WWE: Bayley on Her Knee Injury in 2021 was “Bigger Than Anybody Knows”, Orange County Commissioners Approve Grant Request for WWE & UFC Events Bidding for Orlando, Joe Hendry on WrestleMania 41 Appearance

Bayley Comments on Her Knee Injury in 2021 was “Bigger Than Anybody Knows”

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 the knee injury she suffered in 2021 and how the injury was much “bigger than anybody knows.”

“This will be a story for another day, because I’m not ready to share it yet, but my injury 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. So there was a time, maybe in PT doing stuff where I was like 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 going to come back. Because, I mean, it wasn’t that crazy of an injury. It was just like where am I going to fit in kind of thing. My whole idea behind Damage CTRL was like alright, I’ve won my championships. I’ve had my Mania moments. 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. Then when the time is right, I’m gonna steal it right from them, I’m gonna take the spotlight right back when I’m ready. But while I’m still recovering and finding my ways, they’re gonna do all the work for me. That was my idea behind it.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

---

Orlando Sports Commission Request for $18 Million Grant to Bid on UFC & WWE Events Update – Orange County Approves Grant Request for WWE & UFC Events Bidding

As noted before, The Greater Orlando Sports Commission had made a request to the Orange County government for a multi-year $18 million grant in tourist development funds to bid on UFC and WWE events for the city. Among the events the Orlando Sports Commission is planning to bid on includes WWE’s WrestleMania 47 event in 2031.

The Sports Business Journal reported that Orange County Commissioners had recently approved the request for the city of Orlando to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2027 and bid on several WWE and UFC events.

It was reported that the commission had voted in favor to distribute $29.46 million in “tourist development tax sports incentive funds related to five requests.” It was also reported that this includes the $18 million request for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission to “draw four future events from the WWE and UFC — including WrestleMania in 2031.”

It was also reported that up to $11 million was approved to be given to Florida Citrus Sports for Camping World Stadium to “serve as the temporary home” for the Jaguars in 2027.

In an interview with the outlet, Greater Orlando Sports Commission President & CEO Jason Siegel stated that events being pursued from the funds “may include about 10 to 12 shows at both the Kia Center and Camping World Stadium” and the commission is “in the process of bidding on the events and the WWE is in conversation with roughly two dozen other cities on various events.”

---

Joe Hendry Comments on When He Found Out About Plans for His WrestleMania 41 Appearance

As noted before, this past Sunday’s WWE WrestleMania 41 Night 2 event in Las Vegas, Nevada featured current TNA World Champion Joe Hendry making a surprise appearance as the mystery opponent for Randy Orton’s Open Challenge match.

A recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show featured Hendry as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Hendry’s thoughts about when he found out about WWE’s plans for his surprise appearance and match against Orton at WrestleMania 41.

“I found out about [WrestleMania] a week before. I had to sit on this for a week. I got a text from Triple H, saying, can you talk… Triple H says, ‘Listen, I’m sure you’re aware that, Randy needs an opponent.’ And yeah, that threw me off completely. I was in a state of shock, but I just knew there was a job to be done” It was a huge moment for me, and what an honor to share the ring with Randy Orton. I just wrestled Randy Orton at WrestleMania. What is going on?”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com