Triple H Says CWC Is WWE's Newest Brand

Today, I saw talent seize opportunity, knock down doors, and exceed expectations in and out of the ring.
Today, we launched a brand. #CWC

— Triple H (@TripleH) June 24, 2016

Notes on Tonight’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Taping; Accident Causes Delay, Seating Chaos, Top Names Backstage, More

-The show was delayed from its original start time as, according to officials in the arena, there was a traffic accident that delayed some fans getting to the arena and they didn’t want to start the taping with a half-empty house. While there are conflicting statements going around about this, with some suggesting that WWE was covering for a low turnout, local news reports confirm that there was a serious two-lane blocking accident in the Orlando area slowing down traffic considerably.

-Because of the delay and fans arriving late, there was a bit of an issue with seating in the building. Apparently close to the original start time, arena workers had started to tarp off areas and move people into hard camera seats to fill in gaps. However when people began to arrive late, it caused a problem with many of their seats already being taken, and workers having to rearrange reserved seating sections to accommodate for the chaos.

-Both Smackdown announcer Mauro Ranallo and Daniel Bryan, who will be co-hosting the tournament together, received huge reactions from the crowd when introduced.

-WWE did a live stream introducing all of the CWC competitors on their Facebook account, which you can check out at this link.

-There were several WWE and NXT names backstage for the taping, including Finn Balor, Corey Graves and Becky Lynch, Hideo Itami and Funaki (who is still with the company doing Japanese commentary for the PPV’s). Obviously Triple H was also backstage in production as well.

-They will be taping four episodes at tonight’s taping event which will include all 16 of the first round tournament matches. We are hoping to have a bracket for what the second round will look like later tonight.

-Possibly killing the rumor of a WWE Cruiserweight Championship return that has been floating around since the announcement of the tournament several months ago, Mauro Ranallo noted during the Facebook-exclusive talent parade earlier tonight that the winner would receive a Cruiserweight Trophy. No mention of a championship of any kind.

Kurt Angle Reportedly Not Returning to WWE

As noted, Kurt Angle appeared on Mark Madden’s radio show earlier this week and said his WWE return is a matter of “when” not “if.” This fueled speculation that Angle might be headed to WWE in time for the upcoming brand split.

However, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com is reporting WWE officials have confirmed Angle is not returning to WWE, despite Angle claiming he had recent talks with Triple H.

Kurt Angle, 47, last competed in WWE in 2006, and finished up his TNA contract in March. He has been working select indy dates with recent matches against the likes of Rey Mysterio Jr. and Zack Sabre Jr.

Chyna Memorial Recap: X-Pac Vows To Fight For Chyna In WWE HOF, RVD Speaks, Messages From Top Stars

Yesterday was the Chyna Memorial in Redondo Beach, CA. The ceremony featured live music, art, speeches, a performance from Coolio and more. There was a video package shown of wrestlers stating that she should be in the WWE Hall of Fame, including Triple H's comments from the Steve Austin podcast (which was shown several times), Stephanie McMahon's comments to TMZ as well as endorsements from Mike Tyson, Billy Gunn, Jake Roberts, Coolio, Jennifer Tilly, The Headbangers, Al Snow, Greg Valentine, Lorenzo Llamas, Bushwhacker Luke and others.

Another video package was shown with comments from wrestlers remembering Chyna. Terri Runnels talked about how much she missed her and being a part of Chyna's WWF debut, noting that she felt it the next morning.

Mick Foley appeared and shared his favorite memory, which was Chyna watching over his daughter when she was a kid. Hulk Hogan said that he met Chyna years before she broke into wrestling, and that she had a great heart and they'll wrestle again someday. Kurt Angle talked about Chyna being revolutionary and said that she made an everlasting impression on himself and everyone she's met. Jeff Jarrett's was the last video message, and he noted that she was his last opponent in WWE, and he worked with her in her last match in TNA. He said that it was special every time he worked with her.

Sean "X-Pac" Waltman spoke for about 6 minutes. He noted that he had a "really rocky relationship" with her, but that he loved her until the day she died. He said that Chyna did more for the empowerment of women than Billie Jean King and others, and feels that she doesn't get the credit that she deserves for that. He said that Chyna might have been the most important member of D-X and was the glue of the group. He said that maybe we shouldn't give WWE a break, and it's time for WWE to induct her. He talked about how big her time in NJPW was.

"I'm really sorry, I hope you forgive me for not taking better care of you," Waltman concluded. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that you end up in the WWE Hall of Fame where you belong."

Rob Van Dam was the last wrestler to speak. He talked about her being a pioneer and mentioned seeing her at a Q&A last year. He said that she was grateful that he respected her and he noted that of course he did, and joked, "she was the man!" He noted that guys would whisper backstage during Chyna's run about if they would be cool wrestling women, but it made men outside the business whisper that she would "beat the sh-t" out of them, and he agreed. He put over her impact on the business and said that people will always remember and, "and she doesn't even need a last name." He put her over for always doing things her way and being one of a kind.

CM Punk Officially Set To Fight At UFC 203

It's official -- CM Punk is scheduled for his first UFC fight, and it'll take place just under two years after he first signed with the UFC.

Punk announced on UFC Unfiltered that he'd be fighting Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in September.

"I've been laying low media-wise, because I have nothing to say," Punk told Matt Serra and Jim Norton. "You can't talk a bunch of s--t until you've been in there, and I haven't been. The instant I got cleared, I got on the horn and nailed everything down, and I'll be debuting September 10 in Cleveland."

Punk said that he had to take care of his injury issues before setting a date for his UFC debut, ones that he's dealt with for years.

"I'm happy to have a date, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. You keep training and keep training until you hit a wall, and that was the point I was at. I found out I've been walking around with a herniated disk for probably years," Punk said.

Backstage Update on WWE Contacting Past Names for the Brand Split, News on Changes Within NXT and the Performance Center, More

Numerous changes are expected to take place in WWE NXT and at the Performance Center when the brand split takes place next month.

Additionally, WWE has reportedly reached out to several names from the past regarding returns to the company for the brand split, and rumored names WWE has contacted include Goldberg, Carlito, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Tommy Dreamer, MVP, Rey Mysterio and more.

According to PWInsider.com, not all of the names WWE is contacting will be for in-ring roles, as Stevie Richards was a name mentioned however if he does return it will likely be in a coaching capacity at the Performance Center.

When the brand split does take place, it is expected that some of the coaches and Performance Center staff will be called up to the main roster, so there will be Performance Center spots which will need to be filled.

Seth Rollins Gets Role In Next 'Sharknado' Movie

Syfy's "Sharknado: The 4th Awakens" movie premieres on July 4th. The 4th installment in the franchise will feature Seth Rollins. Rollins will play a character named AstroTech Lopez, which a play on his birth name - Colby Lopez.

CM Punk Not Debuting For UFC This August?

It appeared CM Punk's UFC debut vs. newcomer Mickey Gall was set for UFC 202 in late August but according to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the fight will not be taking place during WWE's SummerSlam weekend.

Helwani tweeted that the fight date is far from a done deal but it's looking like it will happen at UFC 203 on September 10th in Cleveland. Helwani wrote the following on Punk, who signed with UFC in December 2014:

"Current plan at the moment is CM Punk vs. Mickey Gall at UFC 203, per sources. Far from a done deal but that's the direction as of this AM."

The Very Latest on the Paige – Money in the Bank Incident, Rumor Killer on Argument Between Paige and Alberto Del Rio

On the latest episode of MLW Radio hosted by Court Bauer, Mister Saint Laurent and Konnan, more light was shed on the recent Paige incident at WWE Money in the Bank, as Konnan is close friends with Alberto Del Rio.

According to the show hosts, after Money in the Bank this past Sunday night, Paige and Alberto Del Rio went to watch the Absinthe show in Las Vegas. While they were there, a drunk couple started heckling the real life couple and called them “fake wrestlers”, and an argument ensued which reportedly ended up with Paige being “accosted”.
Police were eventually called to the scene and they stabilized the situation, and that involved handcuffing everyone involved in the situation despite neither Paige nor Del Rio being arrested. After that, Paige was taken to an ambulance to make sure she was okay, and when it was determined she was, both her and Del Rio were released and were free to go.

Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo to host WWE Cruiserweight Classic

It was five months ago when Daniel Bryan said his goodbyes to the WWE Universe, but now, the leader of the “Yes!” Movement is making his return to WWE television. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion will be joining Mauro Ranallo to host the Cruiserweight Classic this summer on WWE Network.

Ranallo brings a wealth of combat sports experience to the announcers’ table. In addition to serving as the voice of SmackDown, the Canadian has been one of the top play-by-play men in mixed martial arts, boxing and sports-entertainment.

Joining him as the color commentator is Bryan. As a Superstar who neared the 205 lbs. weight limit of the CWC throughout his career, Bryan made it his goal to defy those who deemed him too small to succeed on sports-entertainment’s biggest platform. The leader of the “Yes!” Movement did just that by capturing the hearts of the WWE Universe on his way to winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30.

Bryan also brings a unique perspective to the announcers’ table, just months removed from his retirement as an active in-ring competitor. Not only does he know what it takes to make it with the WWE Universe watching, but Bryan is a contemporary of several CWC competitors. During his illustrious 16-year career, he trained with and competed against the likes of Brian Kendrick, Zack Sabre Jr., TJ Perkins, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.

Don’t miss Daniel Bryan’s return to WWE television when the Cruiserweight Classic kicks off on Wednesday, July 13 at 9/8 C, only on WWE Network. And be sure to tune into WWE Network on Wednesday, July 6 at 9/8 C for Cruiserweight Classic: Bracketology, a special look at the 32-man, 10-week tournament.

Xavier Woods Talks Breaking Stereotypes As A Gamer/Wrestler, The New Day Being ‘Geeky’, Their Wrestlemania 32 Entrance

WWE star Xavier Woods recently spoke with Phoenix New Times while promoting this week’s WWE events in Arizona.

Woods talks about video games, The New Day’s Wrestlemania 32 entrance, breaking stereotypes and more. You can read some highlights below:

Xavier Woods comments on breaking stereotypes by being a gamer and comic fan:

“I think a lot of people think that since we are professional athletes that we can’t have certain tendencies that other people might have, like they try to put people in a box and say, ‘You’re an athlete, which means you’re a jock,’ or ‘You like reading books, so you’re a nerd,’ so you can’t be more than one thing in a lot of people’s eyes,” Woods says. “Whereas I wrestled, I played football, I ran track but I also made straight As, and I also played through Final Fantasy VII like 900 times and I also love Street Fighter and I also love comic books.”

Woods responds to comments about The New Day going from positivity to geeky:

Uh … this word “gimmick” that you keep on using, I’m not sure what that is. When I go out on TV, I’m just myself, and I feel like my personality isn’t really any sort of gimmick the way that people might use the word. What we do, when our music hits, we go out and we just hang out with each other. We’re friends and that’s what we’re about, being friends and making sure that we have a good time. We’ve just been lucky enough that other people think that us having fun is funny.

Woods say he was behind the group’s Wrestlemania 32 entrance and gear:

The Dragon Ball Z-inspired gear was my idea, because I was thinking about some things and felt that I needed to dress up as Vegeta at some point in my life on the show and the largest WrestleMania ever seemed like the place to do it. And Kofi is a Dragon Ball Z fan as well and we’re breaking E into it, so we all sat down and we agreed that this was the best route to go. And then it actually happened and it kind of blew my mind.

Woods reveals why he’s a Mega Ran fan, comments on breaking the “black nerd” stereotype:

Oh, of course, of course … it’s always Mega Ran. Simply because of the [Black Materia: Final Fantasy VII] album and the song, “Dawn of the Slums.” He absolutely destroys it on that track, and he raps about a ton of stuff that I can relate to very easily because of a lot of things that we talk about and deal with and try to help kids specifically with the stigma of being a black nerd.

Growing up as like a black person, there’s so many things that you’re kind of labeled with, and people think that you should act a certain way and you should speak a certain way; that you should do certain things and it’s like, if you’re a nerd, coming up in that culture, people think, oh, that’s not you because you’re black, you need to be wearing backwards hats, you need to be listening to gangster rap. It’s like, “No, you can be whatever you want.” We want kids to know they can start with a blank slate, regardless if they’re black, white, green, purple … you know what I mean? So we try very hard to make sure that kids that were in our position while we were growing up understand that there are now adults who are just like them and they’re doing just fine in their lives.

Update On Paige Being Involved In Las Vegas Incident On Sunday Night, Her WWE Status, More

As noted, there has been speculation that Paige was arrested in Las Vegas on Sunday night after the WWE Money In the Bank pay-per-view due to an incident with boyfriend Alberto Del Rio. Leaked photos, seen below, appear to show a handcuffed Paige being led into an ambulance.

We later reported that no charges were filed and that Paige was not admitted into a local hospital as she wrestled on last night's RAW. We also reported that WWE was investigating the incident.

In an update, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department has confirmed that there was an unrelated incident late Sunday where they received a call about a woman behaving erratically. A woman was reportedly running trhough traffic and when they responded to the call, she was detained and taken to a local hospital by ambulance for a medical evaluation. The woman was soon released after the evaluation.

Vegas Police would not confirm that Paige was the woman taken to a local hospital due to privacy laws but they did confirm to PWInsider that the leaked photos are from that incident.

There is also no truth to reports of Del Rio being in any kind of trouble.

Paige is backstage for tonight's WWE SmackDown tapings in Tucson.