In the dynamic and ever-changing world of professional wrestling, a recent interview by the LA Times with former WWE Board of Directors member Ignace Lahoud has caused a slight stir. Lahoud shed light on his decision to resign from WWE following the return of Vince McMahon, mentioning a clash of governance views and personal values.
One person close to an ousted WWE Board members following McMahon’s return characterized him as a figure demanding loyalty, viewing the company’s investigation into his sexual harassment allegations as a disloyal act. However, a person close to WWE’s Board revealed that McMahon was cooperative during the investigation and stepped down as required, albeit unhappily.
Meanwhile, Randy Orton, out of action since May 2022 due to a back injury, has been seen working out at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Orton, who underwent back fusion surgery last November, has been reportedly increasing his workout frequency to prepare for his expected return to the ring.
Rhea Ripley, another WWE talent, has been sidelined due to a supposed injury, which sources debunk as just WWE’s way of giving Ripley a vacation. WWE fans can also expect late changes in the lineup as WWE officials have been tweaking initial plans for the shows.
In light of these on-going changes, NXT Women’s Championship’s surprise opponent, originally Tegan Nox, was replaced by Natayla approximately 10 minutes before a recent show. Current champion Becky Lynch had initially pushed for Nox as her opponent.
In other news, former WWE commentator Pat McAfee has been nominated for next year’s NFL Hall of Fame class and WWE is planning for soccer star Cristiano Rolando’s guest appearance at Crown Jewel event in November. Global superstar Alexa Bliss, on hiatus since Jan 2022 due to health and personal reasons, announced on Instagram that she expects a baby girl.
Interestingly, last Friday’s WWE SmackDown show held in Denver, Colorado, had to mute ‘The Rock’s “You are an Asshole”‘ chant towards Austin Theory to prevent any potential FTC violations. Despite her recent absence from WWE programming, Bianca Belair reassures fans that her break is used for self-care and passion projects like writing a children’s book.
In conclusion, the professional wrestling industry is always buzzing with a mix of professional and personal news. The key to keeping up is to stay tuned and adapt, similar to the critical skills needed right in the wrestling ring.
