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Top 10 Wrestling Stories of the Week 12/9: William Regal Back To WWE, NXT Deadline, ROH Final Battle, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 9th December 2022
william regal wwe nxt promo microphone

Welcome back, TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday trying to figure out what a Cocomelon is and why your nephew wants it, and missed WWE Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday going back to where everyone knows your name, and missed Raw.

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

10. Ric Flair Documentary to Debut on Peacock on December 26th

Christmas is coming a day late for wrestling fans this year. This week it was announced that the documentary “Whooooo! Becoming Ric Flair” will debut on Peacock on December 26th. The documentary is produced by Peacock in conjunction with Tom Rinaldi and WWE, with Flair stating “it will be the most comprehensive documentary of his career with nothing being cut out.” We will have to see if this means the documentary is 12 hours long, to cover all of Flair’s divorces. (TJRWrestling)

9. Alexa Bliss and Bayley to Compete in Number One’s Contender Match

Bianca Belair’s next Raw Women’s Championship opponent will be decided this Monday on Raw. This past Monday on Raw, Bayley defeated Rhea Ripley and Asuka in a triple-threat qualifying match. Also on Raw, Alexa Bliss defeated Becky Lynch and Nikki Cross in the other qualifying match after Damage CTRL cost Lynch the match. Bliss and Bayley will now meet this Monday on Raw, with the winner challenging Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. The results of the two qualifying matches shocked a lot of wrestling fans, but no one more than AEW’s Tony Khan who could not believe you can have more than one women’s match on a show. (TJRWrestling)

8. Tegan Nox Returns to the WWE

If you had Tegan Nox in the “former NXT Superstar return” pool this week, congratulations because you win. Nox returned this past Friday on Smackdown, saving Liv Morgan from a beatdown by Damage CTRL. Nox was one of the top female stars of Triple H’s NXT, before being released in November of 2021. Nox is the latest of a long list of released superstars that Triple H has brought back to the company. Tony Khan considered bringing back some of his former wrestlers as well, as soon as he actually releases somebody. (TJRWrestling)

tegan nox wwe smackdown liv morgan

7. The New Day to Challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championships

One of the greatest Tag Teams in wrestling history has a chance to add another title to its already Hall of Fame career. This past Tuesday on NXT, NXT Tag Team Champions Elton Prince and Kit Wilson of Pretty Deadly gave an in-ring promo. Pretty Deadly stated that they have no challengers for their titles, leading to The New Day making a shocking appearance. The New Day then challenged Pretty Deadly for the titles at NXT Deadline this Saturday. If The New Day win they will be the second team to capture the NXT, Raw, and SmackDown Tag Team Championships after FTR. The New Day will likely not continue FTR’s path, however, and go to AEW so they can be buried by The Young Bucks. (TJRWrestling)

6. Ricochet Wins Smackdown World Cup

An American has won the World Cup after all. This past Friday on Smackdown, Ricochet defeated Santos Escobar to win the Smackdown World Cup. Ricochet will now challenge Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the December 16th episode of Smackdown. Gunther has previously defeated Ricochet twice, with Ricochet hoping to somehow get the win in this match or at least play to a tie. (TJRWrestling)

gunther ricochet wwe intercontinental title world cup

5. Dustin Rhodes Announces Retirement In 2023

One of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era is planning to call it a career. This week, Dustin Rhodes announced that 2023 will be his last year in the ring. Rhodes is currently in AEW, but is best known for portraying Goldust in the WWE for over 20 years. Rhodes is also of course the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, as well as the brother of WWE superstar Cody Rhodes. It is unknown when in 2023, or against whom Rhodes will be facing in his last match. It is also unknown why Rhodes has chosen 2023 to retire, but it likely has to do with being old, tired, and working with children. (TJRWrestling)

4. Sasha Banks to Appear at Wrestle Kingdom 17

For the first time since May of 2022, Sasha Banks is reportedly returning to wrestling. Banks will reportedly not be appearing for WWE however, with her instead appearing for NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17. It is unknown what Banks will be doing at Wrestle Kingdom, or if she has any plans to wrestle for NJPW. This news comes somewhat of a shock, as Banks has been heavily rumored to be returning to the WWE. NJPW likely decided to book Banks on the show because they figured she will have a very long way to go if she does decide to walk out and go home. (TJRWrestling)

Sasha Banks

3. ROH Final Battle to Take Place This Saturday

ROH will hold its last PPV this Saturday at 4PM ET. ROH Final Battle will feature seven matches (as of right now since they can add more), including Swerve in Our Glory facing Shane Taylor Promotions. Dalton Castle and The Boys will defend the ROH Six-Man Titles against The Embassy. Samoa Joe will defend the ROH Television Championship against Juice Robinson. Mercedes Martinez will defend the ROH Women’s Championship against Athena. Wheeler Yuta will challenge Daniel Garcia for the ROH Pure Championship. FTR will defend the ROH Tag Team Championships in a Double Dog Collar Match against The Briscoes. Finally, Chris Jericho will defend the ROH World Championship against Claudio Castagnoli. Hopefully, this show will lead to ROH getting its own show, so AEW could do something crazy and start featuring its own titles and talent on AEW television. (TJRWrestling)

2. NXT Deadline to Take Place This Saturday

WWE NXT’s next Premium Live Event titled Deadline is scheduled for this Saturday at 8PM ET. So far five matches have been announced, including Alba Fyre facing Isla Dawn. Pretty Deadly will defend the NXT Tag Team Championships against The New Day. Zoey Stark, Cora Jade, Roxanne Perez, Kiana James and Indi Hartwell will compete in an Iron Survivor Challenge Match. In the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge it will be Carmelo Hayes, JD McDonagh, Grayson Waller, Joe Gacy and Axiom competing. Finally, Bron Breakker will defend the NXT Championship against Apollo Crews. NXT Deadline is the last WWE Premium Live Event scheduled until the end of January, meaning that the only thing poor John Canton will have to do on the weekends is watch the Rams play. (TJRWrestling) (Note from John Canton: I feel the need to do a run-in here to point out that my LA Rams last won a Super Bowl in February 2022 while Matthew’s Miami Dolphins last won nearly 50 years ago. Good luck to Tua, Tyreek and the team this year.)

1. William Regal Returning to the WWE

Yet another big name is set to return to the WWE. After being heavily rumored, Tony Khan confirmed this week that he has agreed not to renew Willam Regal’s AEW contract. Khan then confirmed that Regal would be returning to WWE, less than a year after he was surprisingly released from the company. Khan stated that Regal asked to be allowed to return to WWE, so he could work with his son, NXT superstar Charlie Dempsey, along with WWE’s other developmental talent. This will make Regal the first person to leave AEW so he can work with children. (TJRWrestling)

That concludes another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. Although I often joke, I have recently started refereeing with NYCW and FCWA, and 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 fruit cake. Then follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1. Thank you for taking the time to read this each week.