“All In” Adds Two More Names, Including a Major International Star

Bullet Club’s planned “All-In” event in Chicago on September 1st, 2018 added two big names yesterday.

The first to declare yesterday was Deonna Purrazzo:

The 23-year old Purrazzo is part of ROH’s Women of Honor division. She lost in the quarter-finals of the WOH Championship Tournament recently.

IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, has also declared he will be at the event on September 1st, 2018.

Okada’s inclusion in the event is significant for a few reasons. He is NJPW’s top star and the event will be taking place not long after the annual G1 tournament. When it comes time for All-In, Okada might already be involved in his next big storyline rivalry.

Dolph Ziggler Denies He’s Signed a New WWE Contract

Dolph Ziggler was reported to have signed a new WWE contract in mid-February but according to Ziggler himself, that’s not the case.

Reports were Ziggler had signed a 2-year deal with WWE worth $1.5 million. In a recent interview with Fox Sports, however, Ziggler says these reports simply aren’t true.

“I would love to get into that more but based on the internet, they told you I’d re-signed and I have not,” Ziggler said to Fox Sports.

Ziggler continued to say he is still negotiating with WWE on a new deal.

“I have a bunch of things going on and I don’t like taking days off and I don’t want to leave WWE but it’s great to have some options,” Ziggler said regarding what he wants to do.

“I’ve asked before to go away for a little while just so everyone can forget I lose 99 times out of 100 and it’s never really come through, so I might have to do it on my own and see what happens.”

It sounds as though Ziggler is leaning towards staying with WWE but would like to take some time away.

I’ve been able to track down the two sources which each claimed they had insider knowledge of Ziggler’s WWE deal. The first news of the contract was leaked by podcaster  Bill “the Hacker” Hamin. The podcaster mentioned he had insider information that Ziggler had agreed to a deal after almost leaving the company. Hamin did not report the signing as fact, however, more just as something he had heard.  Hacker Hamin Media has a series of podcasts and is also associated with Vince Russo’s the Brand.

Sports Illustrated’s weekly Extra Mustard column on wrestling by Justin Barrasso on February 14th, 2018 published news that Ziggler and WWE had reached an agreement.

“Ziggler, who opened and closed this week’s SmackDown, just signed a new two-year contract for a reported $1.5 million per year.” – Sports Illustrated Extra Mustard, February 14th, 2018.

Ziggler never mentioned during the interview why he never bothered to correct the rumors until now.

Matt Hardy References Brother’s Arrest in Latest Post

Jeff Hardy was arrested yesterday and charged with DWI in Concord, North Carolina. Hardy’s arrest came after he crashed his car into a guardrail and spun out into the middle of the road. He was released and given a court date next month.

After news of his brother’s arrest broke, Matt Hardy posted the following:

EVAH since the #7Deities have come to me, I do not put alcohol, drugs, or foreign substances into my VESSEL. I AM MORE."

Matt Hardy himself has had an issue with DWI arrests in North Carolina. In 2011, he was arrested twice in one summer for the offense. He was fired from TNA Wrestling as a result and wouldn’t be brought back for 3 years. The next month Reby called the cops to say Matt was strung out on pills and they raided his house.

After the police raid, Matt checked himself into WWE-sponsored rehab and hasn’t had any issues since.

Update On Big Show’s Future With WWE

While this hasn’t been made official, it is believed that Big Show’s current contract with WWE is up and his in-ring career is over.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated last year, Big Show mentioned his contract is up at the end of February 2018. At the time, Show said he had no plans to continue wrestling after. He hasn’t made any comments since then indicating his plans have changed.

“No last matches, no fanfare, just ride off into the sunset and disappear,” said Big Show said. “That’s more my style. I’ll find something else to do that is inspiring—and let these new kids take the business and the reigns and let them build the future. I wish them all luck. Everything changes. We’ve got a great group of talent that deserves the spotlight.”

With today being the last day of February, unless something has changed which has not been talked about, today is the last day of Big Show’s in-ring career.

Big Show continued to mention what may be next in his career. “I may work in some sort of ambassador capacity for WWE. I’m going to try to pursue a course with this Jetsons cartoon. I’ve pestered Seth Green, who is like the cartoon king, to get me some more cartoons. I’ll try to do some more films, and that’s my transition. I’ve had a great career and I’m really thankful for everyone I’ve worked with, but everything comes to an end.”

His last match was September 4th, 2017, a loss to the Braun Strowman inside a steel cage on Raw. He mentioned in a later interview he had hip surgery not long after.

CM Punk Trolls Bullet Club with “All In” Comments

CM Punk recently got wrestling fans worked up that a return to the industry could be in the cards for the 39-year-old. Punk and the Young Bucks have trolled fans in a similar fashion previously, however.

This is the second time this week Punk has trolled about possibly being apart of the event scheduled for September 1st, 2018.

While no location for the event has been announced, it is rumored Chicago could be the host city. This is not confirmed, however. If the event is held in Chicago and Punk plays any role whatsoever, one would have to assume the chances of selling out a 10,000 seat arena increases significantly.

Billy Jack Haynes Claims to Have Witnessed a Double-Murder

Retired pro-wrestler Billy Jack Haynes, wrestled from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s and was with the WWE from 1986-1988. While working as a WWF superstar in 1987, Haynes claims he also trafficked cocaine and witnessed a double-murder.

Haynes came forward late last month after having connected with the parents of the victims in 2016 and working with a private investigator.

“In August of 1987, I was contacted by an Arkansas criminal politician and was asked if I would provide muscle at an Arkansas drug (transaction),” Haynes explained, though he never named the “criminal politician” he referred to.

“While conducting security for the drug money drop, I witnessed the murders of two young boys: Kevin Ives and Don Henry. They were murdered by other individuals who were working for the same criminal politician. Their bodies were placed on the railroad tracks to be mutilated by a passing train,” Haynes stated.

The deaths of Kevin Ives and Don Henry were originally declared suicides. A later ruling stated the two boys passed out on the train tracks after smoking marijuana. A further autopopsy showed the boys had been knocked unconcious before being placed on the tracks. Finally, a Grand Jury eventually declared the deaths as homicides, though no arrests have ever been made.

“We’re in the process of corroborating his information,” the mother of Kevin Ives stated in response to Haynes’ claims. “We feel very hopeful and excited.”

The Young Bucks Going “All In” To Recruit CM Punk?

The Young Bucks aren’t going to give up recruiting CM Punk. In fact, it appears the tag-team is going “All in” in their efforts.

Punk and the Bucks recently had a back-and-forth on Twitter which some fans took as an attempt to get Punk to wrestle at the planned “All-In” event in September.

"Flying now from Sydney to Perth, wrestling in the opening match, then right back to the airport for red eye flight to Brisbane, flying to LAX, home for 18 hours, then going right back to LAX and flying to Tokyo.  Staying at the top is harder than getting there." - Matt Jackson

"Run a marathon after all that then come talk to me." - CM Punk

"Let's run one together in September." - Matt Jackson

Punk then pretended to not get the reference.

"Probably doing Chicago in October.  I'll do a half with you in September." - CM Punk

Punk and the Bucks have teased fans like this before. Matt Jackson has told fans they’ve done everything they can to get Punk out of retirement and the ball is in his court. Jackson has also told fans that Punk told him he’d be the first one he’d call if he does decide to come back.

Chicago is one of the cities heavily-rumored to be hosting All-In on September 1st, 2018.