Here's more wrestling news for May 13th 2021
And your headlines for aftenoon include
SPOILER On Likely Title Change At WWE WrestleMania Backlash!
Current WWE Star Drops Training Photo To Show Off Impressive Physical Transformation! Randy Orton Reacts!
AEW Called Out For Letting Ricky Starks Wrestle Until Doctor’s Testing!
Eric Bischoff ‘Embarrassed’ to Be Part of The Randy Savage Documentary
Huge Matches Added To AEW Double Or Nothing!
Disney Pushes Emmy Award Nomination For Sasha Banks’ Mandalorian Role
Vince McMahon No-Sold Renee Paquette’s Special Interview Request! And More!
We’re starting this video with WrestleMania- Backlash, as fans can expect a major title change during the show.
That’s according to the latest betting odds, which say that the Mysterios are the favourites to become the new SmackDown
Tag Team Champions, defeating the Dirty Dawgz. Given reports that the Usos will be defeating
a face tag-team for the titles, it seems likely that this face team will be Rey and Dominik, who are set to win this Sunday.
As for the other title matches, Rhea Ripley, Bobby Lashley, Roman Reigns and Bianca Belair are all expected to retain, whilst Damian
Priest is the heavy favourite to beat The Miz. WWE could always swerve fans with this Sunday’s show, but for now, expect only
the SmackDown Tag titles to change hands.
Speaking of SmackDown, Aleister Black hasn’t competed since his return to screens a few weeks back, but the former NXT
Champion has been keeping in shape despite his absence from the ring. On Twitter, Black shared progress from a
workout, and said that the results come from 7 months of hard work with a nutritionist, that allowed him to change his diet.
Black also revealed that he dropped from 217lbs down to 191lbs, before getting back up to 196lbs, and after being sat backstage
in catering for months, the Dutch Superstar has shown that he hasn’t been wasting his time in his months away from TV.
AEW news now, and fans shouldn’t expect to see Ricky Starks for a while, as he’s dealing with a fractured neck, but things
could’ve been much worse. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Tony Khan said he felt terrible about Starks’
neck injury, which he suffered during a match against Hangman Page. Khan explained:
“He came out of it feeling okay, he really felt like he dodged a bullet. So we felt good about it but Doc (Samson) said ‘pull him out’
and had him go get checked out. And he had a little soreness and Doc sent him for an MRI. We didn’t know what to expect. Rico thought
he was going to be okay and it turned out he had a small fracture in his neck.”
Khan added that he’s glad that Samson gave him a second opinion, and that’s he’s quote “gutted” for the wrestler, who had worked
hard to be a big part of Double or Nothing. Team Taz will certainly miss having Starks around, but his injury doesn’t mean he’ll be
absent from TV, as he could still work in a non-wrestling role, much like Britt Baker during her knee injury.
It’s a shame that Starks will miss Double or Nothing, but his safety is more important right now, especially as things could’ve
ended in tragedy had he continued to compete.
Now, earlier this year, Ric Flair was in an on-screen relationship with Lacey Evans, as part of the Sassy Southern Belle’s feud
with Ric’s daughter Charlotte. That program ended with Evans’ real-life pregnancy, and though it was hinted that
Ric was the father, that was never confirmed by Evans herself.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani this week, Flair gave his thoughts on the dropped angle, admitting he didn’t feel comfortable,
and neither did his daughter. Flair also suggested that this prominent angle was given to Evans by Vince
McMahon because of her past as a Marine, saying that we can’t give enough back to those that’ve served.
Flair added that though Evans is a quote “nice girl,” he barely knows her, and it’s unclear whether Ric or Evans will return to TV,
and whether this relationship will be rekindled when they can be back on screen.
Now, recently, A&E released a documentary based on the life of Macho Man Randy Savage, which hasn’t gone down well with fans.
Seen as an attack on Savage, who died in 2011, WWE Hall of Famer Sean Waltman criticized it, and now Eric Bischoff has
given his view on the doc. Speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff discussed his appearance in the Savage
documentary, saying: I’m embarrassed that I was a part of that… I like to think my criticism is constructive,
and I don’t like to pick on individuals, but had I known what this biography was going to be, neither my wife or I would have participated
It was Bischoff who brought Savage into WCW in 1994, and the former RAW GM didn’t appreciate A&E using names who
had a bad relationship with Savage, such as Bubba the love Sponge, in their documentary.
This won’t be the last A&E documentary about a WWE legend, but perhaps Bischoff will think twice before sharing his views to
the A&E crew.
Now, AEW Double Or Nothing is just over two weeks away, and the company did some serious building to the show on last
night’s Dynamite. During Dynamite, Cody Rhodes cut a promo, saying he’s unhappy about Anthony Ogogo
disrespecting America, and now those two will face on May 30th. This week’s Dynamite also saw the number-
one contenders match between Pac and Orange Cassidy end in a double count-out, and now both Pac and Orange Cassidy
will face AEW World Champion Kenny Omega. The Young Bucks will also be in action at Double or Nothing, as they challenged Jon
Moxley and Eddie Kingston to a Superkick Party at Double Or Nothing, in what we’re sure will be a kick-heavy tag team match at
the end of the month.
During his promo against Anthony Ogogo, Rhodes said that the English wrestler will be facing ‘The American Dream’ at Double or
Nothing, using the moniker his father Dusty Rhodes made famous. It’s unclear how Cody will be using the
moniker though, as he doesn’t legally own it, as according to Heel by eNature, he abandoned the trademark for the term on
March 31st. Cody abandoned the trademark claim because he couldn’t provide sufficient documentation to
the US Patent office, and whilst he delivered a patriotic promo this week, we’ll have to see how long he can call himself the American Dream.
In WWE, Sasha Banks has done plenty, including being a Women’s Grand Slam Champion, but now the Boss may be getting a
a major accolade outside the company. It’s being reported that Disney is trying hard for the Mandalorian to get some love at the
Emmy Awards, which means that Banks could soon have a nomination to her name.
In a graphic obtained by The Direct, Banks, under real-name Mercedes Varnado is listed as a guest star that could get an Emmy
nomination, alongside big names like Rosario Dawson, Carl Weathers and Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hammill.
Banks played Koska Reeves in season 2 of the Star Wars spin-off series, a role tailor- made for her by Jon Favreau, and whilst
WWE really wants an Emmy Award for their shows themselves, it might be the Boss who adds the statue to her large trophy cabinet
Vince McMahon news next, and it’s no secret that the Chairman doesn’t enjoy speaking in public anymore, as he’s even kept quiet during
the last couple of investors calls. One person who would like to hear McMahon speak his mind is Renee Paquette, who offered
an invitation to the Chairman in January to appear on her podcast. During this week’s Oral Sessions, Renee
said how she never got an answer back from the boss, even though she does have his email address, and explained what would’ve
happened if the Chairman had said yes: “I would talk to him about some of the visions he has for things and just being able to pick
his brain. I mean, me being able to sit in production meetings with him for a year plus. Getting to just see just how his mind works
and trying to understand how his mind works, but I think I would just have a lot of questions about how he runs the shows”
Paquette sat in production meetings with Vince for years, and was just getting to know how his mind works, but sadly, the Chairman of the
board isn’t in the mood to speak his mind in public anymore.
And we’re ending today with AEW, who’ve added two huge title matches to the card of next week’s Dynamite.
On the show, NWA Women’s World Champion Serena Deeb will defend against Red Velvet, after being on the shelf since March with
a knee injury. AEW World Tag Team Champions will also be in action, defending against the Varsity Blonds
next week. The May 19th Dynamite will also see Anthony Ogogo face Austin Gunn and Christian Cage
face Matt Sydal, on the road to AEW Double Or Nothing.