wwe wrestlers travel issues

Backstage Details On Travel Issues For Talent, Major Rewrites To WWE Raw

Last Monday on the "Raw" after WrestleMania,  WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was reported "firmly" back in control , leading to a frantic show with multiple off-screen rewrites as well as a dip in overall morale backstage . Well, tonight's "Raw" from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington also features a lot of shuffling around, but for an entirely different reason this time. Corey Graves mentioned on commentary at the top of the show that a lot of talent had been dealing with travel delays and thus, hadn't arrived at the arena yet. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp  reported as much about an hour before "Raw" began.

"We're told Vince McMahon isn't at Raw today but there were a lot of travel issues this morning that caused a lot of changes to the show," Sapp tweeted.

The Wrestling Observer's  Andrew Zarian and Dave Meltzer  added their own reporting, with Zarian writing, "50% of the raw roster has still not arrived to Seattle, due to travel issues, and there have been major re-writes for Monday night raw this evening" and Meltzer echoing similar, tweeting, "...a large percentage of the roster wasn't there, some weren't going to make it and others were getting in late so a lot of changes and backup plans were put in place in recent hours."

A  report early Monday evening confirmed that McMahon was not in Seattle for "Raw," but his overall involvement in the show was still unknown. It was said that he remains involved, but remotely, which is similar to how last Friday's "SmackDown" ran as McMahon was not present in Portland, Oregon either. Even still, his physical absence in general is said to have had an overall positive effect on those who were backstage.

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“WWE Talents Encounter Travel Problems Before and After RAW, Prompting Script Changes”

Wrestling culture.

• January 17, 2024
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As previously reported, Johnny Gargano, a prominent WWE talent, experienced several travel issues en route to Monday Night RAW in Little Rock, Arkansas. However, it appears he was not the only one facing such difficulties. The entire WWE roster and crew reportedly dealt with an array of travel problems for the show held on January 15th.

Getting to Little Rock proved challenging enough due to unpredictable weather conditions and logistical complications. Airports were congested; flights were delayed or even cancelled. This resulted in many talents arriving later than expected at the venue.

The situation didn’t improve after the event either 🛫. Many wrestlers encountered hurdles when trying to fly home from Little Rock following RAW’s conclusion. Some flights were postponed indefinitely while others had been overbooked leaving no seats available for our wrestling stars.

In light of these circumstances, some wrestlers decided that waiting around was futile and chose alternative solutions instead – they opted to leave by other means rather than wait for their originally scheduled flights.

This incident is illustrative of how being part of a global entertainment company like WWE isn’t always as glamorous as it seems on TV screens. Traveling can often be stressful and exhausting especially considering its frequency in this line of work where athletes are constantly on move between cities or even countries.

However despite all these challenges faced before and after RAW’s airing ,the dedication shown by these professional athletes is commendable indeed . They relentlessly continue performing at their best level possible regardless what obstacles come their way off-stage .

While fans enjoy watching high-octane matches from comfort of their homes every week ,they rarely get glimpse into struggles endured behind scenes . From physical toll taken by body slamming action inside ring ,to mental stress caused by constant traveling – life as a wrestler is certainly not easy .

It’s hoped that measures will be put in place soon so such incidents don’t recur frequently causing inconvenience both performers audience alike . After all no one wants see favorite superstar missing action due to travel issues .

In conclusion, the recent event at Little Rock has shed light on a crucial aspect of the wrestling world that often goes unnoticed. It’s not just about strength and skill in the ring; it’s also about resilience and adaptability outside of it. The wrestlers’ ability to handle such situations with grace is indeed noteworthy.

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More Details On WWE Talents Facing Travel Issues Before & After RAW

New photos of maryse, liv morgan, scarlett, lola vice, dakota kai, maxxine dupri, shotzi, & more, elijah – ‘wwe gave my monday night messiah pitch to seth rollins instead’.

As we previously reported here on eWn, Johnny Gargano faced several travel issues heading to Monday Night RAW in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The WWE roster and crew dealt with multiple travel issues for the January 15th show. This includes talents trying to fly home from Little Rock following RAW.

Some wrestlers reportedly opted to leave via car to travel to other cities, hoping that they might be able to fly out of there instead, trying for the airports in North Little Rock or Hot Springs.

The cold weather and freezing conditions also forced WWE to make changes to its usual production for RAW at the Simmons Bank Arena on Monday night.

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WWE Stars Experiencing Travel Issues

In what was a long week for some, just got longer.

After traveling to Saudi Arabia for the 'Greatest Royal Rumble' event  in what is nearly a 12-hour flight, immediately after the show concluded this past Friday the wrestlers who competed at the event where transported on planes from Saudi Arabia to the United States at midnight. 

According to PWInsider , a majority of the talents made it back to the U.S.Saturday afternoon coming through New York City's 'JFK' airport before getting on the flight that would take them to their respective homes. For some of the talents they only had 24 hours to enjoy home as they had to fly out Sunday to get ready for the TV tapings in Canada this week. The site notes that some talents were scheduled to fly back to New York and then connect at 'LaGuardia Airport' for a flight to Montreal. For the talents who had this schedule, after arriving to New York they discovered that that their flight to Montreal had been canceled. Now, the talents whose flights were canceled had to pick up rental cars and they are currently making the six hour drive to the "Great White North".

Our “Only five more hours” face ... #grumpycat #roadtrip #ohcanada pic.twitter.com/qcqP5FebPl — Nattie (@NatbyNature) April 29, 2018

2 hour delay at the airport. 13 hours from Jeddah to JFK. Right now, 3 more hours from JFK to Orlando. But before I fly I can check in for my flight in 24 hours for @WWE #Raw in Montreal. #RoadLife — Dean Muhtadi (@MojoRawleyWWE) April 28, 2018

25 hours straight of travel. Finally home for half a day then off to Montreal for @WWE #Raw . Don’t say we don’t go to great lengths for y’all. — Dean Muhtadi (@MojoRawleyWWE) April 29, 2018

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WWE Crew Dealing With Travel Issues Following Monday’s RAW

In addition to facing strong competition on Monday’s episode of RAW, WWE had travel difficulties due to the weather.

The show competed with the Emmys and an NFL playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers airing on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. To counter the competition, WWE scheduled the following bouts:

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins faced Jinder Mahal, Finn Balor and Damian Priest faced The Miz and R-Truth, DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) went up against Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh, and more. As PWMania.com previously reported, Rollins was injured during the main event bout.

Johnny Gargano previously stated that himself, Tommaso Ciampa, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell had difficulty getting to the show due to weather conditions in much of the United States.

According to PWInsider, there have been numerous flight and weather issues for talents in the last 24 hours. Some people were unable to fly in and had to drive to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the show. Some people were stranded at airports.

According to the report, many wrestlers are experiencing flight delays this morning as they attempt to return home. Some have driven to other cities in the hopes of having a better chance of returning home.

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WWE Talents Dealing with Travel Issues

WWE Talents Dealing with Travel Issues – PWInsider reports that there have been numerous flight and weather-related issues affecting WWE talents in the last 24 hours. Some individuals were unable to fly and had to resort to driving to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the scheduled show. Others found themselves stranded at airports due to these travel challenges.

The report indicates that many wrestlers are currently dealing with flight problems while attempting to return home after the event. Some have opted to drive to other cities in the hope of finding more favorable travel conditions.

Johnny Gargano had previously mentioned travel issues for himself, Tommaso Ciampa, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell, citing weather-related challenges affecting a significant portion of the United States. These travel disruptions underscore the impact of adverse weather conditions on the wrestling industry, affecting both scheduled events and talents’ ability to travel.

The past 24 hours have been a wild ride for our travel crew/family! For the love of the game, baby! #WWERaw @CandiceLeRae @CiampaWWE @indi_hartwell pic.twitter.com/IXOZOI6S93 — Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) January 16, 2024

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More Details On WWE Changing April 10th Raw Due To Travel Issues

There were some big changes to the April 10th edition of Raw and more details have emerged about who was missing from the show.

The April 10th edition of WWE Monday Night Raw took place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, which is in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. A lot of the WWE roster lives in Florida in the southeast part of the US, so Seattle is the farthest distance for any show in the US.

Last weekend was also a rare weekend off for WWE superstars since the company gave them a break following a busy WrestleMania weekend to begin April. While some people likely made the trek to Seattle on Sunday night, some of them were scheduled for flights on Monday and they didn’t make it due to travel issues.

Prior to Monday’s Raw, it was reported that about 33% of the roster scheduled for Raw didn’t make it, so it forced WWE to change things up. For example, Sami Zayn was supposed to face Solo Sikoa on Raw, but with Sami dealing with travel issues, Kevin Owens took Sami’s spot and Sami was able to make it before the end of the show.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer shed some light on what was changed.

“The Raw in Seattle was switched around a ton, but not because of McMahon, as much as the perils of having so much of the talent living in the same city ended up as a big problem with a flight delay. Zayn, Riddle, Priest, Ripley, Belair, Legado del Fantasma and the Street Profits were all booked on the same flights from Orlando to Seattle. Due to a huge delay, by the time they arrived at the building, it was the middle of the third hour of the show. The show was rewritten and most were kept off the show.” “They did get Zayn and Riddle doing a run-in at the end of the show to save Owens with the idea they had just arrived at the building. At the start of the show they announced that a lot of the talent wasn’t there due to transpiration problems, which was acknowledged because they did expect Zayn and Riddle to arrive at the end of the show so they teased that neither were there (and they weren’t) throughout the show to build the run-in. Gargano and LeRae, who also live in Orlando, weren’t booked on the show.”

As Meltzer continued, he also mentioned others that were at Raw that weren’t used while noting that some people flew immediately out of Seattle after Raw due to the red-eye flights they were booked on to go back home.

“Most weekends you wouldn’t have this problem since most of the talent is on the road doing house shows not far from the TV site. But with no house shows and Easter on Sunday, they booked flights first thing Monday morning rather than the night before. Worse, all the talent from Orlando were booked on red-eye flights back to Orlando after the show, meaning they spent all day traveling, got to Seattle, were late and couldn’t work (aside from Riddle and Zayn doing the run-in) and then went back to the airport and flew home.” “Ripley may not have been on the show as she’s now considered a Smackdown talent, although those designations are kind of meaningless when the Usos, Zayn, Owens and Rhodes are the key full-timers and all but Rhodes are on both major shows every week. Corbin and Elias were there but not used.” “Miz wasn’t there either and was pulled from the show before the other issues, but Miz vs. Riddle, advertised last week, was pulled from advertising late so that was a planned change. Some of the other matches were different. The original idea was Mysterio & Wilde & Del Toro vs. Priest & Balor & Dominik. They did a good job under the circumstances of doing a show that did appear to not have any real issues and was changed and thrown together at the last minute.”

It’s another reminder that the life of a WWE superstar isn’t an easy one.

How Often WWE Superstars Travel? Who Pays For Expenses?

Table of Contents

How often are WWE superstars on the road?

Due to their busy schedules, wrestlers spend three to four days moving from one arena to another.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are reserved for RAW house shows, whereas Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are purely for Smackdown house shows.

RAW is aired on Monday, while the SmackDown broadcast features on Tuesday.

The only days pro wrestlers rest are Wednesday and Thursday as they get days off or attend press briefings.

Do WWE stars pay for travel?

Pro wrestlers at WWE either prefer road or air travel.

Contrary to common belief, a WWE superstar is not an employee of WWE but rather an independent contractor.

Therefore, every dime received by the wrestler depends on the nature of their contract with the WWE.

Nonetheless, in main events, WWE provides transport for its superstars.

It’s only a matter of personal preference and/or the need to cut costs when an athlete chooses to travel on their own by car.

Besides, most wrestlers prefer to carpool with friends or athletes who share the same rosters.

Which superstars hardly pay for travel?

Top-tier athletes like The Miz, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar enjoy fully paid trips to WWE events.

In addition, the most celebrated pro wrestlers get first-class flights and lavish travels to WWE arenas, both in and outside the United States.

Do WWE wrestlers fly private?

Generally, flying private as a wrestler depends on the nature of your event and the type of contract.

Specific wrestlers enjoy flying privately while most others are offered regular flights to and from WWE events’ destinations.

The highlight of WWE’s private flights was the 2021 Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.

We witnessed renowned athletes such as Roman Reigns and The Uso Brothers flying into Saudi Arabia in their private jet.

Does the WWE pay for hotels?

Most WWE shows rotate around similar locations. Therefore, the company pays for hotels and other accommodation charges to make it more convenient for wrestlers to perform.

WWE often considers renting the best hotels for their superstars. The management team prefers picking locations with inclusive accommodation, training, restaurants, and bar facilities.

Regardless, some wrestlers work on tight budgets and hence prefer to use other hotel facilities.

Who pays for overseas expenses?

WWE caters to every superstar’s expenditure outside Canada or the United States. The company meets all flight, accommodation, and road travel expenses.

Overall, more accomplished athletes enjoy more perks, salaries, and luxuries than other upcoming superstars, who get basic packages.

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Wrestling News

Five Years: How AEW Changed The Wrestling Industry

In this series, James Staynings takes a deep dive into AEW’s short but impactful history, its present, and its future.

After exploring AEW’s past in the first two parts, James will examine AEW’s present using Double or Nothing as a case study. In the final part, James will discuss AEW’s future. This will include discussing the problems that AEW faces and questions Tony Khan will have to address. 

Briefest of Celebrations

AEW’s five-year anniversary has come and gone. Celebrations of the company’s existence, its influence, and how its helped redefine wrestling over the past half-decade were brief. The wheels of the wrestling news cycle keep turning. Onwards and onwards, seemingly spinning faster and faster.

Post Double or Nothing , the landscape changed again. First, the Prohibited Portal. Jordynne Grace’s NXT appearance stole headlines. Then Dynamite’s shocking ending.

The unpredictable decision to bring Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland ahead of All In to Forbidden Door . Then, on the May 31 edition of SmackDown , AJ Styles faked his retirement to set up another match with Cody Rhodes. The cycle never stops.

AEW itself arguably has not celebrated its own short history to the fullest extent. The company continually focuses on what’s next. Something that makes them different to WWE whose RP machine will tout every achievement, rightly, with hyperbole.

AEW itself moves too quickly, which is a problem I’ll discuss in a later article. At times, Tony Khan and the company can be too modest. At other times, Khan and its stars have self-righteously promoted AEW as saving wrestling, making them a lightning rod for criticism.

Removing the RP spin, AEW has helped redefine pro wrestling. Regardless of AEW’s current commercial and critical reception, in five years, AEW has brought more competition to wrestling. AEW had redefined old concepts and added new layers. It has even changed WWE in two noticeable ways.

The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Cody Rhodes – with the backing of Tony Khan – did change the world.

Change Didn’t Always Mean Change

In the history of my fandom, it’s true to say wrestling changed, but not always for the benefit of the fans or industry. I became a fan at the start of The Ruthless Aggression Era.

I watched John Cena transform. From a street-smart rapper with an anti-establishment edge to a shirt model and the leader of conformity, the poster child for the establishment, during the PG Era. From multiple to one-dimensional.

The familiar repetitive booking patterns grew more childish while I was growing up. My love of stories was growing with nuance and sophistication. Mainstream wrestling was caught in arrested development.

By The Reality Era, I had lost hope that Bryan Danielson and CM Punk would be treated seriously. I, like many, gave up on WWE. Instead, only keeping touch on the product weekly through wrestling news sites where I discovered alternatives like ROH, TNA, and PWG.

The New Era felt like rinse and repeat. Some new faces, the same issues. The same restrained repetitive creative. Only room for one wrestler at the head of the table, holding up like Atlas the brand’s three initials, the true draw.

Creative wrestlers like Bray Wyatt were broken down. Those who did break through the glass ceiling, like Becky Lynch, still felt trapped within restrictions. Characters stuck in the perimeters of a bell jar.

Punk was not telling lies when he famously said Vince McMahon would make money despite himself. Increasing WWE’s brand, history, and content library brought profitability. WWE was a bankable commodity for TV networks.

There was no incentive to change what financially wasn’t broken. Despite this, many wrestling legends, even on shows on the WWE Network like The Legends of Wrestling roundtable, talked about how to be its best again, WWE needed competition. The catalyst emerged in 2019.

AEW’s Creative Success- What’s Old is New

AEW by no means reinvented the wheel. Beloved stipulation matches, from Stadium Stampede, Anarchy in the Arena, Blood and Guts and the newly created Casino Gauntlet match all have taken their inspiration from previous match types in WWE and beyond.

The concept of long-term planning, long-term storyline, and character development were missing in WWE due to weekly changes and lack of foresight. Beyond a few examples, for specific stars, long-term storytelling seemed locked up in a WWE warehouse with the Smackdown fist.

AEW drew on wrestling history. WCW, ECW, Japan, and the Indies to make things that were old and long touted as important new again. Things WWE had taken for granted.

Wins and losses mattered. AEW refocused their wrestling product on the sports aspects with the wrestling being central to the show. Instead of WWE, where to paraphrase Lance Storm, Raw was (at times still is) a show about booking a wrestling event.

From the first PPV, Double or Nothing , the seeds for long-term stories and rivalries were not only planted. Over time, the shoots were craftily weaved through the trellis framework of AEW’s weekly programming to help key characters progress.

Kenny Omega, “Hangman” Adam Page, and Jon Moxley were foreshadowed as future world champions while being fleshed out into engaging characters with their own unique arcs.

Adding Spikes to It

Yet at their peak, AEW elevated with nuance and clever characterization. Smart, thoughtful booking brought a sense of realness to some of their top wrestlers’ characters.

Moxley, who has become one of the greatest transitional champions in history , felt like a hero during the Pandemic and when AEW needed a leader. Wrestlers like Page and Eddie Kingston presented aspects of masculinity and mental health issues in a way that felt true to life rather than caricature. This presented a more modern approach to masculinity in the traditionalist world of wrestling.

Although some talk of The Bloodline as the greatest storyline in modern wrestling history, some would argue that the reality-bleeding war between MJF and CM Punk is the storyline of the century. Through detailed storytelling, AEW created characters who felt like people rather than superstars.

Dovetailing of storylines and conflicts occurred with wrestlers’ arcs and issues overlapping. The locker room was made to feel like an organic place where people’s issues did not occur in a bubble. Wrestlers didn’t just suddenly forget the issues they had with each other conveniently three months or a year later.

In the ring, a variety of wrestling styles, and ice cream flavours have and are showcased on a weekly basis. Lucha wrestling, strong style, indy-rific sprints, hardcore, and deathmatch wrestling.

Old school stipulations and call backs to wrestling history. Trios action that when fresh, gave something new and distinct to AEW.

Yes, over time, these spikes have been worn down. Things that were once fundamental to AEW, integral, some would say are currently missing.

WWE Hasn’t Changed What Worked

Some might say, WWE does some of these things. They would be right. Now and currently, they do.

WWE was always capable of when they wanted to of telling long-term stories. Whether by design or accident. From The Undertaker’s streak to building Roman Reign’s lauded Tribal Chief story on the bones of failed attempts at getting him over.

While running NXT Black and Gold, Triple H was praised for long-term storytelling. So, it would be speculative at best to imply how AEW has impacted WWE’s booking philosophy.

Cody Rhodes retained what worked in AEW. Including his music. Rhodes’ most significant change was dropping the pretense that babyfaces and heels don’t matter anymore. Leaning into being the good guy, Rhodes is the new face of WWE.

Jade Cargill, in terms of in-ring and persona, remains similar to AEW with the only change being an amplification of her presentation . Shawn Spears is still doing his chairman gimmick. Only Alexis King has had a major gimmick reshuffle and discussion around his viability as a future star is debatable.

If it didn’t work, WWE would have changed it. Instead, the biggest changes have been strengthening presentation. This implies that AEW’s creative or allowing wrestlers the freedom to develop their characters must have done something right.

Changes to NXT and Making Stars

NXT is the most notable aspect of WWE that AEW has changed. The overhaul, the complete redesign of development after the “Wednesday Night War” is WWE’s most notable change to wrestling outside of their universe.

As Forbes writer Blake Oestriecher recognized in his 2021 article “ How AEW Changed WWE and Pro Wrestling ”, one of AEW’s biggest successes:

“Whether WWE would admit it or not, completely changed the way WWE is trying to create new stars, too. That’s evidenced by the end of the NXT of old, as WWE has completely distanced itself from the NXT that once made five-star matches a common occurrence. NXT, now dubbed NXT 2.0, has done a 180,  shifting its focus to transforming college athletes into WWE superstars instead of its previous long-running strategy of signing independent wrestling stalwarts who already had name value in the pro wrestling world.” Transcript from Forbes.

Regardless of the current debate about how successful AEW’s home-grown talent is, competition caused WWE to re-think how and where it gets its talent from. Diversifying where they are getting their talent from is allowing WWE to broaden its recruitment reach.

Change to Inter-promotional Relationship

Previously, WWE had carte blanche to the talent available on the US and world indy scenes. Some companies, like Evolve and FCW vanished after working with WWE. The closure of NXT UK and TKO Holdings perceived desire to make a profit may make a global development system a dream.

Ring of Honour acted as a pipeline for WWE, even when they had NXT. Its alumni, including Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, remain stabilizing pillars on WWE’s rosters. However, that pipeline is closed. Instead, operated by AEW.

WWE was put into a position of having to co-operate and co-ordinate with other wrestling companies in what my colleague, Will Gray, termed Pro Wrestling’s Cold War . It was not that long ago WWE tried to court and work together with AEW’s Forbidden Door partner, NJPW.

This week the wrestling community is still ablaze talking about a TNA wrestler on WWE’s developmental brand and what’s possible next. AEW viewers have been spoiled for years by the Forbidden Door becoming an invisible open border with the stars of CMLL, NJPW, and the indies popping in for a day visit.

For WWE viewers, this is exciting new ground.

I, imagine in weeks to go, the debate from some tribalists will turn to arguing how WWE did this better than AEW, while ignoring AEW made this situation a reality. We as fans are benefitting from getting to see cross-promotion that we could not have imagined before.

Yes, WWE has worked collaboratively before. Historically, they have tried invasions with ECW stars in 1997 and the NWA in 1998, with nothing long-lasting, or sustained. Even when WWE worked with Japanese promotions and shared championships overseas, the collaborations did not allow the current extent of co-operation and cross-pollination we are currently enjoying.

Conclusion: Competition Makes Change

Innovation only happens when companies and individuals are pushed in some way beyond our comfort zone. WWE has always responded to competition, even when small. Even the potential threat of TNA Wrestling challenging Raw on a Monday night led to the return of Bret “The Hitman” Hart to the promotion after the Montreal Screwjob.

The presence, pressure, and threat in any sport or industry causes changes. Those who benefit most are not just the businesses themselves.

We, as fans, consumers, as well as the wrestlers themselves, have and are benefitting greatly from competition. This will be the focus of part two later this week.

Looking for More Deep Dive Content?

If you’re also a WWE fan, James has done a series of articles examining the start of the Paul Levesque Era of WWE post-Wrestlemania XL and the impact of Vince McMahon leaving the promotion.

The first examines how The Paul Levesque Era has tried to move on from McMahonism while retaining key elements of Vince’s infrastructure ( here ). The second, James discusses how WWE has  fulfilled fans’ long-desired wishes . The third discusses AEW and how its relationship with WWE has changed since Vince McMahon has left TKO Holdings ( here ).

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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US Government Issues Stay In Case Against Vince McMahon, Janel Grant’s Attorney Comments

By Matt Black

It sounds like things are going to get even worse for Vince McMahon in 2024.

The ongoing lawsuit between Janel Grant and Vince McMahon has been a big topic of conversation this year, but that lawsuit has been placed on hold for the time being for something potentially much bigger.

Earlier this afternoon, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York officially filed a notice of appearance in Ms. Grant’s case against Vince McMahon, WWE , and John Laurinaitis. Grant was granted a stay in her case pending a non-public investigation.

The attorney for Janel Grant, Ann Callis, issued the following statement on the record regarding this change.

“Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation,” Ann Callis said. “We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”

For those wondering what this possibly means, last July, McMahon was served with a grand jury subpoena and search warrant . Things have been quiet on that front since then, but it appears the Feds have quietly been building an investigation about the former WWE owner and don’t want the current ongoing lawsuit to impede their case until it has concluded.

Vince McMahon’s Lawyer responds…

UPDATE: Vince McMahon’s lawyer reached out to WrestleZone this afternoon with the following statement:

“We remain confident the evidence will prove Ms. Grant’s allegations are false and her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vindictive narrative from a disgruntled former girlfriend.”

–Jessica Rosenberg, a partner of Kasowitz, Benson Torres, counsel to Vince McMahon

Stay tuned to WrestleZone for the latest on this situation as it becomes available.

READ MORE: Gunther: Vince McMahon’s Vision Of WWE Was Not Appealing To Me As A Wrestler

What do you make of this turn of events overall? Do you believe things are about to get even worse for Vince McMahon in the coming months? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

Matt Black has been covering wrestling video games since WWE Warzone from Acclaim. Coverage of wrestling video games eventually lead him into the world of wrestling news. Matt is a fan of every wrestling company and enjoys the current state of the industry in 2024.

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FREE PODCAST 6/1 – WKPWP Interview Classic: (5 Yrs Ago) Jon Moxley after AEW debut talks WWE creative process problems, Vince interactions, Roman crowd reactions, Triple H as an option (90 min.)

June 2, 2024

SHOW SUMMARY:  In this week’s Interview Classic episode from ten years ago (6-1-2014), PWTorch editor is joined by guest Jon Moxley (f/k/a Dean Ambrose). This is Mox’s second long-form interview and the first he recorded since his AEW surprise debut last Saturday night at “AEW Double or Nothing” in Las Vegas. This is by design a follow-up to his first interview earlier this week with Chris Jericho on his podcast which has been the talk of the pro wrestling industry for several days, so we’re not covering the same territory but instead covering topics he didn’t get to with Jericho. This interview, conducted on May 29, lasts nearly two-and-a-half hours. This is the first half of the interview and the second half will drop on Sunday afternoon or evening on this feed. Topics covered here:

• How he feels about what he said on the Chris Jericho podcast and what his goal was in saying what he said…
• Why he thinks he’s starting fresh and can’t fail not chasing the fake carrot and brass ring…
• What he already loves about the creative freedom he has experienced in AEW…
• How fixable is the WWE creative process behind the scenes…
• Details on the hurdles WWE wrestlers have to jump through to get a promo onto TV…
• Why many wrestlers aren’t scared to get fired but how the writers are vulnerable to getting fired if a wrestler goes off script…
• Why WWE writers jobs shouldn’t exist…
• Why WWE wrestlers can’t find their own voice on promos in the current system…
• How his relationship with Vince McMahon changed over time and how he learned to work within the system to deal with Vince when needed…
• How group think reenforces Vince’s creative proclivities…
• An example of where he was wrong and Vince was right…
• What he thinks of Triple H as a possible replacement for Vince McMahon as head of creative…
• The scripting of the first Shield promo and his reaction to being handed words to read after all the thought they put into doing their own thing…
• Was he ever proud of the promos The Shield cut…
• Does he ever wonder what his path would have been if he was a solo wrestler and not part of the Shield in WWE?…
• The pre-Shield plans for his first WWE feud with Mick Foley and why he was so excited about it, but why it’s fortunate it didn’t happen…
• How Chris Jericho was a role model for him and gave him good advice on dealing with Vince McMahon…
• Do great matches get Vince excited? What does Vince care most about?…
• Has Vince changed over the years and over the decades?…
• His thoughts on the three hour format of Raw…
• How he feels about wrestlers who don’t even get utilized while other wrestlers get overused…
• His thoughts on the polarizing crowd reactions to Roman Reigns…
• Roman’s reaction to the sufferin succotash being scripted for him to say…
• How the locker room feels about Roman Reigns and why that doesn’t translate to on-air the same way…
• Riding in the car with Reigns collaborating on ideas for promos…
• Was there an end game he knew of regarding Nia Jax, and if the news getting out that he wasn’t renewing his WWE contract changed their plans…
• Advice he was given in his final months to avoid breaching his contract…
• The awkwardness of his wife on commentary when he was involved in the feud with Nia Jax…
• His theories on the big push he got in his final months with the big deal made of The Shield’s final run…
• Did it get awkward saying good bye to the crowd over and over, week after week…
• The emotions he felt saying goodbye to the Dean Ambrose character and The Shield gimmick…
• Does he plan to overhaul his ring style or presentation in AEW and New Japan compared to the Dean Ambrose character in WWE…
• Does he binge watch Netflix?…

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

WWE King and Queen of the Ring preview with UK start time for controversial match

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***Keep up to date with Metro.co.uk’s live coverage of King and Queen of the Ring ***

WWE is returning to Saudi Arabia this weekend for the King and Queen of the Ring finals.

The legendary tournaments are back – albeit with claims of a curse – with previous winners including the likes of ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, Zelina Vega and William Regal.

This weekend, the Ring General GUNTHER and Lyra Valkyria could wear the crowns if they can overcome tough challenges, while there could be new champions with Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch and Sami Zayn putting their titles up for grabs.

Fans weren’t best pleased when Logan’s match was announced , but viewers will be intrigued to see how he matches up to the American Nightmare.

This weekend’s show – which will also see SmackDown broadcast live from Saudi Arabia for the first time – comes amid a run of premium live events outside the United States.

It’s now time to crown a King and Queen of the Ring, so here is everything you need to know.

When is WWE King and Queen of the Ring?

WWE King and Queen of the Ring airs Saturday, May 25 with the premium live event kicking off at 6pm for fans watching in the UK.

How can you watch WWE King and Queen of the Ring?

As ever, the usual Kickoff preview show – which is available to stream via the WWE Network, as well as WWE.com, the WWE app, X, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch – will start an hour before the main show. So, that’s 5pm.

UK fans will then be able to tune into the main King and Queen of the Ring event either live or on demand via the WWE Network, or by ordering the show on TNT Sports Box Office.

Of course, that will change in the New Year with WWE’s content set to move to Netflix in January 2025 as part of a huge $5 billion deal.

WWE King and Queen of the Ring updated match card

• King of the Ring final : GUNTHER vs. Randy Orton
• Queen of the Ring final : Lyra Valkyria vs. Nia Jax
• Undisputed WWE Title : Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Logan Paul
• Women’s World Title : Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• IC Title : Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed

WWE superstar GUNTHER wants to forge his own path as King of the Ring

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GUNTHER is, er, gunning to take the King of the Ring crown this weekend, after dominating the Raw side of the bracket with wins over Sheamus, Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso.

On Saturday, the Ring General has the chance to follow in the footsteps of legends like Harley Race, Booker T, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and more, and he’s excited to leave his mark.

He exclusively told Metro.co.uk : ‘Obviously, watching the King of the Ring tournament when I was younger, throughout the years, it’s a privilege to be part of that.’

And while many former King of the Ring winners have adopted the crown as part of their persona over the following months, the Austrian wrestler hasn’t decided what he’ll do if he triumphs.

‘I will see because I am who I am. And the King of the Ring is a trophy, it’s a prize I can win. I think that’s what it is,’ he said.

‘It’s like, it’s not gonna change fundamentally who I am or how I am, or how I present myself on the screen.’

WWE King and Queen of the Ring predictions

When it comes to the King of the Ring, it’s an incredibly tough one to call, although GUNTHER should be the favourite heading in.

The longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time is ready to take things to the next level, and the winners getting a championship match at SummerSlam is the perfect way to do that.

After Friday’s episode of SmackDown, the Ring General knows he’s facing Randy Orton in the final, and a win over the Apex Predator would set the Ring General on the right path.

For the Queen of the Ring, rising star Lyra Valkyria is already building up a great rapport with fans, and if she can somehow overcome Nia Jax, WWE will have made an instant star – although the Irresistible Force against Bayley is a massive bout for the summer.

Logan Paul won’t be beating Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship, but he will put on a fantastic match with the American Nightmare, while Liv Morgan should beat Becky Lynch to continue her Revenge Tour.

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When it comes to the Intercontinental Title, Sami Zayn should escape with the gold, but there are definitely arguments to be made for Chad Gable to get the job done – although SummerSlam might be a better time for that.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Major WWE superstar ‘surprises himself’ looking back before unrecognisable 4 stone weight loss

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Released WWE star takes major shot at Gable Steveson; hints at potential real-life issues

A released WWE Superstar took a brutal shot at Gable Steveson today on social media. The former Olympic gold medalist was released from the company earlier this month.

It was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter today that the former WWE star will be signing with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL . Steveson performed in 17 matches during his tenure with the company, but only one of them made it to television. He battled Baron Corbin to a no-contest at NXT Great American Bash 2023 and the rest of his matches with the promotion took place during house shows.

Trevor Lee, formerly known as Cameron Grimes in WWE, was also released by the company this year. He took to social media today to take a shot at Steveson for his work ethic and reliance on others to make him look good.

"Whichever one requires the least amount work and has other people make him look good I'm assuming? Wait wrong sport…" he wrote.

Kurt Angle on why Gable Steveson wasn't pushed in WWE

Wrestling legend Kurt Angle once commented on Gable Steveson and why he was not successful in the company.

Speaking to NBC Sports in 2022, the Hall of Famer noted that Steveson was a great talent. The veteran noted Steveson was on the smaller side but thought he would be successful if the promotion got behind him.

"Well, he's a great talent. He's very talented and I think the reason is his size. You know he's probably 170 pounds, you know, 5'8. I think that bears a little bit on the reason why he's not being pushed as much as he should be but I think he is an amazing talent. I think the WWE can do a lot with him. He's very technical, he has a lot of charisma, he's a talented kid and I think he would do extremely well if the company pushed him." (From 10:27 to 11:00)

You can check out the video below:

Gable Steveson had a lot of promise, but ultimately, things didn't pan out for him as a professional wrestler. It will be interesting to see how the 24-year-old does in the NFL after signing with the Buffalo Bills.

Mike Tyson ‘doing great’ after medical emergency on flight to L.A.

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Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson had a medical emergency Sunday on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, his representatives said Monday.

Tyson “became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing,” his representative said in a statement to The Times. “He is appreciative to the medical staff that were there to help him.”

Tyson is now “doing great,” according to the representative.

Tyson, 57, has been preparing to fight 27-year-old YouTube influencer Jake Paul on July 20 in Arlington, Texas. Tyson reigned as a world champion from 1987 to 1990, but retired from professional boxing in 2005 — when Paul was a child.

The fight will be televised live on Netflix; the streaming giant has expanded its push into live entertainment in recent months with “The Roast of Tom Brady” and the multipart “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.” They also signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment to move the WWE’s flagship weekly wrestling series “Monday Night Raw” to the streamer starting next year.

Mike Tyson to fight Jake Paul. Yes, an ex-heavyweight champ is boxing a YouTuber on Netflix

Jake Paul has been criticized for facing no-name boxers. The 27-year-old’s next bout is against all-time great Mike Tyson, who will be 58 for the July 20 match on Netflix.

March 7, 2024

Tyson — who was once boxing’s youngest-ever heavyweight world champion — will be 58 when he faces off against Paul at AT&T Stadium this summer.

The boxer’s long saga in and out of the sport has included heavyweight titles, prison time, a memoir , a well-known cameo in “The Hangover” and, perhaps most infamously, biting off a small chunk of fellow boxer Evander Holyfield’s ear during a 1997 fight.

On Monday morning, Paul appeared to respond to Tyson’s medical incident and subsequent questions about the upcoming fight on the social platform X , writing that people make things up “before knowing the facts for clicks / likes. Nothing changed #PaulTyson.”

Tyson, who is considered one of boxing’s all-time greats, has praised the brash Youtuber and former Disney Channel star in the past, saying last year that Paul’s embrace of the sport was helping put bodies in seats.

Like Tyson, the influencer-turned-fighter has also courted controversy in the past: He threw a massive house party during the summer 2020 height of the COVID-19 pandemic that sparked ire from Calabasas’ mayor , among other issues .

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Julia Wick is a political reporter at the Los Angeles Times. She and her colleagues won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news for reporting on a leaked audio recording that upended Los Angeles politics. She was also part of the team that was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist for work covering a fatal shooting on the set of the film “Rust.” Before joining the Times, Wick was the editor in chief of LAist.

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Bills take a chance that wrestling great Gable Steveson can make transition to the NFL

Olympic gold medal wrestler Gable Steveson is seeking to trade the mat for the gridiron by signing a standard undrafted rookie free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

The Bills list the 24-year-old Steveson as a defensive lineman in hopes his leverage techniques and agility can translate to football.

Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 266 pounds, Steveson, at 21, became the youngest freestyle wrestler to win gold as a super heavyweight at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He then went on to win two college national titles at Minnesota in 2021 and ‘22, and twice was named the Dan Hodge Trophy winner as the nation’s best college wrestler.

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After his second college championship, Steveson left his shoes in the center of the mat, symbolizing his retirement from amateur wrestling.

In Buffalo, Steveson joins a team with a head coach in Sean McDermott who was a two-time high school national wrestling champion from Pennsylvania. And while McDermott went on to pursue football after high school, he credits wrestling for helping shape his life.

“I have been fortunate to compete at the highest level of competition in my sport but am looking forward to the challenge of seeing how my wrestling skills may translate to football,” Steveson said, in a statement released by his agent, Carter Chow. “I am grateful to Coach McDermott, [general manager] Brandon Beane, and the Buffalo Bills organization for giving me this opportunity.

Although Steveson’s contract with Buffalo spans three years, it is not guaranteed unless he makes the team.

The Bills opened a spot to add Steveson by releasing Matt Haack, one of three punters on the roster. Buffalo re-signed Haack this offseason after adding him to its practice squad in the playoffs as insurance when Sam Martin was bothered by a hamstring injury.

Steveson becomes the second player without past football experience Buffalo has added to its roster this offseason. Last month, the Bills used their final pick to select former English rugby player Travis Clayton in the seventh round of the draft. The 23-year-old Clayton, listed at 6-7 and 303 pounds, is projected to play offensive line after spending this past winter learning about American football in the NFL’s International Pathway Program.

Steveson won gold at the Tokyo Games by scoring a dramatic last-second win against Geno Petriashvili from Georgia. He had numerous options after the victory and chose to return to college for a year and cash in on the new name, image, and likeness rules that allowed college athletes to make money.

He signed an NIL deal with World Wrestling Entertainment before his final college season and later joined the company.

After joining WWE with much fanfare, Steveson briefly returned to amateur wrestling last year. He competed at the US Open and Final X and won both in dominant fashion. That qualified him for the world championships, but he chose not to compete. He was mostly part of its developmental brand, NXT, before being released in May.

Steveson is from Minnesota, and his mother named him Gable in honor of wrestler Dan Gable, who won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics.