Welcome to the November 12th Inside The Ropes Live blog, bringing you the latest news from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling and more.
Today’s biggest stories:
After a lifetime of staying away from the limelight, Mark Calloway is making the most of his life post retirement.
From appearances at the UFC, to endorsing and interviewing US Presidents, Calloway has done it all and now… that includes modelling football shirts.
Did anyone have The Undertaker modelling Genoa's third kit on their 2024 bingo card? pic.twitter.com/hku8TNUtxD
— ITR Wrestling (@ITRWrestling_) November 12, 2024
As WWE continues to build to Survivor Series; WarGames one question has begun to form on everyone’s lips…who will be the fifth men.
With the match currently looking to feature Roman Reigns, Jey & Jimmy Uso and Sami Zayn vs Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga.
After this week’s (and next week’s pre-taped episode) Raw it may have been revealed.
Rollins first declined Solo Sikoa’s advances noting he would not align with a wannabe Roman Reigns but later was saw talking backstage with Sami Zayn potentially hinting at a long awaited reunion with friend and rival Roman Reigns.
Solo also appears to have found his man, aligning with Bronson Reed a man very familiar with Seth Rollins.
Are you excited for WarGames? Let us know using the thumbs below!
WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash recently opened up about ongoing injury struggles, sharing that he now requires shoulder surgery following an accident on a rowing machine.
Speaking on his Kliq This podcast, Nash joked about the relentless nature of his injuries, explaining that he’d love to appear on NXT if his surgery schedule permits.
Nash, who also faces severe back issues due to herniated discs, clarified that his back problems are separate from his shoulder injury.
He humorously noted that, while his pinched nerve affects his leg strength, it’s the shoulder that’s making everyday tasks challenging.
After a brutal Hell in a Cell match against Drew McIntyre at WWE Bad Blood, which left McIntyre requiring 16 staples, CM Punk has been on hiatus from WWE since October.
However, fans in New York City can mark their calendars: Punk is set to make his return at Madison Square Garden on December 26 as part of WWE’s holiday tour, per an announcement from MSG.
This return will give fans another chance to see the “Second City Savior” back in action.
On the November 11 episode of WWE Raw, Dakota Kai made her long-awaited return to the ring, rejoining Damage CTRL teammates Kairi Sane and IYO SKY.
This marked her first appearance since her injury in July 2024, which was attributed to an attack by Pure Fusion Collective’s Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, and Shayna Baszler.
In a shift from the originally scheduled tag team match, Kai’s return turned the showdown into a three-on-three battle.
Damage CTRL triumphed, with Kai getting retribution against those responsible for her time away.
Notably, Asuka was absent from the action as Damage CTRL celebrated their victory.
Damian Priest is set to face Gunther for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series: WarGames, following Priest’s victory over Seth Rollins, Sheamus, and Dominik Mysterio in a Fatal Four-Way match on Raw.
Afterward, Priest confronted Gunther directly, challenging his recent dominance, particularly noting the champion’s recent defeat by Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel.
Gunther’s associate, Ludwig Kaiser, tried to prevent the challenge, calling Priest unworthy.
This led to an intense standoff, though Gunther ultimately opted to back down, leaving the showdown for Survivor Series
WWE’s November 18th Raw episode, pre-taped on November 11th in Grand Rapids, promises major developments across the roster. Here are the full results, courtesy of F4WOnline:
Donald Trump’s storied history with the WWE looks set to continue as Linda McMahon has been named the frontrunner to become the new Secretary of Commerce under the returning US President.
As first reported by Reuters, Trump looks set to name the former Small Business Administration director as his Secretary for Commerce as part of his team for his upcoming second term as US President.
McMahon has been a vocal supporter and heavy donor of Trump throughout multiple election attempts and now looks set to be rewarded for her support.
As Secretary for Commerce McMahon’s responsibilities will include leading the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing a broad range of responsibilities that support economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement.
Key duties include promoting trade, fostering innovation, supporting American businesses, and managing data vital to economic policy. This role involves working with industries, enforcing fair trade practices, and advocating for U.S. economic interests globally.
Additionally, the Secretary oversees critical agencies like the Census Bureau, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ensuring their activities support economic progress and public resources.
Hello and welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog.
My name is Liam and I will be with you from 2pm to 6pm (UK) covering all the biggest stories from the past 24 hours across the world in wrestling.
Kicking things off today we have:
