Category: WWE News & Results

Windham Rotunda, a.k.a. Bray Wyatt/The Fiend in WWE, teases wrestling return

Windham Rotunda, known as Bray Wyatt and The Fiend in WWE, teased a return to wrestling on Twitter.

Windham Rotunda looks like he might be ready to return to pro wrestling soon.

The 35-year-old wrestler, best known as Bray Wyatt and then The Fiend during his time in WWE, offered several tweets Tuesday that made it sound like a comeback is imminent.

Rotunda has been inactive since his release from WWE on July 31, 2021, a move that caught many fans off-guard since his Fiend persona had been very popular and seemingly sold plenty of merchandise as well. It’s not an exaggeration to call the Fiend’s mask iconic, even if it only had a two-year run.

As Wyatt/The Fiend, Rotunda won the WWE Universal Championship (two times) and WWE Championship (once), as well as the tag team titles from both Raw and SmackDown. His final WWE feud with Randy Orton was memorable since it featured Orton setting him on fire, then returning in a new, burnt incarnation for his final match for the company at WrestleMania 37.

Reports at the time suggested that Rotunda was told that budget cuts were the reason for his release, though debates over whether he was booked properly were almost a cottage industry of their own during his WWE tenure. Rotunda has been free to sign with another promotion since last fall when his non-compete clause expired, but he has taken his time instead of rushing back into wrestling at the first opportunity.

Now that time appears to be over. Perhaps not surprisingly, Rotunda’s tweets were full of replies from fans asking him to sign with specific companies, including AEW and Impact Wrestling. It’s certainly worth noting that AEW is coming off Double or Nothing and looking to kickstart some new storylines, and the arrival of Rotunda on Dynamite would be a good way to keep people talking.

Expect the speculation about where and when Rotunda might show up to stay hot until he appears somewhere, potentially very soon.

WWE Raw live results: Nakamura, Riddle take on The Usos

Check out WWE Raw results for the May 30, 2022 episode from Des Moines, IA.

To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man … to get a chance to beat the man. Ahem. We’re not particularly fond of the “Championship Contender’s Match” that’s become so popular as of late, but we’re willing to give the one that’s been promoted for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw from Des Moines the benefit of the doubt.

At least with Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura, they’re a brand new tag team forced together because both their regular partners are on the shelf, and they need to prove themselves as a credible threat to the undisputed tag team champs, The Usos. We just wish there was another way for them to prove it than by beating the Usos.

Also tonight, Bobby Lashley will sign a contract to face both Omos and MVP at Hell in a Cell, assuming they both sign as well. Bianca Belair will get the measure of one of her two HIAC challengers, Asuka, though Becky Lynch will undoubtedly be an interested observer. And Cody Rhodes should have something to interesting to say after he was attacked mid-match by Seth Rollins last week.

Can’t watch Raw this week? No worries, just bookmark this page and we got you. Get results in bullet point form as they happen tonight from Des Moines, then scroll down for more detailed recaps of every match and the most important in-ring segments.

Opening Bell: WWE, AEW previews for the week of 5/30

Get ready for Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage with WWE and AEW previews for episodes airing the week of May 30, 2022.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week ahead.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, May 30, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

Cody Rhodes was just trying to have a normal, competitive match with The Miz when it was unceremoniously ended thanks to an ambush by Seth “Freakin'” Rollins. He’s not going to let that go without addressing it, which he’ll do this week on Raw. When? The Cody Clock will probably let us know on Monday night.

There’s also a contract signing set to take place. Bobby Lashley lost his match with MVP a week ago, meaning his former manager got to pick the stipulation for a third bout with Omos at Hell in a Cell. MVP chose a Handicap Match, so all three men will have to sign on the dotted line this week.

Also on tap for Raw:

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, June 1, Kia Forum, Los Angeles

Double or Nothing was a entertaining but lengthy affair, so it’s good that AEW has some time to catch its breath … but not too long, as the company is set for the first live wrestling event at the Kia Forum since 2015. So far, just one match has been confirmed for L.A., but it’s a big one: Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus and Christian Cage (who still hasn’t turned heel) will join forces with The Hardys in a 10-man tag team match against the Undisputed Elite (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish and Young Bucks).

It would be a surprise if we didn’t hear from new AEW World Champion CM Punk, who needs his first challenger. And we may or may not hear from MJF because … well, you know.

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WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, June 3, The Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH

WWE hasn’t confirmed any matches yet for SmackDown in Columbus, but the venue has been advertising Drew McIntyre, Ronda Rousey, the New Day and The Usos. All of them make sense to appear.

On top of that, The Schottenstein Center is also saying AJ Styles will face The Miz, though that could be a dark match, for sure.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, June 3, Toyota Arena, Ontario, CA

Last but not least (unless Rampage gets moved up again for the NHL playoffs, in which case SmackDown will air last), Rampage rolls into Ontario (not the Canadian one) to close out the week in televised Big 2 wrestling. Toyota Arena is promoting this as a homecoming for the Young Bucks, so they should be involved in some capacity.

As well, at Double or Nothing, Scorpio Sky promised Dante Martin he could have a shot at the TNT Championship, and given Rampage is on TNT, this feels like the proper place for that bout. Expect it to be officially confirmed during Dynamite.

WWE SmackDown results: New Day mystery partner, Ronda-Raquel II

Check out WWE SmackDown results for the May 27, 2022 episode from North Little Rock, Arkansas.

It’s a bit of a new day for the New Day tonight on WWE SmackDown from North Little Rock, Arkansas.

The one-time trio has been a duo for a while now, which is fine except that they’ve had ongoing issues with the Brawling Brutes … and there are three of them. Tired of being outnumbered Xavier Woods promised the New Day would have a mystery partner for a six-man tag match, so it’ll be interesting to see who walks down the ramp.

Elsewhere, Raquel Rodriguez made quite the impression when she pushed WWE SmackDown women’s champion Ronda Rousey to the limit. So WWE decided the best way to capitalize would be to run it back. Color us skeptical, but it should be a good match regardless.

And perhaps teasing the rumored end of the brand split, Kevin Owens will appear on SmackDown with a special episode of the KO Show. Undoubtedly, Ezekiel is still on Owen’s mind, as he remains determined to prove that Elias’ younger brother is really Elias.

Bookmark this page and check back throughout the night as we update it with the latest WWE SmackDown results.

Tony Khan trolls WWE on Twitter over Money in the Bank venue change

Tony Khan took a thinly veiled jab at WWE for its “genius move” of running Money in the Bank the same night as UFC 276 in Las Vegas.

WWE never mentions AEW on its broadcasts. For the most part, AEW refrains from doing the same, but it has made references to the promotion from time to time, and CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan clearly isn’t above some playful jabs at the industry leader.

On Friday, Khan tweeted about an especially busy day on Thursday during AEW’s full week of events in Las Vegas, including a meeting in L.A. with Warner Bros. Discovery management, and dinner with his dad, AEW co-owner Shahid Khan, and UFC president Dana White. He noted that he got to tell White in person that Money in the Bank, WWE’s upcoming premium live event in Las Vegas, was changing venues to MGM Grand Garden Arena after originally selling tickets at the much larger Allegiant Stadium.

But Khan couldn’t resist a follow-up tweet as well.

International Fight Week in Las Vegas is an important, well-established event on the UFC calendar that always includes the UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony and a full slate of programming for fans. It culminates in a UFC pay-per-view, which this year will be UFC 276 on July 2 — which just so happens to be the same night, in the same city, as Money in the Bank.

The insinuation is pretty clear: that WWE had trouble selling enough tickets to justify holding Money in the Bank in a stadium while UFC is holding a card at T-Mobile Arena on the same night. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has reported that WWE knew UFC was holding its event on July 2, but obviously felt the Allegiant Stadium gamble was one worth taking.

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The silver lining for WWE is that it should have a sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena for Money in the Bank despite the competition for attention in Vegas that night. Khan’s tweet was likely just a one-off dig (that White probably enjoyed as well), and while it kept to the usual rules of engagement by not naming WWE, it’ll be interesting to see if this becomes more commonplace going forward.

WWE downsizes Money in the Bank, shifts from Allegiant Stadium to MGM Grand Garden Arena

WWE revealed that it was moving Money in the Bank from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to the smaller MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Turns out the time hasn’t quite arrived for WWE Money in the Bank to be a stadium show.

WWE had been promoting Money in the Bank for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant can hold more than 70,000 attendees depending on the event, and the hope was obviously that the show would sell enough tickets to warrant a venue of that size.

But that apparently hasn’t been the case, as WWE sent an email to fans who had purchased tickets at Allegiant Stadium explaining that the show was moving to MGM Grand Garden Arena. Anyone who purchased their seats via Ticketmaster would receive a refund, as well as an opportunity to buy tickets at the event’s new location prior to a general on-sale.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reported that as of May 6, just under 17,000 tickets had been distributed for Money in the Bank. MGM Grand Garden Arena holds 17,000 fans, so even if some people who bought tickets thinking it would be a stadium show reconsider, WWE has a good chance to sell out the smaller venue.

What will be worth watching going forward is if this experience in Las Vegas is specific to that market or will affect the company’s plans for future shows. Andrew Zarian of Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Online reported in April that WWE was planning more stadium shows for the rest of this year and beyond, as opposed to the traditional WrestleMania, SummerSlam and overseas events.

The idea was that WWE wasn’t expecting sellouts at every stadium show, but merely felt it could sell more seats than the capacity of most indoor arenas. At least for Money in the Bank, it looks like that optimism may have been misplaced. The plus side is that MGM Garden Arena should be near or at capacity for the show on July 2.

Now is the perfect time to end the WWE brand split

WWE has treated Raw and SmackDown as separate entities for most of the last 20 years, but should consider ending the brand split right now.

Speculation about whether WWE will end its brand split, with different talent appearing on Raw and SmackDown, is like discussion of the weather. It’s constant, everyone has at least some opinion on it, and there’s always a bit of uncertainty involved.

The current moment in time is no different. Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t to Aidan Gibbons of Cultaholic for the transcription) recently reported that the brand split is “essentially done” and that while he didn’t expect an official announcement to be imminent, “They’re just going to do whatever.”

Raw and SmackDown have been separate brands more often then not for the past 20 years (meaning it’s been on except for a time between 2011 and 2016). The split was initially conceived as a way to produce both variation, a sense of distinct identity for WWE’s two weekly shows, and as a way to manufacture some sense of competition that was lost when WCW went down the drain and was acquired by WWE.

The degree to which WWE has stuck to the idea of its shows as completely separate entities has varied over the years. At its height, the split led to things like brand-specific pay-per-views, which maximized the company’s product while watering the shows down quite a bit — and to be fair, the biggest events still featured performers from both brands.

Most of the time, however, WWE has treated the separation of the red and blue shows like Doctor Who treats the rules of time travel: It stuck to the split most of the time, but ignored it when creatively convenient to do so.

That could certainly be the case again here, but if WWE wants to call a more formal end to the brand split, there couldn’t be a more perfect time than right now.

It starts with the most obvious facts. Both of the most important men’s titles on each show, the WWE Championship (for Raw) and WWE Universal Championship (for SmackDown), are in the hands of the same Superstar, Roman Reigns. The same is true for both sets of men’s tag team titles, recently unified by The Usos, albeit with a huge assist from Reigns.

WWE hasn’t shown any signs of having Reigns defend his championships separately, and it would be silly for the Usos to do it so soon after unifying theirs. That means the Bloodline is inherently going to float between shows for the foreseeable future.

The women’s tag team titles have always been a cross-brand affair, the exception to the rest of the company’s championships. They’re currently vacant thanks to an incident you may have heard about, but WWE is planning a tournament to find new titleholders soon. Once they’re crowned, they’ll likely be regulars (or not, considering how little WWE seems invested in that championship) on Raw and SmackDown.

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Having those champs appear on Mondays and Fridays has ripple effects on the rest of the roster. If Riddle is the next man up to challenge Reigns, as appears to be the case, it doesn’t make sense to restrict him to a single show. The same goes for the Street Profits or whoever ends up as the No. 1 contenders to the Usos.

There are also more subtle signs that the split is dissolving that aren’t related to any titles. The returning Lacey Evans has had her story told on both Raw and SmackDown, which could signal that WWE isn’t sure where she fits best, or that she could appear on both of them. If the latter is the plan for Evans, it could be the same for more Superstars who are returning or repackaged.

The complicating factor is that Fox has reportedly asked for exclusive talent for SmackDown, which is its right to request as a broadcast partner. Still, it’s hard to imagine that WWE can’t make a powerful argument that having the biggest names appear on Friday nights, or even up and comers like Theory, wouldn’t benefit SmackDown — adding more than a lack of exclusivity takes away.

On top of all of these considerations is the fact that because of roster cuts and departures, the WWE’s overall talent cupboard simply isn’t bursting at the seams as it once was. The leadership appears to recognize it with moves like unifying the titles and streamlining the overall number of storylines it has in play.

The most likely outcome is that WWE won’t formally end the brand split and will continue doing what it’s done for most of the last two decades, which is to pay lip service to it while ignoring it as needed. But if there were ever a time to take the next step and officially dispense with it, this is it.