The Wrestling Roundup is here to bring you all the news and rumors you need to know in one place.
Rocky Johnson Passes Away
Wrestling legend Rocky “Soulman” Johnson passed away on Wednesday at the age of 75. The WWE Hall of Famer and father of The Rock’s passing was confirmed by WWE.com. Johnson, birth name Wayde Douglas Browne, wrestled from the mid 1960’s into the early 1990s. Alongside Tony Atlas in Soul Patrol, the pair became the first African-American Tag Team Champions in WWE history in 1983. Johnson will be deeply missed, and condolences go out to all his fans, family, and coworkers.
AEW Dynamite Bash at the Beach Results
It was a special Bash at the Beach episode of AEW Dynamite from Miami on Wednesday night. There was a special set, and lots of action this week. Some more analysis is below, but first the results from Bash at the Beach:
- Adam Page & Kenny Omega def. Santana & Ortiz, Best Friends, and The Young Bucks to become number one contenders for the AEW Tag Team Championships
- Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander def. Brandi Rhodes & Melanie Cruise
- Jon Moxley def. Sammy Guevera
- MJF, The Butcher & The Blade def. DDP, QT Marshall & Dustin Rhodes
- PAC def. Darby Allin
AEW Dynamite Takeaways
Exciting news for All Elite Wrestling before Dynamite Wednesday night. The show has been extended through 2023 by TNT. This means more quality NXT wars programming for the foreseeable future. It truly is a good time to be a wrestling fan.
Breaking News – #AEWDynamite Extended Through 2023 pic.twitter.com/cZHeqGdcRs
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 15, 2020
Cody has accepted MJF’s stipulations for their match at AEW Revolution. He’ll have to be whipped 10 times by MJF, win a cage match against MJF’s heavy Wardlow, and can’t touch MJF until their match. It’s a great way to extend their feud until Revolution and build up the anticipation for Cody’s chance at revenge. Also, first ever AEW cage match!
.@CodyRhodes accepts @the_MJF's stipulations!
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama 8e/7c #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/gZnHBfH48H— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 16, 2020
Jon Moxley knew he wouldn’t be unscathed after taking a sports car from the Inner Circle last week. I don’t think he could have anticipated the intensity of the attack from Chris Jericho. Le Champion whipped Moxley with a belt, and then stabbed him in the eye with a spike from his jacket. Ouch. How will they keep building on the brutality in this feud?
Jon Moxley gets stabbed with Chris Jericho's spike on #AEWDynamite https://t.co/DGGkAYadBm #AEW
— NoDQ.com: #WWE #HIAC 2020 news (@nodqdotcom) January 16, 2020
"I don't care if I'm blind, if I've got one eye, no eyes, I don't care if I'm half dead." @JonMoxley#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/GfuuLNIOct
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) January 16, 2020
DDP is 63 years old.
NBD, just 63-year-old DDP going off the top rope pic.twitter.com/v1v0N9BBiV
— SI Wrestling (@SI_wrestling) January 16, 2020
NXT Results
Lots of action was promised for this week’s NXT. The Time Splitters reunited for the Dusty Rhodes Classic, Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle teamed up, and a new number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship was announced. Full results are below:
- Pete Dunne & Matt Riddle def. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster to advance in the Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament
- Grizzled Young Veterans def. The Time Splitters to advance in the Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament
- Isaiah “Swerve” Scott def. Tyler Breeze and Lio Rush to claim a spot in a Fatal 4-way Cruiserweight Championship match at Worlds Collide.
- Bianca Belair wins a Battle Royal to become number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship
NXT Takeaways
Bianca Belair is getting a shot at Rhea Ripley’s title. Belair has constantly been improving in the ring and is an amazing first foil for Ripley’s reign. She had a great showing in the Battle Royal, and I’m excited to see NXT build the feud for these two.
SHE DID IT!!!
The #ESTofNXT @BiancaBelairWWE has WON the No. 1 Contender's #BattleRoyal! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/YMRL7hTCb8
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 16, 2020
The main event also had some surprise appearances. Kacy Catanzaro returned to action when it had been rumored she was retiring from wrestling. Shayna Baszler also appeared when many believed she would be going to Raw or SmackDown full time. Baszler was eliminated by newcomer Shotzi Blackheart, so there may be a small feud there before Baszler goes after Becky Lynch or Bayley.
😈welcome to the ball pit! @QoSBaszler https://t.co/4yCbu3VEwI
— Shotzi Blackheart (@ShotziWWE) January 16, 2020
Break out your DIY shirts, because it appears a reunion is in the cards. Tomasso Ciampa was being outnumbered and beaten down by Undisputed Era, when his former DIY partner Johnny Gargano made the save.
After making the save, DIY were challenged on Twitter by Trent Seven of Moustache Mountain for a match at Worlds Collide. DIY accepted, and a fantasy booking tag match is becoming a reality in two weeks time.
One more… for old time sake?
YOU'RE ON, @trentseven & @Tyler_Bate! #WorldsCollide #WWENXT @NXTCiampa @JohnnyGargano pic.twitter.com/vXoOfdCRuq
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 16, 2020
NXT continues to build up Chelsea Green and the Robert Stone Brand. Green was pulled from the Battle Royal by Stone, as he’s saving her debut for a better stage. Having managers act more like the advocate Paul Heyman and getting good deals for their clients? These are things I like to see.
A debut while all those other women are sharing a ring with @ImChelseaGreen ??? No thanks. I got her something better… https://t.co/1EuDJ7s4Mg
— #SuitManStone (@RobertStoneWWE) January 16, 2020
One for the Road:
Impact’s Twitch stream was banned, probably because of a very NSFW segment with RVD, his wife and his girlfriend. Classic TNA doing classing TNA things.
❌ Twitch Partner "IMPACTWrestling" (@IMPACTwrestling) has been banned! ❌https://t.co/LRvv8VpAnr#twitch #ban #firstban #partner #twitchpartner 🎣
— StreamerBans (@StreamerBans) January 16, 2020