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Bleacher Report catches you up on the newest information from the WWE Universe.
Rhodes Working to Deliver Again Winged Eagle Title
WWE champion Cody Rhodes has lengthy been outspoken about bringing again a traditional championship belt, and he nonetheless hasn’t given up on his objective.
Throughout an look Monday on Famous person Crossover with Josh Martinez (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside Information), Rhodes talked about his continued efforts to convey the Winged Eagle WWE Championship belt again into the fold:
“I am so glad you requested. Please know, anybody who ever heard me say the phrases ‘Winged Eagle title,’ I actively am nonetheless on the hunt. I’m nonetheless on the mission, and if something, I’ve proven prior to now, even when it is for a single evening or fleeting, I attempt to be a person of my phrase. So, I am engaged on it.”
The Winged Eagle is arguably probably the most iconic title belt in WWE {and professional} wrestling historical past as an entire since lots of the largest stars within the historical past of the enterprise have worn it.
That record contains Hulk Hogan, The Final Warrior, Ric Aptitude, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin, amongst others.
Given Rhodes’ age, it comes as little shock that he’s nostalgic for a title that existed within the Nineties, and there’s little doubt that many longtime WWE followers share the same affinity for the Winged Eagle.
Rhodes grew to become WWE champion by beating Roman Reigns in the primary occasion of WrestleMania 40, and he has helped make the present title design common in its personal proper.
Though the present belt might not be as aesthetically pleasing, it undoubtedly serves a goal since everybody who sees it is aware of it’s the WWE Championship no matter whether or not they’re a wrestling fan.
It’s troublesome to examine WWE going away from a design that options its emblem so prominently, however as Rhodes alluded to, maybe a one-night return is a risk.
Gunther Taunts Dragunov After Damage
World heavyweight champion Gunther took a shot at Ilja Dragunov on Monday evening after WWE revealed his harm standing.
Throughout Uncooked, it was introduced that Dragunov suffered a torn ACL throughout a match towards Gunther at a WWE dwell occasion, which means he will likely be out of motion for the subsequent six to 9 months:
WWE @WWE
BREAKING: @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR sustained an harm throughout a match with @Gunther_AUT this previous weekend. He’s anticipated to be out 6-9 months. We want Dragunov a speedy restoration. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/vAfNCzd6KK
In response, The Ring Basic took to X and steered that Dragunov was weak for getting damage:
GUNTHER @Gunther_AUT
weak issues break https://t.co/syMcFCq2U6
Gunther and Dragunov haven’t any scarcity of historical past courting again to their time collectively in NXT UK, as Dragunov grew to become the primary individual to beat Gunther in WWE again in 2021, defeating him for the NXT UK Championship at NXT TakeOver 36.
Since then, Gunther has not misplaced on many extra events, which means Dragunov finds himself in elite firm.
Over the previous a number of weeks, Gunther and Dragunov reprised their rivalry on the dwell occasion circuit, together with dealing with one another on a number of playing cards throughout WWE’s tour of Germany.
Whereas the followers had been undoubtedly handled to some hard-hitting and entertaining matches, one of many bouts sadly led to the previous NXT UK and NXT champion touchdown on the shelf.
It comes at an inopportune time for Dragunov since he was just lately gaining some momentum on Uncooked by getting into right into a rivalry with The Judgment Day, however now he has a protracted highway again to the ring.
As for Gunther, he’s making ready for his second World Heavyweight Championship protection, which can come towards Sami Zayn subsequent week on Uncooked.
Reported Cause for Early Dangerous Blood Begin Time
Saturday’s WWE Dangerous Blood premium dwell occasion is scheduled to start out at 6 p.m. ET reasonably than the standard 8 p.m. ET begin time for a WWE PLE, and there’s reportedly a selected cause why.
In accordance with Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside Information), the beginning time is in order that WWE doesn’t battle with a UFC occasion.
UFC 307 is going down Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis, and WWE desires Dangerous Blood to be over earlier than the UFC 307 primary card begins, per Meltzer.
That is smart from the attitude of getting much less competitors, in addition to from the attitude of WWE and UFC each being underneath the identical umbrella as TKO Group Holdings.
Over the previous couple of years, the WWE PLE schedule has been far much less inflexible than prior to now, because the exhibits have taken place on Saturdays and Sundays in a number of completely different nations and at completely different occasions.
WWE has typically gone outdoors the US for its premium dwell occasions these days, holding them in Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, Scotland and Germany this yr alone.
Whereas Dangerous Blood is going down stateside in Atlanta, WWE is sustaining its flexibility with a novel begin time that can enable fight sports activities followers to take pleasure in a number of occasions on Saturday.
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