Latest news with #SmackDown
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Damien Priest is not about to miss his "home games" for any reason this summer
Damien Priest (Image via) Damien Priest has been quietly making his place in the WWE from the very beginning, and his tenure with the SmackDown brand only shows how much he has grown over the years. He was last seen at the Saturday Night's Main Event on May 24, where he faced off against Drew McIntyre in a rematch contested in a Steel Cage match. Priest won the match by escaping the cage, ending his feud with the latter. McIntyre has since taken some time off to heal and recover from multiple injuries that he suffered. And looks like it could be the same for Priest. Is Damien Priest planning to take some time off the ring? Rumors are afloat that Damien Priest could be taking some time off from wrestling this summer, which could possibly mean that he would miss out on SummerSlam. After Liv Morgan 's unexpected injury, she will need time to recuperate, and many think Priest could be joining her on the same. But the wrestling star has shut off that idea totally, saying there is no way he will miss his "home games." Fightful Select had previously reported that Priest is pretty "banged up" after facing off against McIntyre, but the Archer of Infamy seems eager to come back to the ring during the SummerSlam event, which will happen over two nights in New Jersey. And given that Priest himself is from New York, it's easy to understand why he would count this event to be "home games." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 남재현 원장, 복부둘레 반토막 내는 "이것".. 똥뱃살 빼고 싶다면? 남재현 체지방 다이어트 더 알아보기 Undo Sources inside WWE are also very happy with his dedication, and "noted that working through Summerslam seemed to be important to him as it's a 'home game' for him." Drew McIntyre is on a long hiatus from the ring, but his opponent is not taking off for now, and we will see him at the SummerSlam event, set to take place over the weekend of August 2 and August 3, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Rapper Cardi B will be hosting the event, and it will be two nights of extra fun and chaos in WWE. Also Read: "I appreciate you" - Stephanie Vaquer commends Bella Twins for paving the way for women wrestlers in WWE Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Newsweek
12 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
13 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
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE prepares to introduce a new bloodline faction member on SmackDown
(Image via WWE) As WWE is back with another version of SmackDown on June 20, 2025, the Stamford-based promotion is reportedly preparing to introduce a new bloodline faction member on this week's Blue brand promotion. The company is on the verge of welcoming a new member of The Bloodline to TV in this upcoming edition on Friday night at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Earlier in Money in the Bank, Solo Sikoa's grip on The Bloodline has started to slip. After being betrayed by Jacob Fatu during the match, Sikoa found himself defeated and exposed, leaving the faction with just its core members, Sikoa and JC Mateo. Owing to this situation, WWE is preparing to introduce a new bloodline faction member. Let's look into the possibility of who is going to be introduced as a new bloodline faction member on SmackDown— WWE prepares to introduce a new bloodline faction member on SmackDown WWE is on the verge of introducing a new member of The Bloodline to TV in the upcoming edition of SmackDown after the much-talked-about Money in the Bank feud. Despite the shocking turn of events, Solo Sikoa is intent on giving Fatu another chance, saying that he needs to hear him say 'I love you, Solo' one more time, and all will be forgiven. But the chances of that happening appear to be very slim. However, Sikoa might have a plan in place to deal with Fatu anyway. With long-time members Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa side-lined by injuries, reports suggest that WWE creative is looking for a powerful replacement for Fatu, and it seems they may have found one. "I HATE YOU!" | Jacob Fatu takes out Solo Sikoa: Money in the Bank 2025 highlights According to PW Insider, Hikuleo, a towering 6′8″ former NJPW standout and son of Haku, is rumored to be on the verge of debuting on SmackDown this week. Even while speaking on WrestleBinge, WrestleVotes claimed that Hikuleo could be making his on-screen debut on the next edition of SmackDown. They stated, 'It's very possible Hikuleo makes his debut this week on SmackDown.' Despite signing with WWE in July 2024, former NJPW star Hikuleo has yet to be seen on television for his new company. He happened to be a former Bullet Club member only. Hikuleo had his first match in WWE on June 13th, 2025, when he defeated Kit Wilson in a dark match. Also Read : Is veteran WWE mogul Vince McMahon planning to buy a combat sports promotion? However, there has been no explanation as to why he's taken eleven months to get in the ring for WWE, but now his ascent to the company's main roster looks to be imminent. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Newsweek
18 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.
