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The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week 6/18: Samoa Joe Returns to WWE NXT, Hell in a Cell Preview, AEW Headed to NYC, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 18th June 2021

Welcome back TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday trying to convince the world you are nothing like the guy who used to have your job and missed Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday working on your Eva Marie sign, and missed Raw. Worry not, for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

1o. Renee Paquette and Jon Moxley Have a Baby Girl

A brand new member was added to the professional wrestling universe this week. This past Tuesday, Renee Paquette announced on her Twitter page that she had given birth to a baby girl. This is Paquette’s and her husband Jon Moxley’s first child together. Upon hearing the news, Tony Khan instantly offered the new child a six-digit contract in hopes of starting a new faction with Brandi Rhodes’ baby and Becky Lynch’s new baby.

9. NXT The Great American Bash to Air on July 6th

NXT is planning on celebrating America’s birthday a few days late this year. This week it was announced that the Tuesday, July 6th episode of NXT will be The Great American Bash. One big match has already been announced for the event, with Adam Cole facing Kyle O’Reilly in a “straight up wrestling match.” NXT may also choose to celebrate the July 1st holiday of Canada Day as well at the event, which could cause Bret Hart to smile for the first time in twenty years. (TJRWrestling)

8. Adam Pearce Teases Return of King of the Ring

WWE may be crowning a new king very soon. This week on WWE’s The Bump, King Corbin was asked about another King of the Ring Tournament, with him stating that he would be happy to defend his crown in the tournament. WWE official Adam Pearce then responded to these comments on Twitter, stating that he has talked to Corbin about this and to “stay tuned.” The King of the Ring Tournament has not been held since Corbin won it way back in 2019. Now WWE superstars may once again get the opportunity to be a king, without having to try to woo Queen Elizabeth.

7. WWE to Build New Sets for Raw and Smackdown

Raw and Smackdown are going to be getting a makeover real soon. This week, Lead WWE Production Designer Jason Robinson announced in an interview with Edward Douglas of Below the Line, that they are building new sets and new staging for both Raw and Smackdown. Robinson also stated that they are planning a big look for SummerSlam in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Robinson also revealed that WWE will be introducing more Augmented Reality, which will be a nice change of pace from the False Reality that Vince McMahon normally is in.

6. AEW To Hold Dynamite Episode in New York City

AEW will be coming to WWE’s backyard this September. This past Wednesday, Tony Khan announced that the September 22nd episode of Dynamite will take place at the USTA Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, NY home to the US Open tennis. This will be the first time that AEW has ever performed in NY state, with their planned show in Rochester, NY in March of 2020 being postponed to September 29, 2021. Personally, I still have tickets to that Rochester show and can tell you that waiting for the show to happen has been more excruciating than watching two whole Raw episodes. (TJRWrestling)

5. Eva Marie Returns on Raw With Some Help

The moment that wrestling fans around the world have been waiting for finally happened this past Monday on Raw. Eva Marie finally made her triumphant return to Raw this week, in a match against Naomi. Marie didn’t come alone however, as she brought with her NXT UK star Piper Niven. It was actually Niven who faced and defeated Naomi in the match, but Marie declared herself the winner anyways. The Raw commentary team did not call Niven by name, instead pretending that they had no idea who she was. This could be because Niven will be getting a new name on the main roster, or because the announcers were so star struck by Marie that they just forgot Niven’s name. (TJRWrestling)

4. Roman Reigns to Face Rey Mysterio Tonight on Smackdown Inside Hell in a Cell

We will not have to wait until Sunday to see a Hell in a Cell Match. This past Friday on Smackdown, Rey Mysterio called out Roman Reigns for beating up his son Dominik the previous week. Reigns then came down and Mysterio challenged him to a match inside Hell in a Cell. Before Reigns could respond, Dominik slid a Kendo Stick to Rey who tried to use it on Reigns. Dominik and Rey then tried to continue to attack Reigns. Reigns ended up getting the better of the fight however, Powerbombing Dominik over the top rope to the floor. Reigns and Rey Mysterio were originally scheduled to have the match this Sunday at Hell in a Cell, but was unexplainably changed just last night to tonight’s Smackdown. Rey actually also got a World Title shot at Survivor Series 2019 when Brock Lesnar beat up Dominik. So if Rey is not successful tonight, I fully expect Dominik to slap Bobby Lashley on Raw this Monday. (TJRWrestling)

3. LA Knight Wins the Million Dollar Championship

For the first time in over ten years, there is a new Million Dollar Champion. This past Sunday at NXT In Your House, LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes in a ladder match to become the new Million Dollar Champion. The “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase watched the match from ringside and presented the title to Knight after he won the title. Knight then proceeded to turn on DiBiase this past Tuesday on NXT, attacking him until Grimes made the save. Knight will now hope to have the same success as former “Million Dollar Champion” Steve Austin, or at least be able to charge more for an autograph at Grand Central Station than former champion Virgil. (TJRWrestling)

2. WWE Hell in a Cell to Take Place This Sunday

WWE Hell in a Cell is scheduled to take place this Sunday 6/20 at 8PM ET on Peacock/WWE Network. So far there have only been four matches announced for the show, including Alexa Bliss facing Shayna Baszler. Bayley will once again challenge Bianca Belair for the Smackdown Women’s Title. Rhea Ripley will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair. Finally, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley will settle their feud, when McIntyre challenges Lashley for the WWE World Championship inside the cell. This Sunday is also Father’s Day, meaning that it is guaranteed that Shane McMahon will not be appearing at the event. (TJRWrestling)

1. Samoa Joe Returns to WWE NXT as an Enforcer

WWE NXT General Manager William Regal will no longer have to try to control the NXT roster alone. After NXT In Your House last Sunday, Regal stated that things were out of control and something needed to change. NXT this past Tuesday then opened up with William Regal having an announcement. Regal then looked like he was going to step down as GM of NXT, before he was interrupted by NXT World Champion Karrion Kross. Kross then began to mock Regal, before a returning Samoa Joe came down to the ring. Regal then asked Joe if he would become the new GM of NXT, with Joe immediately turning it down. Joe then made a counteroffer to Regal, stating that he would make sure that Regal got the respect he deserved if he stayed as GM. Regal accepted this offer on the conditions that Joe can’t be a competitor, and he can’t lay hands on any NXT Superstars unless he’s provoked. Joe ended up getting physical a few minutes later when he broke up a fight between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. Joe has not competed in a match since February 2020, and was released last April from the WWE. Joe’s return excited the entire wrestling world especially Shahid Khan, who will no longer have to take a second mortgage out on his house. (TJRWrestling)

That will conclude another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. Thank you for taking the time to read this each week. I will be back next week with even more bad jokes! If you like what I do, despite my jokes being as bad as a McMahon’s Father’s Day, then feel free to listen to my brand new podcast The Smark And The Noob and follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1.