Tag: Seth Rollins

Opening Bell: Riddle takes on The Judgment Day, AEW rolls into Philly

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, Sept. 26, Rogers Place, Edmonton

Matt Riddle, you may have bitten off more than you can chew.

Just about everyone who has tangled with The Judgment Day has come to regret it, though arguably none more than Rey Mysterio since he lost his son to the group. Nevertheless, Riddle has gotten tangled up with Judgment Day business during his own ongoing vendetta against Seth Rollins, and will try to make the best of it Monday night by defeating Damian Priest.

The trick, of course, is dealing with the rest of the group. He may not even have Rey to back him up since the elder Mysterio has his own match with Rollins to worry about.

Also on tap for this week’s show in Edmonton:

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, Sept. 28, The Liacouras Center, Philadelphia

The Forbidden Door isn’t closed. No sir, as Jon Moxley is about to find out this week on Dynamite, it still is open a crack every now and then, and you never know who might walk through it.

In this case, it’s NJPW’s Juice Robinson, showing up in Philly for an AEW World Championship Eliminator. And while we don’t usually like these “beat the champ to get a shot at the champ’s title” bouts, we’ll make an exception for Rock Hard in this case.

AEW is also promoting these segments for Dynamite:

  • Saraya will speak, following her dramatic debut at Grand Slam.
  • The Jericho Appreciation Society will hold a championship celebration after the seemingly unlikely Chris Jericho ROH World Championship victory … and maybe say something about fellow ROH champ Daniel Garcia too.
  • MJF will be on the show to stir the pot again, probably.

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, Sept. 30, Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg

WWE continues its tour of the North by hitting Winnipeg for SmackDown on Friday night. If you watched any college or NFL football this past weekend, you no doubt heard Michael Cole’s voice on promos advertising a few matches already set for this show.

Most notably, new BFFs Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn will team to face Madcap Moss and Ricochet. The latter duo was only trying to warn Sami about his inevitable heartbreaking betrayal by the Bloodline, but Solo wasn’t trying to hear that talk and gave them a good thrashing.

Two other matches have also already been revealed for SmackDown in Winnipeg:

  • Shotzi, perhaps finally driving her cool tank again, will nonetheless be the underdog when she faces Bayley.
  • After being publicly disrespected by Los Lotharios during their watch party last week, Hit Row will get a chance at some payback.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, Sept. 30, The Liacouras Center, Philadelphia (recorded on Sept. 28)

AEW has actually been doing a nice job of teasing some Rampage matches a week in advance, but that wasn’t the case this time out thanks to Grand Slam being a bigger than normal deal in its own right (and expanding to two hours just for last week).

So surprise! We may know more as we get closer, and certainly by the time Dynamite is on some matches will be revealed before they are taped later Wednesday night, but this show is a question mark for the time being.

WWE Clash at the Castle: Everything you need to know

Prepare for WWE Clash at the Castle with our complete preview, including predictions for each match, start time, and how to watch.

UK, you’re getting the stadium show you’ve been waiting three decades to see.

When Principality Stadium in Wales hosts WWE Clash in the Castle on Saturday, Sept. 3, it will be the first time since SummerSlam way back in 1992 that WWE is holding an event at a large, outdoor stadium in the UK. That alone makes it a big deal.

But the probable main event ratchets things up another notch, because while Drew McIntyre isn’t from Wales, he is from the UK. Clash at the Castle will be the closest thing to a home WrestleMania the Scottish Warrior is likely to ever experience, and WWE has done an excellent job making it appear he has a real chance to topple Roman Reigns as undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

There are other matches on the card with semi-local interest as well, none bigger than the Intercontinental Championship match between Austrian champ Gunther and Irish challenger Sheamus. Also, that contest should just be one heck of a professional wrestling match, with both men bringing tremendous physicality, as one of WWE’s most legendary announcers of the past might say.

Add in Bayley and her new “Damage CTRL” teammates in a six-woman tag match, Liv Morgan trying to fend off another tough challenger for her SmackDown Women’s Championship in Shayna Baszler, and the man with the newly restored first name, Matt Riddle, throwing down with Seth Rollins in a feud that has become very personal, and you’ve got the makings of a very big night (or afternoon/morning, in the US) of wrestling indeed.

Keep scrolling to get fully up to speed before watching Clash at the Castle, wherever you might be watching it.

WWE Clash at the Castle

  • When: Saturday, Sept. 3
  • Where: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
  • Start time: 6 p.m. BST/1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
  • How to watch: On Peacock in the U.S., or on WWE Network internationally
  • Matches announced: 6

Opening Bell: Stretch run toward Clash at the Castle, All Out

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, Aug. 29, PPG Paints Arena

The final live WWE show before Clash at the Castle (because SmackDown was taped last week, since everyone is traveling to Wales) is unsurprisingly loaded. The card starts with the crowning of new Women’s Tag Team Champions, as Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah collide with Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.

Bobby Lashley and The Miz will also do battle on Monday night, but there’s a story to tell first since Miz was dragged into … um, wherever by Dexter Lumis last week. Is he any the worse for wear? And how exactly did he escape? Hopefully there’s a fun story in there somewhere.

Also on the slate for this week’s Raw:

  • Hall of Famer Kurt Angle makes an appearance in his hometown
  • The Usos and Sami Zayn visit from SmackDown to represent the Bloodline (yes, Sami too)
  • Riddle and Seth Rollins have one final face-to-face before Clash at the Castle and it’s likely to result in fisticuffs

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, Aug. 31, NOW Arena, Chicago

Hey, what do you know, AEW has a big event this weekend as well, so Dynamite is also a pretty stacked show as a result. The World Trios Championship tournament will have its Dynamite final (or as it’s better known more generally, the tourney semifinal) when Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks take on Will Ospreay and Aussie Open of the United Empire. Get your popcorn ready, as the great American philosopher Terrell Owens once said.

Also of interest is a tag team match pitting Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida against Dr. Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter. You may recognize those women as the four who will compete at All Out for the interim AEW Women’s Championship.

Plus there’s more already announced for Dynamite:

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, Sept. 2, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit (taped on Aug. 26)

As mentioned above, this episode is already in the can, as it was recorded after the live SmackDown last week in Motown. You can get full spoilers online should you be so inclined.

If you’d rather just have teasers of what’s to come and enjoy SmackDown as it happens on Friday, here’s what to expect:

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AEW Rampage preview – Friday, Sept. 2, NOW Arena, Chicago

In a bit of role reversal, Rampage is live this week while SmackDown is recorded. That means it should be a sweet hour of TV even though AEW has so far not said much about what to expect yet.

One match we feel confident will take place is the other semifinal of the World Trios Tournament. The two teams left on the Rampage side of the bracket are Dark Order, after they upset House of Black, and Best Friends. Expect to see them compete this Friday for the right to challenge for the inaugural championship on Sunday.

WWE Money in the Bank live results: Who will claim the briefcases in Vegas?

Check out the latest WWE Money in the Bank live results from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

There aren’t too many sure wagers in Las Vegas, but some of the best bets for WWE gold await the competitors in the namesake matches at Money in the Bank tonight. As WWE itself has repeatedly pointed out, the contracts in the briefcases have nearly guaranteed the winners they will be champions sometime in the next year: Men’s winners have an 85% cash-in success rate, while the women’s winners have been perfect so far.

That could be bad news for Roman Reigns, who has looked untouchable while holding the WWE Championship and Universal Championship. With a Last Man Standing Match against Brock Lesnar later this month at SummerSlam, the men’s briefcase winner will be licking their chops for a chance to catch him (or Brock) after a grueling affair. Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Omos, Riddle, Sami Zayn and Madcap Moss will all like their chances much better if they can climb the ladder and grab the case to make that a reality.

In the women’s division, the Ladder Match winner may have a different choice of cash-in options by the end of the night, with both Ronda Rousey and Bianca Belair putting their titles on the line. Becky Lynch will attempt to keep writing her own big comeback story, but Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Lacey Evans, Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi will all have their say in how this chapter plays out.

With just four championship matches and the two Ladder Matches, Money in the Bank should be a tightly paced affair. If you’re not in attendance at MGM Grand Garden Arena or watching live on Peacock or WWE Network (maybe because you’re watching UFC 276, also taking place in Sin City tonight), bookmark this page and return throughout the night for the latest WWE Money in the Bank live results as they go down.

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: Tribal Chief defends his gold, Jericho has his hair at stake

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage for the week of June 13.

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, June 13, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

The Judgment Day received a big shakeup last week, with Finn Balor joining and then immediately assisting with the ouster of Edge from the group. Now Edge is out with a (storyline) injury, so there’s no fear of immediate reprisals. That leaves the stable free to plot a new course, which WWE says it will do Monday night.

Speaking of injuries, Cody Rhodes suffered one of the more notable ones in recent memory, and he’s now out recuperating from successful surgery to repair his torn pec. But while the American Nightmare said he was ready to move on from Seth Rollins, the Visionary had different ideas, attacking Rhodes one last time for now. WWE says Rollins will “answer” for his attack, so look for him to possibly be booked against some tough competition.

AEW Dynamite Road Rager preview – Wednesday, June 15, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis

Once upon a time it felt like AEW was getting a little carried away with themed episodes of Dynamite, but it’s cut back on them to the point where Road Rager is a bit of a breath of fresh air. The card is suitably loaded, headlined by a three-way Ladder Match for the tag team titles, with Jurassic Express defending against both The Hardys and Young Bucks.

Chris Jericho is also putting something on the line against Ortiz … but it’s his hair, not a championship. The former Inner Circle teammates turned bitter rivals will do battle, and someone will be bald when it’s over.

Also advertised for Wednesday night:

  • An All-Atlantic Championship qualifier sees Miro go head to head with Ethan Page.
  • Wardlow battles 20 of the plaintiffs in the security guard class action lawsuit. No, really.

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, June 17, Target Center, Minneapolis

This is a big one. After jumping through several hoops to get the attention of Roman Reigns, Riddle finally got what he wanted by defeating Sami Zayn last week in a match that stipulated he’d get a Undisputed WWE Universal Championship shot if he won. Can Riddle get some payback for his buddy Randy and win some serious gold? Probably not, but you won’t want to miss it just in case he pulls it off.

Also expected for this week’s show:

  • Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin will meet in a Last Laugh Match, which we assume will end the feud between them, one way or another.
  • After running into travel issues last Friday, Max Dupri will reveal his first recruit for Maximum Male Models.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, June 17, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis (taped)

Rampage has been live more often than not the past few weeks, but this week’s episode reverts to its more typical pattern of being taped at the Dynamite show for the week, which in this case is in St. Louis.

AEW hasn’t officially announced anything yet for this episode, but we’ll update this post as soon as there’s something set.

The injury (and bruise) that Cody Rhodes wrestled with has to be seen to be believed

Anyone who sees pictures of Cody Rhodes and the bruise he wrestled with at Hell in a Cell can’t help but come away amazed and impressed.

There are times when fans pay lip service to the idea that pro wrestlers put their bodies on the line to entertain them, and other times that they sincerely appreciate it. When it comes to Cody Rhodes and what he put himself through to be in the main event of Hell in a Cell on Sunday night, it’s hard to imagine anyone watching wouldn’t fall into the latter category.

Shortly before the show, WWE tweeted that Rhodes had injured his right pectoral tendon earlier in the week, then made it even worse training for the show. Despite that, the company insisted he would face Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell as planned.

This being wrestling, Twitter lit up with a variety of reactions, including people questioning whether the injury was legit.

Once Rhodes walked to the cage and removed his entrance gear, revealing possibly the nastiest bruise ever seen in sports or sports entertainment, that question became entirely moot.

Not only did the bruise look extremely painful, but the underlying injury couldn’t have been any picnic either. Nonetheless, Rhodes not only participated in a lengthy, physical match ⁠— which included shots from various weapons and at one point, a bullrope ⁠— but he pulled off a number of wrestling maneuvers essentially with one arm. Full credit needs to be given to Rollins’ typically high level of skill and professionalism here too, because even more than usual, the match required two superior talents to pull off.

Rhodes eventually got the pinfall victory, but that hardly even mattered in the end. It’s a match anyone who saw it will remember for a long time, and people who only see the pictures of Rhodes won’t believe actually took place.

Common sense suggests Rhodes is headed for surgery and a lengthy recovery, which is unfortunate given how much momentum he had built up since returning to WWE at WrestleMania. WWE positioned him as a major star in a way it never did during his first stint, and he was repaying that faith.

He did that again at Hell in a Cell in a different but even more impressive way. That kind of performance will ensure he’s still wildly over when he recovers, and it’s well deserved.

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WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 live results: Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins collide

Check out live results from WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 as Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins go head to head in the main event.

It’s time to go to hell … in a cell, that is. WWE’s showcase for one of its best known and most brutal gimmick matches is set for the Allstate Arena outside Chicago, though the Hell in a Cell match will make just one appearance tonight.

For that reason, Cody Rhodes vs. Seth “Freakin'” Rollins is expected to be tonight’s main event. The two men have met twice already since Rhodes made his triumphant WWE return, with the American nightmare prevailing both times. Yet Rollins can’t seem to let this feud die, making it personal enough to warrant a third go-round. It’s only right that it take place inside the steel on the 25th anniversary of the namesake match.

Also on the card for the event is a three-way dance for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship, with Bianca Belair defending against both Asuka and Becky Lynch. Interestingly, most of the beef has been between the two challengers leading up to Hell in a Cell, but the onus will still be on Belair to ensure she doesn’t lose her title by one of them pinning the other.

And while there are no championships on the line and it won’t take place inside Hell in a Cell, the six-person mixed tag pitting The Judgment Day against AJ Styles, Finn Balor and Liv Morgan will also be worth watching. It feels like someone could turn on the alliance of heroes, or there might be a new recruit that Edge has waiting in the wings.

There are seven matches in all advertised for tonight’s Hell in a Cell card, so it should move along pretty briskly before Rhodes and Rollins collide. If you can’t watch live, bookmark this page and check back regularly as we update it with the latest WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 live results.

Pre-show update: This seems less than ideal, but Cody is going to make a go of it anyway, apparently.

WWE Hell in a Cell: Everything you need to know

Get ready for WWE Hell in a Cell with our preview, including predictions for each match, start time, how to watch and more.

WWE fans in the Chicago area, get ready to go on lockdown. Hopefully the fun kind, in this case, as the Allstate Arena prepares to host Hell in a Cell on Sunday, June 5.

Similar to Money in the Bank, Hell in a Cell has evolved over the years into an entire event themed around its namesake gimmick match. But that’s where the similarities end; while MITB is now a major show with ramifications that echo far down the road, HIAC feels like something of an afterthought. To wit, this year’s card features only two title matches and just one appearance by the Cell itself.

That said, WWE premium live events that look forgettable on paper sometimes surprise to the upside thanks to the hard work of the talent, and the potential for that in 2022 begins with Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell. WWE has consistently positioned Rhodes as a top star since his return, and Rollins is as reliable a main event performer as the company has.

The show will also pay off the most entertaining subplot on WWE programming since WrestleMania when Kevin Owens faces Ezekiel. Owens is a gem both in the ring and on the microphone, but he has taken his character to the next level with his paranoia-fueled disbelief over the true identity of Ezekiel. If you needed proof that excellent pro wrestling storytelling can happen at any part of the card, this is it.

It’s possible that WWE could still add a match or two during SmackDown this week, in which case we’ll update our preview with the latest. In the meantime, read on to get up to speed on everything you need to know for Hell in a Cell 2022.

WWE Hell in a Cell 2022

  • When: Sunday, June 5
  • Where: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Ill.
  • 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: 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.