Wrestling news

• Impact Wrestling Viewership Sees Major Shift After Last Week’s All-Time Low Rating

  22-12-2017 23:43
  As previously noted, Impact Wrestling is on a temporary hiatus for the holiday season, and will return with another brand new episode on Thursday, January 4th. In its place this week and next are special “Best of 2017” recap shows, which were expected to draw incredible low ratings.
  In an unexpected twist, numbers for the December 21st show was actually way, way up. The first “Best of 2017” special brought in an average of 269,000 viewers, a whopping 67% up from last year
  
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• UFC Heavyweight Credits Jinder Mahal For Decision to Pursue MMA Instead of WWE

  22-12-2017 23:14
  UFC fighter Arjan Bullar recently spoke with UK based publication The Sun, revealing that former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was actually the influencer that pushed him away from a career in professional wrestling. The two are friends, and fans may recall that Jinder was supposed to escort Bullar to the octagon for his fight at UFC 215 this past September, but was caught up in Hurricane Irma and had to miss the bout.
  According to the article, Bullar had to make a decision between pro wrestling and
  
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• Exclusive: Big Show Says He Passed The Torch To Braun Strowman, Talks Destiny 2, Recovery From Surgery, Possible Work As A WWE Ambassador

  22-12-2017 22:33 via mandatory.com
  Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for Wizard World, Inc.
  The following interview is an exclusive for Wrestlezone: 
  What does The World’s Largest Athlete do when he’s relaxing at home? 
  The same thing as a lot of us: playing video games.
  The Big Show is currently working with Activision in promoting the online game Destiny 2, a game he is very familiar with. Recently, the WWE superstar took part in the #DestinyTheGame sweepstakes where winners got to share an afternoon of
  
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• EC3 Applies To Trademark His Name

  22-12-2017 21:52 via mandatory.com
  Pro Wrestling Sheet is reporting Impact Wrestling star EC3 has applied to trademark his ring name in an attempt to legally own it.
  According to the report, EC3 (real name Michael Hutter) filed the documents last week, with Impact Wrestling’s recent statements about allowing wrestlers to own their characters being a catalyst for him to make the move.
  Anthem’s Ed Nordholm recently stated new talent deals would see a clause allowing Impact stars to keep their characters after they left
  
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• Rey Mysterio Comments On His Free Agent Status, Getting Healthy Again, His WWE Exit & Possible ‘Last Run’

  22-12-2017 21:35 via mandatory.com
  Photo Credit: Getty Images
  Rey Mysterio recently spoke with Michael Wonsover for ESPN.com; you can read a few highlights below:
  Rey comments on his free agent status: 
  “I’m not locked up to any company. I’m an independent contractor, as we say. I could go work wherever I want. That’s the beautiful thing about being on this side of the fence. You don’t have a commitment with only one company. You can go around and pretty much wrestle wherever you want. You can c
  
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• Roman Reigns Says Beating John Cena Was The Most Satisfying Moment Of His Year, Talks Success Of His Feud w/ Braun Strowman, Shield Reunion

  22-12-2017 21:09 via mandatory.com
  (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
  Roman Reigns recently spoke with the Hindustan Times; you can read a few highlights below:
  Roman Reigns comments on working with Braun Strowman: 
  “I believe that my rivalry with Braun Strowman was quite amazing. The chemistry and the stories that we were able to tell were captivating. What I like most about it is that since we’re both younger talents, it was really a need for me to be able to help him and throw some of the experience
  
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• Former Announcer Pete Schwartz On His Experience Working For The XFL, What The League Did Right, Could A Relaunch Be Successful Today?

  22-12-2017 20:51 via mandatory.com
  Photo Credit: Getty Images / Todd Warshaw
  Former XFL New York/New Jersey Hitmen announcer Pete Schwartz recently spoke with Brad Shepard for NEO Sports Insiders; Shepard is the journalist who broke the news that Vince McMahon was looking to revive the XFL next year:
  Schwartz comments on what his XFL experience was like: 
  “It was a lot of fun, to be honest with you. I was still an employee of WABC, but I was made to feel like I was a part of the XFL family, and specifically with the Hi
  
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• Update on Another Potential “Total Divas” Spinoff Show in the Works, Jeff Hardy Answers Fan Questions (Video)

  22-12-2017 20:32
  While it’s been mentioned before, PWInsider.com is reporting that there have been “continued talk” of yet another Total Divas spinoff series, this time focussing on the lives of The Miz and Maryse. The two have been regulars on the hit E! network reality series for the last two seasons, and it’s likely Maryse’s pregnancy will be a key story in next year’s eighth season.
  It was Nikki and Brie Bella who first set the precedent for WWE Superstars breaki
  
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• Top Matches Scheduled For Upcoming WWE Holiday Tour, NXT Stars Reveal Which Moves They Want To Perform In The Ring (Video)

  22-12-2017 20:10 via mandatory.com
  (Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images)
  WWE Live
  PWInsider.com is reporting the following matches are tapped for this week’s upcoming WWE Holiday Tour for the Smackdown brand:
  WWE ChampionshipAJ Styles (c) vs Jinder Mahal
  Randy Orton vs Kevin Owens
  Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn
  United States ChampionshipDolph Ziggler (c) vs Bobby Roode
  Backstage News On Dolph Ziggler’s Status Following Smackdown ‘Exit’ (Possible Spoiler)
  NXT Wish List
  The following video features a number
  
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• Jeff Jarrett Returns Home Following WWE Sponsored Rehab, NASCAR Driver Comments on His “Big Day”

  22-12-2017 19:55
  Jeff Jarrett is back at home after spending the last two months checked into WWE sponsored rehab. NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler noted on Twitter this Thursday that it was a “big day” for the Jarrett family, and Jeff’s wife Karen posted a photo of the couple resting comfortably at home the same evening.
  According to PWInsider.com, the TNA Wrestling co-founder returned home to Tampa, FL some time Thursday night.
  Jarrett entered rehab of his own volition back in October, after being
  
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• ONE FALL: A True “Clash of Champions” – Why WWE’s Current Title Structure Lacks Credibility

  22-12-2017 19:26
  ‘One Fall’ is a weekly editorial column where I will explore and discuss the world of professional wrestling every Friday.
  This past Sunday was the Smackdown Live exclusive pay-per-view WWE Clash of Champions.  Unlike the original WWE version known as Night of Champions where every championship in the company was defended, we only saw the championships from the Smackdown Live brand defended.  And while we witnessed four championship matches on a card titled Clash of Champio
  
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• Sasha Banks & Bayley Talk About Life on the Road, Terrible Hotel Experiences & More w/ “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

  22-12-2017 19:17
  WWE Superstars Sasha Banks and Bayley recently sat down with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the latest edition of his podcast, The Steve Austin Show. You can check out the full interview on PodcastOne.com.
  Who are they driving with these days?:
  Sasha: “It’s usually just me and Bayley. We’ve been having Kalisto and Apollo [Crews] jump in here and again. Usually we just land, get breakfast, find a coffee shop and go to the gym. That’s it. That’s our routine
  
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• More Details On Total Divas Spinoff ‘The It Couple’, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Make Their WWE Network Pick Of The Week (Video)

  22-12-2017 19:00 via mandatory.com
  (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
  Must See TV
  PWInsider.com is reporting there has still been continued talk of The Miz and Maryse appearing on their own reality series called “The It Couple“. The show would be based in Los Angeles, and the current pitch has Dolph Ziggler, musician Ryan Cabrera,  Maryse’s best friend and her mother in featured roles on the show.
  WWE’s The Miz & Alicia Fox Joining This Year’s USO Holiday Tour, Impact Wrestling Stars R
  
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• Natalya Shares Experiences Of Being Bullied, Brie Bella Weighs In On WWE Mixed Match Challenge (Video)

  22-12-2017 18:48 via mandatory.com
  Photo Credit: Getty Images
  Be A Star
  Natalya recently wrote her latest column for the Calgary Sun, and spoke out against bullying and shared her own experiences with it as a kid and adult; you can read a few excerpts below:
  The kids at school would see my dad on WWE programming and it would bring out the worst in them. They couldn’t separate his television character from real life, and would say mean things about him to me on the school bus.
  At times, it was hard for me to explain to them
  
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• James Storm Confirms Impact Wrestling Departure, Talks Partying w/ Ric Flair, Potentially Returning to WWE & More

  22-12-2017 18:44
  As noted, “The Cowboy” James Storm will not be returning to Impact Wrestling, as his character was written off television at the last set of television tapings in a segment that is expected to air on January 4th. Last month Storm sat down with the Cerrito Live podcast discussing a multitude of topics, including a potential return to the WWE NXT brand, partying with Ric Flair and more. Check out the full hour-long show CerritoLive.com.
  The hosts noted there were a few names in hi
  
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• Six Stunning WWE Records Broken In 2017 (Video), Which NXT Will Make An Impact In WWE In 2018?

  22-12-2017 18:40 via mandatory.com
  Photo Credit / Layout: Bill Pritchard
  Who’s NXT?
  WWE.com has a new poll asking fans which current NXT stars they think have the best chance of making a big impact on the WWE main roster in 2018. The choices are:
  The Iconic Duo
  Pete Dunne
  SAnitY
  Authors of Pain
  No Way Jose
  Aleister Black
  Kassius Ohno
  Currently, Aleister Black has a commanding 41% lead, followed by The Authors Of Pain with 16%, and Sanity with 13%.
  NXT Stars Share Their Favorite Christmas Memories
  List This!
  The following is
  
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• Jeff Jarrett Reportedly Completes Stint In WWE Sponsored Rehab

  22-12-2017 18:34 via mandatory.com
  Photo Credit: WENN.com
  PWInsider.com is reporting Jeff Jarrett has returned home from Tampa, Florida, and it appears he has completed his time in a WWE-sponsored rehab program.
  Karen Jarrett posted a photo of the two on her Instagram account, and close friend Hermie Sadler posted the following:Today's a big day for @RealJeffJarrett and his family.Wanna say how proud I am of him and thanks to @WWE for their help. Love ya bud.
  — Hermie Sadler (@HermieSadler) December 21, 2017NASCAR Driver Sh
  
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• Dean Ambrose Injury Update, When He Could Possibly Return To WWE

  22-12-2017 18:24 via mandatory.com
  (Photo credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
  PWInsider.com is reporting Dean Ambrose has been released from the hospital following surgery, as he was spotted in Nevada yesterday.
  Ambrose underwent surgery in Alabama this week to repair a triceps injury; it’s being said there’s hope he will return in two to three months, but that is not a definite timeline. According to PWInsider, there was talk that Ambrose was working hurt for awhile, and it got to the point where WWE felt it wa
  
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• The Usos On Changing Up Their Style, Why Their Summerslam Match Was A ‘Slap In The Face’, Missing Wrestlemania

  22-12-2017 18:12 via mandatory.com
  Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images
  The Usos recently spoke with WWE.com for an exclusive interview; you can read a few excerpts below:
  The Usos comment on being left off of the main card at WWE Summerslam: 
  JIMMY USO: [Long pause] Hell yeah, we felt slighted. You grind to get on these shows. One of the biggest pay-per-views of the year is SummerSlam. We had one of the hottest rivalries of the year with New Day going into SummerSlam. So to be put on the Kickoff was a slap to all
  
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• The Usos On Changing Up Their Style In 2017, Why Their Summerslam Match Was A ‘Slap In The Face’, Missing Out On Wrestlemania

  22-12-2017 18:12 via mandatory.com
  Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images
  The Usos recently spoke with WWE.com for an exclusive interview; you can read a few excerpts below:
  The Usos comment on being left off of the main card at WWE Summerslam: 
  JIMMY USO: [Long pause] Hell yeah, we felt slighted. You grind to get on these shows. One of the biggest pay-per-views of the year is SummerSlam. We had one of the hottest rivalries of the year with New Day going into SummerSlam. So to be put on the Kickoff was a slap to all
  
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• Jeff Hardy Answers Your Biggest, Hottest & Strangest Questions (Video), “Tis The Season” On This Week’s WWE Flashback Friday

  22-12-2017 18:03 via mandatory.com
  WWE Network
  The following preview and synopses have been released by WWE.com for this week’s featured moments in the Flashback Friday collection on WWE Network:
  Step back in time and relive some of the most exciting matches and moments during WWE Flashback Friday on the award-winning WWE Network. Today, catch ‘Tis The Season – Part 2, starting at 3 p.m. ET.
  Featured MomentsWWE Main Event, Episode #220Take a look back at some of the greatest WWE holiday moments, inclu
  
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• Kalisto Reportedly Injured Following Incident During This Week’s 205 Live Tapings

  22-12-2017 17:58 via mandatory.com
  (Photo credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
  Kalisto’s wife posted the following on her Instagram account, alleging her husband was seriously injured as the result of an incident with an unnamed group:
  To the idiots who harmed my husband,
  The way you assaulted my husband was disgusting to say the least. Your actions caused harm and medical intervention was needed. Second, I am in disbelief with those that think it’s ok to ridicule (puke fun of) someone who lives their life to ent
  
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• WWE Main Event *Spoilers*: Cruiserweights In Action

  22-12-2017 15:53
  WWE Main Event featured two matches this week, with one match featuring stars from WWE 205 Live, including former Cruiserweight Champion, Kalisto.
  Read Also: The Latest On Batista Possibly Making Full Time WWE Return, Talk Of Hall Of Fame Induction
  Results Courtesy of PWInsider.com
  (1) Kalisto def. Ariya Daivari
  (2) Apollo Crews w. Titus and Dana Brooke def. Curt Hawkins
  This defeat continued Hawkins’ growing defeated streak.
  The post WWE Main Event *Spoilers*: Cruiserweights In Action app
  
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• WWE Main Event Results: Cruiserweights In Action *Spoilers*

  22-12-2017 15:53
  WWE Main Event featured two matches this week, with one match featuring stars from WWE 205 Live, including former Cruiserweight Champion, Kalisto.
  Read Also: The Latest On Batista Possibly Making Full Time WWE Return, Talk Of Hall Of Fame Induction
  Results Courtesy of PWInsider.com
  (1) Kalisto def. Ariya Daivari
  (2) Apollo Crews w. Titus and Dana Brooke def. Curt Hawkins
  This defeat continued Hawkins’ growing defeated streak.
  The post WWE Main Event Results: Cruiserweights In Action *Spoil
  
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• WWE Stock Continues To Fall, Pete Dunne Added To Independent Event At Last Minute, Brutus Beefcake Book Released

  22-12-2017 15:41
  WWE’s stock has continued to plummet following Vince McMahon’s decision to sell over $100 million worth of his stock as well as the fact he filed trademarks for XFL, which investors are seeing as a bad decision.
  According to PWInsider.com, the WWE stock is at $29.88 in premarket trading, down $1.99 before the markets even opened today.
  Pete Dunne Added To Independent Show At Last Minute
  German independent company, wXw Germany has announced that WWE UK Champion, Pete Dunne will be app
  
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• WWE Stock Continues To Fall, Pete Dunne Added To Independent Event At Last Minute, Brutus Beefcake Autobiography Released

  22-12-2017 15:41
  WWE’s stock has continued to plummet following Vince McMahon’s decision to sell over $100 million worth of his stock as well as the fact he filed trademarks for XFL, which investors are seeing as a bad decision.
  According to PWInsider.com, the WWE stock is at $29.88 in premarket trading, down $1.99 before the markets even opened today.
  Pete Dunne Added To Independent Show At Last Minute
  German independent company, wXw Germany has announced that WWE UK Champion, Pete Dunne will be app
  
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• Bret Hart, Ric Flair And More Added To WrestleCon In New Orleans, Edge Hypes Podcast, Bella’s Promote Wine

  22-12-2017 15:21
  WrestleCon has added even more legends to its New Orleans event for WWE WrestleMania weekend, with Bret Hart, Ric Flair, and Scott Hall being the latest confirmed to appear.
  As well as them; Emma” Tenille Dashwood, Brooke Adams, Hardcore Holly, Lanny Poffo, Will Ospreay, Larry Hennig and John Cena Sr have all also been added.
  The current confirmed line up for WrestleCon is as follows:
  Thursday 4/5 6 PM to 8:30 PM– Wildkat Entertainment
  Thursday 4/5 9:30 PM – 
  
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• New Japan Road To Tokyo Dome Results (12/21): Tetsuya Naito & Kazuchika Okada Square Off, Photos & More

  22-12-2017 14:54
  New Japan Road To Tokyo Dome Results12/17Korakuen HallResults Courtesy of PWInsider.com
  (1) Young Lions Cup: Shota Umino def. Ren Narita
  (2) Tomoyuki Oka def. Tetsuhiro Yagi
  (3) Katsuya Kitamura def. Hirai Kawato
  (4) Masked Horse, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV & KUSHIDA def. TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  (5) Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano def. Henare & Togi Makabe
  (6) EVIL & SANADA def. Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
  (7) Kota Ibus
  
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• AJ Styles Voted Wrestler Of The Year By Sky Sports, Becky Lynch Returns Home, Rhea Ripley On Inner Focus

  22-12-2017 14:23
  Sports broadcasting juggernaut, Sky Sports has announced it’s wrestler of the year to be current WWE Champion, AJ Styles. Styles won the award after being voted on by Sky Sports viewers. AND THE WINNER IS @AJStylesOrg has been voted wrestler of the year 2017 by Sky Sports viewershttps://t.co/7XShIRV2MH
  — SkySportsWWE (@SkySportsWWE) December 22, 2017Becky Lynch Returns Home
  Becky Lynch has returned to Ireland for the Holidays following her work on The Marine 6 with The Miz and Shawn
  
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• Kurt Angle Says Jason Jordan Drawing Negative Fan Reaction Is the Plan

  22-12-2017 05:40
  WWE Hall of Famer and Raw GM Kurt Angle recently appeared on the “In This Corner” podcast, and below are some interview highlights via CBS Sports.
  On the negative fan reaction to Jason Jordan, and comparisons to The Rock’s WWE debut:
  “Everything that has occurred up until now, Vince [McMahon] already knew how they were going to react, so this has been working. As many fans will say ‘it’s not working’ and ‘get rid of him’ or ‘I’m n
  
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• WWE Stock Takes Big Hit Following News of Vince McMahon Selling Shares

  22-12-2017 05:29
  As noted, Vince McMahon sold 3.34 million shares of WWE stock today, valued at over $105 million, in order to fund his new “Alpha Entertainment, LLC”.
  Earlier this week, the WWE stock was trading at $33.28 on Tuesday, however, it closed at $31.87 today. Following the close, the stock price dropped again to $30.75, as a result of McMahon’s stock moves.
  The stock price dropping is because Wall Street perceived Vince McMahon selling that much stock to be a bad sign, either because
  
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• Former WWE Star Gives Dave Bautista a Black Eye, Total Divas Viewership Bounces Back, William Regal Note

  22-12-2017 03:23
  This week’s episode of Total Divas was up big, a whole 18% over last week. The average viewership for the show was 612,000, jumping from the second lowest episode of the season to the second highest in just a week’s time. That’s pretty astonishing given that the only promotion for the show was a clip of The Miz trying to get his wife Maryse (a vegetarian) to eat a piece of meat.
  The WWE based reality series isn’t necessarily out of the woods yet though. The seventh season
  
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• Sasha Banks On Which WWE Legends She Wants in the Royal Rumble, Cena Raw Return Video, WWE Stars On USO Tour

  22-12-2017 03:16
  WWE Raw star Sasha Banks recently spoke with NBC Sports, and had the following to say on which WWE legends she would like to see enter the Women’s Royal Rumble match next month:
  “I would love to hear Trish Stratus’ music. Of course Lita, Molly Holly, Jazz, Jacqueline, man even Victoria. It would be an honor to be in the ring with any of those girls.
  Beth Phoenix. Of course I want to win it, but at the same time, I would just want her to pick me up and throw me over the top
  
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• New Trademarks Filed Hinting at Possible XFL Return, Who Is On Mick Foley’s 2017 ‘Naughty Or Nice’ List? (Video)

  22-12-2017 03:05
  As we have been reporting, rumors are that Vince McMahon might be looking into reviving the XFL following the news that he is personally funding a new company, outside of WWE, called “Alpha Entertainment, LLC”.
  Read Also: Vince McMahon Sells $105 Million Worth of WWE Stock to Fund New Company
  According to Darren Rovell, McMahon recently filed to trademark the names “URFL”, “United Football League”, and “For the Love of Football”.Vince McMahon&
  
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• NXT Stars Share Their Favorite Christmas Memories

  22-12-2017 02:53 via mandatory.com
  Some of the NXT roster recent spoke with WWE.com about their favorite Christmas traditions and memories; you can read a few excerpts below:
  Montez Ford: 
  “My favorite holiday memory would be the night I came face-to-face with Santa. One year my mother had gathered me and my sisters together, made us a nice warm meal and, afterwards, we prepared cookies and milk for Santa. I was really jealous of the fact that the cookies we left for Santa were the chewy Chips Ahoy! and hoped that may
  
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• Kurt Angle Comments On Jason Jordan’s Improvement, How Their Storyline Has Progressed, Jordan Getting Heat From Fans

  22-12-2017 02:30 via mandatory.com
  Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard
  Kurt Angle recently spoke with Brian Campbell for the In This Corner podcast; you can read a few highlights below:
  Kurt Angle comments on Jason Jordan’s progression: 
  “I knew Jason had the ability to do it. I didn’t know if he would have the ability to carry the storyline,” Angle said. “I knew what he could do in the ring. I wasn’t concerned about the fans saying, ‘Oh man, this guy is actually pretty damn good.
  
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• Sasha Banks On Potential For The Women’s Royal Rumble, Legends She’d Like To See Return, Why A Mania Main Event Needs A Good Story

  22-12-2017 02:20 via mandatory.com
  (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)
  Sasha Banks recently spoke with NBC Sports; you can read a few highlights below:
  Sasha Banks on what type of role she sees herself having in the women’s Royal Rumble match: 
  “I don’t know if I would want to start off first. I would have to do extra cardio to prepare and with the holiday season I’ve been eating a lot, so I don’t know if I would be ready for that … just kidding (laughs).
  Honestly, I would rather get th
  
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• Latest Update on Rich Swann & His Wife Following Domestic Battery Arrest

  22-12-2017 02:09
  The latest on WWE Superstar Rich Swann, after being arrested earlier this month on charges of domestic battery and false imprisonment, is that he and his wife Vannarah Riggs seem to be doing well and are back together, according to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  Last week, Swann’s attorney told members of the media that no criminal charges had been filed by Riggs, who wrestles on the independent scene as Su Yung. There has been no official statement released from either p
  
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