Tag: natalya

WWE SmackDown results: Dominik pushes Rey past the breaking point, The Usos spoil the WrestleZaynia reveal

WWE SmackDown results from Vegas, as Dominik Mysterio finally pushed his father too far, and The Usos reminded KO and Sami they’re the 1’s.

The most mentally exhausting WWE storyline may finally come to a head tonight on WWE SmackDown from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

That’s not to say that there hasn’t been entertaining father-son drama between Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. The former has been appropriately tortured as a man who doesn’t want to lay his hands on his own child, no matter how far they’ve gone to the dark side, while the latter has definitely grown as a performer since linking up with The Judgment Day.

But man, is it taking forever to play out, with Dominik essentially repeating himself over and over in his promos about how Rey was never there for him growing up.

Yes, we get it.

With Rey so dug in about refusing to fight Dom even after a challenge was made for WrestleMania, that’s led many to wonder what the straw will be that finally breaks the proverbial camel’s back. Lo and behold, WWE says the entire Mysterio family, including Rey’s mother, will be in Las Vegas.

This is the best chance yet for their inevitable WrestleMania match to be made official, and to that we can only say this: Thank you, because it’s about time.

Speaking of Rey, he’ll be in action in Vegas, taking on LA Knight. Those two have had a few run-ins as of late, and Rey will undoubtedly have other things on his mind, so … maybe Knight will actually be allowed to win?

In contrast, Cody Rhodes knows exactly what he’ll be doing at WrestleMania. But he’s been staying busy leading up to the biggest show of them all, as he will tonight when he faces Ludwig Kaiser.

WWE SmackDown results in 60 seconds:

  • Cody Rhodes def. Ludwig Kaiser by pinfall …
  • … but is told by Paul Heyman after the match that he’ll be facing Solo Sikoa next week on Raw and seeing Roman Reigns one more time next week on SmackDown
  • Charlotte Flair explains exactly how she’s overcome fear, insecurity and charges of nepotism throughout her championship-studded career
  • LA Knight def. Rey Mysterio by pinfall thanks to interference from Dominik Mysterio …
  • … and after Dominik menaces his own mom, Rey finally hits him and agrees to a match at WrestleMania
  • Natalya and Shotzi def. Xia Li and Lacey Evans by submission in a WrestleMania Showcase qualifying match, one that Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler announce they’ve already been added to
  • Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Gunther are all unhappy for different reasons but end up signing the contract to meet at WrestleMania, but Butch gets a little overexcited, leading to …
  • Gunther def. Butch by pinfall, then gets smashed by a Claymore from McIntyre
  • The Street Profits and Braun Strowman and Ricochet exchange pleasantries ahead of WrestleMania
  • Sami Zayn is the guest on The KO Show, where he learns about WrestleZaynia before getting laid out by The Usos

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

Opening Bell: Pre-Revolution AEW shows, Roman Reigns scheduled for SmackDown

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

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 we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, Feb. 27, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.

WWE has blessed us with a lot more insight into what to expect this Monday than some weeks, when it’s like three hours before the show and there’s been one match and one other segment promoted. For Grand Rapids, there’s much more starting with a tag team title match pitting Becky Lynch and Lita against Damage CTRL. Lita with WWE gold in the Year of Our Lord 2023 would be pretty wild, but we’re close enough that it feels quite possible.

Speaking of things no one saw coming, Omos‘ challenge to Brock Lesnar falls into that same category. The Nigerian Giant is awaiting a response, so we’ll see if the Beast Incarnate shows up to give him one this week.

Who’s ready for Asuka? Carmella claims she is, but that might not actually be the case since the Empress of Tomorrow is acting spookier and more unpredictable than ever. We’ll see what’s what when they compete on Raw.

Also on tap for Grand Rapids:

  • The Miz will host a WrestleMania edition of Miz TV and perhaps discuss his own plans for the Showcase of the Immortals
  • Candice LeRae will attempt to not become the latest victim of Piper Niven

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, March 1, Cow Palace, San Francisco

Though there are no actual cows at the Cow Palace, it’s certainly a historic venue and a fitting one for the final Dynamite before Revolution. As such, it’s a loaded show that will answer who will be the Face of the Revolution with the ladder match of the same name. A bunch of big and intriguing names are in it, with Samoa Joe on commentary, so it should be fun.

Another bout that could be high on entertainment value is the Casino Tag Team Battle Royale. This one will have a direct effect on the Revolution card, as the winning team will be entered into the four-way dance for the AEW World Tag Team Championship.

And if you want a final dose of dueling microphones before the PPV, you’ll get it for the biggest match on the card as MJF and Bryan Danielson will get their final say. The champ, as he is wont to do, took things too far last week, which led to punches being thrown. We’d be shocked if there wasn’t a high chance of that happening again this Wednesday.

Here’s what else AEW is promoting for Dynamite:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, March 3, Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.

The nation’s capital plays host to SmackDown this week, and the big news is that Roman Reigns is scheduled to appear. The Tribal Chief has been sitting in the background watching drama continue to swirl around the Bloodline even after he defeated Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber. What will the champ have to say?

A pair of women’s matches have also been announced for the show. Rhea Ripley, who is pursuing the SmackDown title at WrestleMania, will battle Liv Morgan in a match that Charlotte Flair will no doubt be watching closely. Plus Ronda Rousey, who didn’t appear to know who Tegan Nox was last week, will tag with BFF Shayna Baszler to face Nox and Natalya.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, March 1, Cow Palace, San Francisco

Two nights before Revolution, AEW Rampage is live from the Cow Palace. Live editions of the show are always that little bit better than the recorded ones, and this should be no different.

No matches have been announced yet, but that could change even prior to Dynamite this week, so keep an eye on AEW’s social media accounts for some hints on what will be offered up this Friday.

WWE SmackDown results: Flair, Ripley face off, The Usos still have issues

Full WWE SmackDown results for Feb. 24, 2023, with Charlotte Flair going face-to-face with WrestleMania challenger Rhea Ripley.

Sometimes pointing at the WrestleMania sign isn’t enough. Sometimes you have to get in the ring and actually look your opponent for the biggest show of the WWE year in the eye and show them that you aren’t backing down. Conveniently, that’s what’s happening tonight on WWE SmackDown, in Evansville, Indiana.

Rhea Ripley has the momentum, having battled through the Royal Rumble to earn her shot, and in an overall sense for being an important part of The Judgment Day. Charlotte Flair has the SmackDown Women’s Championship and owns a previous WrestleMania victory over Rhea. Something has to give, though it would be surprising if either woman flinched tonight.

The Firefly Fun House is also making its return this week. Bray Wyatt warned the winner of a certain big, meaty men slapping meat match at Elimination Chamber he’d have his eye on the winner. That means Bobby Lashley will almost certainly be in the crosshairs of Wyatt and his puppet friends.

How about some matches, since this is a wrestling show? One that has weeks of buildup behind it will see Rey Mysterio once again go up against Karrion Kross. The bigger problem for Rey is that his son has promised to accompany Ripley to pay dad a visit, and that never turns out well.

And Imperium will be in six-man tag action against Braun Strowman, Ricochet and Madcap Moss — which sounds like a pretty even matchup except that Moss has apparently been leaning on the edge of going to the dark side.

WWE SmackDown results in 60 seconds:

  • Kayla Braxton wants a word with Jimmy Uso, who says he hasn’t spoken to Jey yet despite many efforts to do so, but he wants his brother to look him in the eye tonight
  • Imperium def. Braun Strowman, Ricochet and Madcap Moss by pinfall
  • Drew McIntyre, who came out on the ramp to watch the previous match, is assaulted by the Viking Raiders, though Sheamus comes to his aid
  • Rey Mysterio vows to put an end to Karrion Kross, but Dominik Mysterio is unimpressed with Santos Escobar‘s show of respect for his dad
  • Jimmy Uso tells Solo Sikoa things feel different in the Bloodline since Montreal, and Paul Heyman suggests maybe Solo should hang back tonight so Jimmy can settle things with his brother alone
  • LA Knight wants to talk about the other L.A., but The New Day don’t think he’s earned it, and Kofi Kingston would love the chance to shut him up
  • Kofi Kingston def. LA Knight by pinfall
  • Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley have a brief showdown after Dominik Mysterio spends a lot of time running his mouth
  • Shayna Baszler def. Natalya by submission
  • Firefly Fun House asks a pressing question: Can you keep a secret?
  • Heyman tells Jimmy Uso he needs to handle things with Jey Uso, or Roman Reigns will next week
  • Karrion Kross def. Rey Mysterio by submission thanks to interference from Dominik
  • Jimmy Uso wants to talk to Jey, but he ends up talking to Sami Zayn instead … and the drama continues

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

Opening Bell: Crown Jewel approaches, All-Atlantic 3-way on Dynamite

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

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 we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, October 31, American Airlines Center, Dallas

Happy Halloween, everyone! As WWE prepares to head overseas for Crown Jewel (and some of its talent is already in Europe for house shows in the meantime), there’s still some business to attend to first. Fans in Dallas should prepare to acknowledge the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, as he will be on hand. While he’s tried to get the Bloodline on the same page in recent weeks, there are still some cracks in the group’s foundation? Can he get them repaired before he faces Logan Paul?

Brock Lesnar is also being advertised for this week’s show. The Beast Incarnate has a big showdown with Bobby Lashley awaiting him in Saudi Arabia, and while the two men have already traded blows, Lesnar may have a a chance to get in the final word before Saturday.

Here’s what else WWE has in store for Halloween night on Raw:

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, November 2, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore

Dynamite returns to Baltimore this week with not one, not two, but three title matches. Orange Cassidy finally won his first AEW singles gold by claiming the All-Atlantic Championship, but he’ll have to work hard to keep it (which isn’t really his style) in a three-way dance with two very different opponents, Luchasaurus and Rey Fenix.

Chris Jericho has vowed to take out anything to do with ROH, including past champions, so he’ll put the ROH World Championship on the line against a mystery former champ. And Jade Cargill will try to fend off a familiar challenger for her TBS Championship in the form of Marina Shafir.

Plus AEW has promoted more for this week’s Dynamite, including:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, November 4, Enterprise Center, St. Louis (recorded on October 28)

Yep, this episode of SmackDown was pre-taped last week because talent and crew members need to be in Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on Saturday. That means that spoilers for exactly what happens on this show are already out there on the internet.

If you’d rather be surprised by outcomes but still want to know what to expect on SmackDown, keep reading:

[listicle id=15371]

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, November 4, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

In a bit of role reversal, it’ll be a live episode of Rampage following a pre-taped SmackDown instead of the other way around. The most notable name on the show might not even be one of the wrestlers, as boxing legend Mike Tyson (who has worked with AEW before) is set to join the announce team.

In terms of matches, all we know for sure is that whoever emerges from the three-way dance on Dynamite with the All-Atlantic Championship can pick a dream opponent for Friday night. If that’s Cassidy, it will be a busy week for Freshly Squeezed, which might not be something he’d prefer. We’ll find out Wednesday night.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship history: Every title change to date

See the full WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship history, including every title change from February 27, 2019 to date.

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship was one of those “it’s about time” deals for wrestling fans when first established on the night before Christmas (no, really) in 2018. With two of the most popular stars in recent memory, Bayley and Sasha Banks, as the inaugural titleholders, the belts were on their way to a memorable start.

Though WWE has had some … issues keeping the women’s tag team division stocked with interesting and viable teams since then (the same could be said for the men, to be honest), the titles have remained a topic of prominent topic of conversation among wrestling fans. This was especially true in the aftermath of Banks and Naomi walking out on WWE, vacating the championship for a time.

The titles have since made their way back to being a fixture on WWE TV and hopefully will remain that way going forward. Let’s take a look at the complete WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship history, from Feb. 27, 2019 to date.

Most recent update: Oct. 27, 2022

10 WWE stars you probably forgot were in their 40s

A number of WWE stars continue to shine even though they’re in their 40s. Here are 10 you may have forgotten are in that age range.

When Finn Balor interrupted Dolph Ziggler during his backstage interview on the Aug. 22, 2022 episode of Raw, it touched off an interaction that included Balor calling Ziggler “Kid.” That was funny for two reasons; the first, as Ziggler pointed out immediately after, is that both wrestlers are almost the same age.

The other reason Balor’s wording was humorous is that neither man is a kid at this point. When they faced off in the ring a while later, you might be surprised to know that they did it at a combined age of 83.

Ziggler and Balor are still amazing in-ring performers, of course, but they’re only part of a large contingent of WWE stars who are getting it done in their 40s. It’s actually so common for veterans to be around longer than you think that we’ve rounded up 10 wrestlers who you may not have realized are 40+.

Note that this list doesn’t even include some of the more obvious superstars in that age range who are still active, including Edge, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton and John Cena. In alphabetical order, here are our 10 WWE wrestlers who are aging gracefully in the ring right in front of our eyes.

Opening Bell: Lesnar gets Raw, Dynamite explodes into Fyter Fest

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage for the week of July 11.

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 we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, July 11, AT&T Center, San Antonio

It’s almost certainly not like this at WWE HQ, but it occasionally feels like someone says, “oh crap, SummerSlam is coming up fast, we better start promoting the main event!” Roman Reigns did his part on SmackDown this past Friday, making a now somewhat rare appearance.

Brock Lesnar will return the favor tonight, as WWE is telling the world that the Beast Incarnate will be on this week’s show. We’re not exactly sure what he’s going to do, but the official Raw preview poses the question, “what will Lesnar have to say about squaring off with Reigns one last time?”

Someone may get an F-5. If my name rhymed with Saul Layman, I’d probably just stay in the back when Lesnar is out in the ring.

AEW Dynamite preview – Fyter Fest Week 1 – Wednesday, July 13, Enmarket Arena, Savannah, Georgia

Of the themed episodes of AEW television, Fyter Fest might be right near the top. Not because there’s a special gimmick match or anything like that, but simply because its name is partially a reference to and parody of an infamous event that may otherwise have faded from the memory of everyone except those unlucky enough to attend it.

In any case, Fyter Fest Week 1 will be coming in hot with a three-way tag team championship match featuring the Young Bucks defending against both Swerve in Our Glory and Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks. The big question here is whether the challenging teams will be able to focus on the gold since they have long-running beef with each other.

Here’s what else to expect on Wednesday night:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, July 15, Amway Center, Orlando

WWE has fairly often not provided any clue as to what to expect on SmackDown recently until it is close to the show (as in sometimes the same day), but has helpfully given Orlando-area fans two matches to look forward to come Friday night.

The first is one of the trends we dislike, a Championship Contender’s Match where you have to beat the champ to get a shot at the champ for their title. In this case, the champ in question is Liv Morgan, and the wrestler gunning for another chance to face her with higher stakes is Natalya. Considering Liv already has a formidable foe lined up for SummerSlam in Ronda Rousey, she’ll hope to get past Nattie as quickly as possible.

And after saying last week he’d like to see if it’s possible to stuff the entire Money in the Briefcase inside the big mouth of Theory, Madcap Moss will get the chance to do just that. Smart money says he fails, even though plenty of people would love to see him succeed.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, July 15, Enmarket Arena, Savannah, Georgia (taped on July 13)

This really is a red letter week as even Rampage has a few matches that have been revealed ahead of time. With the next ROH event less than two weeks away, it’s only right that the company’s world champion, Jonathan Gresham, is in action against Lee Moriarity, particularly since Gresham sold out Moriarity mid-match last week and aligned himself with Tully Blanchard. As one does.

Plus the Lucha Bros. take on Private Party in a tag team match that should give AEW fans who have down since day one pleasant memories of 2019. We mean that in a good way, too.

WWE Money in the Bank: Everything you need to know

Get ready for WWE Money in the Bank with our preview, including predictions for each match, start time, how to watch and more.

As gimmick matches go, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match has reached the point where it has stood the test of time. It’s long since graduated from a bout at other events to headlining status in its own right, and the latest Money in the Bank premium live event is set for Fourth of July weekend in Las Vegas.

WWE initially had thoughts of holding the show in Allegiant Stadium, the football venue where the Las Vegas Raiders play, hoping it would prove attractive enough to sell 30,000+ tickets. But several factors, including UFC holding a pay-per-view card on the same night in Vegas, caused the company to reconsider, moving it to the smaller MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Does that mean the event itself is less significant? That depends on one’s point of view. On one hand, Roman Reigns, the man with the two most important men’s titles, is not on the card. Nor is Cody Rhodes, probably the hottest performer in WWE the last few months, as he is out long term recovering from surgery.

The counter-argument is that Money in the Bank has no filler; its six matches include four title bouts and the namesake ladder matches for the men and women. The undisputed tag team titles are on the line, as are both women’s singles titles, and the United States Championship. Most other significant, healthy superstars are vying for one of the briefcases.

So while WWE might be saving some of its best stuff this summer for SummerSlam, Money in the Bank is shaping up to be a night that could definitely be a pleasant upside surprise. Scroll down to get details on everything you need to know before watching this holiday weekend.

WWE Money in the Bank 2022

  • When: Saturday, July 2
  • Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., or on WWE Network internationally
  • Matches announced: 6

Opening Bell: WrestleMania Backlash … er, backlash, Owen Hart tourneys kick off

Check out previews for Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage, including the fallout from WrestleMania Backlash and the kickoff of the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments.

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 – XL Center, Hartford, CT (live)

WWE hasn’t released its official Raw preview yet, perhaps allowing WrestleMania Backlash to soak in just a bit more. But the fallout from the event should be front and center, particularly what’s next for the Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro. Is a tag team unification bout still on the horizon?

Seth Rollins won’t be happy following his second straight loss to Cody Rhodes, particularly the way it came about. The Visionary should have something to say about that Monday night, and could give us a hint as to whether he’s seeking a third match with Rhodes or moving on to something else.

And plenty of recent Raw storylines didn’t play a part in Backlash, so those are worth watching for as well. Particularly intriguing is the Kevin Owens situation, as he continues to turn what would otherwise be just another midcard subplot into gold with his quest to prove Ezekiel isn’t who he claims to be.

AEW Dynamite – UBS Arena, Long Island (live)

The Owen Hart Foundation tournaments get underway this Wednesday on TBS. The men’s tourney will see Darby Allin take on Jeff Hardy, as well as Dax Harwood vs. Adam Cole, while the women’s tourney features Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm. And since the “Most Magical Place in the World” is his hometown, MJF is sure to have something special cooked up for his contract signing with Wardlow.

Also announced for Dynamite this week:

WWE SmackDown – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes Barre, PA (live)

The big match announced for SmackDown this week is one that fans may have rightfully expected to see at WrestleMania Backlash: the Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Sasha Banks and Naomi will look to retain their titles as they face Shayna Baszler and Natalya.

AEW Rampage – UBS Arena, Long Island (taped)

There’s a title on the line this week on Rampage, as Scorpio Sky lived up to his promise to give former SCU teammate Frankie Kazarian the first crack at his TNT Championship.

Also revealed for this Friday:

  • Ruby Soho battles Riho in another Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal bout