Latest news with #proWrestling
Fox News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Pro wrestling legend Bubba Ray Dudley has high praise for Zena Sterling as he previews 'WWE LFG' Season 2
Pro wrestling legend Bubba Ray Dudley will return to "WWE Legends & Future Greats" for the second season of competition as the next crop of talent looks to earn an NXT contract. Dudley, one half of the famed pro wrestling tag team the Dudley Boyz, told Fox News Digital ahead of the start of the second season there will be mix of those who came up short in the first season and new faces in Season 2. He said he believed the intensity level for those competitors returning from Season 1 will be turned up a notch. "I think fans can expect the same from Season 1 in Season 2 of 'LFG' only with the level of seriousness a lot higher," he said. "I think a lot of the returning 'future greats' from Season 1 realized how serious this show really is and how big the competition really is and what it truly means." Dudley pointed to the impact Jasper Troy has made on the NXT roster almost immediately. Troy stepped up to challenge NXT champion Oba Femi and became one of only a few opponents Femi looked to struggle against. "Jasper didn't win the match, but he certainly caught the eye of wrestling fans all over the world. Definitely got the WWE Universe to sit up and take notice about who he was," Dudley said. "Jasper Troy was throwing Oba Femi around the ring like no other competitor ever has. "So, to get the opportunity to go through 'LFG' to get that contract, put on TV, be put in situations where you can face Oba Femi, huge deal. And I think that the people from Season 1 returning know that I believe it is a much more serious season with the stakes. Even though the stakes are the same, the level of intensity are kicked up." Zena Sterling was one of Dudley's students from Season 1 who will compete in Season 2. She came up just short of earning an NXT contract, losing in the Season 1 finale to Tyra Mae Steele. An injury hampered Sterling at the end. Dudley had high hopes for her with Season 2 about to begin. "I believe Zena Sterling is the most popular future great coming out of Season 1. Tyra Mae Steele won the contract, but everyone was talking about Zena," Dudley said. "Zena did a phenomenal job on Season 1 maximizing all of her television time. Zena does a phenomenal job maximizing her social media, and, in my opinion, Zena should have won Season 1. "A knee injury at the absolute worst, worst time just days before the finals at Madison Square Garden knocked her down to 50%. Even at 50%, it was a struggle for Shawn Michaels to give that contract to Tyra. "WWE NXT, they know what they had with Zena Sterling, and Zena is coming into Season 2 on a mission and that mission is to win. I don't speak as highly as I do about Zena just because she is on my team. I would speak just as highly if she was on Booker's team or Michelle McCool's team or Undertaker's team. This girl has it all. She has the 'it' factor, Zena is going to be a big deal in the WWE and a force to be reckoned with in the women's division one day." Dudley named a few others fans should look out for, including men's Season 1 runner-up Shiloh Hill, Haze Jameson, Elijah Holyfield, Bayley Humphrey, Sirena Linton and Dani Raye. He told Fox News Digital he was proud to have the ability to mold the next generation of superstars and hoped the 16 competitors will take a step forward and compete for a contract in WWE. "WWE Legends & Future Greats" Season 2 debuts Sunday on A&E at 10 p.m. ET. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE's expanded wrestling universe is already opening doors once thought impossible
So in the end it was the boys from Los Garza who did what "The Master" Chad Gable couldn't: Triumph over the luchadores and bring an AAA championship back to WWE. Anyone who missed this weekend's AAA Triplemanía (don't worry, it's currently available free on YouTube) might not have seen the "WWE SmackDown" boys leave Mexico with the luchador promotion's world tag-team titles. It's true that Los Garza's victory is hardly the biggest story in professional wrestling. But it is an interesting example of how WWE's bold strategy of working with other promotions is slowly beginning to take shape. Advertisement Who would have guessed two years ago that we'd be in a world where the notoriously territorial WWE was partnering with the likes of TNA, AAA, Pro Wrestling Noah and even GCW to create an extended universe of pro-wrestling? As unlikely outcomes go, it blows the John Cena heel turn out the water. What I wouldn't give to know what old Vinnie Mac thinks of it all. In truth, it's still far too early to pass any kind of big-picture judgment on this whole experiment. But six months since WWE surprised us all by announcing a formal partnership with TNA, we're starting to get a picture of what it might mean for the average wrestling fan. And so far? I like what I see. Just look at what we've had over the past two months. Chad Gable delivering the match of a lifetime in an unsuccessful bid to become AAA world champion. TNA's Joe Hendry getting a huge moment at WrestleMania before losing his promotion's biggest prize to NXT's Trick Williams. Nattie Neidhart getting a Rage Against the Machine ring walk at GCW Bloodsport before slapping the crap out of Miyu Yamashita. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise these partnerships are creating some fun moments. But what's interesting from this past weekend's Triplemanía event is how they're also opening up genuine opportunities for WWE mid-carders who might otherwise suffer from the wrestling behemoth's pivot away from house shows and general squeeze on getting decent TV time. Advertisement It isn't just that there are more chances to get booked and more titles to chase. It's the fact that the WWE working with promotions like GCW and AAA hugely expands the different ways you can build a name for yourself in the promotion. Take Bloodsport, for example. How many times has WWE toyed with the idea of some kind of combat sports/wrestling fusion only to end with egg on their face? Now they've taken the much smarter move of partnering with someone who actually knows how to do it. From a star-making perspective that's a serious benefit for someone like Charlie Dempsey in NXT, who can go throw hands in Bloodsport (as he did back in Las Vegas in April) and come away with an amazing package video that will make him look fearsome as hell when he goes to the WWE main roster. Not least since the average WWE casual fan probably hasn't seen a single Bloodsport match. It also opens the door for wrestlers who might not fit the typical WWE mold. Look at the positive backstage reaction to TNA's Mike Santana after his NXT appearance, for example. The heavy-set brawler is exactly the sort of rough-diamond type who wouldn't have gotten near Titan Towers a few years ago. Under this new working arrangement with TNA, he can prove himself on his own terms and end up with WWE interested in signing him. The same goes for those former WWE names who have gone on to have decent runs in TNA. We've already seen Elias/Elijah and Top Dolla/AJ Francis pop up in NXT, less than two years after being let go from the company. Hopefully that will open the door for someone like Mustafa Ali, who most people think should never have been released in the first place, or Matt Cardona, who has been tipped for a WWE return for ages now. Advertisement Again, it's still too early to judge what this all means for pro-wrestling in the long run. If WWE's long game is to turn the partner promotions into glorified developmental programs and snatch up all the best talent ... well, that sounds less positive. We'll also need to see how well the whole development path works out in practice. We saw how adept Karrion Kross was in terms of turning his Bloodsport match into a massive promotional boost earlier this year. But has it gotten him more TV time now he's back to the grind in WWE? Not yet. And what about those names who WWE was glad to see the back of but who might end up making a comeback elsewhere? Already there are reports that WWE wants nothing to do with Alberto del Rio/Alberto El Patrón, who has been working with AAA and appeared on this weekend's Triplemanía. If that's the case, does that mean TNA wouldn't sign someone like Matt Riddle, who Triple H regards as a troublemaker? All questions to keep in mind. But right now things are looking good for this whole extended universe thing. If it means more shows like Worlds Collide, we're all winners, right? Well, except Chad Gable, but that's another story.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE's expanded wrestling universe is suddenly making its product much more interesting
So in the end it was the boys from Los Garza who did what "The Master" Chad Gable couldn't: Triumph over the luchadores and bring an AAA championship back to WWE. Anyone who missed this weekend's AAA Triplemanía (don't worry, it's currently available free on YouTube) might not have seen the "WWE SmackDown" boys leave Mexico with the luchador promotion's world tag-team titles. It's true that Los Garza's victory is hardly the biggest story in professional wrestling. But it is an interesting example of how WWE's bold strategy of working with other promotions is slowly beginning to take shape. Advertisement Who would have guessed two years ago that we'd be in a world where the notoriously territorial WWE was partnering with the likes of TNA, AAA, Pro Wrestling Noah and even GCW to create an extended universe of pro-wrestling? As unlikely outcomes go, it blows the John Cena heel turn out the water. What I wouldn't give to know what old Vinnie Mac thinks of it all. In truth, it's still far too early to pass any kind of big-picture judgment on this whole experiment. But six months since WWE surprised us all by announcing a formal partnership with TNA, we're starting to get a picture of what it might mean for the average wrestling fan. And so far? I like what I see. Just look at what we've had over the past two months. Chad Gable delivering the match of a lifetime in an unsuccessful bid to become AAA world champion. TNA's Joe Hendry getting a huge moment at WrestleMania before losing his promotion's biggest prize to NXT's Trick Williams. Nattie Neidhart getting a Rage Against the Machine ring walk at GCW Bloodsport before slapping the crap out of Miyu Yamashita. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise these partnerships are creating some fun moments. But what's interesting from this past weekend's Triplemanía event is how they're also opening up genuine opportunities for WWE mid-carders who might otherwise suffer from the wrestling behemoth's pivot away from house shows and general squeeze on getting decent TV time. Advertisement It isn't just that there are more chances to get booked and more titles to chase. It's the fact that the WWE working with promotions like GCW and AAA hugely expands the different ways you can build a name for yourself in the promotion. Take Bloodsport, for example. How many times has WWE toyed with the idea of some kind of combat sports/wrestling fusion only to end with egg on their face? Now they've taken the much smarter move of partnering with someone who actually knows how to do it. From a star-making perspective that's a serious benefit for someone like Charlie Dempsey in NXT, who can go throw hands in Bloodsport (as he did back in Las Vegas in April) and come away with an amazing package video that will make him look fearsome as hell when he goes to the WWE main roster. Not least since the average WWE casual fan probably hasn't seen a single Bloodsport match. It also opens the door for wrestlers who might not fit the typical WWE mold. Look at the positive backstage reaction to TNA's Mike Santana after his NXT appearance, for example. The heavy-set brawler is exactly the sort of rough-diamond type who wouldn't have gotten near Titan Towers a few years ago. Under this new working arrangement with TNA, he can prove himself on his own terms and end up with WWE interested in signing him. The same goes for those former WWE names who have gone on to have decent runs in TNA. We've already seen Elias/Elijah and Top Dolla/AJ Francis pop up in NXT, less than two years after being let go from the company. Hopefully that will open the door for someone like Mustafa Ali, who most people think should never have been released in the first place, or Matt Cardona, who has been tipped for a WWE return for ages now. Advertisement Again, it's still too early to judge what this all means for pro-wrestling in the long run. If WWE's long game is to turn the partner promotions into glorified developmental programs and snatch up all the best talent ... well, that sounds less positive. We'll also need to see how well the whole development path works out in practice. We saw how adept Karrion Kross was in terms of turning his Bloodsport match into a massive promotional boost earlier this year. But has it gotten him more TV time now he's back to the grind in WWE? Not yet. And what about those names who WWE was glad to see the back of but who might end up making a comeback elsewhere? Already there are reports that WWE wants nothing to do with Alberto del Rio/Alberto El Patrón, who has been working with AAA and appeared on this weekend's Triplemanía. If that's the case, does that mean TNA wouldn't sign someone like Matt Riddle, who Triple H regards as a troublemaker? All questions to keep in mind. But right now things are looking good for this whole extended universe thing. If it means more shows like Worlds Collide, we're all winners, right? Well, except Chad Gable, but that's another story.
Fox News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
WWE star R-Truth makes shocking return to cost John Cena match
WWE's Money in the Bank premium live event was filled with stunning moments on Saturday, but it was the main event tag-team match that got pro wrestling fans talking. It appeared the team of John Cena and Logan Paul was going to defeat Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. It would have marked another loss for Rhodes in what was his first match since WrestleMania 41. Cena was able to knock out Rhodes when he used the Undisputed WWE Championship as a weapon. Cena looked around for the referee but couldn't find him. Then a mysterious man dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants entered the ring. He attacked Cena and started to hammer him with furious fists to the head. The man stepped off of Cena to reveal himself. It was R-Truth. The fans who flocked to the Intuit Dome yelled in shock. It was only six days ago that R-Truth wrote on social media that he would be leaving the WWE. He hit Cena with the title belt. Rhodes got up and hit Cena with the Cross Rhodes for the win. It was R-Truth who became the talk of WWE Universe. WWE Shop billed him as Ron Killings, the real name of R-Truth, which sparked questions about whether he would use a different name in the upcoming feud. R-Truth announced he would be leaving the WWE last week. But it sparked a bigger movement during the week. Fans chanted "We want Truth!" at each of WWE's shows this week. It got so big that Cena had to address it and put fans down on "Friday Night SmackDown." Cena previously defeated R-Truth at "Saturday Night's Main Event" after a confrontation after Backlash. The wrestler told fans on X it was not a "work" that he was going to be released, meaning it was not a part of a storyline to confuse fans to draw a reaction. "#WeWantTruth was seen, heard, felt and understood… Believe me when I say this, I Love EVERYONE of yall to death," he wrote on X. "We made history together." Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE's chief content officer, was asked about R-Truth's return after the event. "I love the question," he said. "You enjoying the show? All part of the show, man." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CNA
06-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
China's pro wrestling scene dealt one-two blow by sluggish economy, lack of support
BEIJING: In an event space on the fringes of Beijing, two heavyset wrestlers in spandex and masks stare each other down in the middle of a ring. They spring off the ropes with surprising agility, poised to strike. A third figure, clad in a traditional Chinese gown, storms onto the squared circle. With swift, kungfu-style power kicks, he sends both fighters crashing onto the mat with thunderous thuds that echo around the arena. "This is awesome! This is awesome!" the crowd roars in English. While the venue sold out all of its almost 400 seats, the overall number of Chinese pro wrestling spectators is a far cry from what it once was, with its standing ticket sales far below expectations. A few years ago, Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW), one of China's few homegrown wrestling promoters, was riding a wave of momentum. Viewership was increasing – its roster of pro-wrestlers sold out shows and profited from the sale of merchandise. But since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it has struggled to recreate the buzz. As China's economic slowdown continues to bite, its ticketed shows – which used to be held once every two months – are now organised just twice a year. 'We kind of had to slow down a bit and try to find opportunities. The economy continues to be sluggish for a lot of industries,' said Adrian Gomez, president of the organisation. Its shows are infused with a distinct local flair – wrestlers don gear with Chinese embroidery while traditional music blares from the speakers. A ticket at the front row costs about US$70, while the cheapest is priced at around US$26. Hardcore fans said they are willing to pay the relatively steep price, given that the live atmosphere at such events is electrifying and "incomparable" to watching on a screen. Some said they would even travel from other cities just for the experience. "I don't think it's very expensive. Here, I can experience the live atmosphere, see some of our top fighters, and also some of our top-tier pro-wrestlers. It's totally worth it,' said a ticket holder. MKW also live streams its shows for free, which typically attract several thousand views. UNTAPPED POTENTIAL In January, Chinese authorities relaxed rules for staging large-scale commercial performances as part of efforts to spur consumption. But pro wrestling is still struggling to carve out its audience in the country as debate persists over whether it is a violent sport or staged spectacle. The community lament a lack of official support, recognition and understanding of the sport. The scene's largely underground following is a world of difference from its far more glitzy and well-known counterpart – the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the United States. WWE's flagship Raw programme still sees about 1.7 million viewers in America per episode, and made its Netflix debut in January with 4.9 million global views. Industry players said they believe there is enormous untapped potential for pro wrestling in China, the world's second most populous nation. They added that the sector just needs a breakout star to give the sport a fighting chance. 'The Chinese wrestling industry is still quite new and the main thing is that we need to cultivate an environment where it's going to allow a Chinese wrestler to break out. That is what's going to build up the scene,' said MKW's Gomez. For now, the sport remains a niche pursuit powered by passion, not profit. 'I was a full-time professional wrestler for a while, but it was only for a period of time. Most wrestlers have to work other jobs to make money,' said a Chinese pro-wrestler known as The Slam. 'Wrestling can only be a side hustle – there are some who do it full-time, but they're the very few.' Still, there are hopes that pro wrestling could gain ground. In southern China's Guangdong province, where WWE used to air on cable television, a restaurant went viral on Chinese social media last year for featuring its own wrestling ring. MKW, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, said the next step is to expand domestically beyond traditional fan hubs like Guangdong and Shanghai, into new markets like Beijing. "Beijing hasn't had a wrestling show in over 10 years, so that was a very calculated decision," Gomez said of the promoter's organising of the recent event in the Chinese capital. "If we go to Beijing, we've got to make sure that's it's the right time, that we have the right resources and that we do it right." He added that featuring international stars can also help boost the profile for local talents.
