'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Except for Braun Strowman destroying a set, nothing much really happened on WWE TV this week. To be quite honest, this was a tepid week of wrestling, after the madness of Wrestle Kingdom 12, the week prior.
Don't worry, mates. There was enough that happened behind the scenes this week, to ensure that this news recap will be quite entertaining indeed. For your reading pleasure, we present the seven hottest news items in a weekly piece we like to dub SKFabe.
So, if you've been intoxicated by this picture of Becky Lynch, shake those effects off. Scroll down and commence your recap of this week's hottest news and updates.
Well, in the news this past week we saw....
#1 Samoa Joe out of the Mixed Match Challenge
Everyone's been buzzing about the Mixed Match Challenge tournament. WWE put up a poll on social media to ask fans to vote for Bayley's partner, during this multi man challenge. Samoa Joe seemed to be leading the pack. Fans were intrigued at how Joe would react, when he was offered a hug, in all likelihood.
Unfortunately, Kurt Angle shared some terrible news about the Mixed Match Challenge, and Samoa Joe via Twitter.
Thankfully, he would follow up that update with some good news. Bayley would have a partner, in Elias.
Samoa Joe sustained an injury during his match against Rhyno on RAW, this week. We have to wait until the next week, to gauge the seriousness of the same. Let's hope he can make a comeback, very soon indeed. Rumours unfortunately indicate that he may miss the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
#2 Samoa Joe got an acting gig
Some of you may be aware that Samoa Joe has already voiced a character for a video game. He was a part of TellTale Games' 'Game of Thrones' release.
It turns out that he's landed himself another voice over assignment too! Samoa Joe will play Predaking, for the 'Transformers' animated series. Here is the official announcement, from the man himself:
Anybody who's seen Joe cut a promo knows that he'll be the ideal candidate to play such an iconic character. We wish him all the best for this new project.
#3 Enzo Amore put over Neville
One may think Enzo Amore and Neville don't get along, because of their on-screen rivalry. However, it seems that Enzo Amore respects Neville to the fullest, as he conveyed to The Sun recently.
This is what Amore had to say about Neville:
Neville is one of my favourite pros in the business (and) he carried NXT with that title and was a tag-team champion there. Then he worked the 205 division with the hardest schedule in silence, he was working Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then Mondays and Tuesdays.
He went on to add the following:
When guys were catching red-eye flights from the west coast after Raw, Neville was driving on to the next town or taking an early morning flight…It’s the hardest schedule in pro wrestling because you are closing out 205 at the end of the week…I hope Neville comes back and we feud; (and) I have never seen a guy work like he does.
We hope that Neville returns to the company, as well!
#4 The Miz & Maryse got their own show
Not long ago, The Miz and Maryse were mocking John Cena and Nikki Bella for their Total Bellas appearances. Months later, they have a show of their own.
According to WWE.com, the show will be called 'Miz and Mrs.' It deals with them facing their toughest opponents yet. No, it's not Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss.
'Miz and Mrs.' follows the couple as they become parents. This is the A-Lister had to say about the same:
Miz & Mrs. will undoubtedly be the most must-see show on television. We can’t wait to share this next chapter of our lives with our fans as we get ready to welcome our daughter into this world.
Catch the highly intriguing show on the USA Network.
#5 Finn Balor had a hilarious exchange on Twitter
Would you ever have thought that you'd get to see an exchange between Finn Balor and The Rock on Twitter? Well, that's exactly what happened recently, much to the amusement of their fans.
Finn Balor asked 'The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment' a rather poignant question. Little did he know that he would get a reply too:
Imagine if The Shockmaster replied to them both. Or if Adam Cole asked them to 'Shock The System'. Enough puns for now, and so we must move on....
#6 Jericho almost became Universal Champion
At the peak of his popularity, Chris Jericho almost became Universal Champion. The idea was for him to win the title from Kevin Owens, and even defend it against Brock Lesnar, in the months that followed.
Here's what he proposed to Vince McMahon:
Once we got to about December, I started saying to Vince that this is the most popular I’ve ever been. I said that you could put the World Title on this guy [Jericho] if you wanted to, and he said absolutely. I said why don’t we have a title match at the Rumble [Jericho & Owens] and why don’t I win, then he wins it back the next week.
Unfortunately, the plan never materialized:
Vince eventually came back to me and told me that he wanted me to beat Owens for the title at WrestleMania, and then lose to Brock at the next pay-per-view. But that changed the next week.
Special thanks to 'Inside the Ropes' for interviewing Jericho, and revealing this story to us.
#7 Triple H commented on Daniel Bryan's in-ring return
Every wrestling fan wants to see Daniel Bryan return to the ring. Triple H was a part of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour Panel, and revealed the status of Bryan's comeback:
"There can be no exception, medically,". If the belief is that he's not healthy enough and it is a risk for to perform, then I don't know why we would ever allow him to step in the ring unless it can be proven otherwise
The Game asserted that the verdict of the Medical Staff comes first:
The medical experts will make the determination of whether Bryan can set foot in that ring or not, personally, for him, I know it's something he loved doing and own hope he has that opportunity. But at the same point in time, he's married and has a child. We serve the human being first.
Daniel Bryan's in-ring status remains up in the air. What won't remain up in the air is the fact that we'll join you again next week.
So, until then, goodbye!
Send us news tips at [email protected]
