WWE: Bayley on Her Initial Ideas for Damage CTRL Stable Included Toni Storm & Others, Changes Reportedly Being Considered for WrestleMania Weekend Plans for WrestleMania 42, More News

Bayley Comments on Her Initial Ideas for Damage CTRL Stable Included Toni Storm & Others

A recent episode of the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast featured Bayley as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Bayley’s thoughts about her initial ideas for the Damage CTRL stable included Toni Storm, Raquel Rodriguez, and Alba Fyre as potential members.

“And this will be a story for another day because I’m not ready to share it yet but, my injury (in 2021) ended up being more than what everybody knows. It was a bigger injury than anybody knows. There’s a few people that are aware of it and obviously the office and stuff. But that’s the reason. Wasn’t just an ACL thing. It was a bigger injury and that’s the reason why it kept me out longer. It still bugs me to this day. I can’t do certain things. It’s hard for me to run, it’s hard for me to do leg curls. There’s a lot of things that I can’t do because of that injury, and so there was a time, maybe in P.T., doing stuff where I was like, man, I can’t even walk, I can’t jump. How am I supposed to wrestle in like three months or something? So there was that little doubt which I’m sure everybody goes through with injuries. But I always knew that I was gonna come back because, I mean, it wasn’t that crazy of an injury. It was just like a where am I gonna fit in kind of thing and my whole idea behind Damage CTRL was like, alright, I’ve won my championships, I’ve had my Mania moments and now as a character and as a bad guy, I could be like, I don’t even want anything for myself. I want it for them. They’re gonna reap all the benefits of my experience and they’re gonna get all the championships and they’re gonna get everything and then when the time is right, I’m gonna steal it right from them. I’m gonna take the spotlight right back, you know, when I’m ready. But while I’m still recovering and finding my ways, they’re gonna do all the work for me, and that was my idea behind it and I had a whole — there’s five of us. My pitch for Damage CTRL, I also had Raquel (Rodriguez) in it. I also had Alba Fyre in it, and I had so many other girls in mind too. I had Toni Storm. I wanted Toni Storm in it. But when I actually sat at the P.C. and shot stuff, it was with Raquel and Alba, and all five of us, I had reasons why I wanted them. Raquel… she was our muscle. But she was teaming with Dakota (Kai) at the time I believe. So they worked out perfectly. Alba and IYO (SKY) I think we’re teaming a little bit there. So they worked out perfectly but, in my mind, it was there’s two tag teams and then IYO was my champion. She was gonna be the champion. I just wanna do everything in wrestling. That’s how I always thought. I wanna be a bad guy, I wanna be a good guy, I wanna be in a faction. I wanna be in a tag team, I want to be a singles wrestler, I want to be in a romantic love angle someday. I want to be able to do everything, because there’s so many different things that we could do in this crazy world. To not try different avenues and work with as many people as possible — I just want to do it all.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com

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WWE Reportedly Considering Changes for WrestleMania Weekend Plans for WrestleMania 42

This past Tuesday’s WWE NXT show was notable for WWE holding the show in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of their WrestleMania 41 weekend festivities and events in the city.

Bryan Alvarez reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Live that his sources stated that WWE officials are currently considering making changes to their WrestleMania weekend plans for next year’s WrestleMania 42 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Alvarez reported that these potential changes would be in response to WWE officials being aware of the crowd at this past Tuesday’s show was “tired” and had a lack of energy throughout the show.

Alvarez also reported that next year’s WrestleMania weekend might not end up being stretched out an extra day and next year’s post-Stand & Deliver NXT show likely will be taking place at the Performance Center instead.

“It did not go unnoticed by WWE. It appears that next year when they do WrestleMania in New Orleans, it’s probably not gonna last through NXT. NXT’s probably gonna be back at the Performance Center. There is some thought of running the NXT before WrestleMania weekend in New Orleans.”

Transcript h/t: WrestleTalk.com

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WWE News & Notes

Wednesday’s WWE Speed show on Twitter featured El Grande Americano defeating Erik to advance to the next round of WWE’s newest #1 Contender’s tournament for the WWE Men’s Speed Championship. El Grande will be facing off Alex Shelley in the Finals of WWE’s current tournament.

Amazon recently released an official trailer for the upcoming Heads of State film staring John Cena for their Prime Video service. Besides the trailer, the official poster for the film was also recently released. Official synopsis “The UK Prime Minister (Idris Elba) and US President (John Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world.”

In a recent Fanatics Live Signing event, current NXT Champion Oba Femi recently reflected on Twitter about his belief that the WWE Women’s World Championship match between Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and IYO SKY was the best match of WWE’s WrestleMania 41 weekend. Femi stated “I went to night two (of WrestleMania 41). It was a good, fantastic card. Let’s just get this out the way, the women killed it. Bianca (Belair), Rhea (Ripley), IYO (SKY). That to me was match of the weekend. I don’t care what anybody says. That was my match of the weekend.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)

In a recent interview with Vegas Sports Daily, former WWE wrestler Kelly Kelly, real name Barbie Blank, gave her thoughts about the growth of women’s wrestling since her days. Kelly stated “It’s really so amazing. I mean, I… almost started 20 years ago. So to see how it is now and see how much it’s grown and how many things the women are doing, how much time they’re given, it’s just amazing. It’s truly amazing. And I just hope to come back one day, have a match, and have my kids see me.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

As noted before, this past Monday’s WWE RAW After Mania show in Las Vegas, Nevada featured Rusev making his surprise return to WWE. Rusev’s wife Lana, real name CJ Perry, recently reflected on Instagram about Rusev’s recent return to WWE. Lana stated “Rusev is back on #Raw @tobemiro @wwe @wwe_on_netflix ! Everyone in this swipe thank you! To the fans thank you !! Thank you @tripleh @wwe @paradigmtalentagency @nicklopiccolo“

In a recent Fanatics Live Signing event, Charlotte Flair gave her thoughts about if she has aspirations for a Hollywood career and revealed that she recently was involved in the filming of a new untitled horror. Flair stated “I have dabbled. I love it. I don’t know if it’s ever going to see the light of day, but I did do a horror film this summer. I played Ms. Perfect, a serial killer. Performing in front of you guys and being able to feel the emotion and instant gratification, I live for that. When I’m in the ring, it’s my happy place. When I was playing Ms. Perfect, I really dug it. I didn’t get to have the physicality or anything, but I did like it. If I do have the opportunity to do something else like that, I don’t know, it’s kind of like a waiting game. Do I fit that character or not? I did really like it.“

In a recent interview with the 520 Club Podcast, Jacob Fatu gave his thoughts about his United States Championship victory at this past Saturday’s WrestleMania 41 Night 1 show and it being a very special moment having his son be present to watch him win the title. Fatu stated “I remember looking out a jail cell window, man, to looking out, you feel me, looking out of an airplane, man, you know, just on the way. But, it was very special just to definitely have my son over here, Johnny Fatu, shouts to the family. But definitely for my parents to pull up. But not only that, man. Last time WrestleMania IX was in Las Vegas, you know. I mean, last time WrestleMania was in Las Vegas, it was WrestleMania IX and my wife always says this, man. History always repeats itself. So for us to double back and for another Anoaʻi, Roman Reigns to main event in Las Vegas but also to have the Fatu’s on here man it just don’t get no better. It really doesn’t, it’s just a special moment. But for real, though, bruh that was hella cool.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with The Pat McAfee Show, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gave his praise of Bron Breakker’s star rise in WWE and him aligning with Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins at this past Monday’s WWE RAW After Mania show. Johnson stated “Bron Breakker, I love what he’s doing lately. I feel he’s shown out and shown up. There is this maturation process when you come into the world of WWE. If you got a little bit of heat to you, good heat, and potential, the company will see that and they’ll start putting you in positions where we see not only how you react to those positions, but more importantly, how the fans react to it. Bron has been put in these positions where he has risen to the occasion. I’m not surprised. He looks like a million dollars, he’s believable, he’s legitimate, and he comes from a hell of a bloodline in the Steiner family. I was happy to see [him align with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman] and the way it went down.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)