The WWE Network was down for about two hours on Wednesday night but was back online before 11pm EST.
This was the first time since the Network launched in February that the service was down for a significant amount of time. The downtime was not addressed on the official WWE Network Twitter.
F4Wonline.com notes that there was some talk within WWE that the Network was hacked but apparently it was just shut down internally for some unknown reason.
– WWE is advertising Roman Reigns for live events starting in mid-December. Reigns is advertised to face Rusev at the December 30th SmackDown taping at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA, so that may be his next feud.
– Ric Flair is scheduled to be the guest referee for the Roman Reigns – Kane match at the WWE live event on Saturday, December 20th at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
– CM Punk will once again be a guest on The Talking Dead this Sunday night. The Talking Dead airs right after The Walking Dead at 10pm ET on AMC.
Credit Wrestling Inc
Tonight’s blockbuster episode begins with a thorough re-telling of last week’s title match between Roode and MVP. Roode retained and after the match Lashley hit the champ with a spear and then promptly dissed his former main man MVP. After the highlights, Lashley stops Kenny King backstage and asks where MVP is and King says he doesn’t know. Tension ensues.
Inside the venue, James Storm hits the ramp with his acolytes as Taz and Tenay talk about Storm’s efforts to recruit Davey Richards. Storm takes the mic and calls out Edwards to see if he’s ready to join the Revolution. The Wolves come out and Eddie tries to answer for Davey but Richards takes the mic and says he can speak for himself. Davey says Storm makes sense but he’s out of his mind, adding that he won’t join Storm’s team. The Cowboy sends Manik and Sanada at The Wolves and joins in the fray himself in a 3-on-2 melee. Team Storm beats Edwards and Richards down, they leave the ring area and then they all come back but this time Storm is carrying a steel briefcase. They beat on The Wolves again, this time targeting Davey’s injured leg. Storm tells the ref he’s cashing in his “Feast or Fired” shot at a tag title match and they ring the bell for an impromptu match.
Tag team title match: The Wolves vs. James Storm and a partner of his choice.
The Wolves don’t even make it to a corner as Storm delivers more punishment. It looks like he’s getting ready to cover and we hear the entrance theme for Abyss. At first it looks like Abyss is there to help The Wolves but then Storm introduces the big dude as the newest member of his team and tags him in. Abyss delivers a few shots and then tags in Storm for the cover.
Result: James Storm and Abyss defeat The Wolves via pinfall and win the TNA tag belts.
Storm hits the “Eye of the Storm” on Richards after the bell and we head to break.
After the break, we’re back in the ring for Knockouts action.
Taryn Terrell vs. Madison Rayne
The women battle back and forth and Taryn is hella torqued coming into this one. She hits Madison outside but once they’re back in the ring, Madison is all over Terrell. Rayne gets a near fall and then they both recover briefly before Madison unleashes a flurry of blows on Taryn. She takes Terrell down with a move off the ropes and then grapples with her on the mat looking for a submission and then follows with a scissor-stomp. Rayne tries for another pinfall but Terrell kicks out. Taz comments that it looks like Hebner has rigor mortis setting in as Madison poses for fans. Terrell hits Rayne and puts her on the mat and she takes her down off the ropes. Taryn follows up by driving Madison’s head into the mad a bunch of times. Rayne finally slows the momentum down with a counter but Taryn comes back with a suplex and then goes up top. She misses when Madison dodges and then Rayne tries for a pin, grabbing a handful of tights for leverage, Rayne stays on top until Terrell lands a modified cutter and covers her opponent for the win.
Result: Taryn Terrell defeats Madison Rayne via pinfall.
After some more commercials, we find Manik chatting up Mahabali Shera backstage. He’s still trying to get the new guy to come over to the dark side.
In the ring, Kenny King tells the live crowd that Lashley is still cool with him as well as MVP and after glossing over all that, he calls out Chris Melendez to talk about their unfinished business. Melendez comes out flanked by Ken Anderson. King says that Melendez is a fraud and complains that people are calling him “unpatriotic” because he went toe-to-toe with Sarge when they were in New York. Anderson objects loudly until King shrugs him off. He returns to Melendez, challenging him for another match and Melendez accepts. King finishes up by sucker-punching Anderson and then running away.
Later, Gunner and Shaw go at it. Now for some important messages…
Following the break, Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell petition Kurt Angle for a shot at Havok and he books them into a bout for the KO title next week.
From there, we go back to the ring for a 4-on-3 elimination match…
The Menagerie vs. BroMans and the Beautiful People
Angelina and Rebel start off. Love gets the better of Rebel at first until Rebel gets her with a few of those “splits” moves. Love puts Rebel down but she’s distracted when Crazzy Steve smacks her on the posterior, giving Rebel the chance for a rollup pin. Love is eliminated and Rebel tags in Knux who goes to work on Jessie. Jessie brings in DJ Z who hit Knux with a cross-body. Z pins Knux and Jessie holds the big guy down from the outside for the pinfall. Crazzy Steve takes out DJ Z next and then Rebel does battle with Velvet. Velvet eliminates Rebel after Angelina hits Menagerie’s sole female with a blast of hair spray. Somehow, Crazzy Steve ends up in the ring with Velvet and kisses her while he pins her so now it’s down to Jessie and Steve. Godderz hits a huge power bomb and tries to finish the job with a one-handed pin. Steve lifts a shoulder, breaking the count and angering Jessie. Jessie puts Steve on the top rope but wastes time posing and Steve tosses him off, following with a tornado DDT and a three-count.
Result: The Menagerie defeats BroMans and The Beautiful People.
Backstage, Spud tells Eric Young that he wants to be in his corner for EY’s match with Tyrus this week. Commercial sign.
Off the break, Manik takes his new pal to meet Storm and The Cowboy is not impressed. He sends them away and goes back to celebrating with Abyss.
Eric Young w/Rockstar Spud vs. Tyrus w/EC3
Tyrus is predictably tough off the bell and Young lands very little offense. Young ends up outside and Tyris comes out to toss him back in. Inside the ring, EY slows Tyrus down with a chin buster but Tyrus roars back. He works the former champ over on the mat and then slams him down for more punishment as EC3 tells him to crush EY. Young comes back and gets all fired up, ultimately hitting Tyrus with a big elbow off the top rope, followed by a pinfall victory.
Result: Eric Young defeats Tyrus via pinfall.
Post-match, Lashley storms the ring, hits EY with a spear and choke-slams Spur. He then grabs a chair, folds it around Young’s arm and locks in the cross-face. Lashley calls out to Roode as he ratchets up the hold. Aries comes out to assist and after Lashley leaves the ring, Aries takes to the mic and challenges Lashley to a match. Lashley looks like he’s thinking about it and then says, “You’re on!”
Some commercials follow and then we get a glimpse at an intimate moment between Brittany and Samuel Shaw. Brittany tells Shaw Gunner came on to her and he buys it. Then she tries to sell Shaw the Brooklyn Bridge and he buys that too. Well, that last part didn’t happen…but it could’ve if she’d offered.
Out in the ring, Samoa Joe tells folks he’s not medically cleared to compete at this time due to a leg injury. He relinquishes the X-Division title but says he’ll be back someday. Let’s pause for some commercials.
Bram says he’ll make Tommy Dreamer bleed in a hardcore match next week but there’s no time to ruminate on that as we head back to ringside.
Gunner vs. Samuel Shaw
Shaw ambushes Gunner on the ramp after Brittany provides some distraction. They brawl inside and out as Brittany yells insults at Gunner. It’s hard-hitting back-and-forth in the ring until Gunner takes them both up and over the top rope. Gunner whacks Shaw with a chair as Brittany screams. A few moments later Shaw comes back, driving Gunner into the steps. Shaw works Gunner into position to suplex him out of the ring and on to the steps but Gunner counters and slams Shaw into the ring. Gunner piles chairs inside of the ring and sets him up for a superplex on to the chairs. Both guys struggle to get up after that maneuver. Gunner finally gets up to set Shaw up for a power bomb and Brittany hops up to provide a distraction. He ends up powerbombing Shaw out of the ring and on to the steps and then tosses his opponent back into the ring, telling Brittany that her boy is “a piece of crap.” Well, that’s gotta hurt. Brittany comes back in and gets all up in Gunner’s grill, finally nailing him with a low blow. Shaw looks to put it away with a choke but Gunner surges back once more and slams Shaw down face first, following with a pinfall.
Result: Gunner defeats Samuel Shaw.
A few more commercials roll and we’re in the home stretch…
Austin Aries vs. Lashley
Aries tosses his t-shirt at Lashley and then charges him right off the bell. Aries gets all over the former champ and teases a brainbuster but doesn’t deliver. Lashley comes back and peppers Aries with shots. Aries tries for a bridge-style submission move but that doesn’t work. Lashley ends up outside and Aries comes at him with a cross-body out of the ring but Lashley catches him and sets him up for a running power slam. Austin gets loose and tosses Lashley into the ring post and then hits him in the back with a drop kick, propelling Lashley into the guard rail. Once they’re both back inside, Aries comes off the top again and misses when Lashley sidesteps. Lashley takes control and beats on Aries but A-Double fights back. It doesn’t last long as Lashley takes him down. TNA
Back in action, Lashley dominates Austin Aries, chucking him around the ring like a rag doll. He delivers another belly-to-belly suplex and then plants a foot on Austin’s throat and grabs the ropes for leverage. After breaking, Lashley gets ready for a spear but runs right into Aries’ boot. Lashley tries for a superplex and Aries is able to fight him off. Austin hits a missile drop kick and Lashley reels. They battle back and forth and Aries slowly gains control of the match. A turning point comes when Lashley topples Aries from the top rope and Aries hits the steel steps face-first. Lashley heads outside, throwing Aries into the steps for good measure and then delivering a spear. The ref finishes the 10-count and signals for the bell.
Result: Double count-out.
Post-match, Lashley slaps the cross-face on Aries and then lumbers up the ramp as the show fades to black.
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Credit: Sean Ross Sapp
– The show kicks off with a look at Chavo Guerrero turning on Sexy Star and Blue Demon Jr last week.
– Konnan and Dario Cueto are shown in Cueto’s office, and Konnan says he has three new talents to bring in. Cueto says he’ll put all three in a match against each other to find out who the best man is.
Cueto makes his way to the ring and says people have complained about the lack of Lucha on the show, so he’ll fix that. He introduces La Mariachi Loco to the crowd to boos.
El Mariachi Loco vs. Mascarita Sangrada
Mascarita is a mini. Yep. He hits a running headscissors, tilt a whirl armdrag and a flying cannonball on Loco immediately and the crowd goes crazy for him. As the two get back in the ring Loco cuts him off with a big kick and a body slam.
Loco goes to work with a chinlock and follows up with a tilt a whirl slam. He then taunts Sangrada and lands a superkick and a slams the smaller opponent into the mat face first.
Loco misses a somersault senton from the top and gets caught with a tilt a whirl DDT. When Sangrada goes for it again, he holds on to the choke and packages him up for the pin.
Winner: Mascarita Sangrada (Tilt-a-whirl choke into a small package)
Following the match Chavo Guerrero hits the ring and lays Sangrada out.
– Vampiro is shown interviewing Chavo Guerrero and says Chavo has rode the coattails of the Guerrero family. Chavo said that he’s done things the right way out of respect to his family for decades, but now he’ll do things his way. Chavo says Blue Demon Jr sucked even in his prime, and only was popular because of his father.
Chavo says he’s not going to just be a familiar face or an opponent for stars. He says he’s going to dominate. This was a really good promo from Chavo.
– Konnan and Chavo Guerrero run into each other in the hallway. Konnan says someone in Mexico found out what Chavo did to Demon, and it’s a matter of time before word about Sangrada reaches them. He advises Chavo to get out of town. Chavo runs into Mil Muertes and Katrina. Katrina says Chavo took something that didn’t belong to him and one day he’ll belong to Mil Muertes, then licks Chavo’s face.
Ricky Mandel vs. Mil Muertes (w/ Katrina)
Mandel tries to use his speed advantage to gain control, but gets hit with a huge spear from Muertes. Landel is then beaten from pillar to post by Muertes, literally- he’s dragged from corner to corner and destroyed.
Mandel tries to fight back with a dropkick and a few punches, but is caught with a big uppercut when he comes of the top rope. Muertes connects with the Flatliner and that’s a wrap.
Winner: Mil Muertes (via Flatliner)
– Johnny Mundo is looking for Dario Cueto backstage and runs into Castro and Cisco. The two won’t let Mundo in, so he hits a superkick and a reverse STO into the wall, which gains him access to the office. Cueto grants Mundo a match with Big Ryck next week, and Mundo says he’s coming for Cueto next.
– A Prince Puma video package is shown.
Triple Threat Match
Drago vs. Pentagon Jr vs. Fenix
Right off the bat Pentagon kicks Fenix from the ring and flies over the top rope onto both opponents. He tries it again, and eats a kick of his own. Both Drago and Fenix flip to the outside as well, one of which Vampiro calls an “875 corkscrew flip.”
Drago sweeps Fenix’s leg and lands a huge tilt-a-whirl DDT but Pentagon comes in and hits an arm drag and superkick that sends Drago outside. Fenix then grabs Pentagon’s arm and runs up the ropes scores on an armdrag of his own.
In one of the most impressive spots I can remember seeing, Fenix is pushed up in the air, front flips and catches Penaton with a huracanrana. Shortly after he connects on a big cutter, and all three men are down in the ring. This is crazy!
Fenix with a big top rope frankensteiner on Pentagon, but Pentagon hits him with a backstabber when he tries to go for Drago. Fenix exits the ring and starts walking up the stairs for some reason. Drago and Pentagon brawl in the ring
Pentagon chops Drago but gets armdragged for his troubles. The two end up outside and Fenix flies onto them from at least 15 feet above the arena floor!
Back in the ring, Pentagon hits Drago with a package piledriver and Fenix hits an over the shoulder piledriver on Drago as well. Fenix then finishes Pentagon with a reverse huracanrana.
Winner: Fenix (via reverse huracanrana)
– Dario Cueto is shown, clearly concerned about Johnny Mundo. He says he won’t be intimidated by anyone.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
As noted, WWE and Alberto Del Rio recently reached a settlement regarding his non-compete clause. The settlement was announced by both WWE and Del Rio.
It’s believed that both sides agreed that Del Rio would not make any more negative public comments about WWE, most notably implying racism from top officials in the company and talking about racial jokes that went on. In return, Del Rio reportedly got a financial settlement that included the non-compete being dropped.
WWE has long been worried about keeping their Hispanic audience and officials were very conscious about being tied to any kind of racism against Hispanics.
A source close to the talks between WWE and Del Rio notes that the settlement was last minute. There was reportedly a joint settlement at one point that was expected to include a stipulation where WWE had to issue an apology for inappropriate comments. WWE had agreed to that but then it was taken out of the deal in their written settlement agreement. Apparently Del Rio had already agreed to the financial settlement and the non-compete being dropped so he didn’t press the apology issue.
It’s also believed that the settlement includes an agreement where Del Rio would not sue the company.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Negotiations reportedly took place between TNA and Destination America this past week. Destination is a channel in the Discovery Network. It’s currently available in 60 million homes or about 52% of the country.
Sources close to the Destination side say that they should know before the week is over if a deal will be reached or not.
There continues to be major frustration within TNA because no deal has been announced. Some talents have been told that Spike TV is still in the running and was the most likely candidate. This kept some people from thinking negative but others have been told that Spike is not in the running.
Impact Wrestling’s last first-run episode will air on November 19th and then it will be pre-empted on November 26th for Thanksgiving week. The current plan is to do three weeks of “Best of Impact Wrestling” episodes that would air on December 3rd, December 10th and December 17th. After that, TNA could be done airing on Spike. Spike officials say that no decision has been made regarding TNA programming airing on December 24th and December 31st.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Regarding Rey Mysterio’s backstage meeting with Triple H and Vince McMahon at the November 3rd RAW in Buffalo, nothing definitive came out of it other than Vince wanting Rey back in a WWE ring.
While it appears Triple H may be running things within WWE these days, it was apparently made clear at the meeting that this was a Vince meeting and that Vince is running the show.
There’s a belief within WWE that a compromise will be reached and Rey will be back soon, working regularly between now and WrestleMania 31. Rey’s current contract is scheduled to expire in late April.
WWE officials reportedly have asked Rey to work more dates than most think he should. We’ve noted how Rey is not interested in a return.
While Hulk Hogan may be training for an in-ring return at WrestleMania 31, the decision will largely depend on whether or not Hogan can pass a physical. This applies to everyone over the age of around 45 that is under consideration for the big event, including Sting.
WWE has had strict physicals for older talents ever since Jerry Lawler’s heart attack on RAW, which is why Hogan’s physical activity has been very limited so far.
Credit: Sean Ross Sapp
In a follow up to a story we published last week, the likelihood of The Rock performing at next year’s WrestleMania just got smaller.
The Rock has signed on to co-star in Central Intelligence, a film with comedian Kevin Hart. Filming is set to kick off next spring, which is the heart of WrestleMania season. In addition to the filming schedule The Rock will also be heavily promoting the upcoming Furious 7 picture, which looks to be a huge blockbuster.
It remains possible that The Rock could perform at the annual WWE extravaganza and promote all of his products simultaneously, but it remains to be seen if Universal Pictures would condone that. During The Rock’s last WrestleMania match in 2013, he sustained an injury in which reduced his promotional schedule for Pain & Gain and also caused him to miss the movie’s premiere.
The two film roles aren’t The Rock’s only upcoming obligations, either. He’ll be starring and serving as an executive producer for the HBO series Ballers, which also kicks off in 2015.
