WWE: Braun Strowman Makes Return at 11/15 SmackDown Tapings, Rob Van Dam on Changed Plans for 11/6 NXT Show Appearance, WWE Reportedly Tried to Book Date at Hammerstein for NXT

Braun Strowman Makes Return from Groin Injury at 11/15 SmackDown Tapings

As noted before, Braun Strowman has been out of action for WWE since the end of this past September due to a groin injury.

Friday’s WWE SmackDown taping in Milwaukee, Wisconsin featured Strowman making his official in-ring return from injury.

Following WWE’s SmackDown show, WWE held a post-show dark match featuring Strowman teaming up with the LWO (Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio) in a 6-Man Tag Team match against Judgement Day (Carlito, JD McDonagh, & Finn Balor), which was won by Strowman & the LWO. This match originally was a tag team match of LWO vs. Judgement Day which resulted in LWO winning by DQ after Carlito interfered leading to Strowman running out to save LWO and setting up a 6-Man Tag match right afterwards.

Braun, Rey, and Dragon Lee pick up "W" to send the fans home happy. After the match Dragon Lee put Carlitos apple down his trunks. 🍏 #notcool pic.twitter.com/6ymIsOLiUt

— Steven Radmer (@Steven_R) November 16, 2024

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Rob Van Dam on Changed Plans for His Appearance on November 6th NXT Show

A recent episode of the 1 Of A Kind With RVD podcast featured ECW legend and WWE Hall of Famer and co-host Rob Van Dam giving his thoughts about his experience at WWE’s NXT show earlier this month at the 2300 Arena.

“It felt really welcome, and everybody from top to bottom was super cool. Everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome if and when I want to come back. I got some unsettled business now with Wes [Lee]. They all seem really legit. It’s really cool. Everybody’s happy. They all grew up watching my generation of wrestlers, so they’re really stoked to have us there, working with them. They value our perspective. It’s really cool.”

RVD also gave his thoughts about fans being disappointed over how he was used at the show and revealed that WWE officials had changed their original plans for him.

“More time is needed to get more information. But basically, I think that you would not be wrong if you thought that maybe there was some plans that got changed, and if so, that it was done for the betterment of me and for my well-being. Let me just leave it there for now. I will definitely talk more about this when I have more to talk about. Little early right now though. I wanted to wrestle too. I was really bummed. I will be back, too. I will be back, so there’s that.”

RVD also gave his thoughts about the new ring gear he wore at WWE;s NXT show and the potential of him making a return appearance to NXT in the future.

“I am. Just like with everything else, I need a little time. Ideally with that one, hopefully I will be revealing it on NXT and WWE. I got to focus on getting back in there to my place to my turn to step up to the plate again. I gotta make that happen.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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WWE Reportedly Tried to Book Date at Hammerstein for NXT

As noted before, AEW recently booked several dates at the Hammerstein Ballroom for an AEW Collision show and ROH Final Battle 2024 event this December.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that WWE had attempted to book a date at the Hammerstein Ballroom for a NXT show this December to follow up the success from their show earlier this month at the 2300 Arena.

Meltzer reported that WWE officials were unable to get a booking with the venue due to the date they wanted was too close to AEW’s scheduled dates for their Collision and ROH Final Battle 2024 shows. This reportedly led to WWE officials deciding to hold their planned NXT show outside of the Performance Center this December in Lowell, Massachusetts instead.