H Jenkins - Page 40

H Jenkins has been breaking pro wrestling news on Ringside News for nearly a decade, with his reports featured by TMZ, Forbes, The Sun, and more.

RAW Turns Hostile as GUNTHER Shoves Pat McAfee Ahead of Backlash Showdown - Page 40

by
RAW Turns Hostile as GUNTHER Shoves Pat McAfee Ahead of Backlash Showdown

The May 5 episode of WWE RAW took place at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. You never know what can happen with another premium live event approaching, and fans got their money’s worth.

Fans were shocked to see GUNTHER attack Michael Cole and Pat McAfee on the RAW after WrestleMania 41. McAfee then surprised fans once again as he called out the Ring General for a match at Backlash.

During WWE RAW this week, the two had a chance to have a face-to-face confrontation. Naturally, fans were expecting an explosive segment.

This segment capped off the second hour of RAW this week. RAW General Manager Adam Pearce was in the ring, and he introduced both competitors. He warned both of them to keep things professional before they started.

GUNTHER was heavily booed as he started first. Fans also chanted “you tapped out” at him. McAfee started off his promo by calling Michael Cole a “walking, talking, GOAT” before he praised Cole for his ridiculous track record for 28 years. Then McAfee praised the Cornhuskers, which brought a huge pop from the Nebraska crowd.

McAfee said that, despite their difference in origin, he and GUNTHER both grew up watching pro wrestling thinking that was what they were put on Earth to do. Then McAfee said that GUNTHER has been at this for twenty years, and he’s been a champion in WWE, so he’s jaded. It is different for Pat, as he still gets “jacked up about life, baby” every time he walks into a WWE building.

Then Pat McAfee said that GUNTHER has gotten too comfortable, and he will prove that this version of GUNTHER is soft. The Ring General didn’t like hearing that at all. He started off his reply by asking McAfee if he enjoyed his daughter’s birthday on Saturday, but next Saturday is going to be special. GUNTHER promised to show up more focused than ever before, and he promised him his full and undivided attention at Backlash.

After saying that “only the grace of god will rip my arms off your throat,” GUNTHER pushed Pat McAfee and left the ring. This was certainly a tense promo. Only time will tell how Backlash turns out.

What’s your take on Pat McAfee and GUNTHER’s current WWE storyline? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Rusev’s First WWE Match in 5 Years Ends in Chaos—Security Forced to Pull Him Off Otis

by
Rusev’s First WWE Match in 5 Years Ends in Chaos—Security Forced to Pull Him Off Otis

WWE is always changing, and that sometimes calls for big returns. Now that Rusev is back, he is ready to crush once again. The May 5 episode of WWE RAW took place at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, and that included the Bulgarian Brute’s first match back in WWE.

Rusev made his return to WWE during the April 21 episode of WWE RAW after WrestleMania 41. Naturally, fans were excited to see the former AEW TNT Champion’s return to WWE.

The show’s second hour included Rusev’s return to the ring. Otis was already waiting for him when they came back from commercial, and the Bulgarian Brute received a great reaction from the crowd.

This match was very physical, and not pretty at all for Otis. Needless to say, the Alpha Academy’s big man took a lot of punishment. Otis tried to mount some offense, but Rusev returned fire with a massive back heel kick as they went to commercial break.

Otis was able to pull off a few powerful moves, like launching Rusev over the announce table outside, but it didn’t end well for him. In the end, Rusev locked Otis in the Accolade for the win. Tozawa wasn’t happy about how that ended, and he wanted to fight Rusev, but he left instead, only to run back and assault Tozawa when he least expected it. After that, he locked Otis in the Accolade once again until officials had to swarm the ring to free him.

Rusev has a lot of momentum at this point. He is loved by fans, and obviously very happy to be back in WWE. We will have to see if the Redeemer is able to capitalize on that.

What’s your take on Rusev’s return to WWE so far? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Becky Lynch Calls Bayley ‘Garbage,’ Gets Dropped By Lyra Valkyria on RAW

by
Becky Lynch Calls Bayley 'Garbage,' Gets Dropped By Lyra Valkyria on RAW

The May 5 episode of WWE RAW took place at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. Becky Lynch was on hand to make sure that she carried on with her storyline with Lyra Valkyria.

Becky Lynch returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41. She won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles with Lyra Valkyria, but then The Man turned on Lyra after they lost those belts.

She immediately took exception to the fact that fans in Nebraska booed her from the get-go. She admitted to taking out Bayley, but she also said everyone lost their minds when she returned at WrestleMania 41. She said that nobody cared about Bayley, because she’s garbage. Instead, Lynch said she should be thanked for taking out the garbage and recycling, which was Bayley and Lyra.

At that point, Lyra Valkyria came out to battle Becky Lynch on the microphone. She called Lynch the “queen of recycling,” because she’s been using the same moves for years. Lyra said she wanted to drive home the fact that Lynch didn’t make her. In fact, Lynch went on holiday and “everyone got better,” and Lyra said she made some history of her own. She also accused Lynch of never helping anyone along with her as she broke the glass ceiling.

Becky Lynch admitted to never helping anyone, because she’s the best to ever do it. Then Lyra trolled her over the fact that Lyra is the first-ever Women’s IC Champion. At that point, the two started brawling in the ring. It all ended with Lyra nailing a Night Wing to pose over The Man with her title held up high.

We will have to see what happens in this storyline. Becky Lynch’s return to WWE was a big deal, but now it looks like she is gunning for another title run already.

What’s your take on Becky Lynch’s return to the fold at this point? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Tessa Blanchard Claps Back At Racist Chants Directed At Her During TNA iMPACT Taping

by
Tessa Blanchard Claps Back At Racist Chants Directed At Her During TNA iMPACT Taping

Tessa Blanchard has faced racist chants since returning to TNA Wrestling, a move that shocked a lot of fans. Now that she is back, she is seemingly feeding into this narrative about her.

Tessa Blanchard updated her Instagram story to acknowledge those chants. She doesn’t seem to be taking them seriously, either. In fact, she only went on to mock them as she did Hulk Hogan’s famous taunt. That ensured that she understood why fans adopted Booker T saying “we coming for you, n*****” at the Hulkster towards her.

While posting a video of her reacting to the chants during a TNA Wrestling event, Tessa Blanchard also included a caption on the video which let everyone know what she thinks. She also provided them with a bit of advice.

“Make sure y’all stretch first. I don’t want any excuses.”

Interestingly enough, TNA Wrestling has no plans to address this controversy with Tessa Blanchard. She is doing her job as a heel, no matter why fans boo her.

Tessa Blanchard will always be associated with that terrible story where she called a fellow pro wrestler the N-Word. Fans haven’t forgotten about it, either, and that is why we still have that hilarious chant directed at her. Booker T may have made that phrase about Hulk Hogan famous, but Tessa Blanchard is helping fans keep it going.

We will have to see what Tessa Blanchard does next. If anything, she is going to keep getting a tremendous amount of heat. She also seems to enjoy that aspect of the job.

Ex-AEW Star Fuego Del Sol Reveals New Identity After Burning His Mask In Dramatic Video

by
Ex-AEW Star Fuego Del Sol Reveals New Identity After Burning His Mask In Dramatic Video

Fuego Del Sol was released from AEW, but there wasn’t a huge reaction amongst the fan base at the time. Now that he is leaving that identity in the past, and KJ Orso is here.

In a new video on X, the former Fuego Del Sol dropped a dramatic video, one where he burned his mask. He was forced to unmask, but the video made it very clear that Fuego actually died the day he was released from AEW.

The story of Fuego Del Sol was also said to be a tragic one. He pointed out how he was co-signed by some top names, only to be left in the dust. He also made this message very clear in the simple caption for the video.

“Fuego Del Sol is DEAD!

My name is KJ Orso, and I’ve never felt more ALIVE!“

Fuego Del Sol once gained a bit of attention in AEW. They made an entire storyline over his signing, but then his role in the company was diminished to lower level parts on Dark until he wasn’t seen again.

Although Fuego Del Sol’s time in AEW came to an end, there is plenty left to be written in KJ Orso’s story. We will just have to see what he does next.

Randy Orton Makes Serious Threats To John Cena During 5/2 WWE SmackDown

by
Randy Orton Makes Serious Threats To John Cena During 5/2 WWE SmackDown

The May 2 episode of WWE SmackDown went down in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. That was quite a show as they prepared for Backlash, and they had a lot to get to.

Randy Orton was the first to step up to John Cena and nail the 17x World Champion with an RKO. Now, the two are set to battle at Backlash in St. Louis, and the Apex Predator was on hand for SmackDown this week.

Randy Orton was on the show this week to kick off the episode’s third hour. The Viper received an amazing reception from fans as they chanted his name. As he addressed John Cena, the 17-time World Champion’s name brought out boos from fans.

Orton said that he has seen through John Cena since day one. He said that Cena is arrogant, selfish, and an entitled brat. He also said that Cena took advantage of WWE’s PG Era, as he was eager to be a living, walking-talking, cartoon character. That helped Cena become a mainstream celebrity.

Orton brought up how Cena said he was raising everyone’s kids, and then he said that the only thing Cena has done is raise the price of his merchandise. That seemed like an interesting shot at WWE and Fanatics’ merchandising efforts and continued increasing prices.

Randy Orton said that John Cena is only the latest legend that he has to put down, he’s not the last real champion. Orton promised to put Cena down at Backlash. The fans liked hearing the idea of Orton punting Cena’s head off and kicking it through the Gateway Arch in The Lou.

WWE has a lot of things going right now, but few stories are as important as John Cena’s historic 17th reign as World Champion. Only time will tell what they pull out of their bag of tricks as the company continues.

Aleister Black Wins First Match Since WWE Return During 5/2 SmackDown

by
Aleister Black Wins First Match Since WWE Return During 5/2 SmackDown

The May 2 episode of WWE SmackDown took place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. The show moved forward as they prepared for Backlash with several matches, including a big one for Aleister Black.

The Miz faced Aleister Black in a singles match. Black had just returned to WWE, marking his first match back since leaving AEW. The Miz’s Melo Don’t Miz partner, Carmello Hayes, was there for moral support.

This match went down at the start of the second hour of the show this week. Fans were awe-struck when Black made his way to the ring. The Miz tried to rush Black when the bell sounded, but Black backed him off with a spinning kick.

The two got down to business, wrestling in the middle of the squared circle. Then The Miz kicked, but Black caught his foot. Then Black fired back with some knees after coming back from an Irish Whip. This gave Aleister Black a chance to do his signature flip off the ropes into his trademark cross-legged taunt.

We will have to see what is next for Aleister Black as he continues in WWE once again. He certainly has a bit of momentum for him this time around. The Miz was able to take control as he slammed Black’s head into the LED ringside apron as they cut to commercial break.

The two continued the match, and Aleister Black kept kicking out of everything The Miz tried to throw at him. In the end, Black avoided a Skull Crushing Finale and he landed a kick to put The Miz down. Then he brought The Miz back up before Hayes distracted him. Suddenly, Aleister landed Black Mass on The Miz to pick up the win. After that, Carmelo Hayes and Aleister Black had a bit of a stand off before Him left.

We will have to see what Aleister Black does next. Obviously, he is back, and on a mission to do a lot more than he did during his first stint in WWE.

What’s your take on Aleister Black’s return to WWE television? Do you think he made the right move? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Katana Chance and Kayden Carter Released from WWE Amid Latest Roster Cuts

by
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter Released from WWE Amid Latest Roster Cuts

WWE’s post-WrestleMania trimming spree just claimed another pair of familiar faces—this time it’s former Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. According to Fightful Select, both Superstars were quietly released as part of the ongoing wave of talent cuts hitting the company this week. Katana and Kayden were among WWE’s most consistent tag … Read more

MJF Receives Brutal Challenge Before He Can Join Hurt Syndicate During 4/30 AEW Dynamite

by
MJF Receives Brutal Challenge Before He Can Join Hurt Syndicate During 4/30 AEW Dynamite

The April 30 episode of AEW Dynamite went down at the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The Hurt Syndicate were on hand, and they didn’t want to waste any time.

MVP brought MJF out right away as he said that they had a big announcement to make. MJF came right out, and he got right to kissing up to Shelton Benjamin, MVP, and Bobby Lashley.

The Hurt Syndicate and MJF have been going back and forth for weeks. MJF has been trying to get into the stable, but he hasn’t been able to get a unanimous three thumbs up just yet.

MVP and Shelton Benjamin both gave MJF a thumbs up. Then it was Bobby Lashley’s turn. Fans seemed to be into this segment as they cheered Lashley on, and then he finally put his thumb down once again. That thumbs down came with a lot of drama as well.

MJF told Bobby Lashley that he’s “sick of your sh*t” at this point. After all, he’s given him money, women, and cars. Then MJF took a shot at Lashley for being bald. After he called Lashley a “big, bald son of a bitch,” Lashley backed him into the corner. He said that the Hurt Syndicate hurts people, so MJF needs to hurt someone if he wants to impress the All Mighty.

The faction left after that. However, now MJF knows exactly what he needs to do in order to get the Hurt Syndicate’s attention.

We will have to see how things pan out from this point on. It is certainly an interesting situation for him at this point.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1917751436072431721

What’s your take on MJF and the Hurt Syndicate’s storyline? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

IYO Sky Has Successful Homecoming With Big Win During 4/29 WWE NXT

by
IYO Sky Has Successful Homecoming With Big Win During 4/29 WWE NXT

WWE Superstars travel the world, and their champions work extra hard. IYO Sky proved that this week, as she also stopped by the April 29 episode of WWE NXT.

WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY appeared on the April 29 episode of NXT. Her arrival brought a surprise element to the show.

Main roster appearances on NXT continue to keep fans guessing. Each week proves that anything can happen on WWE’s developmental brand. During NXT this week, IYO Sky showed up, and that resulted in a match.

A main event match was booked with IYO Sky Jordynne Grace and taking on Roxanne Perez and Giulia. Naturally, fans waited all night to see this match go down.

Giulia and Roxanne Perez were both joined under the idea that they wanted to take down the NXT Women’s Champion, Stephanie Vaquer. The Beautiful Madness and the Prodigy made quite a team.

Giulia and Perez played the heels in this team, as they used every underhanded tactic they could throughout the match. IYO and Grace were able to work as a tandem, but then Giulia and Perez were able to get the upperhand, sending their opponents crashing to the mat outside as they cut to another commercial break.

When we came back, the heels had the advantage, but then IYO was able to turn things around. She wasn’t able to make that hot tag for Jordynne Grace just yet until the right moment. Once Grace was in, she started cleaning house.

IYO Sky tried for her Over The Moonsault, but Roxanne Perez stopped her. Then IYO took abuse from Giulia and Perez before she ate a sit-down bomb from Giulia and a moonsault from Roxanne Perez for a near fall. Fans chanted “this is awesome” after that.

In the end, IYO Sky was able to rally after she avoided a Pop Rocks from Perez with a flip. Then Sky kicked Perez in the head to hit an Over The Moonsault for the win.

We will have to see what is next for NXT as they continue bringing big time women’s action to television every week. They certainly didn’t disappoint for the April 29th episode of the show.

What’s your take on IYO Sky’s appearance on NXT this week? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

#1 Contender Battle Royal Match with WWE LFG and TNA Talents & More Booked for 5/6 WWE NXT

by
#1 Contender Battle Royal Match with WWE LFG and TNA Talents & More Booked for 5/6 WWE NXT

WWE’s not slowing down when it comes to NXT, and next week’s May 6 episode is already stacked—starting with a high-stakes opportunity for Trick Williams. On the April 29 edition of NXT, Trick made it known he wants another crack at the NXT Title. Ava didn’t waste any time making the stakes clear. “You want … Read more

Hank & Tank Prove Themselves In Hard-Fought Tag Team Title Defense During 4/29 WWE NXT

by
Hank & Tank Prove Themselves In Hard-Fought Tag Team Title Defense During 4/29 WWE NXT

You never know what can happen on WWE’s NXT brand. Each week feels like a big show, and the April 29 episode brought a lot to the table, including a couple of title matches.

Hank and Tank defended the WWE NXT Tag Team Championships on the April 29 episode. Their challengers were Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura, just before Inamura goes back to NOAH.

The match was part of a lineup that featured multiple title matches. It was presented as a major moment in the tag team division, and also for Yoshiki Inamura, because he wanted to become a champion in NXT.

This match kicked off the second hour of the show. The two teams fought through a commercial break as Briggs and Inamura were at an advantage before the interruption started.

It looked like Hank & Tank were going to lose the titles, as Briggs nailed a lariat and Inamura hit a splash from the top for a near fall. The match continued as Tank took two-on-one punishment. Then Hank took Briggs down and then Tank tagged into nail their finisher to retain the titles.

What’s your take on NXT’s tag team division? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

The Undertaker Gives Oba Femi Serious Warning During 4/29 WWE NXT

by
The Undertaker Gives Oba Femi Serious Warning During 4/29 WWE NXT

The Undertaker just showed up on WWE NXT—and he didn’t come alone. He came with a message.

During the April 29 episode of NXT, reigning NXT Champion Oba Femi was backstage giving his thoughts on next week’s 25-man battle royal. The winner of that match will face him for the NXT Title at Battleground. But before Femi could finish his thoughts, the lights dimmed—and The Dead Man walked in.

The Undertaker came face-to-face with Oba Femi and kept it short, but strong. He gave the champ some props, then delivered his warning. “There are some people in LFG who are ready to step up to you soon enough,” he said. He didn’t name names, but the point was loud and clear: Oba Femi should keep his eyes open.

LFG is WWE’s new reality series based out of the Performance Center, and The Undertaker is serving as a coach on the show. His appearance on NXT was part promotion—but also a serious hint that someone from the LFG cast is coming to challenge The Ruler.

Oba Femi has been steamrolling competition since capturing the title, but now it looks like fresh threats could be coming from outside the usual NXT roster.

With The Undertaker backing them up, are we about to see a new breakout star step into the spotlight?

Which LFG talent do you think The Undertaker was talking about? Who’s got what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Oba Femi? Drop your picks in the comments and let us know what you think!

Longtime Stable Breaks Up During 4/29 WWE NXT

by
Longtime Stable Breaks Up During 4/29 WWE NXT

The April 29 episode of WWE NXT included the fallout after WrestleMania weekend. We had some high points, but fans also saw one longtime stable break up.

Noam Dar made his big return during last week’s episode of NXT. He won the Heritage Cup in the process, but this week was a bit sadder.

They showed Noam Dar backstage with the Heritage Cup, when his MetaFour stablemates joined him. That his when Lash Legend said that they needed to have a talk.

Legend explained that a lot has happened since Noam Dar was out of action. Ora Mensa has been doing well on EVOLVE while Jakara Jackson and Legend have been performing on the main roster.

Lash Legend then explained that everyone needs to go off and do their own thing. The scene was left with Noam Dar and his Heritage Cup all alone. It seems that we are seeing a new chapter unfold for that faction. Only time will tell what’s next.

What’s your take on MetaFour breaking up like this? Let us know what you think in the comments section!