Here is news for December 30 2019
We're starting off today's news video with some unfortunate news,
as former WWE World Champion Randy Orton has reportedly been injured at an untelevised event.
During last night's House show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Apex Predator was facing AJ Styles,
but mere minutes into the match, went down with a knee injury.
This injury forced the match to be cancelled, and Orton was helped to the back by officials,
and fans quickly took to social media to share footage and pictures of what happened.
As a 13-time World Champion, one of the biggest stars on Monday Night RAW,
and with WrestleMania drawing near, Orton's injury could not come at a worse time,
though there has been no news on how long the Viper will be out of commission.
If Orton is lucky, then he might not have to miss any time at all from the ring,
but if this knee injury does require time away, it looks like there will be a spot vacant for
someone else from the red brand, in next month's men's Royal Rumble.
More news from WWE Live events now, as last week in Madison Square Garden,
Andrade captured the United States Championship in shocking fashion, defeating Rey Mysterio.
Having captured the star-spangled strap twice this year, Mysterio's loss came as quite a shock to fans,
with many questioning why the WWE would take the title off of one of it's most popular Superstars of all time.
On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed the surprising title change, saying:
"This is like a plan, to do title changes at the house shows to help build up the house shows again."
It's no secret that the live attendance of WWE events has fallen over the past year or so,
so having more house show title changes may indeed be the best
decision for the company to get more butts in seats.
Meltzer also said that there are big plans for both Andrade and Mysterio,
as the new United States Champion is expected to feud with Humberto Carillo over the title,
whilst Mysterio is rumored to be moved into the main event storyline, which would see Kevin Owens,
Samoa Joe and Mysterio, face against Seth Rollins and AOP.
With the master of the 619 no longer the United States Champion,
Mysterio could always go after the 24/7 Championship,
but may have to be quick in order to capture the green gold.
Recently, if fans went to the WWE Website and looked at the history of the 24/7 Title,
they will have seen that the gold has been retired, with a black and white image of R-Truth also on display.
This came as a shock to many fans, and after questioning what WWE was doing on social media,
the website was edited, and the title un-retired.
Since being launched in May, the 24/7 Championship has been one of the most popular parts of WWE programming,
thanks to the impromptu matches and comedic timing of everyone involved.
Currently held by 27-time Champion R-Truth, the title has changed hands 10 times over the past week,
with Akira Tozawa, Santa Claus, both Singh brothers and announcer Mike Rome all holding the title,
before it was won back by Truth at a live event in Pittsburgh, and the title remains active.
One Superstar who knows all about winning championships is Jerry Lawler,
as The King has won well over 100 titles throughout his decades in the ring.
And though the Hall of Famer has spent much of his wrestling carer between the ropes
it seems like that won't be the case anymore, according to the man himself.
On his podcast, Lawler spoke about the current storyline with his fellow RAW commentator
Samoa Joe and the AOP, and after discussing Akam and Rezar's attack on Joe,
revealed that he is on what the King described as a quote "no-touch list."
This is likely a rule to mean that he isn't allowed to get too physical with Superstars,
and the last time he did, Lawler was ambushed by Bray Wyatt's Mandible Claw on the August 19th episode of RAW,
which allowed the Hall of Famer to safely slump to the ground.
The last time Lawler had an actual match on WWE TV, came during the September 10th, 2012
edition of RAW, where he teamed with Randy Orton to face Dolph Ziggler and then-WWE Champion CM Punk.
Later that same night, the King would suffer a heart attack that would keep him away from TV for months,
and whilst WWE isn't wanting Lawler back in the ring ever again,
that hasn't stopped Jerry from competing outside the company over the years.
From one icon of the industry to a relatively new face on WWE programming,
as Peyton Royce has done a lot since joining the main roster last year.
Moving to SmackDown Live in April 2018, the Australian Superstar has been
connected to her real-life best friend Billie Kay,
and the pair captured the WWE Women's Tag Team titles together this year at WrestleMania 35.
On Twitter this week, the IIconic Superstar was asked by a fan about how her ring name came about
and revealed that she was nearly called Ruby Ryan, but didn't like the surname at the time.
After requesting to change the name to Royce,
the Aussie also asked for the Ruby part to be changed to Peyton and was thrilled that both requests were allowed.
At age 27, Royce and Billie Kay still have plenty of years ahead of them in the WWE,
so fans shouldn't be too surprised if the pair regain the Women's Tag Team titles,
or even go after singles gold, in the coming years.
From one W omen's tag team to another now, as though Fire and Desire
have been together since their main roster call up in 2017, the pair haven't had too much success.
After being defeated in consecutive weeks on SmackDown by Carmella,
it looks like the team of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville may be finished for good,
though according to Dave Meltzer, this has been a long time coming.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer noted that the original plan was to split Rose and Deville up
before WrestleMania 35 this year, though that obviously didn't happen.
Over the last few weeks though, the company has been dropping hints of the pair drifting apart,
as well as starting a storyline between the Golden Goddess and Otis of Heavy Machinery.
On the latest edition of the Blue brand, Rose didn't accompany Deville to the ring for her match with Carmella,
and as she received a home-made fruitcake from the Heavy Machinery star,
it looks like Rose and Deville will be splitting very soon.
We're heading outside of WWE now, and though it's not even been a month since Sin Cara
was released by WWE, the masked luchador has already found a unique new job.
Yesterday, the former NXT Tag Team Champion revealed that he will be working
for the British soccer team the Wolverhampton Wanderers, as part of their backroom staff.
In a statement on the club's official Spanish website, the Wolves confirmed that Cara,
who is now going by the name Cinta de Oro, will start his new job on January 1st next year.
As part of his duties, the former Lucha Dragon will be responsible for searching for new talent,
forming alliances with football schools, and scouting for new international figures for the future of the team.
Though this new job may be an odd decision for the former Superstar,
it should be noted that Oro is good friends with Wolves striker Raul Jimenez,
and has been a known supporter of the team for many years.
Currently in seventh place in the Premier League after defeating champions Machester City 3-2
over the festive period, it seems that the Wolverhampton Wanderers are doing everything right,
and with the former WWE Superstar working for them backstage,
there's no telling just how high the Wolves will go.
More news from the United Kingdom now, as though tonight's episode of Monday Night RAW
will be the final show of the year and the decade, it will also mark the end of an era,
as WWE long relationship with Sky Sports will come to a close.
After a deal was signed to host WWE programming on Sky in the early 1980s,
tonight's show will mark the end of a near 30-year deal, as all WWE programming in the UK will be moved to BT Sport,
starting with this week's edition of SmackDown.
With the WWE expanding their NXT branch to the UK over the past few years,
as well as working closely with British promotions, it seems like BT Sport are getting a good deal,
though time will tell whether the two parties will be together for as long as the WWE was with Sky Sports.
Back to WWE now, and though 2019 has been an interesting year for many Superstars,
perhaps no-one has had more of a messy year than Lars Sullivan.
After his scheduled January 14th debut on RAW was delayed due to an anxiety attack,
Sullivan made his debut on the April 8th edition of the red brand, attacking Kurt Angle,
but quickly found himself in hot water, over comments he made years ago online.
On bodybuilding.com forums both before and after signing with WWE, Sullivan made a series of racist,
*****t and homophobic comments, and this week, more came to light about the Freak's past.
Recently, fans discovered that Sullivan previously worked in adult films,
and some of these films included h*******l scenes with other male performers.
Allegedly working under the stage name Mitch Bennett, Sullivan's past has obviously clashed
with some of the comments he made online, as once again, the Freak has made headlines,
but not because of his matches. Currently on the shelf after suffering a knee injury in June,
Sullivan's recovery is reportedly taking slower than expected,
and we can't help but wonder what kind of response he will get from the crowd, his fellow Superstars
and those backstage after what has been a controversial year for the former NXT Superstar.
Though 2019 clearly hasn't gone the way that Lars Sullivan will have intender,
the same can't be said for Bayley, who has had an incredible year in WWE.
Not only did the former Hugger turn heel, but she also became the first- ever Women's Triple Crown
and Grand Slam winner, as she has captured the NXT, RAW and SmackDown Women's titles,
as well as the Women's Tag Team Championships.
Also being this year's Women's Money in the Bank winner, 2019 has definitely been Bayley's year, and recently,
the SmackDown Women's Champion became the longest reigning Superstar to hold the blue and white title.
Commenting about this on Instagram, Bayley pointed out that out of the 365 days of 2019,
she has been a champion for all but 99 of them, holding both the SmackDown Women's title
and Women's Tag team titles with Sasha Banks over the past 12 months.
Describing herself as the best role model to the fans she calls quote "idiots",
Bayley may have to work on getting fans to see her as a role model,
but we can't argue with the success of the California native,
who is also looking at making 2020 her year as well.
And finally today we're ending with a preview of tonight's edition of Monday Night RAW,
as the WWE intends to end their three hour show with a bang.
On the show, Lana and Bobby Lashley will finally tie the knot,
after the Ravishing Russian made her man propose, though given WWE weddings in the past,
we don't expect this to be an easy walk down the aisle.
Also on tonight's show, Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy will face off in a rematch from their encounter at TLC,
whilst local advertising for the XL Center in Hartford is also promising
Kevin Owens Vs. Seth Rollins, and Randy Orton Vs. AJ Styles.
Of course, this last match will depend on the condition of the Apex Predator after his live event
match against the Phenomenal One was cancelled, but with or without the Viper,
WWE is looking to end 2019 in a big way, tonight on Monday Night RAW.
Well that's all the news we have for you today. If you liked this video,
don't forget to give it a thumbs up and hit that subscribe button.
If you're looking for more content you can follow us on Twitter, and as always, thanks for watching.