WWE
A WWE forbidden door has been opened, Sasha Banks has addressed ‘rumors’, and was there heat between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk? All this, and more.
It’s Monday morning and what better way to start the day and your week than getting caught up on all the latest wrestling news with our news bulletin for Monday, October 31, 2022.
WWE Opens Forbidden Door For Shinsuke Nakamura
Just as one forbidden door appears to be closed, a new door has been well and truly opened, with Shinsuke Nakamura stepping through.
Announced on their official Twitter account, Pro Wrestling Noah confirmed that Shinsuke Nakamura would be returning to Japan to face The Great Muta.
The match is scheduled to take place at Noah’s The New Year 2023 show on 1 January 2023 and forms part of the Great Muta’s retirement.
Shinsuke Nakamura most recently teamed with Hit Row to beat Legado Del Fantasma
Nakamura is currently under contract with WWE and called the booking a “miracle” on Twitter, whilst Kevin Owens said that the match is “going to rule”.
This arrangement is in contrast to what has developed between Karl Anderson and NJPW over the scheduled NEVER Openweight Championship match which will now not take place, despite New Japan’s reported negotiation attempts.
The match, which was announced before Anderson returned to WWE, was due to take place on November, 5 2022, which would be the same day as Anderson and Gallows are due to appear at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudia Arabia.
New Japan has now confirmed Hikuleo will face Yujiro Takahashi at Battle Autumn on November 5 instead.
Sasha Banks Addresses ‘Rumors’
Having walked out of WWE in May 2022, Sasha Banks hasn’t been seen in WWE since, nor has Naomi.
Whilst there was no official announcement as to the status within the company of either wrestler, their lack of presence at WWE events has been wheat for the rumor mill for more than five months.
Dave Meltzer, in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, recently provided an update on the status of Banks, saying:
“She is still under contract to WWE but there is no word on when she’ll return as there were said to be hang-ups in negotiations for a new deal.”
Many had assumed Sasha Banks was released by WWE given the amount of outside projects she’s been focusing on
Banks took to Twitter to seemingly address this rumor.
Still going by her real name of Mercedes Varnado on Twitter, she hit back with:
“I hope the rumors are true”
Well, that’s cleared that up, then!
Banks recently teased a return to wrestling – she appeared to be training with LuchaLibre Barcelona and was pictured with TJPW’s Miyu Yamashita who recently wrestled for AEW.
Cody Rhodes Comments CM Punk Heat Speculation
The CM Punk news never seems to stop, which is quite an achievement for a man who hasn’t been in the ring since September 4, 2022 and is now more famous for his comments in the AEW All Out media scrum than for anything that he did whilst on AEW TV.
One of the founding fathers of AEW, Cody Rhodes, recently responded to a fan question about why he left AEW, with the fan suggesting that Punk may have been part of that decision. Rhodes replied:
“I didn’t leave because of the Bucks/Kenny. I’m forever bonded to those men over what we created and I remain very proud of it, and I didn’t leave because of/or have issues with Punk. We got along. Not money, not booking, just a personal issue and my wanting to go for the big one.”
Cody Rhodes leaving AEW was perhaps the biggest story of 2022… until CM Punk’s seemingly imminent departure
With Chris Jericho reportedly calling Punk a ‘cancer to the locker room’ and ‘a detriment to the company’ to his face, we can only guess at what was so big of a personal issue that he would suggest that it would be a contributing factor in his decision to leave the company he helped create.
Other Stuff
Fans noticed an earring worn by ‘Uncle Howdy’ on SmackDown was the same earring worn by Bo Dallas on WWE TV years ago, prompting more speculation about his return and possible involvement with his real-life brother Bray Wyatt.
Following Emma’s return to WWE on SmackDown in a loss to Ronda Rousey, she has now been added to the SmackDown roster page on WWE’s website.
Fightful Select has confirmed that there have been conversations in WWE to bring back Tegan Nox, who hasn’t wrestled since her WWE release in November 2021.
Matt Cardona, the former Zack Ryder, has confirmed that the Ryder character is well and truly dead in a reply to a fan interested in a return to WWE. Cardona tweeted: “I’m very grateful for that time of my life. But it’s over”.
It’s widely believed that Matt Cardona’s wife Chelsea Green is on her way back to WWE
Deadline reported that Cody Rhodes’ agent Brian Wittenstein has been fired by Hyperion Talent Agency after misconduct allegations.
NXT UK alum Isla Dawn is now confirmed to be one of the names still with WWE, as she made her NXT US brand debut at a house show in a loss to Alba Fyre this past weekend.
Jimmy Uso seems keen on Ava Raine – The Rock’s daughter who debuted on NXT as a member of the Schism – joining the Bloodline. Jimmy told TMZ: “Shout out to her…anyway the family can get it, I’m all for it. I’m ready to see what she do. I’m ready for her to pop off and represent The Bloodline. So, either way, whether it’s down there [NXT], up on the main roster, I’m with it, I’m all for it. We’re all family bro.”
Dax Harwood took to Instagram with a very cryptic and intriguing post about FTR going on “one last run” in their careers.
Mike Tyson’s appearance on this week’s AEW Rampage as part of the commentary team may not be a one-off deal according to PWInsider.
Santos Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma were recently called up to SmackDown with Zelina Vega replacing Elektra Lopez
Santos Escobar shared a proud moment in the WWE ring during their recent trip to Mexico. As seen on WWE and WWE Espanol’s Instagram, Escobar, who formerly wrestled as El Hijo del Fantasma, unmasked in the ring and handed his mask, in a show of respect, to El Fantasma, his own father, before the two embraced.
WWE Raw for tonight (Monday, October 31) will feature:
- Bianca Belair vs. Nikki Cross
- Matt Riddle vs. Otis – Trick Or Street Fight
- Roman Reigns appearing
- Brock Lesnar appearing
And, that’s your round up of the news for Monday 31 October, 2022, but keep your eye on the WrestleTalk website for all the latest news throughout the day.
Check out WrestleShop.com for all your favorite WrestleTalk merch, the WrestleTalk Magazine, wrestling shirts for grown-ups, and more!
1 year ago by Dave Adamson
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