Botched WWE Spot Caused “Panic” Backstage; September 7th Live Wrestling News Round-Up

Damian Priest is going to bide his time with the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Winning the briefcase back in July, Priest still is in possession of the guaranteed championship contract, even if it is now in a better-looking case. Despite teasing the cash in a couple of times on Seth Rollins, does Priest have a particular time when he wants to pull the trigger?

Speaking on The Bump, Senor Money in The Bank has stated that the Tag Team Championships are his current priority, but he is always observing the champion to look for that opportunity.

“It’s just keeping an eye out. The focus right now is keeping these [tag team titles]. But I’m always conscious, always watching the champions that are left, whatever champions are left at this point. We’re always watching, and I’m always keeping an eye to see, ‘Is today a good day? Is this a good opportunity?’ I have a whole year, so I don’t have any rush to just cash in that contract when it’s not perfect.

It has to be perfect. It has to be perfect. I’ve seen a few moments that I thought, ‘Maybe, but it’s not perfect yet.’ Right now, my focus is making sure we’re all on the same page and all champions. But when the time comes and that perfect time comes, it’ll get cashed in, and it’ll happen,” [H/t to Fightful.]

Do you think Damian Priest has what it takes to be WWE World Champion? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

The WWE has taken to Twitter to congratulate Gunther on matching the Honky Tonk Man’s 454 day WWE record.

History made. pic.twitter.com/DIifjDYTxJ

— WWE (@WWE) September 7, 2023

Triple H has taken to Twitter to congratulate Gunther on matching the Honky Tonk Man’s 454 day WWE record.

Defining his own legacy. And this is just the beginning…

Congratulations to @Gunther_AUT on making history as the longest-reigning #ICChampion EVER. https://t.co/X48i2ZNtf5

— Triple H (@TripleH) September 7, 2023

Gunther is currently just 13 hours away from making history and becoming the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in history.

Gunther won the WWE Intercontinental Championship on June 10th 2022 defeating Ricochet to capture the iconic title.

Today marks the 454th day of Gunther’s IC title reigns – putting him on par with WWE Hall of Famer Honky Tonk Man who won the belt from Ricky Steamboat back in June 1987.

In just 13 hours Gunther will reach the 455th day as champion and officially set a new record as longest reigning Intercontinental Champion.

Do you think Gunther has what it takes to be WWE World Champion? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

Chris Jericho spoke exclusively with Inside The Ropes on his goal when he worked with Cody Rhodes and his desire to be the face of AEW!

Check it out!

It’s been a month of ups and downs for AEW with All In and All Out being critical successes but the departure of CM Punk potentially leading to huge issues behind the scenes for Tony Khan.

It was an especially rough week for AEW Collision who went head-to-head with both WWE’s Payback PLE and College football and came out the other side with a record low viewership number of just 345,000.

AEW Collision, Saturday on TNT:
345,000 viewers
P18-49 rating: 0.11
📊 https://t.co/qDSSxyAPtr pic.twitter.com/ah4UsNeBZY

— Wrestlenomics (@wrestlenomics) September 6, 2023

For context this is a whopping 27,000 viewers less than AEW Rampage managed the previous day.

You can read a full breakdown of these disappointing numbers, here.

Jake Roberts has opened up on his desire to “drop” Vince McMahon onto concrete in a new interview.

Speaking on his Snake Pit podcast, WWE Hall of Famer, Jake “The Snake” Roberts would discuss his ideal opponent if he was to have one final retirement match.

Jake Roberts would choose to use the match to continue his well documented hatred towards former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon – citing his desire to drive him head first into concrete like he did to Ricky Steamboat back in the day.

Roberts would state:

“Vince McMahon, so I could f***ing kick his ass,” Roberts said jokingly. “I’d love to DDT that motherf***er on a chair. [I’d] drop him on the concrete like I did ‘Steamboat.’” [h/t WrestlingInc]

Roberts would go on to take one final dig at Vince McMahon by stating if he did have a final match in the WWE, the pay day would probably “be as bad as they always have been.”

Would you like to see Jake Roberts get in the ring one more time? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall of Famer & IMPACT Wrestling Superstar Bully Ray would blast AEW stars Orange Cassidy and Penta El Zero M for “prostituting” the Canadian Desroyer.

During the pairs match ahead of AEW All Out for the International Championship, Penta and Cassidy would trade destroyers and spot that heavily divided social media.

Some enjoyed the athletics on show and the live crowds reaction to the spot, other lamented it for burying what was once the most protected move in pro-wrestling.

Bully Ray has weighed in stating:

“I’ve seen the move over the past couple of years start to get overused, start to get prostituted, start to get watered-down…

Veterans have to stop allowing young wrestlers to just do whatever they want because it’s wrong. Veterans have to do a better job policing and educating.” [h/t WrestlingInc]

Do you agree with Bully Ray? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

Courtesy of the Wrestling Observer, below we have the latest spoilers for the September 8th episode of AEW Rampage:

• In a dark show match that took place prior to Dynamite, Johnny TV defeated Brandon Cutler.
• Penta El Zero M defeated Jay Lethal in a Grand Slam World Title eliminator quarterfinal match.
• After a recap aired detailing the issues between Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho, Guevara came out and confronted Jericho, who was on commentary. Jericho eventually suggests that the two face off in a match in order to get their animosity out of their system, then go for the AEW Tag Team titles. The two agree to a match for Grand Slam.
• Hikaru Shida, Sky Blue, and Britt Baker defeated Taya Valkyrie, Anna Jay, and The Bunny when Baker submitted The Bunny with a lockjaw. At some point during the match, the Bunny shoved Baker into Shida, who was unhappy with Baker after the match.
• The Young Bucks defeated Daddy Magic Matt Menard and Cool Hand Angelo Parker (with Jake Hager)
• Samoa Joe defeated Jeff Hardy in a Grand Slam World Title eliminator quarterfinal match. Joe will now face Penta El Zero M on Collision this Saturday.

Steve Lombardi shared a “funny story” of a time he and Hulk Hogan were pulled over for drink driving.

In a recent interview with Wrestling Shoot Interviews, Lombardi recounted a time when he and Hogan were travelling together on the road and got pulled over for speeding. Adding to the story, they were caught drinking cans of beer in the process.

In a desperate attempt to avoid being charged with drunk driving, Lombardi tried to discreetly hide a beer can under the car seat. However, his efforts took an unexpected turn when the seat spring punctured the can, causing beer to spray all over the car windshield.

You can check out the video in full below!

Ahead of the match at WWE’s recent Payback PPV, The Miz and LA Knight faced off in a battle of words on Monday Night Raw.

During the build to the PPV, The Miz would dawn LA Knight’s now iconic ring gear and parody him in a “YEAH” filled promo.

Legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette has reacted to the promo, applauding The Miz for his work on the stick.

Check it out below!

Darby Allin continues his quest to make himself the biggest insurance nightmare in pro-wrestling history.

During last night’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Allin took on newcomer Nick Wayne in singles action.

During the match Allin would hit a suicide dive through the middle rope, only for Wayne to get out the way leaving the former TNT Champion to collide head and neck first with the barricade surrounding the ring.

Check out the terrifying spot below!

Darby Allin.

That’s it, that’s the tweet.

pic.twitter.com/lOewpTyoF1

— Inside The Ropes (@Inside_TheRopes) September 7, 2023

Two time WWE Hall of Famer Sean Waltman is the latest wrestling star to seek the services of YouTube chiropractor Dr. Beau Hightower.

In the video Waltman gets his spine straightened thanks to an array of painful and oddly satisfying adjustments whilst also discussing his career and upcoming autobiography.

Check out the awesome video below!

Eric Bischoff has criticised Dave Meltzer over spreading “lies” about CM Punk.

In a recent episode of 83 Weeks, Bischoff and his co-host Conrad Thompson discussed Meltzer’s comments about CM Punk and his issues with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Adam Page. Bischoff expressed his frustration with Meltzer, stating that he has been exposing him for years and believes that Meltzer is detrimental to the wrestling industry.

You can read Bischoff’s full, brutal, comments on Meltzer, here.

WWE & Endeavour have announced that their merger is expected to be officially complete next week on September 12th, 2023.

You can read the full Business Wire filing below:

“BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) (“Endeavor”) and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) (“WWE”) today announced they expect to close the previously announced transaction to form TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (“TKO”) on September 12, 2023, at which time TKO will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TKO”.”

Do you think WWE will change significantly on completion of the merger? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

Late last night the sad news broke the former WWE Superstar General Adnan had tragically passed away aged 84.

WWE has taken to social media to pay tribute to the legendary manager.

Taking to Twitter, WWE wrote:

“WWE is saddened to learn that Adnan Al-Kaissie, known to sports-entertainment fans as Billy White Wolf, Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissy and General Adnan, passed away on Sept. 6 at 84.

WWE extends its condolences to Adnan Al-Kaissie’s family, friends and fans.”

The Man may come around, but she will not be coming to India.

Becky Lynch was set to appear at WWE’s Superstar Spectacle this Saturday live from the G. M. C. Balayogi Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, India.

However, the former WWE Raw Women’s Champion has been refused entry into the country and will no longer be attending the show or surrounding events.

Lynch took to Twitter earlier today to inform fans that she would be no longer attending the event, revealing that a “small tear” in her passport led to her being refused entry onto her flight and into India.

“I’m sorry to all the fans in Hyderabad, India.

I was so excited to perform for you – but as there was a tiny tear in my passport l have not been allowed to board my flight.”

Currently only three matches are currently confirmed for the WWE Indian super show, including:

• Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs Indus Sher
• Rhea Ripley vs Natalya
• John Cena & Seth Rollins vs Imperium

The September 5th edition of WWE NXT ended in bizarre circumstances as Bron Breakker attempted to decapitate Von Wagner with the steel ring steps.

A new report from Bodyslam.net notes that although the spot was planned and NXT was set to end on a black screen, several other aspects of the spot went array leading to panic backstage.

Most notably Breakker made contact with Wagners neck & skull with the 150 pound steel steps causing Wagner to be split open from the spot, which was not initially planned.

It was noted that after Breakker “hit him in the back of the head accidentally” with the steel steps there were several individuals “exceptionally worried” backstage at gorilla position.

It was also noted that Shawn Michaels was left “visibly shaken” from the incident.

You can check out fan footage of the incident below and read more about the WWE backstage reaction to the botched spot, here.

Live video from WWE NXT – Bron Breakker crushing Von Wagner with the steel steps.

(🎥 @ulbrome ) pic.twitter.com/PXrTTvqNjy

— Slappa Wrestling (@Slappa_WWE) September 6, 2023

Do you think WWE were wrong to allow this spot to be attempted on live tv? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

Good Afternoon!

I hope everyone is having an awesome week and has recovered their sleep patterns from the WWE Payback/AEW All Out double weekender!

I will be with you this afternoon from 12:00 pm to 6 pm BST (8 am – 1 pm EST) with all the latest news and rumours from AEW, WWE, NJPW and of course everything relating to CM Punk.

This afternoon we will be kicking things off with some of today’s biggest stories, including:

• A recent botched WWE spot let to “panic” backstage.
• WWE pays tribute to the late General Adnan.
• Becky Lynch refused entry into India for WWE Superstar Spectacle.
• Hulk Hogan & Brooklyn Brawler let off with “comical” drink driving charge.
• Bully Ray blasts AEW for “prostituting” the Canadian Destroyer.
• Jake Roberts wants to drop “motherf*cker” Vince McMahon onto concrete.
• AEW Collision viewing figures hit an all time low.