>
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
John Cena’s relationship with Nikki Bella has turned into a saga getting a lot of mainstream play in the final weeks leading to this Sunday’s premiere of “Total Bellas” on E!
After announcing on social media earlier this month that they had broken up, primarily over Cena not budging on not wanting to have children, Cena said he is heartbroken and will now give in. “It’s been incredibly reflective, which is amazing, but it’s very difficult,” he said on NBC’s Today Show. “I had my heart broken out of nowhere. For me, it was nowhere. Anyone who has experienced that knows it comes with a series of bad feelings. I’ve looked at myself every day and tried to evaluate myself and the woman that I love. For anyone out there speculating about what I’m doing with my life right now, I still love Nicole and I still would love to marry Nicole and I would love to have a family with Nicole.”
He said he from 6-9 p.m. he leaves his house and talks to strangers to give him some connection with people because he’s feeling alone, and he’s trying to live. He hopes one day he can work things out with Nicole. “This is so difficult because over the five years or six years of our relationship, if you look at me five years ago – stubborn, selfish, self-focused – life had always been about me, then slowly over time this woman waltzes in and steals my heart and she becomes my number one.”
He said he held on to some things out of stubbornness. He said he’s often a horrible communicator and says the wrong things, but he wants to make her happy.
Nikki Bella has also made some rounds and expressed optimism. “I love John so much,” she told Page Six on Thursday following the couple’s broken engagement. “He is such an amazing man, I’m just right now going through a period of time where I need to focus on me and work on me… A healthy me is a healthy us, so I do have hope for our future, and I do think that we’ll have that royal happy ending, but only time can tell.”
“At first I thought the royal wedding was stealing my shine away for a while, I’m like, ‘Of course they have to get married right by when I was getting married,’” she joked.
The timing of this coinciding with the weeks leading up to “Total Bellas” on an NBCUniversal network and speaking about this on another NBCUniversal network might seem just a little too convenient. Sean “X-Pac” Waltman isn’t sure what to think, and he has a pretty nose for sniffing out shoot vs. work.
On “The Tomorrow Show with Kevin Undergaro, guest hosted by Sam Roberts, he weighed in on whether it is a shoot or a work. “Sometimes we don’t even know,” he said. “We don’t know where the f—ing line is… Cause here’s the thing that Vince used to tell us: You are on 24/7. So how the f— do you turn that off?”
He said he knows one thing for sure: “I’m rooting for their happiness, and if it means them not being together then I’m for that too, not just because everyone on the outside looking in wants it to be this thing for them,” he said. “I just want them to be happy.”
NOW CHECK OUT THIS RELATED STORY: Interview Highlights: Lex Luger discusses being arrested night of Elizabeth’s death, his relationship with Randy Savage before and after Liz’s death
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush is set for non-title action on tonight’s 205 Live.
WWE has announced that Rush will face Oney Lorcan on 205 Live tonight. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Ariya Daivari will also take place on the episode, and Raul Mendoza will be in action.
This will be the first time Rush has appeared on 205 Live since winning the Cruiserweight title from Drew Gulak on the October 9 episode of NXT.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
It was announced last week that “some of NXT’s best competitors under 205 pounds” will be appearing on NXT going forward. The Cruiserweight title is now called the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
In the WWE Draft, Gulak and The Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado) went to SmackDown, while Humberto Carrillo and Akira Tozawa went to Raw.
Rush was on commentary for Angel Garza vs. Jack Gallagher on this week’s NXT. Garza won, pointed to Rush, and gestured that he wants the Cruiserweight title.
Tonight’s SmackDown and 205 Live are taking place at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
>
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
Ronda Rousey says in a new WWE.com video interview with Renee Young that she will be buying a ticket and watching Nia Jax challenge Alexa Bliss for the WWE Raw Women’s Title later this month. “I’m excited for that match,” Rousey said. “I’m so excited in fact that even though I’m suspended from Raw, I’m not suspended from Extreme Rules. So I’m going to be buying a ticket; it’s going to be a front row ticket.”
She also said she 100 percent supports Kurt Angle’s decision to suspend her because it’s his job to enforce the rules. She added, though, that she doesn’t regret her actions and would do them again.
NOW CHECK OUT THIS RECENT REPORT: ROH World Title Changes hands at TV taping in Fairfax, Virginia, title match aired on Honor Club
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Chris Jericho has resurfaced in New Japan, challenging Hiroshi Tanahashi to a match at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Jericho challenged Tanahashi at Power Struggle tonight following a tag team match where Kota Ibushi and Tanahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada and YOSHI-HASHI. As the two were celebrating in the ring, a video aired showing someone vaguely looking like Tanahashi rocking out to his theme song. Suddenly, everyone in the video was laid out.
Jericho then emerged in the video wearing his Painmaker outfit. He challenged Tanahashi to a match on the January 5 card and warned that he’ll make this Tanahashi’s last match. Tanahashi accepted, saying he had no other plans for Wrestle Kingdom.
Nothing about All Elite Wrestling was mentioned in Jericho’s promo. He is the current AEW World Champion. Although he is an AEW contracted wrestler, his contract allows him to take dates with New Japan Pro Wrestling. He last appeared for the promotion at Dominion back in June, where he lost to Okada.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
No other bouts have been confirmed for the Wrestling Kingdom 14 night two card aside from Jushin Thunder Liger having his retirement match. Okada vs. Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight title will take place at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one on January 4.
>
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
WWE RAW HOLT REPORT (Happenings Off Live TV)
JULY 16, 2018
BUFFALO, N.Y.
REPORT BY DAVE BUCHANAN, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT
If you attend a live event, send a report to [email protected].
“MAIN EVENT” TV TAPING
(1) No Way Jose beat Curt Hawkins.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
(2) The Revival & Mike Kannellis beat Heath Slater & Rhyno & Chad Gable.
DARK MATCH
WWE advertised Braun Strowman & Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns & Bobby Lashley vs. Elias & Drew McIntyre & Baron Corbin & Dolph Ziggler.
The match didn’t take place. There was no dark match at all. The last match was what aired on Raw. Some fans were leaving during the main event, and it was a long night. The only big issue with the change in what was advertised is that Braun Strowman, one of their top babyface attractions, didn’t appear in front of the fans at all, so fans who purchased tickets to see him were cheated out of seeing him in person.
OTHER NOTES
-I enjoyed myself. This was my first live wrestling event since attending ECW live 18 years ago. It was a nice three-and-a-half hour distraction.
-As for attendance, the seats that were available were full. They had the area behind the stage blocked off, of course. And most of the 300 level was blocked off except for the side of the arena that faces the hard camera.
-The B-Team are really over. They didn’t get the loudest pop, but they have their fans.
-The highlight was the first triple threat match. I was into that the whole time. I’d have liked to see Finn Balor win.
-The crowd reaction for Reigns was 50/50. A lot of people cheered for him during the match. They were younger fans and women, but the guys were booing him.
-The second triple threat didn’t go as well. The crowd wasn’t into it much. They popped for Seth Rollins early in the show, but weren’t into the match itself. Maybe the crowd was just worn out. They got into it at the end, but otherwise it was pretty dead.
-There was good heel heat for Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, but the highlight on the mic was seeing Paul Heyman. I liked the opening segment, but I had my hopes up to see Brock Lesnar.
If you attend a live event, send a report to [email protected].
NOW CHECK OUT THE FULL REPORT ON RAW HERE: HEYDORN’S WWE RAW REPORT 7/16: Alt Perspective coverage of the live show including Extreme Rules fallout, the future of the Universal Championship, and more
After a one-hour delay, tonight’s AEW Dark premieres on YouTube at 8 p.m. Eastern time:
In the main event, Joey Janela & Jimmy Havoc team together against Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt). Stunt also filled in for the injured Luchasaurus in AEW’s Tag Team title tournament, with Jurassic Express losing to Pentagon Jr. & Fenix in the first round.
Havoc will also be featured on this week’s Undesirable to Undeniable segment with Cody Rhodes.
Mercedes Martinez & Big Swole (Aerial Monroe) will make their second appearances for AEW as they take on Allie & Sadie Gibbs. Martinez and Big Swole last wrestled for AEW as part of the Casino Battle Royale at All Out.
Plus, Shawn Spears (w/ Tully Blanchard) takes on Michael Nakazawa. This is Spears’ first match for AEW since he lost to Jon Moxley on the second episode of Dynamite.
MJF joins Excalibur on commentary for this week’s Dark.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
>
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER
OCTOBER 9, 2018
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. AT THE BANKERS LIFE FIELDHOUSE
AIRS ON USA NETWORK 8:00 P.M. ET
BY FRANK PETEANI, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Arena / Super Showdown Recap
WWE Smackdown will emanate from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IND. after appearing earlier this year prior to WrestleMania. We’ll continue the fallout from Super Showdown and as we did on Raw last night, turn our attention towards Evolution taking place on Oct. 28 and Crown Jewel happening on Nov. 2.
At Super Showdown, A.J. Styles retained his WWE Championship over Samoa Joe while Joe was struggling with an apparent knee injury during the match. Becky Lynch retained the Smackdown Women’s Championship over Charlotte Flair by getting disqualified, thus losing the match but retaining the championship. New Day retained their Smackdown Tag Team Championship over The Bar. Daniel Bryan became the #1 contender for the WWE Championship by defeating the Miz in a surprisingly quick match. The IIconics had a feel-good moment defeating Asuka & Naomi in their home country of Australia.
As of this morning, WWE.com has announced three matches for tonight as well as a MizTV segment. Two matches are qualifiers for the World Cup tournament to take place at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (champion) vs. Charlotte Flair; Becky Loses the Title If She is DQ’d
At the Super Showdown, Becky Lynch defended her Smackdown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a rematch from Hell in a Cell. She got herself disqualified by hitting Charlotte with the title belt as Charlotte was applying a figure-four leglock.
Later in the evening, it was announced that a rematch would take place tonight on Smackdown. WWE added the stipulation that if Becky were to get disqualified, she would lose her championship. Becky had some comments in response to WWE’s announcements on Twitter:
I came in the champ, and I left the champ. #boothewoo https://t.co/WZmkpxegYx
— Rebecca Quin (@BeckyLynchWWE) October 6, 2018
Even when I’m the champion, they still tip the scales against me. Looks like I’m fighting a battle on both sides of the curtain. Nothing new therehttps://t.co/YYUd4Ck5YT
— Rebecca Quin (@BeckyLynchWWE) October 7, 2018
Frank’s Analysis: The champ-getting-DQ’d finish is always an easy way out, and this was no exception. Historically, when trying to protect both parties and trying to keep the feud going, the DQ or count out is utilized. WWE also wanted to cement Becky’s heel turn by her getting herself disqualified intentionally to keep her title. My fear is that she will get counted out tonight, which will allow her to retain her championship as opposed to the DQ which is not an option. This feud is expected to carry on to Evolution, and thus the conclusion of this match should lead us in that direction.
World Cup Qualifying Matches: Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe, Randy Orton vs. Big Show
WWE announced a World Cup tournament for the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia on Nov 2. Four Raw and four Smackdown wrestlers will participate. Thus far John Cena and Kurt Angle are in, with more participants to follow. Tonight, Jeff Hardy returns to Smackdown for the first time since Hell in a Cell to take on Samoa Joe in a qualifying match. Joe unsuccessfully challenged A.J. Styles for the WWE Championship at Super Showdown. Hardy recently lost his Hell in a Cell match to Randy Orton.
There’s probably not much to this, but Samoa Joe had a complaint about the local hotel in Indianapolis on Twitter. I post this because he sold a knee injury during the match with Styles this past weekend. If he loses tonight, he could use these issues as excuses for recent failures:
Doing the media rounds in Indianapolis today to reveal the @OmniHotels does not have hot water. So if your into sub arctic showers stay there. Also there is Smackdown Live tonight, but mainly no hot water.
— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) October 9, 2018
In another qualifying match, Randy Orton will take on a returning Big Show. We have not seen Show in the ring since September of last year prior to his having hip surgery. He has appeared in various spots on TV, most notably inducting his good friend Mark Henry into the WWE Hall of Fame this past April.
Frank’s Analysis: John Cena is a free agent, so what show does he represent? I also don’t recall Big Show being drafted to Smackdown. More importantly doesn’t a World Cup involve parties from different countries? Thus far, we have two United States-born wrestlers in the tournament. Tonight’s matches feature four more United States-born wrestlers trying to qualify. I figured Joe may be the exception, but he was born in Orange County, CA. if his Wikipedia page is accurate. Why not call this a King of the Ring tournament? Are they not allowed to use the word “King” in Saudi Arabia, or did the prince want this called a World Cup tournament? With all that said, it’ll be interesting to see if Samoa Joe is the odds-on favorite for this as a way of keeping him relevant following his failure to capture the WWE Championship at Super Showdown. If that doesn’t happen and let’s say Hardy beats Joe and Orton beats Show, we could revisit Hardy vs. Orton depending on how the brackets are set up.
Miz TV: WWE Champion A.J. Styles & Daniel Bryan
Miz TV returns to Smackdown tonight and should be a contentious affair. The Miz will have Daniel Bryan, the man to whom he lost a #1 contender’s match for the WWE Championship at Super Showdown. In addition, he will have WWE Champion A.J. Styles, who is scheduled now to defend his championship against Bryan at Crown Jewel.
Miz surprisingly lost to Bryan in around three minutes this past weekend when Bryan put Miz in a small package. Miz later on posted a photo on Instagram which you can see here via his Twitter account, where he also had some words:
I’m too big of a man for your small package…You had to cheat to win, you’ve tarnished your name. Congratulations, Daniel. #WWESSD https://t.co/9L7JHvbn2H
— The Miz (@mikethemiz) October 6, 2018
In a hard-fought, 24-minutes match A.J. Styles retained the WWE Championship over Samoa Joe. A.J.’s run as champion is approaching 350 days. He defends at Crown Jewel against Bryan who last won the title (then the WWE World Heavyweight Championship) at WrestleMania 30, but had to relinquish the title a few months later due to injury. Fast forward through a two-year retirement and return, Bryan is back in a WWE Championship match.
Frank’s Analysis: Tensions are certain to be high as in storyline, Miz will claim he was cheated. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Miz is inserted into the match at Crown Jewel to make it a triple threat, given WWE’s propensity towards this method given their history. The factor that must be mentioned is Bryan’s loss to Shelton Benjamin last week. Miz had words with Benjamin prior to the match last week and could make a case that Bryan is not deserving of a championship opportunity because of the loss. WWE would be smart to address the loss but it’s not crazy to imagine them dropping it at the same time. The actions of Bryan will be interesting to watch going forward given his wife Brie Bella turning heel last night on Raw with her sister Nikki. We have had the heel husband (Jimmy Uso during the Usos heel run) and babyface wife (Naomi) on the same show and WWE swept that under the carper. Bryan and Brie are bigger stars, so it will be interesting to watch.
Other Items
Aiden English shed some light on Lana’s “One Night in Milwaukee.” He showed a video of he and Lana in a hotel room having a conversation. When Lana started a sentence “I want you,” the video stopped much to the chagrin of he husband Rusev. If you bought that story the way Rusev did, I have a bridge in Brooklyn, N.Y. I can sell to you.
Asuka defeated Peyton Royce last week. As I mentioned earlier, Royce and her IIconic partner Billie Kae defeated Asuka & Naomi at the Super Showdown in front of their Australian country people. Asuka continues to be a shell of her NXT character. It’s hard to imagine remembering she won the women’s Royal Rumble this year and challenged Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship this past WrestleMania in what many tabbed a “dream match.”
The Fabulous Truth, Carmella & R-Truth defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas & his business partner Zelina Vega. Carmella got Vega to submit with a Code of Silence leg lock.
Randy Orton and Tye Dillinger fought to a no-contest. Orton put Dillinger’s finger through an exposed turnbuckle and bent it back, causing extreme pain to Dillinger. Orton continues to be a vile and sadistic character.
Next week’s Smackdown will be the 1000th episode. Several acts will be returning and recently it was announced that Rey Mysterio will be one of those acts. According to PWInsider he has signed a two-year contract; however, he may opt out after 18 months which is right around WrestleMania of 2020. Whatever the case may be, this is tremendous “get” for Smackdown as babyfaces are desperately needed and who better than one whom has always been incredibly popular. Look for an eventual feud with Andrade “Cien” Almas.
Start Time & Matches Advertised
The arena website shows a start time of 7:30 p.m. local time. They advertise these matches:
A.J. Styles & Daniel Bryan & Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz & Samoa Joe & Randy Orton. Given Orton, Joe, and Hardy are already in matches I don’t see this happening.
Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair. This is certainly accurate given WWE announced this match during Super Showdown.
They also show U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Tag Team Champions New Day appearing, plus the proverbial “many more.” You can’t forget the also-proverbial “talent is subject to change.”
Follow me on Twitter @FrankPeteani and ask any questions you may have. Thank you for reading!
NOW CATCH UP ON LAST WEEK’S SMACKDOWN: 10/2 WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: Keller’s report on fallout from Samoa Joe visiting Styles house last week, Super Show-down hype, Bryan-Shelton
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
The Raw Tag Team titles will be on the line on Monday’s go-home show for Survivor Series.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
WWE has announced that Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders will defend their titles against Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins on Monday’s Raw. WWE set up Ryder & Hawkins getting the title shot by them defeating The OC’s Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson and The Street Profits in a triple threat match at today’s house show in Mannheim, Germany.
Hawkins rolled up Anderson to get the win.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) also have a title defense before Survivor Series. Former champions The Revival will get their rematch for the titles on tomorrow’s SmackDown.
The Raw Tag Team Champions and SmackDown Tag Team Champions will face NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) in a non-title triple threat match at Survivor Series on Sunday, November 24.
Monday’s Raw is taking place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla has announced the lineup for their next show, The Makings of a Varsity Athlete.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
The PWG title will be on the line, with Battle of Los Angeles winner Bandido facing champion Jeff Cobb. The PWG Tag Team champions, The Rascalz, will face Aramis & Rey Horus in a non-title matche.
Other matches signed for the event include Rey Fenix taking on Jonathan Gresham, JD Drake (making his PWG debut) vs. David Starr, Orange Cassidy vs. Tony Deppen and Jake Atlas vs. Blake Christian.
The card will take place on December 20 at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, California. Tickets will go on sale on PWG’s website on November 21 at 11 p.m. ET.
Here is the full card:
Bandido vs. Jeff Cobb for the PWG title
Rey Fenix vs. Jonathan Gresham
The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Dezmond Xavier) vs. Aramis & Rey Horus in a non-title match
Jake Atlas vs. Blake Christian
JD Drake vs. David Starr
Mick Moretti vs. Paris De Silva
Orange Cassidy vs. Tony Deppen
>
PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.
(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)
WWE isn’t facing scrutiny from just politicians and journalists, including in today’s Hartford Courant (a paper based in Connecticut where WWE is headquartered), for its partnership with Saudi Arabia which includes a planned Nov. 4 show in Saudi Arabia; they are also facing pressure from their very own fans.
While WWE is facing various threats of cancellations from WWE Network subscribers, they didn’t know how far those anti-Saudi Arabia-WWE feelings went. The found out on Tuesday night at the WWE Smackdown 1000 TV event.
According to multiple fans in the arena, the crowd booed just about every time the “Crown Jewel” logo appeared on the big screen. They also booed after Undertaker mentioned “Crown Jewel” in his show-closing promo, something audible on the live national broadcast on USA Network.
“At least in my section, there was a lot of booing anytime the graphic came up,” said Paul Diem, an on-site correspondent interviewed during The Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show after the event on Tuesday night. “The only time they didn’t boo [the Crown Jewel] logo, as best I could tell, is when they showed the Bryan-Styles graphic and Rey Mysterio in the Crown Jewel graphic, but pretty much every other time.”
He noted the significance of the location of Smackdown 1000. “We’re blocks from the White House, it’s notable,” he said. “The audience was overwhelmingly adult and people seemed to be aware and already just had a visceral reaction. To me, it just seems like – I don’t see how they can run the event in Saudi Arabia. I don’t see how they can do it at this point. They have to move it, right? They can’t not. I think it’s a disaster, but I’m not getting paid 45 million dollars, so maybe I have a different viewpoint on things… I think it’s really short-sighted.”
A caller to The Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show last night, Lamarcus Cross, also noted that there was more booing after Smackdown ended. “At the end of Undertaker’s appearance, they put the Saudi Arabia match on the screen and people started booing,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of fans are happy about them going to Saudi Arabia.”
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
I was there and can confirm this is accurate.
— Gary Cantrell | Hard Work Always Wins (@GaryCantrell) October 17, 2018
I’ve niticed that they stopped mentioning where’s it’s being held. And being at smackdown tonight in person I was shocked that the undertaker got boos when he mentioned it. It’s lretty clear what the public perception is.
— Elijah Smith (@sizzlinpapaya88) October 17, 2018
WWE remains silent on the issue other than stating days ago that they are monitoring the situation. They also have stopped mentioning on TV that Crown Jewel is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia and they have removed the location from the Crown Jewel preview page and upcoming events page on WWE.com. They have not otherwise stated whether they are leaning toward moving the event or locked in on keeping it in Saudi Arabia as planned.
JBL, a long-time WWE employee and close friend of Vince McMahon over the years, defended WWE still going to Saudi Arabia yesterday on Fox Business Channel. He said WWE is “gonna go there” even though “the official line is they’re ‘monitoring the situation.’” He added that his personal opinion is they should go there. “I think the only way you promote change, like we did with Cuba, you isolate a country, all you do is impoverish that country. You want to promote change? WWE went to Abu Dhabi, did the first women’s match that had ever happened in the Middle East, the crowd was chanting in English ‘This is change’.”
Prominent conservative commentator Bill Kristol said on MSNBC on Tuesday that he believes the United States government and business world need to react swiftly and strongly against the apparent brazen murder of a Saudi dissident by the Saudi regime. He warned against not doing so. “It’s not just a moral question, although it is a moral question, obviously,” he said. “What signal does this send to the rest of the world? Dictators everywhere, especially in the Middle East where they watch these things closely, it’s very bad for people in those countries and people who are within reach of those dictators, and bad for us, bad for the United States.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham said yesterday: “We deal with bad people all the time, but this was in our face. I feel personally offended.”
Tuesday night on MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” Gov. John Kasich (R – Ohio) congratulated businesses who have put principle ahead of profits. “We gotta say that a lot of these CEOs who thought that they needed to be in Saudi Arabia from many big companies in the United States stood up and said, ‘We’re not going’ and they deserve credit for that,” he said. “They need to be held up and we need to say to them they put some principle ahead of profit, which is what is critical for the economic system of our country…. This is unanimous, right? This is a bipartisan outrage… Praise the CEOs who aren’t going to the conference [in Saudi Arabia].”
Host Matthews quoted President John F. Kennedy in relation to this situation. Kennedy spoke about tyranny during his 1961 inaugural address: “Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.”
NOW CHECK OUT THIS RELATED STORY: KELLER: Change for the better in Saudi Arabia isn’t going to come from continuing to run live events in Saudi Arabia after the apparent murder of a Washington Post critic of the regime, despite JBL’s stance