What’s next for the self-proclaimed Baddest Woman On The Planet and new SmackDown Women’s Champion?
One of WWE’s biggest pay-per-views of the year, Survivor Series, is looming just over the horizon and the Nov. 26 show promises to be star-studded. Traditionally, the Survivor Series event pits Superstars from RAW against the stars of SmackDown in five-person elimination tag team matches and champion versus champion matches. Although WWE’s new Head of Creative, Triple H, announced that Survivor Series will look a little different this year thanks to the debut of the War Games match in WWE, fans can still expect a handful of dream champion versus champion matchups.
One of the most highly anticipated matchups of every Survivor Series event is the RAW Women’s Champion taking on the SmackDown Women’s Champion in a battle of brand supremacy and bragging rights. On the latest episode on her YouTube channel, which has now amassed more than 1.5 million subscribers, the self-proclaimed Baddest Woman On The Planet and new SmackDown Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey, teased fans by hinting at a possible matchup against RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at the show.
“What’s next though … Survivor Series. It could be Bianca. That would be freaking awesome!” Rousey said.
Belair has been at the very top of many dream match lists as of late, and a battle against the former UFC Bantamweight Champion would be undoubtedly legendary. Both Superstars overcame their respective foes at Extreme Rules last week with Belair defeating Bayley in a thrilling ladder match and Rousey recapturing her title from the underdog Liv Morgan. In addition, Belair seems poised to be the next big WWE star while Rousey’s star power and accomplishments make her a living legend already. What’s next for the two champions could be each other, and the WWE Universe can’t wait to see if a match between the two is made official.
It turns out Dexter Lumis has been torturing The Miz due to a huge secret — one that Johnny Gargano knows all about.
Last night on RAW, The Miz’s biggest fear came true when he was finally scheduled to face Dexter Lumis one on one later in the episode. A cowardly Miz stayed true to character, clearly faking a knee injury prior to the bout in hopes of not being medically cleared. The A-Lister sat in a puddle of water, screaming and holding his knee before being moved to the trainer’s room. In the office, Byron Saxton asked Miz if he would be able to compete, to which he predictably answered, “No.”
Just then, Johnny Gargano screamed “It’s Dexter Lumis,” evidently scaring The Miz and causing him to jump out of his seat. With that fatal error, Saxton and Gargano realized Miz’s knee was fine, and Miz was thrown back into his long-awaited match with Lumis. For the first time in the pair’s long rivalry, however, the WWE Universe has been given a clue as to why Lumis has been terrifying The Miz, and how he can get it to stop.
As The Miz stretched out prior to his match, Gargano confirmed that he’s known Lumis for a long time and because of it, he knows the “real story” between the two. The Miz played dumb, but Gargano alluded to the fact that he knows The Miz lied or wronged Lumis in some way to cause this to happen. He reminded Miz that he can always come clean, and Lumis and his stalking would stop. The Miz, though, still denied everything.
RELATED: ‘It Means Everything’: The Miz On The One Thing That Fills Him With Confidence In The Ring
When it came time for the match, Lumis entered first. His ice-cold stare pierced our TV screens and mesmerized us once again, but suddenly, The Miz attacked him with a steel chair from behind, effectively canceling the match and saving himself from his biggest fear. Backstage, The Miz wasn’t in the clear yet, though, as Gargano came back again to urge him to come clean about what he did. The former NXT Champion then threatened Miz with a whistle, saying he will tell the world what Miz did if he doesn’t come clean. The Miz still acted like he had no idea what Gargano was talking about.
The storytelling in this segment was complex, but genius as it not only provided the WWE Universe with a clue for why this has been happening, but a mysterious way for The Miz to make it stop. In addition, Miz faking an injury to get out of the match added to the cowardice of his character while Lumis remained quiet, powerful, and mysterious. The Most Frighteningly Memorable Moments In Halloween Havoc History
We can only hope to find out what The Miz is hiding from us, but we’d advise him to come clean about his lies to save himself and his family from Lumis! In the meantime, you can relive all the creepy stuff Lumis has done to Miz, like stalking him or ruining his birthday party, on the WWE Network on Peacock.
Conor Benn’s fight with Chris Eubank Jr was dramatically cancelled on Thursday amid scenes of bitterness and acrimony in the wake of his failed drugs test.
Benn’s team, led by promoter Eddie Hearn, had remarkably attempted to push Saturday’s bout through a legal loophole, but Sportsmail understands they finally shelved plans for an injunction against the British Boxing Board of Control before even getting to the High Court.
The abandonment of one of the most-hyped fights of the year follows our explosive revelation on Wednesday that Benn had tested positive for the banned substance clomifene, prompting the Board to block the showdown at The O2 ‘in the interests of boxing’.
It has sparked outrage within the sport that the camps for both boxers then resorted to legal technicalities in an effort to save a fight worth an estimated £15million, before ruling it out on Thursday on the grounds that the timeframe until the first bell was too limited.
On another day of chaos for boxing, Sportsmail first broke the news of the cancellation at 3pm before Matchroom later confirmed it in a statement that outlined their plans to resume the legal battle in efforts to reschedule the fight.
In continuing to heap blame on the Board for the fiasco, the statement read: ‘It is undeniable that the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to withdraw their sanctioning was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the Board which we intend to pursue.
‘However, whilst there are legal routes to facilitate the fight taking place as planned, we do not believe that it is in the fighters’ interests for those to be pursued at such a late stage, or in the wider interests of the sport.
‘As promoters, we take our obligations and duties very seriously, and a full investigation will now need to take place. We will be making no further comment at this time and news for ticket holder refunds will follow.’
This weekend’s fight between Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Conor Benn (right) is officially off
Benn tested positive for banned substance clomifene in the build-up to the mega-fight
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn initially remained adamant the fight should still go ahead
That Matchroom still want to push on despite knowing Benn has failed a drugs test will only inflame the sense of incredulity around such a dangerous issue. Hard questions will also persist for the Board of Control, given our revelation that all parties were notified by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association of the positive test on September 23, with the Board only voicing their objections publicly once the story had broken.
While they have been conspicuous by their silence, beyond the publication of their short statement on Wednesday, they have been pressed into a corner by boxing’s peculiar structures.
Hearn and Eubank Jr’s promoters Wasserman attempted to exploit those shortcomings by arguing the fight should go on because the positive test was collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association and not UK Anti-Doping Agency – the body formally recognised by the Board of Control. That position has been advanced trenchantly by Hearn’s lawyers despite the VADA agency being recruited by the promotion for this fight at an estimated cost of £30,000.
As rival promoter Frank Warren told Sportsmail: ‘Why sign up to VADA if you will not recognise their findings?’
It is a question that has cut to the heart of an extraordinary saga.
Speaking about it all, Benn said: ‘I am truly gutted they we are unable to make this fight happen. And I am sorry for everyone that has been affected by the postponement.
‘I am still completely shocked and surprised by this and it has been a tough couple of days. My team and I will consider the next options, including rescheduling the fight. But my immediate focus in on clearing my name because I am a clean athlete.’
Eubank Jr reacted to the cancellation by tweeting: ‘Conor got caught using an illegal substance so the fight is off. Can’t believe it. I really apologise to the fans and everyone that bought tickets, travelled & booked hotels, this should not of happened. He has escaped his schooling… for now.’
Matchroom confirmed that the fight has been ‘postponed’ on Thursday afternoon, revealing news on ticket refunds will follow
Eubank Jr responded shortly after, insisting his British rival Benn has escaped a schooling
Efforts to keep the fight alive in the absence of Board licences included the exploration of a foreign sanctioning body by figures connected to the fight. Hearn told Sportsmail on Thursday that was never an option in his view, but multiple sources claimed it was a live possibility in the eyes of others connected to the fight, with as many as three overseas authorities considered possibilities.
It is also understood that discussions were held in the past 24 hours about revising Eubank Jr’s weight requirements for the bout in response to Benn’s situation. Eubank Jr’s weight was already an area of concern because the middleweight was due to benefit from a two-division advantage over welterweight Benn for the 157-pound catchweight encounter.
Hearn has been quick to point out that Benn is not currently suspended nor has he been charged with a violation, and it remains unclear if he has requested a test on his B sample, having triggered a positive for a fertility drug for women that can boost testosterone in men. UKAD, the national anti-doping agency who will ultimately determine if an offence has been committed, are looking at the case.
In a brief statement, their CEO Jane Rumble said: ‘UKAD notes the reporting of a failed VADA test by the boxer Conor Benn with concern. UKAD acts on all reports of doping and always encourages anyone with information on suspected doping activity to come forward and share that with us.’
Sportsmail’s Riath Al-Samarrai broke the exclusive of Benn’s positive drugs test on Wednesday
Eubank Jr was present at Wednesday’s public workout and insisted he was still willing to fight
Eubank Jr vs Benn OFF: A timeline
Wednesday
11:47am: Sportsmail reveals Conor Benn has failed a drugs test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), plunging Saturday night’s scheduled fight into doubt. Benn tests positive for Clomifene – a banned women’s infertility drug that triggers testosterone production for men.
12:25pm: Matchroom announce they are aware of the drug test but that Benn has not been charged with any rule violation and remains free to fight. They state that Benn has since passed a doping test conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency and that the fighters wish to proceed with the bout, which will earn both a seven-figure fee.
2:24pm: The British Boxing Board of Control release a statement stating the contest’ is prohibited as it is not in the interests of boxing’ and that they will no longer sanction the fight.
6pm: Benn says that he had spoken personally with Chris Eubank Jr about the positive test but Eubank Jr confirms that no conversation has taken place between both parties.
Thursday
10am: Sportsmail reveal that both figures in the fight explored the possibility of using a foreign sanctioning body to allow the fight to go ahead.
1:19pm: Eddie Hearn tweets he ‘will not be promoting the fight with a foreign commission or alternative governing body.’
3:01: Sportsmail breaks that the fight is officially off.
4:05pm: Matchroom confirm the fight is postponed. Their statement says, ‘It is undeniable that the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to withdraw their sanctioning was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the Board which we intend to pursue.’
4:34pm: Eubank Jr tweets that ‘Conor got caught using an illegal substance so the fight is off… He has escaped his schooling… for now.’
From “Rowdy” Roddy Piper to Scott Hall, these are the best WWE Superstars who never quite took home the biggest title in the game.
‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper is one of the many WWE Superstars who have reached acclaim despite never winning a world title.
Winning a world title in WWE means you have reached the top of the mountain. There is arguably no greater accomplishment in wrestling, and the title serves as proof nobody else is on your level. Household names like The Rock, John Cena and Hulk Hogan held the WWE title in the past, making it the most prestigious in wrestling.
Some legendary WWE stars, however, have never won a world title, yet are still recognized as some of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Who are those athletes and how did they reach icon status without ever being a world champion? Let’s find out.
Scott Hall
For many, Scott Hall is the first name that jumps to mind when it comes to legendary wrestlers who never won a world title. Razor Ramon was a classic bad guy. He made being mean look cool, and won four Intercontinental Titles while cementing his legacy in the industry. Despite his success in and out of the ring, he never reached the true pinnacle of WWE by raising the world title above his head.
Hall wrestled for almost every major company in the world at the time including NJPW, WWF and WCW. He was a leader of the NWO, and often found himself in title contention with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart and Randy Savage. Although he came close many times, Hall was never able to win the big one and found himself in major roles with wrestling’s biggest tag teams and factions. To most wrestling fans, though, that doesn’t matter at all and Ramon is still widely regarded as one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time.
Cesaro
Cesaro becoming the world champion seemed like a possibility that was always on the horizon, but never came to fruition before he eventually left WWE.
Cesaro is a world-traveled performer and one of the smartest wrestlers in and out of the ring. It isn’t his brains that attract fans to him from all corners of the globe, but his incredible in-ring prowess and strength that is unmatched by anybody else. Dubbed “Pound for pound the strongest man in WWE history” by Michael Cole, Cesaro performed seemingly impossible feats of strength in the ring night after night while also showcasing his technical wrestling ability.
Cesaro did see lots of success in WWE as a Tag Team Champion and even United States Champion, but he never won the big one. He was one of the most beloved and talented WWE superstars of the modern era, and of all time for that matter, which is why he was always able to stay relevant, world title or not.
Hopefully, Cesaro can win his first world title soon and disappear from lists like these. Until then, he will continue to prove to management and fans that he is the strongest, and one of the most talented in-ring performers of all time.
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper is one of the most influential and recognizable stars in wrestling history, and he did it all without ever winning a world championship.
He established himself early in his career as one of the best in-ring technicians in the business, but his true money-maker was his ability to hold the crowd in the palm of his hand with nothing more than a microphone. Piper consistently cut the best promos in wrestling at the time, only rivaled by big personality stars like Ric Flair. He had an almost endless amount of charisma and his passion and hard work translated through television. Piper was one of the most entertaining villains of all time and one of the first to be so good that fans still cheered for him regardless of his attitude and disposition.
He didn’t need a title around his waist to navigate one of the most storied careers in all of wrestling. Piper was already a renowned performer both in the WWF.
Today, Ronda Rousey carries on Piper’s legacy with the leather jacket she wears being the exact same one Piper wore to the ring. The jacket was given to Rousey by Piper’s children — a true passing of the torch moment.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Despite being one of the most recognizable characters in wrestling history, Jake Roberts never won a world title in WWF. Roberts had a strong character and presence in the ring, and the real Python that he would bring out in a bag added an element of unpredictability and legitimate danger to his character that nobody else had. Even with an intimidating Python by his side, Roberts couldn’t seem to reach that next level in the ring.
If you look at Jake Roberts’ WWE accomplishments, you may think he was unsuccessful or even had a boring career, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Roberts was one of the first wrestlers to prove that you don’t need a title to be considered successful, or credible in wrestling. He never held any titles within WWE, but always remained relevant. He played integral roles in many storylines and worked with some of the greatest of all time like The Undertaker and The Ultimate Warrior.
For some, Roberts transcended wrestling and became a part of pop culture. Arn Anderson was quoted saying, “Jake was such a strong character, such a strong persona, he never needed to be champion, he just needed to be Jake The Snake.”
