Mickie James is leading a charge with the NWA. Their first-ever all-female PPV is happening this month and has already garnered a lot of interest from wrestling fans. James herself has already said she will not be fighting on the card. However, one name that will be there, fighting in the main event, is Chelsea Green.

The announcement was made during a live Instagram stream. The announcement was a complete shock to Chelsea Green who until then had merely commented on social media about how much she wanted to be involved.

It was, in fact, her comments that led to her getting a spot in the NEW Epowerrr Main Event

“I remember a Tweet that I saw from you that said ‘not only do I wanna wrestle on Empowerrr but I want to be in the main event’ and I was like ‘ooh sassy pants OK’. So I wanna do that for you.” Mickie James said to a stunned Chelsea Green.

Chelsea Green is on a Career Resurgence in 2021

Ever since her release from WWE, Chelsea Green has been on a resurgence. Making her debut for both ROH and IMPACT before being brought into the NWA main event at Empowerrr. Now, she stands just one match away from a shot at the NWA Women’s Championship.

The Empowerrr Women’s Invitational tournament will be the first in a new annual event. Nine different women, including Chelsea Green, are scheduled to take part. The winner of the tournament will not only take home the trophy and write themselves into the history of a new event but will also gain a chance to take on the Women’s Champion the next night at NWA 73.

For Chelsea Green, the chance to win a third singles title of her career will be one motivating factor, but surely behind it all is the drive to prove that she is more than the sum of her experience of the past few years and finish a proposed storyline we never got to see involving her and Mickey James.

Ever since the announcement of NJPW Resurgence, people have been talking about which big stars will be coming to fight on US soil. With the nature of wrestling right now, it also makes people wonder if those same travelling stars could make an appearance on any other shows, namely, IMPACT and AEW. Yesterday, a press release was circulated announcing a special, bonus match on the card. Making his first appearance on US soil since 2019, Tomohiro Ishii will face off against Moose.

The IMPACT star has faced Tomohiro Ishii once before, back in 2016. On that occasion, the Stone Pitbull emerged with the victory.

Tomohiro Ishii to Face IMPACT’s Moose at Resurgence!

An immense bonus match has been added to Resurgence August 14! The Stone Pitbull himself, Tomohiro Ishii has been added to the lineup at the Torch at L.A. Coliseum, in his first US appearance since November 2019.

Ishii presents a big fight for any opponent, and a victory over the Pitbull represents a huge accomplishment to carry with you to any promotion in the world. So for a big fight, IMPACT Wrestling has brought big opposition in the form of Moose!

Will Tomohiro Ishii Appear on Any Other Shows?

With news that Tomohiro Ishii is coming to the US, the mind starts to play out all sorts of matches that could be had, should he make an appearance on any other shows.

With the close working relationship shared between NJPW, IMPACT and AEW, the chance is high. Nothing has been confirmed so far, but seeing Ishii in an AEW ring would be something special to see.

The Stone Pitbull is one of the toughest men around. He has the ability to put on a high-calibre match against any opponent. Anybody who saw him take on Jon Moxley during the 2019 G1 Climax event will rightly be excited by Ishii coming stateside.

Ever since their debut, The Acclaimed has had people talking. This is partly due to their in-ring skills, but largely due to the pre-match raps of Max Caster. His words are cutting, barbed and designed to skirt the line between acceptable and offensive.

There is no denying Max Caster is a talented linguist. However, this week on AEW Dark Caster went a little too far over the line. As is the nature of art, whether it is lyrical or visual, boundaries need to be pushed.

While his lyrics aired during the ‘live’ AEW Dark stream, they were sufficiently controversial to warrant a re-upload of the episode to YouTube. In the new file, Max Caster’s words were edited out. In fact, the entrance of both teams was fully removed from the broadcast.

During his entrance rap, Max Caster spat lines such as “make you claim mental health like Simone Biles” and a jab at the expense of the Duke lacrosse rape trial. He also referred to COVID conspiracy theorists with the line “those dudes are faker than a PCR test.”

Max Caster is No Stranger to Pushing Boundaries

This is not the first time that Max Caster’s pre-match raps have caused a bit of a storm. Including his barb at Jon Moxley following an appearance on Renee Young’s Oral Sessions podcast. However, there was something different about the venom this time around.

There was an air of poor decision making ahead of the incident, especially given when the show was filmed. This particular episode of AEW Dark was filmed immediately after Fight for the Fallen. A show hosted for the benefit of the victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. It is difficult to say where the blame should lie. Max Caster should have known better, but sometimes, in the moment, things are forgotten.

The real question is why AEW allowed the entrance to air during the initial stream when they had been sitting on the footage for close to a week.

There are not many NXT (or WWE superstars) better than Adam Cole. He has wrestled across the globe and has been part of several great factions. Most notably, Bullet Club and Undisputed Era.

However, news has recently broken that Adam Cole’s contract with NXT expired last month and he has since been agreed a one-month extension while WWE try to thrash out a new deal for their star. The news was originally broken this weekend by Wrestling Inc’s Raj Giri, who confirmed that Cole’s original deal expired just after the NXT Great American Bash PPV.

The expiration reportedly took WWE officials by surprise, as most believed Adam Cole’s contract ran until December. Cole agreed on a short term, one-month extension but is said to be considering different options. This is reported as including several options that lie beyond the professional wrestling sphere.

Fans of WWE and NXT will be hoping that this short-term deal is merely giving both Cole and WWE the chance to discuss a long-term deal.

Adam Cole Has Been the Face of NXT Since Arriving

Adam Cole signed for WWE, joining their NXT brand in 2017. Since then, he has been one of the leading figures in both storylines and memorable matches. As the leader of Undisputed Era, he wrote his way into NXT history. With Cole at their helm, Era became the most successful faction on the brand. A good argument could be made for their placing in the top lists of all WWE factions.

During his time in NXT, Adam Cole has won every belt going. This includes being the inaugural North American Champion and the longest-reigning NXT champion. His title reign spanned 403 days.

With the high number of releases happing in WWE this year, including the recent shock release of Bray Wyatt, it would seem unlikely that they would be happy for Adam Cole to walk away also. Hopefully, a new deal can be reached and we can all carry on watching Cole and Kyle O’Reilly fight forever.

When Jon Moxley came to the ring to the sound of Wild Thing many fans were a little confused. Why change it? Talking in a recent interview with Cincy 360, Mox talked about the original plan for the theme. The original intention was for a one night only use of the song for his now infamous exploding barbed wire deathmatch with Kenny Omega. However, because the rights didn’t come through in time, plans needed to be changed.

“So we’re doing this Exploding Barbed Wire match,” Moxley said. “And I was being compared to the innovator of that, who’s called Atsushi Onita, who’s a Japanese wrestler who came out to that (song). A month before Tony (Khan) was like, we’re talking about it and Tony, who is the owner and booker and so forth, he goes ‘should we get ‘Wild Thing’ for that?’ Just for one night for the Exploding Match. And I was like ‘no that’s too derivative. No, it’s too much.’ And then a week before I started thinking about it again and I was like ‘well it might be cool for one night. People might get the reference. Just for that one night, I was like ‘let’s do it.’ By then it was too late, and we couldn’t get the rights for it or whatever.

Jon Moxley Is Happy with His New Entrance Theme

However, Tony Khan did manage to get the rights and surprised Jon Moxley with the tune ahead of his match with Yuji Nagata. The Japanese reference was still there for the Onita comparisons.

“But then it came through a couple of weeks later, and I was in the ring with Yuji Nagata. And I thought it was the ‘Season of the Witch’ playing. I was like ‘why is Season of the Witch playing right now?’ And after the match, I heard it was like the original, the Troggs ‘Wild Thing.’ I was like ‘oh, they must’ve got ‘Wild Thing’ after all. That’s my music now.’ And they then changed it to the X version, the Major League version. So, it kind of just happened by accident. But if the people like it, I like it. So that’s all that matters. I’m into it, it’s cool.”

There is a funny irony about a man like Jon Moxley getting ushered to the ring by a tune such as Wild Thing. However, somehow, it works perfectly.

Since winning the X Division Championship in April this year, Josh Alexander has ridden high. Facing challenges from not only within IMPACT Wrestling but from AAA and New Japan Pro Wrestling also. Now, the man dubbed the Walking Weapon has his eyes set on a star from rival promotion, AEW.

“Black Taurus, you were AAA’s best. If we look at my title reign, I’ve beaten someone from New Japan that’s supposedly the best, someone from AAA that’s supposedly the best, I have run through the entire IMPACT X-Division. So maybe I need to look elsewhere.” Josh Alexander said in a tweet sent out by IMPACT.

 “We’re talking about all these different promotions coming at Bound for Glory. AEW, yeah, you know who I’m talking about. I’m saying you give me your best, and we will see which division matters most in this company.”

Josh Alexander Wants to Defend His Belt Against the Best

Josh Alexander never backs down from a fight. He is a fighting champion in every sense of the word. This is demonstrated by his recent match with Black Taurus at Homecoming and the 60-minute Iron Man match with TJP.

It is not clear who exactly in AEW Alexander is calling out, but there are plenty of names on the roster who could be a good fit. Professional wrestling is seeing a throwback style resurgence since opening the ‘Forbidden Door’. Champions from one promotion contracted to others. It is a great time to be a pro-wrestling fan.

As a current champion, Josh Alexander knows the importance of keeping the belt in the company that employs him. Especially with Kenny Omega holding the IMPACT World Championship right now. When IMPACT Bound for Glory comes around, and Alexander’s opponent is announced, he will be fighting extra hard to make sure the belt stays where it belongs.

For several months now, Jon Moxley has been trying to goad Hiroshi Tanahashi into a fight. His efforts were in vain. Now, just one week after losing the belt, Tanahashi appears on AEW Dynamite and issuing a challenge to the new champion.

Jon Moxley is not known for being a calm or patient man. An act of such disrespect is not going to be taken lightly. Mox has already vented his frustration with NJPW. Claiming they have been reluctant to invite him over to Japan. Saying he has sent stacks of contracts over to the promotion, trying to force through a run and a feud with Tanahashi.

Very few things in wrestling happen without planning, even rejections and moments of flat-out silence. AEW are known for their long-term planning and have shown solid abilities in storytelling. Who knows how long this moment has been in the offing?

One thing that looks as good as certain is that both Jon Moxley and Lance Archer are Japan bound. The question is, what will they do when they get there?

Jon Moxley Needs a Fresh Direction Following Title Loss

It is safe to say that right now, Jon Moxley is out of the AEW title pictures. He lost his feud to Omega and the Elite. Both have moved on to new things. For Mox however, he has nothing right now. After taking some time off following the birth of his daughter, he is ready for a new challenge.

With AEW currently running with major storylines, a run out in Japan could be exactly what the Death Rider needs. With the G1 tournament coming up, it could give him the chance to both rebuild his character, get his feud with Tanahashi, and give the Japanese public another look at Mox up close and personal.

There is no denying Jon Moxley’s popularity in Japan. Moreover, with several big stars already out of G1 contention, it could be a great time for NJPW to honor their part of the forbidden door arrangement and bring some AEW talent to its shores.

We have seen several different NJPW stars appear on AEW Dynamite in recent months including Yuji Nagata, Rocky Romero and Hikuleo. However, it was a very different calibre of NJPW star that got fans exciting. The Ace himself, Hiroshi Tanahashi appeared and challenged Lance Archer to a match for the IWGP United States Championship.

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a wrestling legend and revered in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has held every title he could hold in NJPW. With the exception of the United States Championship. It’s worth noting that Tanahashi is a heavyweight, and as such cannot compete for certain titles in the promotion.

The United States Championship is one of the newest NJPW belts and has only been in circulation since 2017. In that time it has largely been held by gaijin wrestlers. By challenging Lance Archer, Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to become the first Japanese wrestler to hold the crown.

Hiroshi Tanahashi Has Wrestled His Entire Career for NJPW

In an industry where people move around from promotion to promotion with some regularity, Hiroshi Tanahashi is something of a unique entity. A product of the NJPW system, he has wrestled his entire career in the promotion.

With the exception of an excursion to CMLL – part of the NJPW learning process – and a few appearances for TNA/IMPACT. Even these appearances came as an NJPW athlete. Now, he has stepped through the forbidden door and made a surprise appearance for AEW.

Not only is Tanahashi aiming to become the first Japanese holder of the US title, but he is also looking to bring it back into the NJPW promotion. Ever since Jon Moxley’s first title reign, no NJPW contracted wrestler has held the belt.

This undoubtedly sits badly with an NJPW stalwart such as Hiroshi Tanahashi and will only give him extra motivation to bring the belt home.

In professional wrestling, teams and allegiances come and go. They form and they fall apart. It’s the nature of storytelling. However, some relationships run deep and to the bone. Last night on Dynamite one such deep running reunion was seen. Wrestling legend David Crockett was spotted in the AEW Dynamite crowd, and it was shortly thereafter confirmed that he will be joining the AEW commentary team as a guest next week.

David Crockett will guest host AEW Dark Elevation alongside Tony Schiavone. This will be a commentary reunion some thirty plus years in the making.  Schiavone and Crockett were the voices of World Championship Wrestling while it was part of Jim Crockett Promotions.

The pair worked as a team from 1985 through to 1988. Following the acquisition of WCW by Turner media in 1988 David Crockett left the commentary booth. While he remained involved in wrestling serving as a WCW Producer.

David Crockett Making a Historic Wrestling Return

David Crockett left wrestling when WCW closed its doors, having remained in a producer role the entire time. His appearance in the commentary booth for AEW Dark Elevation will be his first real commentary appearance since 1988.

It is one of those quiet wrestling stories that will be an undeniably emotional experience for the men in the commentary booth. After Fight for the Fallen AEW tweeted out a picture of Crockett, Schiavone and Jim Ross.

The trio worked together briefly in 1988 just prior to the Turner acquisition. The emotion of the night will surely be heightened when considering that David Crockett’s brother Jim Crockett Jr passed away earlier this year.

It is most likely that the return of David Crockett to the commentary booth is just a one-time affair, however, for wrestling fans, that doesn’t matter. There is an undeniable lineage that can be traced from AEW back to this commentary duo. One that deserves to be honored and celebrated.

The professional wrestling industry is starting to get on its feet following the pandemic. Live crowds are beginning to return to events around the world. However, Covid 19 is still around, and it is still a threat. AEW star Ryo Mizunami recently tested positive for Covid 19 and is currently receiving hospital treatment.

The news was confirmed by Ryo Mizunami on her Twitter account.

The statement confirms Mizunami going to the hospital on her doctor’s orders after undergoing a PCR test. Doctors admitted Ryo Mizunami with an initial diagnosis of Pneumonia.

For AEW fans, this news brings back memories of Brodie Lee, after his passing in December 2020. While his illness was non-covid related, comparisons will always be made. Mizunami last competed for AEW in April before returning to Japan in June.

Ryo Mizunami Just One Joshi Star to Test Positive in New Spate of Infections

The world of Joshi wrestling is different to many American organizations. The women of Japanese wrestling often compete on multiple promotions, travelling and mixing with many different stars. The news of Ryo Mizunami testing positive is just one in a recent spate of positive results in the Joshi world.

Since returning to Japan, Mizunami has competed for several different promotions including SEAdLINNNG, Gatoh Move, and Sendai Girls. Her most recent appearance for SEAdLINNNG on 22^nd July. It was a 6-person tag match. Two others involved have also tested positive following the event.

The pandemic is still rife in Japan, and with the close proximity within which the stars all work, the spread of infections is higher.

Everybody at SESCOOPS wishes Ryo Mizunami a healthy and speedy recovery. She cut a popular figure during her AEW run, and will be a welcome name on any roster in the future.

Nikki A.S.H. might almost be one, but WWE does have a bona fide superhero as part of their history. Gregory ‘Hurricane’ Helms.  The Hurricane as he was known for part of his WWE run, recently made a surprise appearance on WWE’s The Bump. His appearance was a shock for scheduled guest Nikki.

Talking on the show, Helms was full of praise for Nikki A.S.H. who approached him for permission to become a superhero, just like him.

“It’s been amazing. I try to be there in gorilla every time she comes back. For the big moments, I’ve been there,” Shane Helms began. “She’s been polite and humble. Not that she had to ask for permission, but you know, I’m not wrestling as The Hurricane anymore. I just turned 47, and that window might be closing. She took the respectful route and asked me about it, and from day one, I told her, whatever you need, I’m here for you. It’s been fun watching her grow. Nobody was happier for her than me that night.”

The newfound confidence Nikki has gained under her almost a superhero disguise saw her capture her first WWE title after a successful Money in the Bank cash in.

Helms Has Ideas for Nikki A.S.H.

During the conversation, Nikki A.S.H. said that she would love to one day work an angle alongside the Hurricane. To which Helms replied positively.

“Uh, let me say, I have ideas, but I don’t want to give them out now,” Helms replied with a grin. “It would have to be something that highlights Nikki. That’s something I want to make sure of ’cause I’ve had a lot of great moments myself. However, if I could find a way to highlight Nikki, 100 per cent, I’m in.”

In true superhero fashion, Helms is thinking about others before himself. It is true, he has been there, done that and picked up the battle scars along the way. While age is catching him up, and injuries might limit him in the ring, there is something oddly magical about Nikki A.S.H. and The Hurricane joining forces.

In professional wrestling, teams and groups always come and go. Some fail, some succeed and some create a legacy that remains with the fans long after they go their separate ways. One such team are the American Wolves. Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards got together as a tad team in December 2008 and began writing tag team history.

It is not possible to have a conversation about the best tag teams without including the American Wolves. Seven-time TNA(IMPACT) champions and Two-time ROH champions, in a run that lasted until 2017.

It has been four years since the American Wolves have been in the ring together, but that is changing. The wolves are reuniting for an upcoming Pro Wrestling Revolver event. The indie promotion took to Twitter to announce the return of the tag team for their upcoming event on October 30^th.

The Wolves had a special relationship with the fans, and despite the years, both men are still going strong. Eddie Edwards is still active in IMPACT wrestling while Davey Richards recently returned to action with MLW.

Could the American Wolves Really be Back?

The breakup of the American Wolves came as a shock. The returning Richards turning on his partner during his match up with Bobby Lashley. Costing him the title in the process. However, as everybody knows, what happens in one storyline doesn’t necessarily carry over to others.

With the way the wrestling landscape has changed, with people working for multiple promotions, the idea of having tag team champions where each member wrestles for a different promotion could be intriguing indeed.

As of right now, the American Wolves are back for a one night only event. However, with both men still active as singles competitors, there is every chance we could see the team reunite for another run at tag team glory.

Comedic wrestlers play a very large part in professional wrestling. Often, they fail to get the respect and recognition that they deserve. However, those who work in the industry understand. The sad news was circulated yesterday that Mexican wrestler Brazo de Plata has passed away. Better known for the latter stages of his career as the comedic wrestler Super Porky. He was just 58 years old.

The news was broken by Mexican talk show Mas Lucha and was later confirmed by multiple other sources including Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.

Brazo de Plata is better known in the US for his time with WWE where he wrestled under the name Super Porky. While he never really had a real match, he was part of the Smackdown juniors’ roster. Appearing predominantly in backstage segments.

A small man with a very large physique, it only served to make his oddly athletic moves more impressive.

Super Porky Came from a Legendary Luchador Family

While his accomplishments in the ring might not be as legendary as others, Super Porky came from the legendary luchador family. The Alvarado family runs multiple generations deep in the ring. Super Porky fought alongside his brothers for a lot of his career before eventually fully embracing the comedic side of his catching personality.

Despite failing health in later years, Super Pork continued to wrestle and work the independent scene in Mexico.

Following the news of his passing, several prominent wrestling names tweeted out their respects, including NXT star Santos Escobar.

 ‘I LOVE YOU Pepito. Rest in Peace Silver Arm “Super Porky” my condolences to the entire Alvarado family. Today the Celestial Arena receives a legend.”

A serious wrestler in his youth, his expanding waistline saw him gain the Super Porky moniker in the mid-1990s. His real legacy began once he embraced this side of himself. However, despite his bulging waistline and seeming ineptitude, he was a talented wrestler and a man who loved the business. 

Condolences go to the Alvarado family.

AEW champion and EVP Kenny Omega has spoken about AEW’s newest show Rampage. In little over two weeks the show will debut on TNT. Talking to Wrestling Observer Radio, Omega talked about how he would book Rampage if given the chance.

“The content I think we’re lacking is in our women’s division. I would love to see Rampage be home to more women’s wrestling.” Kenny Omega said.

It has long been documented that Kenny Omega is the biggest vocal for the AEW women’s division. In his role as EVP, he is the man who has the most involvement with the women’s division and female wrestlers. So, for him to make a comment such as that is not surprising.

However, he followed it up with an explanation that makes a lot of sense.

“I feel like we have incredibly gifted female wrestlers that have been working very hard and fighting for a spot and maybe it’s time for them to get more.”

Kenny Omega Wants to Avoid Over Feeding Fans the Same Wrestlers

AEW have a bulging roster and one that looks set to grow considerably in the next few months. However, Kenny Omega understands how important it is to avoid the common pitfall of showing the same wrestlers down fan’s throats each show.

Yes, AEW has some marquee names on their roster, but they do not need to appear on every show, every week. Instead, Omega would like to use the Rampage hour as a televised platform for other deserving stars.

“I think the extra hour with Rampage, rather than give them more Chris Jericho, more Kenny Omega, more MJF and the guys you know you’re going to see on Dynamite; I’d rather give them all of the extremely talented individuals that maybe you don’t see that week.

AEW have a large female roster, but often Dynamite only shows one or two female matches. Omega wants to see that change on Rampage.

It’s worth noting that Dark and Dark Elevation often feature multiple female matches, however, not everybody wants to watch wrestling on YouTube.

Kenny Omega plays a huge role in AEW, and his real role as EVP is a far cry from his in-ring character. He understands how wrestling works and is invested in not only growing his name but expanding the exposure of high-quality female wrestling to fans.

Former ECW legend Tommy Dreamer has spoken up about WWE’s newest big man, Omos. Dreamer’s comments on the taller half of the current RAW tag team champions came via Twitter.

“Everyone hating on @TheGiantOmos Wait till he is @WWE Champ #WWERaw (Remember this tweet)”

The tweet was sent just after AJ Styles and Omos defended their titles against the Viking Raiders. Since debuting as AJ’s bodyguard – a move that drew many comparisons to Shawn Michaels and Diesel – Omos has been unstoppable.

However, as Tommy Dreamer alluded to, there is an undeniable air of a future champion about Omos. He is big, he is powerful, and he is everything Vince McMahon has perpetually wanted in a champion.

How long will it take before Omos turns on his current partner and goes off on his own? Probably as long as their tag title run lasts. Then, once his inevitable feud with AJ is done, Omos will head off in search of singles gold. Tommy Dreamer is right. He will be a future WWE champion.

Tommy Dreamer Sees the Potential in the Big Man

While everybody will make the jokes, as I just did, about Vince’s penchant for the big bull champion, Tommy Dreamer knows what he is talking about. As a promotion owner, as well as being an IMPACT producer and creative mind, Dreamer knows what to look for in wrestlers.

Tommy Dreamer can see the potential in making Omos a champion and the different feuds that could be had. For company owners and management, wrestling is about making money. Telling the right story to get the right attention and make money. Omos as a champion is money.

With the way WWE have been building their recent run of champions as monsters, both with Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns, the concept of a big man being dominant is nothing new. While the way a character like Tommy Dreamer would book the run might be different than how WWE would do it. However, the end result would be the same. Championship gold around WWE’s newest giant.

Malakai Black is All Elite. Everybody saw the debut, and everybody saw the famous image. However, AEW is not the only company Black wants to fight.

Talking during a recent appearance on The Wrestling Perspective, Malakai Black talked about his long-term dream to work over in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

“One of the companies that I still want to do some stuff for, hopefully in the future, is New Japan. That would make my circle complete. That’s what I was raised on. I always wanted to go to Japan. I always wanted to go to New Japan. It has always been one of my ultimate goals, one of the last few things on my checklist is New Japan. Let’s hope in due time, someway, somehow, we can make that happen in the future.” Malakai Black explained.

The way Malakai Black fights would be a great fit for Japan, and there is no end to the number of mouth-watering feuds he could have with different members of the NJPW roster.

Malakai Black Could Use the Forbidden Door to Work Japan

While WWE only allows their athletes to perform on their own shows, AEW has made it clear that they want to work with others. They have a working relationship with several different promotions including IMPACT, AAA and NJPW. This means there is every chance that Malakai Black will get his wish. Whether it is for a full tour, sporadic appearances or as part of a cross-promotion event, fans can legitimately get excited by the thought of seeing him in an NJPW ring.

Black is a tough fighter. Muay Thai trained, and powerful striker, he would fit into the NJPW roster without much trouble.

However, first Malakai Black needs to finish the fight he started with Cody Rhodes. After attacking not only Cody but Arn Anderson during his shock debut for the company, Black needs to keep everything focused on extinguishing a fired up Cody Rhodes.

Everybody who follows professional wrestling knows the story of Edge. He was one of the driving forces of the attitude era and took part in many legendary moments. Moments and matches that influenced or even changed the course of WWE.

He took part in the first-ever TLC match. In fact, he was involved in the first three TLC matches in WWE history. Edge was also one of the participants in the first-ever Money in the Bank ladder match back in 2005.

Talking recently, however, during an episode of The Bump, Edge talked about how he originally refused to take part.

“I wish I could say that I had this vision of how it would become its own PPV, and no, not at all. As a matter of fact, when they first told me that I’d be in this thing called the Money in the Bank match, I said, ‘Another ladder match? I don’t want to be the ladder match guy, I want to do more than that. I want a straight wrestling match. Where I can just get in there and go. ’ I actually said, ‘Don’t put me in it. I’ll find my way on WrestleMania another way and if I’m not on this year I’ll make sure I’m on next year, but I’m tired of ladder matches. I don’t want to get pigeonholed for that.’ That was not very bright thinking.” Edge explained

Edge was Influential in Establishing Money in the Bank

Edge was the first-ever Mr Money in the Bank. Moreover, he was directly involved in the first five Money in the Bank cash-ins. It was only after his historic win that he realized Money in the Bank was different. It was something special.

“So finally, and this sounds so stupid, but I had to be talked into participating in the match. It wasn’t until about eight months in, holding this briefcase, carrying it with me on every plane because I had to take that thing everywhere. That’s when I started to realize. When I came out at New Year’s Revolution and I heard the crowd, that’s when I went, ‘Oh man, this is something, this is something very cool.’”

“Then to be involved in the next five year’s worth of cash-ins or — Either it was I cashed-in or it was cashed-in on me. Or I was in the match where it was cashed-in. It’s so amazing to sit back and think I was a huge part of Money in the Bank, which is now a PPV, and TLC, which is now a PPV. That’s really cool.” Edge reflected on his role in Money in the Bank.

There can be no denying the impact Edge’s career has had on wrestling. Now, after returning to the ring he is looking to continue building his legacy. Heading into Summerslam, he is locked in a feud with another former MITB winner in Seth Rollins. Two of the biggest and brightest wrestlers of their respective generations.

As part of the Wingmen, AEW’s Peter Avalon has found his place in the company. After arriving with his initial gimmick as the Librarian alongside Leva Bates, Avalon soon fell into obscurity. The character never caught on with fans, and soon turned sour. The comedic effort fell flat and needed to be changed.

Talking during a recent episode of AEW Unrestricted, Peter Avalon spoke about how Cody Rhodes helped him truly define his current character.

“He absolutely had a hand in the direction that we went with at AEW. Pretty Peter is just me. That’s just the way I live my life. I’ve been Pretty Peter….I’m in my 13th year of wrestling now, that’s pretty much what I’ve done. For a little bit, I switched over to a gimmick called ‘Professional Peter’, and then when I was running the Arizona television show, I was ‘Producer Peter’. So I kind of keep a theme, but I’ve always been pretty. But Cody for sure had a hand in the energy change that we went to with the whole model walk off and loving not only myself but loving just beauty and everyone and kind of leaning in more so in that direction and stuff like that. And I appreciate Cody really diving in and helping me find a direction to kind of go with it, instead of just being a generic, pretty boy.” Peter Avalon said.

Peter Avalon and the Wingmen are Rapidly Gaining Popularity

While leaning more towards the heel side of things, the Wingmen – Peter Avalon, Ryan Nemeth, Cezar Bononi and JD Drake – are catching fire in AEW. Their antics and promos have natural ease to them. All four men are developing individual characters that complement one another. They are quite quickly capturing the audience’s attention. Their comedic styling coupled with solid ring skills and individual character development has made them a solid group.

With the return of live crowds further hyping their characters, giving them the dynamic they need to play off against, the group are only going to rise even higher. It is unlikely they are going to be pushing for championships or finding their images on an event banner. However, Peter Avalon and his group serve a very specific purpose in AEW.

AEW star and Factory member Nick Comoroto made headlines this weekend at an MCW Wrestling event. Only it wasn’t a match that made headlines, but rather a guest appearance after the bell. It was MCW’s first event in 17 months. His appearance only made it even more special for one member of the MCW roster.

Nick Comoroto took to the center of the ring, grabbed a microphone in order to ask his girlfriend, MCW Wrestling referee to marry him. His girlfriend, Becky, said yes instantly, after listening to his heartfelt speech with tear-stained eyes.

“When I was poor, she was there. When I had money, she was there. Then, when Covid his and I lost my job, she was there to pick up the pieces and bring me back here.” Nick Comoroto said, talking about his life with Ref Becky. “Becky is the sweetest, most caring person you will ever meet in your life.”

As soon as Nick Comoroto came to the ring and started talking, the crowd knew something was coming. Chants of ‘ask her, ask her,’ echoed. Ask her he did, dropping down to one knee in the middle of the ring.

Nick Comoroto Has a Bright Future in AEW

Nick Comoroto is a novice when it comes to wrestling experience. however, as part of the Factory alongside QT Marshall, he is making huge bounds. It will not be long before he becomes a regular name on any AEW match card.

At just 30 years old, the big man’s career is just getting started. He is on the right path, honing his skills before a live studio audience. Whether he will stay a part of the Factory, or eventually break away and go off on his own remains to be seen, but either way, the future is bright for Nick Comoroto. Many fans have already joked that his appearance at MCW Wrestling mas the greatest face turn in wrestling right now.

The shock result at GCW Homecoming night 1 not only saw a new heavyweight champion crowned, but it saw the promotion take the number one trending spot on Twitter.

It is not uncommon for the larger, more widely followed companies to hit the trending boards, often claiming the top spot. However, for a smaller promotion, with a more niche fanbase to hit the top spot is quite an achievement. The feud between Cardona and Gage saw a lot of social media exchanges between the pair. This undoubtedly helped get more eyes on the product.

What makes the results for GCW Homecoming even more impressive is that it occurred at the same time as the Olympics and UFC (Fight Night 192). Both of these events have an arguably bigger draw yet failed to get the world talking.

This is despite a few shocking gold medals being claimed in Tokyo. GCW Homecoming shocked the social media world.

Matt Hardy was quick to congratulate both Matt Cardona and GCW for their Homecoming success. While the finish to the match brought the ire of fans, many wrestling names have congratulated Cardona for his success

Matt Cardona the Unlikely Winner at GCW Homecoming Night 1

Matt Cardona is the epitome of the sports entertainment side of wrestling. Nick Gage and many of the other GCW stars play a much darker, more violent game. The meeting of the two at GCW Homecoming turned on its head when Matt Cardona picked up the win.

The instant reaction from the fans told enough. You need to question whether it was the manner of the victory or the fact that it was a previously clean-cut sports entertainment man who took the belt from their hardcore hero.

Regardless of what the fans thought, social media loved GCW Homecoming. It’s not easy to pick up the top trending spot, but they did it. How much of that can be attributed to Matt Cardona may never be known. However, he is certainly a marquee name who is now the face of GCW, for a little while at least.

It remains to be seen who his next challenger will be, but Nick Gage will surely want revenge. One thing is for sure, it will not be a friendly affair. First, however, Gage will need to shake off his GCQ Homecoming loss and prepare for his match with Chis Jericho on AEW this week.

Lance Archer has been cutting a ruthless path through AEW since making his debut, including his recent Texas deathmatch with Jon Moxley at Fyter Fest.

Talking during a recent episode of AEW Unrestricted, the Murderhawk Monster Lance Archer spoke about how he chose to sign with AEW over a contract offered by NJPW.

Lance Archer wrestled for nine years out in Japan but revealed he never had a full-time contract with the Japanese promotion.

“I did. New Japan, as far as Japanese wrestling is concerned, a lot of times. The old school way of doing business, especially with the foreigners, was just a tour-by-tour thing. That’s how I’d actually been with the company for nearly nine years,” Lance Archer explained.

It wasn’t until he was offered a contract by AEW that Archer was offered a full-time deal with NJPW. However, by that point, the options available to Lance Archer, were far broader than ever before.

“I don’t even think, to a degree, I would have received the offer from New Japan if AEW didn’t exist. They didn’t even know that AEW offered me the deal. I’m just saying that AEW was changing the wrestling world completely from how everybody was doing business.”

Lance Archer Liked the Idea of Coming Back to Wrestle in the US

Wrestling a foreign country is never easy, even before the pandemic hit, different cultures and language barriers can be big obstacles to overcome. For Lance Archer, there was an allure to coming back to wrestle full time in the United States.

“So, the opportunity to come back home, to tour the United States, this is prior to anybody knowing what was going to happen in 2020, the new challenges of coming back to the U.S. and being in AEW, a company that was growing and changing the world professional wrestling, all these things were just too enticing and something that I actually wanted to take on. I wanted to bet on myself and be a part of AEW.”

Lance Archer has an affinity with the New Japan crowd. Thanks to AEW’s open relationship, it is likely he will wrestle in Japan in the future. Especially now that he is the IWGP United States champion. However, for the Murderhawk Monster, it would seem that there really is no place like home.

WWE superstar Edge was a recent guest on The Kurt Angle Show. During his appearance, he spoke about a number of topics including the status of Rey Mysterio. Rey and his son Dominik ran to the ring to help Edge fend off an attack from the Usos at Money in the Bank.

Rey Mysterio is held in high regard by almost every wrestling fan around the world. However, Edge feels the man still doesn’t get the full level of credit that he deserves.

“Rey Mysterio, he gets credit, but it’s still not the credit he deserves,” Edge said. “I think because he’s been so consistent for so long, that he’s not appreciated to his full extent. I don’t know if he will be fully appreciated until he retires. When there’s no Rey Mysterio on the show, they’ll go ‘But wait? We need Rey.’ I think as a writer, as a company, as a fan, as a colleague, although I think colleagues and peers appreciate him more than anyone else because they truly fully grasp and understand it.”

Edge is Amazed by Rey Mysterio’s Career Longevity

Wrestling is a tough business. It is hard on the body, especially if you wrestle a high lying luchador style. Yet, Mysterio is still going just as hard and fast today as he did in his youth. This is a fact not lost on Edge, and one of the core reasons he believes we won’t fully appreciate Rey until he has retired.

“That dude, for his style and what he’s done, to still even be in there at all let alone at the level that he’s performing at, he just did a Hell in a Cell with Roman Reigns. The term legend is thrown around a lot, dudes a legend. He’s a living legend and one day people will fully latch onto how special Rey Mysterio is.” Edge explained before going on to talk about how he paved the way for so many current superstars and is doing it for future ones too.

Edge is one of the most popular figures in WWE, arguably on a par with Rey Mysterio. Regardless, both men are in their twilight years and wrestling won’t be the same once either hang up their boots.

After being moved to a Friday night slot for a few weeks, AEW Dynamite is back on Wednesday nights. Since returning, the AEW ratings have continued to climb, and TNT is over the moon about it.

Night Two of Fyter Fest say AEW ratings peak with 1,148,000 hourly viewers and a 0.44 rating in the core 18-49 demographic. Aside from the show’s debut show, the Fyter Fest figures, for both nights one and two are among some of the best the show has seen.

In fact, this year AEW ratings are up 5% in the key 18-49 demographic and 3% in total viewers. These are certainly impressive gains for a company that is just 93 weeks into its life. It’s no wonder that TNT felt compelled to issue a statement on AEW’s ratings charge.

TNT’s AEW: DYNAMITE continues domination as Wednesday’s #1 cable program in P18-49 for the second week in a row. See highlights below:

AEW: Dynamite

575K P18-49 / 150K P18-34 / 1.15M P2+

Week 93 of AEW was up 11% vs. last week

AEW Ratings Continue to Recover Following Wednesday Night Return

During the recent NBA playoffs, AEW had been forced to move to a temporary Friday night slow. This change did knock the AEW ratings for a few weeks, with record low numbers being posted. However, since returning to Wednesday nights, the company is moving from strength to strength.

With all the rumors floating around about names like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, interest in AEW is at an all-time high. This will surely be reflected in the AEW ratings through the rest of the year and beyond.

AEW Dynamite is now an established part of Wednesday night TV. Dark Elevation and Dark occupy Monday and Tuesday nights on YouTube. Now, we are less than a month away from the debut episode of AEW Rampage on a Friday night. How long will it be before we start talking about AEW ratings dominance across the entire week?

Michael Cole has been working with WWE since 1995 and has been a commentator for the majority of this period. He has been there and done it all, rising through the ranks behind the scenes. It is only natural, however, that you begin to feel a little jaded, or stale after so long. That doesn’t mean your work slips, or you’re unhappy, just that things begin to feel a little routine.

Talking during a recent interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Michael Cole spoke openly about how working alongside McAfee in the commentary booth has changed his career.

“You have completely revitalized my career.” Michael Cole said. I’ve been doing this for almost 25 years and have seen and been part of everything in WWE. You go through different partners and everyone I have worked with has been great and have all brought a different style to the product. JBL, unbelievable partner. Corey Graves, incredible talent. You’re different than all of those guys because you’re a true fan and you bring that enthusiasm to the product and seeing how you’ve been acting over the past couple of months has really revitalized what I do and I realize that I have to step up my game to keep up with what you’re doing from an enthusiastic standpoint and that’s what I’m trying to do. It’s been a lot of fun for me and it’s been really different. Thank you for breathing life into this old man.”

Michael Cole is the Voice of WWE

There have been some memorable men sitting in the WWE announcer’s booth. However, few have had the longevity Michael Cole has. From playing the heel commentator to leading the ship through many different eras, he has proven himself to be dependable and competent.

He will long be remembered for his deft handling of the Jerry ‘the King’ Lawler incident, along with many other moments during his career.

Bringing in someone with the character of McAfee for Michael Cole to play off makes a great pairing and in its own right, has many avenues for possible character building and storytelling within the commentary booth.

There’s been a lot of press in recent days revolving around Daniel Bryan and his likely deal with AEW. While his actual signing remains unconfirmed, Dave Meltzer has reported that WWE has taken a big step with regards to his character and their use of it.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer says WWE officials sent a memo to 2K games to have Daniel Bryan’s character removed. The release date of it has not yet been announced, which would make changes such as this easier to accomplish.

This is a big move for WWE to make, given Bryans affinity with the fans and the frequent use of legacy characters in their virtual rosters. Perhaps the wound is still a little too fresh for WWE to accept.

Meltzer went on to confirm the memo was sent to multiple media outlets, meaning there will be no Daniel Bryan merchandise being created.

Daniel Bryan Has a Long History in WWE Video Games

Daniel Bryan has long been part of the WWE video game franchise. He has been a playable character in no less than 10 different games since 2011. This is every single video game released by WWE including the most recent WWE 2K Battlegrounds.

Daniel Bryan was even the central part of the storyline mode in the 2K19 edition of the series. Players could play as Brian Danielson and play the story of his career. He was also the alternate cover art design for WWE 2K14.

The sudden request for his removal could just be a kneejerk reaction to his crossing over to their biggest rival. However, with digital downloads adding new content and characters post-launch is easy. Alongside that, there is a high chance that Daniel Bryan’s move set will still be part of the game. Gamers are able to create their own character in 2k games. It’s a safe bet that we will see players creating their own Brian Danielson characters.

On a similar note, maybe there is still time to have a Daniel Bryan character added to the upcoming AEW console video game.