Latest news with #Raw
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Officials Pushing For Career-Changing LA Knight Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new report suggests that a major brand switch could be on the horizon for LA Knight. There is reportedly a significant backstage push to move the popular superstar from SmackDown to Monday Night Raw. This comes after a period of booking that has left some fans disappointed. A move to Raw could signal a fresh start for "The Megastar." Backstage Push And Netflix Influence On LA Knight According to a report from WrestleVotes, multiple individuals within WWE are advocating for LA Knight to be moved to the Raw brand. The move is seen as a way to present a refreshing change for the character. The report also suggested that WWE's streaming partner, Netflix, has direct input on programming. It is believed that the platform hopes a star with Knight's massive popularity can "move the needle" for Raw's global audience. Testing The Waters On Raw For LA Knight WWE may already be "testing the waters" for this brand switch. Knight has appeared on the last two episodes of Raw despite officially being a SmackDown superstar. US pro-wrestler and actor Shaun Edward Ricker aka LA Knight attends Netflix's "WWE Monday Night RAW" premiere at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 6, 2025. US pro-wrestler and actor Shaun Edward Ricker aka LA Knight attends Netflix's "WWE Monday Night RAW" premiere at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 6, 2025. Michael Tran / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images His appearances have seen him directly antagonize the new faction led by Seth Rollins. He helped Sami Zayn defeat Bron Breakker last week and assisted Jey Uso this week by taking out Bronson Reed during another King of the Ring match. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation LA Knight Sends A Message To Seth Rollins Following his latest appearance on Raw, LA Knight has made his intentions clear on social media. He posted a video taunting the members of Rollins' group that he has already neutralized. "Well, I guess if I ain't going to the King of the Ring then neither are either of the Brons. We got Bron squared over there, but I tell you what we took down what, three last week? I got this one, I got that one and we got one left [shows middle finger] yeah!" The combination of the backstage report and his very visible new feud strongly indicates that a permanent move to Raw is imminent. This would also give Knight a new career look and a fresh coat of paint for him after spending his entire main roster career on SmackDown. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
LA Knight's potential move to RAW gaining momentum inside WWE
LA Knight (Image via Getty Images) LA Knight could be getting a big change in his WWE career. Reports say that WWE is thinking about moving him from SmackDown to RAW. Many people backstage believe he could do well on RAW, especially now that WWE shows are streaming on Netflix. This move could help him become an even bigger star. Knight is one of the most popular superstars in WWE right now. He has become a fan favorite without needing a title to prove it. On SmackDown, he has been in big storylines and even competed in three Money in the Bank matches. But now, there is news that his time on the blue brand might be ending. Strong backstage support for LA Knight's brand switch According to WrestleVotes, several people inside WWE are pushing for LA Knight to move to RAW. They believe he would bring something new and exciting to Monday nights. RAW is known for its long storylines and character development, which could be great for someone like Knight. 'According to those within the company, more than a handful of people are advocating for LA Knight to be moved to the #WWERAW brand in the near future as his presence on Netflix could be viewed as something of a refreshing change.' Knight has not wrestled much on RAW in the past. He has only had two matches on the show, one in March 2023 against Cody Rhodes and one in February 2024 against Ivar. But recently, he has been making surprise appearances on RAW, and that has led many to believe that a full-time move could be near. 'LA Knight has been signed with the company since February of 2021 and has two Raw matches under his belt. He's been appearing on Raw over the last two weeks, very, very briefly. However, there are more than a handful of people like we just said that want to see him on Monday Night Raw each and every week.' His feuds are already on both shows Knight's recent storylines have involved superstars from both RAW and SmackDown. After Seth Rollins beat him in the Money in the Bank match, Rollins attacked Knight on SmackDown. Seth Rollins and company lay waste to LA Knight: SmackDown highlights, June 6, 2025 Then, Knight got his revenge on RAW by costing Bron Breakker a match. Later, Knight was attacked again during his own match. This back-and-forth has made fans excited and shows that he fits in well on both brands. Moving him to RAW would open up fresh rivalries and give him more screen time. It would also help RAW feel new and excited if someone as popular as LA Knight showed up every week. Also Read: SmackDown chaos: Aleister Black goes after Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker strikes Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former WWE Superstar May Be Returning: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Wrestling legend Gail Kim has been backstage at recent WWE NXT tapings, fueling speculation about her future. The TNA Hall of Famer is one of the industry's most sought-after free agents. According to a new report from Fightful Select, this week was not the first time she has been at the WWE Performance Center lately. Her visits have been kept very quiet. WWE's Interest In Gail Kim The Fightful report notes that when WWE sources were asked about her status, they confirmed she is not officially with the company "as of this moment." However, they did not deny her presence. The report adds that WWE has been interested in bringing Kim on board since she became available. This suggests that ongoing discussions could be taking place. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Gail Kim Becomes A Top Free Agent After TNA Departure Gail Kim became a free agent earlier this year. She was fired from her longtime backstage role as a producer and the head of the Knockouts division for TNA Wrestling. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Sami Zayn talks to the crowd after winning his match during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Sami Zayn talks to the crowd after winning his match during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex BierensHer departure immediately made her a top name on the open market. It was widely expected that both WWE and AEW would have interest in hiring her for a similar leadership role. Kim's time in WWE is defined by two distinct, and very different, runs with the company. While she found immense success elsewhere, her WWE career was marked by a historic debut and a controversial exit. Kim's first run began on the June 30, 2003, episode of Monday Night Raw. In a rare feat, she won the WWE Women's Championship in her debut match, a seven-woman battle royal. However, her reign lasted only four weeks before she lost the title to Molly Holly, and she was released from the company in 2004. After becoming the cornerstone of the TNA/Impact Wrestling Knockouts division for several years, she returned to WWE in 2009. This second run was largely underwhelming, with Kim being underutilized and expressing frustration with the "Diva" focus of the women's division at the time. Her exit in 2011 became infamous: during a battle royal on Raw, she intentionally eliminated herself in the opening seconds and quit the company. The Legacy Of Gail Kim Gail Kim is a trailblazer in modern women's wrestling. She is a former WWE Women's Champion but is most celebrated for her legendary career in TNA. As a multi-time Knockouts Champion, she is considered by many to be the greatest competitor in the history of that division. Her experience and respected mind for wrestling make her a valuable asset for any company. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Reportedly Making Another Major Change To SmackDown
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new report indicates that WWE SmackDown will return to its traditional two-hour broadcast format sooner than expected. The show had been airing for three hours since the beginning of the year. According to PWInsider, the change will take effect starting with the July 4th episode. That holiday episode will be pre-taped on May 30th following a live Raw in Pittsburgh. SmackDown: Earlier Return To Two Hours This new timeline is earlier than what was previously indicated by USA Network's fall schedule. A recent announcement for a new series, "The Rainmaker," had it premiering in SmackDown's 10 p.m. Eastern time slot on August 15. That announcement confirmed the show would eventually revert to two hours. This new report now pinpoints the exact date as July 4th. Paul "Triple H" Levesque looks on during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Paul "Triple H" Levesque looks on during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Context For The Change On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the likely financial reasons behind the move. He suggested that WWE was probably not earning significant additional revenue for the third hour. "I guess the way they signed the contract, they must have given USA the option," Meltzer said. "Because if they were making more money on the deal, it absolutely would have been said at the investors call and we would have seen it." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation A Temporary Expansion When SmackDown initially expanded to three hours in January 2025, WWE executive Triple H indicated the move was not expected to be permanent. Fans who felt the three-hour runtime was too long will now see the show return to its original length this summer. The return to a two-hour format will align SmackDown with the runtime of WWE's other main roster show, Monday Night Raw. Since debuting on Thursday nights in 1999, WWE SmackDown has had a varied broadcast history. The show famously moved to Friday nights in 2005, a time slot it held for nearly a decade across multiple networks like The CW and Syfy. After a brief return to Thursdays in 2015, SmackDown was reborn in 2016 as the live, Tuesday night SmackDown Live during the brand extension, positioning it as an equal to Raw. Its biggest move came in 2019 with a high-profile return to Fridays on the FOX broadcast network before eventually moving back to the USA Network. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE SmackDown returns to its classic two-hour format this July
WWE SmackDown WWE SmackDown is getting ready for a big change this summer. After running for three hours every Friday night since early 2025, the show is now expected to go back to its original two-hour format. This move is happening because of a new TV series that will air on USA Network later this year. SmackDown became a three-hour show as part of a short-term deal between WWE and USA Network. This was when Raw was preparing to move to Netflix. Now, with a new show taking over the 10 PM slot on Fridays, SmackDown won't be able to continue with its third hour. Two-hour format likely to begin July 4 According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, WWE is planning to drop the third hour starting with the July 4 episode. This means SmackDown will return to the two-hour format very soon, even before the new series airs. USA Network will debut its new legal drama called Rainmaker on August 15 at 10 PM ET. This show will air every Friday, which forces SmackDown to end before that time. There has been no official announcement from WWE or TKO yet, but this change has been in discussion for a while. Back in January, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H had already mentioned that the third hour would be temporary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo SmackDown originally became three hours long to help WWE manage content during the transition to Netflix. But the extra hour was never meant to last forever. What does this mean for WWE and the fans Going back to two hours will affect how WWE runs SmackDown each week. With three hours, there was more time for matches, promos, and major returns. Recently, SmackDown featured big names like John Cena and Randy Orton , and held first-round matches for the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. Even with tough TV competition, SmackDown still drew strong ratings. But with two hours, WWE will need to be more focused in how they use their time. This could lead to tighter storylines and faster-paced episodes. Many fans might welcome the change, as three hours sometimes felt too long. The upcoming change was also confirmed by a Variety report, which stated that Rainmaker will start airing on August 15 and take over the 10 PM time slot. The show will star actors like John Slattery and Lana Parrilla and is expected to run for 10 episodes. PWInsider reported that the show is expected to go to two hours starting July 4. Mike Johnson also mentioned that episodes of the Blue Brand will likely return to the old two-hour format well before the new series airs. While WWE has not officially confirmed the change, all signs suggest that SmackDown will return to two hours beginning next month. Also Read: Hulk Hogan NOT in his deathbed - Baseless rumors debunked about WWE legend Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
