VETERAN SPEAKS: RANDY ORTON COMPARES ROSTER TO ISHOWSPEED
While training iShowSpeed, Randy Orton took a massive shot at the WWE NXT roster, praising the YouTuber's charisma over theirs.
Randy Orton recently made some unexpected remarks about the WWE talent pool.
As one of the most seasoned wrestlers around, Orton has tons of experience. The 14-time world champ isn't just a locker room leader; he also advises the current WWE Superstars. Even though he's not on TV right now, he’s been training and coaching YouTube star iShowSpeed. Speed recently visited the Performance Centre to train as a pro wrestler for his Speed Goes Pro series.
While training Speed, Randy Orton took a jab at the WWE roster.
During his time at the Performance Centre, Speed worked with Fit Finlay, Matt Bloom (A-Train), Sheamus, and Myles Borne. But the biggest test was with Randy Orton, who pushed Speed to his max.
Speed was set to wrestle Anthony Luke, with Orton deciding if he had what it takes to be a WWE Superstar.
At one point, Orton was super impressed with Speed, saying he had more charisma than everyone in the room full of NXT superstars.
Good stuff. You've got more personality than anyone sitting in this place. Keep doing what you're doing. You got this.”
That seems like a direct slam at the other wrestlers watching the match.
WWE SENSATION: WHY ROBBIE MCALLISTER WAS FINED $5,000 JUST FOR VISITING TNA IMPACT
Robbie McAllister reveals the truth! Discover why a visit to TNA cost The Highlander his WWE career and a $5,000 WrestleMania check.
Robbie McAllister didn't think he'd cause a stir when he visited Universal Studios during WWE WrestleMania week in 2008.
He just wanted to hang out with friends, clear his head, and get away from a job he was starting to dislike.
Instead, he found himself at the centre of a memorable WWE political mess.
The Highlanders—McAllister and his cousin Rory—joined WWE with enthusiasm. They were a unique tag team playing on Scottish roots and classic brawling. People knew them right away: crazy hair, kilts, sometimes face paint, and a style that screamed over-the-top, rowdy 1980s wrestling.
But by 2008, that excitement had faded. McAllister says he was mentally checked out and annoyed with how he was being used on TV.
“I was in a bad place, and I knew I didn't want to be in WWE anymore,” he said in an interview.
“I guess it was my way of saying, ‘I’m done…’ I was tired of looking stupid.”
Feeling down, he didn't think twice when a friend at TNA invited him backstage at the Impact Zone while he was at the park.
Then Jeff Jarrett—who was a big name in WWE himself—put him on camera. That decision had big consequences.
How a Harmless Visit Became a Career Problem
McAllister explained, “Jeff Jarrett just put me on TV, and they used whatever name they found online…”
Fans everywhere saw it. WWE saw it. And almost immediately, Robbie’s phone started ringing. The person in charge of WWE talent wasn’t happy.
McAllister remembers, “John Laurinaitis called me within a minute of me leaving the building… ‘What’s one of my wrestlers doing at TNA!?’”
McAllister went back to the WWE hotel, where everyone was getting ready for WrestleMania—the biggest show of the year. If there were going to be problems, he wanted to face them.
He added, “Undertaker yelled at me, Fit Finlay yelled at me, but I didn’t really care because WWE wasn’t what I thought it would be.”
It was what he expected. He had broken a basic rule during WWE’s most important week: wrestling companies rarely promote or mention their competition on TV. McAllister's showing up on TNA was a big deal, even if it was an accident.
It cost him. He lost a $5,000 check for WrestleMania weekend, according to the Wrestling Observer.
That wasn’t the end of it. Some wrestling fans say McAllister was punished on live TV soon after when JBL beat him quickly and badly on Raw.
Fans have watched the match over and over: hard hits, an angry face, and a finish that seemed mean, in a one-sided fight that lasted less than a minute.
The idea that it was a punishment has been a rumour for years. McAllister looks back with some regret.
“I shouldn’t have been there because I was being dumb… It’s my fault,” he said. “I was in a bad place… and there are going to be results when you do something that… it was immature, but I was also lashing out.”
He didn’t get fired right away. The aftermath went on longer than people realise. The Highlanders were let go by WWE in August 2008.
How One Choice Changed a WWE Star's Career
McAllister said, “It took six months to get fired, so I had to stick around and wrestle in dark matches every week.”
Today, the story is a reminder about timing, politics, and what goes on behind the scenes. McAllister wasn’t trying to leave WWE, ruin a storyline, or embarrass anyone. He was tired and, in his words, 'done being pushed around.'
The TNA appearance was a turning point, but it wasn’t the reason. He had been frustrated for a while before he was seen at the Impact Zone.
Now, things are different for WWE and TNA. They sometimes work together, with wrestlers appearing on each other’s shows and titles being defended and won on the other company’s turf. The rivalry is now part of the story.
But back in the late 2000s, it was a big deal. WWE moved on, but the video lives on—as the night a wrestler crossed the line during the biggest week of the year.
ROMAN REIGNS VS. CODY RHODES: THE LEAKED RETURN CONFIRMS THE INEVITABLE REMATCH OUTCOME
The Tribal Chief is coming home. A leaked SmackDown listing reveals Roman Reigns’ return date following his Survivor Series hiatus.
Roman Reigns has been WWE’s main guy for almost ten years, and with WrestleMania season nearing, his return is likely.
The Tribal Chief has been absent since a heated Survivor Series WarGames match. His team lost, and he had a face-off with Cody Rhodes after the match, with each saying they would never team up.
WWE has used Reigns rarely and during big moments, and they’ve been quiet about their plans for him. But a recent mistake may have revealed his return.
WWE May Have Spoiled Roman Reigns’ Return
Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio that he saw a possible mistake from WWE while checking upcoming TV listings.
Roman Reigns is expected to return soon, but it appears there was a mix-up. Someone at WWE sent RAW information they weren’t supposed to, planning for it to be for a future SmackDown episode, which could include the former Universal Champion’s return. The exact date wasn’t revealed, but Roman might be returning soon, as WWE accidentally shared the plan when sending its routine rundown to TV guides.
Another RAW note about Maxxine Dupri was mentioned, but that was also a mistake. Meltzer said WWE was only supposed to send the one for SmackDown.
Meltzer said that the person in charge of sending the information mixed it up and sent the RAW one instead of the SmackDown one. It mentioned how Maxxine Dupri tries to recover from her loss to Becky Lynch, and Roman Reigns returns.
He doesn’t know if that’s this Monday’s show or next Monday’s show, but he thought that was interesting. It could be the week after that. That is what WWE sent to the TV guide people for SmackDown, so someone messed up.
It looks like WWE’s distribution system made a mistake and revealed the information too early.
WWE tries to make sure returns aren’t made public, but it may have confirmed Roman Reigns’ return. It might not happen this week, but Reigns’ next appearance is coming up, and it’s not a secret anymore.