WWE
Reality TV

Natalya Opens up on Emotional Season of WWE ‘Total Divas’ and Helping Emerging Female Talent

Natalya has seen many of her best and worst moments chronicled through the lens of WWE Total Divas. And season nine of the E! reality series is no different as the veteran superstar is fighting through the loss of her father, Hall of Famer Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. Here the former women’s champion sits down to reflect on an emotional year. This season we’ve seen Ronda Rousey join the cast. What has it been like for you to see her show a different side? Natalya: I think having Ronda on the show has been special. So many people see Ronda […]

WWE
Interview

Beth Phoenix Helping Grow Female Roles Within WWE Broadcasting Ring on NXT

After a successful WWE Hall of Fame career, Beth Phoenix is rising to the occasion as a commentator for NXT. She is part of the brand’s next evolution, lending a female perspective and wealth of in-ring experience to the weekly broadcast now airing live Wednesday nights on USA Network. The gig is the result of a journey that began after receiving rave reviews for her Hall of Fame induction speech in 2017. “I did my talking in the ring, but I got such a positive reception that night,” Phoenix reflected. “From there I got a phone call from Michael Cole […]

WWE
Interview

Bianca Belair Ready to Become Queen B of WWE NXT on USA Network

When Bianca Belair found out NXT was going live Wednesday nights on USA Network, it was hard for the superstar to contain her excitement. The blood, sweat and tears poured into WWE’s yellow brand has created a buzz among fans. Although the “EST of NXT” a proud member of the locker room for three-and-half years, she is grateful to those who came before her to lay the foundation. “I’m reaping the benefits of what they did,” Belair said. “Combine that with all the work we put in, and it’s all paying off now. I’m very anxious. We just want to […]

MLW Wrestling
Sports

Shane Strickland Talks Being MLW Champion Ahead of Its Television Network Debut

It was an emotional scene inside the GILT Nightclub in Orlando. Confetti fell as the sounds of Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better) played to excited crowd. Shane Strickland was crowned the first Major League Wrestling Champion since the promotion relaunched last year. It’s a milestone marked days before MLW’s network TV debut on beIN SPORTS. “In that very moment I thought about where my career was when I first started,” Strickland said. “The first few falls I took in the ring. It took me back to the very back to the beginning and all the struggles I have overcome to […]

WWE
Sports

The Women of WrestleMania 34: Female Talent Has Never Been More Represented

The superstars of WWE take over Bourbon Street for WrestleMania 34 Sunday, April 8 from the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The sports entertainment leader is going all out this year with the ladies taking center stage. New signing Ronda Rousey looks to make a big splash transitioning from the UFC octagon to the WWE squared circle. She teams with Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle to face Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. By the same token Asuka, winner of the first all-female Royal Rumble, is gearing up to put her unprecedented win streak on the line in hopes of […]

Nick Mayberry
Interview

Taya Valkyrie Looks for Her Career to Take Flight in Impact Wrestling

Since beginning her pro wrestling career, Taya Valkyrie has taken the road less traveled. After the Impact Wrestling and Lucha Underground star graduated from the Lance Storm Training Academy, it didn’t take long for the Canadian to get on the WWE radar. And just when she was packing up all her belongings, the newcomer found the developmental deal fizzled out. The setback motivated Valkyrie to work that much harder. The 34-year-old traveled to Mexico where it was trial by fire, immersing herself in the lucha libre culture. The blond beauty stood out and success followed as she earned the respect […]

Nick Mayberry
Interview

Exit Interview: Chris Adonis on Working for Impact Wrestling

Chris Adonis just turned 35 and has spent nearly half his life in pro wrestling starting early on in WWE. The former Chris Masters took what he learned against the likes of John Cena and Shawn Michaels to other promotions he has worked for since then. Among them Impact Wrestling, which is where Adonis had been until recently. The performer, real name Chris Mordetzky, announced his departure from the promotion via social media. A day before the tweet, he sat down to discuss a number of topics backstage at the Impact television tapings at Universal Orlando. This included how the latest run […]

Ring of Honor
Interview

Madison Rayne on Returning to Ring of Honor and Potentially Becoming First Women of Honor Champion

Well over a decade ago Madison Rayne was a 4.0 student in nursing school on her way to a sure thing An unwavering passion for pro wrestling led the Ohioan to trade all that in for an opportunity to live out a dream. The 31-year-old recalls Ring of Honor providing a big break early in the journey. Fast forward to today, Rayne has returned to the company and gearing up to participate in a tournament to crown the first-ever Women of Honor champion. The company gave me the chance to test myself against the best women’s wrestlers at the time,” […]

WWE
Sports

WWE Announces Historic First-Ever Women’s Royal Rumble

The female Superstars of WWE have headlined events, seen their likeness inspire Mattel fashion dolls, had the first Hell in a Cell and Money in the Bank, stolen the show. They’ve competed in new venues, broken many boundaries, and overall, changed perceptions. No doubt there have been countless milestones and a big one comes in 2018. That’s when the company will host the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble on Sunday, January 28. Just like their male counterparts the winner of the unique battle royal receives a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 34 in April. Stephanie McMahon made the historic announcement this week on […]

Credit: RING OF HONOR/Bruno Silveria
Interview

Matt Taven Plans to Rule the Ring of Honor Wrestling Kingdom

The knee injury that put Matt Taven on the shelf for most of 2016 led to contemplation and renewed motivation. During this period the 32-year-old wondered if how long he’d be out, as well as what he’d do when he returned. One doctor told Taven it might take two years until he made it back into the ring. Through drive the Ring of Honor performer returned by the fall of last year. “I was pretty determined to get back as soon as possible,” he said. “Ring of Honor, I was under contract, and they took care of me the whole […]