredibly active
outside of WWE but those days are long gone and we'll have
to wait and see when the former NXT superstar wrestles again.
If he ever does.