Wrestling

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

        

Angle Questions if Breakker Can be Face of WWE

Bron Breakker has enjoyed one of the quickest ascents in recent memory in WWE, reminiscent of the likes of Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar.

Angle, who is a WWE Hall of Famer and widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, chimed in this week on Breakker and his potential as a top star in WWE.

Speaking on his Kurt Angle Show podcast (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marco Rovere), Angle praised Breakker's ability but also wondered if Breakker has what it takes to be "the guy" in WWE eventually:

"Bron is a talented individual. I love his style, he's very physical. I think the company could do a lot of good with him. I don't know if he's the guy that you want to build the company around, but I do believe that he should be one of the very top guys eventually. He's that talented, he can be something very special if they use him right."

Breakker is the son of former WWE and WCW star Rick Steiner and the nephew of Scott Steiner. Although WWE hasn't given him the Steiner name, there have been subtle acknowledgements of his pedigree on NXT commentary.

The 24-year-old Breakker played college football at Kennesaw State as a fullback and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2020 before being released.

Breakker then turned his attention to professional wrestling and had limited experience before WWE signed him to a developmental contract in February.

By September, Breakker had made his televised debut in NXT, and he is already one of the faces of the brand.

Breakker lost an NXT Championship match to Tommaso Ciampa at Halloween Havoc last month, but all signs point toward him winning the title in the near future and being the face of NXT 2.0.

It seems Breakker has all the tools needed to be a star, including the look, in-ring work, promo ability and intensity. All he needs now is additional experience and seasoning.

Only time will tell if Breakker can become a John Cena or Roman Reigns-esque star for WWE, but there is no question the company views him as something special and a potential top guy in the future.

       

White Says He Hasn't Had Talks with AEW

Jay White is one of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's biggest stars, but he hasn't had any discussions with AEW about potentially joining the company.

In an interview with Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), White denied rumors and speculation that he has been approached by AEW:

"I was never or have never been approached in regards to AEW. Especially when they were starting up. I don't know where that rumor came from. It's just like everything else to do with wrestling in regards to wrestling, people just like to push s--t out there as if it's true and everyone just eats it up. No, I was never approached in regards to AEW. I don't know where that came from."

White acknowledged that WWE has shown interest in the past, but he also shot down a rumor that he signed a seven-year contract with NJPW in 2018.

The 29-year-old Kiwi is the reigning NEVER Openweight champion in NJPW, and he has also held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Intercontinental Championship and IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

Recently, White has been making appearances for Impact Wrestling as well.

AEW has had many New Japan stars appear on its show over the past year, including KENTA, Minoru Suzuki, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata, among others.

White would be a massive addition to AEW or any other wrestling company, but it seems as though his primary focus remains on New Japan for now.

     

WWE Teases Possible Balor vs. WALTER Match

During a WWE tour of the United Kingdom, two of the company's top European stars teased a potential future match.

A Twitter user tweeted a photo of Finn Balor gesturing toward WALTER during Monday's WWE live event in Leeds, England:

https://twitter.com/harljohnny0/status/1457879222005997569

Per WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton, Balor defeated Sheamus in a singles match on that show, while WALTER beat Cesaro.

Balor and WALTER have never wrestled each other, although a match between them was teased previously when both were in NXT early last year. The match never happened, though, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the pandemic hit, WALTER and all of the other Europe-based NXT wrestlers went back home, meaning it wasn't possible to play the rivalry off.

By the time WALTER returned to the United States, Balor had moved on to other things and eventually got called back up to the main roster.

Balor is part of the Raw roster, while WALTER has been in limbo since dropping the NXT United Kingdom Championship to Ilja Dragunov at NXT TakeOver 36 in August.

There has been speculation about WALTER being called up to the main roster, but he has always been publicly reluctant about moving to the United States.

If WALTER changes his mind and does decide to make the move, however, a match against Balor a dream match realized for many wrestling fans.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Liv Morgan won a Fatal 5-Way match to become the No. 1 contender for Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch.

LIV MORGAN WINS!@YaOnlyLivvOnce has earned an opportunity to challenge #WWERaw Women's Champion @BeckyLynchWWE! pic.twitter.com/WsgsEt9EW7

— WWE (@WWE) November 9, 2021

Morgan outlasted Carmella, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley and Queen Zelina. She tied Carmella up in a crucifix pin after Carmella attempted to steal a pinfall on a prone Zelina.

Lynch didn't wait long to send a message to the challenger.

Come get it. pic.twitter.com/h2wcxtfDGZ

— Rebecca Quin (@BeckyLynchWWE) November 9, 2021

It's unclear when Morgan will be able to capitalize on her opportunity since Survivor Series on Nov. 21 is looming. As expected, WWE announced its two women's champions from Raw and SmackDown will be facing off on pay-per-view.

#WWERaw Women's Champion @BeckyLynchWWE vs. #SmackDown Women's Champion @MsCharlotteWWE at #SurvivorSeries! pic.twitter.com/szBCh3eXcd

— WWE (@WWE) November 9, 2021

Based on Morgan's status within the promotion, this probably won't be a case of her taking the title from Lynch before Survivor Series like AJ Styles did to Jinder Mahal in 2017. The 27-year-old has also earned the right to be positioned as a genuine threat for The Man, something that wouldn't be conveyed if she grapples for the belt on a random Raw. 

Morgan has yet to compete in a championship match. Because of that, her profile could grow in a big way even if she were to come up short in her first crack at Lynch.

Belair is a prime example of that. She was unable to capture the NXT Women's Championship, but her battles with Ripley and Shayna Baszler set the stage for fans to take her seriously when she fought Sasha Banks for the SmackDown women's title at WrestleMania 37.

Monday's result could be the sign of a big singles run for Morgan.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson didn't close the door on a dream match with his cousin, Roman Reigns, in a WWE ring.

Johnson told ComicBook.com's Brandon Davis that "there might be another match down the road" and the circumstances "would have to make sense":

It seems like Roman, you know, I'm very close with Roman obviously, and we talk about this all the time, and I continue to encourage him to keep doing your thing, keep sharpening those skills. I think he's doing a great job with his promo, his execution, his in-ring work. It all continues to improve and grow. ... And again, I'm very, very proud of him. I like everything that he's doing. I like everything that the Usos are doing. I like what they're doing together, and we'll see down the road.

There isn't a bigger possible pairing that WWE could have in the squared circle than The Rock vs. Roman Reigns. Leaving aside their familial connection, Johnson is the biggest crossover star in wrestling history, and Reigns is the biggest name in the business right now.

The logistical challenges would probably difficult to overcome, though, even if Johnson were to compete in only one match. The 49-year-old has six acting projects that are either in post-production or yet to begin filming.

There was some belief that an encounter could happen at WrestleMania 37 this past April, which was originally scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

.@WWERomanReigns makes his pitch to @TheRock — one more WrestleMania match at SoFi Stadium in LA. What say you, DJ? pic.twitter.com/XhcaphVPRf

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) February 11, 2020

However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced WWE to alter its WrestleMania rotation. The Showcase of the Immortals will instead head to Southern California in April 2023; next year's event will be held in Arlington, Texas.

In terms of Rock vs. Reigns, having that extra time could benefit all parties involved and allow them to get their ducks in a row.

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and AEW. 

Tony Khan Admits He's Interested in Recent WWE Cuts

Any time someone departs WWE—whether via their own volition or a roster cut—there's an automatic assumption that AEW will be somewhere lurking. Tony Khan's company has found massive success hiring underutilized former WWE talents like Miro, PAC and Malakai Black and turning them into stars, while names like Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley exited the top of the WWE card to join AEW.

With WWE jettisoning another round of talent last week, Khan spoke to PWTorch and admitted a few names caught his eye. 

“I do see a few in this wave. I don’t want to say who, or when I would be interested in them, but I think there’s a few very interested people they’ve just let go,” Khan said. “The same goes in the last wave, and the wave before that, and the wave before that. So, each time they let, let’s say 20 people go, I think there’s a few interesting ones for AEW and this was no exception to that.”

Let's just admit the obvious: Keith Lee and Ember Moon need to be in AEW the second their 90-day non-compete expires. Lee fills AEW's biggest hole on the roster—a believable, seasoned dominant big man—and has a high enough work rate that he can fit in easily with the company's product. Moon was a massive missed opportunity for WWE on the main roster, and she would arguably be the most talented in-ring worker in the AEW women's division from the moment she signed.

None of the other names are obvious can't-miss signings. Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux feel like they would be more at home back in Impact; Eva Marie isn't the type of name AEW typically pursues. Franky Monet and Mia Yim could help fill out the women's division a little bit, and Harry Smith's link to the Hart family might interest Khan, but those acts would be for Dark and the lower midcard.

Lee and Moon are potential franchise players.

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Drew McIntyre Says Reigns Match Can Wait

When Drew McIntyre was drafted the SmackDown, the automatic assumption is that he would be lined up as the next feud for Roman Reigns.

That hasn't happened.

McIntyre has been doing weekly open challenges and putting on banger matches while Reigns remains preoccupied with a (kayfabe) suspended Brock Lesnar.  The Scottish Warrior recently spoke to Sky Sports and said he's fine waiting for his Universal title shot. 

"Everyone keeps saying to me, ‘It’s Drew and Roman, that is obviously what will happen.' I am sure it is inevitably going to happen, but I have no desire for it to happen right now," McIntyre said. "He has got all this momentum and I am a very patient man. I have been in the wrestling game for over 20 years now. I want to keep building up victories.

"I want to keep building up momentum. He is aware of what I am capable of these days, and I want him to have to watch me build up momentum and when the time is right we come together. It will definitely be a huge match for us as Superstars but especially for the fans. Not until the time is right, though.”

In terms of a booking decision, this is the right move. McIntyre spent months losing to Bobby Lashley and then in a listless feud with Jinder Mahal late in his run on the Raw roster. While it didn't completely kill his momentum, he didn't come to Raw riding high. A bit of McIntyre fatigue was setting in, and allowing him to just go out there and put on a bunch of great matches is a tried-and-true way of building him back up.

McIntyre probably isn't going to be the one to unseat Roman from his perch atop SmackDown, so he needs this time of rebuilding so losing that feud in the future won't hurt him too much. 

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Rollins Praised for Professionalism 

Seth Rollins may be an irritant in character, but outside the ring, he's apparently a joy to work with.

Lance Storm, who worked with WWE as a backstage producer from 2019 to 2020, highlighted Rolllins' professionalism on his podcast with the Wrestling Observer.

"I can’t say enough good things about Seth Rollins," Storm said. "I produced a lot of segments with Seth Rollins. A lot of times with Seth, it was me and Michael Hayes. It was at the time where Seth Rollins was a big frickin' part of the show. You get the Seth Rollins segment, and it’s like, OK, he has two backstage segments, he has an in-ring promo, then he has a promo before his match. The dude has like eight segments. He’s running full tilt all day and very easy to work with."

Storm said that Rollins is good at taking direction despite being a top-of-the-card star and being able to multitask doing several segments on the same show. 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Jon Moxley was not about to allow The Shield become the Nexus.

Moxley wrote in his new book that The Shield was originally supposed to lose to John Cena, Ryback and Sheamus at the 2013 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, but the group approached Vince McMahon to squash the idea. 

“If [we] went out there with Cena and took the f--kin’ schmootz and got pinned like everybody else, we would then become everybody else,” wrote Moxley. “It would kill us. I remember…being in the car with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. ‘I ain’t f--king doing it,’ I said. ‘Whether they fire us or we get Cena’d and killed off…we’re dead either way.'"

Moxley's book, which came out this week, is littered with his grievances from his time in WWE—ranging from booking, to scripted promos, to his general unhappiness with how the company viewed professional wrestling. 

The Shield was one of the hottest acts in the company heading into the 2013 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, with Moxley, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns positioned as future stars.

However, the same could have been said about members of The Nexus three years prior before a run-in with Cena essentially stripped them of their momentum. Cena's burial of The Nexus isn't some wrestling folklore, either; the 16-time world champion has essentially admitted to picking up the shovel.

Losing to Cena—and becoming the latest in a long line of rising stars to drop a feud to Cena in that era—would have ruined The Shield's momentum. Moxley was luckily able to talk McMahon into having The Shield go over in that match, but it's clear Mox's issues with booking weren't a new thing by the time he departed. 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

WWE's latest round of roster cuts was reportedly almost a lot larger.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported there were around 10 additional names being considered for releases, most of whom were older talents in NXT. Meltzer said Danny Burch and Timothy Thatcher were among the names considered.

Burch's former tag team partner, Oney Lorcan, was among the people who were cut. Thatcher has not been seen much on NXT programming since the end of his partnership with Tommaso Ciampa.

NXT has undergone massive changes in recent months, with higher-ups abandoning its previous iteration that was essentially a WWE version of an independent promotion. Instead, the company is emphasizing younger developmental talent—molds that Thatcher and Burch do not necessarily fit.

Burch is 39 and has not found a gimmick that would transition well to the main roster during his time in NXT. Thatcher is 38, and while he seemed to find a niche with Ciampa, their storyline was abandoned in favor of handing Goldie back to the NXT lifer.

It's unclear why WWE chose to keep Burch, Thatcher and the other older talents who were on the block. However, anyone in developmental who is in their mid-30s or older should probably not feel safe with WWE's current direction. 

More information on the releases of Karrion Kross, Scarlett Bordeaux and Mia Yim has come to the surface as WWE deals with the fallout of its latest roster cuts. 

Fightful Select reported that Kross' main-roster retooling—which eliminated Scarlett as his valet and repackaged his entrance and ring gear—was the idea of WWE creative. The report also says that Kross "immediately" had heat backstage, but it does not delve into the reasoning. 

It was clear Kross was unhappy with his direction after leaving NXT. He ripped the helmet he was given by WWE creative for his ring entrance. WWE's handling of Kross on the main roster has to be considered one of the biggest botches in recent memory, as it seemed he and Scarlett had a gimmick that was ready-made for stardom.

The Fightful report says WWE had planned for Scarlett to transition to being a wrestler on Raw or SmackDown, but those plans were quickly scrapped. Scarlett was a valet in NXT but is an in-ring veteran on the independent circuit. While she's never been an elite in-ring worker, her character work is superb.

Kross and Scarlett are a couple in real life, so their next move will almost certainly be together. The pair previously had a successful run in Impact and are a decent bet to return; their style isn't a strong fit for AEW on the surface. Scarlett has a 30-day non-compete in her contract, whereas Kross has a 90-day wait ahead of him, so we may get our first hint from Scarlett on their future. 

WWE reportedly also had plans on utilizing Mia Yim on the main roster after the breakup of Retribution but scrapped several different chances to make that happen. Yim was released alongside fiance Keith Lee, who had also undergone an aborted repackaging. 

Lee, perhaps more than any other name released, seems like a ready-made fit for AEW. If there's one thing the company lacks, it's polished big men, and Lee's impeccable work rate for his size makes him a good fit for the roster. Yim had a previous run with Impact and could return, and she would be a fine addition to AEW's midcard. 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Colby Covington has been considered the villain at times in his mixed martial arts career, and he suggested that could lead to a job in professional wrestling.

"You might see me in WWE one day," the MMA fighter said after his loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Usman (20-1) defended his welterweight title by defeating Covington (16-3) via unanimous decision. 

Covington also discussed his entrance to "Medal," Kurt Angle's theme song (starts at 14:28):

"I would never have used that song if I didn't personally ask Kurt Angle, and he gave me permission to use that song," Covington said.

Covington said hearing the "You suck!" chants was "beautiful" and he loved that the fans were part of the show.

"I love it. They're playing right into my game," he said.

The 33-year-old has lost his last two chances at the welterweight title, which might make may a move to WWE an appealing option for the fighter.

           

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Canadian Football League legend and professional wrestler Angelo Mosca Sr. died Saturday at the age of 84.

Mosca's wife, Helen, announced his death in a Facebook post, per the Associated Press.

"It is with great sadness that the family of Angelo Mosca announce his passing … after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Angelo was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather as well as friend to so many."

The CFL, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and WWE released statements following Mosca's death.

"Savvy, smart and ahead of his time, he built his bad guy personae into a personal brand that was bigger than life," the CFL's statement read in part.

"Unloved in some markets, where he was the villain, his stature was unmatched in Hamilton, where he was a hero, and when he traded his shoulder pads for wrestling tights, he enthralled Mosca fans in countries near and far."

The Tiger-Cats added:

Angelo Mosca was a legend. He was one of the most legendary players in CFL history and certainly the most legendary to ever wear a Tiger-Cat uniform. His contributions to the game of Canadian football, to our organization, and to the Hamilton community will never be forgotten. We send our sincere condolences to Angelo's entire family.

The former Notre Dame star played offensive and defensive tackle, winning one Grey Cup with the Ottawa Rough Riders and four more with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He played in the CFL from 1958 to 1972 and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

After his football career ended, Mosca moved on to professional wrestling. Known as Angelo "King Kong" Mosca, he competed in the AWA and Stampede Wrestling before moving to WWE. He had rivalries with WWE Hall of Famers and legends Bob Backlund and Pat Patterson.

Mosca worked as a color commentator and promoter after his active wrestling days, per WWE's statement.

Condolences poured in for Mosca after the news was revealed, including one from The Iron Sheik:

ANGELO MOSCA BUBBA. ONE OF THE TOUGHEST MAN I EVER FIGHT. YOU WERE MY BROTHER FOREVER. GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER. https://t.co/WFnmaRDGB1 pic.twitter.com/puYVq7cDtC

— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) November 6, 2021

Aw, man.
Just heard Angelo Mosca passed away. Knew him and of him in so many incarnations. Wrestler, player, one of the true CFL eminences.
Sad news, man.
Sad news#RIP

— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) November 6, 2021

True CFL legend. Condolences to the family and many friends of Angelo Mosca, who passed away today. pic.twitter.com/VR8AyVetCb

— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) November 6, 2021

Leaving the hotel on our way to Canada’s Wonderland as a kid, I bumped into Angelo Mosca. He graciously signed an autograph for me on a restaurant placemat. He was huge! All those years later covering Tabbies games at Ivor Wynne, I still got starstruck whenever I saw King Kong. pic.twitter.com/uY17pRsBzM

— James Cybulski (@JamesCybulski) November 7, 2021

Sad to hear the news of Angelo Mosca’s passing. He played the villain role perfectly, but nobody had a bigger heart and love for the CFL than Ang. When he’d visit the booth before every game, you felt like you’d been with CFL royalty. Condolences to his family and Ticat Nation.

— Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) November 6, 2021

In his later years, Mosca wrote an autobiography (Tell Me To My Face) that was published in 2011. He also became just the second Tiger-Cat in franchise history to have his number retired, when Hamilton decided to do so in 2015.

WWE announced Saturday the participants in the Raw vs. SmackDown elimination matches for the Survivor Series pay-per-view later this month.

In the men's five-on-five traditional elimination match, a Team Raw comprised of Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio will face Team SmackDown's Drew McIntyre, Jeff Hardy, King Xavier Woods, Sami Zayn and Happy Corbin.

The women's five-on-five traditional elimination match will see Team Raw representatives Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Carmella and Queen Zelina Vega take on Team SmackDown's Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi Blackheart, Natalya and Aliyah.

🔴 ROLLINS
🔴 BALOR
🔴 KO
🔴 REY MYSTERIO
🔴 DOM MYSTERIO

🔵 MCINTYRE
🔵 JEFF HARDY
🔵 KING WOODS
🔵 ZAYN
🔵 CORBIN

🔴 BELAIR
🔴 RIPLEY
🔴 LIV
🔴 CARMELLA
🔴 QUEEN ZELINA

🔵 BANKS
🔵 BASZLER
🔵 SHOTZI
🔵 NATALYA
🔵 ALIYAH#SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/u1mxBJVbvM

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) November 6, 2021

The five-on-five elimination match has been a staple of Survivor Series ever since the inaugural event was held on Thanksgiving night in 1987.

In recent years, Survivor Series has utilized a Raw vs. SmackDown format with the champions on the respective brands facing each other.

That will likely be the case again this year, as Universal champion Roman Reigns vs. WWE champion Big E, SmackDown Women's champion Charlotte Flair vs. Raw Women's champion Becky Lynch, SmackDown Tag Team champions The Usos vs. Raw Tag Team champions RK-Bro, and Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. United States champion Damian Priest are all in line to occur at Survivor Series.

One of the best parts about Survivor Series has been the fact that wrestlers on opposite teams or even on the same team are often in the midst of a feud.

That is once again true this year, as plenty of storylines are intertwined in the men's and women's elimination matches.

On the men's side, Rollins and Owens are both vying to contend for the WWE Championship on Raw, plus they were both recently in a ladder match against fellow teammates Balor and Rey Mysterio for the No. 1 contendership.

SmackDown's team features Zayn and Hardy, who may have been starting a feud on this week's SmackDown. In terms of crossover, Zayn has had angles with Owens, Rey and Dominik Mysterio within the past year.

On the women's teams, Raw could have some dysfunction, as Morgan is in a long-term feud with Carmella, as well as Vega.

SmackDown may be even more explosive, as Shotzi attacked Banks last week, cementing her heel turn and making her one of the faces of the blue brand's women's division.

Belair and Banks will lead their respective teams, and they aren't far removed from facing each other in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 in April.

Survivor Series will emanate from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Nov. 21.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).