Mike Mansury has opened up about the journey that has led him to AEW after working as Vice President of Global Television Production for WWE and is now working in AEW as a co-Executive Producer and Senior Production Executive.

He did so when appearing on The Sessions with Renee Paquette. It started off with the end of his time in WWE. 

Leaving WWE

He explained that it was inferred that he was going to be the successor to Kevin Dunn and while he was praised for his work, they didn’t know what to do with him until they figured out what Dunn’s future was. 

“I knew that there was more that I was capable of but I had already excelled at everything they allowed me to do at that point. I was looking for that new challenge and even if it was something that were outside of the scope of what people would have defined as my potential, it would have been nice to be able to kind of spread wings a little bit and take on a new challenge so, once I kind of realized I was in the lane that I was in and the path to the destination wasn’t really gonna change or even progress that much, I knew it was time to make a change.”

The Decision

He decided to leave WWE in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic started. After giving them his notice, they offered him the opportunity to rescind his resignation. While he appreciated the offer, felt that if he did not give notice and bow out then, he would never do it. 

“I remember I had gone back up to Stamford and they had offered me the opportunity to rescind my resignation and I was beyond appreciative of it but you know, I told them, I said, ‘Look, I know we’re heading into uncertain times but if I don’t do this, I’m never gonna do it and I need to.’

AEW Talks

Mansury dove into his talks with AEW and how joining the promotion came about. It happened when  Mike and his wife were in Singapore as they moved to the country for his job with ONE Championship MMA. 

Mansury felt it was not the right time, and AEW already had a solid team with Keith Mitchell at the helm, but Mitchell retired from his role months after those talks. 

“I don’t think they knew Keith was gonna wind up retiring a couple months later. But a lot of folks on the AEW side that we had known from WWE had spoken to Tony [Khan] a lot and had talked to me about coming down and just checking things out and just saying hello. But ultimately, you know, ONE was the new home.”

Things picked back up again as the two sides began talking over the summer between Mansury, Tony Khan and Chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh. They expressed to Mansury that they feel AEW is ready to break into their next level and he felt like there was some unfinished business. 

“I don’t know that I left wrestling feeling fulfilled. I think when I left the WWE, I was burned out at that point and I was frustrated.”

H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription

According to a new report, WWE won’t be going to India after all. WWE had plans to run a show on a “grand scale” in Hyderabad, India, and would consist of “a mix of superstars, both Indian and international.”

It was later reported that the show would be on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, from the G.M.C. Balayogi Sports Complex, an indoor stadium in Hyderabad with a capacity of 5,000 people featuring SmackDown talent mostly. 

WWE never announced the show, nor was it confirmed whether the company had plans to air it as a special on Peacock, tape it for the local market, or just have it as a house show. 

Postponed

According to WrestleVotes, the show has been postponed, although no reason was given. It’s also unclear when the company plans to reschedule the show: 

I’m told the proposed WWE Live Event in India scheduled for 1/18 has been postponed for unspecified reasons.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) December 22, 2022

Sanga & Veer Mahaan vs. The Creed Brothers had been booked for the WWE NXT Deadline event earlier this month, but it was later nixed. 

The match was reportedly pulled due to Veer dealing with a minor injury and the promotion is being careful with him, so they pulled the bout as he was supposed to be featured at this India event. 

WWE’s Upcoming India Event Will be “Built All Around” Injured Superstar (Report)

Dax Harwood of the popular FTR tag team is moving into the podcast arena starting next week. The reigning IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion will co-host a new show titled, “FTR With Dax Harwood’ along with co-host Matt Koon.

Koon previously co-hosted the Gentleman Villain podcast with William Regal. That show has come to an end due to his AEW departure and imminent WWE return.

The debut episode of ‘FTR With Dax Harwood’ premieres December 29 at on AdFreeShows.com. Any potential involvement of his longtime tag team partner Cash Wheeler is also yet to be confirmed.

Family. Tequila. Rasslin.

?? https://t.co/esC5I25B81

— Dax FTR (@DaxFTR) December 22, 2022

FTR No Longer Three-Promotion Tag Team Champions

Following Final Battle 2022, FTR are down to two of the three tag team titles they’ve held for much of this year.

At the ROH event, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler dropped the ROH Tag Team Championships to the Briscoe Brothers. The third of their bouts was a bloody Double Dog Collar Match that has received considerable acclaim.

On Wednesday’s Dynamite, FTR lost a non-title match to the Gunn Club. Dax Harwood ate a partner-assisted roll-up pinfall to end the match.

On January 4, the pair are set to defend their IWGP titles against World Tag League winners Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. The recent losses of their belts, as well as an AEW Tag Team Title match against current champions The Acclaimed, has turned some heads lately.

Dax Harwood himself has confirmed that FTR’s AEW contracts finish in April 2023. The fan favorite tag team’s prospects could get very interesting if they choose to become free agents next year.

Rich Swann will be wrestling under the Impact Wrestling banner for years to come.

Swann has been wrestling for Impact since June 2018. He’s held a lot of gold during this run, including the Impact World Championship, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, the X-Division title and the recently-introduced Digital Media championship.

The 31-year-old star from Baltimore, MD will have many more opportunities to add further accolades to his resume. During a conversation with Chris Van Vliet, Swann announced that he’s signed a new two-year contract with the organization. The deal will keep him part of the Impact family through the end of 2024.

Swann Comments on His Future

Swann tells CVV that his world has been ‘lighting up’ as of late. In addition to this new deal with Impact, he’s got a one-year-old baby boy (“Little Richard Jr.”) with fellow Impact star Su Yung.

He spoke very highly of Impact Wrestling, as well as the other stars on the roster.

“IMPACT Wrestling has done nothing but treat me with the utmost respect and it’s been a place where I’ve been able to grow. I’ve been able to watch other competitors grow and I’ve been able to watch the company grow into a spot to where it should be.”

– Rich Swann

Swann has dealt with a series of injuries, which have been difficult to work through. Thankfully, Impact was supportive through all of it.

“Unfortunately, I broke my back and my leg, my hip, my foot, everything on my right side was damn-near damaged,” said Swann. “I was told by doctors that I wouldn’t walk the same, let alone wrestle again.”

He’d go on to become Impact World Champion, an accomplishment and opportunity he’ll never forget. Swann feels that he’s doing the best work of his career and now has two more years to show the fans what he’s capable of.

Swann is scheduled to compete against Steve Maclin on this week’s edition of Impact TV.

WWE has made major changes to its Wellness Policy which could see Superstars receive more violations before being released.

The Wellness Policy was introduced in the early 2000s in the wake of the sudden death of Eddie Guerrero, who died aged 38 of heart failure.

Traditionally, a Superstar who violates the policy will receive a 30-day suspension for their first violation, and a 60-day suspension for their second violation.

A third violation traditionally results in a Superstar being released.

Matt Riddle

Earlier this month, Matt Riddle was written off of WWE TV with an attack by Solo Sikoa, which is believed to be due to his second violation of the Wellness Policy.

On the Wrestling Observer Forums, a fan said that Riddle will be fired upon his next suspension from the company.

In response, Dave Meltzer said that WWE has changed the roles, thanks in part to multiple prominent names having two suspensions to their name already.

Meltzer said that the “wrestling war” between WWE and AEW has affected the rule change, as WWE does not want any of those big names on two violations becoming ‘All-Elite.’

It was also noted that somebody with two suspensions could intentionally fail a test to get out of their contract, something that cannot happen with this new rule.

It is unclear how many violations now result in a Superstar’s release, or if there is a fixed number.

Riddle and Rehab

WWE has reported that Riddle is not expected back for six weeks after the attack by Sikoa.

It has been reported that Riddle has entered rehab for his drug issues, though this claim has not been publicly confirmed by WWE.

Riddle is also facing allegations of abuse by his ex-girlfriend Daniela Petrow and has been dating multiple adult film actresses.

Adult Film Actress Seemingly Confirms Matt Riddle is Going to Rehab

It’s safe to say that 2022 has been one of the wildest years in the history of WWE.

From mass releases to the shock retirement of Vince McMahon, this is a year that none of us will ever, ever forget.

But with 2022 drawing to a close, attention turns to 2023, and a whole new year of matches to look forward to.

Here are five of the most anticipated matches of WWE in the new year.

5: Brock Lesnar Vs. GUNTHER

Can you say PHYSICAL?!

In 2022, there are few names in WWE who have made an impact quite like our reigning Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.

Debuting on the main roster earlier this year, the Austrian powerhouse wasted no time in winning his title from Ricochet, a title he has held for over 200 days.

It was reported recently that right now, WWE’s plan for WrestleMania 39 is for GUNTHER to face Brock Lesnar, in what could be the most hard hitting match we’ve seen in decades.

GUNTHER’s in-ring strength has never been in doubt, while Lesnar is a once in a lifetime athlete who’s 2022 has shown he still has a love for wrestling.

Whether the title is on the line or not, GUNTHER Vs. Lesnar has all the markings of an instant classic, and a match fans are eager to see.

4: Bray Wyatt’s First Match Back

At Extreme Rules, WWE’s excellent White Rabbit build paid off with the return of Bray Wyatt, fifteen months after his controversial release from the company.

Since then, Wyatt has feuded with LA Knight, though his attentions seem to be more focused on the presence of the mysterious Uncle Howdy.

For all of Wyatt’s talk and promos though, Bray is yet to wrestle, something that has not gone unnoticed by fans.

It has been rumored that Wyatt will face Knight in a ‘Pitch Black’ match at the Royal Rumble, though whatever the rules are for said match is unclear.

I guess you could say that with the Pitch Black match, we’re ‘in the dark!’ (I crack myself up.)

While Bray returned with all the momentum in the world, it does feel like some of the shine has come off, and WWE needs to pull the trigger on a match for him soon.

Wyatt’s first match back is hotly anticipated, if nothing else than fans want to see what he can do in the ring as this new character, and we can only imagine his match will come in 2023.

3: Edge’s Final Match

It’s hard to believe that next month will be the third anniversary of Edge’s startling return to wrestling.

In April 2011, fans (and Edge himself) had resigned themselves to the fact that his career was over, tragically cut short by neck issues.

This year has seen Edge compete six times, a slight dip from the ten matches in 2021, but next year may see his final match.

After competing in his native Toronto earlier this year, Edge strongly implied that he will be retiring the next time WWE comes to Canada, which is expected for mid-2023.

If so, then we are not long away from Edge’s final match, and hopefully WWE will give it the build and gravitas it deserves.

Edge’s return to wrestling has been nothing short of miraculous, but the Rated-R Superstar now has the chance to end his in-ring career again, this time on his own terms.

2: Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes

From the moment Cody Rhodes’ platform was raised at WrestleMania 38, this was a match fans anticipated.

The idea of Rhodes Vs. Reigns was cemented the following night when the American Nightmare spoke about his WWE return, and his desire to become World Champion.

Sure, Rhodes’ injury may have delayed those plans, but it is clear that Cody is destined to hold gold soon.

With rumors of Rhodes returning as part of the Men’s Rumble match, a match he is a favorite among many to win, a match with Reigns seems a matter of when, not if.

But this match will resonate for another reason. It will be WWE’s top star against someone for years considered the face of AEW.

The fact that Cody is in WWE now at all remains mind-blowing, and him facing Reigns has the substance to be an all-time great story, even if there’s one more for the Tribal Chief that fans are anticipating even more…

1: The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns

The People’s Champion Vs. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

The Brahma Bull Vs. The Tribal Chief.

The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns.

Not since The Rock Vs. John Cena in 2012 has there been this level of excitement for a match, one that WWE has yet to confirm.

Both Reigns and Rock have teased for years that a match between them could happen, but never has it seemed more likely.

From Reigns being at his very best, to Rock’s movie filming schedule being suspiciously free for the first quarter of the year, all the signs are pointing to this match finally happening.

The Rock, now 50 years old, is not the spring chicken he once was, and if not next year, than this match, nor any other match with him, may never happen.

If WWE wants The Rock Vs. Reigns, then 2023 is the time, in what would be the biggest fight we’ve seen in years.

Miro’s return to WWE is a question of when, not if, according to the Bulgarian’s wife CJ ‘Lana’ Perry.

Miro wrestled for years as Rusev in WWE, becoming a three-time United States Champion before his release in April 2020.

Perry would remain with WWE until her own release in June 2021, in cuts that also included Buddy Murphy (now Buddy Matthews) and Braun Strowman

Return

Despite a strong start in AEW and a reign as TNT Champion, Miro has been barely used in the company this year.

Having wrestled just two matches over the last six months, Miro’s most recent match came at the now-infamous All Out Pay-Per-View in September.

Speaking to 92.7 WMAY’s Mike Wennmacher, Perry expressed interest in Miro’s potential return to WWE.

“The great thing about wrestling is it doesn’t matter what company you work for, what promotion, anything can happen. Let’s be honest, we know that everyone always returns back to WWE at some point.”

“Everyone always returns back to WWE at some point.”

CJ Perry

Speaking about Rusev Day, arguably Miro’s most popular gimmick, Perry said the idea will live on, and reiterated her belief that he will return.

“Rusev Day will never die. It’s always going to be around, the kids are going to want to sing it and I’m sure it will make a return in WWE at some point. Rusev — well, whatever he shows [up] back in; whatever frickin name or gimmick or character he returns [as] at some point, in WWE is going to be iconic.”

Unhappy

Miro held more titles and was more prominently featured in WWE, so it’s hardly surprising that he is reportedly unhappy in AEW.

Earlier this year, Miro liked a tweet suggesting that his AEW run had been a dud so far.

The tweet also suggested that Miro would do much better if he returned to WWE.

Miro Explains Why He’s Not Bitter About WWE Release

h/t – Wrestling Inc

The identity of the man who attacked Keith Lee on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite has been revealed.

During a segment, rapper Rick Ross attempted to mediate a discussion between Lee and tag-team partner Swerve Strickland.

After Strickland warned Lee to be wary of his surroundings, the Limitless One was attacked by Parker Boudreaux and a mystery man, bringing an end to Swerve in Our Glory.

Granden Goetzman

After AEW Dynamite went off the air, Lee’s attacker was revealed to be Granden Goetzman, according to Fightful Select.

It is reported that Goetzman has been training for quite some time in preparation of his AEW debut, and has been working hard at Jay Lethal’s wrestling school.

Sources who spoke to Fightful said that his debut has been planned out for at the least a couple of weeks before last night’s show.

Goetzman was also backstage at AEW Dynamite on October 10, and sources said he’s been with AEW for “quite some time” anticipating his debut.

Goetzman Before AEW

The 30-year-old Goetzman joins AEW with a background in baseball, which he played professionally until last year.

A second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, Goetzman has been playing in the minor league system in Mexico.

Listed at 6-4, Goetzman made it all the way up to AAA in the Rays minor league system before moving on to the St. Lous Cardinals and Houston Astros farm systems until 2019.

The outfielder was primarily known for his speed but did not end in the major leagues.

Keith Lee Reveals Advice From The Undertaker

Will Vince McMahon return to WWE after his shocking retirement in July? Ric Flair certainly hopes so.

The 77-year-old billionaire retired from WWE earlier this year due to allegations of misconduct with female employees and after paying millions of dollars in ‘hush money’ NDAs.

McMahon reportedly regrets retiring as CEO and Chairman and believes the allegations against him would have blown over had he stayed in his roles.

Hope

Since McMahon’s retirement, it has been reported that morale in WWE has improved significantly, with talent and staff no longer walking on eggshells.

Speaking about McMahon’s rumored comeback during the latest To Be The Man, Flair admitted he doesn’t know for sure but hopes it happens.

“I don’t know the answer to that. I wish he would come back in some capacity. I mean, obviously, Hunter and Stephanie [McMahon] are doing a great job, and trust me, it’s a big job, you know what I mean? At least they’re dividing the time. I see people periodically, and people are happy working for Hunter.

” I wish he would come back in some capacity.”

Ric Flair on Vince McMahon.

“Here’s the problem, it’s like in any business, you’re never gonna like everybody you work for. So, I’m sure there are some people [who] like working for Hunter, some people like better working for Vince. I can’t give you an honest answer. I just want him to be happy.”

McMahon’s Return – Could it Happen?

Although Vince McMahon is gone from WWE, he’s not entirely left the promotion he ran for four decades.

McMahon is the majority shareholder, owning over 30% of all stock, and due to how his stock is treated, the ex-CEO has approximately 80% of the voting power.

With that said, his return to WWE’s board and as CEO would face significant backlash from fans and the media, and could lead to a potential loss of sponsors.

Triple H Has a Strategy to Differentiate Himself from Vince McMahon

Bill DeMott has been in the wrestling business for many years. He’s been loved, he’s been hated, he’s been criticized, and he’s been ignored. What many wrestling fans may not know is the fact that DeMott’s daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 2015.

It’s a tragic story and, since his daughter’s death, DeMott has spoken out against drunk driving as often as he could.

DeMott even created ‘The Keri Anne DeMott Foundation’ in order to raise awareness of the issues, and to advocate for other families who have been affected by similar tragic circumstances.

The Pandemic of Drunk Driving

DeMott recently spoke a local news source in his hometown in Florida. He talked about the foundation, and tried offer advice to people who may be thinking about getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking.

“This time of year – the holiday season – things have changed,” DeMott told My News 13. “Someone made a decision that took my daughter’s life, and every day we have to make a decision to get up and make that not happen for someone else.”

So, that’s what he does.

According to My News 13, DeMott drives his vehicle, one adorned with his daughter’s face, across Florida to spread their message and to tell their stories.

“[Drinking and driving] has become socially acceptable,” DeMott stated. “I think people are numb to the fact that this is happening, and as long as it’s not happening to them, it doesn’t exist.”

It does exist, though.

• Mark Henry & Bill DeMott Want Sunny Removed from WWE HOF

It was reported that in 2019, there were 10,142 fatalities due to drunk driving. This is not a new problem, and it’s not one that will go away until people start taking it seriously. That’s what DeMott aims to tell people with his foundation, and it’s a message worth hearing.

AXS TV has been partnering with NJPW to air matches every Thursday at 10 PM ET after IMPACT Wrestling ends. The matches are on a several week delay from the original airing.

AXS TV announced today that their partnership with NJPW will continue in 2023. They will begin airing exclusive coverage for Wrestle Kingdom 17 starting on January 12.

We're pleased to announce AXS TV is continuing its partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling for 2023, premiering with exclusive coverage of Wrestle Kingdom 17. Don't miss the action, starting January 12th (10/9c) on AXS TV! @njpwglobal pic.twitter.com/u369mkOibO

— AXS TV (@AXSTV) December 21, 2022

NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 Card

Wrestle Kingdom 17 is live from the Tokyo Dome on January 4th. After running for two nights during the height of the pandemic, it is back to a one night only event. New Year Dash will take place the following day.

NJPW’s biggest show of the year will feature a double main event with Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay. Jay White will put the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on the line against Kazuchika Okada.

The brand new IWGP Women’s Championship will also be defended. KAIRI will defend her title for the first time against Tam Nakano. Sasha Banks will be appearing at Wrestle Kingdom. It’s unclear what exactly she’ll be doing at the show, but she is expected to wrestle several dates for NJPW.

• Sasha Banks Arrives in Japan Ahead of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

Both WWE and AEW will be represented at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Karl Anderson will put his NEVER Openweight title on the line against Tama Tonga. FTR is scheduled to face Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI for the IWGP Tag Team titles.

The rest of the card can be found here.

Edge had a memorable homecoming in the main event of the August 22 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw despite not being around every week leading up to the show to do the match with Damian Priest or the Finn Balor match at Extreme Rules. Since then, he hasn’t been seen since.

Fightful Select reports that Edge is on a deal with limited dates, which is why he has appeared periodically since splitting from the Judgment Day group. 

One WWE higher-up said that the vignettes this past summer were a way to “buy some weeks” on television for him before he made his return to television and give them a little more time to build to some important matches throughout the rest of the year. This happened with the Balor and Priest matchups.

His Deal

In 2020 when Edge was medically cleared and made a deal with WWE, it was reported the Hall Of Famer had signed a three-year contract for 25 appearances and five matches per year.  Edge had talks with All Elite Wrestling before his WWE deal was signed. 

However, Fightful’s new report notes that it was either incorrect or amended, as Edge competed in ten matches in 2021 and has already competed in six matches in 2022.

It’s unclear when his deal is up or how many appearances are left on his existing deal, but if the length was correctly reported, that deal could be up soon. It’s always possible that the deal was frozen due to injury, but that’s not confirmed if that’s the case.

Sasha Banks has reportedly arrived in Japan, days before she is expected to start the next chapter in her pro wrestling career. 

It was anyone’s guess that Banks would end up in wrestling after she and Naomi walked out of WWE in May of this year. That changed when it was recently reported that Banks was scheduled to be at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on January 4.

She is slated to do multiple dates for NJPW/STARDOM as she has been able to get her release from WWE.

Arrival

According to a report by PWInsider, Banks has now arrived in Japan ahead of her appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17:

“PWInsider.com is told that Mercedes Varnado, aka Sasha Banks, is now in Japan in advance of the 1/4/23 New Japan Pro Wrestling Tokyo Dome event.”

Banks’ appearance at the upcoming show is still yet to be officially announced by NJPW so it looks like it will be saved as a surprise. Many fans expect that she will be setting something up with the winner of the IWGP Women’s Title match between Champion KAIRI & Tam Nakano.

The top matches on the card include Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, and Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Title.

MJF is featured in a new spotlight trailer for the upcoming AEW Fight Forever video game.

AEW has released a new trailer for Fight Forever that features clips of “The Salt of The Earth” in action. He also tweeted the video and wrote in the caption, “Even in video game form I’ll be better than your favorites in #AEWFightForever and you know it.”

The release date has yet to be revealed for the game, but it is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2023. The game will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.

There had been rumors about an M for Mature rating, but the word is that the game will be rated T for Teen. 

The Trailer

Even in video game form I’ll be better than your favorites in #AEWFightForever and you know it. pic.twitter.com/4omp2Xsfeq

— Maxwell Jacob Friedman™? (@The_MJF) December 21, 2022

He's better than you and you know it!

This #AEWFightForever spotlight trailer showcases a sneak peek of "The Salt of the Earth" @The_MJF

Reserve or wish list your copy today
? https://t.co/3Mt4mM3NX1#AEWgames @AEW @THQNordic @YUKES_AEW pic.twitter.com/CveiPIn0YZ

— AEW Games (@AEWGames) December 21, 2022

Fight Forever is All Elite Wrestling’s first console video game. A website with information has been launched, and a teaser trailer is out.  Wrestlers, move-sets, entrances, and arenas in the game will be customizable. There will also be a deep career mode. 

MJF became the AEW World Heavyweight Champion when he beat Jon Moxley with the help of William Regal at Full Gear. He retained his championship last week against Ricky Starsk on Dynamite: Winter Is Coming.

AEW has matured a lot as a company in 2022 and made a number of key structural changes within the promotion. Jim Ross believes that the next big change for the organization could be the introduction of live events.

The wrestling veteran talked about this possibility on the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast. He discussed the importance of live events and the various benefits it provides to talents and the company.

JR noted that live events can help younger talents gain experience as well as bring in extra revenue if used strategically. He mentioned the recent hiring of Jeff Jarrett and shared the belief that AEW will expand their schedule in 2023:

“I believe, I don’t know this to be a fact but I believe in 2023, that AEW will be in the house show/ live event business to some degree.

“I just think that it’s an opportunity that can be capitalised upon if AEW is strategic in their planning. I think that’s what Jeff Jarrett is working on.”

– Jim Ross

Jeff Jarrett made his AEW debut in November. He was given the title of Director of Business Development by Tony Khan, indicating that Jarrett will play a key role in the next phase of the company’s expansion.

The AEW President himself has discussed the possibility as well. He said that it makes sense to expand AEW’s Live Event calendar going into 2023.

What do you think about AEW running live events in 2023? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Dakota Kai has opened up on how she found her way into the world of professional wrestling.

Recently, Kai spoke to WWE Deutschland to discuss a variety of professional wrestling topics. During the interview, Kai revealed that it was actually her younger brother who introduced her to the world of professional wrestling.

“He used to watch it way back in the day. I didn’t really give it the time of the day because I was ignorant, I guess. But one day he told me to sit down and watch it and we were right in the middle of a Rock and Austin feud, a promo was happening in the ring, and that was my first introduction into pro wrestling.”

Kai then revealed that her favorite wrestler is none other than WWE legend and former World Champion The Rock.

“He’s charismatic, athletic, but he’s also Samoan, which I’m Samoan too, so there’s a connection there.”

Kai has been with WWE since 2015 when she joined its NXT brand. There, she was a two-time NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Raquel Gonzalez. The pair also won the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.

Since coming up to the main roster, Kai’s success in the tag team division has continued. Aligning herself with Bayley and IYO SKY as Damage CTRL, Kai and SKY are also two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions themselves.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Tony Khan has provided new details about the “new look” coming to AEW programming in the very near future.

AEW Dynamite and Rampage have maintained a similar production aesthetic since the shows premiered. Following the recent hire of Michael Mansury as Senior Vice President and Co-Executive Producer, it’s been reported that big changes are in store for the look and feel of the company’s flagship shows.

Khan spoke with Scott Fishman for TV Insider this week and laid out what fans can expect on the first Dynamite and Rampage of 2023.

Changes Coming January 4

Wrestling fans won’t have to wait long to see the ‘new’ incarnations of Dynamite and Rampage. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Dynamite moving to TBS, the show is getting a facelift.

“I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag necessarily, especially so close to the big day. But at the start of 2023, we’re going to open the year on Wednesday, January 4 with the first Dynamite in Seattle, marking a full year of Dynamite on TBS,” said Khan.

We’ll definitely have a new look, to say the least. I’m excited about it. I think it’s a nice thing to present to the fans.

– Tony Khan

He doesn’t want to hype up the set re-design too much, because that can create expectations that are impossible to live up to. However, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

“I will say the set will be beautiful though,” he aded. “The look of Rampage will also be different. This will affect the way people view AEW on Wednesdays and Fridays in terms of presentation with the set and the show with the same great action.”

Khan was also asked about signing Mansury and what he brings to the team. He called it a huge acquisition for AEW and put him over for his knowledge of TV production. 

He feels Mansury is a great signing for the company and important to have someone with his experience and can’t wait to see what he brings to AEW. 

Molly Holly has discussed potentially competing in the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble.

The 2023 Royal Rumble will go down from the Alamodome from San Antonio, Texas on January 28. Of course, one of the matches that will be taking place that night is the women’s Royal Rumble match, which will guarantee the winner a shot at a World Title of their choosing at WrestleMania.

One of the best parts of the rumble is the surprise returns that it offers. Molly Holly was one of the more notable special appearances in the rumble last year. Speaking to K&S Wrestlefest, Holly talked about potentially competing in this year’s Royal Rumble match as well.

Holly said that, if she does compete, she told WWE to give her a heads up well in advance so she could train for it. She hasn’t received that call so far, and the rumble is nearly right around the corner.

“I told the creative writing team that if I do have to be in it, I need some advance notice because it hurts to go from not doing it for a long time and then getting thrown in there. So they have not given me any notice as of yet, and it’s getting close to that time, so they better tell me soon if I am gonna have to be in it.”

Holly is certainly one of the more notable names the women’s division has seen in previous generations. She’s a two-time WWE Women’s Champion, a former Hardcore Champion, and was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2021. Seeing a potential return from Holly in January would definitely be a treat for many fans.

Quotes via Fightful

The 2023 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is right around the corner.

Each year, WWE honors some of the greatest performers in wrestling history with this prestigious recognition. Since its inception nearly thirty years ago, the WWE Hall of Fame has seen 234 inductions, 124 individual inductees and 46 ‘legacy’ inductees. There are 12 people in the ‘Celebrity Wing’ of the WWE Hall of Fame, and 8 people have received the questionably-named Warrior Award.

There is no physical Hall of Fame building as of this writing, but that does not diminish the magnitude of this honor. Countless inductees have spoken about how meaningful it was to join the ranks of Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and more.

1993 WWE Hall of Fame

The WWE Hall of Fame was introduced in 1993. The first inductee intro the WWE Hall of Fame was Andre the Giant. He was inducted posthumously shortly after his passing on January 27, 1993.WWE did not hold a formal Hall of Fame induction ceremony until the following year.

Andre’s induction was announced on the March 22, 1993 edition of Monday Night Raw. Here is rare footage of the Andre the Giant Hall of Fame video package:

WWE has provided this playlist of Andre the Giant’s greatest moments:

Top Names not in the WWE Hall of Fame

The WWE Hall of Fame includes some of the greatest performers in pro wrestling history. However, there are some glaring omissions to the list of legends have received this honor.

We recently wrote about 5 big names who are surprisingly not members of the WWE Hall of Fame. You can check out that feature here:

5 Huge Wrestling Stars Still Not in the WWE Hall of Fame

(Stats via Wikipedia)

Cora Jade angered a lot of fans when she re-created a classic moment from history and threw the NXT Women’s Championship belt in trash. The heat she received wasn’t limited to social media either and she actually had a crazy experience on the road.

The 21-year-old recently appeared on the Mark Moses Show. Among other things she also talked about her recreation of the famous moment by Alundra Blayze.

Revealing the reactions to it, Jade recalled how her mom, who had seen the original clip thought that it was really cool. Though the fans didn’t think the same. When asked if she received heat for the moment, Cora Jade revealed an incident that happened with her during a drive:

“Definity. I looked at my Twitter and I was like ‘I’m gonna close it’. As soon as I opened it, [I] closed it. They were pretty mad at me that day. You know what’s crazy? The other day I was driving and I was stuck in traffic and someone kept honking their horn at me.

I looked up and it was somebody with a Mandy Rose Toxic Attraction sign out the window. They were just booing me. I was just in the front seat of my car and I was like ‘Is this actually happening right now?’ Even on the road they hate me.”

Alundra Blayze jumped ship from WWF to WCW back in 1995. She was the WWF Women’s Champion at the time. While the company stripped her of the title upon the switch, she never officially lost the belt. During her WCW debut on Nitro, Blayze threw the title belt into a trash can and was subsequently blacklisted by WWF.

Cora Jade recreated this moment with the NXT Women’s Tag Team titles during an episode in July. She had won the title with Roxanne Perez but Jade turned on Perez. She then threw the title belt into trash.

You can check out a video of the segment below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Kurt Angle Offers Big Praise To TNA Original
• Dolph Ziggler Discusses Future Of His Stand-Up Comedy Career
• Jake Roberts Reflects On AEW Debut “I Felt Like I Was At Home Again”
• Matt Cardona’s Advice For Young Talent: “Slow The F*ck Down”
• Drew McIntyre On Vince McMahon’s Original Plans For 3MB

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

WWE Raw Superstar Matt Riddle is in more hot water after being accused of sexual abuse by his former girlfriend.

Earlier this month, Riddle was written off of WWE TV with an attack by Solo Sikoa, allegedly covering up his second violation of WWE’s Wellness Policy.

Riddle was recently spotted with adult film actress Misha Montana, but it is Jordan Maxx (another actress) who has said that Riddle has entered rehab.

Accusation

After his split with his now ex-wife Lisa, Riddle was seen with Daniella Petrow, and it was reported that they were in a relationship.

On Twitter, Petrow spoke about Riddle and claimed the former WWE United States Champion was abusive during their relationship.

Petrow called Montana Riddle’s “newest victim,” and said she thought Riddle would have changed after the “Candy Cartwright days.”

Cartwright, an indie wrestler, accused Riddle of sexual assault and blocking her from getting bookings, but her lawsuit was dropped in July 2021.

Petrow made her views clear on Riddle, saying that he has a history of targeting women with his alleged behavior.

“You have been conned into loving a man who uses your love to then take advantage of you, to then manipulate you, to sexually abuse you, to torment you.”

Daniela Petrow.

https://twitter.com/Dniella16/status/1605271580900204556

Rehab

The Original Bro has reportedly entered rehab due to his violations of the Wellness Policy, which Petrow believes is not enough.

In a video, Petrow spoke about the “pedestal of fame” around Riddle and said that rehab won’t fix him.

“Rehab’s not gonna f*cking help him. He still has this f*cking job. He’s still gonna f*cking do what he’s doing.”

Daniela Petrow.

Petrow added that WWE needs to part ways with Riddle to send him a message.

“People, wake the f*ck up. WWE, you need to fire his ass. And 30 days in rehab is not enough time to fix what’s f*cking wrong with this man. Charges might.”

Daniel Petrow.

Riddle has not responded publicly to the allegations against him.

Adult Film Actress Seemingly Confirms Matt Riddle is Going to Rehab

Jim Ross has shared his experiences of the now-infamous Brock Lesnar Vs. Goldberg match at WrestleMania 20 in 2004.

For the March 14, event, the two powerhouses faced off in the first singles match between the two, which had been one of the most hotly-anticipated matches on the show.

Days prior to WrestleMania, it was reported that both men were leaving WWE after the event, and fans turned on both men for the match.

Feeling Bad

The match is considered one of the worst bouts of both men’s careers, with Goldberg and Lesnar giving a deliberately underwhelming performance in response to the crowd.

Jim Ross had previously served as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations, and was tasked with called the disastrous match.

Speaking on the latest episode of Grilling JR, Ross said that it would have been impossible for the match to go well, given the opinion by fans before the bell was rung.

“They were dead. The jury had already declared their verdict before the trial had started. We’re done. I felt bad for those guys. I really did. I signed Brock. I helped sign Goldberg. I liked both guys for various reasons.

“They both had a lot of similar characteristics as far as physicality. I’ll tell you that for as good an athlete as Goldberg was, he wasn’t in Lesnar’s league in terms of being a pure athlete.”

“I love those guys, and I felt so bad for them.”

Jim Ross.

Lesnar and Goldberg would later return to WWE (in 2012 and 2016 respectively) and would have far better matches at Survivor Series 2016 and WrestleMania 33.

The Rattlesnake

To amp up the star power for this match, WWE brought in ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin to officiate the WrestleMania 20 bout.

Austin, realising that the crowd had turned, delivered both men stunners after the match, earning the only cheers from the audience inside Madison Square Garden.

On his show, Ross said it was a wise move on the Texas Rattlesnake’s behalf.

“Thank God Austin was there, because those two stunners at the end, one to each guy, was money. It finally gave the guys something to embrace and cheer for.”

Jim Ross.

When Ross’ co-host Conrad Thompson asked him about if he spoke to either Brock or Goldberg, JR questioned what exactly he could have said on the night.

“They were making a ton of money, and they didn’t want to be there. What more could I do? Pay them more money to rent their services? Not their heart, not their soul, not their passion, but to rent their services. It was not the time to do that.”

Goldberg would beat Lesnar in the match, considered to be one of the worst bouts in the 38-year history of WrestleMania.

Brock After WWE

Lesnar’s departure from WWE came less than two years after his main-roster debut, and because he had big plans for the gridiron.

Part of Brock’s decision to leave was because he wanted to compete in the NFL, and would later be signed to the Minnesota Vikings.

Ross said that while Lesnar was not picked for the official team, he was still impressive with how far he got.

“For Lesnar to get a chance to go try out for the [Minnesota] Vikings and almost make the team. I mean, he was the last cut and he hadn’t played football since high school. We’re talking about the National Football League here. He was an extraordinary athlete. And he still is.”

After his Football dreams did not pan out, Lesnar returned to wrestling, competing in NJPW before finding success in the UFC which he joined in 2007.

Kurt Angle on the Backstage Reaction to Goldberg vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania 20

WWE Superstar Logan Paul may have won over fans with his in-ring work, but his participation with an online project is earning him serious scrutiny.

Paul made his in-ring debut for WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April, and would defeat The Miz at Summerslam 2022.

Last month, Paul suffered his first loss in WWE, coming up short against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

CryptoZoo

On his Impaulsive podcast, the WWE Superstar shared great excitement for CryptoZoo, a “fun game” that allows players to earn money.

The game allows users to buy animal eggs, which then hatch into unique NFTs that can be traded and sold online.

Coin Edition reports that the game is little more than a scam, as users have been unable to cash out their earnings.

One user who goes by the name HelicopterBob, invested $7,000 into the game and has seen no return on his investment.

Paul has come under fire for using Adobe Stock images and photoshopping them into ‘art’ as part of CryptoZoo, despite claiming that each image is “hand made art.”

Development

Paul has previously claimed that the problems stem from CryptoZoo’s developer, who created a code and then ran off with it to Switzerland.

The developer allegedly would not do any more work on the project unless they were paid $1 million by Paul.

When YouTuber Coffeezilla spoke to developers, they claimed they were not paid by Paul so stopped working on the game.

Paul’s agent Jeffrey Levin refused to give a comment when asked, and Coffezilla has claimed that Logan Paul has blocked him on social media.

Coffeezilla’s full video on Paul’s game can be found by clicking the link here.

Here’s How You Can Buy WWE’s First Logan Paul Action Figure

Sources within WWE are said to be excited that there is a ton of buzz among fans whenever any NXT Superstars compete on WWE Main Event.

Since Triple H took over as Head of Creative and Head of Talent Relations in July, fans have seen NXT Superstars being given a taste of the main roster on WWE Main Event.

People in WWE are thrilled that these appearances are getting fans talking about possible call-ups, Fightful Select reports.

This week’s WWE Main Event taping saw Axion face off against Mustafa Ali in a losing effort.

Andre Chase would have better luck on the show, defeating former WWE Cruiserweight and Raw Tag Team Champion Cedric Alexander.

In addition to WWE Main Event, Chase had a brief cameo on Raw, being the victim of a beatdown by The Bloodline.

Both matches were produced by Shane ‘Hurricane’ Helms.

WWE Main Event

Premiering in October 2012, WWE Main Event celebrated its 500^th episode earlier this year.

The show features mid-card and lower talent, in addition to NXT Superstars being given a shot on the main roster.

Last month saw Kiana James lose to Asuka on the November 20, 2022 WWE Main Event, while JD McDonagh lost to Cedric Alexander.

Grayson Waller has also competed on WWE Main Event, facing Akira Tozawa on the show last month.

For the November 27, 2022 taping of the show, Waller lost to Tozawa, but Alba Fyre defeated Tamina Snuka in the former NXT UK Women’s Champion’s main roster debut.

Former WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion Worked Main Event Before Monday’s Raw

The December 20, 2022 episode of WWE NXT aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

•  
• Carmelo Hayes defeated Axiom 
• Zoey Stark defeated Nikkita Lyons 
• Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley and Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolin to retain the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles 
• Elektra Lopez defeated Indi Hartwell
• The New Day defeated Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles

Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley and Jacy Jayne & Gigi Dolin to retain the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles when Nile went to choke out Carter but fell on her back and was pinned.

All the teams worked hard and the fans were invested down the stretch. 

Will we see new champs tonight? ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/F4JzEWQPj2

— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) December 21, 2022

The champs are here ?@Katana_WWE @wwekayden
#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/IYZ39ZxZei

— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) December 21, 2022

Let’s Talk

Carmelo Hayes defeated Axiom after Trick Williams interfered in the opening match. The finish saw  Hayes hit a jumping Codebreaker and then he went up top and hit Nothin But Net. 

Post-match, Axiom hit an Asai moonsault on Williams. It was an actual packed match. 

Too Smooooooth with it #WWENXT @Carmelo_WWE pic.twitter.com/3jpDzQUwHE

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

.@Axiom_WWE isn't finished with @Carmelo_WWE & @_trickwilliams!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/XmYMLQrprA

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

.@Carmelo_WWE kicks off #WWENXT right now on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/vztS4hh7QI

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) December 21, 2022

Later in the show, Apollo Crews came out. He said he plans to meet the winner of NXT Champion Bron Breaker vs. Grayson Waller that takes place at New Years Evil and he wants that match at NXT Vengeance Day. Carmelo Hayes came out, and the two had a back-and-forth promo. 

Crews said that there is always somebody else better out there. Hayes knocked him for not being able to become NXT Champion. Crews said that he’s better than Hayes and he will prove it anytime anywhere.

Name the time. Name the place. ?#WWENXT @WWEApollo @Carmelo_WWE pic.twitter.com/W826byw5K9

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

Tag Team Title Match

The New Day defeated Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles when Woods won with a top rope elbow.

This served as the main event of the show. New Day went over when Kofi hit a head kick and Woods hit a spring board elbow drop. 

.@BrooksJensenWWE & #JoshBriggs were milliseconds away from dethroning the #NewDay! ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/mxKNiyk3aN

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

What a match! ???#AndSTILL ??#WWENXT @AustinCreedWins @TrueKofi pic.twitter.com/HLiKxm6E2z

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

.@BrooksJensenWWE & #JoshBriggs were milliseconds away from dethroning the #NewDay! ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/mxKNiyk3aN

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

The Call Out

Grayson Waller called out Bron Breakker after demanding his title shot tonight in a backstage segment earlier in the show. Waller cut a promo at the end of the show about how he is the greatest NXT star and about to be the greatest NXT Champion of all time. He said he carried NXT for the whole year. 

Breakker exited his car in the parking lot and went straight to the ring to spear Waller, but Waller had a metal plate under his jacket, similar to the Bret Hart/Bill Goldberg angle in WCW. Waller vowed to outsmart Bron again and become NXT Champion. 

.@GraysonWWE used @bronbreakkerwwe's own Spear against him! ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/o7202aEHfn

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022

THE CHAMP IS HERE! ?@bronbreakkerwwe#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/MuXF3CUI1G

— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) December 21, 2022

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/NGaBhdCIwp

— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) December 21, 2022

Roxanne Perez Speaks

Roxanne Perez did a sit down interview with Booker T about winning the NXT Women’s Title last week from Mandy Rose, who wasn’t mentioned. 

Perez said that she didn’t expect for it to happen. She recalled training at Booker T’s school and putting in the work where she became Women’s Champion. She said when she was a kid she wanted to be NXT Women’s Champion. She brought up her accomplishments in NXT in just nine months. She said she didn’t want to wait for New Year’s Evil and wanted to bet on herself. 

"I feel like Morpheus in 'The Matrix'… searching for the one. You're the one." ?#WWENXT @roxanne_wwe @BookerT5x pic.twitter.com/stpPIdQMCw

— WWE (@WWE) December 21, 2022