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Bleacher Report catches you up on the newest information from the WWE Universe.
Reported Purpose for Rhodes Holding Off on WrestleMania Announcement
Cody Rhodes kept away from making his official opponent selection for WrestleMania 40 throughout Monday evening’s episode of Uncooked, and it’s reportedly for good cause.
Based on Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside Information), holding off on his announcement was possible meant to construct anticipation and doubtlessly rating a powerful tv score when he in the end does make his selection.
Rhodes received his second consecutive males’s Royal Rumble match on Saturday, changing into solely the fourth Celebrity in WWE historical past to tug off the feat.
After he received, The American Nightmare bought on the ropes and pointed within the path of undisputed WWE common champion Roman Reigns, who was wanting on from field seats.
That appeared to point Rhodes is locked in to face The Tribal Chief in the principle occasion of WrestleMania 40 after falling simply brief in his bid to beat him in the principle occasion final 12 months.
On Monday’s Uncooked, although, world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins interrupted Rhodes whereas he was chopping a promo.
He implored the lads’s Rumble winner to problem him at WrestleMania as a substitute, insisting that the World Heavyweight Championship is the workhorse, blue-collar title and the highest prize in WWE.
Slightly than capturing Rollins down, The American Nightmare stated he would take into consideration the proposal, and he’s now scheduled to seem on Friday’s SmackDown.
Whereas Rollins has a historical past with Rhodes and made some compelling factors, it appears a near-certainty that he’ll go after Reigns in an effort to “end the story.”
Trick Williams Reportedly Seen as Future WrestleMania Principal Eventer
NXT star Trick Williams reportedly opened some eyes in WWE along with his look final week on SmackDown.
The 29-year-old confirmed as much as assist his longtime pal and tag workforce companion, Carmelo Hayes, who was getting attacked by Austin Concept and Grayson Waller. He acquired a major pop from the group and chanted his “Whoop That Trick” catchphrase.
Based on Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman, the SmackDown inventive workforce was “blown away” by the group’s response to Williams, and a few inside the firm now imagine he has “future WrestleMania major eventer potential.”
Williams made his tv debut on an episode of NXT in 2021 as Hayes’ sidekick, however over the course of time, he turned vastly standard in his personal proper.
On the Vengeance Day premium dwell occasion on Sunday, he’s set to tug double obligation, as he’ll first workforce with Hayes within the remaining of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Staff Traditional in opposition to Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin after which problem Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship in the principle occasion.
NXT booker Shawn Michaels has been constructing stress between Williams and Hayes for months, so it appears possible that Hayes will both value Williams the title or doubtlessly assault him after he wins with a view to arrange a match at Stand & Ship on April 6.
No matter what occurs Sunday, Williams clearly has huge potential and is vastly over with the group, that means he has an opportunity to be a prime star as soon as he makes his technique to the principle roster.
Graves, Barrett to Reportedly Kind SmackDown Commentary Staff
Following the departure of Kevin Patrick, Corey Graves and Wade Barrett are reportedly in line to function the announce workforce for SmackDown transferring ahead.
Based on PWInsider.com (h/t WrestlingInc’s Danny Wolstanholme), Graves is about to function the play-by-play announcer for the blue model, whereas Barrett will stay a shade commentator.
The earlier commentary groups had been Michael Cole with Barrett on Uncooked and Graves with Patrick on SmackDown, however a shake-up occurred when Patrick was launched from the corporate final week, per PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson.
Pat McAfee, who was a shock visitor announcer alongside Cole and Graves on the Royal Rumble over the weekend, was on the decision with Cole throughout Monday evening’s episode of Uncooked.
Cole and McAfee had been as soon as the announce workforce for SmackDown earlier than the latter left to deal with ESPN Faculty GameDay and his podcast, however it was introduced that the pair would be the full-time Uncooked announce workforce transferring ahead.
That left followers to marvel what would grow to be of Graves and Barrett, and the choice was reportedly made to see what they will do collectively.
Each are historically shade commentators and often painting themselves as heels, so it was unclear if WWE could be keen to see what they may do as a workforce.
Graves is proficient sufficient that he ought to have the ability to make the transition, and each he and Barrett possible have sufficient wit to play off one another, so there’s possible a superb likelihood that they succeed on the blue model.
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