Well pro wrestling fans, it is Wrestlemania week and people can expect a plethora of wrestling events in New Orleans and surrounding areas during the weekend.
While WWE is holding Wrestlemania and NXT events, pro wrestling brands like Shimmer, Ring of Honor and Progress will be holding events during the weekend as well.
Even WWE is getting in the opportunity to hold some smaller cards in the leadup to Wrestlemania.
On April 2, WWE announced that four tournaments will be held at Axxess all of them with NXT title opportunities for the winner.
The four tournaments are as follows: The WWE United Kingdom Championship Invitational, the NXT North American Invitational, the NXT Tag Team Invitational and the NXT Women’s Invitational.
In addition to the tournaments, there will be matches featuring competitors from NXT, 205 Live, the United Kingdom Championship Tournament and the Mae Young Classic will compete at the event.
There will even be appearances from wrestlers who compete for WWN, PROGRESS and EVOLVE Wrestling.
Below is the current Axxess schedule WWE released. Matches are listed by date and tournament.
Axxess – Day 1: Thursday, 6 p.m.
WWE U.K. Championship Invitational First Round
Lio Rush vs. Buddy Murphy
Dan Matha vs. Drew Gulak
NXT North American Invitational First Round
Fabian Aichner vs. Jason Kincaid
Akira Tozawa vs. Kona Reeves
NXT Tag Team Invitational First Round
Moustache Mountain vs. Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss
Street Profits vs. Cezar Bononi & Adrian Jaoude
NXT Women’s Invitational First Round
Nikki Cross vs. Aliyah
Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair
There will also been a WWN Championship Match between titleholder Keith Lee and Kassius Ohno. TJP, Kalisto, Gentleman Jack Gallagher and Buddy Murphy will also be in action, as well as talent from the Mae Young Classic.
Axxess Day 2 Friday, 5 p.m.
WWE U.K. Championship Invitational First Round
* Lince Dorado vs. Raul Mendoza
* Mark Andrews vs. Zack Gibson
NXT North American Invitational First Round
Chris Dijak vs. Ariya Daivari
Hideo Itami vs. Wolfgang
NXT Tag Team Invitational First Round
SAnitY vs. Forgotten Sons
TM61 vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
NXT Women’s Invitational First Round
Dakota Kai vs. Lacey Evans
Candice LeRae vs. Peyton Royce
Wrestlers from NXT, PROGRESS and the Mae Young Classic will also be in action.
Axxess Day 3, Session 1: Saturday, 8 a.m.
Semifinal matches from all four tournaments.
Also, matches featuring wrestlers from NXT, the WWE U.K. Championship Tournament, the Mae Young Classic and more.
Axxess Day 3, Session 2: Saturday, 1 p.m.
NXT North American Invitation Finals, the United Kingdom Championship Invitational Semifinals, an EVOLVE Tag Team Championship Match, as well as matches featuring wrestlers from 205 Live, NXT, the Mae Young Classic and more.
Axxess Day 3, Session 3: Saturday, 6 p.m.
The U.K. Championship Invitational Finals, the NXT Tag Team Invitational Finals and the NXT Women’s Invitational Finals. Also, Kassius Ohno vs. PROGRESS’ Walter and matches featuring TJP, Kalisto and Gran Metalik, NXT stars, wrestlers from the Mae Young Classic and more.
Axxess Day 4: Sunday, 8 a.m.
WWE U.K. Champion Pete Dunne vs. U.K. Championship Invitational winner
NXT North American Champion vs. NXT North American Invitational winner
NXT Tag Team Champions vs. NXT Tag Team Invitational winners
The session will also feature a WWN Championship Match, a PROGRESS Women’s Championship Match, a PROGRESS Championship Match, a PROGRESS Tag Team Championship match and more.
On one hand, these Axxess events are a great opportunity for wrestlers to perform in front of a live WWE audience. It is also a good chance for wrestling fans to partake in quality wrestling while being close to the Wrestlemania festivities. This can be conflicting for pro wrestling fans who want to enjoy Wrestlemania and NXT Takeover: New Orleans, but also want to partake in other wrestling events in hopes of seeing their favorite independent performers.
However the Axxess is also a good opportunity for die hard wrestling fans who love the NXT and 205 Live programing to watch their favorite wrestlers compete in a more intimate setting. For die hard wrestling fans, this is a chance to introduce your WWE friends to a different kind of wrestling.
Former WWE star Lanny ‘The Genius’ Poffo has reportedly died at the age of 68, according to his close friend “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, although no cause of death has been given at the time of this writing.
Poffo made his in-ring debut with the All-South Wrestling Alliance back in 1974, and also wrestled for a number of promotions such as the National Wrestling Alliance where he won a tag-team title with his father, Angelo.
Poffo debuted for WWE back in 1985 where he would be known as “Leaping Lanny Poffo” and “The Genius.”
Poffo would return to WWE back in 2015 to induct his brother, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, into the WWE Hall of Fame in a touching induction ceremony ahead of WrestleMania 31.
“With a very, very heavy heart, I’ve been asked to let everyone know about the passing of our friend and colleague Lanny Poffo, The Genius,” Duggan said on Twitter.
WWE superstar Braun Strowman has had a number of memorable moments during his career at WWE, but none are quite like the 2018 Royal Rumble where Brock Lesnar got upset with Strowman for catching him with a knee.
Lesnar didn’t take to kindly and immediately hit Strowman with a flurry of legitimate punches, including a right hand to his jaw.
“I mean, at the end of the day it’s two scary guys, two dominant males, not wanting to give an inch to either one, and we took it from each other. Things happen. We’re not playing, we’re not ballet, we’re not badminton. We’re physical. He’s [Lesnar] 300lbs, of just unadulterated animalistic beast and I’m a 385lbs monster. Things happen. At the end of the day, we made one hell of a segment, that’s what really happened.”
“I pat myself on the back. I think I’m the only person in history to take an overhand right from Brock Lesnar and not get knocked out. Anytime you get in the ring with “The Beast” and mix it up, the bigger the challenge the better. If you’re not wrestling the best, then who’d you beat?”
Former New Japan Pro Wrestling star Karl Fredericks has officially signed with WWE following the conclusion of his four-year tenure with NJPW. Fredericks announced on social media back in summer 2022 that he would not re-sign with NJPW.
Fredericks was initially linked to WWE last September, when he was reportedly spotted at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
According to PW Insider, Fredericks has officially signed with WWE and will be a part of the NXT brand initially.
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