Triple H Set For Removal From WWE Board Of Directors; Wrestling News August 11th 2023

Jim Ross believes the atmospheres of AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision are very different, describing the latter as “a lot calmer.”

Good Ol’ JR made his surprise return to AEW last week for Collision’s main event between CM Punk and Ricky Starks for Punk’s so-called ‘Real World Championship’. Ross was originally expected to return towards the end of this month, in time for All In.

On the latest edition of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross discussed his return to the promotion and went on to describe the contrast between AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision – claiming Collision is calmer due to a smaller, more focused roster working those shows.

“The atmosphere at Collision, in my opinion, is entirely different than the mindset and the atmosphere at Dynamite. There’s less people, less crew, less talents, so it’s a lot calmer. I think the talents have more time to work their matches out. It’s just a different atmosphere, and it’s a good atmosphere.

Always fun. Good seeing the talents. We got a good crew going. I think Punk and Tony Khan pretty much put that roster together, and I like it. That’s good talents. They’re motivated. They like the ownership of that show and the fact that they can make a difference, and I think that’s cool. All good, man. I’m looking to it. I enjoy being around the talent.”

h/t to Fightful

Nia Jax has publically commented on a potential WWE return following rumors that the company may be interested in bringing her back!

Earlier this week, Mike Johnson of PWInsider broke the news that there have been “rumblings” within WWE of Jax potentially returning and that sources within the company have heard her name mentioned a few times recently.

Now, the former RAW Women’s Champion has addressed if she’s returning to the promotion for the first time since that report’s release.

Speaking to Bill Apter of Sportskeeda, Jax revealed she still trains in wrestling with the likes of Natalya, Tyson Kidd, Charlotte Flair and AEW’s Andrade El Idolo regularly but said she doesn’t “have the answer” to a potential WWE return at the moment.

“I don’t have the answer. Right now, I’m just hanging out. I’m enjoying being home with my family. I have a new nephew, and I’ve kind of started being obsessed with being in Pilates.”

Jax last appeared at the Royal Rumble back in January, making a one-night-only return as the #30 entrant in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. This marked her return to the company for the first time since her release in November 2021.

h/t to Fightful

Dave Meltzer has revealed his match ratings for this year’s SummerSlam, with one match attaining a surprisingly low rating!

This year’s SummerSlam was met with generally positive reactions from fans and media alike. But now, Dave Meltzer has thrown his hat into the ring with his always-divisive star ratings.

In the August 14th edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer gave his ratings of each match at the event. His highest-rated match of the show was tied between Finn Balor vs Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar vs Cody Rhodes at four and a half stars each.

Meanwhile, his lowest-rated match of the show was the MMA Rules bout between Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey. Surprisingly, Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso came in as tied-second for worst match of the night – with Meltzer attributing the match’s length and constant interference to lowering his rating.

All of Dave Meltzer’s star ratings for SummerSlam 2023 can be found below:

• Logan Paul defeated Ricochet – ****1/4
• Cody Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar – ****1/2
• LA Knight won the Slim Jim Battle Royal – **3/4
• Shayna Baszler defeated Ronda Rousey in a MMA Rules match – *1/2
• Gunther defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the Intercontinental Championship – ****
• Seth Rollins Defeated Finn Balor to retain the Universal Championship – ****1/2
• Bianca Belair defeated Charlotte Flair and Asuka to become the new WWE Women’s Champion – ***1/2
• Roman Reigns defeated Jey Uso to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship – **3/4

Vince McMahon is a religious gym-goer and is said to train every day despite his age, but his years of exercise may be catching up to him.

News broke last month that Vince McMahon recently underwent spinal surgery in what was described as a “major, life-altering operation.” Details have been sparse regarding the surgery but now, a report has potentially revealed the cause behind it.

Dave Meltzer provided more details on the reason behind McMahon’s recent spinal surgery in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer noted that the surgery was specifically for his back and his issues were likely caused by continuous heavy squats.

“Vince McMahon’s spinal surgery was for his back. Some had thought it was for his neck, where he had surgery in 1994 before his trial. It’s likely from a lifetime of heavy lifting, notably continuing to do squats heavy long after most would have given up on it for care of their bodies.

Squats are the best exercise for building muscle but in time they will take their toll on your hips and back, and McMahon has had his hip issues as well, but never got a hip replacement because he was told he would have to give up heavy squats.”

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will emanate from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with three weeks to go till WWE’s next Premium Live Event – Payback!

Matches and segments announced for the show include:

• Jimmy Uso will acknowledge ‘The Tribal Chief’ Roman Reigns
• AJ Styles vs Karrion Kross
• Austin Theory (c) vs Santos Escobar – United States Championship match

What are you most excited to see on tonight’s episode of SmackDown? Let us know by sharing your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter down below!

It seems those backstage were just as disappointed with Gable Stevenson’s long-awaited WWE debut as the fans in attendance…

Despite being drafted to RAW back in the 2021 WWE Draft, the Olympic Gold Medallist never, and still has yet to, compete on the red brand – instead making his WWE debut nearly two years later at NXT Great American Bash last month.

Steveson did not receive a welcome reaction at the event, with fans constantly booing the former amateur wrestler and even chanting “You’re not Angle” when he locked in Kurt Angle’s iconic Ankle Lock during his match.

Writing in the August 14th edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that “all is quiet” regarding Steveson and that he is not being talked about backstage.

It’s currently unknown if he’ll be taking time off to compete in the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Serbia next month.

“All is quiet when it comes to Gable Steveson. He was referred to in passing on NXT but he wasn’t there nor did they hype anything imminent with he and Corbin even though the double count out finish and pull-apart clearly was done to build a rematch.

The world championships are a month away and WWE hasn’t confirmed whether he has permission and is doing it or not. When asking around about him after his debut match didn’t go well as far as fan reaction, we were just told that nobody is talking about him.”

Kenny Omega and Hangman Page will apparently be competing at All In, but not in a match-up you’d expect…

In last week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that one of the matches being considered for AEW All In was the long-awaited singles clash between Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita.

Unfortunately, fans hoping to see The Cleaner in singles action at Wembley Stadium may have had their hopes dashed.

Meltzer followed up on that thought in the newsletter’s latest edition, stating that the singles match may in fact be taking place the week after at All Out. UK fans may still get to see Omega and Takeshita face-off, however, as the two are now rumored to be in opposing trios teams in London.

Omega will reportedly team with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and Kota Ibushi against Takeshita and Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White and Juice Robinson at the event.

“The Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita match may end up on All Out in Chicago, and a rumored match at All In was Omega & Adam Page & Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson & Takeshita.”

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are both set to remain as WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions despite both suffering injuries!

The current WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions have had an unfortunate injury spell as of late, with Kevin Owens dealing with a broken rib and Zayn being written off television earlier this week by an injury to his elbow.

Despite the two now being off WWE programming, however, it seems the company will not be crowning new tag team champions as a result of their absence.

Dave Meltzer noted in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the company is currently not planning on relinquishing Owens and Zayn of their titles. There was no information regarding when either could be returning.

“On the men’s side, Zayn has an elbow swollen like a golf ball which is why they did the angle on Raw where Judgment Day took him out. The injury that would cause that would be bursitis or a bursa sac infection.

Owens is injured as well but he was given time off to let his broken rib get a rest and the plan wasn’t to take the tag titles off them.”

Logan Paul’s return to boxing is on this October but features a strange stipulation for his opponent worth $100,000!

Paul recently announced his boxing return after a two-year absence from the sport. The social media star is set to compete against Bellator’s Dillon Danis at The PRIME Card, a DAZN pay-per-view event live from Manchester, England on October 14th.

However, the bout features a stipulation specifically for Danis that Paul himself made sure his opponent signed as part of the fight’s contract.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote that Danis must pay $100,000 to Paul if he is unable to compete due to “a fake injury” and that Paul’s doctor will be the one who determines if the injury is fake or not.

“Paul did make him sign in the contract that he would have to pay Paul $100,000 if Danis pulls out of the fight due to a fake injury, and that it would be Paul’s doctor who would determine if he was faking the injury or not.

The thing is, every fighter can find themselves a legit injury if they are doing hard training.”

If we were to speculate, the stipulation is a result of Danis’ cancelled boxing debut earlier this year. Danis was set to face Paul’s close friend KSI on January 14th at Wembley Arena but Danis pulled out of the bout 10 days before citing that he was “unprepared.”

WWE have posted a new YouTube video giving a candid behind-the-scenes look at WWE SummerSlam from this past weekend!

The video features backstage clips from the event featuring the likes of Logan Paul, Shayna Baszler, Jey Uso, Charlotte Flair, Brandi Rhodes and Roman Reigns.

Check out the video above and let us know what you thought by sharing on Facebook or Twitter down below!

Endeavour’s influence on WWE is beginning to take effect with the company looking to once again make NXT into more than just developmental!

WWE’s new owners will undoubtedly be looking to make some changes, amidst rumors of impending cost-cutting measures within WWE, and one of their big focuses seems to be on WWE’s black and gold brand NXT, something that Nick Khan is also pushing!

Dave Meltzer wrote in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Endeavour and Nick Khan want NXT to once again become its own sustainable brand with national tours and tapings, in a similar vein to its presence prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Meltzer also made clear that there is no timeline for this renewed focus but their early goal is to have the brand challenge AEW Dynamite for its 18-34 age group in the ratings, which will in turn give them a strong audience to begin touring with.

“There is a renewed focus from Endeavor as well as Nick Khan on making NXT what was termed a sustainable third brand. The idea is to build up the ratings so they can get a good rights fee for the show and then NXT can be a money maker.

The goal is to go back to what it was, running regular tours outside of Florida in 2,000 seat arenas and taping television on the road like Raw and Smackdown. Keep in mind there is no time line for this, and they are still talking of NXT Europe and a full-time performance center in London as the backbone but nothing is happening there until 2024.

Right now the goal for NXT that we keep hearing is to close the gap with Dynamite in the 18-34 age group, where they’ve been close the last few weeks and I believe a category NXT never beat AEW in previously, but in the new incarnation in recent weeks with the jump from using Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley, they’ve improved greatly in.

The idea is that’s the age group they need to be strong for touring and to get new stars strong enough that they reach that audience and can tour with them on top.”

Is NXT better as its own third brand or simply as a developmental brand for RAW and SmackDown? Let us know your thoughts by sharing on Facebook or Twitter down below!

Roman Reigns wasn’t the only top star to be injured at SummerSlam as Brock Lesnar also suffered from one!

Brock Lesnar seemingly indicated he would be disappearing from WWE programming for the foreseeable future when he shook hands with Cody Rhodes and ended their months-long feud at SummerSlam, but it seems there’s more to the story backstage…

Writing in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that Lesnar suffered an injury during his trilogy-ending match with Rhodes though the exact nature of the injury wasn’t disclosed.

Meltzer went on to say that The Beast will be taking time off and is expected to return in the lead-up to the Royal Rumble next January.

“Lesnar, who was injured early in the match where he put over Cody Rhodes, was at one point advertised for stuff later this year. As of right now, he put Rhodes over clean, shook his hand, turned himself back babyface in doing so, and the plan is for him to return on the television building up the Royal Rumble and from there going to WrestleMania.”

Thunder Rosa looks to be returning to AEW soon following an extensive recovery from injury.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion has been out of action with a back injury for over a year, last competing on the August 15th 2022 edition of AEW Dark: Elevation where she, Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida defeated Emi Sakura, Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir.

It’s good news for fans of Rosa, though, as it looks like she’s finally set to be returning to the ring in the very near future!

On her latest YouTube vlog, Rosa announced she should be able to return in around three weeks per advice from AEW Head Physician Michael Samson. Samson also gave a direct update to fans on the vlog, revealing that Rosa will have a ‘mini-match’ next week to see how her body tolerates wrestling after her time away.

“Good news. She’s been doing well, we’re at week four. She’s been religious with her training, as she always has been, but religious with her training, doing everything we’ve asked her to do.

Next week, if I can share, we’re going to be in Greensboro, and we’re going to do a five-minute mini-match and see how you tolerate that. We’re just taking the steps up. If that looks good, we’re almost there.”

Click here to read more about this story.

More details have come to light over the severity of the reported illness that is keeping Bray Wyatt off of WWE programming.

Just four months on from his WWE return, Bray Wyatt disappeared from TV unexpectedly in the midst of what seemed to be the build to a WrestleMania match against Bobby Lashley. Wyatt was fresh off a victory over LA Knight at the Royal Rumble.

Reports over the last few months have hinted at Wyatt battling an unknown illness and now, more details have been uncovered.

In a new report from Fightful Select, Sean Ross Sapp claimed that Wyatt is “getting closer” to being cleared to return for the first time since his disappearance six months ago. In his initial report, Sapp refused to disclose the exact nature of Wyatt’s illness.

In a follow-up tweet, however, it was revealed that Wyatt’s illness was both a threat to his in-ring career as well as his life. Thankfully, the wording of the tweet suggests Wyatt is no longer in any danger and is now recovering.

“After today’s update, it was explained to Fightful that the illness that Bray Wyatt is actively recovering from was both career and life threatening.”

We wish Bray Wyatt all the best in his recovery and hope to see him back in the ring soon!

Triple H is seemingly set to be removed from the WWE Board of Directors following the company’s merger with Endeavour.

In a new SEC filing relating to the merger, all but one of the board members for TKO Group Holdings, the new company founded through WWE’s merger with Endeavour’s UFC, were revealed.

The new board will feature 11 members, containing six from Endeavour and five from WWE. The filing lists all six members from Endeavour and four from WWE, with the fifth spot to be appointed in the near future.

The WWE members currently announced to join the company’s board are Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Steve Coonin and Nancy Tellin. All other current members of the WWE Board Of Directors, including Triple H, will seemingly lose their board membership following the merger.

The WWE-Endeavour merger is reportedly set to conclude sometime next month and will see the formation of TKO Group Holdings, which will see WWE and UFC combine into a single company – though their on-screen brands will remain separate.

Good morning everyone!

Welcome back to the TJRWrestling live blog! I’ll be with you from 7am to 1pm EST covering the latest stories & breaking news from WWE, AEW, NJPW and elsewhere across the wrestling world!

We’ve got some big stories headed your way today including:

• Triple H Set For Removal From WWE Board Of Directors
• Bray Wyatt’s Absence Due To “Life-Threatening Illness”
• Thunder Rosa Close To AEW In-Ring Return