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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Makes His WWE Return At Friday Night Smackdown

September 16, 2023 by newhiphopnews

After about seven years outside of the ring, The Rock made his comeback appearance at Friday Night SmackDown last night (September 15). Of course, this wasn’t a surprise to many fans who knew that an announcement from SmackDown meant that he’d be cooking up again. Still, the sheer energy when his music started, and fans cheered him on, was pretty cool to see. Before he emerged, Pat McAfee kicked the whole thing off, and Austin Theory interrupted him by talking some smack about the show. But McAfee said that SmackDown is “the people’s show,” and that’s when the pro wrestling legend made his return.

Furthermore, he and Theory got into it right after The Rock started a “You are an a**hole” chant against him. Not only that, but the 51-year-old had to treat the crowd to some signature moves, and hit Theory with a People’s elbow and a spine buster. In fact, he even prompted Pat McAfee to give the former a shot, and swapped out the lead character role for a coach. To top it all off, The Rock grabbed one of Theory’s shoes and threw it into the stands, much to the viewers’ delight both in-person and on social media, where people reacted wildly to the appearance.

The Rock Enters SmackDown Once More

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Last time Dwayne Johnson graced the WWE with an appearance was about seven years ago. He fought alongside John Cena against Eric Rowan and Luke Harper at an impromptu match at WrestleMania 32. However, this time around, Cena was just there to support The Rock from the sidelines, as a clip also went viral of their reunion last night. Regardless, the superstar suggested in the past that there might be one more blowout showing in him. Rumors floated around concerning his potential match-up against Roman Reigns, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, at WrestleMania 40.

Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson’s presence within the organization is like a shadow that peeps out and back in every once in a while. Some wrestlers face accusations of being a copycat all the time, but that’s just because his influence is undeniably high-profile. As such, fans will always be ecstatic to see him in the ring again- and we hope this isn’t the last time. For more news and the latest updates on The Rock, come back to HNHH.

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WWE News: Ronda Rousey Breaks “Kayfabe” After WWE SmackDown Match

June 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Ronda Rousey recently made a sensational claim on social media that shattered the kayfabe illusions of WWE (via FightFans). This occurred after a thrilling match on SmackDown where she and Shayna Baszler emerged as the Unified Women’s Tag Team Champions (via FightFans). They defeated Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. It was an electrifying contest that showcased the mettle of both teams.

The Kayfabe Break: A Salute to Rivalry

Ronda Rousey WWE Mae Young Classic — LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 12: MMA fighter Ronda Rousey appears on the red carpet of the WWE Mae Young Classic on September 12, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for WWE)

Rousey, known for her formidable presence in the ring since her WWE debut in 2018, has always been one to watch. Her trajectory from the first Women’s Royal Rumble to the memorable WrestleMania 34 match, to her victories in the Women’s World Championships and the Women’s Royal Rumble in 2022, attests to her exceptional performance. However, it was her post-match comments on Instagram that truly distinguished this SmackDown match.

Breaking kayfabe, Ronda Rousey shared a clip from the SmackDown match on her Instagram, including the final moments where she and Baszler locked in their submission moves. In the caption, she praised her opponents, saying, “Yaddah yadda ‘don’t break kayfabe’ but let’s be honest for a sec, these chicks @wwe_alba and @isla_dawn can f’n go.” This unexpected commendation served as a testament to the respect shared among the women who were rivals on screen. It was also a powerful reminder of the sportsmanship that underlies the world of wrestling.

WWE News: What This Means for the Unified Women’s Tag Team Champions

Ronda Rousey attends FOX's Stars On Mars — HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01:Ronda Rousey attends FOX’s Stars On Mars “The Mars Bar” VIP red carpet press preview at Scum and Villainy Cantina on June 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Rousey’s kayfabe-breaking moment isn’t the only significant development to emerge from this match. Following their victory, Rousey and Baszler, now the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, were also declared the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. This means they have the privilege of defending their titles across all three brands: Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. This decision implies that the Tag Champions will be treated as free agents in the company going forward.

Ronda Rousey and Implications for the Future of NXT

This development also opens up intriguing possibilities for the future of NXT. More main roster stars may be making appearances on NXT soon, a strategy that’s likely to boost the brand’s ratings. A recent example of this was Seth Rollins’ successful appearance on the Black and Gold brand. His return to NXT significantly boosted the TV ratings and viewership of the show.

The move seems strategically sound. Especially, considering that Baszler, one of the most dominant NXT Women’s Champions, would be making her return to NXT. For Rousey, it would mark her first appearance on the Black and Gold brand, an exciting prospect for fans and potential ratings boost for the company on Tuesday nights.

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WWE News: SmackDown Star Apparently Very “Unpopular” Backstage

June 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In the world of WWE, it is not uncommon for rumors to circulate about the backstage dynamics between Superstars. One such example is the recent buzz surrounding SmackDown Superstar Top Dolla. The wrestler has found himself in the limelight for alleged backstage disagreements with WWE personnel, causing fans and critics to speculate on potential implications for his career.

This wave of speculation was initiated by renowned wrestling commentator Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer (via FightFans). According to Meltzer, Top Dolla’s quick defeat in a recent SmackDown Gauntlet Match—where he was taken out by a Brogue Kick from Sheamus in just ten seconds—might have been due to backstage tensions. Meltzer suggested that “the whole thing is that he is not very popular with some people, and when I watched the way they did that finish, it’s like, ‘Man, whatever you said, you’ve got some enemies on the creative team.’ Because this was the burial of all burials.”

The WWE Creative Team’s Rebuttal

WWE Hit Row Celebrating — DORTMUND, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 01: Hit Row and Maximum Male Models are posing during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Getty Images)

However, not everyone agrees with these allegations. Steve Carrier of Ringside News sought to dispel the rumors, reaching out to a member of the WWE creative team for clarification. According to the team member, there is no heat on Top Dolla. The creative team simply doesn’t have anything planned for Top Dolla and his group, Hit Row, at this moment. This has led to speculation that the reports of backstage heat could be a misunderstanding or an overblown rumor.

Top Dolla’s Struggle to Make an Impact

Top Dolla, along with the Hit Row group, returned to WWE less than a year ago, on August 12, 2022. They were previously released due to budget cuts. Since their return, Top Dolla, along with Ashante “Thee” Adonis and B-Fab, have struggled to make a significant impact. This lack of significant achievement could be a factor in the circulation of these rumors.

Top Dolla’s Response to the Rumors

Despite the swirling rumors and speculations, Top Dolla has addressed the situation in his own way. In a cryptic tweet, he stated, “If you need more clicks, put Dolla’s name in it…” This has been interpreted as a response to the rumors, suggesting that Top Dolla believes his name is being used to attract attention and increase clicks on news articles.

H2: Michael Cole’s Remarks

Adding fuel to the fire, WWE commentator Michael Cole has taken a few shots at Top Dolla during broadcasts. Following a botched dive back in December, Cole nicknamed him “Flop Dolla.” This happened again when Top Dolla quickly lost to the Brawling Brutes on a recent episode of SmackDown during the Gauntlet Match. These remarks have only added to the speculations surrounding Top Dolla’s status in WWE.

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