Among many others PWInsider is reporting that Ilja Dragunov’s contract with WWE expired without being renewed. The confirmation of that seems to be that he was removed from the roster on WWE’s website. It’s a little bit surprising given he was a former NXT and former U.S. Title champion, but also not surprising since he hadn’t been on TV since the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal this year. If his contract simply ran out he could show up in AEW/ROH or TNA almost immediately. If he’s not seen or heard from for 90 days, we’ll know that his contract wasn’t up, but he was granted a release along with a no-compete clause. At only 32 years old and in good health his future is bright. He could have several years on the indies tearing it up and making great money without even going to AEW or TNA.
Batista (Dave Bautista) has officially signed on to be Kratos in the God of War series.
Aaliyah Mysterio is confirmed to be signed with WWE, but what future plans they have for her as of right now are unknown. (FF)
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer refuted the contention from BG ‘Road Dogg’ James that he wasn’t hired by AEW for his conservative views: “There are many people in AEW that have conservative viewpoints and I have never heard of anyone not being hired by AEW based on political viewpoints in one direction or the other.” (WO)
WWE just filed a second trademark on “Giulia.” Their first attempt was September 2024. (FF)
Jerry “The King” Lawler has had a street in Memphis renamed in his honor.
Sami Zayn is dealing with a legitimate hand injury at the moment. (PWI)
Shinsuke Nakamura’s mystery partner is expected to be Hiromu Takahashi. (WO)
Here are WWE house show results from London, Ontario, Canada. (WBS)
- Chad Gable (c) def. Dominik Mysterio to retain the Intercontinental Championship
- Ricky Saints insulted Danhausen, leading to Kevin Owens coming out to set up a match
- Kevin Owens def. Ricky Saints. Danhausen hit the Danhausen Death Drop on Saints after the match
- Baron Corbin (c) def. Trick Williams & Finn Balor in a Triple Threat Match to retain the United States Championship
- World Tag Team Championship Match: LA Knight & Oba Femi def. Bron Breakker & Austin Theory via DQ
- Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton & Tatum Paxley defeated Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
- Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga (c) def. Damian Priest & R-Truth to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship
- CM Punk (c) def. Cody Rhodes & Gunther in a Triple Threat Match to retain the Undisputed WWE Title
Here’s the announced card for SmackDown tonight. (WWE)
- Undisputed WWE Championship Match: CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens
- WWE Tag Team Championship Match: MFT vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth
- Blake Monroe vs. Giulia
- Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes appearances
Here are last night’s ROH on Honor Club results. (WO)
- ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match: Athena def. Gia Scott
- Preston Vance def. Danny Grandview
- Action Andretti & HOOK def. Dark Order
- Daniel Garcia def. Alec Price
- ROH World Television Championship Proving Ground Match: Lio Rush def. Joe Keys.
- Queen Aminata & Mina Shirakawa def. Erica Leigh & Brittany Blake
- Nick Wayne def. Jordan Oliver
- ROH Pure Championship #1 Contenders Match: Katsuyori Shibata def. Wheeler Yuta
- Skye Blue & Marina Shafir def. Red Velvet & Zayda Steel
And here’s tonight’s Death Before Dishonor card. (ROH)
- ROH World Championship Match: Bandido vs. Nick Wayne
- ROH Women’s World Championship Match: Athena vs. Hazuki
- ROH Pure Championship Match: Lee Moriarty vs. Katsuyori Shibata
- ROH World Tag Team Championship Match: El Sky Team vs. The Kingdom vs. The Beast Mortos & Sammy Guevara vs. Top Flight
- ROH Women’s Pure Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Steph De Lander
- ROH World Television Championship Fight Without Honor: Lio Rush vs. Action Andretti
- ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship Match: The Outrunners & Dalton Castle vs. Lethal Twist
And here’s the updated card for Lockdown on Sunday. (TNA)
- TNA World Tag Team Championship Cage Match: The Hardys vs. Nemeth Brothers
- TNA Knockouts World Championship Match: Xia Brookside vs. Elayna Black
- TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship Cage Match: Allie & TBA vs. The Elegance Brand
- TNA X-Division Championship Falls Count Anywhere Cage Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater; and if Slater loses, his previous TNA X-Division Championship is erased from history
- TNA International Championship Cage Match: Jason Hotch vs. Mustafa Ali
- Cage Match: Elijah vs. AJ Francis
- Lethal Lockdown Match: The System vs. Ricky Sosa, KC Navarro, Jada Stone & Fabian Aichner
- Escape The Cage Match: Moose vs. Frankie Kazarian
- Countdown to Lockdown: Trey Miguel vs. Agent Zero
- Countdown to Lockdown: The Righteous vs. Rich Swann & BDE
