Welcome To aBlackWeb

Register

Official Wrestling News Thread

The Forgotten Sons haven’t appeared on WWE SmackDown since the May 29 episode and as of this morning they were not expected to appear on the next two episodes of SmackDown either, according to Fightful Select.

Wesley Blake, Steve Cutler and Jaxson Ryker were in the early stages of a push on the blue brand but that was before Ryker’s recent tweet in support of President Trump got him heat from others in the locker room. The report noted that WWE talents who are talking say that Ryker was well-liked ahead of the Trump tweet, and very respectful. It was also noted that Blake and Cutler have reportedly distanced their stances from Ryker’s following the Trump tweet. They also came in for a meeting with WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Relations Mark Carrano, and other wrestlers.

Regarding possible heat on Blake or Cutler, there is said to be none from the company but they are catching some of the backlash from Ryker’s Trump tweet. Sources who spoke to Fightful also noted that many on the main roster feel bad that Blake and Cutler are being “lumped in” with Ryker after the time they put in on the NXT brand to get called up. The report pointed to how Ryker hasn’t wrestled since the team was brought from NXT to SmackDown.

There’s no word on when the vignettes from The Forgotten Sons might continue, if they haven’t been scrapped altogether, but it was noted that the trio is not figured into plans for the TV tapings being held at the Performance Center today and tomorrow. It’s possible that they are called in to film vignettes, but it seems unlikely at this point.
 
Randy Orton explains why he decided to support BLM


“When Kaepernick was kneeling, I looked at it as disrespecting the American flag and that he was disrespecting the servicemen and women who fight for our freedom and our free speech and come home in a coffin when they give the ultimate sacrifice. That coffin draped in an American flag. I think I went on Booker T’s radio show and even said those things and I believed them.
“It took me a little time, but what I had to do was realize, Kaepernick, he wasn’t shitting on the flag. He wasn’t disrespecting the people that have given their lives for our freedom. He was taking a stand against police brutality. As a white guy, I don’t see it. But then I started listening to my black brothers and sisters, especially the ones I’ve known for years and some for more than a decade. I was hearing first-hand accounts of interactions with cops that took advantage of the situation and the power they had because they maybe felt a certain way about the color of someone’s skin. That’s when the lightbulb went off.
“I’m embarrassed to say it, but it took me a little while but I get it. What I said on Twitter, I stand behind. If anyone doesn’t agree with me, I think they need to do more digging. Go look at Big E’s Twitter from a week ago, go look at Xavier Woods’ Twitter, go look at things Kofi said, that Mark Henry said, that Shelton said, that R-Truth said. If you read what they’re saying and try to put yourself in their shoes for even just a minute, you’re going to see right now that it’s not fair. All lives do matter, but like I said on Twitter, until black lives matter, all lives can’t matter. My only regret is that it took me a little bit and some soul searching to see that.”
Click to expand...
Orton also explained why it was important for him to publicly join the movement:

“The more that social media has allowed us to see these horrific videos — and it wasn’t just George Floyd. I’ve seen so many after I did a little digging. You realize it is tough to be a black person in this country, and we’ve got a ways to go before all lives truly matter. I think what we have to do is make sure black lives matter.
“And I think white people, like me, especially with a platform, saying that? Sitting on your laurels and not saying anything? I don’t think that’s helping anything. You need to get out there and get in this conversation. You need to insert yourself. That is what I was trying to do.”
Click to expand...
 
Orton 100% seems like the type to not get it at first...

But his testimony of how he got there seems genuine....
 
Yeah he can barely walk now. Dude really was The Total Package back in the day

Dude was the 90s Roman Reigns. Had the look and could wrestle 30-45 min matches but lacked the charisma that could get him top star status
 
Yea dude was one of my favs, I always wondered why they didnt pair him wit someone less physically imposing but more flair
 
RodyRod said:
Yeah he can barely walk now. Dude really was The Total Package back in the day

Dude was the 90s Roman Reigns. Had the look and could wrestle 30-45 min matches but lacked the charisma that could get him top star status
Click to expand...
The only thing about Luger was he lacked a mouthpiece for most of his career.
 
Yeah, I know he had Harley and he got him to the belt when he lost it to Ron Simmons.

As a face he could cut a decent promo and he did good work in the ring but Sting wasn't going anywhere as the #1 face in the company.

Luger would've had to go heel to get some shine and in the late 90s there weren't decent managers to get him over
 
Playboy buddy rose said:
The only thing about Luger was he lacked a mouthpiece for most of his career.
Click to expand...
He had Heenan in his corner in the WWF but that Narcissist character was trash and making him Hulk Hogan #2 was even more trash

But that Lex Express part of the gimmick was dope as fuck. I was hoping they'd stop in my town lol
 
pwinsider.com

As of this writing, WWE is slated to return to taping Raw and Smackdown episodes at the WWE Performance Center, but today was a long day for many who work for the company.

Yesterday's announcement that a WWE developmental talent had tested positive for COVID-19 led to WWE shutting down today's scheduled taping. Instead, for the first time, WWE tested their talent and staff for COVID-19. Previously, everyone working WWE tapings had their temperature checked and were monitored by WWE's medical staff but had not gone through the COVID-19 testing that All Elite Wrestling had required of talent and staff, which was, depending on the taping, either a swab of the nose or throat or an anti-body test. All signs are that everyone tested today went through the nose swab.

On why the company had not previously utilized those COVID-19 tests, during a media call prior to NXT Takeover: In Your House on 6/4, WWE's Paul Levesque explained, "We have medical experts on our team who work with the CDC and the government to determine what is the best approach to take to ensure the safety and wellness of our performers. That is working with the local and federal government. When you begin to talk about various types of testing, the accuracy of those tests become questionable. So, we need to do what we're being told to do by the medical experts. Once that widespread testing that is accurate becomes available, we will do so. But the accuracy of those tests has to be there first. In the meantime, our medical protocols are extensive and, most importantly, they've worked."

There was a huge gathering this morning at the WWE Performance Center for testing, which was described to us by several as disorganized at the onset of the process. Others told us there was no issue with getting the test done, so it may be that once WWE got things going, they handled the testing better. As you might imagine, there's been stress and worry for many, concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

For almost every person that we've spoken with today (with the exception of one talent who stated the pandemic was just a "big work"), there has been concern at some level about their health and for those with families, that concern was even greater, as there was worry about whether they could bring something back home that they could expose their families to as well. As one person stated, this is exactly why Roman Reigns has stepped away. Health has obviously been an unspoken concern since the pandemic started, but having been tested today, for many, is now back at the forefront of their thoughts in a way it hadn't been previously.

Adding to the worry was the extremely unfortunate timing of the inclusion of fans (or, as WWE described them in their statement earlier today, "friends and family") at yesterday's TV taping. While those friends and family attending yesterday had their temperatures checked and signed waivers, there was a concern voiced by some today that unlike WWE staff and wrestlers who come into the building, WWE's medical personnel have no true way to know or trace who those "friends and family" attending the show had been around in the time leading up to the taping and if they came back again, what they had been exposed to in between tapings.

We are told by some that they were upset that cited that WWE did not inform them before the taping that anyone from the "outside" would be in attendance, given that they were in and around WWE talents over the course of the taping, sometimes without masks. One talent noted they were not aware anyone but NXT talents were in the PC until they went out before the crowd and saw older faces that they knew could not be signed NXT talents.

WWE issued the following earlier today regarding those attending the taping: "Fans have not been in attendance at WWE events since March 13. Yesterday, a select number of friends and family were permitted to attend WWE’s TV production. These individuals were required to participate in medical screenings prior to entering the closed set at our training facility, and were kept apart from in-ring performers and production personnel. Attendance was below 20% capacity and social distancing guidelines were adhered to with at least six feet between parties, thus face masks were not required."

Although WWE noted the social distancing guidelines, there were moments where talents came through the crowd (such as The Street Profits during their ring entrance) where those guidelines were impossible to follow on camera. It should be noted that WWE has been extremely strict with following the guidelines put out by the CDC, especially at the onset of the pandemic but have relaxed somewhat as they were cleared as essential work for the State of Florida.

I want to stress that there have been some we've spoken to who have shrugged at the entire scenario of the last 24 hours, feeling it's overblown, especially the one person who, as noted, feels the pandemic is a "work", but many of those who have spoke with PWInsider.com, under condition of anonymity, over the course of the day described themselves as mostly worried and/or upset over how the last 24 hours have gone, feeling WWE needs to step up and show more care for everyone as they are still performing in the middle of a pandemic that has not passed. Several also pointed out that in the State of Florida, where WWE is taping, the State has seen some bars and restaurants shut down again in the wake of cases spiking upwards, so even locally, the situation has not passed.

There is no word whether tomorrow's TV taping will include "invited friends and family" or whether those who attended yesterday's taping were advised to undergo a COVID-19 test.

There is also, obviously, no word as to whether WWE intends to address the troops in person.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top