The Greatest Royal Rumble
This is the current card for The Greatest Royal Rumble, which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday, April 27, 2018. It will air live on WWE Network at 12 PM EST, with a pre show beginning at 11 AM.:
WWE Universal Title Steel Cage Match
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
WWE Title Match
AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE Intercontinental Title Ladder Match
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz vs. Samoa Joe
WWE United States Title Match
Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal
WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match
Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title Match
The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Usos
Casket Match
Undertaker vs. Rusev
John Cena vs. Triple H
50-Man Royal Rumble
Daniel Bryan, Braun Strowman, Big Show, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Elias, Baron Corbin, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Apollo, Shelton Benjamin, Sin Cara, Chad Gable, Goldust, Titus O’Neil, Mojo Rawley, Dolph Ziggler, others TBA
Greatest Royal Rumblings
The field of competitors is still being assembled for the Greatest Royal Rumble and it appears that Chris Jericho will be entering it since Rusev has been tapped to face the Undertaker in a casket match as originally planned. Rey Mysterio is also slated to enter. According to a report from Brad Shepard of bodyslam.net, WWE approached Stone Cold Steve Austin to enter the Rumble. The Texas Rattlesnake declined, stating that he’s retired. Kane will not be participating in the match. It’s believed that his withdrawal is due to his mayoral campaign, with Election Day being May 1. According to Dave Meltzer, there will be a rematch between Courtney Alexander and Mustafa Ali at the Rumble for the Cruiserweight belt. The winner of that match will likely go on to face Buddy Murphy at Backlash.
Orlando seeking to host WrestleMania….again
Orlando, Florida is looking to host another WrestleMania. It’s already hosted WrestleMania 24 and WrestleMania 33 with much success. The city is looking to host the spectacular in either 2023 or 2025.
Bam Bam Bigelow HOF induction to be at home?
Bam Bam Bigelow was anticipated to have been part of the WWE’s 2018 Hall of Fame class posthumously. According to reports, he wasn’t inducted due to the WWE and The Beast from The East’s family having an impasse over money. It looks like Bam Bam will be inducted during WrestleMania 35 Weekend, which will prove to be full circle for him since the event will be held in his native New jersey.
Rich Swann comeback!?
Rich Swann made a surprise appearance at CZW Best of Best 17 this past Monday. He lost by pinfall in the Best of The Best tournament but it seems that he’s had a change of heart since announcing his retirement this past February after a mutual agreement to leave the WWE.
Superstar Billy Graham shoots on Ronda Rousey
Superstar Billy Graham raised eyebrows by bashing Ronda Rousey on Facebook. His post is as follows:
First off to the fan who wrote, “I find Ronda’s use of Piper’s gimmick nauseating.” You my brother are dead on my man!!! I find it a total insult and absolutely reveals that she does not have an original thought in her head. Damn, can’t she be an original at anything ? This shows you how shallow she is and by the way, I am a fan of females being in the main event. That is why I put up this photo of Amanda Nunes kicking her ass in 48 seconds. She looked pitiful, a TKO in 48 seconds on Dec. 30th, 2016 by Nunes, a real fighter and Rousey just a jobber.
Speaking of jobbers, I read today a quote by (Dave) Meltzer that shook me to the core, it goes as follows, “There was a rumor going around by WWE officials prior to Mania 34 that Rousey was going to make HHH tap out to her armbar finisher (instead of Stephanie McMahon ) and it appears the company went in the latter direction specifically due to storyline continuity reasons; as Rousey attacked Stephanie’s arm the next night on Raw whereas HHH is not a regular on-screen character and has disappeared for now.“
WHAT??? Miss Lousy was going to make H tap out ??? This would have been received as well as a cement truck full of pig shit being dumped on the Mania 34 fans. God folks, what is the WWE thinking??? RR is not a god of some kind but a mere female UFC failure that got her flat ass kicked twice on the way out. Now this is nauseating. I demand that you fans respond to this crap the WWE is trying to lay on you by even thinking about her making HHH tap out, god this makes me sick.
WWE and 2K sued for trademark infringement
The WWE, Take-Two Interactive Software; 2K Games, Inc.; 2K Sports, Inc.; Visual Concepts Entertainment; Yuke’s Co, Ltd. and Yuke’s LA Inc. is being sued by Randy Orton’s tattoo artist, Catherine Alexander. According to her suit, The defendants copied her designs after she turned down a $450 offer from the WWE in 2009. The designs turned up in WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18.
Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley nixed?
According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar won’t be feuding as there are no plans at the present for the scenario. It was believed that the two MMA fighters would feud in the WWE but since Brock’s new deal is short-term and his intent to return to UFC, there may not be enough time to build the storyline.
Big Cass to be pushed
According to Dave Meltzer, Big Cass is going to get a big push on SmackDown. He was slated to receive a push on Raw but those plans were put on hold because of his knee injury.
Broadus Clay leaving Impact Wrestling
Tyrus, (Broadus Clay in WWE), has announced on Instagram on Wednesday that he is leaving Impact Wrestling. He wished the company well and it seems that he and Creative/writing couldn’t see eye to eye with his direction.
Dolph Ziggler in limbo
Despite being traded to the Raw roster, Dolph Ziggler hasn’t signed a new deal with the WWE according to a report from PWInsider. The Showoff’s current pact is set to expire this summer. Despite his talent, Dolph hasn’t been booked well and has largely been a mid card jobber. That may play into whether or not he resigns.
Enzo returns….to social media
After being silent on social media since his firing this past January, Enzo Amore has resurfaced according to a report from Ringside News. Enzo posted a Denzel Washington quote: “just because you don’t share it on social media, doesn’t mean you’re not up to big things. Live it and stay low-key. Privacy is everything.” Enzo was fired for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and concealing it from management.
Booker T returning to Raw
The WWE announced that Booker T will be returning to the announcer’s table on Monday Night Raw.
Harry Smith speaks on assault on Jake The Snake
More details have emerged about the fight between WWE Hall of Famer, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Harry Smith. Harry is wanted by New Orleans Police for battery charges. The following statement was released to Pro Wrestling Sheet:
The NOPD is investigating a simple battery incident that occurred on April 7, 2018 in the 500 block of Canal Street. The victim told police that at about 11 a.m., he was signing autographs at the location when he was approached by a known subject, later identified as Harry Smith (DOB: 08-02-1985). The victim told police he attempted to shake hands with Smith, at which time a verbal argument ensued. Smith then allegedly threw a cup of coffee at the victim’s face and fled the scene. No major injuries were reported by the victim
Harry hasn’t denied throwing the coffee but said the reason why he did it was because Jake refused to apologize for making negative comments about his father, The British Bulldog, and refused to step outside and fight. He said Jake then told him to “fuck off” , so he threw the coffee in his face. Afterwards, Jake’s daughter tried to start a fight with him. Harry called the father/daughter’s behavior “inappropriate”.
Women’s Division anthology under fire
The upcoming DVD, Then. Now. Forever. The Evolution of The Women’s Division, has stirred outrage with its omission of notable stars. The most egregious of which being Chyna and AJ Lee. The release will be a three disc set but the buzz so far isn’t positive. Lead WWE writer, Alex McCarthy made the following tweet: “I love Ronda, but having her on the front cover of this DVD isn’t fitting. Despite politics, AJ Lee and Chyna should be there.”
WWE granted restraining order against crazed fan
WWE received an emergency restraining order against a disturbed fan for making threats against the company and its wrestlers on Instagram, according to TMZ. Armando Alejandro Montalvo has allegedly been harassing WWE employees since 2015. Incidents include him “smearing his own feces” against the walls of the WWE’s Orlando Performance Center in July 2015. Over the following days, he had shown up harassing & threatening staff, wearing makeshift costumes, and acting strangely. He was warned to leave the property and was actually shot at and charged with multiple offenses. After once again being ordered to stay away from WWE facilities, Montalvo was seen outside an NXT taping at Full Sail University in March, uttering nonsense, harassing employees and challenging Vince McMahon to a fight. He was able to drive off before security could confront him. However, in the weeks that followed, Montalvo continued to post to his Instagram videos related to WWE and on April 4, his post was deemed a threat causing WWE to seek the restraining order. One of the company’s claims is that he has threatened to use his own semen in a biological attack
Eli Drake speaks on his WWE career and future plans
Former Impact Wrestling Champion and NXT/WWE Developmental Talent, Eli Drake revealed in an interview with The Mirror, that he was blacklisted by the WWE and he spoke about his career and future plans:
On his tryout with WWE back in 2008: “When I was on the indies back in 2008, I had an opportunity with WWE when I went in and did a dark match and they liked me and wanted me to come back the next week. And here’s the part where I shot myself in the foot, I showed up an hour late on that second day, due to some circumstances, and after that, they didn’t talk to me for about three years. I was put on a blacklist. I didn’t even end up getting to WWE into developmental until my tenth year in [the business] and a lot of that again, some of that was me, some of that was politics, but a lot of it was BS. So, it’s a little frustrating every time I think about it, it kind of bites me in the ass every day, but at the same time, it’s also kind of what drives me.”
On his WWE dark matches and defeating Yoshi Tatsu in a dark match at NXT’s TV tapings in October of 2013: “Ah no, that was when I was already with WWE actually, my dark match in 2008 was me and [Gene] Snitsky against Cryme Tyme [in WWE’s ECW]. The Yoshi Tatsu thing was just kind of thrown on me last minute and that was a hell of an experience. At the time – I think they were just messing with us half the time. Bill DeMott [former head coach of WWE’s Performance Center] came back and grabbed me five minutes before the match was supposed to happen. He said ‘are you ready?’ and I was like ‘yeah’ and he said ‘alright, it’s you and Yoshi, hurry up’. ‘Okay’. Ha ha. I put my stuff on and went out there and had a match. And believe me, it was a stinker. It was terrible.
“That whole run at NXT, it was great and terrible at the same time. I enjoyed it, I made a lot of friends from it, I actually liked being on some of the workout programmes they had us doing there, you’re able to stay crisp by staying in the ring four or five days a week, but at the same time, it was a lot of BS, especially with Bill DeMott there. But from what I gather now with him out of the picture, it sounds like things have changed for the better there. Hopefully the guys are enjoying it more.”
On whether he sees himself staying with Impact Wrestling, going to WWE or another promotion: “It really depends. I am looking at all my options. I am very grateful for the opportunities Impact have given me and putting me on the stage they have put me on. I also have grown my bank account enormously! I’m doing well on that front. So I’m very grateful for it. But at the same time, I am a businessman, I am going to look into any opportunities that are afforded to me and anybody who wants to talk and wants to throw numbers my way and anything like that, of course I am open to that. Will I stay with Impact? That’s a definite possibility. It could be a likelihood, I really don’t know. It really depends on what else is out there. But I am interested in any opportunity that comes my way, that’s for sure.” The full interview can be seen on TheMirrorUK.com
Paul Jones dies
Former wrestler and manager Paul Jones passed away at age 76. WWE issued the following statement/bio this past Thursday:
WWE is saddened to learn that Paul Jones has passed away at the age of 76.
A fixture of the Mid-Atlantic territory throughout the 1960s and ’70s, Jones found success as both a competitor and a manager. He won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title on three occasions, and formed championship tag teams with the likes of Ricky Steamboat, Wahoo McDaniel and Baron von Raschke.
When his ring career ended, Jones became a villainous manager, and formed the Paul Jones’ Army, which included the likes of The Powers of Pain, Abdullah the Butcher and Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
WWE extends its condolences to Jones’ family, friends and fans.
