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Top 10 Wrestling Stories of the Week 2/14: Cena Returning to WWE, Goldberg Facing Wyatt, WrestleMania Next Year, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 14th February 2020
TJR Wrestling

Welcome back TJR readers, did you spend all Friday preparing for the big weekend of XFL games and miss Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to watch Parasite without the subtitles and missed RAW. Fear not as for whatever the reason that you aren’t caught up in the world of wrestling, I have returned with another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week to save the day.

10. Buddy Murphy Loses His First Name

Seth Rollins and AOP no longer have a Buddy on Monday Night RAW. Buddy Murphy’s name was unexplainably changed this week to just Murphy. There were reports claiming WWE felt that “Buddy” wasn’t a good name for a guy that is a disciple. Murphy joins a growing list of wrestlers such as Andrade, Cesaro, Rusev and several others who have all had their names suddenly changed by WWE. With WWE’s past history, Murphy should probably just be happy that his name isn’t now Masculine M. (TJRWrestling)

9. Matt Hardy Seemingly Done with WWE

Matt Hardy came out to confront Randy Orton 0n RAW this week about Orton’s vicious attack on Edge several weeks ago. After a compassionate promo by Hardy, Orton suddenly attacked him giving him a Conchairto for his efforts. With Hardy’s WWE contract set to expire on March 1st, this is most likely the last time we will see Hardy in a WWE ring for the foreseeable future. There is always the chance, of course, that Hardy will return to WWE once he meets the age requirement to main event a Saudi Arabia show. (TJRWrestling)

8. Nyla Rose Wins the AEW Women’s Championship

This week on AEW: Dynamite the AEW Women’s Championship changed hands for the first time. Nyla Rose defeated Riho with a sit-down powerbomb to capture the title. With the win, Rose made history by being the first transgender woman to win a championship in a major wrestling federation. AEW is clearly leading the way for equality in the wrestling business, with the transgender and space alien community both being represented in the women’s division. (TJRWrestling)

7. NXT Portland to Take Place This Sunday

NXT Portland is scheduled to be held this Sunday evening at 7pm ET on the WWE Network. In what is without question a stacked card, six matches have been announced for this show. Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai will attempt to settle their long-running feud in a street fight. Also, in what has to be considered a dream match, Johnny Gargano and Finn Balor will go one-on-one for the first time. Aside for these two matches, there will also be a total of four title matches on the card. NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era will defend their titles against the winners of the Dusty Classic, the BroserWeights. Keith Lee will defend his NXT North American title for the first time against Dominik Dijakovic. Before likely going on to Wrestlemania to face Charlotte, Rhea Ripley will defend her NXT Women’s title against Bianca Belair. Finally, in the main event, NXT Champion Adam Cole will defend his title against former champion Tommaso Ciampa. Traditionally Takeovers are treated as appetizers before the main roster show the following evening. However, with a card like this, it is clear they are ready to Takeover the entire meal this weekend. (TJRWrestling)

6. Jeff Cobb Debuts on AEW: Dynamite

Chris Jericho introduced a new “mercenary” this week on AEW: Dynamite. Jericho announced that he hired former Guam Olympian, Lucha Underground Heavyweight Champion and ROH Television Champion Jeff Cobb to take on Jon Moxley in a match next week on Dynamite. Later in the evening, Cobb made a surprise appearance, attacking Moxley to end the show. Cobb is reportedly a free agent as he is also scheduled to wrestle for ROH on April 4th and also regularly wrestles for NJPW. Whichever company locks up Cobb to a long term contract, I’m sure they will have no Guam’s about it. (TJRWrestling)

5. Shayna Baszler Attacks Becky Lynch on Monday Night RAW

Clearly the catering is not as good on NXT, as Shayna Baszler attempted to eat Becky Lynch this week on Monday Night RAW. After Lynch defeated Asuka on RAW, Baszler brutally attacked Lynch and proceeded to bite the back of her neck drawing blood. Lynch had to receive medical attention after the attack, but ended up stealing the ambulance to drive herself to the hospital. Lynch returned the ambulance later in the evening and went to the ring to challenge Baszler, telling her she will get her hands on her eventually. It is yet to be explained why Baszler decided to bite Lynch, with Lynch’s affinity for committing Grand Theft Auto however she may have just been taking a bite out of crime. (TJRWrestling)

4. The Rock’s Daughter Simone Johnson Signs with WWE

Something big is cooking in the WWE Performance Center this week. Simone Johnson, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, has signed a developmental contract with WWE at the age of 18 years old. Simone will be the first fourth-generation WWE superstar. Aside from her famous father, she is also the great-granddaughter of Peter Maivia and granddaughter to Rocky Johnson, who recently passed away. To say Simone will have some big shoes to fill when she steps into a WWE ring would be an understatement, as in her case it definitely does matter what her name is. (TJRWrestling)

3. Los Angeles to Host Wrestlemania 37

Wrestlemania 36 may still be over 50 days away, but this has not stopped WWE from announcing where Wrestlemania 37 will be held. Wrestlemania 37 is set to take place from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California on March 28th. SoFi Stadium is the brand new stadium that has been built for the Los Angeles Rams (and Chargers) this year, which means that the WWE champions may be the only champions ever inside the stadium. (TJRWrestling)

2. Three Big Matches Announced for Super Showdown

With WWE returning to Saudi Arabia for Super Showdown on February 27th, they announced three matches for the show this week. First, because nothing says Saudi show like a trophy, WWE announced a Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet Match. The participants announced so far to win this “prestigious” award are Rusev, R-Truth, AJ Styles, United States Champion Andrade, Erick Rowan and Bobby Lashley. Also, worry not if you were concerned that last week’s dog food incident was the end of the King Corbin and Roman Reigns feud. Reigns and Corbin are once again set to face off, this time inside a steel cage. Finally in Saudi Arabia, apparently due to his impressive performance last time he was in the country, Goldberg will be challenging “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt for the Universal Championship. With such an “outstanding” series of matches announced there may be fear that the whole global economy will crash on Thursday, February 27th, as everybody skips work to watch these “incredible” matches. (TJRWrestling)

1. John Cena to Appear on Smackdown on February 28th

Wrestlemania is fast approaching and one of the biggest stars of all time may be returning for it. John Cena, who hasn’t wrestled a match in a WWE ring in over a year, is set to appear on the February 28th episode of Friday Night Smackdown. Cena has stated recently in interviews that he would like a considerable role in this year’s Wrestlemania, after just having a promo segment last year. The road to Wrestlemania is Fast and Furious and WWE may be Playing with Fire if they Do little with John Cena again this year. (TJRWrestling)

That will conclude another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. As always if you like what I do please follow me on Facebook and Twitter @BackseatBookers and listen to my podcast The BackseatBookers (please be aware that it is explicit as I use Xtreme Foul Language.)