WWE: NXT Live Touring Return Announced, Carmella on Backlash Over Corey Graves’ RAW Line, Cody Rhodes

May 18, 2022

WWE Announces Return of Live Touring for NXT Brand

During Tuesday’s episode of NXT, WWE officially announced the resumption of live touring for their NXT brand with eight house show events scheduled to take place during the months of June and July.

It was also announced that tickets for these upcoming NXT brand live events will officially go on sale starting on May 20th.

Official press release:

NXT returns to live event touring!
WWE announced today that NXT will return to live event touring across the state of Florida beginning Friday, June 10. Tickets for the first eight events go on sale this Friday, May 20 at 10 a.m. ET via www.wwe.com/nxttix.
The schedule includes:
– Friday, June 10 – UACDC Complex in Tampa, Fla.
– Saturday, July 11 – Largo Event Center in Largo, Fla.
– Friday, June 24 – Jacksonville Armory in Jacksonville, Fla.
– Saturday, June 25 – Venice Community Center in Venice, Fla.
– Friday, July 8 – Citrus Springs Community Center in Dunnellon, Fla.
– Saturday, July 9 – Engelwood Neighborhood Center in Orlando, Fla.
– Friday, July 22 – Melbourne Auditorium in Melbourne, Fla.
– Saturday, July 23 – Cocoa Armory in Cocoa, Fla.
Additional NXT live event dates are forthcoming

#WWENXT is going back on the road! pic.twitter.com/QfAN72qGSe
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) May 18, 2022

Carmella Defends Corey Graves Over Backlash From Commentary Line About Sasha Banks & Naomi

As noted before, Sasha Banks and Naomi were involved in a backstage incident prior to the start of this past Monday’s RAW show. This incident involved Banks and Naomi walking out of the show following backstage issues over WWE’s creative plans for a Women’s Six Pack Challenge match on the show.

During the show itself, RAW commentator Corey Graves publicly called out Banks and Naomi for acting unprofessional for walking out of the show as part of WWE’s explanation for the change made to the show’s advertised main event match.

Corey Graves (Vince, most likely) calling Sasha Banks and Naomi unprofessional for walking out of #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/gt6XbjWanA
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) May 17, 2022

Following his comments, Graves quickly faced online backlash which resulted in Carmella defending her husband and responded back to a fan who was upset at Graves. Carmella stated:

“Imagine still living in a world where you think he just says whatever he wants. He does his job. Period.”

Imagine still living in a world where you think he just says whatever he wants. He does his job. Period.
— The Most Beautiful Woman in all of WWE (@CarmellaWWE) May 17, 2022

Cody Rhodes Comments on His Legacy in Wrestling

Sports Illustrated held a recent interview with Cody Rhodes. One of the topics discussed included Rhodes’ thoughts on what he would like his legacy to be in wrestling.

“I don’t want my wrestling legacy solely to be that I helped start an alternative wrestling company. I’m really proud of that and I want it to be part of my legacy, but what I’ve always wanted is what I’m after right now. I’m getting a second chance at that, and that is my entire focus. I want to do this for my whole family. My wife, my daughter, my sister Teil, my mom. If I can’t hand this title to my dad, it would be wonderful to hand it to my mom.”

On the topic of his “American Nightmare” tattoo, Rhodes revealed that WWE will be selling temporary tattoos of his tattoo at their online WWE Shop within the near future.

“Temporary tattoos are going to be released by WWE Shop, and people now see it as an extension of me. That’s what it is. When I was here before, everyone tried to tell me who I was. That wasn’t a bad thing—I was searching, too. Now I’m reaching my final form. That’s why I am sticking to my guns about my character, keeping it as close as possible to who I am. But I’ll promise you this—I’m not getting another one.”