Ronda Rousey Won’t Be Returning To “S**t Show” WWE; March 21st Live Wrestling News Round-Up

With just a few weeks to go until WrestleMania 40, WWE has posted a new Playlist video to their YouTube channel featuring over 45 minutes of returns on The Grandest Stage Of Them All!

Notable returns featured include John Cena’s Doctor of Thuganomics appearance at WrestleMania 35, Cody Rhodes’ WWE return at WrestleMania 38 as well as various returns from the likes of The Rock and Steve Austin.

Check out the video above and let us know what your favorite WrestleMania return of all-time is!

Sting is set to receive one of professional wrestling’s most prestigious awards later this year!

In a press release issued earlier today, the Cauliflower Alley Club announced that Sting has been chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Iron Mike Mazurki Award, the organisation’s most prestigious award.

He will receive the award at their 58th reunion this August at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and follows in the footsteps of CM Punk, JBL, and Alundra Blayze, who all received the award in recent years.

It’s STING!!! CAC’s 2024 Iron Mike Award Winner is Announced!

Dear Wrestling Enthusiasts,

Get ready to witness an electrifying moment in the world of professional wrestling! The Cauliflower Alley Club is thrilled to announce that the iconic wrestling legend, multi-time world heavyweight champion STING (Steve Borden), has been selected as the distinguished recipient of the 2024 Iron Mike Mazurki Award!

Known for his unparalleled charisma, indomitable spirit, and a career spanning several decades, STING has left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. From his early days as a member of the Blade Runners to becoming the face of WCW’s golden era, from his TNA run to his battles in the WWE and concluding his in-ring career, just this, upcoming, March with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), STING’s contributions to the sport are nothing short of legendary.

The Cauliflower Alley Club, dedicated to preserving the history of professional wrestling and supporting those who have made it extraordinary, is proud to honor STING with the prestigious Iron Mike Mazurki Award. This award recognizes not only his in-ring prowess but also his dedication to the wrestling community and his positive impact on the lives of fans around the world.

But the excitement doesn’t end there! We invite you to join us at the 58th Annual CAC Reunion, taking place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the luxurious Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, NV. This is your chance to be part of wrestling history and celebrate the incredible career of STING alongside fellow fans, industry professionals, and wrestling legends.

To make this experience even more unforgettable, we encourage you to become a Cauliflower Alley Club member and secure your spot at the banquet where STING will be honored. At the reunion, you’ll gain access to exclusive events, connect with fellow wrestling enthusiasts, and support the CAC’s mission to assist those in the wrestling community who may be in need.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to witness STING’s well-deserved recognition and be part of the 58th Annual CAC Reunion. Purchase your banquet ticket(s) now and make your way to downtown Las Vegas for a weekend filled with memories, laughter, and the camaraderie that defines the Cauliflower Alley Club.

Visit our website at www.caulifloweralleyclub.org for membership details, event information, and to secure your tickets. Let’s come together to celebrate wrestling greatness at the Plaza Hotel and Casino this August!

We hope to see you at the reunion!

Sincerely,

The Cauliflower Alley Club

Damian Priest has credited a late WWE Hall of Famer with being a major inspiration for them.

In a recent interview with Josh Martinez, Priest discussed the late two-time WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall and how he acted as a major inspiration to him as a child as Razor Ramon. He went on to claim that without Hall’s success, he likely wouldn’t be in WWE himself.

“That coolness, that smoothness, that confidence, in his words, that machismo. I was just drawn to that personality and like I said, it was just so cool to me,” Priest said in reference to Hall. “He played that part really well. That’s why like as a kid, I’m sure adults got it, but as a kid, to me, he was a Latino.

I was a big fan. I love The Undertaker, right? He was my ultimate hero, but in the street, I’m going to act like Razor Ramon. I’d walk around like he would and I would do the surfer walk. It’s cool. I got to do it on TV now, but it was definitely something that if it wasn’t for Scott Hall, I don’t know if I’m here [in WWE].”

h/t to WrestleZone

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis has addressed his WWE future following a report that he had suffered an injury.

Yesterday, PWInsider reported that Aldis had suffered what was suspected to be a torn bicep and was expected to undergo surgery to deal with the injury.

Aldis himself has now taken to social media to tackle the report. In a post to his X account, he confirmed that the report was partly true and that he had successfully undergone surgery after suffering a ruptured bicep tendon.

However, he went on to state that he will continue to fulfill his on-screen obligations on SmackDown. Everyone here at Inside The Ropes wishes Nick Aldis all the best in his recovery.

Yes, I just got out of surgery for a ruptured bicep tendon, and yes, the sheets had it within minutes. God bless 'em. Must be a slow news day…anyway it was a freak accident, I'm on the mend, and I will continue to fulfill my obligations. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wawHrsW70H

— Nick Aldis (@RealNickAldis) March 20, 2024

Booker T has revealed why he turned down an opportunity to appear on an episode of Dark Side Of The Ring.

Speaking on a recent edition of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker claimed that he had been invited to feature on the recently aired episode of Dark Side Of The Ring, which focused on the life of Buff Bagwell.

The WWE Hall of Famer went on to reveal why he ultimately turned down the role and the opportunity to give his side of the story on their infamous match together that led to Bagwell’s WWE firing.

Dark Side of the Ring, they reached out to me to be part of some of these series and episodes, but I turned it down just because, anything that happened with Buff Bagwell and I, anything I have to say about Buff Bagwell, it’s private.

It’s something that’s internal, it’s something that him and I know and I’m not going to expose it or put it out there or anything like that just because I don’t think the world really needs to know what happened with Bagwell and I, and that night, or anything like that.

The way it’s written is the way it’s going to be told from here on out. I won’t have anything to say about it.

h/t to Fightful

NXT star DIJAK has attempted to get himself a shot at Logan Paul’s United States Championship through a unique video.

In a new video posted to his X account, DIJAK hilariously promoted a variety of PRIME drinks in an attempt to get the brand’s co-founder, and current United States Champion, Logan Paul to face him in a match.

The video ends with DIJAK pouring one of the drinks into a PRIME-branded bottle, downing it in one go, and stating that he’s a “company guy,” and what a company guy he is.

If this doesn’t get me US Title match then nothing will.@LoganPaul @KSI @PrimeHydrate @WWE @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/lQaZqe6NOs

— DIJAK (@DijakWWE) March 20, 2024

Former WWE star Alicia Fox is set to return to the ring for the first time in over two years!

As revealed on the Gabby AF podcast, Fox, under the ring name Vix Crow, is set to face Mickie James at Starrcast’s HER event in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia on April 12th. This will mark her first singles match in almost five years and her first match overall since competing in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble.

The full card for the event is as follows:

• Jordynne Grace vs Delta – TNA Knockouts Championship match
• Mickie James vs Vix Crow
• Flammer vs Steph De Lander vs Jody Threat – AAA Reina de Reinas Championship match
• Tenille Dashwood vs Jessica Troy
• Erika Reed vs Lizzy Evo – OPW Women’s Championship match
• PPK vs Backslide Girls – OPW Women’s Tag Team Championship match (Bull Nakano will present the titles to the winners)
• Lena Kross vs Tarlee vs Aysha vs Charli Evans vs TBA vs TBA – Six-Pack Challenge for a future OPW Women’s Championship match

Kazuchika Okada put his name in the AEW history books after winning his first title in the promotion!

During last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Okada defeated Eddie Kingston to win the AEW Continental Championship. The title change officially made AEW history as it marked the fastest period of time between a talent debuting and winning a title in the promotion.

That wasn’t the only title change to feature on Dynamite though. In the show’s main event, Adam Copeland managed to get Chrisitan Cage to quit and recaptured the AEW TNT Championship in the process.

#AndNEW!!!#AEW Continental Champion
Kazuchika Okada! @rainmakerXokada #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/SUIqrfwsMg

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 21, 2024

Ronda Rousey has defiantly stated that she will not be returning to WWE, which she brands as a “s**t show!”

Ahead of the release of her second autobiography Our Fight, Rousey participated in a Never Before Told interview.

When asked about what kind of “behind the scenes” things fans could WWE fans could learn from the book, Rousey blasted the company for being “an absolute s**t show” before bolding claiming she has no intentions of returning to the promotion.

Behind the scenes? How much of an absolute s**t show it is at the WWE because they can’t hold the sword over my head and hold me hostage with my own career. I don’t need anything from them and I don’t intend on going back, so I can say everything that I think and feel while everybody else is still held captive by their organization.

h/t to Fightful

Welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog! I’ll be with you from 12pm to 6pm BST (7am – 1pm ET) covering all the biggest stories from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT, and more.

Today’s top stories are:

• Ronda Rousey Won’t Be Returning To “S**t Show” WWE
• Kazuchika Okada Wins First AEW Title On Dynamite
• Alicia Fox Set For In-Ring Return After Two-Year Hiatus