Harry Smith (aka Davey Boy Smith Jr., DH Smith) has announced that he is back in WWE.  As noted, the Money In the Bank go-home edition of SmackDown from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas featured two pre-show dark matches with Smith and WWE NXT Superstars in action – Smith and Austin Theory vs. Odyssey Jones and Xyon Quinn, plus Aliyah vs. Xia Li.  In an update, the tag team bout was won by Smith and Theory, while the singles match was won by Li.  Smith spoke with Megan Morant for a post-match backstage interview, which you can watch below. Smith talked about being away from WWE for a decade, making himself a better wrestler around the world, and how he is now back. Morant asked Smith what it felt like being the first Superstar to come through the curtain.  “You know, it’s great to be back in the WWE, especially in front of the WWE Universe, live here in Houston, Texas,” Smith said. “The atmosphere, the ambiance, the energy that you can feel from a live WWE audience, nothing can touch that and that’s why Harry Smith is back in the WWE. The past 10 years I’ve been going around the globe, making myself the best competitor that I can be, all over in Japan, all over in Europe, and that’s why I’m back in the WWE, to show exactly how much Harry Smith has grown over this past time.”   On a related note, it appears Smith fooled fans into thinking he was headed overseas for an international tour before flying into Houston, Texas for tonight’s SmackDown episode. Smith tweeted on Thursday and acted as if he was flying out for shows in Russia and Egypt.   It looks like WWE will be billing Bulldog Jr. by his “Harry Smith” name.

Smith, a former WWE Tag Team Champion, previously worked for the company from 2006-2011, and since then he has found significant international success. There had been speculation on his return after the two sides expressed interest in recent months. Smith, his sister and mother inducted his father, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith into the WWE Hall of Fame earlier this year.

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#wwe #daveyboyjr #harry #update #wrestling #smackdown #podcast #sports 

WWE star Riddle finally explains real-life beef shoot heat with Seth Rollins, shares their conversation at Survivor Series. Speaking with talkSPORT, Riddle has commented on the rumors that he has beef with SmackDown star Seth Rollins, confirming that the pair don't really like one another.  It had already been speculated that Seth Rollins didn’t like Riddle when last year’s Survivor Series rolled around.  When Rollins then exited the match without going near Riddle, the rumors intensified. Rollins had said publicly, in character or not, he didn’t want to work with Riddle and wouldn’t be on the same show as him. Then, at the 2021 Royal Rumble, the pair did work together. Rollins actually threw Riddle out of the match following a Curb Stomp, so it seemed the door wasn’t firmly shut.  When talkSPORT caught up with the Original Bro this week, we asked him what was really going on behind the scenes with him and Rollins?  “I’ll be honest, I’ve met Seth multiple times and he’s met me and I don’t think we’ll ever be best friends [laughs]. I don’t think we like one another, we’re just two different people. [Although] we both love wrestling,” said Riddle.  “I know my significant other said something about Becky that they didn’t like and I also did not like or agree with. Seth didn’t like me after that and I don’t think Becky liked me or my wife either, which is understandable. It is what it is.”

Lisa Riddle recently kicked up a storm by body-shaming wrestlers such as Becky Lynch by calling them “skinny jiggly fat.” She then called the situation funny, claiming there are many female athletes who train under her and they know what they want to achieve. She then compared herself and WWE women, informing that she doesn’t care about looking good and only wants to become a decent Olympic lifter. She also claimed that WWE women are getting paid to look good.

After the Survivor Series five-on-five Elimination match between RAW and SmackDown – which Riddle’s RAW swept – he did finally get a chance to talk to Rollins and he told talkSPORT exactly what was said.  “After Survivor Series, because he was there I got to talk to him and I said ‘Hey’ and a camera came up to us to film it and I said ‘No, don’t come over here, don’t film this. It’s between me and him.’  “We talked. I told him – and this is exactly what I said – I said ‘Hey man, what was said, I don’t agree with it. I thought it was bullcrap. It’s not cool. I just want you to know I apologise, I apologize on her behalf as well.  “On top of that I think you’re a great performer and if you would ever have it in your heart to work with me, I would love that. And I will say this, we’re good enough to be working together, I don’t think we’re friends.  “I’ll tell you this, that last curb stomp he gave me at the Royal Rumble, we’re not friends [laughs]. When I get in the ring with him, he’s going to get it! Put that online! Can we get back in the ring? I need to repay that curb stomp, bro!”   Riddle is currently on RAW and Rollins is on SmackDown, but with a reported draft coming up, they may be working together sooner than we think.

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#mattriddle #sethrollins #beckylynch #wwe #raw #smackdown #wrestling 

WWE announced Bayley suffered an injury while training and will be out for nine months. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reports the injury happened during the mandatory "return to road" training session at the WWE Performance Center while doing chain wrestling with another Superstar and was referred to as a freak accident.  As a result of Bayley's injury, Bianca Belair will have a new challenger for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WWE Money in the Bank. The replacement opponent will be announced on Friday's WWE SmackDown.   From WWE: WWE Digital has learned that Bayley sustained an injury while training for her WWE Money in the Bank match against Bianca Belair and will be out approximately nine months.   Sonya Deville appeared on Friday Night Smackdown on Fox and announced that the replacement would be Carmella. Bayley suffered the injury while training for her “I Quit” match against SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at Money In the Bank.  It’s now reported by multiple sources, PWInsider and Fightful Select, that Bayley suffered a torn ACL.

Liv Morgan was also featured in the segment with Sonya and Carmella and was entered into the upcoming Women's Money In The Bank.   WWE posted a new video on social media where Bayley has her knee in a brace, cutting a promo on her injury and blaming the fans.

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#bayley #livmorgan #wwe #moneyinthebank #sports #trending #podcasting #athlete

Malakai Black is officially All Elite.  AEW confirmed on Twitter today that Black has signed with the company. As noted, the former Aleister Black (Tommy End) made his AEW debut on the Road Rager edition of Dynamite on TNT. He attacked Arn Anderson and then took out Cody Rhodes when he made the save, setting up a new top feud for AEW. Earlier in the day, Black revealed his new gimmick with a promo video on Instagram.  Black was released by WWE in June due to budget cuts. Earlier today, he teased his new name in a video posted to his Instagram. Typically, when main roster stars are released by WWE, they are under a 90-day non-compete clause.  Black was able to appear in AEW so quickly due to a clerical error, according to PWInsider. When Black was moved from NXT to the main roster a couple of years back, WWE failed to update his contract from the standard 30-day non-compete clause that NXT stars typically have.

Andrade El Idolo picked up a decisive win in his All Elite Wrestling in-ring debut.  At the special “Road Rager” episode of AEW Dynamite, Andrade faced Matt Sydal in a singles match. Vickie Guerrero accompanied Andrade to the ring and watched him pick up an emphatic victory.   Clad in suit pants, Andrade was all business as he showcased the remarkable skills that won him the WWE United States Championship during his time with the company. He controlled most of the bout against Sydal and pinned his opponent with the El Idolo. After the bout, to put an exclamation point on the win, Andrade attacked Sydal and wrenched his arm in a brutal submission hold.

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#malakaiblack #aew #andrade #allelitewrestling #wrestling #sports #tnt #dynamite 

Todays Topics: 0:45 Zelina Vega Returns, Deletes "I Support Unionization" Tweet 2:30 Zelina Vega vs Dave Meltzer 3:59 Dave Meltzer history with Women's Wrestling (Peyton Royce, Charlotte) Reporting Ethics,  5:03 Mercedes Martinez/ Xia Li Update 5:47 Tegan Nox returns to NXT television at the Great American Bash Event       Zelina Vega: Zelina Vega (Thea Trinidad) deleted her tweet about unionization that was sent out shortly before it was announced that she was released back in November. As previously noted, Vega made her return to WWE on Friday Night SmackDown. The tweet that read, “I support unionization” is no longer on her Twitter feed. Another tweet that has been deleted is the one where she thanked SAG-AFTRA for a “pleasant conversation and insight.” On Saturday, she alluded to a supposed lie that was told from the “dirt sheets” but she did not cite exactly what was reported about her that was not true. The tweet, which included a GIF of a woman reading a laptop, says the following, “Actual footage of dirt sheet writers trying to think of the next lie to post about me Face with tears of joy:” The terms of Vega’s new deal with WWE are not known but it’s worth noting that she is still on Twitch so it appears that things worked out positively on her end.  Dave Meltzer had a lot to say about Vega’s comments and she didn’t let that go unanswered. Dave Meltzer heard her statement and he commented during Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer later replied to say, “You should point out who lied and the specifics of the lie rather than a blanket statement and group people in one category. I explained that in detail how horrible it would be to say something bad about “wrestlers” that only applied to a small percentage of them.”

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Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com is reporting that Mercedes Martinez has been taken to hospital following the finish to the Mixed Tag Team Match Up of  Xia Li & Boa vs Martinez & Jake Atlas during tonight's (June 29th 2021) NXT on USA Network.  The finish of the match saw Martinez take an impressive spinning heel kick from Xia Li. It seems as though she caught Mercedes a little too hard knocking her out.  Mercedes did an odd type of kick-out thing which looked really awkward, but the match was quickly stopped as there was obviously something wrong.  Sapp noted on Twitter that "talent/staff were told she's headed to the hospital for further evaluation"   This was not confirmed by WWE or the announcers, but there was speculation on Martinez possibly being knocked out by Li’s kick.   After Mercedes went down, Xia Li went for the cover, there was an awkward kickout and Mercedes lip even looked. bloody. The camera never went back to Mercedes for the remainder of the segment.   Xia Li is the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a WWE ring.  In June, Li went on to feud with Mercedes Martinez over losing to her in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, defeating her in a match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. This incident on NXT only adds to their rivalry.  he Boa and Xia Li duo added a new member to create a faction known as Tian Sha. While we all thought Tian Sha was the name of the spooky character Boa and Xia Li teased, it’s actually the name of the faction.

“She was hospitalized last night after Xia Li hit a spin kick to the jaw that knocked her out. They did the referee stoppage finish, it wasn’t like a worked finish, it was legit. She was taken to the hospital and evaluated. I was under the impression this morning that she’s alright, but that’s all we know.” - Bryan Alvarez Wrestling Observer Newsletter

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#nxt #wwe #xiali #mercedes #wrestling #sports #podcasting #injury 

Welcome Back To Sidenote Suplex. Today's Topics: Non- Compete Clauses, The Returns of Samoa Joe to NXT, New backstage role and more.   Samoa Joe may be the on-screen assistant to NXT General Manager William Regal on TV, but the former United States Champion also has another role within the company. Samoa Joe rejoined WWE last month after being released in April, and has revealed on the Out of Character podcast that he will now also be working as a talent scout after returning to the company, saying:      “Me and Triple H had spoken about this transition in-depth,” Joe replied. “It wasn’t just coming back to NXT and being an enforcer and having a role on the show. Now, I’m working in the talent scouting department, working with Canyon Ceman, doing more administrative things behind the scenes. It’s a transition into some of the other aspects of the business. It’s an evolution of my journey. It was a cool opportunity that Hunter offered me. It was a very nice understanding that we had come to.”   Samoa Joe is not only well connected within wrestling but also within MMA too, and he told Ryan Satin that he is looking forward to giving a variety of people opportunities to try out for WWE:      “I always try to keep a pulse on the industry in general, whether it be through me looking or my network contacts and people I know. Outside of the Indie wrestling world, in the combat sports world and a lot of the athletic world. Just heavy connections. It was a really nice fit. I’m looking forward to giving an opportunity to a lot of people that maybe wouldn’t get a look.”

Ever since Samoa Joe made his return to NXT on June 15 after being released in April, many people have been wondering who his first opponent would be back on the black and gold brand. Speaking on the Out of Character podcast, the two-time NXT Champion listed a some potential opponents on the NXT roster that he would love to get in the ring with.   “Karrion Kross and Pete Dunne are at the top of that list. A guy like WALTER, people have been asking for it, I’m not blind. It’s for good reason. The guy is a powerhouse and people want to see some furniture moving. It’s not just one or two guys. Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, there are several very accomplished athletes in NXT. Bronson Reed, he’s always yapping and wants to get some. Aussies, they got big mouths.”

Joe officially debuted in WWE's then-developmental territory NXT in May 2015, and signed a full-time contract with the company in June; he went on to become the first-ever two-time NXT Champion, and the co-winner of the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (with Finn Bálor). After joining the main roster in January 2017 and being assigned to the Raw brand, he headlined several WWE pay-per-view events and contended for the Universal Championship, and later the WWE Championship during his time on the SmackDown brand. In March 2019, Joe won his only title on the main roster, the United States Championship. Following several injuries, he became a color commentator on Raw. He was released from his contract in April 2021, but was re-signed just two months later to be an on-screen authority figure on NXT.    Who would you like to see Samoa Joe Face off against this time around in NXT?

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#wwe #samoajoe #mma #sports #podcast #network #new #trending #business

Welcome back to Sidenote Suplex. As we exit the month of June, more WWE Talent roster cuts were released today (June 25th 2021) and the names included: Davari, Curt Stallion, August Grey, Killian Dain, The Bollywood Boyz, Marina Shafir, Arturo Ruas, Breezango (team consisted of Tyler Breeze and Fandango) Tony Nese and Ever-Rise. Kenice Mobley was also released who was Recently hired for WWE Raw and was in the headlines for admitting she didn't know anything about WWE upon being hired and didn't know Bobby Lashley's name.   Tony Nese: Nese was signed by WWE in 2016, taking part in the Cruiserweight Classic. He is a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion. He last wrestled on the June 18 episode of 205 Live, losing to Ikemen Jiro.  Ariya Daivari: Signed by WWE in 2016 for the Cruiserweight Classic. Last wrestled on the June 11 episode of 205 Live where he teamed with Nese. Scheduled to compete on the June 25 episode of 205 Live.  Ever-Rise: Chase Parker & Matt Martel were signed by WWE in 2019. They competed on the June 22 episode of NXT, losing to Hit Row (Ashante Adonis & Top Dolla).  Fandango: Signed by WWE in 2006. Former NXT Tag Team Champion alongside Tyler Breeze. Last wrestled on the June 15 episode of NXT, teaming with Breeze to defeat Imperium (Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel).

Tyler Breeze: Signed with WWE in 2010. Former NXT Tag Team Champion alongside Fandango. Last wrestled on the June 15 episode of NXT, teaming with Breeze to defeat Imperium (Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel).  Bollywood Boyz: Sunil & Samir Singh were signed by WWE in 2016 to compete in the Cruiserweight Classic. They would go on to serve as managers for Jinder Mahal. They last wrestled on the May 21 episode of 205 Live, losing to August Grey & Ikemen Jiro.  Arturo Ruas: Signed by WWE in 2015. Last competed on the November 18, 2020 episode of NXT. Was out of action with a shoulder injury.   Marina Shafir: Signed by WWE in 2018. Married to Roderick Strong.  Killian Dain: Signed by WWE in 2016. Last wrestled on the June 8 episode of NXT, losing to Isaiah Scott. Married to Nikki Cross.    Dain noted that he got the release call today while training at the WWE Performance Center. He gave thanks to several legends and WWE Hall of Famers – Robbie Brookside, William Regal, Fit Finlay, Johnny Moss, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H. He also thanked other co-workers, Cross, and others. Dain also revealed that he is under a 90-day non-compete clause with WWE, noting that he feels like he is in his prime.

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#wwe #wwereleases #killiandain #nxt #wwenxt #fandango #bollywood #podcasts 

Welcome Back to Sidenote Suplex.  Topic: Billy Corgan, NWA Wrestling, NWA Power, Mickie James,  Kylie Rae and more.   WWE released six more talents on Wednesday, June 2, putting them on the open market come September. While is it unknown where those talents will end up, they will have options with AEW, NWA, IMPACT Wrestling, ROH, and NJPW all being potential homes.  Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Billy Corgan was asked who he has his eyes on of the released superstars.  "Braun Strowman," stated Corgan. "If he was green in NXT, I'd be jumping all over it. There aren't a lot of big guys who have that level of ability. How do you let a guy like that out the door? I don't mean to be critical, I'm not making the business decision, but I don't know how you let a guy like that go. Ruby Riott, I think has a very bright future. Lana, holy cow, how do you let her go?    It appears that Mickie James somehow got out of her 90-day non-compete contract with WWE, as the former six-time women's champion appeared today on NWA Powerrr alongside NWA President Billy Corgan. NWA will be holding an all-women's pay-per-view on August 28. Hours later, this report was confirmed and officially announced on the latest episode of NWA Powerrr. This pay-per-view, as well as NWA 73, will be held in St. Louis, Missouri. Mickie James is the executive producer for NWA's upcoming all-women's pay-per-view.

Kylie Rae is officially joining the NWA. During NWA When Our Shadows Fall, Joe Galli confirmed Kylie Rae had signed a contract with NWA, making it her home in wrestling moving forward. Rae was a surprise addition to the When Our Shadows Fall card when the full lineup was announced the week of the event. Rae teamed with Taryn Terrell, scoring a victory over Melina & Thunder Rosa.

Are you excited for the future of NWA?

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#nwa #billycorgan #mickiejames #sports #wrestling #prowrestling #podcasting 

Welcome back to Sidenote Suplex. Chyna, WWE’s “Ninth Wonder of the World,” is the subject of a new Vice documentary. “The Ninth Wonder of the World,” Chyna was an indelible part of the WWE’s Attitude Era of the late ’90s and early 2000s. However, like so many before her, Chyna’s departure from World Wrestling Entertainment was a heartbreaking affair. Beset by addiction, Chyna (real name: Joanie Laurer) struggled in the years following her exit from the WWE. She bounced from reality television to adult movies to Mormonism before her tragic death in 2016.  In a new documentary from Vice, director Marah Strauch aims to give the “definitive account of the wrestling phenom’s life.” From her incredible rise to sudden downfall, VICE VERSA: Chyna covers the full breadth of her career, both as Chyna and Joanie Laurer, the woman behind the most devastating low blows in wrestling.   A new documentary from Vice will dive into the life of Joanie Laurer, the pioneering WWE performer better known by her ring name, Chyna, who died of an overdose in April 2016.  "Joanie aka Chyna's meteoric rise and fall is the stuff of Shakespearian drama, but underneath all that flash, she was an intelligent and sensitive person who struggled with addiction," Vice Versa: Chyna director Marah Strauch says in a statement to PEOPLE.  The film will premiere on Vice TV on June 17 at 9 p.m EST/PST, and features interviews with Laurer's mother, Jan LaQue, and other WWE legends including Mick Foley, Sean Waltman, and Billy Gunn.

Laurer rose to fame as a member of D-Generation X, the six-member faction that helped to cement the WWE as a powerhouse entertainment brand in the 1990s and early 2000s. The group — made up of Laurer, Gunn, Waltman, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Shawn Michaels, and the Road Dogg Jesse James — was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019.   According to Vice, the movie comes as part of an effort to expand Vice TV’s wrestling coverage, following the success of Dark Side Of The Ring. “With the critical acclaim and success of our hit series, Dark Side Of The Ring, we wanted to expand our wrestling content,” Catherine Whyte, Vice TV’s head of production, says in the press release. “Chyna’s story is so powerful—she was a disruptor and an icon.”   Vice is currently on Season 3 of Dark Side of the Ring with an additional show titled Dark Side Of The Ring Confidential. Season 3 of Dark Side Of The Ring Features stories on Brian Pillman, Collision in Korea, Nick Gage, The Ultimate Warrior, Grizzly Smith, Dynamite Kid, The WWF steroid trials, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, Luna Vachon, Plane Ride from Hell, Xtreme Pro Wrestling, Johnny K-9/Bruiser Bedlam and Chris Kanyon.

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#vice #chyna #sports #documentary #darksideofthering #trending #wwe