Here's your wrestling news for August 16th, 2022.
And we are kicking off today with Monday
night raw as Kevin Owens and smack downs.
Drew MacIntyre were arguably the MVPs of the
show MacIntyre on raw was a complete surprise.
And the former WWE champion said he was there to
scout new competition, pitching matches against
Ciampa, AJ styles, Seth Rollins, and others.
Interrupted by Owens.
The two had a great back and forth promo, which included
MacIntyre confirming the reports of a back injury,
but saying it was because he was carrying the company.
The big takeaway was that Owens announced his intention to
challenge for the undisputed universal title after clash at
the castle and a huge step for the Canadian who's one and
only universal title run and did five and a half years ago.
Well, he may not be the first challenger for the title
immediately after the show, this was a clear indication
that he will be utilized as a main event star going forward.
Raw also saw the judgment day on the card.
And once again, the group got the better of the materials this week.
It was raised turn to take a beating from the group as we've
seen several weeks before, during a promo to hype up next week's
edge versus Damien priest match in Toronto Mysterio struck
first and was able to get the better of the group at first.
However, once Rhea Ripley used herself as a shield, ensuring
that Mysterio wouldn't attack a woman, the moment gave
Finn baller and priests time to recover and beat him down.
Ripley being in the group was certainly the
right call when she was added earlier this year.
But this week exposed the glaring issue with her involvement,
unless the trio's opponents have a female superstar,
then Ripley's use of the group is severely limited as WWE
doesn't want to be promoting any male on female violence.
Having the judgment day, get the upper hand yet again,
also pretty much gave away next week's result as it
was a subtle way of saying edge will be winning in his
hometown and will align with the, my stereos going forward.
Expect a match between Ray and edge against baller and
priests to be made official for clash at the castle with
Dominic and Ripley being left out of the belt more from raw.
Now, as the red brand had some major changes
take place during this week's broadcast.
While fans didn't see a huge, shocking return.
Like in previous episodes, they did see a new raw theme
song and extended opening superstars, including Brock
Lessner riddle, the Miz and Becky Lynch made up just
some of the big names of the new extended package.
We've heard a lot about WWE being in a new era.
Now that Vince McMahon is retired and now the three
hour show has a new intro to go with their new era.
Over the past few weeks, we've seen several returns
to WWE with Dakota, Kai carrying cross, and hit road.
Just being some of the stars who've
made it comeback with triple H undoing.
A lot of the releases his father-in-law approved.
It's certainly an interesting time to be a former WWE superstar.
And now one name has teased a return on Instagram.
Leo rush shared a photo of his days in WWE, alongside
Bobby Lashley and fans of the comment speculated
whether this was a sign of his imminent return.
Rush worked for WWE from 2017 to 2020
and became NXT cruiserweight champion.
But he was released as part of the dreaded budget cuts.
After his release rush would have a brief
underwhelming run in AEW before leaving.
When his contract expired in February.
This year, now the self-professed man of the hour is
a free agent, but between WWE's returns and this post,
how much longer he's a free agent is anyone's guess.
Now with his cocky personality and in ring skill, Seth
Rollins is used to getting his way in the ring, even
if it means cheating against his fellow superstars.
Rollins has certainly accomplished a lot in his time with
WWE for this past weekend, an unlikely individual pushed
back against the former universal champion during this past
weekend, Sunday stunner event, Rollins faced Delph Ziegler on
the show and during the match got in the face of the referee.
After harassing the referee and backing them
into a corner, the official snapped back shouting
back at Seth who immediately backpedaled in fear.
Rollins clearly didn't enjoy someone standing up to him
and quickly turned his attention back to Ziegler who
he'd defeat a post-match beat down was ended abruptly
by riddle and Rollins will probably think twice.
The next time he shouts at a WWE referee.
More from raw now, as it was on last week's show that Kevin Owens
attacked a Ezekiel, laying him out with a power bomb on the apron.
When asked about the attack.
Owens said that a Ezekiel may not know who he is, but Owens
knows that raw will always be that Kevin Owens show during
this week's show, Jimmy Smith announced that Zeek had sustained
multiple injuries and will be out of action for a long time.
Smith also said that a Ezekiel had been sent to a hospital, a
term WWE had previously banned in favor of local medical facility.
It's unclear when a Ezekiel will return or if
this is WWE's way of ending the character and
making way for the full-time return of a Elias.
What we do know is that Ernie a Ezekiel's father has promised
to confront Kevin Owens on next week's raw as the prize
fighter isn't done with the Ezekiel Elias family just yet.
This weekend, WWE will host a series of live events in Canada
with a Saturday show being at Kingston, Ontario, and the
Sunday event being at London, Ontario, the shows will feature
some of WWE's biggest stars and tr stratas has confirmed
that she'll also be in town the seven time WWE women's
champion announced her appearance of the shows in a tweet.
And we're sure that the fans are hopeful to see some satisfaction.
Now last week, Dexter Loomis returned to WWE appearing on
raw after the main event featuring AJ's styles, as styles
was celebrating in the ring, Loomis appeared in the crowd,
but was detained by police seemingly teasing a feud with
the phenomenal one that may not be the case after all, as
according to a report from P insider Loomis's fate is uncertain.
When hit row returned to WWE on last Friday, SmackDown,
the trio were internally listed as part of the blue
brand confirming that they are SmackDown superstars.
Now Loomis, however has not been assigned to either
raw or SmackDown yet, despite returning days earlier
than top dollar Ashanti, the Adonis and B fab.
Last night's show.
Lumis made another appearance this time, jumping
the barricade before being tackled to the ground.
So it seems he's going to be a permanent fixture on Ross since
his return that hasn't been confirmed backstage just yet.
One name who certainly knows about impactful returns to WWE is Cody
Rhode, who stunned the world by returning at WrestleMania at 38.
This past April.
In June roads suffered a torn biceps, which WWE
claimed would keep him out of action for nine months.
But we may be seeing him as soon as this month, when the
WWE UK Twitter account fired off a tweet promoting clash
of the castle, Rhode retweeted it and made it clear.
He has an eye on the September 3rd show.
WWE has said that Cody won't be back until March of
next year, but many have been skeptical of this claim.
Believing the company is setting roads up
for a surprise return at the Royal rum.
A return in the men's rumble match would certainly be a big deal.
But if Cody gets his way, he'll be back on TV in
just a few days, time as WWE continues to move on
without Vince McMahon, the company has repealed.
A lot of the decisions made by the former chairman.
And we are not just talking about cuts to the roster.
Recently, WWE has been using some of the terms
from McMahon's band words list, a long list of
terms that Vince refused to let be heard on WWE TV.
On raw.
It was said that Ezekiel had been sent to the hospital, but that
wasn't the only banned term that's back in use during the broadcast.
Michael Cole could be heard talking about professional wrestling.
A term McMahon had previously refused to let be heard on his shows.
McMahon's reasoning was that calling what they do pro wrestling makes
them just the same as any other pro wrestling company while using
the term sports entertainment differs WWE from the likes of AEW or.
After decades of having McMahon screaming in his ear on the headsets,
Michael Cole is now having a lot more freedom on commentary.
So don't be surprised to hear pro wrestling discussed
in the world's biggest pro wrestling company.
And we're ending today with AEW who haven't exactly had the most
thrilled roster as of late recently, both murro Andra L ELO, low
light tweets saying they were being poorly used in AEW and in
Miros case, his tweet suggested that he had it much better in WWE.
Now yet on being misused in AEW and that man is
Bobby fish speaking on a K and w wrestl Fest, virtual
signing, Phish spoke about his career and the positive
response he's had from fans and took aim at Tony con.
It's even somewhat surreal to hear guys that I watched
growing up comment in a positive way, about the way that I
do the business that they use to put food on their table.
So I know I'm fucking good.
I'm not gonna mince words.
I know I'm good.
So if you're the person paying me and booking
me, use me properly, Phish, didn't stop there.
As he insisted that he, Adam Cole and Kyle Reilly
need to be used in the best way, something, it
seems Phish believes isn't happening right now.
So I know for a fact that myself, Kyle and Adam all do what
we do at an extremely high level, whether that's together or
separate, and it's our employer's job to know what to do with that.
So, frankly, it just comes down to like, figure it
out, utilize your talent, and we're getting paid.
Use us the way you can best utilize us.
Tony con has a lot of people on his roster and it would
be difficult if not impossible to please everyone.
But the group once known as the undisputed
era are looking for some better booking.