In this WrestleTalk News, Randy Orton shoots hard on former NXT talent, is Cody Rhodes
backing out of his WWE deal?
And backstage news on Triple H’s emotional reunion with WWE talent, plus loads more.
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The Friday before WrestleMania and April Fools Day falling on the same day mean that wrestling
news is an absolute minefield - what are real backstage rumblings about the biggest show
of the year for WWE and what is stories like Seth Rollins will be wearing a suit entirely
made of chorizo at this year’s Mania, it’s too hard to tell.
So always best to lean into interviews in which can be watched back to check they’re
not a silly prank.
One person who has proven himself pretty good of late of getting WWE talent to talk candidly
about their careers and lives is Pat McAfee, who right off the back of having Vince McMahon
on the show for his first live interview in fifteen years managed to get the Viper Randy
Orton in the hot seat.
Randy was there to promote Mania 38, the most stupendous show of all time, and used the
opportunity to praise his former partner and rival Edge, for being trained in the old school
ways: He said: “There’s an art to what we do,
and a lot of guys have lost that art, Now instead of selling a punch, because you need
to sell a punch, now I’m protecting myself because I don’t want to get my f—ing jaw
broken.
That’s unfortunate, but the art to professional wrestling, like when Vince was on, he talked
about your number one priority above all being protecting your opponent, that’s not taught
necessarily in NXT.”
He then, in an effort to promote WrestleMania, essentially slagged off half the current WWE
roster saying: “I know that because I’ve been in the
ring with guys that came from NXT and they don’t know what the f–k they’re doing.
It’s unfortunate but I think that is just kind of how things are changing.”
Earlier this month Orton was thought to be injured after taking a dodgy frog splash impact
from former NXT star Montez Ford so maybe it's been on his mind?
Ultimately a lot of the NXT stars works a bit stiffer because that’s what flies on
the independent scene and it can be done without injury mostly.
There must also be a mathematical element to this too - if someone fake punches you
in the head 220 nights a year, a percentage of that time that punch might accidentally
connect?
Anyhow, the man Orton should be talking to about all of this is Triple H, NXT was his
baby after all.
Trips is back on the scene in WWE after taking time out following a cardiac event, but has
had to retire from in-ring competition completely.
However, he appears to be back working in the company to some degree according to Fightful
Select who said that at a talent meeting in Dallas, Texas ahead of WrestleMania John Laurinaitis
told those in attendance that he had a surprise guest for them.
And then introduced Triple H who hasn’t been seen by most talent since August last
year, Word is that many were elated that Triple
H was there for the meeting and it was quite an emotional reunion between Trips and the
roster, many of whom came up through NXT.
Paul from the back office then introduced Nick Khan who gave some business updates to
those in attendance and told talent that they will now make additional revenue on top of
their Superstar contracts from third party platforms such as Cameo, autograph signings,
scripted and unscripted programming.
Several wrestlers told Fightful that it was a unanimously positive meeting and a great
way to start a big weekend.
Triple H was also spotted at WWE tryouts in Frisco, Texas earlier this week - so looks
like he’s getting back into the swing of his role.
Somebody else rumored to be getting back into the swing of things at WrestleMania 38 is
Cody Rhodes who as we all know is apparently making the jump to WWE once more.
OR IS HE?!!!
Because according to Dave Meltzer who was speaking with Denise Salcedo on her YouTube
channel, go there support Denise, she’s great, Dave said that some people close to
Cody Rhodes reckon he might back out of the deal.
Speaking about the Cody ‘surprise’ at Mania he said: "Everyone expects it and they
kind of have to deliver it I suppose.
If it's not him it's his choosing, it's not theirs (WWE).
They believe it's him.
They believe that's the guy.
If for whatever reason he backs out because he's gonna back out - I don't expect that
to happen but I know people close to him who do so what the hell.
We'll have to see how it plays out," So Meltzer says that WWE think Cody is the
guy to come out and go toe-to-toe with Seth Rollins, but if he were not to then it would
be a sign that it was Cody who walked away from the deal and not WWE as they are 100%
on him seemingly.
Not 100% on who his WrestleMania opponent is is Seth Rollins who has been teasing all
sorts of names as his upcoming opponent at the show of shows.
Including someone who currently works for AEW, but as reported yesterday may be looking
for new opportunities when his contract comes up shortly.
Seth tweeted #wrestlemania and a picture of Marko Stunt.
Which while clearly a joke, I think could actually be a good match.
I’d watch it.
But it’s probably Cody, even if some people close to him think he might walk away.
WWE certainly seem to think so, as they released two new shirts in their Marquee Classics collection
yesterday featuring none other than the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, Cody’s dad!
Obviously there’s never a bad time to honor somebody who has been so influential on the
business but the shirts dropping two days before his son is rumored to return just really
doesn’t feel like a coincidence doesn it?!
In other WWE news, another man on the WrestleMania card is AJ Styles who was reported to have
re-signed with WWE in February.
Penning a brand new ‘big money’ deal.
Styles has since clarified while in conversation with Alex McCarthy of Inside the Ropes saying
that he didn’t sign a new deal, he just extended the contract he already has:
"Let me make one thing clear.
I didn't sign anything, recently.
I had something on my contract where I got to decide, kind of a player option, what I
want to do, and we just extended the contract that I already had,"
This could be raw speculation but maybe because AJ is wrapping up on his in ring career and
a new deal would be years’ worth of in-ring time, while an extension may be a more reasonable
extra year or so.
AJ is certainly thinking about his farewell to the biz, telling Alex:
“Time is running out, as far as AJ Styles is concerned.
I am getting older.
The ability to put on great matches is getting a little bit harder.
I don't want to embarrass myself at the same time.
I want to get out while I can and still have somewhat of a legacy.”
The Mania train a keeps on chugging, as eagle eyed fans and journos in Dallas keep spotting
various talent knocking about the place.
Two names who are said to be among the wrestlers WWE brought to Texas for the show are Bayley
and Asuka, both of whom have been out injured for sometime.
Bayley tore her ACL in mid-July during training and Asuka underwent shoulder surgery and is
reportedly ready for a full return.
There is no word on whether either will make an appearance on either night of the show,
but there is potential for a Raw post-Mania return I guess.
Neither are booked for the WrestleMania Panels at Superstore Axxess so why they’re in Dallas
is a bit of a mystery.
Either way PWInsider are reporting that they are in town, so that’s good, hopefully we
see them both back on screens soon.
Like Monday latest plz and thanks.
The sheer scale of WrestleMania is unmatched in the wrestling world and WWE and their talent
know it.
That’s why Paul Heyman has been talking it up while on the Sports Media Podcast with
Richard Deitsch.
Interestingly Heyman said that he does keep up with AEW and thinks it is worth putting
over a rival product if they do something worthy of praise:
“I have no problem putting AEW over if AEW does things that’s worthy of being put over.
I don’t live in a bubble.
I would also offer to anybody that wonders why I would be so willing to put over the
competition.
If you look at WrestleMania and you look at the fact that over the course of these two
days, WWE has sold more tickets...to this event, this WrestleMania, than to any other
event in WWE history.”
This is where Heyman’s sheer promo talent kicks into gear, building the other person
up so when you beat them you look amazing, no point beating someone beneath you.
He went on to say that AEW basically just isn’t on WWE’s level.
“I would argue the case that I could sit here and praise AEW all day long.
They can’t match what we’re about to do next weekend.
And until they are in a position to match what we do next weekend, I’m not that concerned
with praising the competition, because they’re still a long way away from what we do, and
our level of success, and our market dominance.”
I mean he has a point - it doesn’t mean it’s better, just more capitalist.
And that’s what’s important kids.