Browsing: Ray

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It can be argued that Jon Moxley and the Death Riders are at a bit of a crossroads. After dominating AEW for almost a year, the group has suffered two setbacks over the last few months, with Moxley losing the AEW World Championship to “Hangman” Adam Page at All In, and then quitting against Darby Allin in an I Quit match this past weekend at WrestleDream. That last defeat, following Moxley’s vow that he would never quit, particularly stings, and one could argue calls into question his entire aura within his stable.

As is the case most big defeats in wrestling, it also opens the door for Moxley to disappear into the shadows for awhile and return later with a new focus. Alas, Bully Ray doesn’t believe that will happen. On Monday’s “Busted Open Radio,” the two-time Hall of Famer cited the fact that Moxley didn’t go away after losing to Page as a sign that he is likely to stick around on TV. That’s not the worst thing in the world, however, as Bully laid out a path he believes AEW can take to end Moxley’s heel run and turn him back babyface.

“So now we get Moxley losing to Darby, to the Sharpshooter and … the bat, the Coffin Drop, the Sharpshooter,” Bully said. “Now, Moxley should screw off again. But I see a very good reason for Moxley not to go home yet. … If Moxley is going to stick around because AEW has main event roster issues with injuries and people not being on TV right now, … it is time for AEW to tell the story of Jon Moxley and Renee Paquette, and how Renee finally gets in Jon’s ear. … Behind every man is a stronger woman. Renee needs to be that stronger woman. If somebody can turn Jon Moxley back into a babyface, it is Renee Paquette.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

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WWE faction The Vision underwent a massive shift last week, with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed seemingly ejecting Seth Rollins from the group via a ferocious beatdown at the end of “WWE Raw.” As a result, it seems likely that both men will take a step up in the company’s hierarchy. Speaking on “Busted Open Radio” in the aftermath of “Raw,” Bully Ray shared his take on whether or not Breakker is ready to become a regular main eventer.

“I never like to see talents jump too far ahead of things, but Bron is one of those very unique talents, so I’m gonna compare him to a couple of guys,” Bully said. “Brock Lesnar. Randy Orton. Kurt Angle.”

Those three performers have more than a few things in common, and Bully believes WWE’s leadership and creative team had a clear idea of what they wanted to do with those wrestlers. He believes the same could be true for Breakker. While there’s a chance that he could stumble and lose the audience, Bully doesn’t think it’s likely in this case, as Breakker has a ton of raw talent.

That being said, Bully showed some hesitation when it comes to the idea of making Breakker one of the company’s top stars right now. One thing that Breakker needs to work on, in Bully’s estimation, is adding some depth to his character.

Though the discussion focused on Breakker, and he was the one who initiated the coup, it’s worth noting that Reed just picked up a victory over Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel days before. Because of that, it seems WWE has significant plans for both Reed and Breakker, and Bully noted that Reed’s Tsunami finisher was used in tandem with Breakker’s spear to put Rollins out of commission.Â

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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BJ Rayâ€s release from WWE has been one of the most talked-about stories coming out of the WWE LFG reality series. Booker T, who served as a coach on the show, didnâ€t hold back when he explained why things didnâ€t work out.

On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker said that BJ Rayâ€s biggest problem was that he acted the same way backstage as he did on-screen, which doesnâ€t work in WWE.

“I always thought that kid had something. But in this business, youâ€ve gotta be able to apply yourself. Itâ€s not gonna be like football, basketball, or any other structured sport. Itâ€s not gonna be like that. A guy like BJ Ray, he had the looks, he had the swag, the charisma, but everything else, he definitely was lacking in. The same way BJ Ray was on television, he was that way off television. You canâ€t be that way.â€

Just a later, on October 16, 2026, BJ Ray seemed to respond to that claim when he broke his silence on Twitter with a lengthy statement, admitting that his attitude may have played a role in his release.

“WHAT A JOURNEY 🌠Well obviously I had to have pissed somebody off lmao! I would like to take this moment to address you guys as Brayden Jesse Ray. First and foremost, I have to give the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, who had given me this opportunity. Secondly, I would like to thank Hunter, Shawn, & Matt Bloom (as well as all the @WWE coaches & staff) that were involved with this entire process. The WWE Performance Center is truly a unique place filled with many gifted individuals and unlimited support.â€

He went into detail about his strategy going into WWEâ€s reality series, explaining that the version fans saw on TV was a deliberate creation.

“As soon as I stepped out of my uber at my WWE tryout, the SexyBJRay effect was in full play. I had a strategy upon filming WWE: NEXT GEN, to start building one of the most over exaggerated versions of myself, to give the wrestling industry a HEEL like theyâ€ve never seen before. And quite frankly, it arguably was one of the greatest rookie runs of all time. In a matter of months, whether hate or love, I won the WWE fans over and they were extremely invested. Without ever having a debut match on live @WWENXT tv, I have become one of the most recognized names in the brand and industry.â€

He described his experience outside the ring, saying that even without an official debut, he became a name that fans recognized.

“From getting swarmed at WWE World in Las Vegas to taking pictures with fans in every airport I walk into, I have been able to build a movement with my hard work and dedication. The hours behind the scenes, editing social media content, training, and reflecting on my character work, I feel it has all payed off.â€

Ray admitted the release stung, especially since he doesnâ€t know what went wrong, but emphasized he was keeping a positive outlook.

“There have been many challenges along the way, but I can only control what I can only control. Obviously this release is a big bummer (especially when you have no idea what you could have done different), but the only option in my opinion is an attitude of gratitude. All I can do is keep pushing, & put it in Godâ€s hands. Iâ€m healing strong and will continue to rehab my shoulder until Iâ€m 100%. And the biggest SHOUTOUT & THANKS to my fans who made it all worthwhile.â€

Then, in true BJ Ray fashion, he ended the post by bringing back his “SexyBJRay†persona with a bold sign-off.

“And now, Brayden Jesse Ray is back on sabbatical and SexyBJRay has a few words. As my good friend @TheNotoriousMMA once said, ‘Iâ€d like to take this chance to apologize to absolutely nobody.†What youâ€ve seen was just the trailer… get ready for the whole movie 🿠and p.s. ‘Ayo you got Snapchat?!â€â€

Booker T claimed BJ Rayâ€s downfall was that he didnâ€t separate his on-screen persona from who he was backstage. BJ Rayâ€s response appears to lean right into that same reputation, acknowledging he probably did upset the wrong people, but refusing to apologize for it.

Do you think BJ Rayâ€s “pissing somebody off†approach is what cost him in WWE, or is that the exact kind of attitude wrestling needs today? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Brock Lesnar has polarized many fans recently with the controversies he’s been involved in, but he still has a fan in Bully Ray, who praised him and his wrestling mindset.

Ray, while talking about Lesnar on “Busted Open,” called the former WWE Champion one of the sharpest minds in the pro wrestling business.Â

“With Brock, it’s all about quality and not quantity. And that’s the way it should be,” he said. “And I can’t hammer this home enough: Brock Lesnar is one of the smartest pro wrestlers on the planet.”

To drive home his point, Ray took listeners back to the 2020 Royal Rumble, where Lesnar decimated everyone in his path in the men’s Royal Rumble match. However, he fell to McIntyre, which received a loud reaction from the fans, and put the rocket on McIntyre heading into WrestleMania.

“If you don’t believe me, just go back and watch that Royal Rumble right before Drew McIntyre and leading up to right up until Drew McIntyre eliminates Brock. That entire match is designed by Brock just to make Drew. If other people would have gotten eliminated in that match that were not eliminated by Brock, it would have taken away from Drew McIntyre. And Brock went into that match saying, ‘I’m going to make Drew McIntyre. How do I make him?’ Brock already knows that in getting eliminated by Drew, it’s going to be a big deal. But how do we make that elimination even a bigger deal? How do we make people jump up on their feet and scream at the top of their lungs? Well, I’m going to decimate every single person who gets into this rumble before Drew comes to the ring.”

Several of Lesnar’s peers have heaped praise on his wrestling intelligence, with former opponents like McIntyre himself and Omos, all talking glowingly about Lesnar’s intense understanding of the business.

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Seth Rollins has been among the focal points of WWE in 2025, from forming The Vision to faking an injury to cash-in and win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but recently things have started to go sideways. For one, Rollins and his wife, Becky Lynch, came up short against AJ Lee and CM Punk at Wrestlepalooza. Now, he’s set to battle Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel, a risky proposition for Rollins given he has never beaten Rhodes in singles action.

On Monday’s “Busted Open Radio,” Bully Ray analyzed Rollins’ situation. Given Rollins’ current struggles while the rest of The Vision is finding success, Bully believes Rollins losing to Rhodes and having a bit of a breakdown may not be the worst thing in the world.

“I want to see Seth Rollins go crazy,” Bully said. “And when I say crazy, I want him to have a breakdown, because things are not going [well]. Because he loses to Cody. Because he and Paul are on different pages. His wife won’t shut up. The Bron’s are doing whatever they want to. Everything is falling apart at the seams for Seth Rollins.”

The problem with that scenario is that Bully has already labeled the upcoming Rhodes-Rollins match as a must win for Rollins, given his previous defeats. As such, it will require, in Bully’s eyes, WWE choosing what’s best for Rollins’ momentum, or what’s best for the storyline.

“There’s definitely a lot of layers with all of these characters,” Bully said. “It does make it interesting. We’ll see where they go with it. I think that, even though I’ve said I think it’s a must win match for Seth, it’s better for the Seth story if he loses again.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

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WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has offered a critical assessment of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’s connection with the WWE Universe, stating that he believes Rollins is currently lacking the emotional bond with fans that is necessary to reach the absolute highest levels of superstardom.

Bully compared Rollins to top stars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk, arguing that while Rollins is undoubtedly talented, he struggles to draw the same genuine, passionate reactions from the audience. Speaking on a recent episode of Busted Open Radio,Bully Ray broke down what he feels Rollins is missing from his character.

“I always go back to what it truly has to do with, and this is old school 101, emotional connection to an audience. People genuinely love Cody. Children love Cody, thus, the parents love Cody. Roman has a god-like aura to him. You feel like you are amongst royalty when Roman comes out. Plus, he has that Samoan heritage and bloodline, which we respect so much in wrestling, but respect even more in the WWE. Punk, the consummate rebel, the guy who has always been the voice of the voiceless and the peopleâ€s guy. All three of those guys have a unique emotional connection. Emotion, thatâ€s all this f—ing business is about. The emotional manipulation of the fan base and how you can get them to love you or hate you anymore. Thatâ€s it. Seth doesnâ€t have that level of emotion yet, and heâ€s been around for a long time.â€

He then critiqued Rollins’s elaborate attire and presentation, suggesting it makes him appear as if he is trying too hard to connect with the audience.

“Youâ€re not as quick to say ‘is pro wrestler†as you were the other three. That is the microscopic nuance of the emotional connection to Seth, where when you see the get-ups every week, itâ€s almost like heâ€s trying so hard. Forget about how I feel about the suit, Cody wears a suit on the beach. Roman looks like he could be walking into a gym or the grocery store, and Punk looks like your regular everyday guy. They could be wearing those clothes anywhere. Seth is putting on this garb to go stand in the middle of the ring. Heâ€s putting Seth Rollins on on Monday night and taking it off on Tuesday morning.â€

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By Ella Jay

Oct. 2, 2025 10:40 pm EST

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With a half-dozen world titles to his name, Seth Rollins is widely considered to be a top star in WWE. Whether or not he’s ever been presented as the face of WWE, however, recently came up for debate on “Busted Open Radio.”

In the eyes of WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray, one missing element is preventing Rollins from being at the highest tier of WWE, where names such as Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk reside.

“I always go back to what it truly has to do with, and this is old school 101, emotional connection to an audience,” Ray said. “People genuinely love Cody. Children love Cody, thus, the parents love Cody. Roman has a god-like aura to him. You feel like you are amongst royalty when Roman comes out. Plus, he has that Samoan heritage and bloodline, which we respect so much in wrestling, but respect even more in the WWE. Punk, the consummate rebel, the guy who has always been the voice of the voiceless and the people’s guy. All three of those guys have a unique emotional connection.

“Emotion, that’s all this f***ing business is about,” Ray continued, “the emotional manipulation of the fan base and how you can get them to love you or hate you anymore. That’s it. Seth doesn’t have that level of emotion yet, and he’s been around for a long time.”

The Answer Lies In The ‘Microscopic’ Nuances

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To further illustrate the tiny nuances of human emotion as it relates to wrestling, Ray asked his co-host Dave LaGreca whether Rhodes, Reigns, Punk, and Rollins appeared as actual pro wrestlers or as if they were merely portraying one. LaGreca identified the former three as legitimate pro wrestlers with ease. When trying to classify Rollins, however, LaGreca admittedly had some reservations. According to Ray, therein lies the subtle difference.

“You’re not as quick to say ‘is pro wrestler’ as you were the other three,” Ray said. “That is the microscopic nuance of the emotional connection to Seth, where when you see the get-ups every week, it’s almost like he’s trying so hard. Forget about how I feel about the suit, Cody wears a suit on the beach. Roman looks like he could be walking into a gym or the grocery store, and Punk looks like your regular everyday guy. They could be wearing those clothes anywhere. Seth is putting on this garb to go stand in the middle of the ring. He’s putting Seth Rollins on on Monday night and taking it off on Tuesday morning.”

In recent weeks, Rollins, the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, has taken issue with fans labeling Rhodes, the current Undisputed WWE Champion, as the “quarterback” of WWE — something Rollins rather believes himself to be. At WWE Crown Jewel, Rollins aims to prove that for good when he takes on Rhodes in a champion vs. champion match, with the winner earning the Crown Jewel Championship and a commemorative ring. Rhodes collected his first ring last year when he defeated “The Ring General” GUNTHER at the same event.

Rollins claimed his World Heavyweight Championship at WWE SummerSlam when he successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on CM Punk. Rhodes regained his respective title the following night by besting John Cena, who was also once viewed as the face of WWE.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Tiffany Stratton defeated challengers Nia Jax and Jade Cargill to extent her WWE Women’s Championship reign on “WWE SmackDown, but that match didn’t end without controversy, as it ended on a major botch that saw the referee fail to make the three count despite Jax failing to kick out of a Stratton pinfall. Following the controversy, Bully Ray explained who he believes is at fault.

“In wrestling it’s better to be early than to be late,” Bully said during an episode of “Busted Open Radio,” noting that the botched sequence began when Stratton was late breaking up a Cargill pinfall on Jax with a dropkick. This led to Jax kicking out, but Stratton hit the dropkick anyway and covered, with Jax then failing to kick out of Stratton’s pin. The ref, however, swiped her hand away on the third count rather than count the three and end the match.

“The ref swiped on three because she clearly does not think that this is the finish,” Bully said. “What I think was supposed to happen was that Tiffany Stratton was supposed to steal the victory from Jade Cargill. Jade hits the Black Hole Slam, one, two — Tiffany hits the [dropkick], and then covers and gets the 1-2-3 … You can’t be a 100% positive of who makes the mistake; whether it’s the ref or Nia not kicking out … If Tiffany is supposed to steal the win, why did the ref swipe on three?”

After co-host Dave LaGreca expressed that he believed the mistake lies with the referee and not with Jax, Bully agreed — for the most part.

‘There’s obviously miscommunication there’

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“Nia didn’t kick,” Bully continued. “In that situation, the referee’s responsibility is to count to three. Now, we go past that. This is what the most puzzling part of the match is. I can deal with mistakes … it’s gonna happen, it can happen to anybody. What I don’t understand is why Nia decides to have a conversation with the referee.”

Bully was referring to what happened after the ref swiped her hand, when Jax could be seen raising her head to communicate with the ref before performing an exaggerated kick-out long after it made any sense.

“There’s obviously miscommunication there,” Bully said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen blatant [mis]communication like I saw there … You have to be a little bit more aware, especially in 2025 with high definition-cameras and cameras all over the place, that that conversation is being picked up.”

Bully reiterated his belief that “the planned finish was for Tiffany Stratton to steal the victory from Jade, because that would be good heat. If it’s just the moonsault, what’s the big deal?” He then suggested that he would have made the spot simpler, having Stratton toss Cargill out of the ring before making the cover, rather than relying on someone with Stratton’s relative lack of experience to get the timing exactly right on the dropkick.

“I don’t know if I would rely on Tiffany to have that split-second timing to hit that [dropkick] just as the three-count is starting,” he said.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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BJ Ray has officially let fans in on a secret about his time on WWE LFG.

Taking to Twitter on September 30, the “ratings machine†admitted he wrestled not one—but two full seasons—while dealing with a fully torn rotator cuff and labrum. In his post, BJ Ray explained that even doctors were stunned at how he was still competing:

“Cats out of the bag! Yes… ever since my return on LFG season one I have been competing with a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum. The surgeon asked me ‘Bro how have you been wrestling, the only thing holding your shoulder together is your muscle fibersâ€. I told em ‘The show must go onâ€.â€

He went on to reveal that he knew his larger-than-life personality would carry him through, even if his body couldnâ€t.

“Thatâ€s right, I wrestled both seasons of LFG basically not even able to wrestle because I knew that my personality was more than any other contender had. I have absolutely zero regrets and my shoulder is now repaired. I will be back in no time and actually able to lift my arm without it feeling detached from my body. Appreciate the love. As the ratings machine, I felt it was my duty to still be out there putting on for yâ€all. As well as the WWE and A&E asking me to push through as 25% of myself, because they knew how many views I drew. We will be back in no time baby! All love, SexyBJRay â¤ï¸â€

In a short video attached to the post, BJ Ray was shown in a hospital bed after surgery, cracking jokes about his recovery.

“I donâ€t need the narcos. I donâ€t need the narcos. Just a beer and a cigarette.â€

BJ Rayâ€s reveal just shows how far some performers go to deliver for their fans—and how much they risk to keep the show running. With his surgery now behind him, fans are eager to see what heâ€ll do at full strength.

Do you respect BJ Rayâ€s “show must go on†mentality? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

September 30, 2025 10:12 pm

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We wish our best wishes to WWE LFG star BJ Ray and want him to get well soon.

One of the most popular names on WWE: Legends & Future Greats, BJ Ray has now undergone a successful surgery. Recently shared a video on X(Twitter), Ray explained how he wrestled and competed on LFG while still battling ‘a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum’.

However, now undergone surgery and on the road to recovery, he said,

Cats out of the bag! Yes… ever since my return on LFG season one I have been competing with a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum. The surgeon asked me “Bro how have you been wrestling, the only thing holding your shoulder together is your muscle fibersâ€.

I told em “The show must go onâ€. Thatâ€s right, I wrestled both seasons of LFG basically not even able to wrestle because I knew that my personality was more than any other contender had. I have absolutely zero regrets and my shoulder is now repaired. I will be back in no time and actually and able to lift my arm without it feeling detached from my body.

Appreciate the love. As the ratings machine, I felt it was my duty to still be out there putting on for yâ€all. As well as the WWE and A&E asking me to push through as 25% of myself, because they knew how many views I drew. We will be back in no time baby! All love, SexyBJRay.”

The 25-year-old competed on both seasons of WWE: LFG and was under the mentorship of Bubba Ray Dudley in both seasons.

We at ITR Wrestling wish Brayden “BJ” Ray a steady and safe recovery.

WWE Veteran Bully Ray Questions Jazmyn Nyx’s Passion For Wrestling

Recently, following a failed contract negotiation, NXT star Jazmyn Nyx refused a new deal and bid adieu to WWE. Soon enough, Hall of Famer Bully Ray opened up on Busted Open Radio and questioned her passion for the sport.

If Jazmyn Nyx would have trained at a wrestling school, wrestling would have been her passion and her dream. She most likely would have stayed put and grinded it out. Thereâ€s one thing about wrestlers, they will accept the grind to chase the dream.

But when you get pulled in from soccer, MMA, football, or whatever, itâ€s not the same. You donâ€t have that burning sensation, that burning passion. Like Stephanie Vaquer, who told me that wrestling was her nourishment when she didnâ€t have enough food to eat.

That doesnâ€t burn in Jazmyn Nyx. Itâ€s not that same mental state, not that same pit-of-your-stomach grind where you need to do it, you need to make it.â€

In other news: Former AEW World Champion confirmed to return on Dynamite’s 6th anniversary episode.

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