Welcome to the November 10th Inside The Ropes Live blog, bringing you the latest news from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling and more.
Today’s biggest stories:
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WWE today announced that, in honour of Veterans Day and on behalf of all Americans, the company will raise one of the largest American flags in the country atop the new WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT.
Check it out below!
Refusing to lose is a quick fire way to find yourself unpopular backstage in a wrestling promotion, something Metalik is about to find out.
A match was booked to take place between Komander and Metalik on the October 27th episode of Rampage. However, fans never did get to see this match for a bizarre reason, Metalik refused to lose to Komander.
As reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this was why the recent episode of Rampage had 3 matches instead of 4 and how it likely will cause issues for Metalik moving forward:
“The reason the Rampage show had only three matches instead of four is because Komander vs. Metalik was booked for the show and then pulled when Metalik refused to put Komander over. Metalik still worked Collision a few days later but that can’t have helped his standing here.”
Check out the full report and what this could mean for AEW moving forward, here.
LA Knight talks exclusively to Inside The Ropes about teaming up with John Cena to face The Bloodline and crossing paths once again with Dwayne The Rock Johnson.
Check it out!
If you were looking forward to seeing John Cena back on the big screen…then I have some bad news for you.
You are going to have to wait a bit longer.
John Cena’s upcoming Warner Bros production of Coyote vs ACME has been axed according to a new report.
As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, the live-action and CG animation hybrid has been scrapped. A spokesperson from WB Studios has given the following statement to explain why the decision was made to cancel the $72 million project:
“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases. With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with Coyote vs Acme. We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts, and crew, and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”
You can read the full report including what it means for John Cena, here.
Dax Harwood has taken to social media to reveal the three best tag team matches he has ever been involved in – at least, in his opinion.
During a Twitter Q&A, Harwood would respond to a fan asking the question “what is your favorite tag team match you have competed in?”
Harwood would reveal that he has not one, not two but three answers to that question including matches from AEW and the WWE.
“2/3 Falls vs BCG
Dog Collar vs Briscoes
2/3 Falls vs DIY”
What is your favourite FTR/Revival match? Let us know by using the ‘get involved’ feature at the top of the page.
At Survivor Series 2023 The Judgment Day are set to enter WarGames but with only four members announced who could be joining them?
According to a new report, Mysterio, Balor, Priest and McDonagh could be joined by none other than former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
Writing in this morning’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer would report:
“The men’s War Games match right now is listed as having Seth Rollins & Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio & Finn Balor & JD McDonagh.
There were reports that this will change and McIntyre will be part of the Judgment Day team.
I was just told that this is under consideration and could happen.
That would lead to someone having to be added to the other side. While there’s a roster full of people who would fit that bill, there is nobody obvious. Kevin Owens makes the most sense on a storyline basis.
Ricochet would fit from a spectacular basis but he’s questionable for that date due to the possibility of a concussion. Bronson Reed would be an unpredictable pick who would benefit from a main event.
Do you think Drew McIntyre will align with The Judgment Day? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
WWE is looking to go international once again.
Recapping the TKO Q3 earnings call in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has noted that there have been plans discussed for WWE shows to take place in China, which may include the UFC holding an event the day before or after.
It is also noted that a big WWE show in the country is planned for the near future:
“They noted for next year new shows in Saudi Arabia and Shanghai, China, and that WWE will also have a paid show in China coming up.
They noted that the Saudi Arabia government is hot on showcasing and growing UFC.
He called the PFL a pipeline system and feeder league, which is not what they want to be at all, like the XFL would be to the NFL.
They said Saudi Arabia was very aggressive in bring major events to the kingdom, and they want more MMA. They also noted that the dream of fighters was to be in the UFC.”
WWE is reportedly set to make further cuts to staffing and is likely to save close to $100 million by doing so.
Writing in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has shed light on WWE’s upcoming plans to make significant staff cuts, with an estimated goal of saving from $50 million up to $100 million for the year 2024.
The targeted staff reportedly belong to various departments including IT, marketing, finance, human resources, and legal.
NXT Superstar Roxanne Perez appears to have confirmed the release of divisive NXT PC recruit Alexis Lete.
Alexis Lete is a former volleyball player and model who signed with the WWE back I March 2022 following a three day try out during WrestleMania 38 weekend.
Lete has landed herself in hot water with members of the WWE roster in previous months due to comments/videos posted on social media including one video in which Lete would incorrectly refer to Solo Sikoa as ‘Solo Sikoma’ and incorrectly identify him as the ‘Northern American’ champion in NXT.
This TikTok would find Lete on the end of a public call out from NXT star, and lifelong wrestling fan, Cora Jade who commented:
“Hell yeah solo Sikoma and the northern American title! At least pretend you watch the product if your’re gonna keep posting these insufferable tik toks.”
Well, it now appears that Cora Jade wasn’t the only NXT star angered by Lete.
Responding to a clip of Alexis poorly performing a standing elbow drop, ‘The Prodigy’, Roxanne Perez would confirm that Alexis Lete is no longer signed to the WWE.
Commenting on Instagram, Perez would state:
“She does not work for us anymore lol.”
The comment caught the attention of Cora Jade, who clearly still has issues with Lete, replying:
“@roxanne_wwe Maybe I do like you.”
Alexis Lete is yet to comment on her release.
Dave Meltzer has released his star ratings for WWE Crown Jewel 2023 and as always they are sure to have social media talking.
The following star ratings were published in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Do you agree with Meltzer’s ratings? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Dax Harwood is widely regarded as one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of the modern era and, as fans of FTR w/ Dax will know, is also regarded as one of the most knowledgeable wrestlers in the world.
So, what would Dax like to change about wrestling in 2023?
Well taking to social media the former AEW Tag Team Champion has revealed just that.
Responding to a fan during a Twitter Q&A, Harwood revealed:
“I’ll probably get a lot of shit for this, but I think instead of comedy being the normal, it’d be an attraction.
I feel, sometimes, wrestlers get insecure about their abilities & they know comedy will get a reaction.
Today, these guys & girls are SO good! Believe in yourself.”
Do you agree with Dax? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Austin Theory is ready to get ‘A Town Down’ or is that ‘A Down Town?’
Mace and Mansoor have been making waves online following their WWE release earlier this year.
The Maximum Male Models have been taking over social media since relaunching Insiderz TV their YouTube channel back in September.
Taking to TikTok, the duo would share a hilarious Austin Theory story revealing that the former United States Champion doesn’t even know the words to his own theme song.
Check out the hilarious video below!
@theinsiderztv HE DREAMED IT AS A KID? Stream tonight at 9 PM ET. #austintheory #abyss #wwe #tnawrestling #aew #wrestling #mace #mansoor #maximummalemodels #prowrestling #model
We are just weeks away from WWE Survivor Series 2023 and the Chicago card is beginning to form.
Following the botched finish to the number one contender’s match on Monday Night Raw and the concussion suffered by Ricochet, fans were left wondering who would challenge Gunther when WWE returns to the Allstate Arena on November 25th.
But now the WWE Intercontinental Championship match has been made official for Survivor Series 2023 as Gunther takes on former WWE Champion The Miz.
The match was added to the official WWE Survivor Series preview listing on WWE.com late last night.
Rhea Ripley vs Zoey Starks for the WWE Women’s World Championship was also made official on Monday night.
Are you looking forward to Survivor Series 2023? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Following the shock WWE return of former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane reports began to circulate online that Triple H was interested in brining former NXT star Sarray back to the company after her departure earlier this year.
However, following the news that Sarray, now wrestling as Sareee, had signed with Sukeban, a new report has revealed that WWE are Triple H weren’t all that interested to begin with.
Speaking on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer would reveal that reports of Triple H’s interest in Sareee had been “pretty overblown.”
Meltzer stated:
“She signed with them [Sukeban.]
The stuff about her in WWE, pretty overblown.
I mean from talking to people in WWE, it was like, they were not really talking about her.”
Meltzer would then go on to reveal the reason behind Sareee’s WWE departure, questioning why she would even want to return had this been a possibility.
“She wanted out.
Hey, look, they didn’t do anything with her. She sat there for the last six months of her contract and never did a thing. It’s like, whatever they didn’t see it in her. They gave her a really bad gimmick. Why would you want to go back? So anyway, that’s the situation with her.”
AEW original ‘The Bunny’, FKA Allie, has left the company by ‘mutual agreement’ after almost five years.
‘The Bunny’, who had previously wrestled for IMPACT Wrestling as a prominent part of their Knockout’s division, first signed with AEW back in 2019 during an episode of Being The Elite, the 36-year-old would make her in-ring debut for the company later that year at Fyter Fest defeating Leva Bates during a pre-show match.
Since then the Ontario native has been a semi-regular feature on AEW paired alongside The Butcher and, her real life spouse, The Blade since late 2019.
A new report from PWInsider has provided clarity on ‘The Bunny’s’ AEW status after eagle-eyed fans spotted that she had been removed from the AEW roster page.
The report notes that sources have confirmed that “two sides mutually agreed to part ways.”
There is no information at this time avaliable regarding any non-compete clauses or when/where we might see ‘The Bunny’ next but Inside The Ropes will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Good Afternoon!
I hope everyone is doing well and has had a great week so far!
I will be with you from 12pm to 6pm BST (7am – 1pm ET) covering all the biggest stories from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT and more.
We will be kicking things off today with the biggest stories from the last 24 hours including:
