Aleister Black has not been seen in a WWE ring since August. In fact, he was drafted to Smackdown and has yet to make an appearance for the brand. The reason for his disappearance has never been disclosed, but it is believed to be the result of several niggling injuries that needed time to heal.

The break came at a good time with the storyline given to Black during his feud with Kevin Owens was rejected by fans and critics alike.

If the time away has helped the Dutchman heal up, then everybody on the Smackdown roster had better be prepared for his return, because surely has a little bit of frustration to work out.

According to sources, Black has recently been seen at the WWE performance centre and has started filming a series of vignettes teasing his return.  The videos are rumoured to be priming a new character direction for Black with their primary focus being on his ‘childhood’.

Black Has Yet to Reach His Full Potential in WWE

Fans are hoping a well-developed character story could signify a big push for the star who has been underutilized since his promotion to the main roster back in 2019. While it looks like he will be returning to Smackdown, an argument could be made for NXT being a better home. With his gritty edge and incredible skillset, the more eye-catching altercations would surely be on the black and gold brand.

Prior to Wrestlemania, an online spat began between Black and Murphy, with the pair seeming to be angling for a match at the greatest show of them all.

While it didn’t transpire, a returning feud could give them both a good platform to showcase their skills in the ring.

It has been two years since we last saw Ronda Rousey in a WWE ring. The first woman to have held a UFC and WWE title belt burst onto the wrestling scene and seemed set to for a entertaining career inside the squared circle, before suddenly requesting time away just after Wrestlemania 35.

The reasons for her sudden withdrawal from the ring is often attributed to both her desire to start a family and the previously gruelling travel schedule that the WWE expect their stars to maintain.

Throw into the mix the nasty accident that Rousey suffered on the set of 9-1-1 that saw her almost lose a finger, and you can understand why it has been so long since she was last seen in a WWE ring.

Speculation on a return was further sparked this month when WWE President Nick Khan dropped strong hints that Ronda was ready to return during an interview with Colin Cowherd

While it has always been expected that she would return to the ring in due course, in a recent episode of Table Talk, Rousey seemed somewhat non-committal about her return. “I don’t know,” said Rousey. “When I feel like it … Eventually, when I feel like. I don’t know.”

Rousey’s Wrestling Future

During her time off, Rowdy Ronda Rousey has flip-flopped with regards to her wrestling career, moving from engaging with fellow wrestlers in a kayfabe war or words, to trashing her former employers. Whether it is all a play on character building or just the actions of a fight unclear on what they really want remains to be seen.

For fans of wrestling, the prospect of having Ronda back in WWE forming an alliance with her MMA four horsewoman buddies Marina Shafir, Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke would be interesting, to say the least. The story possibilities surround a faction like that are endless and if WWE wrote it well, could be reason enough to tempt Ronda back for one more WWE run.

The first Wednesday night without the competition of NXT saw AEW ratings soared to an incredible rating high of 1.2 million. They also scored a 0.44 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. This was the highest viewing figures to date for AEW and a jump of around 43% from the previous week.

Likewise, however, NXT saw a growth in numbers following their move to Tuesday nights. Figures were 4.82% up on the recent Take Over: Stand and Deliver. Granted they only had a 0.22 rating and were almost 400,000 viewers behind AEW with 805,000 viewers.

However, the fact that both companies saw a number increase gives some food for thought. Many people will call AEW the winners for the recent Wednesday Night War, but what if both sides were actually losers?

AEW & NXT: Better Apart

With both companies drawing increased viewers, you have to argue that fans who previously had to choose one or the other indulged their passion this week and watched both shows without problem. When taking this approach to things, does competition for a timeslot really benefit anybody or does it work to hold back both shows from really reaching their full potential.

Wrestling fans are quite quick to call their preferred show the best by watching it live, when really, each company, and even each brand within a company is different. They are run with differing styles and mentalities and they are all ok. Some may be more appealing to certain fans but that also works both ways.

Whether you are an AEW fan, a WWE: NXT fan or just a supporter of professional wrestling, increased numbers are always a good thing. What many initially saw as an act of retreat by WWE could turn out to be a strategic win for both promotions.

Depending on when you grew up and which wrestling promotion you watched the most, your opinion on the presence of factions in wrestling will differ. The Young Bucks, who cut their teeth in NJPW took time to respond to fan criticism that AEW has too many factions.

The Young Bucks, who were part of two factions while working in Japan – Bullet Club and the splinter group The Elite – responded to their critics in an interview with TV Insider.

There have been several new factions form in AEW over the past couple of weeks. Including the ‘Super Elite’ which has seen the Bucks once more side with Kenny Omega. Alongside them are the Good Brothers Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, and the group manager, Don Callis.

This particular group is interesting not because of its members but because it crossed two different promotions without any form of brand/network segregation.

Factions Form as the AEW Brand Takes Shape

We have also seen the rise of The Factory, The Pinnacle, Matt Hardy Office, and the post-pandemic reunion of Death Triangle. Surely it is also only a matter of time before Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston form their own group.

Either way, the Bucks are convinced that factions are good for wrestling. With the success AEW has had to date, who could question their logic.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has been booking factions for more than 40 years, and they’re still around. I see the argument, but I think North American fans have never seen this many at one time. They are used to one, two, or three stables in a company. It’s easier to book angles. It’s easy to get more people involved with different groups. If you’re not aligned in a stable, you’re alone, and that’s hard to book sometimes. That’s why we have a lot of factions. It has clearly worked. Nick said in response to the question.

While Matt went on to discuss the realistic possibility of a trios championship. This is another belt that gains much more credibility when you have clear cut groups to work with.

The Young Bucks kicked off Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite by cutting a promo about their decision to align with Kenny Omega and company last week. The Bucks are now working as heels and introduced new ring gear to signify their new attitudes.

Nick and Matt Jackson sported Jordan 1 Retro High Dior sneakers this week. The shoes sell for upwards of $10,000 on the secondary sneaker market.

Some eagle-eyed fans on social media were quick to point out that the Young Bucks’ Jordan 1 Retro High Diors might not be authentic. Sneaker aficionado @Richiedge is convinced the Jackson brothers were rocking fakes.

It’s interesting that this ‘controversy’ occurred just as the Bucks were solidifying their heel turn. Was this fashion faux pas an oversight, or was it really a very clever move that shows the depths to which some wrestlers are willing to go in order to play their characters?

Designing the Perfect Heel

Spending $10,000 on sneakers could be perceived as a heel move. However, if the shoes are in fact fraudulent, there could be other forces at work.

Could Excalibur’s insistence that Don Callis is literally human garbage could point to the fakes being a planned spot? After all, great professional wrestling is about great storytelling just as much as it is the action in the ring.

Could it be that the Bucks’ new designer shoes were a gift from Callis? A device to further highlight his slimy and underhanded nature? He is, after all, a bold-as-brass coward, and an even bigger snake than Jake has ever met. Kitting out his guys in fake designer gear would be a perfect fit.

Whether true or not, you could easily see the story being spun that way now, and fair play for it. Creativity is important to AEW and well, let’s face it, you’ve got to give the people what they want.

Great heels were becoming a thing of the past, and the universal loathing for Kenny Omega and the new Super Elite is a throwback to the days when a heel was booed and loathed to the very core of a wrestling fans heart.

Nothing seems to polarize wrestling fans more than the concept of a ratings war. The recent Wednesday Night Wars is no different. It’s easy to understand why this concept gained such traction, with all of the similarities to the famous Monday Night Wars. AEW the young upstart, with lots of talent vocalizing their frustration at being caught in the WWE doldrums.

Yet, an argument could be made that there never was such a war, as wrestling is a singular affair, and regardless of company is there for everybody to enjoy. Which side is right? In many ways, both and none are correct. That’s why it is so much fun to be a wrestling fan at this point in time.

It goes without saying therefor that the recent announcement that NXT was moving from Wednesday to Tuesday was greeted by many as a surrender of sorts, with WWE conceding to AEW, for that timeslot at least. The numbers don’t lie, and AEW were pulling in the dominant ratings each week.

The GOAT Declares Victory

One man who was quick and clear when it came to voicing his opinion on the matter was wrestling legend and certain hall of famer Chris Jericho. The G.O.A.T, who was big part of the Monday Night Wars also, wasted no words when talking to Forbes.com claiming that AEW sent NXT screaming and yelling to the safety of a Tuesday night.

“Yes, we wanted to beat NXT,” Jericho declared. “Yes, we wanted to drive them screaming and yelling away from Wednesdays and we did that.”

It’s interesting to think that Chris Jericho wrestled for both WCW and WWE during the Monday Night War period, and now, despite being a WWE star appeared on the WWE network recently with an appearance on the Broken Skull Ranch podcast.

Either way, his words speak volumes about the drive AEW’s stars have to make their company stand tall and proud.

Former WWE star Sin Cara has been talking about his interest in working with AEW. Talking in an interview the Mexican star said that while he had not been contacted just yet, he is open to talks and ready to make the move to the Florida based promotion should opportunity come calling.

I’m excited for the future and if they ever contact me, I’m here. He knows my number, Cody knows my number. Lot of the boys there know my number.

Sin Cara’s interest is not a surprising move given the exposure AEW is getting and their willingness to let stars wrestle for other promotions also. Since his departure from WWE the luchador has changed his gimmick to Cinta de Oro a character that has been represented by several wrestlers over the years.

With AEW already boasting a wealth of Latin talent and ties to AAA there is clear potential for the star to talk his way into a match or two. His recent twitter post hinted at something maybe being in the works.

Could a Troubled History with Jericho Hinder an AEW Run?

The only thing that might make AEW hesitant to offer the star a shot is his history as being a bit of a hothead behind the scenes. He was famously instructed to undergo anger management therapy during his WWE run, after altercations with Simon Gotch and more worryingly, Chris Jericho.

With wrestling being a business where who you know is very important, the sin (Cara) of the past may return to hamper his future.

Time will tell if there will be a debut in his future, but with such a wealth of talent already filling out the different AEW shows, you have to wonder if they need a man who was never anything more than a low mid-tier talent.

Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie is looking forward to getting back into the squared circle, but insists she’s waiting for the right moment to launch her comeback.

“I would love to definitely step back into the ring, it just has to be the right time, and the right moment, and if that opportunity arises, you better believe your girl is coming through,” she told Muscle and Fitness in a recent interview.

Eva Marie, the most ravishing redhead since Jessica Rabbit, has been a much talked about wrestler during her time with WWE. While she has a lot of fans, not many of them were ever behind her in-ring ability. Perhaps a return to action after a five-year hiatus will see her bring a new attitude and level of technical prowess with her.

If her Instagram feed is anything to go by, she is certainly putting in the hard work, training together with Parker Boudreaux down at the WWE Performance Center.

Eva Marie’s WWE Future

While Eva Marie didn’t necessarily leave WWE under any dark cloud, there are many who would question whether a wrestler with her limited skills warrants a place on the roster of any WWE brand given the high quality of talent they already have available.

One such option could be a return to the ring in the form of a valet, with her new training partner Parker Boudreaux being a prime candidate.

Whether you love her or hate her, the tenacity of Eva Marie cannot be questioned. She always held her head high as she worked her matches and stood tall in the face of quite stern criticism from the WWE universe. It couldn’t have been easy for her especially once she started to bounce between the main roster and NXT before it was considered a core part of the brand.

One thing is for sure, she has kept in shape during her time away, and a return would certainly add a splash of color to what can sometimes be rather bland shows.

When it comes to all-around improvement in the wrestling business, there aren’t many who have changed more positively in recent years than The Miz. He’s a wrestler who still has many critics, but there is no denying the passion that the man brings to everything he does.

The once again reality TV star was often ridiculed and marginalized when he first entered the squared circle. However, over the years his work ethic and dedication have seen him grow into one of the better wrestlers on the WWE roster. He has demonstrated his ability and been able to build a brand that extends beyond the ring.

While The Miz might not have the cleanest skills or the widest-ranging arsenal of moves, but he consistently delivers, and has nailed the heel persona perfectly. He is without question of the better active superstars when given the mic and a chance to rant. His shoot style altercation with Daniel Bryan on Talking Smack back in 2016 remains one of the most believable and compelling promos in recent memory.

The Miz: Consistent, Reliable Workhorse

With his mic skills on point, his in-ring ability consistently improving there was only one thing left for the superstar, and that was to up his physique.

In a recent social media post, The Miz took the time to show off his new chiseled physique. The former WWE Champion reveals that he went from 220 pounds in January to 206 pounds this week. It wasn’t easy, but the results speak for themselves.

The ‘Awesome’ one has proven once again that he deserves not only to be where he is, but to be considered one of the best in the business right now.

The Miz has held a total of twenty championship reigns in WWE. He was the first two-time grand slam champion in company history. The man is a draw who knows how to market himself.

With his new physique, you can expect to see him dominating in the ring. While he is already 40, there is a lot of life in the character yet, so expect to see more accolades attached to what is undoubtedly a hall of fame career.

Ever since his release from WWE last month speculation has been rife about where Andrade is likely to head. The talented superstar has a history on both sides of the globe where is he held in high regard by Japanese and Mexican fans.

If a recent tweet from the Mexican star is anything to go by, it is exactly these two countries where he is most likely to head. A video tweeted by Andrade showed a collection clips from his past mainly featuring moments from Mexico and Japan.

What is most interesting is the first clip in the collection that showed his unmasking at the hands of Atlantis back at the CMLL anniversary show in 2015, and the words the third-generation wrestler used.

“I’m back and it’s time to remember who I was and travel the world to achieve my goals.“

Could We See a Return of The Shadow?

If those words are a portent of anything, then maybe we will not be ‘seeing’ Andrade any time soon if he returns to his previously successful masked persona.

There are strong ties for La Sombra to both Mexico (with CMLL) and Japan (with NJPW) as he was the man who created the Los Ingobernables the stable where Tetsuya Naito spent his time during his excursion and led to the creation of the LIJ (Los Ingobernables de Japon) faction. With the forbidden door now wide open, this connection already has great storytelling potential.  

It has already been confirmed that Andrade was not subject the normal 90 post release clause, whcih means fans could have the answers they seek sooner rather than later.

While Diamante went to war with Thunder Rosa in one of the co-main events of AEW Dark Elevation on Monday night, there was one figure who was decidedly absent. Diamante’s tag-team partner Ivelisse was no where to be seen.

The wrestling star has since confirmed that she has been released from the promotion. This is not the first time the Puerto Rican wrestler has been released by a company. Similarly, it is not the first time she has seemingly done so with bad blood.

The 33-year-old was last seen on AEW on March 2^nd in a losing effort. Her disappearance was noticed, with reports circulating that it was due to a conflict with some of the AEW coaches. The star did send out a tweet, which was later deleted, that hinted at a problematic relationship with her employers.

This is the third time Ivelisse has had a rocky departure from a major wrestling organization. After her termination with WWE, which she claimed came after she attempted to report Bill DeMott. She then joined Lucha Underground, from whom she split after five years. She and several other wrestlers filed a class action lawsuit against the company.

Ivelisse in AEW: A New Start

Ivelisse’s stint with AEW began back in 2018 and allowed her to carry on working for other promotions. AEW confirmed she was working on an appearance basis rather then on a fixed contract.

For AEW, claims such as this are something they will face as they continue to grow as an organization.

While for Ivelisse, people could easily cast her as the troublemaker, yet with Bill DeMott since resigning over multiple other allegations, and Lucha Undergrounds problems being well publicised, a case could be made that she has simply been dealt a rough hand in her career.

Whatever the reason for her departure, she is keeping busy in various promotions as shown on her Instagram page. She’s a solid worker in the ring and is the current SHINE champion, having held the belt for almost five hundred days.

The world of reality tv and professional wrestling have crossed paths numerous times over the years. Not counting the reality shows of existing wrestling stars, there have been a few who have made the transition from reality tv to the wrestling ring.

Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin is one such star who is arguable one of the biggest (and certainly most improved) wrestlers around. However, he had better move over as there is a new TV star preparing to take his place as the reality TV champion.

Paola Mayfield, a former cast member on TLC’s 90 Day Fiancée, took to Instagram to announce to the world that she had been training and was ready to compete in her first professional wrestling match.

The 33-year-old reality star will assume the character of Paola Blaze when she makes her debut on May 1^st for Magic City Wrestling Federation (MCWF) in Miami. Former WWE Superstars Carlito, Primo & Epico and Chris Masters are also booked for the show. Tickets are now available at Eventbrite.

Paola Mayfield’s Road To The Squared Circle

The announcement was a surprise with Mayfield’s route to the squared circle coming via somewhat unconventional means. The Colombian mother of one started her professional career as a shoe designer in her native Colombia. Since then, she has been a reality TV star, a fitness instructor, nutrition coach and even a Zumba instructor.

With a health and fitness background the transition to professional wrestling is at least a tangible direction for her to move. If her recent Instagram posts are anything to go by, she’s putting in the work and has a solid base of moves to build from.

Does she have what it takes to make it in the world of professional wrestling? Who knows, after all, DDP was in his mid-30’s when he started wrestling too.

You can see footage of Paola Mayfield’s wrestling training in this highlight reel from her Instagram page:

Tonight’s episode of Raw took place in Montreal, Canada and featured a total of eleven matches, including a first ever one-on-one meeting between the WWE World Heavyweight champion John Cena and Money in the Bank briefcase holder Seth Rollins.

Canadian icon and WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart graced the WWE Universe with his presence and cut a promo. Of course, he brought up the Montreal Screw Job, but it was a nice moment. Also, WWE continued to promote current on-going storylines leading up to Battleground.

Last week’s episode of Raw was one of the best and most exciting in recent history. Did this edition live up to last week’s high standards?  Without further ado, here are highlights, lowlights and my random thoughts on the 7/7/2014 edition of Monday Night Raw:

BEST MATCH: The opening bout between the Usos and the Wyatt Family was the best match of the night. There were two other matches that could have stolen the show, but they failed to do so for a couple of reasons. First, Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose gave it their best effort, but it was clear to see that the two didn’t have very much chemistry, at least when it comes to singles action. Also, the Dean Ambrose botch wasn’t a crowd-pleasing moment.

Chris Jericho vs. the Miz could have been special, but the match didn’t last as long as I hoped. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins had the most promise, but they weren’t given enough time to do anything memorable and the obvious interference by Kane and Randy Orton ruined the match for me.

What was your favorite match of the night?

WORST MATCH: AJ Lee/Paige vs. Naomi/Cameron was the worst match of the night. Aside from the main event and the tag team match between the Usos and the Wyatt Family, there weren’t any real standout matches. However, this bout stood out for all the wrong reasons and it was a poor showing amongst the four Divas involved. Bo Dallas vs. El Torito was a close second for the worst match of the night award because at least the crowd was somewhat into it.

The worst segment of the night was the Nikki Bella/Alicia Fox disaster, but I don’t think there was an opening bell and nobody was declared the winner. Therefore, Idon’t consider this to be a match; otherwise, it would have won the award.

UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Kofi Kingston defeating Cesaro was the upset of the night. I know that Kofi defeated Cesaro last week on Raw, but I didn’t expect him to do it again and I don’t think the fans/crowd did either. I see Cesaro winning the Intercontinental Title at Battleground and Kingston falling into obscurity once again, but at least Kofi is living in the moment now.

To quote the great Mike Adamle, Kofi be Jamaican me crazy.

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: I expected Randy Orton to defeat Dean Ambrose in their match tonight, but I was anticipating Seth Rollins to screw Ambrose over, resulting in Ambrose losing cleanly. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Ambrose has been really hot as of late and Rollins costing him the match would have protected Ambrose a bit more. Also, it would have spiced things up and furthered the Ambrose/Rollins feud.