2022 Pro Wrestling Thread

Word is that Orton might be out for the rest of the year while having back surgery. Whenever he does come back, it'll be interesting to see what they do with him and Riddle. Do they:
1) Just reunite them?
2) Have Orton return and do a patented Orton heel turn on Riddle?
3) Work a long-term storyline where Riddle becomes the new Orton — stealing his moves, his mannerisms, etc. — and he slowly becomes more and more unstable. His final act is to quickly turn heel on a returning Orton, "like Randy would have wanted," to set up their inevitable feud?

 

Maybe instead of a championship match contract, the Money in the Bank briefcase can contain $3 million in hush money and an NDA.

 

A WWE wrestler (especially a face) wins clean in their hometown?!?!

Thank you, CEO Stephanie!

 

God bless the world for Pat McAfee.

And the New Day are FINALLY done with Sheamus & Co.? THANK GAWD.

 

They're not going to stretch this Male Models crap out longer than Veer's debut, are they?

 

Looks like they broke the glass of the Brock case in case of an emergency.

 

Observer from June 20:

- The investigation into McMahon began after a tip to the board, from someone claiming to the 41-year-old woman's best friend. McMahon allegedly paid the woman off with his personal funds, but he also increased her salary from $100k to $200k in a single year, which would be a bigger violation, because that's company funds. He also only sent her to be Johnny Ace's assistant after their sexual relationship was over.

Eight of the 12 board members are involved in the investigation. Those who aren't: Vince, Stephanie, Triple H and Nick Khan. Again, it is noted that McMahon and Linda have largely lived apart for a long time.

Triple H initially removed Johnny Ace from his talent relations position in 2012. He was placed back in that role in March 2021, after Mark Cerrano was fired for the Mickie James garbage bag incident. There is no clear succession plan in place. Stephanie was going to step back from her duties, and her stepping up now is temporary. Triple H has been demoted twice and has heart problems. A sale could be possible.

McMahon is also near the end of a trial with Oliver Luck, over firing him the day before the XFL shut down. Luck had a $24 million contract, which was personally guaranteed by McMahon, not the league. So, McMahon has to pay, has to come up with a just cause reason, or declare personal bankruptcy to avoid the debt. The "just cause" reason used by McMahon in the trial was that Luck hired someone with a criminal record, two months before he fired Luck.

- Orton needs back surgery, so WWE is likely scrambling for a replacement opponent for Reigns at MitB. The internal options are Rollins, McIntyre, Lashley, Gunther, maybe Omos.

- Rhodes is being advertised as out for 9 months, but it's more likely to be around the Rumble that he returns. They filmed his surgery, for usage in his return angle.

- WWE's NIL program pays athletes in the low five figures, to low six figures, in the case of Gable Steveson. They aren't binding WWE tryout contracts or anything like that, but the athletes signed to them pretty much have an open door to tryout.

- Zac Efron is attached to an A24 drama, "The Iron Claw," about the Von Erich family.

- Banks hasn't been released. Her attorneys are attempting to get her out of her contract.

- Paige's contract isn't being renewed, so after July 7, she could work for a promotion the next day. WWE hasn't used her in years, and it's unknown if she could get medically cleared because of her neck issue, or if she even wants to wrestle again.

- The Rock and Chris Rock have been asked to host the Emmys, on Sept. 12.

- Devon Dudley is a coach at NXT now.

 

Dont know if its because of Randy’s injury and it was a great surprise/pop, but I’m kinda done with Brock/Roman for a while. I’ve seen Reigns smash him what 3x? He’s not a credible threat

 

RIP Dave Hebner and Tim White, Andre's right-hand man, over a few days.

WWE referee Tim White passes away

 

So, what is the end-game with the Ezekiel-Elias-KO stuff? I think it’s great. I just can’t figure out where they’re going with it.