Here's your wrestling news for August 2nd 2021
And your headlines for today include
Bray Wyatt May Have Foreshadowed His WWE Release During The Final Firefly Fun House!
Bray Wyatt Already Teasing A New Character; Top Band On Board To Design Bray Wyatt's Next Theme Song Outside WWE!
WWE Considered Adding Third Hour To SmackDown!
WWE Wants To Bring Braun Strowman Back For Less Money!
AEW Files Very Interesting Trademark!
Tony Khan To Use “Cult of Personality” In AEW!
AEW Wrestler Says He Is Finished With AEW
Jon Moxley & Sami Callihan To Team Up For The First Time In A Decade!
Current WWE Wrestler Says Roman Reigns Is The Most Narcissistic WWE Superstar! And More!
We’re starting today with Bray Wyatt, who was released last week by WWE, all in the name of budget cuts.
With that said, it’s been reported that Wyatt was creatively frustrated in the months before his release, and now his final episode
of the Firefly Fun House has got fans believing that Wyatt new his departure was coming.
In the segment, which aired on the RAW after WrestleMania, Wyatt said to Ramblin’ Rabbit:
“No matter what has happened lately, we still have each other. We will always have each other. As a matter of fact, I feel great
I think this could be a brand new start for all of us here, a new season, new friends, and a brand new me. I feel reborn
Wyatt ends the segment with a simple “see ya” and wave to the camera, and on Twitter, the fan who shared the clip noted that it seemed
Wyatt was foreshadowing his own release. That’s certainly one interpretation, but it’s worth noting that WWE had plans for him to
return, even advertising him for live events, so it’s just as likely his actions in the FunHouse were part of his storyline.
Wyatt himself responded to the tweet with a big red O, leading many to believe that Wyatt knew his days in the company were
numbered by the time he cut that promo. Whatever the case is, Wyatt’s departure is another head-scratching release by WWE,
as he was one of the company’s most popular stars at a time when they really need popular stars to bring in audiences
after over a year away from the fans
Like all released Superstars, Wyatt will have to wait-out a non-compete clause, but the former Superstar has already
teased what he’ll do next. On Instagram, Wyatt bio reads “Kult of Windham coming soon,” using his real
name Windham Rotunda. It seems that Bray has plans for another faction of sort, whenever he’s able to
appear again, but there’s no word on who’d be in that stable.
Bo Dallas, Wyatt’s real-life brother would be a likely candidate, but there’s nothing confirmed as of yet.
Wherever Wyatt goes next, we’re sure he’ll be massively popular with audiences, as WWE’s desire to cut costs may have cost
them a lot more than money in the long-term.
There’s been plenty of talk about where Bray Wyatt will go once his non-compete clause is up, but we know he’ll have
another awesome theme. After news of his release broke on Twitter, Code Orange, the band who
created his most recent WWE theme made it clear that they’d be open to create his next wrestling theme.
As to where that theme will be used is anyone’s guess right now, but the former Fiend is expected to be a huge signing
no matter where he goes next.
Over to SmackDown now, as the blue brand is often considered WWE’s best show, despite being shorter than the
weekly three-hour RAW. During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that WWE had discussed
adding an addition hour to SmackDown and airing the final hour on FS1, with the idea being that it’ll compete with
AEW Rampage when it debuts on Friday, August 13th at 10PM. Meltzer explained that these discussions
started over a year ago, and WWE never acted upon it, partly because adding a third hour would mean FOX would have
to cut the time for local news coverage. With AEW Rampage mere days away from debuting, perhaps some new programming
is in the works for WWE, but for now, SmackDown remains a comfortable two hours.
In June this year, WWE parted ways with former Universal Champion Braun Strowman, as Nick Khan didn’t want to
pay his $1.2 million a year contract. Since then, it’s been reported that WWE have been looking to bring Braun back,
if nothing else than to keep him from going to AEW. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer
confirmed that WWE are looking to rehire the former Universal Champion, but with some major changes to his deal:
They’re interested in having Strowman back at a lower price, but who knows what things will happen. I guess he’s signed up to do a
show in Qatar, so he’s doing some indies, so he’ll get a big payday off that.” It was also noted that WWE couldn’t use
Braun as their main-roster big-man if he was to return, as Omos and Commander Azeez are both bigger than the former
Monster Among Men. Reportedly charging indie promotions $20,000 per show, plus two days
accommodation and travel, Strowman’s services don’t come cheap, and with the Qatar show in February 2022
promising a huge payday, Strowman has plenty of options to consider in the coming months.
AEW news next, as the company has a lot of plans in the works, and that seemingly includes something very important for one
of wrestling’s most respected families. According to a report from Heel By Nature, AEW has filed a trademark for ‘King of Harts
and the last word is spelled like the legendary Canadian family. This filing was registered on July 28th, but
there’s no word right now on what AEW has planned for this new phrase.
It’s been speculated that the term has been trademarked for the AEW Casino game, but that wouldn’t explain why Harts is spelled
in the same way as Bret Hart. In WWF history, it was Bret’s younger brother Owen who often called himself the King of
Harts, and time will tell what AEW has planned for this very interesting phrase.
AEW has been able to secure some great talent for both Dynamite and Dark, but they can’t always get them to stay with the company.
Danny Limelight’s last AEW appearance came on the June 5th Dark, losing to Ethan Page, and he’s now finished with
the company for the time being
On the Indy Mayhem show, Limelight confirmed the news of his departure, but kept things open for a possible return:
For the foreseeable future you’ve seen the last of me in AEW. The door was kept open for a possible return one day.
They spoke very highly of my work ethic and my work. I know I have a really good relationship with Tony Khan. He’s an
amazing human.” Now, Limelight is with MLW as part of Konnan’s new LAX stable, and AEW
fans will have to tune into another show to watch him in action from now on.
Jon Moxley is still with AEW, and has had massive success since joining in 2019, but he’s also open to working for other promotions.
On October 30th, Moxley will be in Clive, Iowa to work a show for Wrestling Revolver, which is owned by Sami Callihan.
Not only does Callihan own the promotion, but he’ll be teaming with Moxley in a reunion of their CZW Switchblade Conspiracy tag-team.
The pair last teamed together at the June 26th 2010 CZW Tournament of Death 9 event, and after over 11 years, fans will
soon get to see the Switchblade Conspiracy back together.
Now, Adam Page has been one of AEW’s most consistent stars, and since 2019, it’s been reported that the Hangman is in line
a world-title push. That won’t happen at All Out on September 5th, as Page and the Dark Order lost to the
Elite last week, and fans shouldn’t expect Page on the card at all.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said how the Hangman not only won’t challenge Kenny Omega at All Out, but isn’t booked
in any capacity for the show. We’ll have to see who does end up challenging Omega, but right now that
looks like Christian Cage, as Adam Page will have to keep waiting for his long- rumoured world title run.
Back to WWE, and Alexa Bliss is one of WWE’s most popular Superstar, and wherever she goes, her fiancé Ryan Cabrera isn’t far beind.
On Sunday, the happy couple were at the Chicago White Sox game, and the former Women’s Champion was given the honor
of throwing the first pitch, to a warm welcome by the crowd. Explaining why she overthrew the pitch
on her Instagram story, Bliss said she was told to aim high at the start of the White Sox game against the Cleveland Indians.
There had been a report that Bliss had requested to be let out of her WWE deal recently, but those rumours have since
been debunked, and the RAW Superstar was clearly enjoying a good time at this Chicago White Sox game.
More from AEW, as Mark Henry shocked everyone by debuting at the Double or Nothing 2021 Pay-Per-View, making AEW
only the second company ever Henry has worked for. The WWE Hall of Famer is set to be an
analyst for AEW Rampage when it premieres later this month, and has signed a multi-year deal with the promotion.
Speaking on the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Henry explained his reasoning for joining the company, saying
“Where I was working before that, you know, for what I was doing, it was not enough for me… I was going to have to look for work
elsewhere… I mean, that’s, that’s what you gotta do. You gotta look out for your family. I understand. But y’know I’m competitive
and I want to win and prove to you and everybody else that my efforts don’t go unnoticed.”
In his final 4 years with WWE, Henry only wrestled a handful of matches, and spent most of his time sat on the sidelines
but now the World’s Strongest Man has a golden opportunity why he’s considered a legend of the industry, now as part of AEW.
And we’re ending today with Mr. Money in the Bank Big E, who’s made it clear that he plans on cashing-in on Universal Champion
Roman Reigns. Since winning the title last August, Reigns has been on fire as WWE’s undisputed
top guy, and his attitude in the ring transcends backstage as well. Speaking to SPORTBible, Big E was asked
who’s the most narcissistic Superstar in the locker-room, and it didn’t take him long to call out the Tribal Chief, saying that
Reigns being narcissistic is “pretty obvious.” Today marks day 337 of the Roman Reigns’ incredible tenure as Universal Champion,
and after dispatching of the likes of the Fiend, Braun Strowman, Kevin Owens, Edge, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro and Rey Mysterio, it’s
easy to see why the Head of the Table is beaming with confidence.