Tag: Emma

Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler among WWE talents released amid UFC merger

Elias and Hit Row’s Top Dolla were also among those reportedly released by WWE on Thursday.

When WWE’s merger with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings became official, it resulted in a reduction in the workforce of those who work behind the scenes at WWE. The layoffs at the time did not include talent, but on Thursday morning, that changed with several confirmed departures from the company.

Mustafa Ali was the first to reveal on X that WWE released him, which sparked questions due to his consistent presence on NXT, as he had been scheduled to wrestle Dominik Mysterio for the North American Championship at No Mercy on Sept. 30. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp then reported that talent cuts would take place today, suggesting that Ali’s departure was linked to this.

Emma announced her departure from WWE. Hours before, she tweeted her excitement about WWE going to Perth, Australia for the Elimination Chamber premium live event. The Melbourne native, who was in her second stint with the company, had last wrestled on the July 10 episode of Raw against Shayna Baszler.

Fightful confirmed that WWE released Rick Boogs, who last wrestled on television at SummerSlam in a battle royale.

Aaliyah announced her departure from WWE. Her last match happened on the Sept. 12, 2022, episode of Raw when she and Raquel Rodriguez lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship to Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky.

Fightful reported that WWE released Elias, who had been off television most of this year. His last match came at the May 15 episode of Raw.

Fightful confirmed the WWE departure of Riddick Moss. The former football player most recently wrestled at the Sept. 11 Main Event taping.

Fightful also announced that WWE released Top Dolla of Hit Row. He last wrestled on television on the Aug. 11 episode of SmackDown in a loss to LA Knight.

WWE released Shelton Benjamin, according to Fightful. He had been in his second stint with the company.

Fightful confirmed the departure of former World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler, another long-tenured star.

This afternoon, Fightful also reported an additional round of releases, including Dana Brooke, Mace and Mansoor of Maximum Male Models and Shanky.

Mansoor had perhaps the best post of the day expressing his availability for new work.

We will update this post if more talent confirm their departure from WWE.

WWE SmackDown results: Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens finally rediscover their friendship

Live WWE SmackDown results for March 17 from Kansas City, featuring a face-to-face showdown between Sami Zayn and Jey Uso.

Kansas City is the home of champions, like the Chiefs. For WWE SmackDown this week, it’s also going to be home to another champion and a gentleman who wants to know more about exactly what’s in his heart.

The champ in question is Jey Uso, holder of one-half of both of WWE’s men’s tag team titles. Over the course of the last 10 months, it looked like Jey was coming around on Sami Zayn, sticking up for him when no one else would despite some heavy initial skepticism.

But considering how Jey laid out Sami just when it looked like their bond might overcome Uso’s familial ties, perhaps he was just playing the long game all along. That’s undoubtedly what Zayn will attempt to find out when the two men come face to face at the T-Mobile Center.

A confrontation of a decidedly more straightforwardly physical kind is also on tap for this Friday night. Adam Pearce attempted to find Gunther a WrestleMania opponent last week, but was foiled when both Sheamus and Drew McIntyre pinned people at the exact same instant. The enemies turned friends turned rivals again will attempt to settle things in the ring in Kansas City for a shot at the Ring General’s Intercontinental Championship in Los Angeles.

(Though considering many still expect that to be a Triple Threat match, be on guard for more hijinks on SmackDown.)

Last but certainly not least, Cody Rhodes usually calls Raw home, but since he’s got a date with destiny at WrestleMania, it behooves him to show up as often as possible on WWE TV. He’ll be on hand tonight as well, and the Bloodline will have to watch out for him.

WWE SmackDown results in 60 seconds:

  • Cody Rhodes tries to bring Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens back together, but KO still isn’t feeling it
  • As Owens looks to leave, Zayn insists they’re more than friends, they’re brothers, and he says he loves KO … who still gets in his car and drives off
  • Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio def. Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega by pinfall
  • Dominik wants to diss his dad some more, but quiets up when he sees his dad walking backstage on the big screen …
  • … and Rey Mysterio is emotional while explaining exactly how things with Dominik are making him feel, but he insists he won’t fight his son, ever
  • Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def. Emma and Tegan Nox by pinfall to advance to a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team match at WrestleMania
  • Charlotte Flair is here to talk, but Rhea Ripley wants to do more than that, setting off a pretty crazy brawl
  • Zayn sounds like he might be giving up on Owens after what happened tonight
  • Xavier Woods def. LA Knight by pinfall
  • Knight says he’ll fight Dominik Mysterio if Rey won’t, which earns him a slap from the masked man
  • Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre ends in a no contest thanks to Imperium’s intervention, so Adam Pearce tells Gunther he’ll have to defend against both men at WrestleMania
  • “This is what you wanted, right Uce?” Zayn and Jey Uso have their say, Jimmy Uso comes to his brother’s aid … but Owens comes to help Sami

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

WWE SmackDown results: Gunther, Rey Mysterio do the darn thing

Get quick WWE SmackDown results for the November 4, 2022 episode pre-recorded ahead of WWE Crown Jewel.

Much of the WWE roster is already in Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on Saturday. So does that mean there’s no WWE SmackDown this week? Perish the thought!

The show, as it ever does, rolls on, regardless of logistical concerns. WWE solved this particular one by pre-taping this episode the previous Friday, after the usual live show. That means that spoilers are already out there, and if you want a detailed rundown on what went down, you can go seek them out.

We’ve checked out some non-spoiler recaps and can give you a high level look at what to expect. Liv Morgan, now plenty extreme, thank you very much, takes on Sonya Deville again, this time in a No Disqualification bout. Ricochet and LA Knight are going to take their recent beef to the ring. And Rey Mysterio will get an Intercontinental Championship shot against Gunther.

Oh, yes, and we can’t forget there’s likely to be more with Bray Wyatt and the mysterious, spooky figure named Uncle Howdy.

So we’re not going to go blow by blow for this show under the circumstances, but if you need to know what went down this week, read on for full WWE SmackDown results on the night before Crown Jewel.

WWE SmackDown results in 60 seconds:

  • Liv Morgan def. Sonya Deville by pinfall in a No Disqualification match featuring a truly impressive pile of steel chairs
  • Emma said she had something to prove by accepting Ronda Rousey’s challenge, but it appears Xia Li is going to make her prove more
  • A clip from Impaulsive shows Jake Paul offering to support his brother Logan Paul at Crown Jewel
  • Another video package is shown for the Viking Raiders and Sarah Logan
  • LA Knight def. Ricochet by pinfall
  • Sami Zayn tries to rally the Bloodline but Jey Uso tells him he’s going out to the ring despite Roman Reigns’ wishes, and Jey says it’s not a Bloodline thing: it’s an Uso thing
  • Bray Wyatt isn’t happy about being interrupted when he’s doing something important, and there are flashes of his dark side as he asks a backstage technician to apologize … but Bray manages to push them aside and let the guy go when he says he’s sorry
  • The New Day warn The Usos that if they get past the Brawling Brutes, they’ve got next, then join the Brutes in beating down the Usos until Zayn and Solo Sikoa arrive
  • Shayna Baszler def. Natalya by submission with Ronda Rousey cheering her on, then bloodies Natalya after the bell with a shot to the face
  • Braun Strowman runs through five Local Talent types hand-picked by MVP
  • Legado Del Fantasma intends to make an example out of Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Gunther def. Rey Mysterio to retain the Intercontinental Championship