Photo: WWE

Seth Rollins Begins Training For In-Ring Return

Seth Rollins is getting closer and closer to an inevitable return to a WWE wrestling ring, and if a recent report is any indication, we may be seeing him again on our television screens much sooner than expected.

According to a report making the rounds on Wednesday, Rollins is now training in a wrestling ring multiple times per week as he prepares for his WWE in-ring return. Even more surprising, Seth is reportedly working out in the ring without the aid of a knee brace (while making sure to ice down his knee following each work-out). This is amazing progress for the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion considering he underwent major reconstructive knee surgery just four months ago.

Rollins tore the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his knee during a non-televised live event in Ireland last Fall. The injury came while Rollins held the WWE’s top championship belt, forcing him to forfeit the belt and putting in motion a championship tournament for WWE that culminated at the Survivor Series.

The original prognosis for Rollins’ return was 6-9 months, with most experts putting the likely scenario closer to the 9 month range. Professional athletes typically take close to a year to return from a torn ACL, so the fact that Seth is training in a ring only four months after surgery is great news for both wrestling fans and WWE.

Photo: WWE

Seth Rollins’ return is definitely expected to take place before or at SummerSlam (which would be 9 months after his injury occurred), as it was revealed this week that WWE is already using his likeness in advertising for the big event this August. If Seth continues his current training regimen and keeps making progress in his recovery at this current pace, we might be seeing him even sooner.

The post Seth Rollins Injury Update: Amazing Progress Being Made appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

With so much going happening on WWE’s landscape, it’s time to open the floor to the wrestling proletariat. Unfortunately, my following is limited to a Pokemon Book Club and my grandmother. But don’t get it twisted: Granny is a mark. With such a limited audience, my return on WWE mailbag question was only supplied by hurtful trolls. So instead, I made up my own game, with rules that insulate my feelings. I once heard talking to yourself if OK, but answering back is risky. Today, I take that risk. Just when you have all the answers, I change the questions. RIP Hot Rod.

Who’s the best Intercontinental Champion moving forward?

From: Barbs, Bakersfield, CA: 

This division is white hot, and most that has to do with the excellent work The Miz has produced.  He’s been a real rotten son of a bitch, which only makes people yearn for someone to usurp him. Fortunately for us and and WWE,  the Intercontinental suitors are all great.

The only wrong choice would be Sami Zayn. He’s doing well, but it feels a little early. Kevin Owens may be next in line for a Brock Lesnar feud. If not the Beast, Owens is a logical choice for a campaign with Roman Reigns, so him getting one more IC run could actually be a hindrance for his arc.  

The Intercontinental gold would look pretty good resting on Cesaro’s chest hair. But, is it time? He’s certainly ready for this graduation, but is the emotion of him winning this championship maximized at Extreme Rules?

I think the best choice is The Miz. He’s a putrid champion, but that’s the point. Let him hang on until SummersSlam. By that time, we’d pop if Jey Uso pinned him.

Is AJ Styles winning the title at Extreme Rules a real possibility?

From: Louissa, Parts Unknown

It is. Just real enough to break your heart. This has been a fruitful feud so far with all parties being elevated. As effective as AJ Styles has become his rewards are strictly participatory. The closest he’ll get to a win is via DQ, setting up a third installment.

So, enjoy AJ on this stage. Hope not that he wins, but that WWE has big plans for him after he moves on from Reigns. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a showdown against Finn Balor. Or Seth Rollins. Or John Cena.

When can the Hulkster come back?

From: Bulk Bogan, Venice Beach, CA

Not until he contractually agrees to be tarred an feathered by The New Day on consecutive RAWs.

Photo: WWE

Will the New Day continue run the Tag Divsion?

From: Elle, Scottsdale, AZ

It’s hard to see them without the belts for the foreseeable future. This Vaudevillians scuffle has been entertaining, but how far does that actually take us?

Enzo Amore getting hurt, as scary as it was, could be a great thing. His return will be massive, Big Cass will be Bigger Cass, and the New Day will still be who we thought they were.

The New Day have been fantastic. They’ve achieved incredible popularity in a flaccid tag-team division. A nuclear feud with Enzo and Cass looms. I’ll assume they retain through SummerSlam but the duration of their championship term is no longer the most compelling question. What is, though, is who gets the single’s push and how far does it go?

Where does Rollins fit? What about Orton?

From: Neymar, Bowling Green, KY

You can Venmo me for sneaking in a second question, pal.

Seth Rollins should join Reigns at the top of the WWE food chain. I mean, he never lost the title. Chances are he’ll get a feud or two before he and Reigns open a narrative (a little program with Triple H would be awfully fun). He’s set to have a monumental return, not unlike Triple H in 2002. 

Randy Orton, on the other hand could go anywhere. His days around the WWE Championship are likely done, but a dose of the Viper’s venom could be fun in the Intercontinental scene.

With John Cena and Bray Wyatt returning in the same window, WWE is about to get really, really good.

Will we get a real story from Steph and Shane or just sexual tension?

From: Uncle John, Buffalo, NY

They certainly have an odd chemistry working. I’m tired scrutinizing this angle, though, as it has been wonky from the jump. It’s arbitrary use of logic has me settling just to be happy that Shane is back. I’ll just assume Triple H re-enters and drives a wedge between this awkward brother/sister thing. 

Do you like the name of our gang, The Club?

From: Anderson and Gallows, Applebees.

I honestly think you could not have done worse. Nomenclature aside, you guys are in the main event storyline! I wish you the best, even though I think you’re interchangeable with The Ascension.

I’ve decided to light myself on fire if Cena returns in 2 weeks to beat Rusev for the US Championship.

From: Ivan W. Cruz, Topeka, KS

That’ll show em’. Can I have your WWE Network login, first?

Photo: WWE

Who has the bigger SummerSlam: Sasha Banks or Shinsuke Nakamura?

From: Emperor Matt, St. Augustine, FL

Congratulations! This is the best question of the bunch, winning you an official Top Rope Press t-shirt! 

It’s just a shame you’re a figment of my imagination.

Anyways, it’d be a treat for either Banks or Nakamura to have a moment at SummerSlam. Nakamura has a magnetic aura about him that is simply impossible to ignore. What’s amazing is that he does it without speaking.  I think he’ll be a hit on the main roster regardless of how WWE decides to integrate him. I also think he won’t be in NXT much longer, simply because there is no one for him to fight. It’s been a blast to watch, but him in NXT is like having a lion in a petting zoo.

WWE has employed an interesting usage pattern with Banks; she fight for the title, then goes off of TV for a month. I’ll guess they know that she’s a rare talent and are doing their best to minimize her exposure in the name of maximizing her climb. It’s hard to imagine her not fighting Charlottte for the Women’s Title at SummerSlam. It may be even harder trying to picture Banks not winning. 

The fact that Sasha and her path is already established means she’ll have the bigger SummerSlam. However, we could very well get an awesome match from Nakamura, too.

What do you think Lesnar’s been doing?

From: Alessandro Peppercini Rome, Italy

Milking Sable, obviously.

Thanks for the penetrating questions, guys. Let’s do this again.

For shorter version of similar rhetoric, hit me up @CheekyJobbers

The post Make Believe WWE Mailbag appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: Yahoo

Vince McMahon giving the okay for Brock Lesnar to make a “one-off” return to the UFC raises a number of questions.  Why would he do such a thing? Is this a sign of some sort of “working agreement” between the two companies? Will the WWE “get” anything in return?

As for that last question, we now know that WWE is possibly looking for a UFC star to come in and make an appearance at SummerSlam. As first reported by PWInsider, the WWE reached out to the management of UFC fighter Paige VanZant about three weeks ago and there was communication between the two sides.

VanZant is hardly the UFC’s most skilled female fighter, but she is fresh off an appearance on Dancing With The Stars, a show watched by in excess of 11 million people, and she fared well on that program.

VanZant is obviously very good looking, which is something the WWE will always put a premium on no matter if they refer to their women as “Divas” or not. Therefore it’s easy to see understand why she would be a target of WWE.  VanZant is also not currently scheduled for any upcoming UFC shows.  Her last fight was in December and resulted in a submission loss to Rose Namajunas. It was VanZant’s first UFC loss in four fights with the company.

Photo: FightOfTheNight.com

For weeks now, we’ve been hearing that WWE’s long-term plan for the Women’s Division is to build to a title match between Charlotte and Sasha Banks at SummerSlam.  It will be interesting to see if this news affects that plan in any way.

Speaking of Charlotte, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, she and Natalya both recently trained with the “Four Horsewomen” (of Ronda Rousey fame), so there’s another channel of communication that has apparently been opened between the two companies.

A working relationship between WWE and UFC intrigues me tremendously. Some are pointing out that WWE is exposing itself to a major risk by allowing one of its top starts (Lesnar) to potentially get embarrassed. If Lesnar were to be knocked out by Mark Hunt, there is a chance he would not be allowed to work SummerSlam (say, if he sustained a concussion). On the UFC side of things, something I’ve yet to see anyone mention is the possibility of their credibility being damaged by having a working relationship with the WWE.  UFC is a sport and WWE most certainly is entertainment, and while the two companies have a lot in common, fixed outcomes is not one of them.

What are your thoughts on the issue of a working relationship between WWE and UFC?  Please feel free to comment below!

The post Paige VanZant Working SummerSlam? More On WWE/UFC Relationship appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: WWE / Top Rope Press

Brock Lesnar Will Take On A Returning Randy Orton At SummerSlam

It will be Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton at SummerSlam, provided Lesnar is not injured this Saturday at UFC 200.

By the way, Lesnar now finds himself main eventing UFC 200 with Mark Hunt due to tonight’s shocking news that Jon Jones has been pulled from the card due to doping allegations.

The confirmation of Orton as Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponent came via the Aftermath show that airs in Canada following SmackDown (Canada gets SmackDown a day early). There was no mention of Lesnar on the actual SmackDown show that aired on Wednesday evening.

Earlier this week, it had been reported that Orton was heading down to the Performance Center in Orlando to get himself cleared for a return to the ring.

Of course, it was over a month ago here at Top Rope Press that we speculated (correctly!) that Orton would be the opponent.

Credit: F4WOnline

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Can you smell it? It’s a distinct odor, and it always precedes big change. Oh, it’s so beautifully naive. It’s hope. Yes, a New Era is upon us and it will be ushered in by WWE’s second attempt at a talent draft. With a precedent to learn from, it’s fair to raise your expectations and truly believe that WWE will capitalize on their abundance of talent. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t questions to be answered. However, I just don’t have anyone to ask them, so I call upon my 2nd, 3rd, and even 10th personalities to guide me through a fulfilling WWE mailbag. I huffed a bunch of glue to make sure that their voices came in clear. So here it goes, the Make Believe Mailbag: Draft Edition.

When I think about WWE using 2 big belts, I become violent. Why is this so?
—Ivan W. Cruz, Topeka, KS

Two belts are inherently a Socialist policy. Dueling championships limits the significance of titles and places a cap on talent potential. In economics, the benefits of these principles are debatable; in wrestling, they are not.

Exhibit A: The two belt system kept Booker T from becoming a mega star. Seeing that he had already held the Big Gold Belt in WWE, decision makers could have felt that he did not need a run with the WWE Title. So, when Booker T’s WrestleMania moment arrived against a mudslinging Triple H in 2003, we all thought that Mr. 5x’s crystallization was imminent. When that crowning never materialized, we felt slighted, and not in the “Oh, We’re Just Marks Way,” but the “No, You Guys Actually Got This One Wrong Way.”

Exhibit B: John Cena has 15 titles. Randy Orton has 12. Jack Swagger has a belt. Ziggler has two and Del Rio owns a couple runs. Hulk Hogan, a fascist, has 5.

Yet, this could be a good thing. WWE has so much talent, but a lot of them have never truly achieved anything (look no further than Bray Wyatt). A good way to boost personalities like Owens, Zayn, Styles, Rusev, Balor, Cesaro, even Ambrose, is to slap a little gold around their waist.

Photo: WWE

Is Brock Lesnar, regardless of limited dates, the real number one pick?
—Mel Kiper Jr., Bristol CT

Yes x 1,000,000. His cross promotional conquest  has given him a gravitational pull that rivals Jupiter’s. Even if he were to do 10 dates a year, they would be precious. That’s 4 PPV’s and a handful of RAW/Smackdowns –  plenty to garner national attention.

*Lesnar potentially failing a drug test is far more detrimental to UFC than WWE.

On a scale of WWE vignettes, how excited should we be for the Draft and Brand Split
—Emperor Matt,  St. Augustine, FL

If the sphincter of this spectrum is Glacier and the diamond Mr. Perfect, I can say with confidence that the draft’s expectations align with an Edge vignette. There’s something viscerally agreeable, but we just don’t know enough to go bonkers.

I mean, c’mon, they need me, right?
—Eric Bischoff, Somewhere Smug

Not to answer a question with a question, but do you really think you can get away with H.L.A. in 2016, Bischoff?

No, actually they do need you. For labeling itself sports entertainment rather than pro wrestling, WWE sure does have some stale personalities week to week.

Smackdown’s decision is rumored to have already been made, but you’re more of a RAW guy, anyway. I’ll hope you bring that smarmy aura of yours to Monday nights.

Photo: 411 Mania

Who’s the riskiest draft pick of them all?
—YokozunaGurl237, A White Castle in West Virginia

Light your torches, sharpen your pitchforks, because it’s Finn Balor.

The NXT crowd is such a beautiful collection of indigenous wrestling fans. But how projectable is their love? So many NXT talents have had rough transitions to the main roster. Of the NXT graduates, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins have been the most successful. It’s no coincidence that they are also some of the best mic men in the company. So I ask you, rhetorically of course, how capable is Finn on the mic?

“But Sami Zayn!!”

WWE has perched Zayn on the wings of Kevin Owens. If not for such a fail safe feud, Zayn could be floundering like the rest of his classmates.

I’ll admit that fans are seeking out great wrestling matches over great promos, which bodes well for Mr. Balor. The risk doesn’t lie in his talent, though;  it’s his expectations. WWE may not know what to do with him (evident by his tardy arrival to main roster), fans have anointed him, and I think there could be a potent batch of disappointment brewing.

He could be great. He could be Jamarcus Russell.

Uce, are we totally gooked?
—Jimmy and Jey Uso, Hawaii or something, USA

Guys, I simply cannot keep up with your “Uce,” lingo. But given who you are and the context of your situation, I’ll guess “gooked,” is interchangeable with “F’d.” So yes, with your only claim to relevance being suspended for a bit, you are indeed, completely gooked.

Click Next Below For The Second Half Of The Mailbag

Photo: WWE

We should celebrate living in a world where dick pics are not a violation of the Wellness Policy, right?
—A Concerned Lunatic, Asylum, USA.

We definitely should.  You should keep your fingers crossed that WWE enacts a retroactive policy that punishes naked selfies. If that legislation doesn’t pass quickly, you’re going to be belt-less very, very soon.

What’s the one thing you’re hoping for?
—Bernie Sanders, The Heartbreak Hotel

Glad to have ya, Bern! You’ll find being a WWE fan is much like a career in politics: you can get your hopes up, with streaks of poignant satisfaction, but in the end the machine gets what it wants.

Now, to your question.

I’m hoping for new commentary. There’s just something about Michael Cole that cheapens the consumption of wrestling. His predecessors were hyperbolic in presentation, and could not help but to leave an impression. They added to the experience, where Cole feels like a fly I can’t swat.

JBL is a confusing bird. Like your political peers, Bernie, JBL speaks in an ambiguous rhetoric and we just aren’t sure what his agenda actually is. If he could just pick a side, we’d all be better off.

There’s promise, however. Mauro Ranallo makes us feel like we’re watching something novel. I think his role and exposure will only increase in time. Corey Graves is particularly talented and has a great look that makes non-wrestling fans stop and ask questions. The same goes for Lita. WWE seems to take pride in at least attempting to be progressive, and putting Lita behind an announce table would certainly be that.

Basically Bernie, I want my wrestling to feel like wrestling again. It’s become a little too much sport and not enough entertainment.

Photo: WWE

Is WWE actively trying to de-value the IC belt to match the US Belt in a currency war
—Louissa, Parts Unknown

If I knew what a currency war is, I would say yes, and that’s a great question.

The Intercontinental Title become a less a sign of imminence and more a prop, making the Miz the perfect IC champ until he’s not. The IC belt’s competition gives us some indication who is being prepped for the big-time, but it also delineates a wrassler as not quite part of the main event. Have we seen AJ Styles near this belt? Didn’t he lose the MITB qualifier, to a MITB match that included the exact same competitors as the IC belt carousel? Very astute, Louissa.

If the IC Belt is part of WWE’s storied history, the US belt is a red-headed scalp from the conquest of WCW. With Cena’s open challenge and Rollins actually using it as main event level spoils, the US title has had a nice year. By putting the title on talents like Alberto Del Rio and Rusev only underlines the fact that WWE is trying to make the belt worthwhile.

With the IC belt becoming more erratic, the entire midcard feels more malleable, as is the potential for someone to be elevated to the main event. This shift has been bolstered by the US belt mattering more than it ever has. In the same year of the first draft, the Hardcore and European championships quickly merged with the Intercontinental belt in a talent rich era. When the US and IC belts go to separate shows, we’ll remember the purpose of both.

Will the government ever subsidize universal WWE Network?
—Neymar, Bowling Green, KY

The Rock is Elvis. Brock Lesnar is Mike Tyson. John Cena is Billy Crystal with muscles. Wrestling is cool now. WWE has become an institution. After the college bubble bursts, we’ll get our government issued WWE Network.

Sasha?
—Alessandro Peppercini, Rome, Italy.

Indeed, Sasha. How cool is it that the fan-ship is all craving a result from the Women’s Division?

Look, I know the Diva’s Revolution had a piano strapped to its back, but it kind of worked. I think a lot of WWE, specifically the Women’s Division, has been in a holding pattern due to the draft. I expect the post-Battleground build up between Banks and Charlotte to be dynamite. A balanced and compelling Women’s Division is on the way.

The psychedellics are fading and so are the voices. The dance is over, thanks for reading, guys. For shorter version of similar rhetoric, hit me up @CheekyJobbers

The post Make Believe Mailbag: The WWE Draft Edition appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: WWE / Top Rope Press

Brock Lesnar’s Status For SummerSlam Explained

F4WOnline (via Brandon Howard) posted a note today that would lead one to believe that Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam status is not in danger, at least in regards to the impact of a possible suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

A statement from the New York State Athletic Commission (SummerSlam is in Brooklyn) said that because they do not license professional wrestlers on an individual basis, Lesnar would not be prevented from participating in a pro wrestling event in the state. So basically, even though a suspension in Nevada would be recognized, the NYSAC wouldn’t prevent Lesnar from working SummerSlam. The distinction of WWE being “entertainment” and MMA “a sport” also plays a role here.

Suspending Lesnar would be up to the attending physician (often Dr. Chris Amann), WWE or Lesnar himself.

Here is the full statement that Howard received from the NYSAC:

In 2002, New York State passed legislation that scaled back the regulation of “professional wrestling” in many respects based on a recognition that the activity is entertainment rather than bona-fide athletic competition. Under current New York State law, “professional wrestling” is defined as wrestling “primarily for the purpose of providing entertainment to spectators and which does not comprise a bona fide athletic contest or competition” (NY Unconsolidated Laws section 8928-b[1]). As such, the State does not license individual wrestlers, and Mr. Lesnar is not a licensee of the New York State Athletic Commission. In the context of “professional wrestling,” as defined above, the State licenses only the promoter, such as the WWE. Per New York law, among other health and safety requirements that apply to the licensing of a promoter, the event promoter is required to have a physician examine each wrestler and determine whether each wrestler is medically fit to participate.

The question of whether Mr. Lesnar is fit to participate in a “professional wrestling” event is one that will be determined by the application of the professional medical judgment of the examining physician, the policies of the WWE, and the choices made by Mr. Lesnar with regard to his own participation leading up to the event date.

Note: Michael Cole (on RAW), just moments ago, promoted Lesnar’s SummerSlam match with Randy Orton, so it would seem as if it is still in the cards.

The post Brock Lesnar Update: SummerSlam Status Not In Jeopardy? appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

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Summerslam and NXT Takeover News and Notes

We are less than a month away from sports entertainment’s biggest weekend of the summer. After last night’s NXT, it was confirmed that Samoa Joe would defend his NXT Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura TakeOver. The Women’s Championship will also be on the line as Bayley finally gets her long-awaited rematch against Asuka. NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn airs Saturday, August 20 on the WWE Network.

This week’s first episodes of the “New Era” in WWE cemented two more matches for SummerSlam. On RAW, it was announced that Monday night’s would have its own world championship known as the WWE Universal Championship. After winning two grueling matches, Finn Balor is now set to meet Seth Rollins for that title. Tuesday on SmackDown Live, Dolph Ziggler was a surprise winner of a 6-Pack Challenge to name the number one contender for Dean Ambrose’s WWE Championship.

Tickets for SummerSlam meet and greets with Rollins, Roman Reigns, WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, Ambrose, and Randy Orton are already sold out.  There are still tickets available for meet and greets with AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Enzo & Cass, Charlotte, and WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

The current cards for both shows can be seen below:

NXT Takeover: Back to Brooklyn 

• NXT Title
  Samoa Joe vs Nakamura
• NXT Women’s Title
  Asuka vs Bayley

SummerSlam

• WWE Championship
  Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
• WWE Universal Championship
  Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
• Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

Source: PWInsider

The post SummerSlam And NXT TakeOver Updates, Full Cards appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: WWE

Sasha Banks And Charlotte To Have Rematch At SummerSlam

As was expected and reported on yesterday, WWE just made official a fourth match for SummerSlam Sasha Banks will defend her newly won WWE Women’s Title against former champion Charlotte.

Banks of course just won the title on RAW, in a very good match, ending Charlotte’s 10-month reign as champion. Initially, the plan was for the title change to take place at SummerSlam, but WWE wanted to do something special for the first week of the brand split.

BREAKING: @SashaBanksWWE vs @MsCharlotteWWE for the WWE Women's Championship at @SummerSlam! https://t.co/EGCocA49PY pic.twitter.com/qc58InFmqW

— WWE (@WWE) July 30, 2016

Current SummerSlam card:

WWE Championship: Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler

WWE Universal Championship: Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor

Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

WWE Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte

With secondary title (United States, Intercontinental, Tag Team) matches likely to be added, as well as spots for both Roman Reigns and John Cena, it certainly looks like depth will not be an issue on this show.

The post Sasha Banks Vs Charlotte At SummerSlam Confirmed, Updated Card appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: WWE

New Day Vs. The Club Official For SummerSlam

A match that had strongly been hinted at on television was officially added to the SummerSlam card today. The New Day will be defending the WWE Tag Team Champions against Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. We’d previously reported that this was a likely add to the SummerSlam card.

What’s interesting, though, is WWE is advertising that Big E will not be a part of the match due to the groin “injury” that they are playing up on TV (it’s an angle, not legit). Certainly, if they were so inclined, WWE could use the Big E absence as a reason to change the titles at SummerSlam, something that I personally feel is long overdue.

The New Day won the Tag Titles (for a second time) at last year’s SummerSlam and have held them ever since. Though this reign is being billed as “the longest ever,” that’s actually not accurate as Demolition held the titles for a record 478 days back in 1988-89. The New Day’s record only goes back to 2002 when the WWE Tag Titles were created for the SmackDown brand. However, it should be pointed out that no team has held the belts for more than a full year since Demolition did it.

Here is the current official SummerSlam card:

• Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
• Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship
• WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
• John Cena vs. AJ Styles
• WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte
• WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Apollo Crews
• WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) vs. The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows)

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Photo: WWE

SummerSlam Card Updates

Last night on RAW, two additional matches were added to the SummerSlam card. The U.S. Champion Rusev will defend his title against Roman Reigns, and Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens will take on Enzo and Cass. This makes nine matches for the summer spectacular, which takes place at the Barclays Center on August 21st.

Here is the updated card:

• Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar
• WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
• Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins to crown the first Universal Champion
• WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte
• AJ Styles vs. John Cena
• WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Gallows & Anderson
• Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Apollo Crews
• United States Champion Rusev vs. Roman Reigns
• Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Kevin Owens & Chris Jericho

The post Two More Matches Added To SummerSlam, Updated Card appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: WWE

This year’s SummerSlam is going to be a six-hour affair. The whole thing gets underway at 5 PM ET with a two-hour preshow on the WWE Network. Personally, I thought that the length of WrestleMania (also six hours) was an issue, but what do I know?

The preshow is two hours long, so there’s a need there for more matches. Just announced is a 12-man tag from SmackDown and a tag team match from RAW.

American Alpha, The Usos, and Hype Bros will team up to take on The Ascension, The Vaudevillians, and Breezango. If that sounds familiar, it’s because they just ran the same match on SmackDown Tuesday night.

Sami Zayn also finally gets a spot on the SummerSlam card, though I doubt it’s what he or his fans were looking for. He’ll be teaming up with Neville to take on the Dudley Boyz. Two weeks ago on RAW, Neville and a different partner (Sin Cara) defeated The Dudleys. So this too seems rather repetitive, unless they go through with a teased break up of Buh Buh and D-Von.

Again, both of these matches are destined for the preshow.

In other SummerSlam news, there is still no word on Eva Marie’s replacement for the six-woman tag that will take place. WWE is teasing that Natalya and Alexa Bliss may have found a replacement partner. Their opponents are Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi.

Eva Marie is now serving a 30-day suspension, reportedly for Adderall.

The post Two Matches Added For SummerSlam Preshow; Eva Replacement? appeared first on TopRopePress.com - Wrestling News, WWE News, TNA News, Wrestling Results.

Photo: WWE

The 29th edition of SummerSlam is tonight! Here at TRP, we’ll have coverage all day long. Here is the latest news.

PWInsider is reporting that Nikki Bella arrived in New York last night. On a recent edition of Top Rope Nation, Ryan Droste and I speculated Bella would be SmackDown bound due to boyfriend John Cena already being there. It is possible she could be replacing Eva Marie in the women’s six-man tonight. But, then again, you’d think there’s a chance they bring her back as a babyface.

Dave Meltzer has stated that Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton will go on last. That could change, but probably won’t.

Cesaro vs. Sheamus has been moved to the preshow. This will be the first match of a best of seven series. Also on the preshow will be the 12-man involving all the SmackDown tag teams plus Sami Zayn & Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz.

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Photo: WWE

WWE SummerSlam has come and gone, and after a weekend full of great wrestling events from ROH, EVOLVE, NXT, and NJPW, the prospect of 6+ hours of main roster action was a bit daunting. WWE managed to keep my attention, though, and put on some really good matches….but, it was not without its problems. We had new champions, returning stars, and enough surprises thrown in to keep things interesting. The match order was weird, and it caused some problems with the crowd, but all told, WWE put on a pretty good show.

Let’s take a look at five things we can take away from this year’s biggest party of the summer.

(Photo: WWE)

1. No More Two Hour Preshows!!

It does no one any favors to have two hours of talking and multiple matches that take place in front of a mostly empty arena. It wears the at-home audience out, cheats the talent out of the chance to perform in front of a packed house, and the fans in attendance don’t get all that they paid for. I get trying to allow everyone to have a “payday”, but it’s tedious.

It was a shame to have some of these guys on the preshow. Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Neville…these guys should have had a more prominent role on the PPV and actually been on the main card itself. They are too good for thrown together matches and inconsequential storylines that last for a night.

I doubt very seriously we’ll see Zayn and Neville teaming again, so having a match on the preshow did nothing for them. Cesaro and Sheamus, since this is a Best Of 7 Series, could have and should have had a slot on the main card. American Alpha, who should be the premiere team on SmackDown, had a sloppy multi-team tag match that was put on to a mostly empty building. Even some of the lower tier stars like Breezango and The Vaudevillains deserve more.

I get trying to fill time and get everyone on the card, but this was just too much for too little.

(Photo: WWE)

2. The Women Kill It….Almost Literally

In a surprise move, the WWE Women’s Championship match was the second bout on the main card. Charlotte and Sasha Banks went out there and killed it…and they had some scary, sloppy, botchy spots in the match that had social media buzzing. I swear, Sasha has at least one near-death spot in her matches these days, whether they are intentional or unplanned. This match had some stiff spots in it, and fans were more emotionally invested, I think, just because we didn’t want to see either woman die out there.

In the second shocker of the match, Charlotte countered The Banks Statement into a pin. No one was expecting Sasha Banks’ title reign to be so short, and it felt like the air was sucked out of The Barclays Center with the Charlotte upset. Rumors immediately started swirling on social media as to the reason for Sasha’s loss, and fans in attendance said that she had to be helped to the back by WWE’s medical staff. Maybe tomorrow on RAW (or before, since WWE began to remove Sasha from the listings of upcoming live events shortly after her match with Charlotte ended; she’s not showing as being at any live events for WWE until September 23rd), we will get more insight into this impromptu title change.

(Photo: WWE)

In other women’s division news, Nikki Bella made her long-awaited WWE in-ring return tonight, replacing the suspended Eva Marie in the six-woman tag match. WWE even played Eva’s music, entrance, and narrator before the bout, saying that All Red Everything was taking an extended vacation due to suffering from anxiety caused by hostile WWE fans. I nearly got sick.

Nikki didn’t do the bulk of the work in the match, but oddly enough, this match got more of a reaction out of the crowd than the WWE World Title match that preceded it. The women worked hard to put on an entertaining bout, and they succeeded. SmackDown Live seems to have their women’s division well in hand.

And, replacing Eva with Nikki was a smart move. Lucky for WWE that she was ready to come back at just the right time.

(Photo: WWE)

3. Achievement Unlocked: Beat Up John Cena

In probably the best match of the night, John Cena and AJ Styles went to war. These two men put on one simply incredible match, with all the emotion and fan investment you could want. There were counters to counters, kick-outs of everything, and a final shot of a despondent John Cena leaving the ring with his head hung low.

So, what does this mean for AJ Styles? Probably a program with Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Title, which is exactly where he should be. AJ proved tonight that he’s one of the best in the world (again), and he deserves to be on top of the heap in WWE. Not too shabby for a guy that was supposed to be just a mid-card wrestler when he came in, huh?

As for John Cena? He’s off to Hollywood once more (reportedly) to start filming another reality show or movie or Hefty Bag commercial where his pecs will dance across our screens. Who knows? But, his time has come, and hopefully now, it’s gone. Not because he’s old or washed up; he proved tonight that he, too, is one of the best in the world. But, he’s been WWE’s centerpiece for years and years. It’s time for someone else.

I am pretty sure SmackDown Live will get along just fine without him.

(Photo: WWE)

4. WWE World Championship Gets The Red-Headed Stepchild Treatment

If we had any doubt that SmackDown Live was the B Show in the eyes of the powers that be in WWE, SummerSlam erased it. Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose went on in the middle of the show to a crowd that was flagging from going through some great matches and sitting in The Barclays Center for 4+ hours. This was not a pretty match, nor was it respectful to the WWE World Title.

This was kind of sad, because Ambrose showed some great heel work in this match that added a much needed edge to his character, and Ziggy was as good as ever, despite being dressed in tin foil. Both men worked a good match, but the placement on the card, the tiredness of the crowd, and the lack of importance placed on the World Title just made this fill like mid-show filler.

We get it, WWE. RAW is the flagship and the most important. But would it kill you to at least give the illusion that SmackDown Live and its World Title and champion is on par with Monday’s show at times??

(Photo: WWE)

5. The Demon King Is Crowned

For me, this match held special meaning. I’ve followed Fergal Devitt since he broke onto the wrestling scene, and to see someone whose dream it was to do exactly what he’s doing now get crowned as the top champion of RAW on his main roster PPV was so great. It was, for him and the fans that have stuck by him through the indie circuit, NJPW, and NXT, a “crowning” moment.

Bálor and Seth Rollins put on an incredible match that the crowd was just dead for. The only thing they were vocal about was the new WWE Universal Championship….which even I admit is uglier than any title in wrestling today. But, the crowd’s chants about the appearance of the title belt during the match was just lame. These two men deserved more.

Emotional investment is always a great thing to go into a match with, and so many of us did with Bálor. Rollins was superb in his ring work and psychology during this match, and him chasing Bálor for the title starting tomorrow at RAW should be great. He showed such incredible frustration at not being able to put the Demon King away, and he pulled out the Tyler Black playbook for some of this match’s spots. The continuation of the Rollins/Bálor feud over the next weeks and months should be really fun.

This may not have been the match of the night, but it was great.

(Photo: WWE)

In Conclusion…

SummerSlam was a good show, but it was way too long. The crowd died after the AJ/Cena match and didn’t really wake up again except for high spots. That did everyone that came after a huge disservice. WWE needs to take note of this in the future. It wasn’t and isn’t a good precedent to set.

Sasha and Charlotte and AJ and Cena stole the show. Those were the two best matches on the card, and the crowd popped for them like wildfire. The air just seemed to get sucked out of the arena after the Styles/Cena match, and WWE just couldn’t get them back.

Stupid comedy with John Stewart really messed up the Tag Team Title match. It was just ridiculous. Celebrity infatuation doesn’t play anymore, and Gallows and Anderson have been relegated to New Day’s level of campy comedy. It’s time for a change in the tag team picture. WWE missed an opportunity to do just that tonight.

The US Title Match broke down into not a match at all. It was just a brawl that never got started. WWE messed up with this; the crowd was chanting for Punk and Slater before too long. I don’t know the plan with Reigns, and at this point, I don’t care. WWE is doing everything they can to keep him from getting booed, and I guess I get that. But, this uncontrollable monster is what he should have been from the start. Hitting reset now may be too late.

As for the main event, well, it was what it was. Why Lesnar/Orton went on after all the title matches is beyond me, but Vince’s love for Lesnar and getting his money’s worth seems to trump all these days. I think everyone was pretty much worn out by the time the match rolled around. Suplex City, Viperville, a four-man announce team….it kinda was a mess. Broken furniture, RKOs, F-5s, suplexes all around. It turned into a blood bath when Lesnar just started beating the hell out of Orton, leaving him in a puddle of blood on the mat. The match ended with a TKO in Lesnar’s favor and Brock just nailing everything that moved, even Shane McMahon. I don’t think this was how the main event was supposed to end. I can’t see Vince and company being ok with all that blood.

A bizarre show in some ways, a great show in others. At least we weren’t bored…for the most part. Of course, that NXT chant that broke out at the end of the show, well, the Brooklyn crowd didn’t seem to go home happy.

Results

The Usos, The Hype Bros., & American Alpha defeated The Vaudevillains, Breezango, & The Ascension via pinfall.

Sami Zayn & Neville defeated The Dudleys via pinfall.

Best Of Seven Series
Sheamus defeated Cesaro via pinfall in Match #1.

Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens defeated Enzo & Cass via pinfall.

Women’s Championship Match
Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks via pinfall.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
The Miz defeated Apollo Crews via pinfall.

AJ Styles defeated John Cena via pinfall (CLEAN!!!).

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Anderson & Gallows defeated The New Day via disqualification.

WWE World Championship Match
Dean Ambrose defeated Dolph Ziggler via pinfall.

Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Nikki Bella defeated Becky Lynch, Naomi, & Carmella via pinfall.

WWE Universal Championship Match
Finn Bálor defeated Seth Rollins via pinfall.

WWE US Title Match
Turned into a brawl and didn’t even get started.

Brock Lesnar defeated Randy Orton via TKO after beating Randy to a bloody pulp.

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