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Official Wrestling News Thread

BountyHunterRo said:
Ilja Dragunov is heading into yet another title defense of the NXT Championship at NXT Stand And Deliver on WrestleMania weekend, but many questions surround his future in WWE.

Fightful Select's Corey Brennan has been told that Dragunov is not planned for a callup at this time, but is expected to make his way to the main roster upon losing the NXT Championship, with some in NXT feeling he is beyond the brand at this stage of his career.

Some fans have questioned if Dragunov was willing to make the move to the main roster and cite his trips home as a reason why. At this time, Fightful has not been told of any such issue, with WWE being more than happy to accommodate Dragunov's schedule.

With regard to NXT Europe, one NXT source told Fightful that Dragunov has not been considered for the expansion since making his way over on a regular basis to NXT programming.

In the broader scheme of WWE, the belief of several in NXT is that WWE see Dragunov in the same vein as Gunther and have pans to push him in a similar capacity to the current IntercontinentalChampion once he makes his way to the main roster.

While in NXT, Dragunov has been a constant source of praise with NXT producers needing to give him very little direction, something that is unique to Ilja with the current NXT roster.

One NXT talent noted to Fightful their belief that Dragunov elevates anyone he steps in the ring with and that he has an incredible mind for the business. Dragunov is also said to be incredibly easy to work with, with one source also noting he is a "wonderful person to be around".
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Let him retain. Trick should be the next one up to get that title when they decide to call up Drag
 
A long awaited return could very well be happening, but it's at least being hinted at.

At the end of the newly released Bray Wyatt documentary, there is familiar imagery. In the signature ominous Bray Wyatt style, there is a video that is likely hinting towards the future.

There's a lantern that pans out, before hearing a voice say "run." We then see the silhouette of a figure. Well some good news on that is on the way.

WWE sources have told Fightful it's a teaser for Bo Dallas' eventual return. We don't know when that will be, but that it was a deliberate inclusion. We also haven't learned what a return could look like as of yet.

One WWE rep noted to Fightful months ago that they didn't want to rush Dallas back after the untimely passing of his brother Bray Wyatt.

Dallas has remained under WWE contract since 2022.
 
WWE issued the following:

WWE® SMACKDOWN, RAW & NXT SCORE VIEWERSHIP GAINS IN KEY 18-49 ADVERTISING DEMO AHEAD OF WRESTLEMANIA XL

STAMFORD, Conn., April 1, 2024 – WWE’s flagship weekly programming, SmackDown, Raw and NXT, continues to deliver viewership gains among the key P18-49 advertising demo ahead of WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

Friday Night SmackDown on FOX

  • In Q1 2024, SmackDown is averaging 892K total viewers among P18-49, up 15 percent versus the year prior.
  • SmackDown has ranked No. 1 among P18-49 audiences across all total day Friday broadcasts for 11 of the first 12 weeks of the quarter.
  • Feb. 16 episode of SmackDown scored 985K viewers among P18-49, making it the most-viewed broadcast program in primetime for the entire week of Feb. 12.
Monday Night Raw on USA Network

  • In Q1 2024, Raw averaged 733K total viewers among P18-49, up six percent versus the year prior.
  • Raw ranked No. 1 among P18-49 audiences on Monday cable for nine of the 13 weeks of the quarter.
  • The unexpected return of Pat McAfee to the commentator table during the Jan. 29 episode delivered 811K total viewers among P18-49 – up 13 percent versus the week prior – and easily ranked No. 1 on cable.
NXT on USA Network

  • In Q1 2024, NXT was up 31 percent among P18-49 versus the year prior.
“These ratings are a testament to our creative team, production crew and all of the WWE Superstars that work together week in and week out to produce these impressive results,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

All three shows are headed to new platforms in the U.S. over the next year. In October 2024, SmackDown will move to USA Network and NXT will make its broadcast debut on CW. In January 2025, Raw will make its groundbreaking debut on Netflix.

WrestleMania XL is available to stream in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock.
 
BountyHunterRo said:
A long awaited return could very well be happening, but it's at least being hinted at.

At the end of the newly released Bray Wyatt documentary, there is familiar imagery. In the signature ominous Bray Wyatt style, there is a video that is likely hinting towards the future.

There's a lantern that pans out, before hearing a voice say "run." We then see the silhouette of a figure. Well some good news on that is on the way.

WWE sources have told Fightful it's a teaser for Bo Dallas' eventual return. We don't know when that will be, but that it was a deliberate inclusion. We also haven't learned what a return could look like as of yet.

One WWE rep noted to Fightful months ago that they didn't want to rush Dallas back after the untimely passing of his brother Bray Wyatt.

Dallas has remained under WWE contract since 2022.
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The New York Post obtained and wrote about a Christmas Eve 2021 email sent by Janel Grant to now-deposed WWE Head Vince McMahon, professing her love and admiration for McMahon, an email that her attorneys now claim was something McMahon made Grant write.

The Post coverage notes, Grant referred to McMahon as “my best friend, my love and my everything" and that, “After almost 3 years together, it’ like my life isn’t even real to me unless you’re there and in it and I’m sharing it all with you."

Grant's attorney Ann Callis commented, "Frankly it’s pretty disgusting that Vince’s weeks-late attempt to defend his horrendous behavior — behavior he claims to this day never happened — is to try to showcase letters that Vince himself coerced her to write. His psychological torture of her continues — as is typical of abusive predators who respond to women speaking out with increased threats. While Janel isn’t a stranger to his intimidation tactics, this is a new low even for him.”

McMahon’s attorney, Jessica Taub Rosenberg told The New York Postthat Callis' claims were "revisionist history," noting, "No one coerced Ms. Grant to write that letter. She wrote it of her own accord. The fact that the letter shows it was the 24th draft speaks volumes. Nowhere in her voluminous complaint, that is replete with fabrications, does she mention being coerced into such behavior. The language of the letter is consistent with other communications she made to Mr. McMahon over the course of their consensual relationship."

Grant’s email was taken from her laptop as part of the WWE Board of Directors investigation into the McMahon-Grant situation. The Post noted it is "expected to appear in court filings as the case progresses, according to sources close to the situation."

The entire letter can be seen in The New York Post's article at this link.

Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis in January, alleging McMahon sexually trafficked her and abused her. McMahon's attorneys have denied that, telling The Post, “We intend to vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident that he will be vindicated.”

John Laurinaitis' attorney has told the court he will respond to the lawsuit by 5/15. His attorney has stated that the former WWE Exec was as much a victim as Grant at the hands of McMahon, who stepped down from The TKO Board of Directors in January and has made over a billion dollars selling TKO Group Holding shares since that time.

McMahon is also still believed to be under federal criminal investigation.
 
Chi-Town B said:
Nobody cares about no Bo Dallas.
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I can't wait to see what he does 🤷🏿‍♂️ he was always rumored to be just as creative as his brother but had shitty booking under Vince n wasn't given a chance. I wasn't a fan of him when he was doing the Bo-lieve gimmick but he even had ppl who fked with him back then too. This time around I feel will be different
 
So Vince was around when they rehired Punk!!! wtf
Actually thats not that crazy cause he wasnt officially removed til a day before the Rumble
 
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