Here's your wrestling news for February 5th 2021
And your headlines for today include
Former WWE Superstar Comes Out As Transgender ; What Led To This Major Life Changing Decision And More!
Why Steve Cutler Was Fired From WWE?
Chris Jericho Recalls Feeling “Insulted” By WWE For Time Allotted To PPV Match!
Edge Reveals When He Will Retire From WWE!
Karrion Kross Being Groomed For ‘ Fast Track’ To WWE Main Roster!
Why Shaquille O’Neal Is Not Wrestling At AEW Revolution?
AEW Officially Reveals Big Falls Count Anywhere Match On Dynamite Next Week!
Bianca Belair Expresses Interest in Alliance with Roman Reigns on WWE SmackDown And More!
We’re kicking off today with Lars Sullivan, who was quietly released from WWE a month ago.
is done with wrestling, we’ll have to see if Sullivan has finally learned his lesson now he’s been fired.
We’ve got news from Tyler Reks next, as the former WWE Superstar has come out as transgender.
Reks left WWE in 2012 to spend more time with her wife and daughter, and his family set up the fitness company and
app named Body Spartan.
Now going by Gabbi, she publicly announced her status as a transgender woman with the full support of her
wife Priscilla, and made this reveal ahead of an appearance on the U.S TV Programme ‘Extra.’ A press release
notes: "Gabbi is about to share her thrilling story of gender transitioning from a
former WWE Superstar, Body Builder, Fitness Guru, Motivational Speaker and Motorcycle Racer to a fun-loving and
fabulous female. She has been finally set free and ready to rule her world. This is a story that wrestling and
other sports fans, friends and followers must not miss, especially many in the LGBTQ community dealing with
challenging transgender issues, who Gabbi and Priscilla are willing to help." On Instagram, Gabbi has been
documenting a countdown to her big reveal, and we at Slat Rock are happy to see the former WWE Superstar be
true to who she is from now on. Speaking to Wrestling Inc, Gabbi said that it was her wife who helped her
come out publicly, saying: “She [Priscilla] was like, ‘Hey babe, I know this is you, but I’m having a
really difficult time in the day time because I still see you dressed up as a woman at night… Being a kind of an
extremist, I said, ‘Okay, no problem. Gabbi’s gone. Don’t worry about it,’ and she was like, ‘No, no, that’s not what I mean.”
Gabbi explained that after these comments, she injected herself with a syringe of testosterone, but his wife
was able to explain that she was supporting of his transition. In that same interview with Wrestling Inc,
Gabbi explained how it felt to transition after so many years, saying:
I feel like I have a prison sentence that just [ended], and I’m free… It was life and death for me at one point where I didn’t
want to live another day as a man, and I was ready to end everything. It’s often difficult for transgender people
to come out publicly, and we’re pleased that Gabbi has the support of his wife and family in this new chapter of her life.
Back to the ring, and in a shocking turn of events, Steve Cutler has been fired from WWE.
Cutler, who recently appeared as one of the Knight’s of King Corbin, hadn’t been seen in several weeks, and in their
statement, WWE didn’t specify why he’d been released. Prior to his work with Corbin, Cutler had
been part of the Forgotten Sons, but the stable was nixed after controversial comments from Jaxson Ryker, and it’s
unclear what’ll happen to him, and Wesley Blake from now on. In his first statement after being released,
Cutler described his firing as shocking to say the least, but is excited for the possibilities in front of him.
The former Superstar also thanked people for their continued support, and referenced the 90-days non compete
clause that he’ll have to get through, before he can wrestle outside of WWE. Though WWE didn’t specify why he
was fired, it’s being reported that Cutler had heat backstage, after testing positive.
That’s according to Fightful, who noted that Vince McMahon was particularly unhappy with Cutler for testing positive.
Cutler was also reportedly offered a part of WWE’s recent big man class, where they’ve been helping names like
Keith Lee, Otis and Omos improve in the ring, and said that he was well-liked in the Performance Center.
Fightful’s report also indicated that the door is open concerning a return down the line, and we’ll have to see what the
future holds for the now-former WWE Superstar.
Now before being in AEW, Chris Jericho did plenty during his WWE career, including having Lance Storm’s retirement match.
Meeting at the first ECW One Night Stand show in 2005, the pair opened up the show with a barn burner of a match,
though it’s one Jericho hasn’t seen. When a fan on Twitter encouraged others to watch the Jericho-Storm
match, saying the pair absolutely killed it, the former AEW World Champion admitted he’s never watched it, saying
he was insulted at the amount of time the WWE gave them. After just 7 minutes and 22 seconds,
Storm won his last professional match thanks to interference by Justin Credible, but it’s the short amount of time the pair
were given that hurt Y2J the most of that night.
From one former World Champion to another, as Edge returned to the ring last year, but the 47-year-old knows
that this return won’t last forever. Edge already had a World Championship match destined for WrestleMania 37,
and recently named nine opponents he wants to face, but now he’s revealed when he plans on retiring, on his own terms.
When asked about his plans in a global WWE teleconference, Edge spoke about his career’s end, saying:
“I don't want to overstay my welcome and I want this run to help. I don't want it to hinder. I don't want to take away
from the business, the industry, from a talent... I want to add.” The Hall of Famer added that his wife
Beth Phoenix will be honest when she feels he’s overstayed his welcome, but stopped short of giving an exact time
frame of when that’ll be. It wasn’t too long ago that fans thought they’d never get to see Edge retire
on his own terms, so whilst we don’t know when he’ll hang up his boots, we know it’ll come before he becomes
a burden to the younger roster.
One young star expected to do big things is Karrion Kross, who became NXT Champion mere months after his
debut. During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed Kross’ WWE
career so far, and said that fans should get used to the former Champion being on top of the card. He said:
“Karrion Kross is being groomed for the main roster. Roderick Strong, who can work rings around Karrion Kross,
might never be on the main roster. It’s just how it is. They can’t wait to get Karrion Kross on the main roster.”
Meltzer also noted that Kross’ separated shoulder slowed things down, but that the former NXT Champion
is being fast-tracked to the main roster. We’ll have to see where Kross and Scarlett go from here, but with reports
like these, fans could expect to see the pair on RAW or SmackDown by the end of the year.
AEW news now, and we previously reported that Shaquille O’Neal will make his in-ring debut on the March 3rd Dynamite,
just four days before the Revolution Pay Per View on March 7th. There’s been questions as to why AEW
wouldn’t have Shaq at Revolution, and during Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Melter noted that March 7th is the same
day as the NBA All-Star game, which the Basketball legend can’t miss. Meltzer also noted that having Shaq on
Dynamite should serve as a ratings pop for the show, and we’re sure that plenty of people, both wrestling and non-wrestling
fans alike, will be wanting to see Shaq and Jade Cargill open up a can of Shaq Fu on Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.
Fans may have to wait until March 3rd to see Shaq in action, but a huge match has been set for next week’s Dynamite.
After this week’s show saw KENTA appear to attack Jon Moxley, it’s been confirmed that next week’s Dynamite
will see KENTA and Kenny Omega face Jon Moxley and Lance Archer in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
This will no-doubt be a physical match, as Moxley will be looking to get revenge on the man who blindsided him this week.
KENTA’s attack on Moxley is part of the build towards their IWGP United States title match which’ll happen at New Japan’s
New Beginning USA 2021 event on February 26th. This may not be the last huge crossover
match between AEW and New Japan, as the companies have forged a working relationship.
That’s according to Dave Meltzer, who explained on Wrestling Observer Radio how New Japan needed to forge this
relationship, saying: “The only way to get Moxley was to make a deal. When AEW first started,
New Japan had no clue has successful they’d be.” This isn’t the only working relationship
AEW has, as they’re still working alongside Impact, and we’ll just how to see how many matches this new alliance
allows now that the door has been opened
Back to WWE next, and although John Cena has said that there’s no mathematical way that he can make it to
WrestleMania 37, Corey Graves isn’t buying it. Earlier this week, Cena explained that
due to his commitments to shooting the Peacemaker series for HBO Max, he won’t be able to make it to Mania due to
the ongoing travel restrictions. Speaking on his After the Bell podcast, Corey Graves said he doesn’t buy that
Cena won’t be at WrestleMania in some capacity, and argued that it wasn’t too long ago that fans were told that Edge
couldn’t wrestle anymore. Cena is currently in Vancouver, Canada filming the show, and whilst he could do
some sort of video segment or promo from the Great White North, Corey Graves is expecting something from the
16-time WWE World Champion.
One name rumoured to be at WrestleMania is rap star Bad Bunny, who’s been hard to miss on WWE in the
past week. Bunny performed at the Royal Rumble, and appeared on this week’s RAW,
and is apparently making serious money thanks to his relationship with WWE.
License Global are reporting that the limited-edition collaboration merchandise between Bunny and WWE is currently
the best selling WWE merchandise of 2021. This line includes a 18x24 poster, a youth,
women’s and unisex t-shirt, as well as a full-zip hoodie. WWE are working with the Grammy-
winning artist because of his massive reach with a younger demographic, especially in the Latin market,
and with rumours of a match at WrestleMania, WWE’s relationship with Bad Bunny shows no signs of slowing
down.
And we’re ending with news from Bianca Belair, who will be challenging for a Women’s title at WrestleMania,
and she may not be going in alone. This week, the EST of WWE took part of a fan interview, and was asked if she’d
be willing to take a seat at the table of Roman Reigns. She replied, saying:
“When opportunities are presented to me, I take them and I make the best of them, You know, that would be a great
opportunity, so I’ll take whatever opportunity comes my way.” In the past, Paul Heyman has admitted
to being a big fan of the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, and time will tell if Belair is a Paul Heyman girl after all.