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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Meltzer Gives Match A Negative Rating, Calls It The Worst Match He's Ever Seen
Dave Meltzer calls Minoru Suzuki vs. Butterbean the worst match he's ever seen. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer didn't hold back in his review of a recent bout featuring Minoru Suzuki and Butterbean. Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he called the match the worst he's ever seen. Advertisement At WrestleCon's Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow, Minoru Suzuki faced Butterbean, which had Butterbean, recovering from a leg injury. He struggled to move, the match also had Dan Severn as referee, who was also limited by age. Reacting to the match, Dave Meltzer said, 'The match was brutally bad. It was said that it would have been the worst match anyone had seen this year except the next match happened. Minoru Suzuki wrestled Butterbean do a double count out. This was, in fact, the worst pro wrestling match I've ever seen. Unlike the last match, at least this one the crowd was so sympathetic to Butterbean that they made a lot of noise, chanted 'Fight Forever,' and after the double count out chanted 'one more round.' 'Dan Severn was referee. Severn, who is almost 67, was not moving well. Butterbean couldn't move at all. There was a story that he was recovering from a broken leg. He had been wheelchair bound and terribly overweight, and worked with DDP to where he's out of the wheelchair and can kind of move, but not move in the sense to do a pro wrestling match. They were filming a documentary so he wasn't allowed to lose. In the condition he was in, Suzuki couldn't possibly lose to him. Plus if he was on his back it would have been hard for him to get back up. They did the double count out and announced a double count out. People booed that heavily.' Dave Meltzer gives -459.7 star rating to Minoru Suzuki vs. Butterbean match 'They wanted another round (they were doing two minute rounds, it ended late second round) or at least chanted that way. I do get this was so awful it was perversely entertaining unlike the prior match which just seemed like the crowd was stunned watching how bad it was. Then Severn talked to the ring announcer and I figured they were going to give the crowd one more round, and the ring announcer again said it was a double count out. I have no idea why you'd announce that a second time, and the second time people booed louder because they actually wanted it to continue. This was -459.7 stars, like the worst match ever (-273.15 if you live outside the U.S.). Worse that the Sheik & Volkoff match on Heroes of Wrestling.' Advertisement 'I was told Suzuki was very upset backstage because he had never had a match this bad. The reality is none of this was Suzuki's fault. Butterbean had no business in the ring. The thing is, people were really into the idea of the match and thought it was awesome when it was announced, and nobody had any hopes for it to be good match. But I can't imagine anyone expected anything this bad. The main event was Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito over Flip Gordon & Hechicero & Michael Oku in a ***½ match when Sabre tapped out Gordon.' Meltzer mentioned that Suzuki was reportedly upset backstage following his match. As he never experienced a match of such low quality match. The post Dave Meltzer Gives Match A Negative Rating, Calls It The Worst Match He's Ever Seen appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Faces A Big Problem With New WrestleMania Location: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. WWE's long-term vision for its premier annual event, WrestleMania, is undergoing a significant strategic overhaul, with Las Vegas now poised to become a "frequent" host city. This major development follows the confirmation this week that WrestleMania 42, originally scheduled for New Orleans in 2026, will be relocated, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The decision to increasingly favor Las Vegas is driven by compelling business and logistical factors beneficial to WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings. Meltzer reports that the decision was made partially because this year's WrestleMania made so much money overall in Las Vegas from all sources that they could not make that level of money in New Orleans. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation This strategic pivot means Las Vegas will see WrestleMania return on a regular basis, though not necessarily every single year. Meltzer elaborated on this approach. The plan is now to run WrestleMania on a regular basis in the city, not necessarily every year, but frequently. Where things get interesting is the idea is that the city wants to have a major destination sports event every year, and by definition they are looking at the Super Bowl, The Final Four, the College Football national championship final and WrestleMania so would be looking for Mania any year that they don't have one of the other three events. Building wraps for WrestleMania 41 are shown on the exterior of Allegiant Stadium on April 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The WWE's flagship event will be held at the venue on April 19th and... Building wraps for WrestleMania 41 are shown on the exterior of Allegiant Stadium on April 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The WWE's flagship event will be held at the venue on April 19th and 20th. More Ethan Miller In line with this new direction, Meltzer confirmed that WWE has already reserved Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, for WrestleMania 42. This marks a date change from the originally planned April 11 and April 12 weekend, when the event was set for New Orleans. However, the potential move to Las Vegas for 2026 is not without its complications. Meltzer highlighted two outstanding issues that WWE and TKO are currently working to resolve. The first concerns a scheduling conflict at the stadium itself. "There is a concert booked at the stadium that has not been announced, which makes the moving in and setting up the stadium too tight," Meltzer wrote. He added, "Those in charge of the stadium have attempted to move the concert date, but the promoters have said that they have a contract for that date and thus far have been unwilling to move." The second challenge relates to space for ancillary fan events, a crucial part of the WrestleMania week experience. "The other is that the Las Vegas Convention Center, which hosted fan gatherings, is open for that weekend but does not have the same amount of open space as it had for WWE last month," Meltzer reported. While New Orleans will no longer host WrestleMania in 2026, the city is set to host the Money in the Bank premium live event that year. Furthermore, it is expected that New Orleans will still host a future WrestleMania as part of a broader, multi-event agreement with TKO, ensuring the historic wrestling city remains a part of WWE's major event landscape. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE: Zoey Stark's injury on Raw derailed Kairi Sane's return, here's how
The May 19 episode of Monday Night RAW garnered attention as the Money in the Bank qualifier triple threat match featuring Rhea Ripley, Kairi Sane, and Zoey Stark took an unexpected turn. WWE fans were eager to see the return of the 'Pirate Princess' Kairi Sane to the ring, but the match saw her taking the pinfall to Rhea Ripley. This happened due to Zoey Stark suffering a knee injury midmatch, leading to Rhea and Sane improvising the finish. Zoey Stark went for a missile-kick dropkick on Kairi Sane, but landed awkwardly. This was followed by a vigorous scream from the star. Stark required immediate medical attention and was removed from the match, leaving a confused Rhea and Kairi inside the ring. Zoey Stark injury slowed down Trigger Warning : it's definitely bad #WWERaw Due to that, the match ended in a way that was not planned. Fans have been wondering if Zoey Stark was supposed to win the match (due to her consistent performances in MITB) or was she supposed to take the pinfall. Let's look at what was reportedly planned to happen in the match. Kairi Sane's return took an unexpected turn due to Zoey Stark's injury According to Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), Zoey Stark and Kairi Sane were planned to do stunning spots in the match, leading to Rhea Ripley overpowering the two. However, the sudden injury led to an 'impromptu' match between Rhea and Sane. Bryan Alvarez said, 'The other two had to work an impromptu match since Zoey was going to be doing a bunch of spots and taking the fall, but she was not there,' WELCOME BACK KAIRI SANE! Can she beat Rhea Ripley and Zoey Stark to qualify for the Women's #MITB Ladder Match TONIGHT? 🪜#WWERaw He further added, 'So they basically just stalled out a long one-on-one match until Rhea pinned her (Kairi Sane) with the… Riptide.' Kairi Sane returned to the ring after suffering a torn ligament in her thumb during a tag-team match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on the December 2 episode of WWE Raw. Her return was highly anticipated by the fans, but the unexpected situation in the triple threat match led to the 'Pirate Princess' eating the pin from Rhea Ripley. Instead, Zoey Stark was planned to get pinned by 'Mami'. WWE management can still help her regain her mojo by giving her a few wins on the road. It will be interesting to see if they explore the Damage CTRL angle with Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane after the release of Dakota Kai.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE plans to set up Jey Uso and Logan Paul for the World Heavyweight Championship at Saturday Night's Main Event
(Image Via WWE) WWE Champion Jey Uso and Logan Paul became the most-talked-about in the company due to their recent feud at the WWE RAW edition of May 5, 2025. In a dramatic turn of events, Logan Paul launched a surprise attack on World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso after the show went off air. The attack occurred when Jey Uso was celebrating after his match against Seth Rollins, and was busy interacting with fans. Operation Sindoor After Pak dials India, both sides agree to stop firing; top military officials to talk on May 12 'Armed forces remain operationally ready': India after ceasefire announcement 'Any future act of terror will ...': India's big stand against Pak The ambush, captured in off-air footage, showed Paul, clad in a black hoodie, emerging from the crowd to strike Jey Uso. However, after the dispute, backstage updates suggest that WWE is planning to set up a match between the duo soon. Backstage report suggests Jey Uso and Logan Paul to lock horns WWE is reportedly planning a World Heavyweight Championship match between Jey Uso and Logan Paul at the upcoming Saturday Night's Main Event in Tampa, Florida. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a World Heavyweight Championship match between Jey Uso and Logan Paul is currently scheduled for the event, which will be taped live in front of a red-hot crowd. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo UNSEEN FOOTAGE: Logan Paul attacks Jey Uso: Raw exclusive, May 5, 2025 Reports suggest that the venue, Tampa's Yuengling Center, is nearly sold out, with 9,224 tickets already distributed out of a 9,762 setup capacity. The cheapest remaining ticket is listed at $83, indicating strong demand and an expected sell-out that should create an electric atmosphere for the taping. The event is also being heavily advertised around Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena, who is featured prominently in all promotional materials. While not officially confirmed, this level of marketing has fueled speculation that Cena may compete or defend his championship at the event, potentially making for a double main event scenario. Confirming the same, Wrestling Observer Newsletter stated that, 'The Jey Uso title match with Logan Paul is right now scheduled to be taking place on the Saturday Night's Main Event show, which has 9,224 tickets out in Tampa and has an $83 get-in price. The television set up for the building is 9,762, so it's a lock to sell out. The advertising of the show is based around Cena, so one would think he'd wrestle, but having both Cena and Uso defend the titles seems like a lot for a television show. Especially when you don't even do that for the PLE shows.' Also Read : Is former NJPW star Jeff Cobb to make his debut on WWE Backlash 2025? - The Times of India However, nothing about the match between WWE Champion Jey Uso and Logan Paul has been officially confirmed by the company. The Saturday Night's Main Event could play a vital role in making further storyline developments after WWE Backlash. The event will air live on both NBC and Peacock, and John Cena's appearance is the only announcement that's been made for the May 24 episode so far.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bad Bunny May Be Returning To WWE: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Whispers are circulating within the professional wrestling world, suggesting a potential return for the globally renowned music artist Bad Bunny to the WWE ring. Recent reports and social media activity have fueled this speculation, hinting at a high-profile tag team encounter that could see the "King of Latin Trap" back in action. Earlier this week, it was reported that WWE is considering a potential tag team match featuring the current WWE Champion, John Cena, and Travis Scott. The initial theory posited that Cody Rhodes, given his storyline developments culminating at WrestleMania 41, would likely stand as one of their opponents. This potential matchup immediately sparked considerable interest among fans, envisioning a unique blend of music and wrestling stardom colliding in the ring. Adding further fuel to this speculation is a report from Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer stated, "There have already been reports of Scott & Cena doing a tag team match. The theory was that Bunny would be on the other side." Meltzer noted that while Cody Rhodes is a strong babyface, his partner for this potential clash remains unconfirmed. However, the report mentioned that should the plan to include Bunny move forward, WWE would necessitate "a wrestler of the level of Cena on the face side" to ensure a balanced and compelling contest. Rhodes would certainly fit that bill. Bad Bunny enters the ring during the WWE Backlash at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on May 06, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny enters the ring during the WWE Backlash at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on May 06, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Gladys Vega/ Getty Images More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Adding an intriguing layer to these reports, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE's head of creative, took to the social media platform X earlier this month. His post served both as a congratulatory message to Bunny on releasing his latest album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," and as a significant foreshadowing of a potential WWE return. Bunny's previous time with WWE have already established his genuine passion for the sport and his ability to deliver compelling in-ring performances. His WWE journey began in 2021, ending in his official in-ring debut at WrestleMania 37, where he teamed with Damian Priest. He even briefly held the WWE 24/7 Championship. His participation in key matches at major events such as the 2022 Royal Rumble and the highly acclaimed San Juan Street Fight against Damian Priest at Backlash 2023 in his native Puerto Rico solidified his credibility as more than just a celebrity guest. Bunny has previously stated that he genuinely felt like a professional wrestler during his WWE stints. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
