The story of Bill Goldberg is one that needs no introduction. He was the beast before the beast, the monster before the monster. He had the streak before it was even a thing. Now, he is a part-time nostalgia act, playing a very specific role within WWE.

Despite preparing to face Bobby Lashley at Summerslam this coming Sunday, Goldberg still had the time to talk to DAZN about his career, and in particular, the names that he still has on his list.

Goldberg is 54 now. Interestingly enough, has been playing the nostalgia act with WWE for longer than he was main eventing in WCW. The run that built his name.

Despite his age and being self-aware that he is a limited-use resource, there are still a couple of names on Goldberg’s list. There are three individuals that Goldberg would still love to face in a WWE ring, but he also knows that he isn’t in a position to make demands when it comes to opponents.

Goldberg Knows Who He Wants to be Next!

Talking honestly, Goldberg admitted he has a lot to be thankful for as a result of his wrestling career. While getting match fit is harder and harder with age, he isn’t ready to hang up the boots just yet.

One fight he would like to see realized is against the face that (used to) run the place, John Cena.

“Cena, that’s always been a dream. Never been in the ring with him. We’re two completely different characters. Hey, you never know. You never know.”

– Goldberg

Following that, there is a potential rivalry building with the Original Bro, Matt Riddle. He and Goldberg do not seem to be on the best of terms when it comes to their personal relationship. However, great recognizes great, or so it would seem.

“The cocky kid (Riddle) spouting off his mouth in the beginning, and I didn’t appreciate it very much by any stretch of the imagination. But the guy has put in a lot of frickin hard work and a lot of hard work, and he’s dedicated his life to this business. Whether I like him as a human being or not, I have to understand and appreciate his passion for the business and his work ethic. Because he works hard and that I appreciate as an athlete and as a human. Is he a prick sometimes? Absolutely. But that’s him. That’s his character, and so am I.”

The other fight Goldberg would love to see happen before he leaves the ring behind him is Roman Reigns. Oddly enough, it’s not because he wants the Universal Title or because he feels that he needs to conquer the top of the wrestling mountain. His want to face Roman is far simpler and far more deep-seated than wrestling.

“I want Roman bad. I want a piece of somebody from Georgia Tech. Like, I can taste it. The comparisons, the football background, I truly believe that’s a match that needs to happen. Am I clamoring for it? Am I begging for it? No. Am I holding my breath for it? No, I do what my job asks me to do.”

A Poetic End Would Be a Fight With the Kid he Inspired

One other name Goldberg would like to fight is a far more poetic tale and one that would be a heck of a fight too.

“Big E has to be on that list. I’ve watched him for years develop, and I’m very proud of him. I do remember when he was in my autograph line 150 years ago. As a little kid having aspirations of doing things that he’s doing now. The road that he’s taken and the hard work that he’s put towards it, he’s reaping the benefits, and I’m extremely proud of him. I’m very happy for him.”

Despite the prospect of fights with Reigns and Cena, as a wrestling fan and storyteller, there is something about an angle between Goldberg and Big E that speaks much louder than anything else. If executed in the right way, it could be the most fitting way for the big man to end his career and come full circle.

The number of releases coming from WWE this year has been fast, thick, and ruthless. One such star to find himself out of work is former NXT Tag-Team champion, Tyler Breeze. He and his partner Fandango were released as part of the NXT cull in June this year.

Talking on a recent episode of Insight with Chris van Vliet, Tyler Breeze spoke about how he was preparing to be fired from the very minute he signed his developmental contract with WWE.

This was not because he knew of their ruthlessness with getting rid of talent, but simply because he knew life was a lot longer than an in-ring career.

“I was preparing to get fired the day I got hired,” Tyler Breeze said. “There is a lot of life to live after wrestling. I immediately started to make a plan, got ready. I remember looking at contracts. When I got my first contract, you have a 3- or 5-year developmental contract. But then I signed my main roster contract. I went ‘okay I’ve got 3 years. Realistically in a perfect world, I will last 3 years. I don’t want to have to sign it. I would like to, but if I don’t want to, I want the freedom to say no.’”

Tyler Breeze Understands there is More to Life than Wrestling

Wrestling is not a career to begin without love. Nobody is going to have a successful career if they do not love the thrill of taking bumps and getting in the ring night after night. However, there is a long time to go once most peoples’ in-ring careers have come to an end. Some are wrestling through and through and continue through into old age.

Tyler Breeze didn’t ever want to be in a position where he had to wrestle just because people were throwing money at him.

At that moment in time, I was not happy. All they said was ‘I’m sorry, we can give you more money.’ I said ‘I’ve been really smart with my money. I don’t need more money. That was when I had the conversation to go back to NXT. But I was ready to leave right then. I had accomplished everything I had wanted to achieve of having that goal of the freedom to not sign that contract.”

While he is still only just 33 and has a lot of gas left in the tank, Tyler Breeze is clearly a man with a sensible head on his shoulders, and a vision of where he wants to go. It will be another month before we can see Breeze back in the ring. While nothing has been said yet about his future destination, fans of Prince Pretty will be hoping to see him sign somewhere and maybe get the push he deserved in WWE.

There is possibly nobody active right now better connected to the wrestling world than Jim Ross. He may be known as the voice of a generation, but his role in professional wrestling runs far deeper. He has been there and done it all for a range of promotions and knows the business inside and out, and when he speaks; many people will stop and listen.

Talking on a recent episode of his Grilling JR podcast, he spoke at great length about several topics. One of which was the constant debate among wrestling fans that AEW needs more titles. Currently, AEW only has four title belts, and Ross feels this is enough.

They have a heavyweight title, the TNT title, a Women’s Championship title and Tag-Team belts.  For Jim Ross, this is enough of a selection for the company to thrive. He feels that too many title belts devalue the company and lessen the prestige of the titles themselves.

“Too many titles really spoils the soup for me, you don’t need that many.”

– Jim Ross

While Jim Ross could see a benefit in adding a six-man tag championship, given the faction driven nature of AEW, he doesn’t feel it should be the primary change on executive minds.

“I wouldn’t be against it, but it wouldn’t be something I’d be breaking my door down and running up and down the halls for.”

Jim Ross Wants Championship Belts and Fights to Hold their Prestige

Talking more about the subject of title belts, Jim Ross feels too many companies fall into the trap of bringing in titles to appease the fans and give mid-card wrestlers a more easily achievable goal. While a competitive roster with people following clear paths for specific titles just makes every match and each storyline more important.

“It’s hard to maintain a positive focus on multiple titles. Which one is the most important? I think that the trend nowadays is let’s just add more titles, it’ll solve our issues. No, it doesn’t and if you get too many, they become watered down.” Jim Ross explained.

There is nothing wrong with the concept of a ‘TV’ title (TNT) being defended frequently, the main championship defences reserved for special occasions and a tag title for the teams. Jim Ross feels there is a brand and roster strength to be found in this construct. It also provides locker room clarity on what wrestlers are fighting for.

Tyler Breeze was something of an underground hero during his time with both NXT and WWE. He never received the push that many fans wanted him to get. Yet, his crazy antics won their appreciation. There was no reason for the Fashion Police angle to get over, except for the way Breeze and Fandango sold it.

Talking in a recent interview on Insight with Chris van Vliet, Tyler Breeze spoke about his time with WWE and referred to some advice he was given by Dolph Ziggler. Advice that he carried with him his entire career.

“Dolph Ziggler gave me the perfect thing when I started working with him. He says ‘look, man. It’s very clear who the guy is. If it’s not you, chances are it will never be you. They won’t hand you the ball, but you will work with those guys. Even when you steal the ball from those guys, they still won’t give it to you. But you will always be used because they know they can rely on you.’” Tyler Breeze explained.

Tyler Breeze Knew There Were Other Ways to Succeed

There is no denying that Tyler Breeze is a talented wrestler. He was chosen to be the opponent for Jushin Thunder Ligers only match in WWE. He is a former FCW heavyweight champion, FCW tag champion – alongside Roman Reigns – and a former NXT Tag Team Champion. However, he knew he was never going to be ‘the guy!’.

However, thanks to further advice from Dolph Ziggler, Breeze realized there was another way to get over. By connecting with the fans, by working and being reliable.

“You get this underground following which Dolph did, which I did. The people know that they want something to happen, and it just won’t happen. It builds this cult following for you that translates into everything you do. I love being in that category. I think it’s really cool that people get behind you because the machine never did.” Tyler Breeze and Fandango shared a special bond with the WWE universe.

Tyler Breeze and his tag team partner were both released from their WWE contracts on June 21^st. As of the time of writing, there is no word on where the pair will head next.

Last week on Smackdown, John Cena stood up to Roman Reigns and delivered a classic ‘Cena promo’  where he pushed buttons and get the reactions he needed. This time bringing up current AEW darling Jon Moxley, or rather his previous incarnation as Dean Ambrose. Talking recently to SK Wrestling, Seth Rollins reflected on Cena’s namedrop and how it made him chuckle.

“I had a good chuckle about it,”

– Seth Rollins

“John likes to cross some lines occasionally if you look at his history of promos in the ring, especially his face-to-face promos heading into big matches. He likes to cross the line.”

There is no denying that when fired up, John Cena can bring it with the microphone. His promos in the run-up to big main event matches can often set the WWE universe ablaze. This time, breaking the fabled ‘fourth wall’ made sense given the history between Reigns, Seth Rollins and Moxley nee. Ambrose.

Seth Rollins Admits He Would Do the Same Thing in John Cena’s Position

Talking more about the promo in which Cena reminded Reigns “You’ve been protected, Roman, you’ve been protected by The Shield. Hell, you almost ruined Seth Rollins. You ran Dean Ambrose out of WWE.” Rollins said he would do exactly the same thing if he were in Cena’s shoes.

I would do the same thing if I was in his position with his name. That’s the nature of the business. That’s how we sell tickets. And that’s how we get people like you talking.”

Seth Rollins cannot allow himself to be distracted by the inciteful talk of a different feud, not when he has his own Summerslam match to prepare for. While Cena and Reigns will clash for the Universal Championship, Rollins is set to face Hall of Famer Edge, with whom he has been feuding ever since Money in the Bank.

In truth, the feud between Seth Rollins and Edge stretches back to 2014. With Rollins and the Authority threatening to curb stomp a still retired edge and break his long-damaged neck.

Seth Rollins is one of WWE’s biggest stars. He has already done it all and still has plenty of time left on the wrestling clock. Alongside his successful wrestling career, Rollins also has his own wrestling school back in his home state of Iowa. Talking recently to TMZ, Rollins said he would be happy to welcome US Gold medal-winning Olympian Gable Steveson to Iowa should he really sign with WWE.

Seth Rollins arrived at LAX yesterday where he spoke to TMZ sport as he made his way outside. Rollins admitted that Steveson had potential, pointing out that WWE had a history with Olympic champions.

“I mean, we’d love to have him. He seems like an incredible athlete and decent dude. And, you know, we’ve had some luck with Olympic gold medalists before, so why not?”

– Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins might be interested in helping a newcomer get into the WWE ladder, but his attention is currently held by a member of the WWE old guard. Rollins is facing off against Hall of Famer Edge.

Seth Rollins Willing to Help Get Gable Steveson Ready for the Ring

Gable Steveson’s gold medal success was a nail-biting affair. While it certainly had the entertainment side of wrestling covered, there is still a big difference between Olympic wrestling and sports entertainment wrestling. Seth Rollins is more than happy to help Steveson manage this adjustment should he elect to make WWE his new home.

“I do have a wrestling school, Black and Brave Wrestling Academy, so if he wants to move to Davenport, Iowa for three months, we’ll get him ready,” Rollins said with a slick promotion for his school.

There is no shortage of options for Steveson, including WWE, the NFL and UFC to name just three. Should he take Seth Rollins up on his offer, there could already be an interesting storyline for the youngster, acting as muscle, or possibly forming a stable together. It is certainly a tried and tested WWE technique.

Last-minute changes happen all the time in wrestling. However, this past week both Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks failed to appear at two consecutive WWE Live events. This is despite both being advertised. Their absences were only announced as the crowd entered the arena.

Currently, no reason has been given for the absence of both superstars. Sasha Banks is due to challenge Belair for her Smackdown Women’s Championship in just seven days at Summerslam. The fight will be the anticipated rematch of their Wrestlemania classic which saw Belair defeat Banks and claim her first WWE title.

The first fight between the pair won Banks and Belair an ESPN ESPY award in July this year for the Best WWE Moment.

Bianca Belair has established herself as a dominant character on Smackdown ever since Wrestlemania. While Sasha Banks took a break from wrestling, until her July return. The return was widely celebrated by fans who were eager to see the pair clash once more.

Could WWE Be Protecting Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair Ahead of Summerslam

We are living in a world where Covid is the first word to our tongues whenever something is cancelled, or someone is sick. However, another valid reason for their collective absence could be far simpler. With Summerslam around the corner, WWE will not want anything unfortunate to befall their two stars. Both Sasha Banks and Belair are two of the biggest draws of Summerslam. Arguably the second biggest match on the card behind Reigns and Cena.

It makes sense therefore for WWE to limit their unnecessary action in the ring for fear of injury. This close to the biggest pay-per-view of the company calendar, it could also be seen as a sensible move to protect their talent and preserve the integrity of their feud. While this doesn’t necessarily explain why they were advertised for the shows in the first place, that could be explained by business minds want to sell tickets.

While there is every chance the pair could be stricken with Covid, or isolating for some reason, it is purely speculation. Everybody in the wrestling world will have their eyes on the ring as these two women take centre stage. If Sasha Banks can reclaim her crown remains to be seen. One thing that is for sure, they are going to tear the house down doing it.

There are not many wrestlers like Darby Allin. He has it all, from his persona, his in-ring skills, his ability to sell moves and build an underdog connection with the fans. This is a viewpoint shared by wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page, who has developed a friendship with Allin.

Talking on a recent episode of the It’s My House podcast, Diamond Dallas Page had plenty of say about Darby and his future in wrestling.

DDP holds a very special place in the wrestling community. He has worked with many different promotions and has literally saved the lives of fellow wrestlers with his DDP Yoga lifestyle. He leads a very strict and healthy lifestyle, and that is something he and Darby Allin share. Albeit if via different methodologies.

“I love Darby. He’s a great kid, he’ll call me up if he’s coming into town.”

Page wasted no words in showing his appreciation for Darby as a technician and a hard-working athlete. “Darby is someone who puts the work in and does everything he can to reverse the risk-taking that he does,” said DDP. “But, he doesn’t even need to do that s*it anymore. He could do a coffin drop here and there, he could do like one or two high spots a match. Because Darby really knows how to wrestle, Darby knows how to sell. And the people love him!”

DDP Understands the Jeff Hardy Comparisons

Any fan of professional wrestling will always make comparisons between wrestlers. Especially wrestlers that have that special something about their character. There has been no shortage of comparisons between Darby Allin and the charismatic enigma Jeff Hardy. Comparisons that DDP understands. However, he also spots one core difference between them.

“He’s a bigger risk taker than Jeff Hardy, and that says something. The difference between [the] two is one is straight edge and one’s not.”

DDP went on to discuss the career of Jeff Hardy and how remarkable it had been. “I think Jeff Hardy is just an unbelievable athlete. I don’t know how he’s still being able to do the s*it he’s able to do. But, he’s still in his 40s. And you really don’t feel this s*it until you start getting in your 50s, and when you get in your 60s. That’s when you feel your shoulders, your knees, your back, your neck.”

Darby Allin is an exciting prospect and has the entire wrestling world ahead of him. With the likes of Diamond Dallas Page and Sting in his corner, there is no end to what he can achieve in this business.

The entire wrestling world was shocked when news broke about Samoa Joe being released from his WWE contract. They were equally shocked when he re-appeared on NXT. Since then, Joe has gone from being the non-active right-hand man to William Regal to the number one contender for the NXT championship. With current champion Karrion Kross pulling double duty on NXT and the main roster, it is looking likely that Joe will secure his third NXT championship.

The NXT brand is currently in a very precarious position. There are lots of unknowns, heavy releases and big talk about structural changes to the entire company. Talking during a recent interview on the WrestleSlam podcast, Samoa Joe talked about the two men who have been leading NXT from the front lines. Heaping praise on both William Regal and Triple H citing their importance to the product.

During the interview, Samoa Joe talked about both men, who are incredibly active in NXT.

“You know, when you’re around Regal he has so much information packed in that brain. It’s almost as if he doesn’t have the processor just to get it all out at once. But, you hang around him long enough and then, these kinda spouts of wisdom will kind of flow out of him. And then, you’re kinda like ‘oh that a good one, oh I’ll take that too’. Anytime you’re around them, you’re always gonna learn something.” Samoa Joe said about William Regal.

Samoa Joe Gives Respect When Respect is Due

Samoa Joe, the wrestler, is a badass who has a problem with authority. However, he is also a man who recognizes and gives respect when it is due.

When talking about Triple H and his impact on the NXT brand he was very clear with his praise.

“I think the biggest thing is, the biggest influence he has, is he has an ability to kind of look at a superstar and figure out, what that extra little need is.”

– Samoa Joe on Triple H

A lot of those entrances, a lot of the spectacle that you see produced on NXT, a lot of that comes out of his head and you know it just works so many times. It’s amazing to see him kind of sit down with the character, and kind of figure out this is how we need to put it together. This is how we need to make it look, and it’s going to be awesome. Then, lo and behold, we’ll come to TakeOver and it’s this amazing entrance. It’s just this great introduction to the world. So, I tip my hat to him for that.”

The future of NXT remains unclear. However, one thing that is for sure, Samoa Joe will be there, leading from the front line.

The pandemic era of professional wrestling will long be remembered. Not only for how the world came to a stop, or how the Phenom himself didn’t get to bow out in front of a packed house. Admittedly, there is something poetic about his end coming by riding away from a beatdown on his bike. It will also be remembered for making the careers of certain wrestlers. In WWE, both Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns saw their careers skyrocket during the empty arena shows.

Drew McIntyre was the face of the company during the lockdown period, holding the WWE Championship, defending it in war after war. He was over and the universe loved him for it. Even Roman Reigns, who turned heel during the pandemic, finally building a character that the fans could get behind. Embracing the heel everybody always knew was inside.

However, not every championship run is greeted with the same levels of appreciation or enthusiasm as Drew McIntyre or the deep-seated loathing for Reigns’ heel persona. Back in May 2017, Jinder Mahal claimed the WWE championship from Randy Orton. Yet fans never got behind Mahal’s title run, and it was, for the most part, not very memorably.

Drew McIntyre Knows You Can’t Force Feed the Fans Champions

Talking during a recent interview with Give Me Sport, Drew McIntyre gave his thoughts on why Mahal’s title run was so resoundingly rejected and criticized.

“I think a lot of it came because it just came out of nowhere. It wasn’t like myself.”

– Drew McIntyre

“There was no build to that big moment and telling the story and history. He has a similar story, the exact same story actually when it comes to getting fired, but the position he was in at the time, it was just kind of hotshotted and I think that’s why people were kind of negative. I think he did a great job with the opportunity that was presented. Perhaps low on experience at the time, but still, in my opinion, whatever he was asked, he did to the best of his abilities.” Drew McIntyre explained.

McIntyre has been locked in a feud with his former 3MB partner for several months now. Both men have come a long way since their early days with the company. Both saw their contracts ended and spent time away from WWE rebuilding. They came back stronger, and are now, arguably in their prime. Drew McIntyre understands and appreciates where Jinder Mahal is and what he has done to get there. While the pair are not yet part of the SummerSlam card, there is every chance we will see them settle their rivalry once and for all on August 21^st.

There has been a lot of movement in the wrestling world this year. Every week seems to bring a new debut in one show or another. One of the quieter ones was recorded this week and will air on the next episode of AEW Dark Elevation.

Kiera Hogan, the former two-time IMPACT Knockouts tag team champion took on former AEW Women’s champion Hikaru Shida.

Kiera Hogan was wrestling on Impact as recently as last week where she was attacked and left behind by her Fire ‘N Flava partner Tasha Steelz. The AEW women’s division is well-populated right now, and get most of their coverage on the Dark shows. However, with Kenny Omega having recently spoken about his desire to push women’s wrestling even more on Rampage, the addition of a wrestler like Kiera Hogan makes sense.

Hogan is a tag team wrestler, and with talk of a women’s tag team title being introduced at some point down the road, you have to think that if Kiera Hogan earns a contract, she would have her eyes on that gold.

Kiera Hogan Looking to Bounce Right Back into the Ring

Nobody was expecting Kiera Hogan to announce her departure from IMPACT wrestling. While her appearance should not be a surprise given her talent, it adds to the mystery of her departure. IMPACT has an open relationship with AEW. While there has been recent criticism of how the Forbidden Door seems less open to female wrestlers, it still doesn’t really explain why Hogan left the promotion.

In any case, she has wasted no time in getting back into the ring and keeping herself in match shape.

Kiera Hogan is a difficult fighter to face in the ring. She is talented and athletic, standing just 4’11’’ which makes her an interesting fighter to have to deal with.

The wrestling future is still unclear for AEW EVP Cody Rhodes. He has yet to address what happened after his match with Malakai Black on AEW Dynamite last week. Cody was not seen on Dynamite this week; however, one question was answered. His new reality show Rhodes to the Top was given a premiere date.

The show, which will consist of 30-minute episodes debuts on Wednesday 29th September at 10 pm on TNT. The debut episode of Rhodes to the Top will be one hour, before dropping to thirty minutes for the remaining episodes

The write up for the show certainly makes it sound like an interesting show to watch.

 Rhodes to the Top goes inside the lives of Cody and Brandi as they navigate their growing family while helping to build AEW’s global wrestling empire. The additional four, 30-minute episodes will take viewers behind-the-scenes as the powerhouse couple manage their ever-busier lives inside and outside the ring, all the while surrounded by a colorful and often hilarious motley crew of wrestlers, family, and friends who both support and test them at every turn. Married in 2013, Cody and Brandi have been on an unprecedented path to wrestling greatness – but will now face their newest and possibly biggest challenge yet – becoming parents.

Rhodes to the Top is Just One Project Keeping Cody Busy

While Cody Rhodes wrestling future may be uncertain, he is certainly keeping himself busy. Besides Rhodes to the Top, he is currently away from AEW filming the next season of Go Big Show. The show will air on TBS.

Brandi has also been absent from television for some time due to her pregnancy and the early days of motherhood.

The Rhodes family are wrestling through and through. Even if Cody’s time in the ring is done, we have certainly not seen the last of him in the business. Even Rhodes to the Top is focused on the industry and will be packed with special guest appearances.

Diamond Dallas Page is a man who needs no introduction. During a recent appearance on the It’s My House podcast, DDP answered the question of what he considers to be the best wrestling finisher. Wrestling is a move of at least a thousand holds – just as Dean Malenko – so coming up with a favorites list is no easy task.

Even DDP struggled to find just one move, instead choosing to go with his two top finishing moves.

“The two greatest finishes ever are the DDT and Diamond Cutter. Randy kept that going with the RKO, there isn’t a better finish than that. Everybody imitates it. Johnny Ace gave me just a run of the mill grab them by the neck and fall down. I came up with all the ways to hit it. And then Johnny went and took all those.“ Diamond Dallas Page answered.

His answers might surprise some, but DDP wrestled in an age when finishers were just that. They were not his multiple times though a match, with the possible exception of a dramatic title match.

Diamond Dallas Page Knows How to End a Fight

While the Diamond Cutter might be his own move, there’s a solid reason for Diamond Dallas Page to pick it as one of his favorites. The cutter is a solid move, and it is versatile. Even in his explanation, he referenced the original cutter from Johnny Ace and the RKO.

Do variations of a move count as separate moves? Possibly. In which case, Diamond Dallas Page’s answer is even more measured, as both his choices are solid and impressive moves, but can have many subtle variations.

The DDT is a move that has become almost criminally weakened over the years, however, when it is executed well it can be devastating. It was a move made famous and often claimed, created by, Jake the Snake Roberts, a close personal friend of Diamon Dallas Page.

Eric Bischoff is not afraid to speak his mind. On the latest edition of his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff spoke about WWE’s recent talent cuts. Bischoff believes WWE is playing directly into AEW hands by presenting them with a golden opportunity to sign coveted performers as the wrestling war is heating up.

Bischoff noted that many former WWE Superstars will be free to work for AEW just as their new show Rampge is launching (this Friday night).

Much has been said about the releases and probably the signing of both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. Both men could make surprise debuts on Rampage. Not to mention the monster among men, Braun Strowman. Then, of course, you have the wrestling world’s biggest free agent right now, the fiend, Bray Wyatt. Wyatt has been active on social media recently, teasing the return of his demonic character.

It seems as if Eric Bischoff believes at least one of these names could be used to kick off Rampage.

Eric Bischoff explained how he felt Tony Khan and the AEW branding team have done well to build interest around many of these stars. They have everybody waiting with bated breath for the next big debut.

AEW Benefitting from WWE’s Mistakes

Eric Bischoff talked about how he feels WWE have given AEW a “huge assist” by allowing so many high-profile stars to become available just as Rampage hits the air.

“I don’t want to say what AEW is doing is flawless, but it’s about as close to it as you can get.”

– Eric Bischoff

AEW has already made great strides as a company since their launch.  Many talents deemed unsuitable for WWE have set their career onto a new trajectory since joining Tony Khan’s promotion. Eric Bischoff feels that the draw to AEW is made stronger by their success, and this, combined with the stature of some free agents right now, will give AEW what they need to not only compete with but beat WWE.

It is clear from his words that Eric Bischoff feels AEW have something big up their sleeves, for their third hour of television and they have Vince McMahon to thank for it.

Chelsea Green has wasted no time since her WWE release in signing for several different promotions. She is a woman eager to get back to doing what she loved. However, talking during a recent interview on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette she spoke openly about how she struggled during her WWE stint.

Mental health is something that is not often talked about when it comes to wrestling. However, when you are signed to a company and find yourself obviously surplus to requirements, it takes its toll. Chelsea Green talked with Renee about how she felt as if she had lost the faith of WWE. A thought that she struggled with when being approached by other companies.

“In WWE, I felt like nobody had faith in me,” Chelsea Green explained. “I knew when I went in that I was hired for a reason, that they had faith in me going in. And then I felt like I lost their faith, and I don’t know where in the two and a half years that happened, or if that’s just something that happens in that company.”

“All of a sudden, I got released and all these companies have come to me and say ‘we trust you, we have faith in you, we love you, what do you want to do?’ And I’m like ‘I’m not ready for that!’ But I am ready, and I have Matt to remind me that I am ready. And I’ve really kind of put pen to paper and tried to figure out ‘what’s this new Chelsea going to be? What’s this new Hot Mess going to be?’ Again, I don’t want to go back to what I was doing before and what was easy.

Chelsea Green Embracing the Opportunity for a Fresh Start

Since leaving WWE, Chelsea Green has signed to appear for ROH, IMPACT and NWA. While a broken wrist prevented her from appearing for ROH, she is determined to not let the injury slow her down. She is rebuilding herself and her career, after having her confidence stripped away.

“I have a fresh start and I want to start over again and build the new version of the Hot Mess. But each company is different, and each company wants something different out of me. So I’m figuring it out as a I go. I’ll never forget going out to wrestle at Slammiversary and having Tommy Dreamer say ‘you already did the work. Now we all just want to go see you out there smiling and happy and we all just want you to be in that ring. So don’t even think about it.’”

“Maria Kanellis at Ring of Honor said the same thing. She’s like ‘you look so stressed. We’re like so happy to have you here. We just want you to go out there and do exactly what you’ve been able to do. Pick up a microphone and talk.’ And I’m like ‘hold up, what? Why is everyone so nice to me?!’”

Chelsea Green effortlessly explains the crisis of confidence that is often easily forgotten given the charismatic nature of the industry.

Peyton Royce was a woman who spent her entire life working towards joining the WWE. Recently, she sat down for an appearance on Insight with Chris van Vliet, where she talked about her wrestling journey.

For Royce, WWE was her dream job from when she was just 10 years. She held onto her vision and her dream, refusing to give it up for anything.

“I wouldn’t go to parties. I would be working out, a fifteen-year-old girl working out around my house. Because I thought ‘the fitter the better.’ And then I would take modeling lessons, I would do modeling competitions because when I was growing up it was the Divas era. And I thought I had to know how to model, I had to know how-to walk-in heels, and how to wear a dress and how to do my makeup and my hair. So, I took lessons to learn how to do that so I could just check off every single box and leave no stone unturned. There was nothing getting in my way.”

Peyton Royce Learned WWE Is Not Necessarily the Promised Land

In total, Peyton Royce spent 8 years with WWE and while her heel persona certainly resonated with fans, things never really panned out the way she envisioned as a child. As she spoke, Royce admitted to feeling increasingly unhappy during her final year(s) with the company.

“I really struggled when Brodie [Lee] passed,” Peyton Royce admitted. “I struggled with the big picture and putting things into perspective and was really unhappy at work, really unhappy. A few times I thought to myself I can’t do this anymore and I am going to ask for my release. A few times I was in the locker room, some sort of creative would change and it would just, I would be just so upset. Rhea Ripley of all people had to talk me off the ledge because I was about to walk into talent relations and say ‘I’m out. I don’t want to do this anymore.’ I was so unhappy. So, the release was a blessing in disguise. I was so close to asking for my release, but I never actually pulled the trigger.”

Peyton Royce has now served her 90 days cooling-off period and is free to sign for any promotion. With her husband (Shawn Spears) settled within AEW, it is not too crazy to hypothesize is being her ultimate destination also.

It is the Kurt Angle time of year. The Olympics have just finished and a gold medal-winning wrestler is weighing up the idea of a run with the WWE. Everybody knows Angle’s story, and how he won an Olympic gold medal with a broken frigging neck.

As one Olympic champion looks to start his career, another took the time recently to ponder the ending of his. Talking on his Kurt Angle Podcast, Angle discussed his long history of neck injuries and admitted that he is going to have to have neck fusion surgery at some point down the road.

“I have a lot of motor skill problems in my hands, my fingers because of my neck. Numbness down my arms, I have a lot of pain in my neck. I’ve been putting off fusion surgery for gosh, 15 years. I might not be able to put it off for much longer, I’m eventually going to have to have fusion.”

Neck injuries aside, Kurt Angle enjoyed a long run in a WWE ring, and a wrestling career spanning over forty years. Hanging up his boots in a quick match against Baron Corbin. Corbin was not Angle’s ideal choice for a final opponent but did what was necessary as an ageing star.

Kurt Angle is the Man Who Helped Cena Get His Start

Every WWE fan remembers the infamous moment a young upstart named John Cena claimed ruthless aggression was enough for him to take down Kurt Angle. While Angle won the match, it put Cena on the map pushing his career down the path it still treads.

Talking on his podcast Kurt Angle admitted that he would have liked his retirement match to have been against John Cena.

“I thought Cena made sense, I started his career and I thought Cena could end mine so it made better sense.” Angle explained, discussing how another possibility that had been floated was a match against Shane McMahon.

However, with his list of injuries, Kurt Angle admitted a match against Shane might not have been the best idea. The choice of Baron Corbin remains a strange one, however, Angle did as was customary and put over the younger star in his final outing. However, the poetry of the John Cena match would certainly have been a far more fitting end.

Malakai Black was a recent guest on Talk is Jericho. During the interview questions obviously arose about his recent departure from WWE. Talking candidly, Black explained how he knew the writing was on the wall moments after he attacked Big E in his comeback moment.

Talking to new AEW roster mate Chris Jericho, Malakai Black explained how he had spoken to Vince McMahon ahead of his comeback, and the boss seemed interested in the storyline. However, it never felt right, and once it happened, he knew things were not going to work out.

“Two weeks before I attacked Big E. on the night of the last vignette, I had a sit down with Vince. And he was very convinced of it, he liked it. I just wanted to get his thoughts, I hadn’t seen him in six months, a lot happened at that point. So I wanted to sit down with him a little bit and kind of see how he was doing.”

“We had a little bit of, just a normal conversation. Like I said, I wanted to gauge, ‘How do you feel about it?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, no, I like it. I like it a lot,’ And then when we did the attack on Big E, I came back. Something about it just didn’t feel right, and I told my wife … I don’t know what it was. The way he looked, something about it, there was a disconnect.”

Malakai Black Doesn’t Hold a Grudge and is Happy to Be Wrestling Again

Talking more, Malakai Black said that ultimately, Vince is the boss at WWE, and so has the right to call the shots. He knew the moment he walked backstage after attacking Big E. One of those moments where you just look around, and you know.

“I kind of felt that he had made up his mind even back then. Which is, hey, it’s his company. It’s fine, no harm, no foul.”

Not long after his release Malakai Black realized his contract only included a 30-day no-compete clause. Something he couldn’t believe at first, but soon took advantage of, signing for AEW as soon as he could.

“I contacted someone within the company. I said, ‘Look, am I reading this correct?’ And this person said, ‘No, that’s correct. Even now, I’m looking at it, you have 30 days,’ and I’m like, ‘Alright, perfect.’”

Malakai Black’s debut in AEW will go down as one of the most shocking moments in their short history given the expected downtime people believed he would have following his release.

The current, reigning, defending and undisputed Universal champion Roman Reigns took to Twitter this weekend to make sure everybody understood, he was the head of the table. Proclaiming that he was “Different than anyone before. Levels above anyone else or anything in this industry.”

A statement such as this is certainly fitting for Roman Reigns’ current character. The transition from the force-fed face to dominant heel is easily the best thing to happen to him. While many can write off this tweet as merely being a continuation of kayfabe. Reigns playing the part of the angry lion at the top of the mountain. Looking down on those beneath him with nothing but disdain. However, in terms of the WWE landscape, his statement is hard to disagree with.

Roman Reigns has become a force to be reckoned with throughout the pandemic era. His reign as Universal champion has surpassed 300 days, and in that time he has fought some of the very best the company has to offer. Along the way, he built himself a legitimate bloodline stable, with his real-life cousins the Usos.

Roman Reigns is Dominance Personified in WWE Right Now

Heels are there to be hated, and whether you appreciate Roman Reigns as a heel or not, it is hard to deny his statement.

If you take a look at the numbers, Reigns has been the Universal Champion for over 300 days. Moreover, it has been over 600 days since he was last pinned in a match. That loss coming to Baron Corbin way back on December 15^th, 2019.

That is the very definition of dominance and while the Tribal Chief is set to face off against John Cena at SummerSlam later this month, it’s valid to wonder how Cena is going to topple the head of the table. Cena hasn’t had a real singles match in almost two and a half years. When you compare that to Roman Reigns 600+ unpinnable streak, it is hard to see a feasible situation where Cena walks out with the belt.

Ever since the forbidden door opened, wrestling has changed. The wrestling world has watched the different weekly shows wondering who on earth could appear at any given moment. However, IMPACT star Jordynne Grace feels that there has been a general lack of female talent walking through the door.

Talking during a recent interview with TalkSport, Jordynne Grace voiced her disappointment in the way the forbidden door has operated for female wrestlers.

“Honestly, I was super excited when it first got announced, but as the months have dragged on with only a few things happening and never really happening for the women. I’ve been more disappointed than anything else really. Because I thought the forbidden door was definitely going to wide-open instead of having to knock and only a few people get in at a time [laughs]. But you know, that’s the nature of the business, right!”

Jordynne Grace Wants to Fight the Very Best Around

The forbidden door has been great for wrestling fans. There is an excitement around the sport that had been lost for a long time. However, it is often overlooked that stars like Jordynne Grace or any other wrestler, male or female, are also excited by what this opening means to them.

Wrestling is a small business in many ways. The athletes all know each other, and many have invariably worked for multiple promotions. This new open-door policy means that the previously erected boundaries are gone. It’s conceivable that a story could be sold to creative pitting anybody against anybody else. That’s an exciting prospect for fans and performers alike.

Jordynne Grace doesn’t really know why more women haven’t crossed the forbidden threshold. However, she has hopes that this could change. Grace is a powerful and talented performer. There is a number of exciting possibly matches for her should she or any other female star be allowed through the door.

As a character, Sami Zayn has never been afraid to stand up and make his voice heard. Off-screen, he is a very different figure, however, one thing remains the same. His passion and his ability to express his point and hold down a conversation about it. Recently, Zayn joined Renee Paquette for another Oral Sessions episode.

During his chat, Sami Zayn spent some time talking about wrestling chants. Focusing on one in particular which is a common chant and one most wrestlers love to hear. However, for Sami, he finds it a little derogatory, especially when looking at the big picture of professional wrestling.

 “My favorite chant in wrestling, the ‘you deserve it.’ And I’m like ‘do you? Do you deserve anything?’” Sami Zayn said. “What about believing that chant? You know what? ‘I worked hard and I do deserve it.’ No, I don’t think so. Everyone works hard, with a few exceptions. The biggest source of, what’s the word I’m looking for, malcontent? The thing that leaves me in a state of unease is how amazing my life is and the juxtaposition with how awful life is for so many other people and the sorrow I feel for other people and how I have it so good. It’s not because I deserve it. That’s the point. I don’t deserve it any more than the next person. I don’t.”

Sami Zayn Feels Lucky to be Where He is and Remains Humble

The message Sami Zayn is trying to get across is not one of big headedness, nor is it one of disrespect to the fan base. He was saying that just because a wrestler wins a title, it doesn’t mean he deserves it any more than anybody else in the locker room. The wrestlers whose job it is to lose every match, or who go the distance week after week in thrilling non-title storylines. Everybody deserves it because while wrestling is about individuals, it is very much a team success.

“I believe it’s just mainly luck. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I worked hard. Whatever. Everybody works hard. And you know what, I’m really great at wrestling. I’m really really good. Not everybody is this good.  But a lot of people work hard at a lot of things and don’t get the breaks, and I got breaks. And it’s time to acknowledge that. Don’t ever chant ‘You deserve it’ at me. I don’t want to hear it. I would much rather ‘you got lucky! You got lucky!’ That would be more accurate.”

Sami Zayn understands the importance of every cog in the wheel. He doesn’t begrudge anybody their success but feels the relationship of success between the individual at the top and the roster that helped get them there is often forgotten.

Any wrestling fan from the 1990s will remember Al Snow and his run through WWE. You remember, he was the crazy wrestler who carried a mannequin head everywhere and had Help Me written backwards on his forehead. He was quite the character, a memorable character, who resonated with the fans.

Well, Al Snow was talking on a recent episode of the It’s My House Podcast, where he had some harsh words about modern wrestlers and their lack of connection with the fan base.

“The talent isn’t performing for you anymore. That’s a fact,” Al Snow said. “They’re not going in the ring and wrestling for you. Your opinion doesn’t matter. They are wrestling for each other, trying to impress each other, and they are wrestling for that small group of people that write a report and give them critical acclaim and say either it was really a good match, or it was a bad match. That’s the truth. That’s why the talent is so caught up in today and in the locker room calling every single second. They’re not living in the moment, not reacting to each other, to the referee, not interacting with the audience like they used to. They’re so concerned that they’re gonna forget the next thing that’s coming up, and they’re scared to death that they’re going to make a mistake.”

Al Snow Feels Wrestlers Are Too Focused on Ratings than Performances

As part of his rant, Al Snow made big references to the journalists and writers. Those who give the ratings and award merit to stars that put on the best show. Claiming that the need to be pure and faultless is pushing wrestlers to forget the fans, and in many ways, forget about wrestling. Preferring to focus on delivering a flawless performance rather than a real one.

“It’s not that you’ll notice it because you won’t. It’s that somebody in the back will notice it, and we’ll call them out on it. Or someone who’s writing a report will notice that they made a mistake, or they did a botch. You can’t botch anything unless you expose the wrestling, the lie. If you ruin the illusion, that’s the only way you can make a mistake, otherwise, there’s no way to do it.”

Al Snow is clearly still passionate about wrestling. While his words may not ring true for everybody, his general assumption was that when wrestlers cared for the fans, you could identify the star with a single short sentence. Nowadays, however, with everybody out to impress rather than connect, that is getting harder and harder to accomplish.

This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite finally saw the in-ring debut of Malakai Black. Black took on Cody Rhodes after making a very impressive entrance. However, despite Black picking up the win, it was Cody Rhodes who got everybody talking after the bell.

The man whose vision became AEW took to the center of the ring and addressed the crowd. Doing so with a tear in his eye and a tremble in his voice.

“There is no better place than here. There is no better time than now, and I say this with absolutely zero bitterness in my heart. I thank you guys so incredibly much. I love you so incredibly much. You have made my life incredibly special.” Cody Rhodes was in tears as he placed the microphone on the floor and began to remove his boots.

The AEW commentary team made no short reference to the significance of the gesture, and it being the time-honoured way for a wrestler to retire.

However, before Cody Rhodes could remove his second boot, Malakai Black struck. Levelling Rhodes with a crutch shot across the back. The broadcast went off the air with Rhodes laid out in the middle of the ring and Black standing tall.

Have We Seen the Last of Cody Rhodes in an AEW Ring?

It remains to be seen if this is all part of a storyline, of how Cody is broken and ready for the end. To have his zest for wrestling re-ignited by Malakai, or if it is indeed, really the end of the Rhode road.

Wrestling is a sport built around emotion and storytelling. It is a sport where retirement is more often than not impermanent. Many have already drawn parallels to Ric Flair and his numerous retirement matches and celebrations. However, Cody Rhodes is a businessman. He has the taste for life backstage, and maybe, just maybe he wants to stop while his body is still working with him.

Enjoying his time as an EVP of AEW, running a business, the recent discovery of fatherhood. All of these things can put a new perspective on life. However unlikely it may seem; all eyes will surely be tuned in to Dynamite next week to see what Cody Rhodes has to say.

The return of fans to wrestling was always going to be a big thing for any company. The reaction of a live audience cannot ever be replaced. When John Cena made his return to a WWE ring last month, the pop that he received was unlike anything heard before. A man who divides people’s opinions so strongly had everybody on their feet.

Yes, it was inevitable given the fact that it was the first Raw with fans following Covid. However, John Cena remains a huge name. He is Mr WWE, and love him or hate him, he has served the company well during his tenure. However, Cena is no spring chicken. A fact he is painfully aware of.

“Man, I wish there was some sort of fountain of youth where I could be a full-time contributor. ” John Cena said during a recent USA Today interview with Brian Truitt.

Father time catches up with us all. Athlete or not, champion or not. There is nothing we can do about it. The next generation comes along and replaces us. John Cena knows this, and however much he would wish it were different, he accepts it. Talking further with Truitt, he voiced his concerns with WWE’s insistence on running with returning older talent as a means of boosting the company profile.

John Cena Is Set to Main Event Summerslam Against Roman Reigns

John Cena and Goldberg returned the same night to lay down challenges for the WWE’s top two titles at Summerslam. As a performer, there is no denying that Cena is in love with professional wrestling. However, he understands the need for generation replacement. It worries him that WWE’s long-term stability could be rocky should they continue to rely on returning older talent.

 “The longer they continue to bet on an aging prospect, that makes (WWE’s) future a little bit less stable,” he said.

Coming from a WWE stalwart such as John Cena, these comments are not meant as a barb, nor an attack. He is merely a performer, and a fan, talking honestly. Echoing the sentiments of many. There is a host of younger talent ready to step up, but the continued reliance on marquee names from years gone by as a means of negating waning creativity is never a long-term solution.

Following the controversy last week during the Chris Jericho match versus Nick Gage on AEW Dynamite, Dominos has seemingly gone through with their decision to withdraw their sponsorship. However, one company’s loss is another’s gain as Pabst Blue Ribbon stepped in to claim the vacant spot.

While this is great news for AEW Dynamite, the advert itself is strange as while it is a wrestling-based advert, it doesn’t feature an AEW wrestler. Rather, Matt Cardona and his fiancée Chelsea Green. Between them, both have made sporadic appearances for AEW, but are more known for working with ROH, IMPACT, NWA and as of last month, GCW.

Pabst Blue Ribbon released a statement talking about how Matt Cardona embodied everything Pabst Stands for. This may be true; however, the unanswered question is why this was aired during an episode of AEW Dynamite.

“We are proud to support independent wrestling, and debut Pabst Blue Ribbon’s first-ever cable advert with the Michael Jordan of wrestling figure collecting and GCW world champion, Matt Cardona. Matt’s embodiment of having fun and betting on yourself is what independent wrestling and Pabst Blue Ribbon are all about. We work directly with creatives, artists, and athletes like Matt, which allows us to move quickly, like producing this commercial in-house to air within 4 days. It’s fast and furious and fun. #MajorPBR forever.”

AEW Dynamite Opened the Forbidden Door for Commercial Crossovers

In the day of brand and company crossovers, is an advert such as this a mistake or is it just a clever extension of the open-door policy of modern wrestling? AEW Dynamite is a place where anybody, from any promotion, could seemingly appear. Yet, despite this, the decision to run an advert featuring a wrestler from another company still seems a little strange.

Perhaps it was rushed, a last-minute change. It could be the original plans for the Pabst Advert were for alternate placement. After all, the goal of the ad is to make money for the beer and not AEW Dynamite. Either way, it would appear that even without Dominos, AEW will not struggle to find other sponsors.