Tag: rey mysterio

WWE SmackDown preview 10/20/23: IYO vs. Charlotte, plus Logan Paul returns

Will Rey Mysterio accept a challenge from Logan Paul? And can Santos Escobar get payback against Montez Ford?

There’s no question that IYO SKY deserved to be a champion. But can she cement her reign as a great one by beating one of the true legends of her division? That’s a question that should be at least partially answered on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown from San Antonio.

IYO has already successfully defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Asuka, which was certainly a big win. But Charlotte Flair is the standard bearer, the woman against whom all others are measured. Flair has yet to have a one-on-one title shot against SKY, but that changes tonight.

They have some history as well, as SKY once beat Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship. Charlotte has a long memory for that type of thing, and will be looking to ensure that bit of history doesn’t repeat itself.

The other big hook for tonight’s SmackDown is the return of Logan Paul. After his latest successful outing in his “hobby” of boxing, Paul wasted little time announcing to the world that he had his eyes on WWE gold — and in particular, the United States Championship currently held by Rey Mysterio.

Being a fighting champ and all that, Mysterio seemed to welcome the challenge. We’ll see if he still feels that good about that stance in San Antonio, where the two men are scheduled to both be on hand.

Mysterio has an LWO teammate who will be in action tonight as well. Santos Escobar hasn’t taken kindly to the way Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits welcomed Carlito back to the fold (hint: they beat him down). He’ll try to do something about it when he steps in against Montez Ford, though beating Tez is never an easy task.

This is the time of year where it seems like there’s the maximum amount of other things going on Friday nights, but we’ll be ready to take in this edition of SmackDown at 8 p.m. ET. Please join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live results and a snarky comment or two if you aren’t able to watch it all unfold.

Rey Mysterio still hopes to wrestle until he’s 50 … but he’s 48 now

Rey Mysterio said he can see the end of his WWE career coming “within the next year and a half or two.”

When is the right time for a legendary pro wrestler to retire? It’s a question that’s different for each one, and difficult to answer. Sometimes it helps to set a date in advance, which is what Sting just did this week. Rey Mysterio hasn’t done that, but he has said in the past he’d call it a career once he turned 50.

That’s relevant because Mysterio will turn 49 in December. He also doesn’t seem to have any career goals left to check off: He’s won almost every title there is to win (including his current stint as WWE United States Champion), has had a chance to work with son Dominik, is already in the WWE Hall of Fame, and is generally considered among the greatest luchadors and cruiserweights of all time.

With all of that in mind, is Mysterio holding firm on his retirement plan? As a recent guest on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, he didn’t confirm it … but he also didn’t shoot that idea down (h/t Fightful for the transcription).

That’s a year away. I’m hoping…I did say 50…If my body keeps responding the way it has…the way I’ve been working for the past 34 years, I’ve modified my work a lot, for the best, but still being able to invest the audience into watching Rey Mysterio. I always like to come up and create moves where fans can say, ‘Wow, he’s still doing it.’ That’s part of my growth and what’s been keeping me healthy to be able to do what I do.

Mysterio singled out his trademark slide under the ropes to the floor as a move he wouldn’t necessarily need to do at this age, but one he still enjoys because it gives the fans the experience they expect from him.

He also thanked his wife for being supportive of his career decisions and that he’d like to give time back to her soon.

I’m hoping that it can be within the next year and a half or two.

Just like you should for several other legends nearing the end of their careers, enjoy Mysterio now, because it sounds like you may not have a chance before too long.

Adam Copeland joining AEW shocked Rey Mysterio: ‘I thought he was going to re-sign with WWE’

One WWE Hall of Famer didn’t see the defection of another coming.

Adam Copeland officially marked the end of his 25-year career in WWE when he made his debut for AEW at WrestleDream earlier this month. He always called it home, and it was where he was always associated as a pro wrestler.

While rumored in advance, Copeland’s AEW debut was still memorable for the company, closing this inaugural pay-per-view. Since then, he has appeared on various episodes of Dynamite and Collision, including his victory against Luchasaurus in his first AEW match.

Despite the advance buzz, the move apparently caught some people off-guard, including Copeland’s friend and former WWE co-worker, Rey Mysterio. When speaking to The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Mysterio said that he didn’t see this happening because he thought Copeland would re-sign with WWE (h/t Fightful for transcription).

I was shocked. We had just spoken a week before that. Not that I expected him to tell me anything. We never had the time to even talk about what was next. I saw him in his last match, ‘we’ll be in touch.’ We call each other every now and then. Next thing you know, I didn’t even see, it was on social media the following day. ‘Did you see?’ ‘No, what happened.’ They showed me (his debut). ‘Wow, I didn’t see that coming.’ I imagine he has his reasons on why and I can’t wait to sit down and chop it up with him. It’s always good to have an option. At the end of the day, that was his decision. That’s what made him feel good, take it. I would say that about anyone who would have done it. The fact that we have a great connection doesn’t mean we can dictate what he should want or doesn’t want. Overall, it was shocking because I thought he was going to re-sign with the company or figure out what he wanted to do, whether movies, or stick around for some more time.

Mysterio also believed that Copeland would remain a lifelong member of the WWE.

Yes, I think that’s why it shocked so much. He was a home guy.

It appears that Mysterio is understanding with Copeland’s decision to leave WWE, but everything that happened still took him by surprise. Perhaps Copeland will return to WWE one day, but for now, he is thriving in AEW.

Rey Mysterio reacts to Triple H being in charge of WWE creative: ‘He’s been doing incredible’

Rey Mysterio praised Triple H’s creative work in WWE in an interview with The MMA Hour.

Since Vince McMahon stepped down in 2022, only to return and take back control from Paul “Triple H” Levesque and make changes remotely, people have been debating who is the true leader of WWE creative. This conversation only intensified when Triple H reclaimed control when the UFC-WWE merger finalized in September.

It’s obviously a significant change to the fabric of WWE, and the results are continuing to play out with more superstars being featured on Raw and SmackDown and feuds having a different look and feel to them entering the end of 2023.

WWE talent are now reacting to the ongoing changes backstage as the fallout continues. In an interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Rey Mysterio was asked about McMahon’s lesser role (h/t Fightful for transcription).

“That is wild. It’s wild not to see him. Even though we got used to him not being there, it’s just crazy to go to Gorilla and not see him there,” he said.

Asked if he could text Vince, Rey replied, “I’ve had texts and emails with him, not too many.”

Asked how things are going under Triple H’s leadership, Rey said, “He was part of the roster, so he understands what we do and go through. I don’t think they could have picked a better person to take that role. He’s been doing incredible. From the whole writing team, and him, and whoever the final person that gives the authorization to say, ‘that’s a go,’ it’s been doing really good. To a certain extent, we would have times where things would be changed last minute. Right now, things are flowing very smoothly, very very smooth. It’s a good atmosphere.”

McMahon had been the main man in charge during Mysterio’s multiple WWE runs, so it’s understandable that it’s seen as a noticeable shift. However, the admiration for Triple H is also noteworthy, and an obvious indication that he is now the one in charge.

WWE Raw results 10/16/23: Brotherly betrayal as Jimmy Uso costs Jey gold

Also, see how Gunther overcame the literally biggest challenge to date for his WWE Intercontinental Championship on the season premiere of WWE Raw.

Sometimes you just have to give a dominant champion the most intimidating possible physical challenge you can. That’s exactly what Gunther is getting tonight on the season premiere (wink, wink) of WWE Raw in Oklahoma City.

The Ring General has fended off all kinds of challengers during his record-setting reign as Intercontinental Champion. Perhaps the only kind of opponent he hasn’t faced is someone who can not only stand toe to toe with him, but actually overpower him and toss him around.

Bronson Reed can do that. And while no one is probably expecting the big man to win the title tonight, stranger things have happened.

We’ll also see The Judgment Day try to reclaim their tag team gold from the gentlemen who beat them for it, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. While perhaps a bit of an unusual pairing at first, Rhodes and Uso have proven to be an effective team, even beating former titleholders Kevin Owens (now off to SmackDown) and Sami Zayn to prove they belong.

Of course, Damian Priest and Finn Balor may be even more motivated than the Canadian duo, since they want not just personal redemption but some manner of internal group peace as well. Would a victory stop some of the infighting in The Judgment Day? It sure wouldn’t hurt.

We’ll also see Shinsuke Nakamura and Ricochet battle in a Falls Count Anywhere match, as well as what should be an absolute collision between Rhea Ripley and Shayna Baszler.

Let’s jump in, because it’s season premiere time.

WWE Raw season premiere results from Oklahoma City:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or in-ring segment in bold)

  • Sami Zayn flies without Kevin Owens … but not alone, as Jey Uso helps prevent him from getting rushed by The Judgment Day
  • Shinsuke Nakamura delivers a message to Ricochet before their Falls Count Anywhere match comparing him to a bug he’ll squash on the floor
  • Walking backstage, Zayn is approached by Uso, who wants to know if they’re good, but Sami admits that he’s struggling with the Jey only being there because KO is gone; Jey says he didn’t know Sami felt like that but says “it is what it is Uce,” and Zayn runs to offer an apology that is happily accepte
  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. Ricochet in a Falls Count Anywhere match
  • Chelsea Green and Tegan Nox exchange insults … and Nikki Cross is there lurking in the background
  • A hype video is shown for Gunther ahead of his Intercontinental Championship later tonight
  • Piper Niven def. Natalya by pinfall, but finds Nox is able to prevent a post-match beating
  • Damian Priest wonders again if they should take out Drew McIntyre and questions Rhea Ripley for all the phone calls she’s been taking, but they all agree they’re about to handle their business tonight and the meeting of the whole team seems to end on a positive note
  • Seth Rollins is confused by Drew McIntyre, but they understand each other a little better after a pointed conversation
  • Video is shown of Logan Paul challenging Rey Mysterio after his most recent boxing match, as well as Rey’s response on YES
  • Ludwig Kaiser def. Johnny Gargano by pinfall
  • Becky Lynch likes Indi Hartwell’s suggestion that they compete for the NXT Championship Indi never lost, then turns and finds herself face to face with Ripley
  • McIntyre tells Zayn he respects what he’s done as of late, and Sami appreciates that … but he isn’t fond at all about Sami forgiving Jey, and while it becomes clear they aren’t going to agree on this topic, they do agree to work out some of their differences in the ring next week
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler goes to no contest after Nia Jax, Raquel Rodriguez and Zoey Stark all crash the match
  • Lynch convinces Adam Pearce to make the match with Hartwell, and Xia Li wants a shot too … on her time; Jade Cargill also arrives, and Lynch tells her to get in line
  • Uso and Cody Rhodes are feeling good about their title defense tonight, YEET
  • Gunther def. Bronson Reed by pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • The Miz is irritated to have to wait until the third hour to get on the season premiere, suggesting that Pearce should be fired and that Nick Aldis should take over as GM of both shows; Jax steals the mic from him and says everyone has hit her with their best shot, but she’s still standing and is the one who does the squashing
  • Ripley is mad that Pearce hasn’t controlled her division, but he’s taking no crap, so he books Rhea in a Fatal Five-Way at Crown Jewel, which she isn’t happy about; Indus Sher stops by at the end and says they need to talk
  • Alpha Academy is busy training (as well as Akira Tozawa), but The New Day isn’t pleases about tag team championship talk that doesn’t include them, and they agree to battle it out next week before everyone gets dazed by Tozawa’s moves
  • Gunther is happy that Kaiser won but says Vinci will need to make sure Gargano is stretchered out when he faces him next week
  • The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) def. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso by pinfall to become the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions after Jimmy Uso arrives to superkick Jey at a key moment in the match

For maybe the first time ever, WWE Fastlane was actually consequential

A skippable premium live event? Maybe in past years, but WWE Fastlane was worth watching this time.

If you have watched WWE for as long as I have (about 30 years, give or take), you are familiar with the fact that there are tiers to the company’s premium live events.

You already know that at the very top is WrestleMania, for obvious reasons. Right below that are Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and even Money in the Bank. These events don’t feature the spectacle and grandeur of WrestleMania, but are certainly among the most consequential on the calendar.

And then there’s the rest of the events, which if you’re a diehard fan you’re watching regardless. However, if you’re more of a casual fan, you may skip here or there.

Fastlane firmly falls into the last category, as its usual placement in February/March typically made this a mere speed bump you quickly pass over on the road to WrestleMania.

But that wasn’t the case in 2023. 

WWE moved Fastlane to October this year, which still placed it right before a more marquee event — Survivor Series, in this case. 

But unlike in years past where Fastlane could have largely been ignored, this year’s show served its purpose better than it ever has. And because of it, Survivor Series, which may or may not feature WarGames, feels like an even bigger event.

If there is a WarGames at Survivor Series, it could be among the most intriguing in the match’s history. Having The Bloodline and The Judgment Day form a, dare I say, dangerous alliance, has already made for great television. And I love the fact that it’s Rhea Ripley leading the transaction from The Judgment Day’s side.

But who knows how longer The Judgment Day will last after Finn Balor and Damian Priest lost the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles to Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso? That will certainly add more cracks to the group’s already fragile foundation.

Then you got LA Knight and John Cena taking down Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa, which I’m sure will be addressed on the upcoming episode of Smackdown — which will feature an appearance from the Tribal Chief himself, Roman Reigns.

Seth Rollins retained his world title by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura in a Last Man Standing Match, which should all but end their feud and open the door for a new challenger to step up to the plate. And we all know there has been a lot of intrigue around who that person might be. Also, the match was tremendous.

And let’s not forget that Jade Cargill made her WWE television debut during the event as well. Sure, it was merely walking out of a car (looking stunning, I might add) and being greeted by Triple H, but it is a sign that WWE has got major plans for the former AEW TBS Champion.

There are some good things brewing in WWE. Things are so good that even Fastlane proved to be an exciting chapter in WWE’s never-ending tale between good and evil.

WWE Fastlane 2023 results: Seth Rollins survives, plus new tag team champs

Seth Rollins and IYO SKY foiled strong title challenges, and WWE Fastlane was a bad night for The Judgment Day and The Bloodline.

Seth Rollins seems like he was made for the World Heavyweight Championship, priding himself on being a workhorse titleholder who defends the belt often and against all comers. But that’s only if his body can stand up to the grind, and Shinsuke Nakamura is going to try to show that it can’t tonight at WWE Fastlane in Indianapolis.

Nakamura has had one shot at the title already and come up short. But he has played Rollins masterfully over the past few weeks, essentially goading him into the stipulation he wanted: And he picked Last Man Standing.

WWE has done a nice job working Rollins’ real life back ailments into the narrative, creating a little doubt that he comes out of this with the championship. That’s perfect for a show like Fastlane, where fans wouldn’t normally expect a big title change.

A lot of attention is also on John Cena and LA Knight teaming up to face The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso (at least Jimmy says he’s in The Bloodline). It’s one of those past meets present moments WWE does so well, and while Knight certainly doesn’t need a rub from anyone right now, it can’t hurt to have a man WWE promotes as “The Greatest of All Time” paired with him for a high profile match like this.

With those bouts plus a men’s tag team title match on the card, the WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat bout could be one that will steal the show. There are only five matches total that are expected for Fastlane, so it wouldn’t be completely shocking if something got added on the fly.

Let’s hit the gas and see where we end up.

WWE Fastlane 2023 results:

(click on any match with a link for full details)

WWE Fastlane 2023 predictions: Who walks out of Indianapolis with their hand raised?

WWE Fastlane is about to roll into Indianapolis. Here’s who we think will win every match.

Let’s be real for a second: Fastlane is typically one of WWE’s premium live events that I am not going out of my way to watch.

It’s placement was usually right before WrestleMania, which also usually meant there wasn’t going to be anything of tremendous consqeuence on the card unless it was setting up something for the much more important event the next month.

This year’s Fastlane has some of those same hallmarks. It’s still not considered to be a major premium live event, it’s taking place before a more consquequential event in Survivor Series, and WWE’s top champion, Roman Reigns, is not even scheduled to appear.

However, there is a different feel about this edition of Fastlane. Maybe it’s because John Cena is on the card. Maybe it’s because there are some unique tag team matches. Maybe it’s because Jimmy and Jey Uso are both on the card in tag team matches, but they are not teaming together.

Either way, the 2023 edition of Fastlane has the potential to be exponentially more fun than the Fastlane events of years past. 

One thing that hasn’t changed is that I’ve got predictions. Here’s what I believe will go down in Indianapolis:

Image credit: WWE.com

John Cena and LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso

When Cena was commonly referred to as “Super Cena,” the prediction for this contest would have easy. However, this is grizzled vet Cena, who has already lost to Austin Theory at WrestleMania this year.

That win has done very little for Theory, but it is not outside the realm of possibility that Cena takes another loss here, especially if Reigns gets involved to ensure a victory for his family. 

Reigns is not currently advertised for Fastlane, but he is advertised for next week’s edition of Smackdown (as is Triple H, for that matter). 

With all of that said, I think the one thing Cena and LA Knight have going for them is all of the momentum the latter currently has. Every week, the pops seem to be getting louder and louder for Knight. The people are clearly behind him, and I see no reason to hand him a loss at Fastlane. 

If anything, Knight needs this win to cement as main-event player. Because of that, I’m going with the babyfaces here. 

Winners: John Cena and LA Knight

Image credit: WWE.com

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Boy, is there a lot of speculating and theorizing going on around Seth Rollins at the moment. 

For the record, none of it has been confirmed, but that has not stopped fans from throwing them out there.

One thing I know for certain is Rollins is walking out of Fastlane with the world title. What’s next? I can’t wait to find out.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Image credit: WWE.com

WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

IYO SKY being put into a Triple Threat match she did not ask for is a good way to stack the deck against her heading into Fastlane. However, I believe she will overcome the odds of having to face two very accomplished wrestlers and retain her championship:

Winner: IYO SKY

Image credit: WWE.com

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: Finn Balor and Damian Priest (c) vs. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso

What a unique a fun matchup this has the potential to be. While it should be fun, I believe the outcome is academic: The champs retain.

Winners: Finn Balor and Damian Priest

The LWO (and mystery partner) vs. Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits

Here is another unique match that has the potential to be a lot of fun.

As far as a winner, I have to go with Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits to further establish them as a unit to be reckoned with.

Winners: Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits

WWE SmackDown results 10/6/23: John Cena, LA Knight, Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes team against an evil alliance

WWE SmackDown saw The Bloodline and The Judgment Day join forces, but enough heroes banded together to stop them.

Even though it’s popular to tease WWE for doing so many “Can they coexist?” matches, there’s a reason the company goes to that well so often: It’s almost guaranteed drama. So it should come as no surprise that tonight’s WWE SmackDown, the go home show before Fastlane on Saturday night, includes one of those bouts.

Asuka would really like to win the WWE Women’s Championship again after losing it this summer. Charlotte Flair would also like to win it since she’s just accustomed to wearing gold around her waist. Both women will have a chance to do so at Fastlane in a Triple Threat match with current champion IYO SKY … but first they have to team together tonight against SKY and Bayley.

Yet there’s a chance that this might subvert the coexisting trope. After all, Asuka and Flair have been a successful team before, even winning tag team gold together. And Damage CTRL might finally be showing some cracks since Bayley took it upon herself to book SKY to face two challengers, perhaps out of jealousy. This could be interesting indeed.

The other big hook for tonight’s show is that it’s getting visitors from Raw. Cody Rhodes has backed Jey Uso even when others weren’t as crazy about it, and his reward is getting teamed with Uso to take on The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest and Finn Balor for tag team gold. All four men will be on hand tonight in St. Louis.

We’re ready to see what this night holds in store, and if any additional matches will be added to the Fastlane card which currently goes just five deep. Let’s go on this journey together, shall we?

WWE SmackDown results from St. Louis:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • A video package shows LA Knight coming to the rescue of John Cena on last week’s show
  • Speaking of LA Knight, The Bloodline wants to mess with him, but John Cena has his back; Knight also challenges Jimmy Uso to a match tonight
  • As The Bloodline walks in, Damian Priest wants to know why JD McDonagh is there, but Rhea Ripley says he’s there at her invitation
  • Asuka and Charlotte Flair def. Bayley and IYO SKY by pinfall
  • Heyman says Roman Reigns needs to authorize a match, to which Uso points out that he’s never around; also The Judgment Day seems to have taken over the dressing room The Bloodline thought was theirs
  • Ripley tells the two teams to leave so she can chat with Heyman, but Solo and Priest linger and stare each other down
  • Bobby Lashley def. Rey Mysterio by pinfall, and officials come out to check on Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde after the match as they get entangled in the action on the outside with the Street Profits
  • Back to Heyman and Ripley: Rhea proposes an alliance, and while Paul likes the idea, he needs to get the idea authorized by the Tribal Chief … but Rhea wants Paul to acknowledge her before giving him permission to “make your little phone call”
  • Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn continue to insinuate that they’ve cursed the women’s tag team championships
  • Dragon Lee def. Austin Theory by pinfall after Cameron Grimes takes out his ringside help, Grayson Waller
  • Ripley is shown talking to Jimmy Uso backstage
  • The LWO says Del Cruz and Wilde are going to be out for tomorrow’s six-man match at Fastlane, so Mysterio tells his remaining teammates he will make a phone call …
  • Jimmy Uso vs. LA Knight ends in a no contest, becoming a huge brawl that involves The Judgment Day, Solo Sikoa, John Cena, Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes that ends badly for JD McDonagh

WWE SmackDown preview 10/6/23: A Raw invasion of sorts ahead of Fastlane

Another Fastlane preview with see Asuka and Charlotte Flair take on Damage CTRL tonight on WWE SmackDown in St. Louis.

It’s kind of a bad pun to say Fastlane has come up fast, but … hey, it really has. The next WWE premium live event is now just one day away, so tonight’s WWE SmackDown in St. Louis should put the final pieces in place for that event (especially since right now, it only has five matches).

One big attraction for Saturday will be Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso teaming to try to dethrone the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, Damian Priest and Finn Balor of The Judgment Day. Rhodes has been Uso’s biggest backer since he arrived on the Raw roster even as some notable names were unconvinced that he had seen the error of his Bloodline ways.

Meanwhile, the sense of tension within The Judgment Day has ebbed and flowed, with Balor seemingly on the outs for a bit for introducing JD McDonagh to the mix. But after Rhea Ripley put him on notice, it might be Priest who needs to step up now. All four men will journey from Raw to SmackDown tonight ahead of their collision at Fastlane.

Another preview for a match on Saturday will see Asuka and Charlotte Flair together against Damage CTRL. It appears to be a classic “Can they coexist?” situation as both women will be challengers against IYO SKY in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane for her WWE Women’s Championship in Indianapolis.

Also being advertised for tonight:

If this sounds like a good time to you, the place to be is FOX at 8 p.m. ET. Or if you prefer, you can just join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live WWE SmackDown results and updates throughout the show. Can’t lose either way!