AEW‘s latest edition of Rampage went down on (3/3/23) from the Cow Palace in Daly City, California! Just 48-hours until the AEW Revolution pay-per-view, Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes defeated Swerve Strickland and Parker Boudreaux of the Mogul Affiliates!
Invictus Pro Wrestling held their live event, The Get Down, on Independent Wrestling TV on March 3 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
The event had Invictus Grand Champion Ken Broadway defend his title against MV Young in the main event. Broadway’s last successful title defense was against Adam Brooks at Invictus Pro Wrestling: The Many Saints of Ridgefield Park on Dec. 30, 2022. Another match on the card was Big Game Leroy taking on J Boujii in a Cheat Code match.
For fans that want to watch Invictus Pro Wrestling: The Get Down, you can subscribe to IWTV for $9.99. If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.
WWE‘s latest edition of SmackDown went down on (3/3/23) from the Capital One Center in Washington D.C.! Cody Rhodes confronted Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns ahead of their WrestleMania 39 main event and Sami Zayn once again escaped the clutches of The Bloodline!
The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his way down to the ring to kick off tonight’s show. The champion is flanked by Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman. Cody Rhodes then makes his way down to the ring. Cody says he’s not here to fight, he’s here to talk to Reigns and says that he doesn’t think there’s any reason for the rest of The Bloodline to be out here. Reigns tells Jimmy, Solo, and Heyman to leave, which they reluctantly do. Roman asks Cody if he’s more comfortable now and he drops his titles before asking Cody, ‘what do you wanna talk about?’. Cody says Roman has been the champion for over 900 days and while it seems like an impossible task to defeat Roman, he’s (Cody) made career on doing the impossible. Roman says what Cody’s done is impressive but asks ‘The American Nightmare’ if he’s ever headlined WrestleMania or won the WWE Title before. Roman said Cody’s father, Dusty Rhodes prepared him (Roman) for where he is today and even remembers Dusty telling him that he’ll headline WrestleMania and win the WWE Title one day.
Roman says Cody isn’t the only one who misses Dusty and says that he wishes Dusty was here to see their WrestleMania main event. Roman says if Dusty didn’t teach Cody something, he’d be more than happy to school him (Cody). Roman tries to shake Cody’s hand and Cody says their WrestleMania match is a necessity and the only way he (Cody) can exist, is if he beats Roman Reigns and become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 39. Cody tells Roman that the better man will win at WrestleMania and he (Cody) finally shakes Roman’s hand. Cody’s music hits and Roman exits as the crowd sings along with Cody’s theme song.
We then see Rhea Ripley, alongside Dominik Mysterio walking through the backstage area and Rhea will face Liv Morgan after the break.
Drew McIntyre makes his way down to the ring. McIntyre wastes no time and calls out the Intercontinental Champion Gunther. However, Sheamus’ music hits and out comes the leader of the Brawling Brutes. Sheamus asks McIntyre why he’s calling out Gunther since he knows how much the Intercontinental Title means to him (Sheamus). McIntyre says Sheamus isn’t his father and doesn’t need his permission to call out anyone that he wants. Sheamus calls McIntyre a ‘backstabbing b*tch’ and McIntyre says if Sheamus doesn’t like the call out, he shouldn’t have lost to Gunther not once, but twice. LA Knight’s music hits and Knight says if you’re talking about the Intercontinental Title, you’re basically talking about him…’YEAH!’. Knight says you can’t have WrestleMania in Los Angeles without him.
The New Day’s music hits and out comes Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. The former multi-time tag champions say this whole ordeal is sad and Knight needs to worry about winning a match before he’s concerned with any titles. Karrion Kross and Scarlett then interrupt and Knight attacks New Day from behind. Sheamus joins the fray, as does McIntyre, and Kross wallops Sheamus to end the brawl and we head to a commercial break.
Back from the break and we see a pre-taped segment of Shayna Baszler and Tegan Nox attacking one another backstage before the show and Ronda Rousey helped Shayna take out Tegan.
We then had back to the arena and Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey make their way down to the ring and Shayna Baszler will face Tegan Nox after the break.
We then see Adam Pearce backstage with the Intercontinental Champion Gunther, who’s with his Imperium stablemates Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. Gunther tells Pearce that he’s a waste of an official because he’s yet to book any of the three of them in a match for WrestleMania 39.
Back to the arena and Bobby Lashley is making his way down to the ring and we’ll hear from Lashley after the break.
Back from the break and Bobby Lashley says that he’s tried to call out Bray Wyatt but since he refuses to show his face on Monday Night RAW, he decided to come do it himself on Bray’s show, SmackDown. Uncle Howdy’s music hits and Howdy pops up behind Lashley and attacks the former WWE Champion. Lashley fights back and lines Howdy up for a spear but the lights go out and when they come back up, Howdy is gone. Bray Wyatt’s logo pops up on the screen and we head to a commercial break.
Backstage, we see Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman. Roman asks Jimmy if he’s spoken to his brother, Jey, and Jimmy says he has. Jimmy tells Roman that Jey told him that he needs more time…then reveals that Jey actually told him (Jimmy) to tell Roman to ‘leave him the hell alone.’ Roman said he doesn’t understand why Jey has been acting like this but he knows it started when Sami Zayn started to come around The Bloodline. Roman says if Jey doesn’t show up next week and re-join The Bloodline, he’ll stop blaming Sami Zayn and start blaming Jimmy Uso.
After the match, Solo and Jey continue their attack on Sami but Sami fights back and breaks free as the show goes off-the-air!
The premiere date is set for AEW All Access, a new reality show based on the behind-the-scenes elements of All Elite Wrestling.
It was announced today that the series would premiere on March 29 on TBS following AEW Dynamite and will consist of six one-hour episodes for the first season.
Adam Cole, Dr. Britt Baker, Sammy Guevara, Tay Melo, The Young Bucks, Saraya, Wardlow, Eddie Kingston, and AEW CEO, GM, and Head of Creative Tony Khan will be featured on the episode.
The synopsis notes, “The series will showcase AEW’s stars as they navigate the week-to-week challenges to remain at the top and will track the rivalries between talent as they vie for fans’ attention. Over the course of the series, viewers will get the chance to follow the contentious lead-up to AEW’s major wrestling events and matches.”
The show is produced by Shed Media in association with AEW and Activist Artists Management. Tony Khan, Dan Peirson, Lisa Shannon, Sam Berns, Alan Bloom, Bernie Cahill, and Jon Kanak are the executive producers.
As previously announced, Adam Cole will work his first match since June on March 29 after being sidelined with concussion-related issues that the show will document.
AEW President Tony Khan has more announcements to make.
Khan took to Twitter today to hype this week’s AEW Rampage episode and Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view from San Francisco. In a tweet, Khan stated that he has announcements “coming soon” that “will be important to AEW & our fans!”
Khan wrote: “This is one of the best weekends of the year: AEW Revolution, Sunday in San Francisco + Friday Night #AEWRampage & then Countdown to Revolution TONIGHT on TNT! 2023 will be the biggest year yet for AEW, I have major announcements coming soon that are important to AEW & our fans!”
Khan just made what was hyped as a major announcement on the February 22 episode of Dynamite, although Khan had Adam Cole make the big reveal, which was that AEW’s new reality show, AEW All Access, would be premiering this month. Cole also announced his in-ring return would occur the same night the show premieres.
Khan previously announced that he would be purchasing Ring of Honor and the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
Rampage’s lineup includes Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee vs. Swerve Strickland & Parker Boudreaux, as well as Top Flight, Aussie Open, The Dark Order, and Blackpool Combat Club.
Bryan Danielson is scheduled to challenge MJF for his AEW World Championship in a 60-minute iron man match at the Revolution PPV.
Bryan Danielson had leverage when going through contract talks with Vince McMahon in 2021, as the possibility of him going to NJPW, or AEW was real.
Danielson has often talked about wanting to work in Japan and be part of NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament, one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of wrestling that sees several great matches take place among NJPW’s top stars and sometimes some outsiders.
In a recent interview, Danielson spoke about wanting to work the tournament but doubted that AEW President Tony Khan would let him do so because the tournament takes place over the course of a few weeks. He would also run the chance of Danielson getting injured.
Danielson said in the interview that he would give it a 33% chance that he gets to compete in a G-1.
Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that McMahon would’ve let Danielson work the tournament.
“In 2021, when Danielson was negotiating with both sides, he did not get Khan to agree to allow him to do G-1, but Vince McMahon said he could do G-1. My gut is that Vince McMahon had no idea what G-1 was at the time.”
It should be noted that WWE and NJPW reportedly had talks around this time about a potential partnership, mainly about WWE letting Danielson wrestle in Japan if he re-signed. A partnership was never made, though.
Danielson is scheduled to challenge MJF for his AEW World Championship in a 60-minute iron man match at the Revolution PPV this Sunday.
WrestleMania 39 headliner Cody Rhodes, one of the fan favorites gave a young fan a lifelong memory to cherish during the latest edition of Monday Night RAW.
As Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring Monday night, he stopped at the end of the aisle and soaked in the electric atmosphere. With thousands of fans screaming inside Van Andel Arena, ‘The American Nightmare’ made his spectacular entrance.
While Rhodes stood at the end of the ramp, one of those screaming fans included the 7-year-old Ava Nawwas of Detroit. She watched her favorite wrestler but didn’t have the slightest clue that it will mark as one of her unforgettable nights. Standing at the guardrail, Ava waved a sign featuring Rhodes’ logo while wearing a shirt featuring the same design. Her mom, Mona, and dad, Ali, were also by her side.
The 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble winner, was holding a custom-made “Nightmare” weight-lifting belt and looked away from the arena crowd. He turned his attention to Ava. Cody Rhodes, who recently shared his post-WrestleMania plans, stepped toward the railing and extended his arms. He handed his belt to the joyful Ava, creating a beautiful moment shared by WWE on social media.
“My heart started to beat so fast,” Ava said, recalling how she felt as Rhodes approached her with his arms out. “I was wondering if he was going to give me the belt.”
After Rhodes told Ava to take the belt, he leaned in and gave her a hug before heading to the ring. Ava was emotional once she realized what had just happened.
“I felt love and happiness,” Ava said with a smile, adding that the whole thing felt like a dream come true.
Check out the video clip below:
WWE is on the road to WrestleMania, and some of the top matches have already been confirmed, while other bouts are still not official. According to a new report, fans should expect a few twists and turns along the way.
On this week’s WWE Raw, Lita and Becky Lynch beat Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai and IYO Sky to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships with the help of Trish Stratus, who took out Bayley at ringside.
The company has been planning for Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler to get a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE is planning twists and turns for the titles.
“The only thing we know is that the women’s tag title situation with the six women involved, as well as Bayley and Trish Stratus, has several twists and turns yet to come before the matches are finalized.”
It’s still unclear whether Sky and Kai will win the titles back or where the storyline is going, but “Rousey & Baszler were to face whoever ends up as the tag team champions in a few weeks.”
Rousey has publicly talked about wanting to dominate the Women’s Tag Team Division as of late.
Former WWE Champion Seth Rollins has weighed in on controversial YouTuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul once again.
Rumors continue to swirl of a Paul vs. Rollins bout at WrestleMania. Back at the Royal Rumble, ‘The Maverick’ sent ‘The Architect’ packing from the match. During a later interview with Pat McAfee, Rollins proceeded to trash Paul.
To top it all off, Logan Paul cost Rollins last month’s US Champion Elimination Chamber bout. The feud has continued to bubble away on RAW, as ‘The Monday Night Messiah’ has butted heads with The Miz over his connection to ‘The Maverick’ from last year.
Rollins’ disdain for the PRIME Hydration co-founder is only growing, as evidenced by his recent appearance on After the Bell.
When asked about Logan Paul, Rollins was immensely critical of vlogging as a whole. Questioning what entertainers such as Paul actually bring to the table, Rollins expressed concern with its potential impact on professional wrestling.
“This idea that you can just, poof, pop on your camera, film yourself, do some crap on social media, and become a star and have some worth in the world is for me, maybe I’m a crotchety old man, but I don’t understand what value you’re giving back to the world. And the Logan Paul situation, I don’t understand what long-term value he’s gonna be able to give back to us.”
Seth Rollins
‘The Visionary’, who owns a wrestling school, opined that Paul’s unconventional entry into pro wrestling could set a bad precedent. He explained that he’d much rather his students enter the business in a more traditional, ring-focused way, steadily working their way up the card.
“That [having a contract] doesn’t make you an ambassador for the business. That’s not what wrestling is. And I don’t want my students, I own a wrestling school, I don’t want the next generation of kids coming up in the business thinking that’s how you make it in professional wrestling because if everybody follows that model, the business is dead.”
Seth Rollins
While it’s likely much of this was in kayfabe given their angle on TV, Rollins’ words are scathing nonetheless.
Do you want to see Seth Rollins wrestle Logan Paul at WrestleMania?
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Jay White became a free agent on February 28, and his wrestling future remains a mystery following reports he could be heading to WWE.
At NJPW’s The New Beginning event in Osaka, White lost a “Loser Leaves Japan” match to Hikuleo before losing to AEW’s Eddie Kingston at the Battle in the Valley pay-per-view event.
In January, there had been reports that stated AEW and WWE were interested in signing the top star. WWE felt they had a better chance of signing him. Since then, there has been speculation that he could show up at WrestleMania 39 in April or make his debut by showing up on the post-WrestleMania episode of Raw.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that while the circumstances seem to indicate he’s headed to WWE, there has yet to be any confirmation that would back it up.
Meltzer wrote, “If he is going to WWE, it’s not something well known within the company by many because multiple people who normally know haven’t heard his name mentioned.”
Meltzer previously reported that WWE was the favorite to sign White as if he was going to AEW, then NJPW wouldn’t have had him lose two “loser leaves” matches since they have a working relationship.
CM Punk hasn’t wrestled since AEW All Out 2022, when he won the AEW World title from Jon Moxley. Aside from the events that transpired backstage at the pay-per-view, he was injured during the match and has been sidelined ever since.
Recently, some rumors circulated online that suggested Punk had pressured Tony Khan to change the outcome of a match at Double or Nothing last year. These rumors have been put to rest by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Meltzer clarified that Punk was scheduled to win the match against Adam Page. The decision to put the title on Punk earlier than planned was not due to any pressure from the wrestler.
Wrestling legend recently Mark Henry weighed in on CM Punk’s return to AEW, saying that he doesn’t view Punk as a “cancer” to the locker room.
Henry, who spoke on Busted Open Radio, also commented that he considers himself and Punk to be outsiders in AEW, and believes that the company should bring Punk back. These comments generated a lot of discussion in the wrestling community.
In response to a fan who wrote “Keep CM Punk retired” on Instagram, Punk didn’t hold back. In a reply to the comment, Punk wrote, “you liked your own comment. Bold. I’ll wrestle again just to upset you. You’ll watch no matter where.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Punk’s future, it’s expected that he will be medically cleared to return to the ring in the next few months.
AEW referee has backed fellow officials amid heavy criticism following the latest edition of Dynamite.
Ladder matches are risky gimmick matches in which stars often attempt dangerous spots. Sometimes, the referees could assist the stars in balancing on the ladders. A similar incident happened on AEW Dynamite.
Recently, AEW fans witnessed a jam-packed Face of the Revolution Ladder Match on Dynamite. Powerhouse Hobbs, Eddie Kingston, Ortiz, AR Fox, Sammy Guevara, Action Andretti, Konosuke Takeshita, and Komander competed in the high-stakes match. Eddie Kingston also quit AEW following the match.
It was Powerhouse Hobbs who ultimately won the spectacular contest by retrieving the golden ring. However, various referees held the ladder steady for Hobbs to climb. This incident met with criticism from the fans on social media.
A user on Twitter called out the spot but, referee Bryce Remsburg came to the defense of his fellow officials.
Check out the conversation below:
Powerhouse Hobbs has earned a shot at the TNT Championship. Samoa Joe will defend his title against Wardlow at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday. As it seems, Hobbs will face the winner between Wardlow and the champion Samoa Joe on next week’s episode of Dynamite.
Wardlow and Joe started fighting soon after Wednesday night’s ladder match. After Hobbs’ victory, both Wardlow and Joe destroyed the stage, while Hobbs watched, laughing. Joe, already out to do commentary, was attacked by Wardlow, leading to a massive brawl. It ended with Wardlow hitting a powerbomb on a member of the security team off the stage, sending him crashing into the rest of the security team.
We will now have to wait and see who Hobbs faces in the coming weeks.
Popular AEW babyface Ricky Starks recently weighed in on the recurring comparisons he gets to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Starks grew up on Attitude Era WWF. As a child, his wrestling heroes were The Undertaker, Mankind, and none other than The Rock himself.
This Sunday, the former FTW Champion will collide with Chris Jericho. The pair have been feuding for months, involving both jobber-turned-underdog babyface Action Andretti and the rest of ‘Y2J’s Jericho Appreciation Society crew in the process.
For Starks, the Jericho angle has served as character building after his acclaimed feud with MJF.
Turning face last year, the rising star entered a feud with longtime tag partner Powerhouse Hobbs. Along the way, Starks’ impassioned promos and theatrical mannerisms won over the AEW faithful. Revolution will likely serve as another key test in the former Team Taz standout’s gradual rise up the card.
During a recent AMA for Bleacher Report, Starks was asked about the comparisons he’s often received to Dwayne Johnson. One of the most iconic stars in WWE history, The Rock’s charisma and monumental popularity propelled him into a highly lucrative film career.
For Starks, comparisons have often been made thanks to his promo delivery and passing similarities to The Rock’s late ’90s fashion sense. A question on the AMA asked for Starks’ thoughts on the comparisons, as well as if he’d like to move into Hollywood the way Johnson did.
Starks explained that he’d be very interested in a Hollywood move eventually. However, he was quick to point out that while comparisons to Johnson are flattering, he was quick to make clear he’s not trying to emulate the WWE legend.
“I definitely would [go into Hollywood]. I don’t think just because you’re transitioning to Hollywood doesn’t mean you’re trying to be like someone. The comparisons are quite flattering. I excuse the ignorance of people who insult me when comparing me to The Rock. What I don’t like is when I do something creative for my own inspo and someone just says I’m trying to steal it or be like another person. I really don’t care anymore but it is a cool comparison because it’s the highest compliment you can get. At this point, I’m cool with it and I look good.”
Ricky Starks’ rise in AEW has been gradual. His initial promise as a future star was worryingly scuppered for a spell when he broke his neck in a match with Hangman Page. In the years since, his evolving character and high-impact ring work have made him a dependable fan favorite as 2023 rolls on.
Are you looking forward to Ricky Starks’ showdown with Chris Jericho at Revolution?
Former WWF/E Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson is set to make a return to a pro wrestling for a special appearance this month.
Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling(ISPW) has announced Ahmed Johnson will make an appearance at its March 11 event in Washington, New Jersey. The ISPW event will feature Tommy Dreamer, Nyla Rose, Ernest ‘The Cat’ Miller, Maven, Crowbar and more.
Johnson will be on hand to sign autographs and take photos; his appearance is in conjunction with Damage365 Promotions.
Ahmed Johnson, who was accused of hurting talents, had been one of the powerful stars in the Stamford-based company. He had one reign as WWF Intercontinental Champion and he was also the first African American Intercontinental Champion. Johnson also had a brief stint with WCW from 1999-2000 using the name Big T.
The show will be headlined by the hard-hitting battle between two veterans, Crowbar will go one on one with “The Samoan Storm” Afa Jr. The veteran stars with 60 years of experience combined, they are expected to deliver an unforgettable bout.
Meanwhile, ECW icon Tommy Dreamer will lock horns with “The King of Rock” Rick Recon (with Dave LaGreca) with “The Superstar” Danny Morrison as the special guest referee. Lagreca and Dreamer are very close friends and host Busted Open Radio together. A special battle is on the cards.
Former WWE Tough Enough Champion Maven is the “Manager of Champions” in ISPW as he manages both ISPW Heavyweight Champion Bull James and ISPW Women’s Champion Tina San Antonio. Maven promises that San Antonio will retain the title against Layla Luciano next Saturday night.
Other matches: HC Loc defends the ISPW Tri-State Title against “Main Event” Michael Mars (w/ “The Agent to The Stars” Nicky Benz), Justin Corino vs. Vik Dalishus, LSG collides with TJ Epixx, GKM takes on Dominick Denaro, and Vicious Vicki in action!”
TICKETS for the ISPW event are available for purchase by contacting WestwoodSoftball@gmail.com. More event information can be found at ISPWWrestling.com.
All Elite Wrestling fans may not be seeing Rebel for the foreseeable future following the decision for her to be pulled from programming.
Rebel, real name Tanea Brooks, originally joined AEW in August 2019 as a hair & makeup stylist for its women wrestlers.
In 2020, Rebel was introduced as a character on programming and served as the exclusive makeup artist of Dr. Britt Baker.
While Rebel has remained an ally of Baker, and by proxy AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter, for some time, fans haven’t seen much of her as of late.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer clarified that Rebel is “no longer being used.”
Sources informed Meltzer that with Baker and Hayter now in a babyface role, it was felt that Rebel no longer worked as part of the act.
Baker and Hayter have become babyfaces due to their feud with Saraya and Toni Storm, both of whom have turned heel in recent months.
On June 30, 2021, Rebel suffered a dislocated knee cap injury in a match facing Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero which kept her out of action until September.
Despite being hired as a hair and makeup stylist, Rebel joined AEW with an established history in the ring.
Rebel debuted in Impact Wrestling in 2013 as part of The Menagerie, and would later begin training at Ohio Valley Wrestling.
In 2016, Rebel would capture the OVW Women’s Championship, and would wrestle for Stardom the following year.
In 2019, Rebel made an appearance on the January 23, episode of NXT, and teamed with Amber Nova in a losing effort to KAIRI and IYO SKY.
More info on WCW icon Bill Goldberg’s current deal with the WWE has come to light.
A powerhouse star during the late ’90s wrestling boom, Goldberg wowed audiences with his explosive strength in the ring as well as his general intensity. The big man is renowned for his lengthy undefeated streak and feuds with the likes of Diamond Dallas Page, Triple H, and Brock Lesnar.
The former NFL player’s popularity during his peak years has long been a thorn in the side of similar characters over the years. The likes of Ryback would often get pilloried with Goldberg chants during undefeated streak runs on TV.
More recently, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has become a polarizing figure in the WWE. His star power has arguably become outweighed by his odd booking and often subpar match quality. Perhaps most infamous of all was his bizarre two-minute squash of The Fiend back in early 2020 for the WWE Universal Championship.
More recently, the 56-year-old has made his interest in a proper retirement match known.
On a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed Goldberg’s current contract has run out of confirmed matches. However, the contract itself has not expired yet, despite Goldberg’s claims it was almost up back in October 2022. Until the deal expires, the WWE Hall-of-Famer cannot work anywhere else.
“The WWE doesn’t owe Goldberg anymore matches on the very lucrative deal he signed, but the time frame for the contract hasn’t expired, so he can’t work anywhere else.”
Dave Meltzer
Goldberg’s final stretch in WWE for now saw him trade wins with Bobby Lashley before falling to Roman Reigns in Saudi Arabia. Arguably his most acclaimed work since returning to wrestling was his feud with Brock Lesnar in 2016 and 2017. The pair’s sub-five minute WrestleMania 33 bout is often considered one of the greatest ever sprint matches.
Despite his interest in another match, Goldberg is yet to reveal an ideal retirement opponent.
If Goldberg were to have a retirement match, who would you like to see him wrestle?
Having a locker room leader is a long-standing tradition of WWE. The title is usually attributed to the guys who have went through the rookie phase themselves and have been on the top of the card for a significant amount of time. Seth Rollins is one such star who has become one of the leaders of the current locker room, without even realizing when the transition happened.
The Visionary talked about the change in his behind the scene role on After The Bell. Rollins detailed a conversation he recently had with William Regal:
“I was having this conversation with William Regal at catering yesterday or a couple days ago, I’m sitting there and I was asking him. I’m just kind of like, ‘Hey, I don’t know when this happened for you. I don’t know if you remember but it just kind of like humor me a little bit,’ I don’t know, when really I became the guy who was sitting on the other side of the curtain, giving advice. I don’t know when that happened. I just remember being the guy coming back, being like, ‘Mr. Cena, excuse me. Do you have anything for me?’ I don’t know.
I feel like it’s happened very recently. I just started to notice, caught on these shows that there was nobody sitting in that spot. I was like, ‘Man, I can just hear the crowd so much better if I’m right behind the curtain instead of far away in the talent viewing room.’ So I just sat behind the curtain, and I’m just watching the monitor, watching the matches, listening to the live crowd. All of a sudden people start coming back and [asking] ‘What did you think? Any thoughts here and there? I’m kind of like ‘Oh, you’re talking to me? Oh, yeah okay. All right. I do have some thoughts. Bear with me.'”
Seth Rollins mentioned that he doesn’t know when this change happened. The 36-year-old remembered being the young guy who learned from people such as John Cena, Kane and Randy Orton. Now he is older than these legends were when he first made his debut in November, 2012:
“But yeah, I don’t know when that happened. I don’t know how it happened. I’m talking to someone. I don’t remember who it was, Somebody the other day who is on the roster substantially older than me. I am like ‘Ah,’ My brain was melting at how I’m older now with some of these other guys than when John Cena was on top. When I came in. When I started working with John. I’m older than John was then. So my brain, I can’t even really process that. I’m like, ‘Oh, wait a minute. No, no, I’m not like that.’
John was the old guy. John was like the seasoned vet at that point. John, Randy, Kane, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan. These guys, they were in a different stratosphere than where I was when I came in. I’m like, ‘No, I’m not. I’m not that old guy.’ That crotchety old guy saying ‘Hey, come here kid,’ But I am. I don’t know when the hell that happened. At some point along the way. I’m that person that sits there now and wags my finger at everybody when they come through. God bless me.”
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Mexican luchador Komander made his All Elite Wrestling debut on the March 3 episode of Dynamite in the ‘Face of the Revolution’ ladder match.
Even though he didn’t win the match, his high-flying moves and acrobatics caught the attention of fans. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Komander’s impressive debut may have put him on the WWE’s radar.
The report states that Komander is not actually under contract with AEW, but is in contract with a promotion called KAOZ Lucha Libre in Mexico. It is not clear how this would impact his ability to sign with WWE or AEW.
However, Dave Meltzer noted that Komander is “very much on WWE radar.” This could potentially lead to a bidding war between the two wrestling giants for the talented luchador.
It’s also worth noting that Komander wasn’t Tony Khan’s first choice for the ‘Face of the Revolution’ ladder match. According to Meltzer, Khan initially wanted El Hijo Del Vikingo, but he wasn’t available. It’s unclear why Khan opted for the 24-year-old Komander instead of another wrestler, but his decision may have turned out to be a wise one.
The wrestler formerly worked for AAA, EMLL, Lucha Memes, MDA, Pro Wrestling Mexico, and WAR City. In the match on Dynamite, he went against Eddie Kingston, Konsuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Sammy Guevara, AR Fox, Ortiz, and Action Andretti.
Komander’s debut was highly impressive, and he was able to showcase his impressive acrobatics and high-flying moves throughout the match. His moveset left the audience in awe, and resulted in the crowd erupting in excitement and chanting “holy sh*t,” a clear indication of his ability to captivate and entertain fans.
We’ve got an update on Major League Wrestling’s future with the REELZ cable network.
Earlier this week, a report from Variety suggested that MLW Underground will end its tenure on REELZ after the ten-week period. The most recent episode, which aired on February 28, was the fourth episode of Underground thus far.
The distribution deal provides the company the exposure it’s received since MLW relaunched back in 2017. New episodes of MLW Underground air on REELZ Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. EST. Viewership has been quite strong, averaging 83,000 viewers per episode.
REELZ has now released a statement on the future of its relationship with MLW.
On Thursday, REELZ issued an official statement to PWInsider regarding the future of the New York-based company on their channel. It reads:
“No decisions have been made by MLW or REELZ and we are both committed to a good outcome for MLW, its fans and REELZ.”
The surprising news that MLW’s relationship with Reelz may be limited to only 10 weeks came when Variety reported Peacock is adding the live REELZ feed to their streaming service. The time slot that Underground currently runs will be ‘blacked out’ due to WWE having an exclusive deal with the streaming platform.
MLW has pending litigation against WWE with claims that WWE stopped them from reaching a deal with Tubi and interfered with their relationship with Vice TV. On February 13, the judge on the MLW v. WWE antitrust lawsuit case dismissed MLW’s complaint against WWE. This allowed them to amend their complaint. The ruling came about as the judge believed the company lacked sufficient facts to prove its case.
WWE has filed to trademark the name of another former star, Ezekiel Jackson, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office database.
WWE filed to trademark the name Zack Ryder following the previous lapse in trademark. Matt Cardona(formerly Zack Ryder in WWE) had previously attempted to secure the trademark to his former WWE name but “let it go” when WWE fought his attempt.
In a trademark application filing dated February 23, the Goods and Services usage description for the “Ezekiel Jackson” trademark includes:
“intended to cover the categories of entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment.”
For those who are unaware, Ezekiel Jackson was signed to WWE under a developmental contract in 2007. He went on to make his main roster debut in 2008. During his run in the company, he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and was the final winner of the ECW Championship. He would part ways with the Stamford-based company in 2014 and announced his retirement in 2015.
Meanwhile, new listings for current WWE stars Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler both for February 23, 2023, are on USPTO.report
WWE developmental talent Quincy Elliott has finally made his return to the squared circle during NXT tapings this week. This marks their first match in several months. They had been nursing an injury that kept them on the shelf for a considerable period of time.
Fans had been wondering about the status of ‘The Super Diva.’ Elliott made an in-ring comeback at the February 28 NXT Level Up taping, PWInsider. Elliott faced off against SCRYPTS in singles action.
The rising talent’s most recent TV match took place on the October 18 edition of NXT, with Elliott defeating Xyon Quinn via pinfall.
Elliott had also wrestled at the December 17 NXT house show in Tampa, Florida which was also against SCRYPTS, a character which is reportedly inspired from stalker.
It is not known on which episode of NXT Level Up Elliott’s match will air. It is because WWE apparently taped two weeks’ worth of matches during Tuesday’s taping.
Quincy Elliott had found himself amid controversial matters. They have been a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community. However, they allegedly used burner accounts to make transphobic comments to a fan.
He previously responded to the accusations. Quincy Elliott had shared a statement on Twitter which read: ‘‘I know some are enjoying the circus, but I want to clarify the topic at question.”
‘’I am being exploited for clout and attention. I am being extorted [for] money by a group of fans hellbent [on] defaming me. I have been harassed for too long and I’m done.’’
Quincy Elliott denied the claims and revealed they are non-binary using They/Them pronouns.
They continued: ‘’I am in no way transphobic. Those who /actually/ know me, know that I am non-binary, and go by They/Them. I have used my platform in hopes to ignite change and inspire, and will continue to be brave for my Besties.’’
Ring of Honor is back and filming weekly content once more, but the promotion has left several wrestlers ‘frustrated.’
This past weekend saw ROH create content for their weekly programming with the first episode airing last night.
ROH was purchased by Tony Khan a year ago this month and hosted a handful of Pay-Per-View events ahead of this week’s relaunch.
Several people were flown in for last weekend’s Ring of Honor tapings, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports.
It is noted that a lot of wrestlers canceled their weekend bookings on the indies to work the ROH tapings, but did not go used.
While the unused talent was paid (reportedly more than what they would have earned at the indie events) it is reported that there was “frustration” among the talent who weren’t used.
One independent promoter told WON that he lost four of his top guys and none of them got used on the ROH tapings.
While the promoter said he did not have an issue with the wrestlers taking the ROH booking, he added that they really should have been used.
Dak Draper was one name who was backstage and not used.
Not everyone made it onto the first Ring of Honor show of this new era, but Eddie Kingston did make his presence felt.
After ‘quitting’ AEW following this week’s episode of Dynamite, Kingston appeared after the main event match between ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli and AR Fox.
Kingston made it clear to Castagnoli (who he has spoken negatively about prior to the Swissman’s AEW arrival) that he plans on taking the ROH World Championship.
Gamers may still be waiting with bated breath for the release of AEW Fight Forever, but Tony Khan’s promotion is already working on what’s next.
AEW’s first console video game project, Fight Forever was announced in late 2020 but has faced multiple delays.
Fight Forever will be the third overall game for AEW, with Elite: General Manager and AEW Casino: Double or Nothing both releasing for mobile devices.
Given the two-and-a-half years since Fight Forever was announced, it’s hardly a surprise that expectations are high.
AEW Fight Forever isn’t the only game in the works, however, as Aubrey Edwards explained on The Sessions.
“I’m working in AEW Games, which is our games sort of umbrella. I’m working on a number of games for them which I can’t talk about yet.”
Aubrey Edwards
The AEW referee added that despite being a key part of the AEW Games department, she is not personally overseeing the development of Fight Forever.
For many AEW stars, Fight Forever will mark their debut as playable at-launch characters.
The game will include AEW staple stipulations, including the Casino Battle Royal and the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match.
The game has already picked up awards, and a playable demo has been shown at gaming events in Tokyo, Japan, and Cologne, Germany.
While a release date for later this month was spotted on the Best Buy website, it is believed this is a placeholder date and not accurate.
A mixture of injuries and a lack of creative direction is keeping some stars of All Elite Wrestling away, it has been claimed.
AEW is home to a wide array of talent under a large roster, one that some fans believe is too large.
With limited weekly programming and no on-demand service (such as the WWE Network,) many wrestlers appear solely on AEW Dark or Dark: Elevation, or are seldom used.
For many AEW stars, injuries are to blame for them missing weekly programming on TBS and TNT.
Fightful Select reports that Hikaru Shida is in her native Japan at this time and is dealing with a finger injury, but worked the recent Jericho Cruise, performing in a couple of matches.
Kris Statlander’s ACL injury continues to keep her away from the ring, though she has been backstage at several AEW shows in recent months, including the Lexington and Toronto shows.
After having knee surgery last May, Fightful were told that Leyla Hirsch is “slowly getting there,” and it has been said that she recently resumed in-ring training.
Not everyone who has been absent from AEW programming as of late is down with an injury.
In their report, Fightful notes that Scorpio Sky has been cleared to wrestle for months, after dealing with an injury last Summer.
While Sky was at the recent Impact Wrestling No Surrender event, the former TNT Champion hasn’t attended many AEW shows as of late.
Sky has several years left on his AEW deal, as he said in late 2021 that he signed a five-year extension.
Fightful was told that Miro is healthy and ready to go, but haven’t heard an update on creative discussions between he and All Elite Wrestling.
Miro has several years left on his contract after signing a four-year extension a year or so ago.
The former TNT Champion and three-time WWE United States Champion has had one match for AEW over the past eight months.
Despite being the daughter of Ric Flair, Charlotte Flair had no interest in a wrestling career during her childhood. Even when she started in the business, it wasn’t because of her father. The SmackDown Women’s Champion actually got into the wrestling business because of her late brother Reid Flair.
The WWE star told the story of her start in wrestling during an appearance on LeBatardShow. She mentioned that her brother was in talks with WWE back in 2012. It was at this time that someone presented the idea for Charlotte to join the business as well. The wrestling star said yes to the idea, thinking she may be able to motivate and help her brother. She got emotional recalling how her brother passed away the same night he was supposed to see her wrestle for the first time:
“Well, he had a really bad drug addiction and I thought that if I somewhat started what he wanted to that it would get him motivated, almost like jealous in a way. Like ‘My sister’s doing this, I’ve got to do it too. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to stay on the right course.’ So when I started, he still didn’t pass the test [with WWE].
Then he went off to Japan [and] started wrestling in Japan. They brought him home from Japan to see me for the first time at WrestleMania Axxess almost a year after I signed. He passed away that night when they brought him home to see me wrestle for the first time. So, like, ever since then I just think it’s gonna be that first time he sees me.”
Charlotte Flair has since become one of the most successful pro wrestlers of all time. According to her, she was just trying to continue her brother’s dream and she never thought that she would achieve so much. Though despite all her accolades, Flair still feels she has something to prove:
“Yeah, I think I kind of deal with that now because I’m like, ‘Wait, I’ve done all this. What’s next?’ I wasn’t really sure what I was working towards. It was all just continuing my brother’s dream, right? I spent so much time trying to protect him and help him and get him on the right path when really, he set me on this course that I could have never imagined. So sometimes when it’s all like over at the end of the night, I’m like, ‘Well, what am I fighting for now? What’s next?’ I still feel like I have something to prove. I don’t really know what that next big thing is because I never thought I would have accomplished all this. It’s just cause I worked hard and I happened to be good at it.
[I] wasn’t 16 and was like, ‘I’m going to be the last Divas Champion or I’m gonna be the first woman to main event WrestleMania. I’m gonna be the first woman to main event Raw, Smackdown, Pay Per Views, and WrestleMania.’ All these things just keep happening. I’m just like, ‘Why did I get to be so fortunate and he never got to see me do any of it. I don’t know. It’s one of the things I guess, it just keeps me ticking.”
You can check out Charlotte Flair’s full interview in the video below:
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