This week on Elevation, Willow Nightingale will be making her AEW debut going head-to-head with none other than Thunder Rosa.

Many wrestling fans will not know Nightingale. However, those that follow the indie wrestling scene will no doubt be familiar with her name. The recent in a line of talent from NYWC – New York Wrestling Connection, she comes into AEW with a young, but strong pedigree.

Willow Nightingale debuted only 6 years ago in 2015 but has wrestled for some of the more prominent indie promotions, including CZW, House of Glory, and Shimmer. She was also a tag-team champion in Chikara. She held the women’s tag-titles as part of The Bird and The Bee for 228 days. They were the reigning champions until the company closed its doors at the end of 2020.

The chance of her picking up a victory against a wrestler with the momentum of Thunder Rosa is highly unlikely. However, this will not be your everyday squash match. It has everything it needs to be one of the better fights of the night. If she plays her cards right, it could be a major steppingstone for Willow Nightingale to get a full-time spot on the AEW roster.

The female division is growing in the company, and as rumours of a female-only show abound, we could find ourselves getting very familiar with Nightingale as the year goes on.

Willow Nightingale’s debut for AEW was called by fans after spotting her in the crowd during an episode of Dynamite. This is not the first time a wrestler was spotted in attendance before making their debut for the company.

WWE have a long history of celebrity wrestlers stepping between the ropes, and the newest name linked to making their WWE debut is none other than Mario Lopez. 

The former Saved by the Bell star is already 47 years old, but has kept himself in great shape. He also has experience in wrestling dating back to his high-school days. This fundamental knowledge would certainly put him at an advantage and point towards his ability to really engage with an opponent. 

Mario Lopez was talking to WWE Legend Jerry the King Lawler on his own On With Mario Lopez podcast he mentioned that the WWE had already made an approach to have him appear.

“Jerry, they’re trying to get me to do something in the ring. For my kids, I think I wanna do it, get in there as a storyline.

“I’m almost gonna be 48 – I’m in pretty good shape though, and athletic. Any suggestions, any advice I need to know when I get in there. By the way, I grew up wrestling too!”

Mario Lopez Has a High School Wrestling Background

Mario Lopez is a long term fan of sports entertainment and for those that grew up in the early nineties we all remember the successful exploits of AC Slater and the Bayside High wrestling team.

Jerry Lawler was quick to encourage Lopez to get between the ropes. He referenced the recent WWE run for rapper Bad Bunny. The music star put in arguably the best celebrity performance ever seen on the biggest stage of them all. 

Lopez was also quick to jump on the bunny, laying down the challenge. “I wanna wrestle Bad Bunny! I wanna body slam and suplex Bad Bunny!”

Someone should make sure Lopez knows that they are fighting words. Could we be seeing the start of the first celebrity vs celebrity WWE feud?

WWE superstar Daniel Bryan is going to be fighting for his career this week on Smackdown. Yet, it wasn’t Roman Reigns he was heaping praise on during his recent podcast interview for My Mom’s Basement.

During their 30-minute chat Daniel Bryan covered a range of topics, including lauding praise on current AEW and IMPACT world champion Kenny Omega.

“He looks at wrestling differently than anybody else.” Bryan started. “With Kenny Omega, there’s no previous evolution point. It’s just these completely new things that have entered his head that he’s daring to try.”

The Best Bout Machine caught wind of Daniel Bryan’s complimentary remarks. Naturally, he agreed and said Bryan “gets it.”

Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega?

Kenny Omega and Daniel Bryan are wrestling fans to their core. Both have held multiple titles around the world, and years ago, just as their careers were getting started, they locked up in the ring. During stints with Ring of Honor the pair fought three times. There can be no denying that a fourth match-up between them would be a main event match without a doubt.

Daniel Bryan’s comments have interesting timing. When you think he could be kayfabe retired after Friday night and has mentioned in recent interviews how he might step back from full-time competition.

It is also interesting to note that in the same interview, Bryan went on to champion the notion that WWE should open their minds and allow wrestlers to fight for other promotions while under contract.

These are separate points made by a man who has earned the right to share his opinions. However, the thought of seeing Brian Danielson vs Kenny Omega in an AEW ring at some point down the line is enough to excite any wrestling fan.

Konosuke Takeshita was impressive during his recent visit to AEW. The Japanese talent was an unknown entity to everybody. However, he is a superstar of some repute back in his homeland. He has held close to every title in the DDT promotion including their Openweight belt.

Talking in a recent press conference, Takeshita spoke about making his debut for the company and wrestling with a roster and a crowd who had little to no idea who he was.

“To be appreciated at that time was what gave me the most confidence. That kind of environment is what I think was different. But I really drew motivation from it. I felt the hunger to perform the most.”

Konosuke Takeshita only had three matches with AEW, one on each of their Dark shows, following a debut at their first-ever house show. Fighting alongside AEW Champion Kenny Omega, he held his own and left wrestling fans eager to see more.

Takeshita went on to mention that he was eager to return to AEW and has already signalled out two potentially huge matches that he would like to have upon his return.

While he featured as one of Kenny Omega’s boys during his first run, the current AEW and IMPACT champion was the first name on his list of potential opponents. This was closely followed by another wrestling legend in Chris Jericho.

“As for who I want to face, the one who has really had the most influence on me the last few years is Kenny Omega. Also, I had a little conversation with Chris Jericho.”

A match against either opponent would be a great chance for Konosuke Takeshita to demonstrate his true potential and win over the hearts of an entirely new continent of fans.

Braun Strowman has been receiving more and more TV time recently. This past Monday on RAW he received more than his fair share when he set a brand new RAW record.

After reviewing close to a thousand different records, WWE has officially confirmed that the Monster Among Men is the first person to fight in a singles match, a tag-team match, and a handicap match all on the same night.

He first faced T-Bar and Mace in a handicap match. This then became a tag match alongside Drew McIntyre. A miscommunication would see them lose in a double count-out. A powerslam to McIntyre after the match ended set the pair on course for a main event singles match.

The three matches also capped a night of triple celebration for Braun, who not only set the record for matches on Raw but also picked up a win against McIntyre and in the process got himself into the championship match at Backlash. Not a bad night of work for the big man.

Braun has been a fan favourite ever since he began his singles push after leaving the Wyatt family. His inclusion in the main event at Backlash is surely not only well deserved but well-earned. Especially after everything he was put through in his recent storyline with Shane McMahon.

While there is a lot for Braun to do if he wants to walk out of Backlash with the gold, a match with Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman certainly has show-stealing potential.

Natalya Neidhart comes from Canadian wrestling royalty. It goes without saying that she is proud of the business she is a part of. This passion has been with her since she was a kid. To the point that she would go to great lengths to protect the world of kayfabe.

Talking in a recent interview on Ryan Satins Out of Character show, Natalya recalled a story from her youth that saw her get into a full-on fight on the school bus with a girl who talked about wrestling being fake. The incident itself revolved around Papa Shango and the green vomit he would induce in his opponents.

According to Natalya, she was protecting the business of professional wrestling. The fight was so bad it took teachers to break it up. It went so far that their parents were called to the school.

It must have been an interesting one when the teacher explained the fight to Natalya’s father Jim ‘the anvil’ Neidhart.

Natalya has been a WWE stalwart for many years. She is currently seeing a run in the tag team division with Tamina, the daughter of Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka.

She has come a long way from the little girl who admitted she would cry when people told her wrestling was fake.

Natalya has become a powerful voice not just for women’s wrestling but wrestling as a business. It’s clear to see her passion runs as deep as it can possibly get.

The build-up to Matt Cardona’s match with his long-time best friend Brian Myers ended on a controversial and sour note. After trying to hit his Radio Silence finisher Cardona landed badly in the ring and his left knee buckled beneath him.

Matt Cardona has a history of knee injuries having lost 18-months of his career to a previous knee injury. However, it was not just the injury but the way the match ended that left a sour note in everybody’s mouth.

Despite the referee throwing up the X, Myers continued to fight. Hauling his best friend to his feet to hit the Roster Cut lariat. Myers then pinned Cardona for the three in the middle of the ring without a shred of remorse.

If this is a worked angle to build heat for the already hated Myers, it worked well. However, how close can you come to crossing the line between real injuries versus storytelling?

Injuries are serious business in wrestling. Whatever the story is behind the ending of this match, IMPACT is surely looking to milk this feud a little longer. Myers and Cardona are no strangers to the friend-enemy storyline, having played out the same before their departure from WWE.

After the PPV Cardona took to social media to confirm the injury but also to allay fears over its seriousness.

Matt Cardona is a hardcore wrestling fan as is documented on his social media accounts. His love for the sport extends beyond his own acts in the ring. Here’s hoping this latest setback isn’t a bad one and we see him get his redemption against Myers soon.

In the build-up to IMPACT Rebellion, all talk was on the main event title match, however, it was the returning W Morrissey who stole the early credits. Making his debut as a substitute for the injured Eric Young in the Violent by Design 8-man tag match.

Whether the injury was genuine or rather a well-timed piece of story telling the addition of Morrissey to the Impact roster is a big move.

Morrissey is better known for his time with WWE wrestling as Big Cass. He is a man on a personal and professional mission after a series of real-life issues derailed his wrestling career. Morrissey has been brutally open and honest about his battle with depression and alcohol addiction. Seeing him back on the main wrestling roster is the start of his redemption.

Morrissey looked to be in the best shape of his career. Taking the took the fight to James Storm and his crew. While the rivalry between Storm and Young had been the driving factor behind the meeting, yet it was Morrissey who stole the show.

Not only did he get a considerable chunk of in-ring time, but he also picked up the win. Hitting an impressive East River Crossing on Willie Mack. After the bell, Morrissey continued to rain down blows on his fallen opponent, in a clear statement to his VBD brethren that he is ready to help their cause and bring the violence.

It remains to be seen what the plans are for Morrissey following his IMPACT debut. However, in aligning himself with Eric Young he is surely going to be seeing a lot of TV time.

After a sudden surge of redundancies, WWE has now announced the signing of a new superstar, Indian MMA figure Sanjana George.

The 26-year-old made the announcement on her Instagram page and is the latest Indian signing from WWE, who first started having tryouts in the country back in 2019. India is a vast country filled with WWE fans, and the company have made no attempts to hide their intent on capitalizing on their popularity out there. In fact, George is just one of four new signings from the country.

Sanjana George first started her MMA training when she was just 17 and will join a WWE roster that is already filled with ex-MMA fighters.

“I have no prior experience in wrestling, so they are training me from scratch. It’s a challenge, but I have the best coaches in the industry, and I am getting better every day.”

George is already in Florida training at the performance centre. With her previous company training experience and her young age, it can’t be long before we see Sanjana George – or whatever her ring name will be – making her debut.

Sanjana George is the second female Indian wrestler to join the roster alongside Kavita Devi. Only time will tell if George can follow in the footsteps of compatriots The Great Khali and Jinder Mahal and capture WWE gold, but with such a strong pedigree behind her, the future is looking bright.

Beyond that, George will now serve as a role model to young Indian women who hold their own dreams of reaching the big stage.

Ever since his return to the WWE back in 2016, Goldberg has enjoyed a part time run that has caused quite some controversy among fans. His two reigns as universal champion were met with mixed views. Not to mention the typical Goldberg match style no longer really flies with the post attitude era audience.

Regardless of this however, Goldberg has confirmed that he has a contract with WWE that runs until 2022 for two matches a year. This means that we have not seen the last of the 54 year old in the ring. There can be no denying that Goldberg is in great physical condition, for a man of any age, let alone being 54.

Talking in a recent episode of WWE The Bump, Goldberg also went on to say that there are a number of current roster wrestlers who he would love to face in the ring.

“The question is: could this era of Goldberg match up with anyone and have it be interesting? I think the answer is absolutely, yes.” He said.

You could accept if he was to call out a lower-tier wrestler. Someone who he could have some fun matches against. However, his choice is a far more intriguing one. It also has a very interesting backstory.

Big E… Goldberg Says You’re Next!

Calling out a man the size of Big E might seem a little strange for a man in the twilight of his career, and whose recent matches have been less than memorable. However, there is a fantastic backstory to Goldberg and Big E that certainly could make it a nice feud for the Hall of Famer to end his career with.

“So the story goes with Big E and I, that the only match I was ever late for, or I ever missed in WCW, was a match that I called in and told them I couldn’t catch the plane because I was at a signing and I had to stay until everyone was taken care of.” Goldberg explained.

“Big E was one of the kids I stayed for, OK? So, I will never forget his face, I’ll never forget that day.”

Wrestling is all about the story, and it is about the memories. There can be no denying that this would make a great story. A match between the old and new behemoth guard would make for compelling viewing.

If there is one superstar above all others who is synonymous with Wrestlemania, then it is the Undertaker. From The Streak to his cinematic boneyard match with AJ Styles, the Undertaker has seen and done it all.

The fact that the Undertaker was not on the card at Wrestlemania this year was not lost on fans, and it was not lost on the man himself.

In a recent interview with Sports Interactive, Mark Calloway admitted the WrestleMania weekend stirred that familiar itch.

“I was fine all the way until that first ballyhoo of fireworks,” he said. “I kept thinking to myself, ‘You should be there.”

The Undertaker: Time To Step Aside

A Wrestlemania without the Undertaker certainly felt strange. Yet, despite the itch, Calloway is a man who knows when it is time to step aside. Revered by all backstage, his respect was someone every man on the roster wanted to earn. However, there comes a time when the torch needs to be passed, and at 56 years old, that time came. The Undertaker officially retired on November 22nd, 2020.

“There was a bit of an emotional tug of the heartstrings watching this year, but it’s time for me to step aside and let this next generation have the reins and go where they’re going to go.” Calloway said.

It remains to be seen whether the Undertaker will ever be seen back in WWE, in a non-active capacity. For now, the deadman is content to take some much needed time off to adjust to the next stage of his life.

WWE superstar Daniel Bryan has shocked fans in a recent BT Sport interview. Talking about the match and his future, Bryan opened up and admitted he is considering stepping back from fulltime wrestling.

Daniel Bryan, who won the hearts of the wrestling world during his underdog run that culminated in a huge win at Wrestlemania 30, has had a storied career. From earning his stripes on the indie scene to conquering the top of the mountain in WWE, and returning from a career-ending injury. He is a man who has done it all.

Yet now, it would seem, that the near-guaranteed hall of famer is considering calling it a day on his glittering career.

Thoughts of Retirement

When discussing his experience at WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan reflected on feeling disconnected from the moment. As a veteran of the industry, that was an unfamiliar feeling and something Bryan found a bit scary.

“It was really bizarre. I don’t know why or how it happened, but it was unlike anything I’ve felt while wrestling before.”

“Maybe it was a sign that it’s time to let go of being a full-time wrestler, which is something that I have been thinking for a while.”

They say that when it’s your time to stop, you just know. Maybe now is the right time for Daniel Bryan to step away. Doing so on his own terms as opposed to when it was previously forced upon him.

With his words hinting at retirement, could it be that his late inclusion at WrestleMania was his goodbye swan song?

Stone Cold Steve Austin is arguably one of the biggest names in wrestling history. The Texas Rattlesnake was the face of the Attitude Ara. His feuds were legendary. His style and personality fit that era of professional wrestling like a favorite pair of gloves.

Yet sadly, his career was cut short by a neck injury after just a few years. To many, the idea of seeing Stone Cold Steve Austin back in a WWE ring is the stuff they dream about. That even extends to WWE CEO Vince McMahon.

Talking on his Broken Skull Sessions podcast, Austin admitted that Vince McMahon was interested in getting him to return  

“Vince McMahon tried talking me to coming back a couple times,” he explained to his guest.

Stone Cold Steve Austin Loves Wrestling too Much to Return

Yet, it is precisely his deep-seated love of professional wrestling that keeps him from making a comeback.

“I love it more than anybody else. I can only speak for myself, but I love the damn business and it hurt me so much to leave it.”

“And to me, going back for one match, man, why? What am I proving? What are they going to remember?”

It speaks a lot about the man, who refuses to come back to what he loves because of the risk of tainting the legacy left behind. While there can be no denying that fans would love nothing more than to hear the sound of glass breaking one more time, it seems highly unlikely this will ever happen.

AEW broadcaster Jim Ross recently discussed The Rock and John Cena’s legendary rivalry on a recent episode of his Grilling JR podcast. The feud ran for two years and culminated with main-event clashes at WrestleMania 28 and 29.

Jim Ross says he still struggles to understand why Vince McMahon didn’t turn Cena into a heel during that run. As a wrestler, Cena was primed to be a big heel. The crowd were booing him resoundingly, wherever he went. The stage set for an epic face vs heel feud. Yet, it never happened.

“The thing that’s always been funny to me is that Cena never turned heel,” Ross confessed. “There’s where my brain fart starts. Why didn’t we do that? Why was that not done? 

The decision to stick with Cena as the companies leading babyface is one that baffles many fans even to this day.

Jim Ross Draws Parallels Between John Cena and Roman Reigns

There are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between Cena and Roman Reigns. Reigns was also the proud face of the company, despite being booed by everybody. He had no spice or character as a face and looked set to go down as Cena II. However, the voice of the fans won out. Roman is now a dominant heel in a character that seems to be a far more natural fit for him.

“Cena getting booed was a lot like Roman Reigns getting booed whenever he was just getting rolling, and now there’s a reason to boo Roman Reigns because thanks to Paul Heyman he’s become a significant antihero. He’s a heel, and he’s a damn good one.”

Jim Ross has been the voice of wrestling for several generations now and has echoed what we have all been saying for the last decade. WWE missed the boat with Cena, and it does leave you wondering just how different things would have been had they pulled the heel trigger when the time was right for it.

There are few wrestlers out there who have such a rapport with the fans as Samoa Joe. From his legendary run with ROH to his somewhat hindered tenure with WWE, Joe has always been a fan favourite despite being a heel for his entire career. In fact, he was turning face for the first time just before his recent layoff due to a concussion.

When news broke last week that Joe had been removed from the RAW broadcast team, many speculated that the submission machine would be making a return to the ring. They may have been right. It just won’t be in a WWE one, as the star was cut from the roster a few days later in what is now the annual post-Wrestlemania slim down.

Joe was gracious in his departure from the company, but his recent hiatus must have been frustrating for him.

Samoa Joe Still Has Enough Gas in the Tank for One More Run

At 42 years old, Samoa’s Joe’s best years may be behind him. Yet to hear his release from WWE looks to be because they felt he was over the hill is shocking. Citing age and injuries as being too much of a liability to keep him on the roster. At least that is the reason for his departure as given by Dave Meltzer in his most recent newsletter.

“But perhaps WWE believes with his age and injuries, he wouldn’t be, similar to not competing to keep Jay Reso (Christian Cage).”

It is a mind-boggling decision to many. Even if there were no plans to give Joe a title run, there are a great many potential matchups that would have stolen the show. Not forgetting the experience he brings behind the scenes.

AEW is the most likely place for Joe to head. He must first serve the obligatory 90 days no-compete clause. Wherever Joe does go, legions of fans are sure to follow. One thing is for sure, we have no seen the last of Joe in a wrestling ring.

NJPW fans were given the chance to vote for the stipulation in the upcoming fight between Toru Yano and Evil. Both Yano and Evil picked their desired match and the vote was opened to the NJPW universe.

Evil suggested a darkness match, stipulating the lights to be turned on and off at thirty second intervals, until the three-minute mark. Following that, the lights would cut out for thirty seconds every three minutes.

Toru Yano suggested a Creation of Darkness Blindfold match, stipulating that a blinding hood be hung from each corner post. The wrestlers much first attempt to place the hood over their opponent. From then on normal rules exist with victor coming via pinfall or submission.

An the winner is…Toru Yano

The winner with 51.58% of the votes was Toru Yano and his creation of darkness blindfold match.

This stipulation is certainly an interesting one. Given that Yano is such a master of sneaky style that even Rocky Romero can be seen taking notes at his matches, you have to wonder what sort of cheeky deviousness Yano will be looking to spring on the former LIF member.

On paper, a matchup between the two should be a no brainer. However, if Yano has proven anything during his tenure with New Japan it is that he can beat absolutely anybody on his day. Just ask Tanahashi.

While many may laugh him off as a fool, Yano is a seasoned professional. When it comes to putting on matches that are shall we say less than traditional, he proves that perhaps he is truly the ace of New Japan.

According to Sports Illustrated, WWE is planning to have their next big PPV held with a live crowd. By big, we refer to the four OG events. After the success of having Wrestlemania held in front of a live crowd for the first time since the global pandemic struck, WWE has decided to hold off on removing the Thunderdome for their weekly shows. They are however are planning to bring the live crowd back for SummerSlam.

Nobody can deny that having the fans back for Wrestlemania made it a night to remember for all of those on the cards.

The reintroduction of fans for the big events would be a sensible way to bring things back to normal. Obviously it is all dependant on the pandemic situation, but signs are looking promising. The rumours are also substantiated by the recent revelation by WWE President Nick Khan to Variety that the company are looking into getting their teams back onto the road.

No Crowds for Now but WWE Expecting to Make Changes in the Second Half of 2021

What is interesting with these announcements is that Khan also went onto say that should WWE get back on the road, it will be just like it used to be. No half measures.

“But just know that once we’re back on the road, we’re on the road full time. We’re not looking to do other one offs.” Khan said.

This would make it seem as if the WWE were going to continue with Thunderdome until at least August. That is when their current deal runs out anyway. Maybe they are looking to use SummerSlam as a move back to live crowds on a full-time basis.

Either way, it is undoubtedly exciting to think that we could be getting back to normal after so much time.

Not many WWE superstars can lay claim to as many accolades as Kurt Angle. From his Olympic medal to his plethora of championships and victories in the squared circle, he has done it all. He was a powerful, technically adept wrestler who made the transition from one side of the sport to the other almost seamlessly.

He is a man who knows talent and can call a good wrestler when he sees one. That’s exactly what he did this week when talking about Wrestlemania 37 on his own podcast, The Kurt Angle Show.

When asked who the best wrestler was in WWE today, Angle wasted no time in giving his answer. Danial Bryan.

“Daniel Bryan without a doubt,” Angle responded.

Kurt Angle Believes Daniel Bryan is a Technical Master

That answer should not really come as a shock, Bryan is a tremendous athlete, and his career has seen him fight for the top promotions across the world. Whether he was Bryan Danielson, American Dragon or Daniel Bryan, his list of accomplishments is nearly endless. From the Wrestlemania moment of moments back in 2014 to his comeback from a career-ending injury. He has held numerous championships and been both heel and face.

Often the underdog, he has never been one to back down from a fight, and the praise he received from Kurt was both understandable and well-deserved.

“That guy is a technical master. I love his work; I wish I would’ve wrestled him. He is one of the best in-ring performers today and I think of all time. Even though he is a little undersized, he makes up for it in work ethic. What he can do in the ring, he is just incredible.”

Beneath it all, one common theme always shone through. His technical abilities. There is no wrestler on the roster who is more technically sound than Daniel Bryan. Not just in WWE but across the globe.

Back when he was wrestling, CM Punk was a man who knew how to cut a good promo. That’s not even talking about the Pipe Bomb promo, a moment forever etched into the annals of wrestling history.

When a man knows what it takes to deliver a good speech in front of a crowd, they are also going to be adept at recognizing that same ability in someone else. So when CM Punk took the time to respond to a recent tweet asking about the best talkers in wrestling, his answer may have come as a bit of a surprise.

His response may also come as a bit of head-scratcher after in a recent Twitter Q&A session Punk openly admitted that he had not been following wrestling for some time.

“I do not [currently watch wrestling], … Whatever I know, I know strictly off of social media just because it’s huge on social media. If someone does something relatively newsworthy, it’s in the feed, so I’ll keep up with it that way.”

How true that is will probably remain a mystery. However, for a man who name can be heard at pretty much any WWE taping, and the self-proclaimed ‘Best in the World’ it seems almost as unlikely as us ever seeing him back in the ring.

CM Punk Had a Very Different Promo Style to Eddie Kingston

Since his move to AEW, Eddie Kingston has risen to become a big name, his new partnership with his old-time buddy Jon Moxley points to exciting things in the future.

While there are some who may question his in-ring finesse, Kingston is an old-school brawler. He comes ready for a fight, and not just with his fists. Was CM Punk right to claim Kingston is gives the best promo going right now? Maybe. There’s not much originality or heartfelt talk coming from WWE these days, and while Jericho remains hot on the mic, Kingston has a depth and grit to his speeches that right deserve to be recognized.

Just imagine if you would, the chance to see Kingston and Punk both being the mic-men in a feud between two factions. It could be worth its weight in gold.

In the aftermath of AEW Dynamite pulling in 1.2 million views this past week, TNT Champion took to social media to call out his boss, Tony Khan.

Allin told Khan to pick a Top 5 contender to be the next challenger. That list includes a who’s who of AEW’s deep roster: Hangman Page, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Jungle Boy, former TNT Champion Cody Rhodes and Powerhouse Hobbs of Team Taz.

AEW has since announced that TK selected Jungle Boy the #1 contender to the TNT Championship. The undefeated member of Jurassic Express will get his chance to make history next week. This will be an exciting contest between two of the top young babyfaces in All Elite Wrestling.

Jungle Boy commented on the news of his upcoming opportunity. The 23-year-old is grateful for the chance to win his first championship gold on the big stage.

Darby Allin as TNT Champion

Darby Allin is one of the most exciting figures on AEW right now. His bond with Sting has been entertaining and fitting given his character. The best part about it was that it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t done to push him into main even status, it was done because they were a good fit, and that always makes more compelling television.

His run to the TNT title was the reward for a job well done. Putting aside the tragedy of Brodie Lee, Darby earned his title shot and took the chance he was given.

Since then, he has never backed down from a challenge putting on some memorable matches along the way. His recent match with John Silver – who has a big future with the company – being just one example.

Titles shouldn’t change hands every few weeks. A champion should be the best man in the company at that time. Their reign should reflect the reward for their work. With only two singles titles in the organization, it doesn’t make sense to dilute either of them with short runs. The odd surprise here and there makes for entertaining viewing, but on the whole, strong champions make for strong titles. As it stands, it doesn’t look as if Darby will be dropping the belt any time soon.

Yes, he is closing in on a six-month reign, but with Omega being the true heel, and following the more traditional route of only defending his championship at specific, grand occasions, it makes sense to keep the TNT belt active and around the waist of a wrestler who gives his all every single match and can take a beating like nobody else on the roster.

It was January 1984 when Hulk Hogan pinned The Iron Sheik in front of a packed Madison Square Garden that Hulkamania was born. In that match, Hogan became the first man to ever escape the dreaded Camel Clutch and captured his first title in what is now WWE. That match, that victory changed the course of wrestling forever.

Love him or hate, Hulk Hogan changed wrestling back in the 1980’s and apparently he is still changing the lives of wrestling fans today.

That kid is only six years old. That means his parents were most likely his age or younger when Hulk Hogan burst onto the scene and started the groundswell that we still talk about today. That speaks volumes about the longevity of the Hulkster.

While many will criticise this spot as being rehearsed, well, welcome to the world of professional wrestling. It still goes a long way to show how important fan interaction.

Hulk Hogan Will Always be a Controversial Wrestling Figure

Hulk Hogan remains one of the more polarizing figures in the wrestling industry. Revered by some as a pioneer and ridiculed by others in the wake of his recent public trials and tribulations. His recent appearance at Wrestlemania 37 certainly caused very mixed reactions.

Putting all of those aside, he rightly holds the status as a living legend. It’s a joy to see Hulkamania still capturing the hearts and minds of wrestling fans today.

Hogan’s appearances on WWE have been sporadic in recent years. Yet he remains an active voice in the world of professional wrestling. His history with the company means he will always carry WWE association and help grow the WWE brand.

Logan Paul is a rather polarizing figure. The internet personality has a great many fans and an equal number of haters. Yet that didn’t stop him from making the most out of his WWE appearance at Wrestlemania 37.

While everybody can agree, Bad Bunny was by far the best celebrity wrestler in WWE, with an argument possible for his performance being second to Banks and Belair on night one. That said, Paul showed up, played his own character well and ate a stunner from Owens drawing praise for how he sold the move.

When talking on his podcast IMPAULSIVE, Paul admitted there wasn’t much to sell when it came to the move.

“Sold? Like, I actually, I actually got f*cked up” he commented before going on to quash the naysayers claims that wrestling is always fake.

Paul then went on to lay jokingly lay down a challenge for Kevin Owens “Maybe one day I will get my revenge on you, Kevin Owens, I’m coming for you.”

Logan Paul Had the Time of His Life at Wrestlemania

Logan Paul also admitted that he had the time of his life at the grandest show of them all. He added that he couldn’t stop smiling once he was backstage after the Kevin Owens – Sami Zayn match.

The comments from the loudmouthed celebrity cast a positive light on professional wrestling. If his words were anything to go by, he came away with a more appreciative understanding of what professional wrestling is all about.

Paul is still planning on having his exhibition boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather at some point in 2021. However, speculation could linger about whether we could see Kevin Owens vs Logan Paul at Wrestlemania 38.

Welcome to Daily’s Place, home of the Jags … and AEW Dynamite. Ever since the pandemic struck, AEW has been running their promotion from Daily’s Place. The stadium is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL team owned by the Khan family. This has proven to be a reliable and stable home for AEW, who tape three shows there each week.

For the past few months AEW have slowly reintroduced crowds into the stadium, and news of a sold out Machine Gun Kelly concert being held there on April 23^rd can surely be a sign that AEW could soon see the return of capacity crowds to its wrestling events too, perhaps even for the upcoming Blood and Guts match on May 5^th. Interesting that they don’t even mention limited places.

It starts a double hit of positive news for AEW fans, with speculation also rife that the promotion will look to move away from Daily’s Place and take AEW Dynamite back onto the road. With previously planned shows for both Houston and Milwaukee still on the cards, albeit for dates in August as opposed to the original June and July dates.

Could We See AEW Dynamite Back on the Road?

The fact that they were rescheduled rather than postponed indefinitely shows that while it may not necessarily be imminent, the future is looking positive for AEW Dynamite to get back out on the open road. Dave Meltzer is even speculating that All Out could be held in Chicago later this year. Of course, that is dependent on all things pandemic related going according to plan.

If that’s the case it won’t be long before it’s not only Sammy carrying signs around the arena

It will be interesting to see how this will impact the AEW Dynamite and its two Dark counterparts. Throw in the possibility of house shows too, and it is easy to see how AEW can take the great momentum they have and really ramp up the pressure on their rivals.

When she first burst onto the scene as a 21-year-old, former WWE superstar Paige seemed destined for a glittering career. The women’s division was about the enter its revolution and Paige was the woman leading the charge. Then, tragedy struck in 2016 when she suffered a neck injury that saw her miss almost 18 months of action.

A short-lived return of less than a month resulted in a second injury that saw her call time on her career at just 25 years old.

If history has taught us anything, it is that injuries heal, and with both Daniel Bryan and Edge make successful comebacks after what were originally career ending injuries.

In a recent episode of Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast, Paige addressed the question of whether she could be the next name on the list of superstars to make a return.

Paige Has Wrestling in her DNA

Paige said she gets chills watching wrestlers like Edge and Daniel Bryan compete for WWE after neck and brain injuries kept them out of action for several years.

She noted that Edge’s return, in particular, gives her hope, because Edge overcame a similar spinal injury that ended Paige’s career.

“I’d come back tomorrow if I could, but I’m always going to have in the back of my head, what if?” she said. “I might not be mentally ready to come back, but when I am, watch out world, you’re going to be in trouble.”

Paige comments were said with a smile, suggesting the response from the British superstar was rather tongue-in-cheek, but who knows. Wrestling is in Paige’s blood. She was born into a wrestling family, and certainly had a rather unique, wrestling-centric upbringing.

Even now, after being away from the ring for almost three years, she still posts regular images from her wrestling days. For someone like that, the need to perform, the passion that runs through their veins never dies, and for many fans, the prospect of hearing that scream and seeing Paige skip down the entrance ramp just got a whole lot more realistic.

WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry is considering a return to the ring. The World’s Strongest Man isn’t looking for a Goldberg style championship run, nor an awe-inspiring return like Edge. No, his reasons for wanting to get back into the squared circle are far simpler and more fitting for a man of his character and poise.

Henry turns 50 years old on June 12th. During a recent episode of Busted Open on Sirius XM, he revealed his desire to wrestle again after reaching this big milestone.

“I’ll be 50 years old, and I want to be able to say I wrestled after I was 50 and had a good match,” said Henry. “I wrestled in four decades, and that I was able to help somebody in the process or bring attention to somebody that nobody knew. So that’s the whole point in me doing it.”

You can listen to his comments in the player embedded below:

Mark Henry has been a great ambassador for the sport. It is only fitting that his desire to return is to not only prove a point to himself, but also to help the younger generation of superstars gain valuable in-ring experience.

Henry is now part of the management structure at SWE yet when asked if he would make his return for this promotion his response was somewhat coy.

“I’m kind of right now a WWE lifer but only God knows what the future holds.”

Could We See a Leaner Meaner Mark Henry?

Henry went on to say that he would love to have one more match with Randy Orton. Orton is a wrestler who many seem to think is the best star in WWE right now. There can be no denying that Henry has kept in shape since stepping away from the ring. Henry looks very trim if a recent Covid vaccination pose is anything to go by.

While this makes it sound like he would come back to help out Vince, you can’t help but think seeing Mark Henry square off against Paul Wight in an AEW ring would be a great thing to watch. If he happens to give MJF an Olympic slam along the way I’m sure nobody would object.