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Top 10 Wrestling Stories of the Week 3/31: WWE WrestleMania 39 Is Here, Jon Moxley Responds To CM Punk, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 31st March 2023
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Welcome back TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday getting a huge Andre the Giant Trophy out of storage, and miss WWE Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to convince your boss you need the whole week off for WrestleMania, and missed Raw.

Worry not for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

10. Andre the Giant Battle Royal to be Held Tonight on Smackdown

Twenty-eight WWE superstars will compete tonight for the ultimate consolation prize for not being booked on WrestleMania 39. The 9th Annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal will be held tonight on Smackdown, with 28 competitors already being announced. One surprising name announced for the match is Bobby Lashley, who at one time was thought to be facing Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania. We shall have to see if Lashley still appears on the biggest show of the year, or if we’ll have to settle for trying to win the world’s largest participation trophy ever. (TJRWrestling)

9. Tim White to Receive The Warrior Award at 2023 WWE Hall of Fame

It was announced this week that a legendary WWE official will be receiving The Warrior Award at the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame. Tim White, who was a WWE referee for over 20 years, as well the agent and minder for Andre The Giant during his WWF run. White was forced to retire in 2004 due to a shoulder injury, and opened up a popular bar in Providence, Rhode Island. White did, unfortunately, return to WWE programming in 2006, taking part in a series of horrendous skits dubbed ‘Lunchtime Suicides’ in which White tried to end his life week after week. White also worked behind the scenes in WWE in many different roles as well. White passed away last June at the age of 68. Personally, I think it is great that the WWE is finally recognizing the incredible work that referees do every day, and am hopeful that they will eventually notice a certain independent referee from Central, NY. (TJRWrestling)

8. Matt Jackson Has Partially Torn Bicep

On the March 22nd episode of AEW Dynamite, The Young Bucks were mysteriously attacked in the parking lot leading to both Nick and Matt Jackson leaving in an ambulance. It was reported this week that this angle was done to cover for Matt Jackson legitimately having a torn bicep. Jackson is not expected to have surgery for the injury, but will still likely miss several months of action. Jackson is anticipated to remain on television during the injury, but as of this writing, is not expected to have to act out any scenes from the Rocky franchise. (TJRWrestling)

7. Bryan Danielson Turns Heel on AEW Dynamite

Bryan Danielson returned to AEW this week for the first time since losing to MJF at AEW Revolution on March 5th. Danielson appeared at ringside to stop his fellow Blackpool Combat Club members Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta from attacking Kenny Omega. Danielson then offered his hand to Omega, but when Omega turned his back Danielson attacked. Danielson hit Omega with the Busaiku Knee before locking him in the LeBell Lock, while the rest of the BCC cleared out security. This is all likely leading to the BCC and The Elite facing off in a Blood and Guts Match, or what Jon Moxley calls a Wednesday. (TJRWrestling)

6. Stacy Keibler Announced for the WWE Hall of Fame

One of the most famous pairs of legs in wrestling history will be walking the WWE Hall of Fame stage this year. This week it was announced that Stacy Keibler will be inducted into the WWE 2023 Hall of Fame Class. Keibler started her career in WCW, where she was a Nitro Girl and later was a manager under the name Miss Hancock. Keibler then joined the WWE during the 2001 invasion angle, managing and wrestling the occasional match as well over her five years with the company. After leaving the WWE, Keibler entered the entertainment world, and even dated George Clooney for a while. Keibler said she had tears in her eyes when she heard the news, which is ironic because she made a lot of teenage boys go blind during her career. (TJRWrestling)

5. Finn Bálor to Bring Back Demon Persona for WrestleMania 39

After weeks of speculation, it was confirmed this week that Finn Bálor will be bringing back his demon persona. This past Monday on Raw, Bálor appeared via video. Bálor warned his Mania opponent Edge that there is nothing more dangerous than a locked demon, before warning Edge that his demons are always here. WWE then showed a graphic for the Hell in a Cell Match between Edge and Bálor, with Bálor dressed as the “demon.” Interestingly, Edge is rumored to be bringing back his old “Brood” persona as well, with Gangrel possibly appearing with Edge. In spite of all these past personas returning for WrestleMania 39, there has no indication at this time that Cody Rhodes has dusted off the Stardust costume for his match. (TJRWrestling)

4. Rey Mysterio to Face His Son Dominik at WrestleMania39

After months of being antagonized, Rey Mysterio finally punched his own son this week. This past Friday on Smackdown, Dominik Mysterio once again tried to goat his father into a match at WrestleMania 39. Rey at first continued to deny his son’s request, until Dominik then told his mother(Rey’s wife) who was in the crowd to “shut up.” A furious Rey Mysterio then punched his son, before agreeing to face him at Mania. Rey Mysterio will now have a very emotional weekend ahead of him, as he will also be entering the WWE Hall of Fame the day before fighting his own son. Rey also said that he would be retiring likely within the next two years. Personally, I think this is a bad idea, because if he thinks his family drama is bad now wait until he has to be around them every day. (TJRWrestling)

3. Jon Moxley Responds to CM Punk

Less than a week after CM Punk’s controversial comments on Instagram, Jon Moxley went on his wife Renee Paquette’s podcast to respond. Moxley proceeded to call Punk “what’s-his-dick”, before saying he bent over backward to accommodate Punk.

“No, because nothing has unfolded. It’s f***ing annoying. Just because somebody said some stupid sh*t on social media, that’s not news. But it is, and it ends up being a thing. I don’t want to get dragged into this dumb sh*t. I could f***ing unload on a lot of f***ing people right now. And when I start getting dragged into this sh*t it tempts me to do that but I’m not going to f***ing sink to that level.”

Moxley then proceeded to reveal that he was not under contract when he was AEW World Champion this past summer, stating that he could have walked into SummerSlam with the title. Moxley then stated that he has never seen so much bullsh*t drama as in AEW. Moxley is clearly very frustrated that there are so many issues with the company that he has spilled his sweat and blood over and over and over and over and over again. (TJRWrestling)

2. NXT Stand and Deliver to Take Place Tomorrow

Just a few hours before night one of WrestleMania 39, NXT is scheduled to hold their own premium live event titled NXT Stand and Deliver at 1 PM ET on April 1st. So far, seven matches have been announced for the show including Chase University and Tylor Bates facing off against Schism. Gallus will defend the NXT Tag Team Championships against The Brothers and The D’Angelo Family in a triple threat tag team match. Wes Lee will defend the NXT North American Championship against Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, llja Dragunov and Axiom in a fatal five-way match. Fallon Henley and Kiana James will defend the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships against Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. Roxanne Perez will defend the NXT Women’s Championship in a Ladder Match against Zoey Stark, Gigi Dolin, Tiffany Stratton, Lyra Valkyria and Indi Hartwell. Johnny Gargano and Grayson Waller will compete in an unsanctioned match. Finally, Bron Breakker will defend the NXT Championship against Carmelo Hayes. NXT holding all of these matches just a few hours before WrestleMania is clearly just being done as a giant April Fool’s joke to John Canton. (TJRWrestling)

1. WrestleMania 39 to Take Place This Weekend

The biggest wrestling event of the year WrestleMania 39 is set to take place on both April 1st and 2nd at 8PMET. So far 13 matches have been announced including John Cena challenging Austin Theory for the WWE United States Championship. Seth “Freakin” Rollins will try to settle the score against Logan Paul. Rey Mysterio will face his son Dominik. Trish Stratus, Lita and Becky Lynch will face the Damage CTRL team of Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. Brock Lesnar and Omos will go head to head. Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka. The Smackdown Women’s Championship will also be on the line, with Rhea Ripley challenging Charlotte Flair. Gunther will defend the Intercontinental Championship against both Sheamus and Drew McIntyre in a Triple-Threat Match. Edge and The “Demon” Finn Bálor will face off in a Hell in a Cell match. A women’s fatal 4-way tag match will be held with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriquez facing Natalya and Shotzi, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, and Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville. The men will face off in a fatal 4-way tag match with Braun Strowman and Ricochet facing The Street Profits, Alpha Academy, and The Viking Raiders. The Usos will defend the WWE Tag Team Championships against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Finally, Roman Reigns will defend the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes. With all these incredible matches announced, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge those who are putting their bodies on the line for our entertainment. So John Canton, thank you! I am sure your hands will recover eventually. (TJRWrestling)

That concludes another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. Although I often joke, I have recently started refereeing with GroundZero and training at the Institute of Professional Wrestling, and now respect more than ever what wrestlers do every week. I wrote an article all about it all right here. If you like what I do, despite my jokes being almost as bad as a hand cramp during night two of WrestleMania, then follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1 and listen to my Podcast The Smark and the Noob. Thank you to all of those who read this every week.