UPDATE: A new main event is now set for tonight’s WWE Live Holiday Tour show at Madison Square Garden … and it’s a big one! Read the full update here at eWrestlingNews.com.
ORIGINAL STORY:
As expected, the recent outbreak of the new COVID variant in WWE has resulted in some changes for tonight’s WWE Live Holiday Tour stop at the company’s unofficial headquarters of Madison Square Garden in New York City.
According to an update at PWInsider, the advertised main event for the MSG show this evening has been scratched.
Originally, tonight’s show was scheduled to feature a double main event, with two high-profile Steel Cage matches. The first was advertised as a Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship, with Big E. defending against Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens in a triple-threat title showdown. The co-main event was to feature Becky Lynch defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair in a Steel Cage bout.
Apparently Big E., Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair are all absent from the show this evening, as they were not backstage at MSG as of a few hours ago.
With the multiple late scratches, WWE is scrambling to plug in some replacement matches.
As noted, WWE has announced the addition of Tommaso Ciampa vs. Pete Dunne for the NXT Championship to the lineup for tonight. The Ciampa-Dunne bout was reportedly going to be added to the Raw-branded shows on the WWE Live Holiday Tour regardless of the late problems forcing changes to tonight’s lineup.
Additionally, the word going around is that the company is attempting to rush Edge to NYC to make an appearance at the show, with the expectation being that he will actually work a match on the card.
Another name reportedly being brought to the show despite not being advertised is Natalya. The three-time Guinness World Record holder will likely be added in an impromptu match if things work out as planned.
As far as the WWE Live Holiday Tour stop this evening in Tampa, Florida, there is expected to be a change to the advertised main event on this show as well.
Scheduled in the headline spot is a double-header, with The New Day taking on Roman Reigns & The Usos, while Charlotte Flair is advertised to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks in a Street Fight.
We will keep you posted here at eWrestlingNews.com as updates continue to filter in from NYC and Tampa for tonight’s WWE Live Holiday Tour shows.
If anyone is attending either event, we are looking for reports to be published here on the website.
