Here's more wrestling news for July 9th, 2022.
And we're starting off this afternoon with SmackDown and the fans have not been happy with the most recent episode of the blue brand.
It's not exactly new for fans to be unhappy with what WWE have put out, but this week's episode crossed
a line that many believed WWE would never cross.
During the show drew McIntyre was scheduled to face Sheamus in the main event with the winner going on to face the
undisputed universal champion at clash at the castle.
However, that match never took place.
And while WWE, promising and failing to deliver a match is nothing new.
It's the reasoning for this match being canceled that has crowds up in anger.
Shamus pulled out of the match at the last minute, coughing and saying that he might have caught the old
COVID using it as an excuse to have Butch replace.
On social media fans were infuriated that the COVID 19 pandemic was used as a punchline for a pro wrestling angle with the line being
described as incredibly distasteful, one fan called it an all time, low point for WWE while another question, why in the midst of the
Vince McMohan scandal, the company would give themselves more bad PR.
Across the world over 6.35 million deaths due to COVID have been reported though, the number is likely to be much higher and over
1 million people have died of the awful disease in the us alone.
The COVID 19 pandemic ended lives, rocked families and put immense pressure on businesses.
And for WWE to use the disease as a joke has not gone down well at all.
SmackDown also saw an appearance by Lacey Evans who prior to her 2021 pregnancy was tipped to be a huge star.
It was reported that Evans was in line for a raw women's title run prior to her pregnancy.
But upon her return, WWE gave the sassy Southern bell, a change of character.
Instead of being a heel WWE focused on her legitimate military background and tragic upbringing, her real life
story, endeared her to fans over a series of shoot styles.
Sit down vignettes on last night's show.
WWE decided to get rid of all that Goodwill with fans by having her turn heel again, leaving Evans, struggling
to establish an identity with the WWE universe.
Evans is talented.
There's no doubt about it and has plenty of charisma, but she may be yet another talented, charismatic superstar.
WWE drops the ball with more from SmackDown as liv morgan reached the pinnacle of WWE 's women's division at money in the bank, but
it's much harder to stay on top than to get there on SmackDown.
Rhonda Rousey appeared to remind Morgan that they'll face off at summer slam for the SmackDown women's championship,
and what'll be a monumental battle for the new.
As for rousey, she defeated Natalia.
Last night as the queen of hearts has taken credit for assisting Morgan at money in the bank, Natalia will face
Morgan in a championship contenders match next week.
And with the rousey Morgan match already confirmed for summer slam, it could be a triple threat match at the July 30th premium live event.
Now earlier this month, Logan Paul signed a contract with WWE bringing the massively popular YouTuber slash boxer under the company's wing.
Logan Paul has been advertised for the July 25th raw, which will be the go home show before summer slam and air for Madison square garden.
But he'll be appearing for WWE earlier than that.
P w insider has learned that local advertising in Tampa, Florida is advertising Paul for the July 18th.
Raw.
Paul is believed to have signed a three year contract with WWE, which we'll see him perform at some of the company's
biggest shows with a feud with a MIZ expected to happen.
After the A-listers betrayal at WrestleMania 38, Paul has made it clear he's coming for the Miz.
And that may all take place on the July 18th raw Logan.
Paul is expected to make an appearance on raw very soon, but he's not the only big name who's making their way to the red brand in June
mere hours before Hell IN A Cell, Cody Rhode tore pectoral muscle, but fought through the pain to compete at that night's premium live event.
At the time WWE said, Cody will need nine months to recover from this injury, but that may have been a massive exaggeration.
An advertisement for the August 29th.
Raw is promoting roads for the event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just because Cody is there doesn't guarantee he'll be wrestling,
but WWE is also advertising the former a E w T N T champion in a street fight for the Atlantic city show on August 14th.
WWE may have said that Cody will need nine months, but many believe this is an exaggerated figure and we'll have to
wait and see just when exactly Rhodes returns to the ring.
Last month, due to the investigation into Vince McMohan, John LOI was placed on administrative leave
for his alleged role at McMohan's reported activities.
Lauriniatis has been replaced as head of talent relations by Bruce Prichard over claims that he
too had improper behavior with a WWE employee.
It's been previously reported that many expect Johnny ACE to be cut from the company, but it seems losing a
job could be a blessing in disguise for Laurinaitis.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reports that many believe Laurinaitis has a golden parachute deal in place.
Meaning that if he leaves or is fired, WWE will take extremely good care of him on his way out.
Fightful added that they were contacted last year by a female superstar who expressed their frustration over
Laurinaitis though, we should stress that this superstar did not allege that Johnny ACE had been inappropriate
with her, just that he was bad for women's wrestling.
One higher up in WWE told fight for Johnny Ace's ninth.
Life is about to be lost.
Laurinaitis record with female talent has never been great as the ex head of talent relations.
Infamously used to flick through a binder of modeling photos.
When looking for new superstars, whether the former general manager of RAW SmackDown loses his job or not, that remains to be seen, but it
looks like WWE will be taking good care of him no matter what happens.
WWE booking.
Back to SmackDown as this week show saw the maximum mail models appear.
And one of the worst time fillers that we have seen on WWE television in a while, just to be clear, this week's RAW saw a
man throw up in the ring as part of a hot dog eating contest.
So when we say the segment with the models, was it even bigger time filler?
We really mean it.
Perhaps the biggest victim of this angle is Max Dupri.
Who's a fantastic worker as seen during his time as an impact world champion under the name Eli drake joining NXT is L a Knight.
The former world champion continue to prove how good he is.
And we've been left.
Wondering why WWE has undone all that hard work on the main roster.
Sure Dupri is giving all he can to make this angle work, but he's not a miracle worker.
And instead, this fabulous performer is being wasted with his current persona per months.
Kevin Owens has been trying to prove that new superstar, Ezekiel is actually Elias, but his investigation has been fruitless so far.
This has been a stressful time for Owens who is also coming off, a lost to stone cold seve Austin at WrestleMania
38, but took some time out of his schedule to relax.
Owens recently made an appearance during the NHL draft and greeted Bruce Boudreau with him being introduced as Boudreau's favorite
wrestler Boudreau asked Owens when he will be returning, following his recent absence due to a minor injury to which Owens simply said soon,
it's been nearly a month since Owens last match, where he lost to Zeke on the June 13th raw, but hopefully he won't be out for much longer.
More from SmackDown as this week's show, wasn't exactly the best.
And it wasn't just what fans saw in the ring that was missing on the show.
Pat McAfee's enthusiasm was nowhere to be found as he wasn't at SmackDown.
And his role on commentary was filled by Corey graves while McAfee wasn't on the show.
He will be at summer slam where he'll take on happy Corbin and his absence this week could have been done
to sell the attack by Corbin, from money in the bank.
Whatever the case, pat wasn't on last night's show, despite signing a new deal with WWE, but
we hope to see him back for next week's episode.
When bray Wyat was cut by WWE in July, 2021, fans were shocked to see him go given how popular his character as the Fiend had been.
That shock quickly turned to anger with many blaming Alexa bliss for WWE's decision to release him, claiming that she had stolen.
Wyatt's gimmic.
In a new interview with the Metro bliss spoke about working with bray and how, despite what fans may believe.
Wyatt had no problem with her dark Alexa character before he left.
He just said, keep it alive, keep it going.
So I took that to heart and tried to keep it alive and going.
If he ever did return a hundred percent, I'd want to work with him in that same interview.
Bliss said how everyone wanted to work with Wyatt and that chief felt a duty to raise to his level, to work with him on screen.
While Wyatt has said he will wrestle again.
It's been over a year since he's competed.
So who knows when, if ever we'll see the former universal champion back in the ring in late 20, 21, Johnny
Gargano's time with NXT ended and the first ever NXT triple crown champion opted not to sign a new deal.
It was reported at the time that WWE had been hoping to get him to resign, but as Johnny explained to
good karma wrestling, that wasn't meant to be.
I had this guaranteed contract with WWE.
I could take for a lot of money and I would come back and I could keep doing what I'm doing.
I just knew that with the baby on the way, I didn't wanna have anyone else being in control of my time
because I'm really only getting one shot at this.
Me and Candace only plan on having one kid.
Quill Gargano Johnny and Candace Lara's son was born in February, 2018.
And while there will be plenty more opportunities for the former NXT champion, he would never have had another
shot to experience the first months of his son's life.
And we're ending today with John Cena who returned to WWE on the June 27th, raw 20 years after his main roster debut.
During the show Cena was confronted by theory, who has been taking shots about John for months and while many expected a
match between the two at summer slam that won't be the case.
Instead theory will have a title match against new United States champion, Bobby Lashley.
And not only will Cena not be facing Mr.
Money in the bank.
He won't be on the show at all.
That's according to the observer who noted this week, that big match John isn't being advertised for any future WWE events.
So is unlikely to appear at summer slam.
Well, in theory, part in the pun, John could make a surprise appearance at summer slam the idea of WWE not promoting
one of their biggest ever stars in advance seems unlikely.
cena's his history at summer slam has seen him face stars, including Roman reigns Brock Lesnar Seth Rollens and Booker T, but big match.
John will be no match John for this year's biggest party of the summer.