News

Wrestling News: Another Set of WWE Releases

NXT takes some hits

Published

4 years ago

April 18, 2020

Steven Mitchell

NXT starts to feel the losses.

Dave Meltzer and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter report another round of releases and furloughs, though details are unclear as to who falls under which category. Top among the newest names is Kassius Ohno, aka Chris Hero, who had become a part of the NXT UK roster late in 2019. As the Wrestling Observer says themselves on the news:

It’s unknown whether he was laid off or furloughed, but it’s assumed to be the former as he changed his Twitter name to ‘WWE Alumni’. He has yet to confirm the news publicly as of this writing.

Ohno returned to the WWE via NXT in 2016, and had great moments the last few years. Ohno VS Dream, Ohno VS Riddle as a feud, and even Ohno VS Sid Scala to bring back the British Rounds Match. This would be Ohno’s second time from being cut, who knows if he chooses to try a third time.

Other names that have come about as being cut from NXT are:

Nick Comoroto (Nick Ogarelli)
Tino Sabbatelli
Cezar Bononi
Mars (Xiaolong) Wang
Taynara Conti

Comoroto and Wang were only ever on the house show circuit, with Comoroto being around for only a year and Wang for a couple. Tino Sabbatelli dropped of NXT TV after he and Riddick Moss broke up as a tag team. Bononi had the occasional match on NXT TV, and Taynara was also up and down in her push. Taynara most recently had rumors floating that she was frustrated and walked out of production, and more rumors that all that was just a work towards a new layer of character. But the releases aren’t rumors, and these five talents join the long list of releases.

However, as stated in a previous article here on The Chairshot, NXT releases come with only a 30 day non-compete as opposed to 90 days. In the case of Ohno, if he is not furloughed but actually released, he only has to wait until mid May, he could easily sign with a rival of WWE’s, such as AEW or NJPW. The same goes for all the NXT releases, as certainly all five are strong in-ring talents. Taynara was certainly becoming a standout within the Women’s Division, and could find a place in AEW’s own strong division.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Continental Classic Update! (11/27/23)

What a start to the tournament!

Published

5 months ago

November 27, 2023

Steven Mitchell

Did your picks win points?

The AEW Continental Classic is underway, with almost everyone competing. Check in here if you haven’t seen the winners and losers of week 1!

Here are your Gold League standings!

Jon Moxley: 1-0, 3 points
Swerve Strickland: 1-0, 3 points
Jay White: 1-0, 3 points
Rush: 0-1, 0 points
Mark Briscoe: 0-1, 0 points.
Jay Lethal: 0-1, 0 points

Here are your Blue League standings!

Brody King: 1-0, 3 points
Claudio Castagnoli: 1-0, 3 points
Daniel Garcia: 0-1, 0 points
Eddie Kingston: 0-1, 0 points
Bryan Danielson: Yet to Compete
Andrade El Idolo: Yet to Compete

My Thoughts:

Nothing too crazy, nothing too wild, this tournament only just got started. The only disappointing point is that they could not get Bryan “cleared to compete” Saturday night. Not sure how much of that is shoot given the bad eye, but this was kinda the problem of wanting him in the tournament over tons of other choices. Bryan wants to face Okada for WrestleKingdom 18, how is Bryan supposed to do that at his best if he’s also gonna be in a round robin, doing five top level matches in about as many weeks? And it takes away from Andrade being able to do something. Also a little surprised we didn’t even hear from Andrade on Saturday.

Now as we heard on Saturday, round two’s matches are set. Gold League will see Mark Briscoe VS Rush, White VS Swerve, and of course, Moxley VS Lethal. Nice variety there, a couple 0-1 guys facing off, as well as two 1-0 guys, and then 1-0 VS 0-1. No offense to Lethal, but he feels like an 0-2 going up against Moxley. Hard to call the other ones but that’s the fun of it. Meanwhile, Blue League sees Brody VS Claudio in a showdown to be 2-0, then Bryan and Andrade finally jump in, Bryan against Eddie and Andrade against Garcia. Sadly, feels like Eddie and Garcia are going 0-2, no way Tony Khan is booking Bryan and Andrade to lose their first shots.

In fact, that could be half the reason they did wait on those two, that’s almost too good for just a first round opener. But I still would’ve done it, same as NJPW does stuff like that for round robins, which this is all modeled after anyway.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

AEW Coverage

AEW announces Continental Classic entrants

The C2 is set!

Published

5 months ago

November 22, 2023

Steven Mitchell

Tony Khan Reveals the Blue and Gold “Leagues!”

Originally livestreamed, Tony Khan and Tony Schiavone officially announced the twelve total entrants and divided them into the two round robin blocks known as the “Blue League” and “Gold League.” If you don’t feel like sifting through the almost 30 minute video, the groups are:

Blue League

Bryan Danielson
Andrade El Idolo
Brody King
Claudio Castagnoli
Daniel Garcia
Eddie Kingston

Gold League

Jon Moxley
Swerve Strickland
Rush
Mark Briscoe
Jay Lethal
Jay White

Tony Khan also explains the rules for the Continental Classic:

Every match has a 20 minute time limit
The winner of each match earns 3 points, losers earn 0, 1 point for a draw
EVERYONE ELSE is banned from ringside for true 1v1 action

Eddie Kingston also joined the selection special as his “life’s work” is on the line in this tournament, both the ROH World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship on the line as part of the modern day North American Triple Crown Eddie, Tony Khan, AEW, ROH and NJPW are looking to create together. Gold League competes tonight on Dynamite while Blue League will have their start this Saturday on Collision. Look for more articles like this one to keep up with the Continental Classic standings over the next six weeks of tournament action!

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!