WrestleLamia News: Trish Stratus Called Out…Major Plans for WWE WHC…Wrestling News

Biggest WWE Wrestling News stories and Rumors

Randy Orton’s Doctors Have Advised Against Returning To The Ring

Sad news

Former WWE Champion, Randy Orton has been off TV since last May, and it’s not looking good when it comes to Orton’s potential WWE return.

Orton had fusion back surgery last November, but according to his father, Bob Orton, the doctors have informed Orton that he shouldn’t return to the ring.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Orton revealed:

“He’s training, so we’ll see what happens; I don’t know. If he feels like he’s ready to go back, I think he might, but again he’s pretty well taken care of. I don’t think he need [sic] to. And I think the doctors have told him not to. But Randy will do what Randy wants to do.”

We will keep you posted when it comes to the in-ring status of one of the all-time greats.

Becky Lynch Wants To Win MITB

This would rule

The 2023 Money in the Bank event is quickly approaching, and this year’s event will emanate from London, England at the o2 Arena.

One top WWE star who has staked a claim to become the new Women’s Money in the Bank holder is Becky Lynch, and this is what she had to say during a recent interview with Mark Andrews:

“I do want to win the Money in the Bank briefcase before it’s all said and done, and also wrestle Beth Phoenix. I’ve been trying to get her for years. She’s been dodging me. Every single Money in the Bank match I’ve been in, I’ve always been the second last person. We’re talking four Money in the Bank ladder matches, I’ve been the second last person”.

Lynch winning the women’s briefcase isn’t the worst idea in the world. WWE is prone to having the women’s Money in the Bank holder cash-in within 24-hours, so it would be a welcomed change of pace to see a talent such as Lynch hold onto the briefcase for an extended period.

Lynch is currently in the midst of a feud with Trish Stratus, and it is expected that the two will feud throughout the summer.

WWE Have Big Plans To Catapult World Heavyweight Championship To Its ‘Original Status’

Interesting…

The World Title will be decided at Night of Champions in two weeks, as Seth Rollins and AJ Styles will collide for the gold.

According to a new report from credible Twitter source @BoozerRasslin, WWE has “big plans” for the new title, which includes a story that “will catapult the title to its original status”.

What this story could be is unclear, but Rollins and AJ are perfect candidates for whatever storyline WWE have planned.

WWE are putting a ton of focus on the new title, and rightly so. Reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns is competing for the Tag Titles at Night of Champions, so the focus is firmly on the new World Title, and the match between Rollins and AJ is likely to main event the show.

LA Knight’s New Storyline Revealed

Is that it?

Fans have been extremely critical towards WWE’s booking of LA Knight. Since Knight’s feud with Bray Wyatt came to a close in January, Knight has been lingering around SmackDown, with nothing substantial to do. Knight was promoting an appearance at WrestleMania 39, but this was reportedly scrapped, and since then, Knight has seemingly been an afterthought in the minds of WWE creative.

On the SmackDown LowDown show this weekend, Knight revealed that he has a brand-new tag-team partner, Rick Boogs. Knight will be teaming with Boogs next week to take on the Street Profits. Is this really the best thing WWE could have come up with for Knight? It seems insanely random and makes a lack of sense. Knight was initially one of the fan favourites to win the Money in the Bank briefcase in the summer.

However, due to Knight’s recent presentation, it seems unlikely that Knight will go from teaming with Rick Boogs to being Mr Money in the Bank.
WWE clearly don’t realise what they have with Knight, and WWE failing to embrace a wrestler who has managed to get themselves over organically is a trend of the old regime.

WWE Introduce New Strategy To Grab Ratings

Will it work?

Before this week’s SmackDown, WWE implemented a brand-new strategy to grab extra viewers. Before SmackDown went live on FOX, WWE went live on social media platforms, and broadcasted the entrances for AJ Styles and Rey Mysterio.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that WWE did this to “serve as an active reminder that the show was starting”.

This was a strategy that confused fans, as WWE hadn’t pre-advertised the fact that they were doing this, so fans were just confused as to why SmackDown was suddenly starting on social media rather than on TV.

If WWE continues this new strategy next week, it will be interesting to see if it makes a difference to the overall TV ratings, as the idea isn’t too bad, especially in an age of live social media content being red-hot, but the execution could be improved moving forward.

It was rumored this weekend that the show itself wasn’t even produced by Triple H, and Ringside News is reporting that the show was produced predominantly by Bruce Prichard. It is believed that The Game had a corporate commitment meaning he was unable to be at SmackDown in person. Whilst Prichard sure has his critics, at least the temporary baton wasn’t passed over to Vince McMahon, as who knows what kind of erratic booking decisions could have been made on the blue brand.

CM Punk Reportedly Wants Samoa Joe To Be His Return Opponent In AEW

This would rule

One of the popular rumors online currently is that CM Punk will feud with Chris Jericho when he returns to AEW TV.

However, it now looks like Punk may be feuding with an old rival.

According to Fightful Select, sources close to Punk indicated that he has expressed interest in working with current ROH TV Champion, Samoa Joe:

“Can’t confirm whether the pitch/suggestion was for a one-off match or an extended program. Also, we have not confirmation on whether or not the match is actually happening, as AEW sources won’t discuss anything related to Collision in general, much less the matches planned”.

Punk and Joe had a notable feud back in ROH, and it’s unclear if Tony Khan plans to use Punk in this manner, so fans will just have to wait and see.

Former WWE Superstar Contemplating In-Ring Return?

Is Mark Jindrak Coming Back?

The talented big man enjoyed championship success in WCW then joined the WWE, working there from 2001 until his 2005 release. Jindrak missed the chance of a lifetime when he was considered for a role in the Evolution faction only for Batista to get the final spot. Nonetheless, Jindrak enjoyed success outside the WWE including runs in New Japan and lucha libre promotions Triple A and CMLL. According to WrestleTalk, the 45-year-old wrestler last worked in 2022.

Jindrak recently weighed in about a return to the ring during a chat with Developmentally Speaking.:

“Lately I’ve been getting into good shape again, so I feel like a resurgence. I kind of have an itch to take some more wrestling shows. But maybe that could see me wrestling more in the United States. I don’t know. That’s the one thing I look back on and I have a little bit of regret. I wish I would’ve maybe cut Mexico a little earlier, and come back and did some stuff in the United States. I think there’s still a chapter to write, honestly.”

The Original Evolution Stable Inc. Mark Jindrak Credit: WWE

Real Reason SmackDown Superstars Competing for RAW Championship

Has this solved the Confusion?

We recently covered the confusion caused when Rhea Ripley (who was drafted from SmackDown to RAW) showed up with the SmackDown Women’s Championship rather than exchanging it with RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.

However, that’s the tip of the proverbial iceberg as fans are asking why the WWE announced that SmackDown Superstars will compete in the contest to crown a new world champion exclusive to RAW. Does the WWE feel there aren’t enough wrestlers on RAW to make a viable pool of contenders? Does the WWE want Roman Reigns to compete and win all three world titles? No, it turns out the WWE is motivated by ratings. Dave Meltzer discussed this on a recent Wrestling Observer Radio, pointing out that the WWE and AEW are concerned about the NBA playoffs’ cutting into their ratings:

“If people are wondering why the Raw World Title is in a tournament on SmackDown, this is the reason – because they know a normal show right now will do a poor number, so they cannot do a normal show this week. And AEW knows the same thing.”

Indeed, AEW is loading up tonight’s Dynamite with some major matches including a Steel Cage Match between The Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley and The Elite’s Kenny Omega. Meltzer added:

“Wrestling fans are definitely getting benefited greatly by the fact that both of these promotions know that this is a bad week with that Warriors/Lakers series.”

SmackDown will follow RAW’s format of two Triple Threat Matches with the winner of each bout squaring off to see who will face Seth Rollins at Night of Champions. AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley, Austin Theory, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, and Edge are scheduled to square off which should make for an interesting night. Who do you think will win and battle Seth for the title?

New World Heavyweight Championship Revealed By HHH on RAW Credit: WWE