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Will Vince McMahon’s Role With WWE Change After XFL Relaunch?

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Sports fans and the professional wrestling world knew it was coming – WWE founder and chairman Vince McMahon announced the return of the XFL.

During a press conference streamed on Alpha Entertainment, McMahon announced the XFL will return in January 2020. Although the WWE owner is funding the football league, things will be different this go around – no crossover with WWE, no flashy characters or gimmicks behind the league, just good old fashioned football that will go back to the football fans. It’s akin to Tommy Dreamer’s motto for his House of Hardcore promotion – “No politics, no BS, just wrestling.”

It’s a 180-degree from McMahon’s first foray into football in 2001.

The basics of the revamped XFL include eight teams to start each with 40 man rosters. There will be a 10-game season beginning in January.

The game will also feature a goal of only two hours – with the potential of eliminating halftime. Players won’t get to take a stance on issues on the field and any athlete with a criminal record will not play. McMahon is friends with Donald Trump, who is a WWE Hall of Famer and also criticized the NFL and players for sitting and kneeling during the National Anthem.

According to ESPN, the initial outlay is expected to be around $100 million, which is the same amount of WWE stock McMahon sold in December and funneled into Alpha Entertainment.

Of course there’s speculation as McMahon’s role with WWE going forward. McMahon said it will be two years before the XFL plays its first game, which he is time to get everything right.

McMahon also noted his duties with WWE will not change when the XFL launches. The WWE chairman said the press conference is most likely the last time he will be up front for the league. He said he would hire executives who know what they are doing.

It sounds like McMahon is learning his lesson in not spreading himself too thin when it comes to building the XFL and his duties in WWE. However, fans may not buy the idea of McMahon simple sitting back and letting a company play with his investment.

McMahon is has his fingers on the pulse when it comes to WWE – to borrow a phrase form Freddie Prinze Jr., the WWE is McMahon’s toybox and he doesn’t necessarily like others playing with his toys.

Sure McMahon will hire executives who know the game of football, but it’s highly unlikely he will sit back and let someone else have the final say with the XFL – especially when it’s $100 million he is investing.

Some folks are hoping McMahon’s newest venture results in him taking time away from WWE so that Triple H can step in and have sole booking power with the promotion. This would result in more long-term booking, similar to what fans see in NXT.

This also could change if McMahon decides to sell WWE or if the promotion decides to leave the USA Network and move to a new broadcast channel.

The only person who really knows all of this is McMahon himself. 

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Former WWE Star Lanny Poffo Dies at 68

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Lanny Poffo

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.

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Braun Strowman Talks Brock Lesnar Shooting On Him at Royal Rumble

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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.

“Shit got real” Strowman said, during an interview with BT Sport.

“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?”

 

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Ex-NJPW Star Karl Fredericks Signs with WWE

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NXT 2.0

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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