Here is your werestling news for june 2nd 20201 News
And your headlines today include
Vince McMahon Orders WWE Superstars To Get Additional Training ; Superstars REACT!
Kofi Kingston Received Medical Attention During Commercial on WWE RAW!
Drew McIntyre ‘Looked Rough’ After Match Against Kofi Kingston On WWE RAW! Nature Of McIntyre’s Injury Revealed!
Is Sheamus Planning To Vacate US Title After Injury On WWE RAW!
Status of Molly Holly’s Backstage Tryout At WWE!
Awesome Kong Is Officially No Longer With AEW! Real Reason For Her Absence Is Revealed!
WWE Wrestler Is Gone From AEW After Allegations Of Mistreating Extras!
Fast 9 Tanks In China After John Cena Controversy And more!
We’re kicking-off with WWE, who’s going back on the road next month with a 25-city tour with live fans, and some Superstars aren’t apparently
looking their best right now. According to a report from PW Insider, WWE has informed Superstars that they are expected to
to attend the Performance Center over the next few weeks, to do in-ring workouts.
It was reported that these workouts are being done to better prepare Superstars for the return of fans, and this is believed to be a
Vince McMahon edict. It’s unclear who, or how many Superstars will have to participate in these workouts, which
could start as soon as this week, but it appears that these workouts haven’t gone down well backstage.
PW Insider reports that though Superstars are looking forward to get back to normal, they’re not thrilled about rolling around in the ring on
their day off, but are willing to do what it takes to get back on the road. This isn’t the first time WWE has sent Superstars
to the Performance Center, as big men like Keith Lee, Otis and Omos were sent for conditioning last December, but with most if not all Superstars
expected to attend these workouts, WWE clearly wants to make sure everyone is ready ahead of the return to live fans on July 16th.
RAW news next, as Kofi Kingston came up short this week in his WWE Championship number-one contenders match with Drew McIntyre, and the
New Day star got pretty hurt in the process. During the match, Kingston and McIntyre did a spot on the outside of the ring which left Kingston
screaming in agony, and according to new RAW commentator Jimmy Smith, the former World Champion was immediately checked on by WWE’s
medical crew, as Smith explained on Busted Open Radio: “When Kofi Kingston against Drew McIntyre
went over that wall, he literally did catch his leg on the wall and started screaming, and we all went, ‘Oh crap,’ you know? They rushed back
there to help him get [up] in time for the commercial and he got up, was like, ‘Dude I’m good, let’s go.’ Insane. Insane watching it live.“
Thankfully, Kingston was able to continue the match, even if he didn’t win it, whilst Smith, who received praise from fans and WWE
personnel for his debut on commentary, had an intense first night on the job.
Kofi got pretty banged up during his match with McIntyre, but despite winning, even the Scottish Superstar didn’t leave the Thunderdome unscathed.
According to PW Insider, McIntyre looked rough after the match was over, sporting a big bruise over his right eye, which happened when he
ate a superkick from Kingston, that made real contact. It was said that the match was received well
backstage, with many people praising the two for the war they put themselves through, but ultimately, it was McIntyre who got the win,
earning himself a WWE Championship match against Bobby Lashley on June 20th at Hell in a Cell.
More injury news next, as United States Champion Sheamus broke his nose this week against Humberto Carrillo, but that won’t stop
him competing. On Twitter, Sheamus made it clear that he’s not vacating the U.S. Title, despite posting a selfie
of his broken nose, which is swollen up. This week’s RAW saw Sheamus face Ricochet and Humberto Carrillo, and it was a kick to the
face by Carrillo that did the damage. The big question is who will Sheamus face next, and we imagine a receipt is coming Carrillo’s way,
but it’ll take a lot more than a broken nose for the Irish Superstar to vacate his title.
There was plenty of action on-screen during this Memorial Day edition of RAW, but there was plenty more happening behind the scenes.
We previously reported that WWE Hall of Famer Molly Holly was at RAW this week, trying out for a producer role, and according to PW Insider,
this went very well for the former Women’s Champion. Their report notes that Holly is being “taken
through the paces” as a producer, as both she and WWE with continue feeling each other out as they work together.
Molly has a lot to provide backstage in terms of knowledge of the business, especially WWE, and with WWE looking for more producers as they
head back on the road, we’ll have to see if the former Sidekick gets a job offer from WWE.
At AEW Double or Nothing, Mark Henry made his debut for the company, after speaking only for a long time about wanting to contribute more to the
wrestling industry. For years, Henry has been wanting to do more in WWE, and even spoke to Vince McMahon
about doing more in WWE. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Henry explained that his deal was up with WWE, and that for the
past 6 months, he’s been vocal about wanting a position in WWE’s offices, an idea that McMahon was on board with Henry doing more in TV,
as he explained: “I talked to Vince himself and he said, ‘write it up. You’re somebody I’ll listen to.’
Though McMahon was ready to use Henry more, the World’s Strongest Man explained that impending cuts were the reason for his release,
and though Henry felt safe in his role, he realised he could do more for the wrestling industry outside WWE.
Speaking about the Chairman and former-employer, Henry had nothing but good things to say about Vince McMahon:
“Vince and I have love for each other. More than love, respect. Me calling him and saying him what need to be said, came from a place of a brother
telling his older brother, ‘I’m tired of being in shadows. I feel like someone beneath you is holding me back. if someone is holding me back
if someone is holding me back I have to go.’ I feel like I was being held back and not getting what I want, and I want to be
successful and earn more. [Vince said,] ‘You know everything you need to know. If you feel like you need to go, I don’t necessarily want it
but if you need to go then go. I know you’ll be successful.’ That’s what you want. I’m not going to run from a conversation like that.
Nobody will say Mark Henry is unloyal. There were times I was offered more money and didn’t leave. Everything wasn’t perfect,
but what family is perfect? I had a good experience and learned a lot. I spent more time in production and the trucks than I did around the
ring and in catering. I always had an executive mindset.” Henry has made it clear he wants to wrestle
again, something that could now happen in AEW, especially as he’s signed a multi-year deal with the promotion, which’ll allow him to be a
commentator on Rampage and work in talent development too. We already know that he’ll be an analyst on AEW
Rampage when it premieres on August 13th, but what do you think of Henry’s jump to AEW? Let us know in the comments.
More from AEW, as recently, Cody Rhodes released a special t-shirt for Pride Month, featuring his logo in the rainbow colours,
but this shirt drew the ire of some fans. The new shirt, which’ll see all profits donated to the National Center for Transgender Equality,
caused one fan to call Cody out, asking why it couldn’t be an AEW pride shirt, and questioned why Cody needed to have his name attached to it.
The fan went on to question why the shirt doesn’t feature LGBTQ+ talents like Sonny Kiss, who is gender-fluid, or Nyla Rose, who is
transgender, and this fan clearly touched a nerve with Brandi Rhodes. Responding, AEW’s Chief Brand officer said
that Cody was the one person who said he’d make a shirt for charity, and that anyone in AEW who wants to make a charity shirt can do so.
Brandi avoided answering why the company doesn’t have an official AEW rainbow design, and we’ll have to see how many other wrestlers
take her up on the odder and make their own charity shirts in the future.
One person who won’t be releasing any AEW shirts is Awesome Kong, as the company has parted ways with the former Knockouts Champion.
Kong hadn’t appeared for the company for about 16 months, after sustaining an injury whilst filming the final season of GLOW, which
was nixed after two episodes because of the ongoing situation. Kong wasn’t cleared to compete, and AEW
pushed the split of Brandi Rhodes’ Nightmare collective after that. Kong joined AEW at Double or Nothing 2019,
but hasn’t competed since the January 7th 2020 AEW Dark, where she defeated Skyler Moore.
She also served as a coach for the company, though Fightful reports that she wasn’t around much after she wasn’t cleared to wrestle.
Dave Meltzer was the first to report Kong’s release, which was later confirmed by PW Insider, and despite reports of a possible Aja
Kong Vs. Awesome Kong match, or even Awesome Kong joining AEW’s ranks as a producer, she’ll now have to forge her own
path as a free agent.
Kong isn’t the only name gone from AEW this week, as the company has parted ways with Shanna, following reports of mistreating extras.
According to Fightful, Shanna’s departure was expected as far back as April, and fans shouldn’t expect her back, as there were quote
issues with her and some of the other wrestlers,” especially extras.
No exact instance of bullying or misconduct was mentioned in their report, and Shanna has not responded to these claims yet.
Shanna’s last AEW match was a loss to Lelya Hirsch on the April 12th AEW Dark: Elevation, after missing much of the past year.
Shanna competed on Dynamite in February 2020, before missing time, and when she returned in November, she became a regular on Dark and
Dark Elevation. We’ll have to see where Shanna ends up next, but she’s no longer with AEW, and whilst it
wasn’t confirmed that AEW chose not to renew her contract exclusively because of these claims, they certainly didn’t help matters for her.
And we’re ending today with John Cena, who referred to Taiwan as a country whilst promoting Fast and Furious 9, and despite a
grovelling apology to China, who see Taiwan as belonging to them, the damage has already been done.
Whilst Fast 9 opened strong enough in China, the movie’s second week was ab absolute bust, and many are arguing that this is down
to Cena’s comments. It’s worth mentioning that the reviews have been absolutely atrocious, but it’s impossible to prove if
Cena bias played a part in those opinions. Fast 9’s box office fell a whopping 85% from it’s opening weekend number of $136 million, and
had made just $185.3 million by it’s second weekend. For comparison, Fast and Furious 7 was at
at $390.9 million by it’s second weekend in China when it released in 2015, whilst Fate of the Furious was at $392.8 million at this time in 2017.
We’re curious to see how the film will do in the west, as Cena’s apology has only hurt his reputation over hero, and time will tell if the former
Superstar can repair his damaged reputation.