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Showing posts with label Samoa Joe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samoa Joe. Show all posts

June 28, 2021

Samoa Joe Says Triple H Contacted Him About NXT Return Hours After His Release, He’s Working In Talent Scouting Now

Samoa Joe‘s NXT return was put in motion just a few hours after he was initially released by WWE in April.

Samoa Joe was the latest guest on Out Of Character with Ryan Satin and he spoke about his return to NXT in a new “enforcer” role. Joe was released on April 15, but quickly returned to the company with the NXT brand on June 15. Speaking to Satin, Joe explained how John Laurinaitis called him and informed him of his release in April, and he was understanding due to his situation. He noted that the release was not expected, but he was relatively calm about it given the circumstances. He said a younger version of himself might have been worried, but you need to “roll, pivot” and move forward with his next projects.

“A few hours later, I get a call from Hunter and that all pretty much kinda changed.” [laughs]

Satin asked to clarify that the call from Triple H was only a few hours after being released by John Laurinaitis, Joe said it “essentially” happened that way.

“I had sent some company farewell texts to people to just say ‘it’s a pleasure working with you’, some people I genuinely enjoyed working with, some general thanks and ‘I’m sure we’ll talk down the road at some point’ [remarks] and then I got a text back [from Triple H]. [He said] ‘Give me a minute, I’m getting out of a meeting’ and we had a brief conversation, which was essentially ‘give us a little bit of time, I’ll work out a package and we’ll be talking soon,’” Joe said. “And that led to my return back to NXT.”

Asked if he had any reservations about coming back despite what had transpired, Joe said he didn’t before explaining what his new role will entail.

“No, and a lot of it was that me and Triple H had spoken about this transition in-depth, and it wasn’t just coming back to NXT and being an enforcer and having a role on the show. Now, I’m working in the talent scouting department, working with Canyon Ceman, a few more administrative things here and there behind the scenes,” Joe explained, “It’s a little bit of a transition for me into some of the other aspects of the business of WWE.

“It’s kind of an evolution of my journey, I’ve gone through the commentary production ranks and I’m working a little more on the behind-the-house type of things, so it was a really great, cool opportunity that Hunter offered me. And I’m still performing here within the bounds of WWE,” Joe noted, “so it was a very, very nice understanding that we have come to and I’m really excited about it.”

In regards to his new role, Joe said that he’s looking forward to giving looks to talent that might not otherwise get a chance in WWE. Joe was also asked about his potential in-ring return, and if it’s something he’s still pursuing. Joe said ‘absolutely’, adding that he’ll just say yes he’s working on it, and “we’ll leave it at that.”

credit:    WrestleZone

April 15, 2021

WWE Releases Several Superstars

WWE announced 9 departures this afternoon – Samoa Joe, Mickie James, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Bo Dallas, Wesley Blake, Kalisto, Mojo Rawley, Tucker and Chelsea Green. They won’t be free to sign with other promotions until Wednesday, July 14, according to F4Wonline.com.

February 25, 2020

WWE Suspends Samoa Joe For Wellness Policy Violation

From WWE.com:


WWE has suspended Nuufolau Seanoa (Samoa Joe) for 30 days effective Monday, February 24, for his first violation of the company's talent wellness policy.

March 1, 2017

Cesaro Joining Triple H's Heel Faction?


One of the biggest moments of Monday's RAW may have come in a seemingly meaningless backstage segment between former Ring Of Honor rivals, Samoa Joe and Cesaro. Was what appeared to be just a way to set up a match for later in the evening actually the beginning of a much bigger play for RAW's most gifted athlete?

With just a few verbal jabs, Joe pointed out some very poignant truths about Cesaro's place on the WWE roster.

"Same old Cesaro, still trying to figure it out."

When you look at Cesaro in his Velcro James Bond suit, it looks more like someone pretending to be a spy for Halloween than it does a WWE superstar comfortable in their gimmick.

Joe also references Vince McMahon's comments on a previous Stone Cold podcast where Vince said Cesaro had failed to grab the brass ring.

"Are you mad that you are still desperately grasping for the brass ring?"

Joe's dialogue wasn't just aimed at getting under Cesaro's skin. It adds to the narrative started two weeks ago when Enzo Amore cut a mostly forgotten promo that pointed out everything that is wrong with Cesaro. Enzo noted that Cesaro was suffering from an identity crisis. He calls himself a Swiss Superman but comes out to the ring dressed like James Bond. Enzo said once he's in the ring, Cesaro looks like a Baywatch lifeguard.

Joe really laid the groundwork for a longer story that ends with Cesaro deciding he is tired of settling for the mediocrity that has plagued his WWE career and joining forces with Triple H.

"Good luck being clever. I see it's doing good things for you so far."

Cesaro has had a nice run working with Sheamus, but they have already achieved their goal of winning the tag team championships. It's time for Cesaro to be positioned for big individual success, and there is no better way to do that than by aligning himself with Triple H, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens.

Not only would Cesaro thrive as a member of one of WWE's most powerful factions, but his athleticism and style of wrestling would be a perfect compliment for Owens and Joe's more bruising styles.

With Triple H pulling the strings, Joe, Owens and Cesaro would be a stable so dominant that it might force another former trio to get the Hounds of Justice back together.

source: comicbook.com

January 31, 2017

Video: Samoa Joe Ambushes Seth Rollins

November 20, 2016

Triple H Talks NXT Takeover; Bobby Roode & Mickie James’ Futures, Title Changes, Dusty Rhodes Classic, Goldberg vs Lesnar Potential & More


Following tonight’s WWE NXT Takeover Toronto event, Triple H went live with Cathy Kelley on Facebook to react to the night. Below are some highlights from the live chat.

On Tye Dillinger, Triple H said he thought tonight was going to be Dillinger’s breakout night, but it fell apart. Triple H added after tonight it’s clear Bobby Roode is headed straight for the NXT Title, and Dillinger is left waiting to see what happens next.

On the Dusty Rhodes Classic, Triple H talks about how personal the tournament is to him, and says he doesn’t know if he’s seen a more dominant tag team than The Authors of Pain. He added the last team to be as dominant might have been the other team lead by Paul Ellering, The Road Warriors.

On the NXT Tag Title match, Triple H says on all three WWE rosters, it would be hard to find a more technically sound and together tag team than The Revival. He added the NXT Tag Title win for DIY has been a long time coming, and just like they created their tag team name, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have created their careers on their own.

On Asuka’s title defense tonight, Triple H praises her as one of the most dominant champions NXT has ever had, and she has cleaned out the Women’s Division in NXT. He added, however, that he thinks Mickie James earned Asuka’s respect tonight, and with regards to James’ future in WWE, it’s up to her whether or not we see her in a WWE ring again.

On the main event, Triple H said it was a shock to see Samoa Joe come up with the win as everyone thinks this is the Shinsuke Nakamura era in NXT. Triple H praised the physicality of both men, and added Nakamura kicks harder than anyone he has ever seen. He indicate the rivalry between Joe and Nakamura is not over, and he believes there will be a rematch, and when it does happen, it will be phenomenal.

Triple H ended by hyping Survivor Series tomorrow night, and said the competition between Raw and Smackdown is legitimate. He talked briefly about Goldberg vs Lesnar, and said it will be interesting to see what happens between the two and that paramedics will be standing by in case things get ugly.

August 16, 2016

Booker T Talks New Era Talents He Thinks Will Be Big Stars in WWE, His New Role in WWE


WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently did an interview with Cody Dalton of The Observer News Enterprise, and below are some highlights:

CD: In WWE, they are talking about this being “The New Era.” Who do you see out there wrestling now that you think will be the next big star in your business?

BT: “I think it’s going to be more than just one guy. WWE finally opened up the door to the independent world, letting those guys come in and show exactly what they have. I’ve always thought there was a lot of untapped talent out in the independent world. They weren’t the prototypical WWE Superstar, but maybe they are the ‘People’s Champion.’ I think now with guys that have been around like (Finn) Bálor, who has been around a long time. Kevin Owens, Neville — those guys have been around a really long time. You’ve got guys like Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, (Austin) Aries and guys like that who are getting a chance to come in, as well. They get a chance to perform on the big stage. You see A.J. Styles doing very, very well since he finally got a shot at going out there and performing. You actually see a guy who has pretty much a Southern accent, can get on the microphone and deliver a good promo. There’s going to be a lot of guys actually that are going to be coming up. I feel like the business is in good hands for the years to come, the Wrestlemanias to come and the pay per views to come.”

CD: What’s harder — wrestling, teaching someone to wrestling or being a commentator in WWE?

BT: “Probably commentating. That’s why I’m an analyst now. That’s why I’m not commentating anymore. I’m just an analyst on the Kickoff Show on the pay per views. I like being an analyst. Being able to go out there and talk about Zack Ryder from a commentary perspective, there may be some rough patches, but to be able to analyze Zack Ryder — him being a guy that’s been in WWE for over 10 years, a guy that’s been a journeyman, a guy that’s been trying to crack through that glass ceiling and it just doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to happen for him. Maybe he should retire. Maybe he should just go away. I can do that.

May 2, 2016

Christopher Daniels Talks AJ Styles And Samoa Joe Joining WWE, WWE's Global Cruiserweight Series


"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels has seen it all and been a little bit of everywhere after two decades in wrestling. From appearances in WWF and WCW to stints in TNA, ROH and NJPW, Daniels is a true veteran of sports entertainment.

Daniels was crucial in the prime of TNA's X-Division, and once actually got a shot at the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. When I spoke to him recently about WWE's upcoming Global Cruiserweight series, he seemed optimistic about the idea.

"I guess I'll have to wait and see," Daniels explained. "I feel like the last couple of months for NXT have shown they're willing to think outside the box and get rid of the constraints they put on their programming back in the day in terms of their attitude towards cruiserweights. You look at some of the hirings over the past couple of months, picking up Austin Aries, giving guys Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Rich Swann an opportunity to excel. I look forward to the matches, knowing that a guy I hold in high regard like Zack Sabre Jr. is going to be a part of it. I'll see what they do with it. I feel like they're giving it an honest chance to get over. I think NXT is the right platform to do that."

While Daniels is under an exclusive contract with Ring of Honor and won't be participating the tournament, or in the WWE any time soon, a few of his friends that he's made history with will be. Daniels was a part of one of the greatest matches in the last 20 years when he took on AJ Styles and Samoa Joe in the main event of TNA Unbreakable 2005. Fast forward 11 years, the WWE has signed both Styles and Joe to contracts.

"I try to keep in touch with them as much as possible," Daniels told me. "I'm thrilled to see them doing well and knew they would if they were given the opportunity. I kept in contact with Joe as he was going through the process of signing with them and finding out the opportunities he was being given, it's exciting. It shows you there's a change of perception in the office there. If there's anyone that deserves it that opportunity, it was Joe. He did so much at TNA and ROH, he deserved to be seen on a grand scale. Now he's showing his worth in NXT, and he's the first guy to hold the TNA, NXT and ROH title. History is his."

April 28, 2016

WWE NXT Announces Eric Young's Arrival; Triple H Comments


Former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young interrupted a promo by WWE NXT Champion Samoa Joe at tonight's Full Sail NXT TV tapings. It should air on next week's episode.

Below is video from WWE:


April 25, 2016

Triple H Names Top WWE Stars He Would Like to Work With, His WrestleMania Match Against The Undertaker, WWE NXT and More


WWE star Triple H did a Q&A during the WWE Paris event over the weekend, and below are some highlights:

-When asked who in WWE he would like to get in the ring with, Triple H says he’s not sure if he would want to get in the ring with any of the top WWE stars now, but in his prime he would loved to have faced guys like Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles and Finn Balor. Triple H says when you are as good as those names, you want to get in the ring with them and work with them.

-Triple H says one of his biggest career moments was facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 27. He called the match very special and the end of an era in pro wrestling.

-He talked about his career longevity and said that he is proud to have been able to have a 20 year in-ring career and now transition to the WWE offices. He added that he takes a lot of pride in NXT, which he says is the future of WWE.

Samoa Joe Talks How He Ended Up in NXT


WWE NXT Champion Samoa Joe recently appeared on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast, and below is what Joe had to say on how he ended up in WWE:

“I think, for most part WWE was concerned that I would be insulted by some of the in-roads they made to me. You know, not understanding what he (HHH) was trying to build in NXT and what was going on here but we had some really solid meetings,” Joe said. “I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve been kinda on the cusp of companies getting worldwide acclaim, and exploding, and this is like my third time, and it’s awesome so I recognize all the hallmarks and the signs that I’ve seen before, in places like Ring of Honor, and it’s like, when I saw that and I saw the energy and the vibe and I went to the shows, and kind of met with some of the guys, and saw how they felt about things, I was just like, no, no, this is, yeah I’m totally cool with it, it’s where I want to be.”

April 22, 2016

WWE Announces Title Change At WWE NXT Live Event


Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor to become the new WWE NXT Champion at tonight's live event in Lowell, MA. It appeared Balor was injured right before the finish but that could just be an angle.

WWE announced the following:

LOWELL, Mass. — Samoa Joe defeated Finn Bálor to capture the NXT Championship at a Live Event Thursday night in Lowell, Massachusetts, WWE.com has confirmed.

Joe's victory put an end to Bálor's record-breaking reign as NXT Champion. The Demon won the title on July 4, 2015, and held it for 292 days, surpassing the mark set by Neville in 2014.

Now that Samoa Joe has finally snared NXT's top prize, what will the destroyer have in store for anyone who dares to step up and challenge him? How will Finn Bálor handle this setback?

March 30, 2016

Finn Balor Talks About Becoming The Demon, Getting Butterflies Before NXT TakeOver, NXT's Brand


Finn Balor appeared on Another Wrestling Podcast to promote NXT TakeOver: Dallas. You can check out some highlights below, and the full interview above.

Finn Balor says that he has butterflies in preparation for NXT TakeOver: Dallas. He thinks something would be wrong if there weren't any, and it's that way for the whole roster.

He says any time you're in the ring with Samoa Joe it's a test. He talks about how they're both world traveled, and says Samoa Joe pushes him out of his comfort zone, which is what he wants.

He won't say whether he's going to be Finn or the Demon at NXT TakeOver: Dallas. He says that he takes inspiration from everywhere.

Balor's happy to be at the forefront of NXT and help lead the brand. His goal is to main event WrestleMania, but he's sure he'll get sidetracked along the way on his journey.

He saw a lot of Bullet Club shirts when he arrived in the United States, so he was aware of the American following he had gained during his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Balor goes on to talk about what he has to do to beat Samoa Joe, WWE Axxess NXT Takeover, being on the road and much more on the show., which you can view here.

March 7, 2016

WWE And NXT ASF 2016 Coverage Day Two: Samoa Joe, Balor, Bayley Steals Gimmick, Q&As, Tryouts, More


Matches

* Apollo Crews defeated Tino Sabbotelli.

* Chad Gable defeated Riddick Moss.

* Dan Matha vs. Aiden English kept seeing interference from Simon Gotch, so Dylan Miley ran in. William Regal showed up and made it a tag team match, which Miley and Matha won, to the shock of the crowd. Matha and Miley are really plain, but they're brand new to live events, too.

* Tye Dillinger defeated Kishan Raftar. Dillinger chopped the living hell out of Raftar, who messed up an armdrag. It was surprising to see Raftar, Matha and Miley, because last year most of the talents we saw were almost TV ready.

* Bayley defended the Women's title and beat Nia Jax in an NXT TakeOver London re-match. Eva Marie got beaten up by Bayley after the match. Again, Bayley was over. The barricades were rushed as soon as her music hit. During the match, Bayley grabbed the T-shirt and "10" sign that Dillinger left and totally stole his gimmick.

* Jason Jordan defeated Johnny Gargano with a half nelson suplex. Johnny Gargano was really over, as he's an Ohio guy. These two had a good match.

* Apollo Crews defeated Riddick Moss. This was the kind of match both guys had been having all weekend, which was good for the live crowd.

* Billie Kay defeated Alexa Bliss. Poor Alexa Bliss can't get a win in her own hometown. The crowd always popped for her when she came out, but she'd end up heeling them. I have no idea what the Billie Kay gimmick is, but her entrance theme is pretty cool.

* Chad Gable defeated Scott Dawson with a deadlift German suplex. Their partners were fanning them off with the signature towels before they locked up. A really good match, great chemistry.

* Asuka & Peyton Royce defeated Mandy Rose & Emma via the Asuka Lock. I don't think I saw Mandy Rose really mess up all weekend, which says a lot considering she was on a reality show a few months ago. She's learning quickly by the looks of it.

* Finn Balor and Sami Zayn defeated Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin. All of these guys felt like stars in this. This was an outstanding tag team match, which saw Balor get the pin after a Bloody Sunday on Corbin, following a Helluva kick from Sami Zayn. Much like yesterday, it was really impressive to see.

Q&As

* Mark Henry said he didn't know what he's doing at WrestleMania, and might jump someone to get involved. He said he wouldn't mind being in the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal, and tells a story about Andre picking him up after being pushed down at an event. He singles out Apollo Crews as an NXT talent he'd like to face and says he pushed for him. He called the Mae Young era the most fun in his career and said she was a good kisser, before singling out the Undertaker at WrestleMania 22 as his favorite opponent.

* Sara Del Rey, Matt Bloom and William Regal did a great Q&A. They said that nobody from last year's ASF tryouts was still with WWE, and the ones we see are abbreviated to give us an idea. Sara says that she and Matt are like a brother/sister team, while Regal says he coaches a lot of footwork and evaluates talent. Regal says there's no cutoff for age if someone has a supreme skill set, but for someone new, 30ish is the general range. Sara tells us that in her opinion, Bayley should be the next to go up to the WWE roster, and fans thank and clap for Sara's part in the Diva's revolution. They're asked about ZZ, and they say that he's working hard and getting better. William Regal says that he's hopeful that there will be a new season of Breaking Ground, and that he's very excited for Shinsuke Nakamura. Bloom says he's excited to see him and not get kicked this time. Sara closes by saying she'd love women's tag titles in NXT or the main roster.

Familiar Faces

- We mentioned yesterday that several wrestling personalities were around for the Arnold Classic, and today was no different. Former WCW talent Bill Kazmaier met with fans at the event.

Also, Hardcore legend Sabu was there signing and taking photos.

Other notes

- As was the case yesterday, several talents were signing autographs. While the lines didn't reach anywhere near the length of yesterday's they were still pretty long. Eva Marie was a big hit, and was very personable and friendly, taking pictures with people and adding them to her snapchat. Gable and Jordan are also incredibly friendly with individuals in the crowd.

- During yesterday's match with American Alpha, The Revival and made fun of them, calling them the "American Males."

- Tom Phillips is a pro and seems like he loves his job. Dasha Fuentes is a pretty good ring announcer, and they did a great job hosting today.

- Sunday's crowd was much smaller, much easier to navigate and the like. The place was buzzing about Saturday night's UFC.

- Regarding the tryouts, we saw the same names as yesterday there. If they do well, they're invited to a full tryout at the Performance Center.

- Tommaso Ciampa didn't wrestle, but did sign autographs. He wasn't using crutches, slings, or anything to indicate he was severely injured.

March 5, 2016

WWE And NXT ASF 2016 Coverage Day One: Triple H & Arnold, Exclusive Interviews, TNA Stars, More


Wrestling Inc was live on the scene today in Columbus, Ohio as the WWE and NXT held the second WWE Experience at the Arnold Sports Festival. The show was full of matches, surprises, Q&As and autograph signings. Wrestling Inc even spoke to a few of the NXT stars. We'll have full day two coverage tomorrow as well!

- Corey Graves, Tom Phillips and Dasha Fuentes welcome us to the event, and Corey Graves makes the crowd boo Phillips because his mic won't work.

Matches

* Apollo Crews defeated Dylan Miley with a standing moonsault. This was a really slow paced match which Miley controlled with a lot of grounded holds.

* Billie Kay defeated Mandy Rose with a kick to the face. Mandy Rose worked as a babyface during the match.

* Johnny Gargano submitted Riddick Moss with Garano Escape. Dasha accidentally called Gargano Tommaso Ciampa.

* Bayley retained the NXT Women's Championship over Emma with a Bayley-to-Belly. Bayley is over beyond comprehension in Columbus. She gave her shirt to a girl in the crowd, who broke down in tears.

* American Alpha defeated the Vaudevillains with Grand Amplitude. Gable and Gotch put on a mat wrestling clinic in the opening moments. American Alpha are also over big time.

* Finn Balor retained the NXT Championship over Baron Corbin with Bloody Sunday. Seeing Balor pull off Bloody Sunday on Corbin was really impressive.

* Eva Marie defeated Peyton Royce. This was not a good match. Eva Marie still doesn't look live crowd ready.

* Tye Dillinger defeated Tino Sabbotelli. Tino looks a lot like Jessie Godderz in person.

* Asuka submitted Alexa Bliss via the Asuka Lock. Bliss got a big pop from her hometown crowd, then heeled them. This was an excellent match.

* The Revival retained their NXT Tag Titles over the Protein Brothers (King Constantine & Thomas Kingdon) when they cheated. Protein Bros did not look ready to be in the ring, but Dash and Dawson are really good, so it wasn't easy to tell.

* Kishan Raftar defeated someone whose name I'm still trying to find out.

* Nia Jax defeated Billie Kay via leg drop.

* Apollo Crews defeated Riddick Moss and said he expects gold around his waist in 2016. This match was really long.

* Tye Dillinger defeated Johnny Gargano with his finish. Dillinger heeled it up and turned on the crowd after working as a babyface earlier.

* American Alpha defeated The Revival via DQ in a title match. This was a fantastic match.

* Peyton Royce submitted Alexa Bliss, making the hometown girl 0-2.

* Sami Zayn defeated Samoa Joe via pinfall after the Helluva Kick in an awesome match. Easily the best singles match of the show.

Wrestling Inc Interviews

- Wrestling Inc was able to talk to Chad Gable & Jason Jordan, who told us about their Steiner Brothers inspired gear.

- We also spoke to Alexa Bliss, who is a hometown girl in Columbus. She talks about competing at the Arnold Sports Festival in the past, her relationship with Blake & Murphy, as well as possibly moving to the main roster.

Surprises

- Triple H showed up, which was a big surprise, and had Arnold Schwarzaneggar with him. Arnold loved the crowd and spouted off his one liners, including "IT'S NOT A TUMOR."

Arnold says he watches WWE all the time. He also snapchatted in the ring. They talked a little bit about Arnold hosting Celebrity Apprentice soon. They also held a Q&A, where Triple H is asked about several things. He says Arnold was his hero, and he loves his one liners. He mentions that his favorite match is the Hell in a Cell match with Undertaker. A "pinch me" moment was 2,000 kids chanting his name in India. When asked about the Diva's revolution, he says he never saw a difference between men and women, and is open to the idea of a Divas tag division.

Q&As

- Braun Strowman was the first Q&A and says that he'd like to see Matt Bloom inducted into the Hall of Fame for all of the contributions he's made in NXT. He says that traveling is the worst part of wrestling, and eats 7-8 times a day, taking in about 5-6 pounds of meat. When asked about Brock Lesnar, he says he hopes to lock horns with him in the near future. He also says that his size gained him a unique opportunity to bypass NXT, and he seized it. He also said the Wyatt Family has taught him friendship.

- Gable & Jordan did an impromptu Q&A, and Graves told the crowd they'd rather be American Alpha 1.0 than Team Angle 2.0. Jordan says his favorite superstar was Mr. Perfect, and Gable's was Sting. Gable tells the crowd if he could face any team, it'd be the Rock N' Roll Express.

* Cesaro did a Q&A and said that he'd be back in a couple of months. He's most proud of his feat of strength of swinging Great Khali. He hopes Tyson Kidd will be back in action, but he needs another check up. He remembers Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan arguing for two hours, only for Zayn to agree with him when they get to the venue. He hopes he can get to the main event, but says that fan support is crucial.

- Eva Marie and Mandy Rose's Total Divas Q&A went a couple of minutes, and Eva Marie showed up late for it. They both say Charlotte is the Diva they'd want to face because she has the title.

Familiar Faces

Several familiar faces were at the Arnold Sports Festival. Even though he didn't appear for WWE, David Otunga was there, and stopped by to see former WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn.

Also, TNA stars Bobby Lashley and Jessie Godderz were in the house.

Kurt Angle was also there, as he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Tryouts

- Much like last year, WWE held live tryouts in front of the crowd. They were conducted by Matt Bloom and mainly consisted of drilling. There weren't any big indy names or anything of the like that I heard of.

Autographs

Most of the NXT stars participated in autograph signings, which for the second year in a row, had the longest lines of the entire expo. The line went all the way around the stands, then people had to line up going up the stairs as well.

December 11, 2015

Bill Behrens on How WWE Signed Samoa Joe, Indy vs. Television Wrestling


WWE signing Samoa Joe:

Samoa Joe was working with me as he went to them and for example the deals that NXT did prior to him for Prince Devitt and El Generico and for the other people they were taking from Ring of Honor or from overseas, the thought process of when they signed those people changed dramatically when they then evaluated Samoa Joe. When they did Joe, Joe had three of four deals change over a two to three week period as they continued to evaluate what are we really trying to do here and what’s our goals for NXT. How do we get people to pay attention to the product and be big enough that we don’t piss Vince off but stay small enough where we could be the rebel or outcast league but still present the big screen, the lights, the music playing but a little bit more of an intimate environment in terms of presentation. In essence, that’s a Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla a more “Indy” feel. NXT started from we are going to be like those guys and yet not be offensive to the WWE product yet still be the cool kid.

Indy wrestling versus television wrestling:

The overall atmosphere of professional wrestling right now is as vibrant and active then any time that I’ve been involved in it and I’ve been involved in it since the late 80s – early 90s, the tail end of the territory era and when TV or larger companies consolidating the TV became the norm and the Indy companies were struggling. There are more people now putting on good shows that draw hundreds then there were back in the end of the 1990s when there were just a few. My Music City Wrestling which became NWA Worldwide in Nashville that I did with Bert Prentice was one of the few that was actually drawing numbers and had a local TV show. There has been a big transition. More people are bellying up that have a chance of actually paying people. Lucha Underground which is a television company almost exclusively right now is still providing good money to their top people, I’m privy to their contracts. Ring of Honor is now really stepping up and providing good money. New Japan partnering with Ring of Honor has now built Ring of Honor and New Japan simultaneously into this much more International entity with footprints outside of their backyards. Whether Global Force Wrestling becomes that is unknown because they don’t have much to announce but then there is the Paragon’s of the world who are buying there way onto television with a roster that is underwhelming at best. You have to look at it as are they doing it as a step forward in the wrestling business or because they just wanted to be on TV?

October 29, 2015

WWE NXT Matches and More Announced for WrestleMania 32 Ticket Party at AT&T Stadium


WWE has announced a WrestleMania 32 ticket on-sale party for November 5th at AT&T Stadium in Dallas with WWE NXT matches and more. Below are details:

One night before WrestleMania 32 tickets go on sale to the general public, WWE Universe members in the Dallas area will have an opportunity to score tickets at the official On-Sale Party at AT&T Stadium! This one of a kind event is FREE and open to the public.

Join WWE Hall of Famers, Superstars and Divas on the Dallas Cowboys field Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT, as The Road to WrestleMania heats up.

The party will feature live NXT matches and include special appearances by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Lita, Booker T, Lana and Mark Henry, as well as Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson and Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. Corey Graves, Fan Axxess emcee Christian Litke and Greg Hudson will co-host the big event.

The following NXT matches will take place during the evening:

* Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin
* Apollo Crews vs. Tye Dillinger
* Asuka vs. Peyton Royce
* The Hype Bros. vs. Blake & Murphy
* Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss

In addition to WrestleMania 32 tickets, select WrestleMania gear will also be available for purchase at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 5. Fans can bring one item to the stadium to be autographed, but must adhere to the AT&T Stadium bag policy.

WrestleMania 32 tickets will be available at the AT&T Stadium box office beginning at 4 p.m. CT. Doors to the stadium open at 5 p.m. CT for the Party. Fans can enter through Entries A, C, K, & H. Complimentary parking will be available at the stadium. Don't miss the biggest WrestleMania On-Sale Party in history!

October 9, 2015

Complete List of NXT Battle Royal Participants


NXT held a battle royal during last night’s TV tapings to name a new #1 contender to the NXT Title. The following talents will compete in the battle royal, which will air on next week’s edition of NXT:

Samoa Joe
Johnny Gargano
Tommaso Ciampa
Apollo Crews
Scott Dawson
Dash Wilder
Blake
Murphy
Rhyno
Baron Corbin
Enzo Amore
Colin Cassady
Bull Dempsey
Zack Ryder
Mojo Rawley
Tyler Breeze
Tye Dillinger

October 7, 2015

NXT TakeOver: Respect Results

WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Winners Revealed, Complete Brackets


WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor and Samoa Joe won the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tonight by defeating Rhyno and Baron Corbin in the finals. Below are the full brackets:

Bracket A - First Round Matches
Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady defeated Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton
Finn Balor and Samoa Joe defeated The Lucha Dragons

Bracket B - First Round Matches
The Vaudevillians defeated Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder defeated Tucker Knight and Elias Samson

Bracket C - First Round Matches
Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder defeated Noah Kekoa and Alexander Wolfe
Jason Jordan and Chad Gable defeated Neville and Solomon Crowe

Bracket D - First Round Matches
Rhyno and Baron Corbin defeated The Ascension
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa defeated Tyler Breeze and Bull Dempsey

Bracket A - Second Round Matches
Balor and Joe defeated Enzo and Cass

Bracket B - Second Round Matches
The Mechanics defeated The Vaudevillains

Bracket C - Second Round Matches
Gable and Jordan defeated The Hype Bros

Bracket D - Second Round Matches
Rhyno and Corbin defeated Gargano and Ciampa

Semi-Finals
Balor and Joe defeated The Mechanics

Semi-Finals
Rhyno and Corbin defeated Gable and Jordan

Finals
Samoa Joe and Finn Balor defeated Rhyno and Baron Corbin

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Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear