Backstage arguments are common in any wrestling organization. Talking on his Kurt Angle Show podcast, Angle recently discussed one such incident during his time with WWE. The argument in question is quite well known and happened back in 2006.

Smackdown stars Batista and Booker T got into a brawl behind the scenes and according to Kurt Angle, the whole thing was one big misunderstanding.

Batista made a comment that Booker T overhead. Tempers flared, as they are want to do in a business such as professional wrestling. The pair went at it, and the rest is news telling history.

“I don’t think it was anything personal against Booker T or anyone else on SmackDown. Batista said it and Booker confronted him and now the situation got hotter. Now Booker confronts Batista, makes Batista look like an idiot, Batista confronts Booker and now they end in a fight competition. The fight occurred, I got there afterwards, I saw Booker T had a black eye and Batista was a little banged up and I just thought it was a big misunderstanding. I know they apologized afterwards and made up and did whatever they had to do to move on, they just misunderstood each other about the whole situation. It was a shame; it didn’t have to happen.” Angle said.

In an environment such as professional wrestling, tempers are going to run hot at times. Incidents such as this can serve as a lesson to current roster stars. It’s important to get the full context of something before charging into a confrontation.

WWE superstar Bayley opened up in a recent NY Post interview and lauded a current AEW wrestler with praise. There is a history of good blood between the pair, who have both labelled themselves as role models of their respective organization.

This point sparked a running social media exchange between the pair, but at the end of the day, Bayley was happy for the doctor to keep using the moniker that she first picked up.

When asked in the interview about there being room for more than one wrestling role model, Bayley simple shook her head at the interviewer.

However, she turned it around when further pushed on the subject.

Q: You and (AEW’s role model) Britt Baker have had a little fun back and forth on social media. Does that benefit everybody because it gets fans engaged talking about the two of you?

A: I love Britt. She’s awesome and everything she’s doing is really cool, so I can’t even hate on her. I’ve heard a podcast where she talked about it and there’s no hard feelings, there’s no disrespect and I only want the best for her because as a role model that’s how you’re supposed to react to these type of things. So, go get ’em Britt Baker.

The chance of the pair having a legitimate in-ring feud is non-existent at this point in time. However, a passive-aggressive war of words on social media is fun to watch unfold. A fight between the two, with role model status on the line, would certainly make for an interesting match.

A big match has been announced for AEW Dynamite this week. Reigning champion Hikaru Shida is set to go one-on-one with Rebel (not Reba). The match is the latest step in the long-running feud between Dr Britt Baker and the AEW champion.

The feud dates back to when Baker suffered a broken nose at the hands of the Japanese champion in 2020. Since then, Baker has clawed her way up the rankings, developing a strong heel character in the process. The title match between Hikaru Shida and Rebel is not really one that is going to have fans chomping at the bit to see, but the expectation of what will flare up either during or after will certainly set the tone ahead of Shida’s Double or Nothing clash with the good doctor.

Hikaru Shida is the longest-reigning champion in AEW and has held the belt for 359 days. The stage is set for Dr Britt Baker to win the crown at Double or Nothing. Expect to see a beatdown on Dynamite to help further establish Baker’s heel persona. There is also every chance that this match will result in a stipulation being set for the Double of Nothing clash.

Many fans would argue Rebel has earned a match against the champ. If not just for putting up with everything she does from the good doctor. While she has been used sparingly in the ring in AEW, Rebel has a wrestling pedigree and could pose an interesting challenge for the current champ.

Even if the result is already evident, it should be a good match. This has been a well-played feud and surely won’t be the last time this group face off.

In a quick series of Tweets, WWE superstar Keith Lee has drawn more intrigue than many other active storylines.

The limitless one has fallen out of favour on the main roster in recent months. Injuries are being cited as the reason for this. However, there are enough rumours claiming it is more of a creative dispute than anything else. This was openly discussed by Mike Johson of PWInsider on a recent audio show.

Keith Lee is a firm fan favourite in WWE. Unfortunately, his use since making the step up to the main roster has seen his career stall quite dramatically. If Lee’s tweets are anything to go by, there is a chance we will be seeing him back on the black and gold brand sooner rather than later.

This tweet is unsubtle with its message. He followed up by sharing an image of himself and the NXT War Games cage.

If the rumours of creative disagreements are true, then Keith Lee would be better served moving back to NXT. The time is fast coming where NXT is also going to be regarded as a main roster show. Their talent regularly outperforms their Raw and Smackdown counterparts, and with brand loyalty increasing, it has to be announced that it is no longer merely a developmental territory.

Lee would fit right in on NXT, and there are already a number of interesting rivalries that the Limitless One could walk straight into.

Sasha Banks made the transition from a singles competitor to a tag-team wrestler with ease. Her partnership with Bayley was well placed, and the two reigned over the entire women’s division. Since their split, Banks has continued her solo push, but now, it once again seems like she is on the hunt for a partner.

In a recent Tweet, Sasha Banks sent an open invitation to the dark goddess Alexa Bliss, “Let me in.”

Let Me In

It’s a phrase used by Bliss’s previous cohort, Bray Wyatt, and therefore is a request that is hard to take any other way than being genuine.

The pair have a little history together, with rumours of heat between them circulating back in 2020. However, around the same time, Sasha Banks claimed in an interview saying she would choose Alexa Bliss as a partner.

Sasha Banks has not been seen on WWE programming since her defeat to Biana Belair at Wrestlemania 37. With the normally standard rematch for the title skipped, it remains to be seen if Banks will return to her feud with Belair. Either way, it could be a great moment for Little Miss Bliss to make an appearance. Appearing after a loss, to guide Banks over to the power of darkness.

There is no denying that Banks makes a good heel. However, casting her alongside Bliss in that anti-hero role that Bliss plays so well could be exactly what she needs. It could give her character a fresh injection of creativity.

The WWE calendar is known to fluctuate from year to year, however, there are several that have found a regular slot. This includes Hell in a Cell which has been in October – for obvious reasons – ever since 2009.

This yeah, however, the hellacious event has been moved on the calendar. It will be happening in just 5 weeks’ time. This has the knock-on effect that means Money in the Bank – usually held in June – currently has no confirmed date. It could be pushed to July, but that would mean Extreme Rules has to be moved.

The Reason for Moving Hell in a Cell is Not Clear at This Stage

As of now, there is no reason given for the rescheduling. It is well known that WWE is planning to bring back live fans, possibly as early as SummerSlam. Therefore, it seems that the company feel Money in the Bank is the best choice for a live audience. It is a shame, as Hell in a Cell matches certainly thrive off the crowd reactions.

It makes sense in so far as the Money in the Bank event has two key matches that can shape the landscape of both male and female divisions for the next twelve months.

From a story perspective, moving Hell in a Cell to June works. There are a couple of current rivalries that could be nicely positioned for a Hell in a Cell clash. It just doesn’t feel right having the event in mid-summer. Cesaro and Rollins look set for a match between the mesh. Charlotte and Reah Ripley would be another. Another possibility would be an Uso vs Uso fight, but that rivalry is yet to get off the ground and could turn into an opportunity missed.

Either way, the timing of the move is strange, and it will be interesting to see how this impacts not only the current feuds but also the scheduling for the rest of the year. Either way, Hell in a Cell is always a fun PPV for the calendar, and with the return of live fans looming, there are exciting times ahead for the WWE universe.

Things took a rather unique turn at Wrestlemania Backlashlast night. The scheduled lumberjack match between Damian Priest and the Miz put a spin on things but using zombies to surround the ring.

This was a promotional event to support WWE alumni Dave Batista’s new movie, Army of the Dead. The move was a strange one and certainly caught a lot of fans off guard, however.  The reaction to the event put Twitter into a spin, with people appearing to either love or hate the gimmick.

Even the star of the movie himself seems less than impressed with things after replying to one of the many Tweets sent in his direction during the show.

Given the matches on the Wrestlemania Backlash card, using the lumberjack match made the most sense. However, these things are not put together on the spur of the moment, and you can’t help but think a better match could have been set. Especially given the effort that went into the zombies and the way everybody ringside sold the invasion.

When you look at WWE programming right now there are two names that instantly come to mind when planning something like this.

Alexa Bliss and Bray Wyatt are mainstay characters, both of whom have a supernatural presence. The way their relationship ended at Wrestlemania this year would have provided the perfect moment for them to come head-to-head. At the very least provided a good backdrop for The Fiend to make a Wrestlemania Backlash return.

You must applaud WWE for their efforts, and it certainly breaks up the monotony of recent programming. However, a little more thought into the placement of the zombies might have seen a more positive and less divisive response.

Current AEW star Jon Moxley is not afraid of a fight. Anybody who has seen him during his AEW tenure can account for that. Anybody who has followed him since his time in the indies will know beyond any doubt. So when Moxley showed up at GWC draft day to confront reigning champion Nick Gage, the outcome was already obvious.

The feud between the pair goes back to April, when Jon Moxley appeared at another GWC event and hit a paradigm shift on Gage, onto a pile of light tubes. It was Gage who had the upper hand this time however, hitting a DDT of his own.

This is obviously not the first time that an AEW wrestler has feuded with someone from another company. However, unlike Kenny Omega, this storyline is being set up in a grim and realistic way so fitting for Jon Moxley.

According to those in attendance at the event, the brawl between Moxley and Gage spilled out of the ring and onto the streets. Continuing on for a good fifteen minutes before finally coming to an end.

As of right now, there has been no word on where this angle is headed but given the scope of the professional wrestling landscape right now, the sky is the limit.

It looks certain that Jon Moxley and Nick Gage are headed to war. Whose ring it will be in remains to be seen.

These are very exciting times. When casting an eye to the wider independent scene, there are a great many entertaining fights that could be imagined. Not just for Jon Moxley, but for any one of the AEW roster.

The working relationship between IMPACT Wrestling and NJPW is not a new thing. It was revealed back in February that the two promotions were working together. Since then, we have seen FinJuice (David Finlay and Juice Robinson) show up – and claim the IMPACT Wrestling tag titles, and El Phantasmo debuted last week.

However, that does not appear to be the end of the exchange. According to Tommy Dreamer, there are more NJPW stars heading towards an IMPACT Wrestling ring. With Slammiversary not far down the road, the mouths of IMPACT fans are watering at the prospect.

There are already a host of names linked to a spell on IMPACT, and they are not mid-carders either. Former heavyweight champions Tetsuya Naito and Kazuchika Okada have been used in Slammiversary promos recently. Another name linked is former IMPACT X-Division Champion Sanada.

The open relationship shared between IMPACT Wrestling, NJPW and AEW are bound to give rise to a number of interesting feuds and fights. Could we even see a title from one promotion defended on the show of another against an opponent from a third?

Tommy Dreamer currently serves as a creative writer and producer for IMPACT Wrestling. Their borrowed NJPW talent has been booked strong thus far. It’s easy to foresee some of these former IMPACT stars return for a short stint.

The wrestling landscape is changing fast right now. The previously staunch boundary lines fading to dust, it is a very exciting time to watch professional wrestling. Whether it is now or later, we are bound to see some very big names stepping between the IMPACT wrestling ropes.

It was a big night on RAW for Karrion Kross. The NXT champion and his valet Scarlett appeared on the main roster show in a promo vignette for their upcoming NXT match with Austin Theory.

Karrion Kross is a formidable figure in the ring. He will no doubt be wrestling on the main roster in the future. However, his appearance in a vignette for an NXT show is indicative of how NXT has grown as a brand.

Raw has been the flagship WWE show for decades and NXT was the development territory. Yet the growth of the NXT brand has seen it become a highly watched brand each week. The position of WWE shows each week means that RAW could now be used more frequently as a platform to advertise upcoming NXT matches.

There is no doubt that Karrion Kross vs Austin Theory will be a good fight. However, it is really the statement that the vignette makes on a larger branding scale that makes it interesting.

WWE has been investing solidly in NXT. Under the careful guidance of HHH NXT has moved from strength to strength. This newest step forward shows what a good thing WWE have in their Florida-based brand. NXT figures dropped during the Wednesday Night Wars. Using Raw to promote NXT is a great way to pull viewers back to the new Tuesday night show.

Whatever the reasoning, it was great to see Karrion Kross on the main brand. Whether to moves up, or stays on NXT, he is bound to become a name the entire WWE universe is familiar with.

Humberto Carillo took a spill during his match with Sheamus on Raw which saw the ref call an end to the fight. The injury was a legitimate one and not part of the ongoing story between the pair.

The end came after Sheamus hit a sunset flip powerbomb on Carillo outside of the ring. It was not the move that caused the injury but rather the fact that Sheamus landed on Carillo’s knee.

The match ended swiftly thereafter, with the ref stopping his count to attend to the injured superstar. It was an unlucky accident, with the feud between Carillo and Sheamus gaining traction in recent weeks. A series of squashes set the scene for the classic David vs Goliath style feud. Things were set for the pair to build an interesting storyline.

There has been no official word as of yet on the extent of the injury, or if Carillo will need to take any time off to recover. It is unlucky timing for the Mexican star who after quickly impressing at WWE had been relegated to Main Event in recent months. The Sheamus feud looked set to put him back into the main event picture, if only for a short time.

The 25-year old is an exciting talent. When he does return, hopefully, he will get the air time he deserves. There are places on all WWE brands where Humberto Carillo could shine.

Damian Priest is set to battle The Miz one-on-one at Wrestlemania Backlash, and after his victory over John Morrison this week on Raw, Priest had the honor of naming the stipulation.

Damian Priest has been feuding with the A-Lister since before Wrestlemania. Good friends with Bad Bunny, who had quite the impressive showing on the first night of Wrestlemania, Priest will be looking to end the feud on Sunday.

After picking up the win, Damian Priest decided that their fight at Backlash would be a lumberjack match. Priest wants to end their feud once and for all and choosing a match with no escape surely means he will get the resolution he seeks.

Their feud has been interesting but has arguably run its course. This match at Backlash will end the feud one way or another. If anything, the build-up could be dropping hints at future storylines. Having cost his partner a match two weeks in a row now, could WWE be teasing a feud between the tag team pair?

Not only did the Miz cost Morrison two matches, but his attempted assault on Priest after the bell resulted in Morrison getting hit by a second Hit the Lights.

Bad blood may be brewing. Could we see Morrison turn on his friend at Backlash, costing him the match? It would not only be fitting after recent weeks but would be a transition from one feud into another.

Whatever the outcome from Backlash, Damian Priest will surely be looking to insert himself into a title hunt somewhere. Impressive since his debut on the main roster, the future is looking bright for the Archer of Infamy.

Factions are a big part of AEW. MJF and The Pinnacle are one of the most talked-about factions on the roster. Tonight, they go head-to-head with The Inner Circle in a Blood and Guts match.

Yet, in speaking during an interview with Steel Chair, MJF admitted that he was looking beyond dismantling The Inner Circle and would be open to further expanding The Pinnacle.

MJF admitted that the Pinnacle have a goal in AEW, and that is to hold every title belt. That would naturally include the women’s belt. When pressed on this, MJF said that his group would consider opening their doors to a female star joining their ranks.

Rumours abound that Britt Baker is set to join the Pinnacle at some point in the future. Putting both her and MJF together has the potential for magic. They are both the ultimate heel at the top of their game. Ironically both call themselves the face of their respective divisions. As long as a power struggle could be avoided, Britt joining The Pinnacle could be a fantastic move.

MJF on Britt Baker Rumors

However, MJF was coy when discussing the matter. Remaining in steadfast character as he does so well.

“I will say this about Brittany, she is clearly not just the face of the women’s division in AEW, but at this point, I think it’s fair to say she’s the face of women’s wrestling as a whole, just like I feel it’s fair to say that I’m the face of men’s professional wrestling as a whole. I get why people keep bringing this up, it makes complete sense.”

This is a clear non-rejection of the notion, which could very easily be read as a cryptic admission that MJF has an appointment with the doctor.

Chris Jericho is a man who loves to talk. In a recent NY Post interview, he raised a number of newsworthy points. Including declaring which former WWE superstar he wants in AEW.

Jericho was open and honest when he pointed specifically to the recently released Samoa Joe as being a talent he wants to see in AEW sooner rather than later.

Since Joe’s release from WWE there have been lots of rumours about his future destination, and several wrestlers have laid down a challenge to the man. However, given Jericho’s executive position within AEW, you must feel that there is a little more weight behind his words.

Chris Jericho on WWE Releases

“Obviously, the one name that stands out as an established main-event heavyweight champion guy is Samoa Joe.” Chris Jericho said.

There is no denying that Joe is a main event calibre wrestler. He would add a very interesting dynamic to the current AEW roster. There is a chance Jericho knows a little more than he was willing to let on. If you are willing to examine his choice of words, perhaps there is a hint of a deal already being struck.

“Those guys have three months before they can go anywhere. But I’d love to see Joe in an AEW ring at some point.”

Jericho went on to say that he has his eyes on another recently released talent. Although he added that man would need to prove himself a little bit more first.

“You look at a guy like Tucker for example, I don’t know if we would take him tomorrow, we might, but it seems to me if he goes and proves what he can do and what he’s capable of, well then absolutely.”

One thing is for sure, all eyes will be on the news for the next few months. Waiting for all of these guys to make an announcement about where they will be heading next.

NXT has a reputation for laying on big matches for its weekly show. Next week will be no different, as current NXT women’s champion Raquel Gonzalez defends her crown against Mercedes Martinez.

The rivalry between Raquel Gonzalez and Mercedes Martinez has been building for months. It actually dates back to before Gonzalez won the belt back at NXT: Stand and Deliver.

This bout will mark the first title defence for Raquel Gonzalez, and despite the tenacity of her opponent you have to say she is the clear favourite to pick up the win. However, it cannot be forgotten that the previous time Gonzalez held gold, she lost it in the first defence. Granted, that was for the NXT women’s tag team titles, but a defeat like that surely lingers in the mind.

Raquel Gonzales has risen through the NXT ranks, building quite the name for herself in recent months. She will be eager to cement her legacy with a solid performance next Tuesday and a long run as NXT champion. Moreover, she has an ace up her sleeve in the form of Dakota Kai. In a recent reversal of roles, Kai now has the chance to repay her former muscle for all the times she came to her aid.

One thing that is for certain, the match between the pair will be a banger of a fight, between two of the toughest, baddest women on the NXT roster right now. This match should also end the feud and leave Raquel Gonzalez open to a new rival. Then eyes must turn to the woman she has in her corner. How long will Gonzalez be able to trust her friend Dakota Kai?

Congratulations to Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. The female duo from NXT faction The Way are your new NXT women’s tag team champions. The Way is making their mark in NXT, and look set to be a faction to be reckoned with.

Tuesday night, four women went to war in the NXT ring. With all competitors laying it on the line in a street fight that will be long remembered. With tables, chairs, and weapons aplenty, this was a match that lacked nothing in terms of intensity.

The win adds more gold to The Way’s waists, with Johnny Gargano already holding the North American Championship. How long he will be champion remains to be seen, with his upcoming fight with Bronson Reed.

The tag title victory is the first time that either Candice LeRae or Indi Hartwell have held gold in WWE. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how long their run lasts. The first two sets of champions, however, were unable to hold onto the belts for that long.

NXT will be eager to build prestige around their newest title. Historically, that works best when champs have a solid run. Logically speaking, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell should be set for a solid reign as champs.

With Gargano and Austin Theory in their corner, you have to say that the future is looking golden for the new NXT women’s tag team champions.

Daniel Bryan’s WWE contract legitimately expired last week after his title-versus-career match against Roman Reigns on Friday’s Smackdown. The news was first reported by Fightful and has been independently confirmed.

The nature of Bryan’s sendoff, without any fanfare, indicates that WWE is still optimistic they can keep him in the fold. It would be a lackluster way for Daniel Bryan to leave WWE, despite strong booking in his final matches.

The Return of Bryan Danielson?

Daniel Bryan has been talking about his contract expiring in recent interviews. The former WWE Champion told TV Line last week,

“It’s funny that people gravitate towards the date ‘September,’ and I think it’s because that’s when my last contract ended, but it doesn’t end in September,”

Bryan also made some very interesting comments later in the interview about what his wrestling plans could entail. Making a big point about being an independent contractor.

“One of the coolest things about wrestling, and just be being an independent contractor in general, is that you can say, ‘Well, I really only want to do this amount of work.’”

Either way, it looks as if Daniel Bryan is planning on taking a break to spend time with family and give his neck a rest. However, his words definitely speak of a man who is not yet completely done with in-ring competition.

Since her union with Bray Wyatt and subsequent solo antics, Alexa Bliss has built up a character that truly suits her. In a recent segment of Alexa’s Playground, Lily, Alexa’s best friend hinted that she had been playing all weekend.

A lot of creative effort goes into the Playground segments, as they were with the FireFly Fun House. There are a lot of cryptic messages behind these segments. Many fans believe they have deciphered Lily’s message. Believing it teases Alexa’s first feud since she broke away from The Fiend at Wrestlemania.

During the segment, Alexa Bliss tells the audience that Lily has been playing hide and seek all day long. This was followed by a secretive, behind the hand comment that “her favorite color is red.”

This could just be Alexa Bliss playing her character. Using red because it suits the twisted world in which Little Miss Bliss seems to live. However, many RAW viewers happened to notice that Lily was caught on camera during the show. Lurking in the background during a backstage segment with Sonya Deville, who just happened to be wearing a red suit.

Alexa Bliss has not done anything since Wrestlemania, while Sonya Deville has been out of action since losing to Mandy Rose back in August 2020.

A feud between the two would take some storytelling to get it aligned given the current character arcs. Yet, given the genuinely terrifying nature of Alexa Bliss’s character these days, you could see several ways for WWE creative to make Deville an object of her devilish affection.

Main Event this week played host to the return of former WWE champion Jinder Mahal. Mahal stepped into the ring for the first time since January this year.

Jinder Mahal suffered a serious knee injury in May 202. Other than a taped match in January for the WWE Superstar Spectacle, he has been completely absent. Main Event is taped every week before the live RAW show begins. There were several good names on the card, but the return of Mahal was arguably a big affair for the lesser watched weekly show.

Nothing was mentioned by WWE on social media, but fans were quick to spread the word of the Maharaja’s return.

His return was a spirited affair against Jeff Hardy. Hardy himself was making a return to the ring after a short layoff. The match looked to have Mahal continue with the same character as prior to his injury. Only this time he has swapped his alliance with the Bollywood Boys for another Indian duo, the former NXT team Indus Sher.

Jinder Mahal Will Surely Be Seeking WWE Gold Once More

Not much is known right now about the angle of Jinder Mahal’s return or any feuds that he is likely to enter. With Raw already boasting a heel heavy roster, there is no natural place for the former champion to take.

The pairing would also indicate that Indus Sher will be making their Main Roster debut also. Whether they will get a push in the tag team division or merely serve as Jinder Mahal’s lackeys remains to be seen.

You have to imagine Mahal will want to get back into the title picture. However, easing him in after such a length layoff may make more sense. Expect to see him wrestling a little lower down the card than he was used to. Especially as all current champions are engaged in new feuds.

Mansoor made his WWE main roster debut on RAW last night. In doing so he ended the longest-running active streak in the company.

The Saudi Arabian wrestler has been used extensively on 205 Live. He also made regular appearances on Main Event. In doing so, he amassed a winning streak that stretched for 49 matches. This was officially recognized as the longest-running streak of all active wrestlers.

Sure, it might not have the glitz and the glamor of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak, but to string together so many consecutive wins is no small feat.

With that sort of record, it is not surprising Mansoor decided to answer Sheamus’s open call for the United States title having signed his contract just moments before.

The end result of which must surely leave a sour taste in his mouth. While he did lose the match, it was not because he was pinned or submitted, but rather because of outside interference.

It’s always sad when a streak ends. For Mansoor, he will justifiably feel aggrieved at the manner in which it all went down. From a storytelling perspective, it also feels a little strange. Humberto Carillo is building his feud with Sheamus, any angle between him and Mansoor would not make any sense.

Whatever the reason for ending Mansoor’s streak, the WWE universe will certainly be seeing more of this Saudi Arabian superstar.

It is also worth remembering that Mansoor holds a singles victory over Cesaro, after beating him during the last Super Showdown event. He was also the winner of the largest ever Battle Royal, also held during a Super Showdown event.

Kip Sabian has reported that he will need to have surgery in order to repair damage to his arm. The angle being played is that the injury occurred during Miro’s attack on Dynamite last week. Injuries are common in wrestling, with stars often needing time to repair their bodies not from one single incident but from the accumulation of wear and tear.

In a Tweet sent out earlier today, Kip Sabian thanked his former Best Man for forcing him to go under the knife. The exchange was interesting because of the connotations it carries. The Venom GIF would hint at a heel turn for Sabian. Many fans would point out he has been playing that role for a while, however, what it would also point towards is that Miro will assume the face role for their feud.

It’s a position that makes the most sense from a storytelling perspective also. There is no update yet on how much TV time Kip Sabian will miss, but I am sure it will be comparable to however close Miro can get to a title push.

Kip Sabian Will Be Coming for Miro When He Returns

A feud between Kip Sabian and Miro has been coming since the Best Man debuted for the company, and the time was right to pull the trigger. The pair have strange chemistry when in the ring together, and their feud with the Best Friends has been entertaining, but both are far better when on their own.

Kip Sabian is a talented wrestler and a new angle for his character could be exactly what he needs to push him further up the roster.

Chris Jericho is a wrestler who continues to evolve in wrestling business. It is one of the reasons he is held in such high regard by those that love the sport. His recent transition from heel to babyface is a prime example of this.

Not only did his character go from the most hated to the most cheered for, but he did it with an entire faction. There is no denying that the Inner Circle are now firm faces in AEW. While this sets the stage so well for their blood and guts match with The Pinnacle this month, it did put a spanner in the works of another potential rivalry.

Iron Mike Tyson first appeared on AEW back in May last year and quickly built some solid heat with Chris Jericho. A heel at the time, their confrontation got fans talking about a potential fight.

Chris Jericho Still Interested in Working with Mike Tyson

Talking in an interview with the NY Post, Christ Jericho talked about his time working with Mike Tyson. Remarking how his recent move to a babyface character effectively put the brakes on the pair ever facing off in the squared circle.

“I’d love to have a match with Mike, but the dynamic has switched. You don’t want Mike coming in as a bad guy. That’s hard to do, he’s Mike Tyson and Jericho is a good guy, so we can’t really work each other.”

All hope is not lost, however, as Chris Jericho believes there is a way for the pair to get in the ring and have a good match.

“So maybe we can do a tag team against somebody else.” Jericho was quick to add.

A partnership between the two could work very well, as Jericho’s experience in the ring could help Tyson’s lack thereof. Whatever happens, it sounds that if Chris Jericho has his way, we will be seeing Mike Tyson in AEW again.

Following his defeat last Friday, Daniel Bryan’s removal from Smackdown brand is complete. His profile has been removed from the brand page on wwe.com and is now located on the Alumni page.

Whether this is kayfabe storytelling or Bryan really has finished his tenure with WWE is still unanswered. However, given that his contract runs for a few more months, it is highly likely we will be seeing the Yes movement maestro returning to the screen in due course, either for RAW or NXT.

While a move away from WWE could be a possibility, it’s unlikely we will see Daniel Bryan in an AEW ring just yet. A move back to the Japanese wrestling scene is also possible. However, with his recent comments about full-time competition and his dedicated family man mentality, a trip around the world is also unlikely.

Daniel Bryan was made to look very strong in his defeat at the hands of Roman Reigns last week. This alone makes it unlikely that we have seen the last of him. A move to RAW would make the most sense, both for him as a wrestler and from a storytelling perspective. Raw is currently a heel-heavy brand, and with the other two real babyfaces being locked in a single storyline right now, a move there would give a much-needed boost to things.

The other option is far more intriguing, especially given his recent comments about allowing wrestlers to perform across companies.

The professional wrestling landscape is very uniquely positioned right now. A storyline based around a man losing his spot on a roster has never been packed with more potential.

Since his release from WWE Andrade was the subject of much speculation about where he would head. With his 90-day release clause coming to an end, we have already heard two major announcements from the Mexican star.

Andrade is wasting little time in getting himself back to where he wants to be and has now called out triple promotion champion Kenny Omega.

In a video released on YouTube, Andrade can be seen challenging Kenny Omega for his AAA title, at the promotion’s annual Triplemania event.

The company have not yet set a date for the event, but this only gives Andrade more time to get back into top ring conditioning. After his sporadic use in WWE and the mandatory post-release rest period they insist on, Andrade will need a few matches to get his wings back under him.

Kenny Omega has been the AAA champion since October 2019. While his appearances for the company have been limited due to covid, he will surely have to defend the belt at their big PPV. A bout between these two men would have a big draw for all wrestling fans.

Andrade Making Moves

Earlier this week Andrade announced he was signing for Mexican promotion Federacion Wrestling. He will participate in a multi-man tag match at their debut show in June.

Andrade is also scheduled to face Alberto el Patron at the end of July. More details on that match here.

For now, it looks as if Andrade will be sticking with his unmasked look. However, at the start of the video, he was wearing a La Sombra pendant. This is the latest in a series of hints that we might see a return of his masked character.

The pandemic era has changed wrestling in a number of ways, including the (re)introduction of taped matches. In a recent interview on Wrestling Observer Radio, Chris Jericho talked about how AEW will do several different takes of a spot just to get it right.

AEW Dynamite is often branded as being a live show. However, there have been instances during the pandemic where AEW has taped several shows. During his recent chat with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez, the G.O.A.T of professional wrestling talked about how matches would be edited to remove botches. He went on to say he had gone through as many as three takes on a single spot.

“We worked with Top Flight, me and MJF against Top Flight, and I was gonna put one guy in the Walls and the other guy that jumps over me sunset flips over me where I catapult the other brother to where he’s on MJF who’s on the floor. When we tried this thing it fcked up so bad. We tried it again that it fcked up even worse the second that we had to try it a third time. I was like, ‘I would never do this, but why not take advantage of it?’ It’s a taped show.” Jericho said during his interview.

Blood and Guts Will Leave No Room for Error

Botches are a part of wrestling. We are talking about athletes who put together some of the most acrobatic displays you will see humans perform. Their spots take talent, timing and understanding in order to pull them off. It’s understandable that sometimes things don’t go fully according to plan. For the viewers watching at home, this can be everything from frustrating to illusion breaking. The benefit of watching taped matches is that the stars have the chance to stop, reset and try again. This allows them to create spots that look exactly as expected.

Jericho raises an interesting point. He went on to discuss using edits and re-shoots to make sure things went perfectly. Is that still wrestling? Do fans want a 100% flawless set of matches?

One thing is for sure, the blood and guys match will leave no room for error. AEW has confirmed that this match will be shot live. The other matches on the card, however, will be taped in advance.