BY SACNILK

Norfolk, September 15 - Here are the top 3 things that could potentially happen this week on SmackDown, scheduled to air live on September 15, 2023, live from Ball Arena in Denver, CO. ## Fans have been assured that their desires for the show will come true, as the 16-time world champion John Cena is set to appear. Cena has a longer stint scheduled in WWE than anticipated, which hints at his match in the upcoming pay-per-view event. ## Tonight's episode will feature John Cena as a special guest on "The Grayson Waller Effect." Additionally, the show will include a rematch between The Miz and LA Knight. ## Let's have a look top 3 things to happen on the show: ## #1. John Cena To Overcome Grayson Waller ## This won't be their first face-off, as John Cena and Grayson Waller crossed paths in the WWE Money In The Bank ring. "The Greatest of All Time" hit Grayson with an Attitude Adjustment. Tonight, they'll share the same ring again, but this time, Cena will be Waller's guest. We can't predict what will go down. ## In my view, John Cena might launch a powerful attack and could end up challenging Waller to a highly anticipated match in the near future. ## #2. The Street Profits Vs. The Judgment Day ## On last Friday's SmackDown, The Judgment Day won against The Brawling Brutes. After the match, Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits came out and got in the face of The Judgement. This could mean that The Street Profits might face The Judgement Day in a tag team match, and Bobby Lashley is keeping an eye on things. ## #3. LA Knight To Defeat The Miz Clean ## I'd pick LA Knight to take down The Miz decisively, as Knight is currently one of the most popular figures in WWE. At WWE Payback, with John Cena as the special guest referee, Knight secured a victory against The Miz. Now, he's getting another shot at The Miz, but this time, I believe LA Knight will leave no room for debate as he defeats him cleanly. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Stamford, 15 September - WWE's layoffs are happening tomorrow. According to the email issued by Nick Khan, it states that they are attempting to assess their current working system to identify potential synergies across the business. ## The process will take place tomorrow, where workforce reductions are expected to occur. Nick Khan demanded that everyone work remotely on Friday, September 15th, so that things can be handled privately and respectfully. ## Now that WWE is under the Endeavor-TKO, it is expected that there will be a cut in costs through layoffs. Below, fans can check out the full email sent by Khan (via PWInsider): ## Hi All, ## As part of WWE's transition into the newly formed TKO Group Holdings, we are evaluating our existing operations and systems to identify potential synergies across the business. This effort includes workforce reductions, which will take place tomorrow. ## Those whose roles have been impacted will be notified by our Human Resources Team, who will share the details of their severance package. We are asking that everyone work remotely, Friday September 15th, so we can ensure all conversations are handled privately and respectfully. We'll send out a company-wide email once all of tomorrow's conversations have happened. ## Our company is home to the most talented, creative, and hard-working employees in the world. WWE is a special place, which makes moments like this difficult. Just know that we have nothing but gratitude and admiration for everyone we have had the privilege to work alongside. ## Thank you for all your contributions and dedication. ## Nick Khan ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Denver, September 15, 2023 - Here are the full results for this Friday's SmackDown which is scheduled to air live on September 15, 2023, live from Ball Arena in Denver, CO. ## Friday Night SmackDown currently airs live every Friday on Fox from 8:00 ET–10:00 PM ET in the United States. WWE SmackDown starts live at 1 am in the UK on BT Sport 1 on Saturday mornings. ## WWE SmackDown Time In Australia: It airs live on at 10 am (AEST) on Fox8 ## WWE SmackDown Time In Canada: It airs live every Friday at 8 Am on Sportsnet 360 ## WWE SmackDown Time In South Africa: The show also airs live on Supersport in South Africa on Saturday at 02:00 am CAT ## SmackDown Time In Italy: In Italy, SmackDown airs on DMAX at 2:00 pm with the international version of one-hour shows airing on Cielo in Italian ## SmackDown airs live on Sony Ten 1 HD and Sony Ten 1 in India at 5:30 am. While SmackDown airs live on Fox Sports in Mexico and across Central and South America since 2014. ## WWE Friday Night SmackDown, September 15, 2023 Play-By-Play Results Finn Balor (with Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio) Vs AJ Styles ## Both competitors are in the ring as the bell rings, signaling the start of the match. Finn takes AJ into the corner and presses him against the turnbuckle. AJ finds a way to avoid Finn's initial hip toss attempt, but Finn manages to execute it on his second try. AJ responds with a backbreaker followed by a sunset flip, but Finn quickly rolls through and attempts a dropkick, landing it, but not enough for the win. AJ retaliates with a dropkick, sending Finn to the outside. ## After the commercial break, they continue their battle in the center of the ring, trading cross bodies simultaneously and leaving both superstars down. Finn delivers a baseball slide, and AJ counters with a clothesline. In the corner, AJ targets Finn with a forearm, but Dom, who's on the apron, starts getting involved in the match. AJ nearly loses his balance, and while he attempts a Frankensteiner from the turnbuckles, Finn manages to counter and sends AJ Styles crashing to the mat. Styles then goes for his signature Styles Clash, but Finn dodges it and attempts a kick. ## The action is fast-paced and intense, with both superstars showcasing their wrestling skills. AJ goes for a Phenomenal Forearm and attempts a forearm strike on the apron, but he misses his target. In the midst of the chaos, Jimmy Uso enters the scene and distracts the referee. Taking advantage of the distraction, Jimmy launches a sneak attack on AJ. Finn capitalizes on the situation by rolling up AJ for the cover and securing the victory in the match. ## WINNER: FINN BALOR ## We are in the back with The Rock and Pat talking. Meanwhile, John Cena comes over there. Both superstars have a close look in the eyes and The Rock says he sees John trying to smile and they shake hands followed by a hug and that sets up everything. ## Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde (with Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, and Zelina Vega) Vs. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford (w/Bobby Lashley) ## Up next, we've got Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde, with Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, and Zelina Vega in their corner, taking on Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, with Bobby Lashley in their corner.## The match kicks off with Wilde and Dawkins in the ring. Wilde starts off with some early offense, going for an elbow drop for a cover, but it doesn't result in a victory. Dawkins counters with a hip toss of his own. Wilde manages to kick Ford and then heads up to the top turnbuckle. He attempts a double stomp from up there but misses this time. ## Dawkins gets back into the action and tags in Ford. Ford hits a move called the Revelation for the cover and secures the win. ## WINNERS: Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford ## Singles Match: Miz vs. LA Knight ## The Miz vs. LA Knight was one of the best matches of the night. When the bell rang, The Miz started with a Side Headlock. Knight tried a Shoulder tackle and succeeded. There was a lot of back-and-forth action between these two superstars. Knight went for a Power Slam and tried to pin The Miz, but couldn't get the win. The Miz then tried an O'Connor Roll, but Knight managed to stay on his feet. The Miz sent LA Knight to the apron and followed up with a big Slingshot shoulder tackle, but still couldn't secure the win. ## Next, The Miz attempted a belly-to-back suplex, but Knight was quick and landed on his feet. Knight countered with a Neck Breaker followed by a Bulldog, but couldn't get the three-count. At one point, the referee got distracted, and The Miz tried to use a dirty move by thumbing Knight in the eyes. He followed it up with a Clothesline and then a Neck Breaker for another pin attempt, but once again, it wasn't enough to secure the victory. ## After the commercial break, the fans were really into the match. The Miz made his first big move, landing a flying knee and going for a pin, but he didn't get the win. The Miz didn't stop there; he tried a Skull Crushing Finale, but this time Knight countered it with an elbow and then an arm drag. Knight attempted a Suplex, but he missed, and The Miz landed on his feet. ## The Miz managed to execute a Skull Crushing Finale, and then he went for a DDT, but it didn't work out. Miz got a kick in, and then followed it up with another DDT, but Knight kicked out just in time. As the match neared its end, Miz landed a kick, but Knight responded with a BFT for the cover and got the win. ## WINNER: LA KNIGHT ## Bayley (with Dakota Kai) vs. Asuka ## Up next, it's Asuka taking on Bayley. The bell rings, and they lock up. Asuka sends Bayley into the corner, and they exchange some words. Asuka kicks Bayley in the ribs and follows it up with some arm grabs. Asuka rolls up Bayley for a near fall. Asuka climbs the ropes and hits a Dropkick that sends Bayley to the floor. Asuka gets on the apron, but Bayley trips her up, and both end up on the outside with Asuka falling off the apron to the floor. ## Back from the break, Bayley has control over Asuka. Asuka punches Bayley in the ribs to break the hold. Bayley responds with a kick that sends Asuka to the mat. Bayley goes for a cover, but she doesn't get the win. Asuka executes an Arm Drag, but Bayley manages to fight out of it. Asuka follows up with a German Suplex, and Bayley lands on her shoulders. Asuka then delivers a powerful kick to Bayley's midsection and traps her in the corner. Asuka follows it up with a knee attack for a near fall. ## Asuka applies an Ankle lock, and Bayley is trapped with nowhere to go. Bayley eventually gets to her feet and breaks the hold. Asuka uses the ropes to perform a neckbreaker. They continue to battle outside the ring, and Bayley encounters Shotzi near the barricade. Bayley looks surprised, but she eventually returns to the ring. In the meantime, Asuka rolls up Bayley with a Back Slide for the cover and secures the win. ## WINNER: Asuka ## The main event is up next, featuring the Grayson Waller Effect with Grayson Waller and special guest John Cena. Waller's already in the ring, and he brings out Cena. Waller says Cena ain't interested in wrestling anymore. Cena takes off his T-shirt, but before anything happens, Jimmy Uso interrupts and heads to the ring. He gets in Cena's face, no fight yet. Solo and Paul come out, Solo goes in and faces Cena. ## Instead of attacking Cena, Solo goes after Jimmy Uso with a Samoan Spike, but he hits John Cena with a superkick by mistake. Jimmy starts attacking Cena in the corner. Then AJ Styles' music plays, and he comes out to help. AJ starts punching Jimmy, Solo joins from behind, and now John gets involved in a brutal fight. ## Cena punches Solo, sending him out of the ring. AJ punches Jimmy, and Cena does the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena tries to give Jimmy an Attitude Adjustment, but Solo pulls him out of the ring. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

It's quite surprising to see that Seth Rollins has topped the 2023 PWI 500 list. Following the release, Pro Wrestling Illustrated revealed that Seth Rollins will be at the top of this year's PWI 500 list. It's indeed surprising that Roman Reigns, who is currently one of the greatest superstars in WWE, will drop down to the second position. ## Roman Reigns was, indeed, on the list as he finished first in 2022. However, it's not the first time that Rollins has topped the list. Back in 2019, Rollins held the first position. ## Positions are determined based on their win-loss record, technical ability, influence on the sport, and many other factors. Rollins is the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion. ## Check out the full list below: ## 2023 PWI 500 Top 10 ## 1. Seth Rollins ## 2. Roman Reigns## 3. Jon Moxley## 4. Gunther## 5. El Hijo Del Vikingo## 6. MJF## 7. Kazuchika Okada## 8. Orange Cassidy## 9. Josh Alexander## 10. Cody Rhodes ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Allentown, 14 September - Matt Riddle is returning to WWE following his absence from last week's edition of Monday Night Raw. Riddle wasn't seen on Monday's edition following an incident at JFK Airport on Sunday. Details suggest that Riddle was sexually assaulted by an airport police officer at JFK Airport. ## Following the allegations, Riddle was taken off the show. Some might have misunderstood his absence. It's not what was initially thought. Riddle missed the show due to an inner ear infection and bronchitis. ## Now, as per the latest from PWInsider, it confirms that the upcoming edition of Monday's Raw will see Riddle making his return to WWE. Riddle is also booked for this weekend's house shows in Kennewick, Washington, and Boise, Idaho, but it's not clear whether he will participate. ## A few hours later following the incident, it was revealed that Port Authority officers were called because of a disruptive individual disembarking from a plane, with Riddle allegedly being that person causing the disturbance. ## An interaction occurred between the police and Riddle, during which he reportedly apologized for his behavior. Another witness was also interviewed. At that time, no official police report was filed, and Riddle was simply released. However, according to the report, the Port Authority has launched an internal investigation. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Florida, 14 September - According to a recent report from Fightful Select, it appears that Jade Cargill has left All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Cargill made her return to AEW on the September 9th episode of Collision, where she attacked Statlander. Following this, it was announced that Jade Cargill would be challenging Kris Statlander for the TBS Championship on an upcoming episode of AEW Rampage. ## However, according to the AEW Rampage spoiler, Statlander seems to have emerged victorious in their rematch. As per the latest update from Fightful Select, Cargill's last appearance in AEW was reported during the tapings on July 13th in Cincinnati. ## The report also suggests that Jade Cargill may be heading to WWE to continue her wrestling career, which could be a significant move for her. It's worth noting that as of now, there hasn't been any official offer made to her by WWE, but circumstances can always change. ## Details about the duration of her AEW contract are currently unknown. While there were apparently option years in play, it's unclear who had control over those options. For now, it's rumored that Cargill might be making her debut in WWE. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 Royal Rumble event happening on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, Florida. ## The event will have two traditional Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, and the winners get a shot at a world championship match at WrestleMania. But in 2024, the winners of these matches can pick which championship they want to go for at WrestleMania XL. ## As it stands now, the men can choose to challenge either Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. On the other hand, the women have the option of going after the WWE Women's Championship or the Women's World Championship. ## WWE Royal Rumble 2024 Confirmed Match ## *No Matches Announced For The Time Being! ## WWE Royal Rumble 2024 Predicted Match ## *Coming Soon! ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

STAMFORD, 13 September - WWE President and CFO Frank Riddick III will be leaving WWE, per an internal memo from Nick Khan. Riddick was bonused $5 million for the TKO deal. ## Back in 2021, WWE appointed Frank A. Riddick III as both the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, and he reported directly to Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. Before taking on these roles, Riddick had a long history with WWE, serving on the WWE Board of Directors for over 13 years and even stepping in as the interim CFO in 2020. ## During his tenure as WWE's CFO and Chief Administrative Officer, Riddick had quite a lot on his plate. He was responsible for overseeing various important aspects, including financial planning & analysis, strategy, controllership, investor relations, tax matters, data analytics, technology, event travel, and facilities management. ## But that's not all there is to Riddick's career. He's had a diverse professional background, having held significant positions such as CEO at FloWorks International, LLC, JMC Steel Group, Formica Corporation, and Triangle Pacific Corp. Additionally, he served as President and COO at Armstrong World Industries, Inc. ## WWE President and CFO Frank Riddick III will be leaving WWE, per an internal memo from Nick Khan.Riddick was bonused $5 million for the TKO deal pic.twitter.com/9s4AsI9ttv— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 13, 2023 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

FLORIDA, 13 September - WWE just announced that the 37th Royal Rumble in 2024 is happening in Tampa Bay. It's a big deal because it's the first time in nearly 30 years that the Royal Rumble will have fans in Tampa Bay, since the last time was back in 1995. ## Here's the scoop: The event is set to take place on Saturday, January 27 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. And not just that, the same arena will also be hosting some Monday Night Raw tapings, but the main event will be at Amalie Arena in Tampa. ## Now, you know the Royal Rumble always has those 30-man and 30-woman matches, right? Well, that's not changing. The winners of those matches get a shot at a Championship match at WrestleMania 40, just like tradition. ## Royal Rumble Heads to St. Petersburg-Clearwater on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Tropicana Field ## Monday Night Raw to Take Place in Tampa on Jan. 29 at Amalie Arena ## STAMFORD, Conn., September 13, 2023 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Rays, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, today announced that Tampa Bay will host the 37th Royal Rumble in 2024. ## WWE will head to town for an entire weekend of events across St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa, Fla., highlighted by the Royal Rumble on Saturday, January 27 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Two days later, Monday Night Raw will emanate from Amalie Arena in Tampa on January 29. This marks the first time that Royal Rumble will be held in Tampa Bay in front of fans since 1995. ## “Tampa Bay has long been a terrific market for WWE,” said WWE Executive Vice President of Live Events John Porco. “Thanks to our partners at the Tampa Bay Rays, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, we look forward to a fantastic schedule of events in January.” “We are excited to welcome WWE back to Tropicana Field for the 2024 Royal Rumble,” said Tampa Bay Rays President Matt Silverman. “The Royal Rumble will provide first-class sports entertainment to both those seeing the action in person and watching as part of a worldwide television audience. This event will bring visitors from around the globe to experience the beauty of our area and all it has to offer.” ## “As a leader in event production and promotion, we are thrilled to collaborate with WWE to bring Royal Rumble to our destination,” Caleb Peterson, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Senior Business Development Manager. “We look forward to welcoming all of the WWE fans to our community, a community that will certainly match their energy and enthusiasm for sports entertainment. A special thank you to our community partners - the Tampa Bay Rays, City of St. Petersburg, and Tampa Bay Sports Commission - for their role in creating this unique opportunity for our destination.” ## “Team Tampa Bay loved hosting WrestleMania 37 two years ago and we’re now beyond excited to have the opportunity to collaborate again with our longtime friends at WWE,” said Rob Higgins, Tampa Bay Sports Commission Executive Director. “Royal Rumble Weekend in January of 2024 will be a phenomenal regional effort that spans Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties including both Tropicana Field and Amalie Arena. Together, we’re focused on making sure that WWE Universe is treated to a weekend that’s filled with memories that last a lifetime.” ## Royal Rumble will be headlined by the 30-man and 30-woman Royal Rumble matches, with the winners of both receiving a Championship match opportunity at WrestleMania 40. ## The announcement comes on the heels of this year’s record-setting Royal Rumble which took place in San Antonio, Texas. The event became WWE’s highest-grossing and most-viewed Royal Rumble in company history and set an all-time gate record at more than $7.7 million, far surpassing the previous Royal Rumble high in 2017 by more than 50 percent. ## More information on the ticket on-sale will be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about registering for pre-sale opportunities, please visit: wwe.com/royalrumble-2024-presale. ## In addition, official Royal Rumble Priority Passes will soon be available through exclusive partner On Location, giving fans the opportunity to purchase ticket packages before they go on sale to the general public. Royal Rumble Priority Passes will offer fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment, including premium seating, all-inclusive pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise, deluxe accommodations, and much more. To receive exclusive pre-sale access before Royal Rumble Priority Passes go on sale, please visit onlocationexp.com/royalrumble. For more information, please call 855-346-7388. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Manchester, 13 September - Endeavor Group Holdings and World Wrestling Entertainment have officially completed their previously announced merger and have introduced TKO Group Holdings. Nevertheless, WWE and UFC will remain distinct divisions within the newly merged company. ## Lawrence Epstein, who holds the position of Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at UFC, shared a statement with ESPN today. He expressed the desire to see UFC fans also being fans of WWE, and vice versa. ## During Dana White's Contender Series Post-Fight Press Conference, Dana White was questioned about whether he perceives any similarities in the fan bases and how attainable this goal is. ## "Lawrence I love you," said White. "One of the dumbest statements of all time, yeah I don't know why he said that. I don't even know what to say to that, There's no there's some crossover, some people like WWE some people like UFC, you have some people like both. ## "I don't think, there's ever going to be a day where we turn every UFC fan into a WWE Fan or every WWE. What's beautiful about the Synergy between these two fan bases is, they are very completely opposite, you know, there's very little crossover and again, I maybe he was misquoted, I hope that's the case because I could not disagree with them more." ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Pinehurst, 13 September - Details regarding the production of the September 11th edition of Monday Night Raw is as follows: The main event featured Rhea Ripley defending her Women's World Title against Raquel Rodriguez. ## Ripley successfully retained her title with the assistance of the returning star Nia Jax. Jax attacked Raquel while the referee was occupied with Ripley. However, the conclusion of the show witnessed Jax assaulting Ripley as well. ## As per the information from Fightful Select, Jason Jordan was responsible for planning the Raquel Rodriguez vs. Rhea Ripley match. The notable match of the night, IMPERIUM vs. Ciampa & Alpha Academy, was produced by Petey Williams and Robert Roode. ## Check out the complete list: ## - Cody Rhodes, Dominik, JD McDonagh promo: Michael Hayes ## - Kevin Owens & Jey Uso vs. Finn Balor & Damian Priest: Michael Hayes ## - Akira Tozawa vs. Miz: Shane Helms ## - Gunther Celebration: Petey Williams & Robert Roode ## - IMPERIUM vs. Ciampa & Alpha Academy: Petey Williams & Robert Roode ## - Drew McIntyre vs. Xavier Woods: Chris Park & Nick Aldis ## - Shayna Baszler vs. Chelsea Green: TJ Wilson ## - Raquel Rodriguez vs. Rhea Ripley: Jason Jordan ## MAIN EVENT: ## - Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin vs. Viking Raiders: Adam Pearce ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...