WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has taken to social media to speak up about Drew McIntyre’s chair assault on Monday Night Raw.

If there was ever a wrestler who knew a thing or two about chairs and taking nasty bumps it is Mick Foley. A hardcore legend if ever there was one. While taking the time to voice his discontent, it wasn’t because of the violence of the attack. Rather, it was because he felt such a violent attack needed to serve a grander purpose.

“Big fan of Drew’s…but 20 chair shots should either be done to build a feud of epic proportions…or they shouldn’t be done at all #RAW,” Mick Foley wrote.

The assault, delivered to Jinder Mahal’s lackey Shankey, is the latest in a series of attacks between the pair in a feud that started after Mahal stole McIntyre’s sword. There is a history between both men stretching back to their days in 3MB. How destinies have changed for both since those goofy days. Mick Foley’s comments about the ferocity of the attack and its lack of meaning might be slightly misplaced.

Mick Foley Knows a Thing or Two About Chairs

The feud is running, and it is running deep. It is nothing new for a heel to use his lackeys as a human shield. Subjecting them to the assault while they skip out of town. Shankey was one of the men who carried McIntyre away from the Money in the Bank ladder match. While Mick Foley is correct, chair shots should be used sparingly in the days of concussions and dementia. However, the feud between Mahal and McIntyre is building, and could certainly be something epic.

 Both men are former champions, both men want to have the gold again, and with the return of the WWE Universe to events, it’s only natural to ramp things up a little bit in the process. Mick Foley is a legend and there is no question, but on this occasion, his comments might not be completely valid. He has been there for some of the most violent matches wrestling have seen. While things have toned down in the interceding years, there is no denying that the current feud between Mahal and McIntyre is going to be hard-hitting.

Out of the entire AEW roster, few stars have caught fire as quickly or as heavily as Darby Allin. The relentless one has won the hearts of the audience with his death-defying antics. His coffin drop through the lid of the coffin on night one of Fyter Fest will be one every highlight reel for a long time to come. Darby also caught the attention of Jim Ross, who spoke highly of the young man during a recent episode of his Grillin’ JR podcast.

Talking about Darby, Jim Ross said how he had been able to sit down and have a great number of conversations with him already.

“Darby Allin has a great mind. I’m very privileged to have the opportunity to have private conversations with Darby. We have a very good relationship, and he runs ideas by me all the time. Some of them I agree with, and some of them I don’t. The good thing he knows is he’s going to get an honest opinion from me. He’s a good kid and he’s learning early. The more input you can have in your creativity, you increase your odds for success.”

Jim Ross is a Valuable Source of Knowledge for All AEW Stars

Aside from Chris Jericho, very few of the AEW locker room have anywhere near as much experience as Jim Ross. He is a valuable asset to the promotion that reaches far beyond his skills on the microphone.

Not only is AEW a young company, but it is a young and largely inexperienced roster. Having someone around to act as a sounding board for ideas and the creative process is only going to help them all grow.

Jim Ross spoke about the fact that AEW gives a lot of their wrestlers’ creative room. A level of freedom that might not be afforded elsewhere. Like him or loathe him, Jim Ross is an experienced head who has been there, done that and got BBQ sauce on the t-shirt.

Leader of The Way, Johnny Gargano has spoken about how much he is enjoying working with both Indi Hartwell and Austin Theory. Both wrestlers are young and upcoming talents within WWE, and Gargano is relishing playing the mentor role both on and off-screen.

“I’m going to make the best of the time I have with Austin and Indi because I know and firmly believe… like… they were handpicked by me and Candice because we know they are the future of what we do. Both have great attitudes. They have so much charisma, so much character and so much athletic ability. It looks like we made them in a freakin’ lab. I think the world of Austin and Indi, so we’re gonna make the best of the time we have with them because they’re gonna make this company a lot of money for a long time.” Johnny Gargano said in a recent interview with Sportskeeda

Johnny Gargano Is Enjoying Life in NXT

Johnny Gargano’s is enjoying life in NXT these days. He has been part of the NXT roster since 2015, and despite a few appearances on the main roster, is a man content with where he is. A former NXT tag team champion alongside Tomasso Ciampa. He also held the North American Championship and is a former NXT champion. His name can easily be thrown into the main event mix. As shown by his recent title match with Karrion Kross.

Now, as leader of The Way, Johnny Gargano is playing a comedic heel role that fits him perfectly. Working alongside his real-life wife Candice LeRae, as the pseudo parents of Indi Hartwell and Austin Theory. It is an interesting group that has made it work thanks to good chemistry and organic growth. The original plan for the group was far different from how it has evolved.

Johnny Gargano is a great wrestler and a big name who can throw down with the very best of them. With The Way gaining momentum as a group, the sky is the limit for what they could achieve as a faction.

Kevin Nash’s appearance on Broken Skull Sessions final aired and he certainly had plenty to say. Including a long discussion on the exact moment he realized WWE would win the Monday Night War.

When Kevin Nash and Scott Hall jumped ship to WCW and formed the NWO with Hulk Hogan it was wrestling history. However, it was exactly that moment that contributed to the eventual downfall of WCW.

“So, we’re flying back that night, and Bischoff goes ‘We’re gonna put Vince [McMahon] out of business,’” Kevin Nash remembered. “I said, ‘Dude, do you realize what happened tonight? The perception that two guys from WWE jumped ship and are going to take over your company — the people believe that. They think two guys can beat 100. No, you’re not gonna put him out of business. He’ll sit back and watch it.’ Hogan said the same thing, that’s what Vince did. Vince sat back and watched.”

Kevin Nash Believes Wrestlemania 14 Was the Turning Point in the Ratings Wars

As Kevin Nash and Austin spoke, they talked about the infamous Monday Night Wars. Nash wasted no time in picking the exact moment that he realized that WWE was always going to be the winning team.

“And I won’t forget the day in my life when Tyson came to WrestleMania [14],” Nash said. “Every WrestleMania match had a movie quality trailer in front of it, in case you hadn’t been watching, you were caught up. Kane was shooting fire, everybody — it was amazing. The next day I go to TV, and I just knew. You know, man, you watch something, you’re smart to the business.”

According to Kevin Nash, the atmosphere changed after that Wrestlemania. The results were as good as written on the wall.

Kevin Nash’s appearance on Stone Cold’s Broken Skull Sessions should have been part of the NWO celebration week. It was a good chat. Kevin Nash has been a big player in many different ways throughout his career, and despite problems along the way, he remains the coolest guy in the room.

When Jay White showed up at IMPACT Slammiversary, the wrestling world sat up straight and paid attention. The history between Jay White and Kenny Omega is rich and prime for a re-visit. The idea of another match between them would be television gold. Their last match, in 2018 is a criminally underrated affair that saw Jay White pick up a huge victory.

That loss remains a sore point with Kenny Omega, who took to Twitter following his successful title defence against Sami Callihan. Omega seems eager to put to bed any idea of a fight between him and White.

However, in pro-wrestling terms that means it’s a done deal, and now we just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Omega has been a dominant champion, holding belts in three different companies. While he doesn’t defend the belts week in week out, he has been in regular action. This mentality follows the thinking echoed in NJPW. Saving title matches for big occasions.

Kenny Omega and Jay White is a Story That Runs Deep

There is far more to the story between Kenny Omega and Jay White than just the IMPACT Heavyweight Championship. That is not to dismiss the belt, but a simple fact.

The pair have met in singles competition twice before. Both coming during Kenny Omega’s NJPW run. They hold one victory apiece. A third match between the pair would be a spectacle without a doubt. To make the pot even sweeter, both men currently hold a championship. Could a belt vs belt clash be on the cards?

Jay White replaced Kenny Omega as the leader of the Bullet Club and the animosity between the pair runs deep. Especially with the way the Elite left NJPW after the ‘Civil War’ between them and the OGBC.

Should Kenny Omega and White square off, whether it is for one title, both titles, or just retribution, it will be a firecracker of a match.

AEW star Frankie Kazarian was reportedly backstage during the Sunday night IMPACT tapings. It has not yet been confirmed if he played an active role in those tapings. However, it seems likely that Kazarian will feature in IMPACT soon.

The move is not surprising given the current Elite Hunter storyline in which Frankie Kazarian is embroiled. The moniker stems from when the Young Bucks cheated their way to victory over S.C.U. and forced the team to disband. The bloody affair was a wicked match to watch, and the end of S.C.U. a moment to be remembered for wrestling fans.

Since then, Christopher Daniels has not been seen on AEW television, and Frankie Kazarian has been going it alone. Turning up at every opportunity to attack the various members of the Elite. With the open relationship between IMPACT and AEW, it was only a matter of time before Kazarian arrived on IMPACT. Especially as Kenny Omega is the IMPACT champion and the Good Brothers are part of the IMPACT roster.

Frankie Kazarian Enjoying a Singles Career Renaissance Post S.C.U.

Since the breakup of S.C.U – the first-ever AEW tag team champions – Frankie Kazarian has been enjoying a singles run. His Elite Hunter persona is a storyline that he seems to be relishing. Exploring a darker, vigilante-style character. Loved by fans, he is intent on hunting down the various member of the Elite and making them pay.

It’s clear this feud has to end in a match, it remains to be seen how this will play out. Will Daniels make a return so S.C.U can challenge for the tag team titles? It seems unlikely that Kazarian will go after AEW Championship as Omega is currently in a story with Adam Page. Their tale is, in itself one of the best-managed stories in wrestling, and one several years in the telling.

Whatever the planned outcome, Frankie Kazarian is a man on a mission, and he will not stop until he has taken care of the Elite.

“I am going to hunt down every member of the Elite. You are going to learn about loss, you are going to learn what it feels like to get your heart ripped out of your chest. I will have my recompense or I will die trying. Right now what you are looking at is a bomb that you can’t defuse and a gun that you can’t unload.” Frankie said the week following S.C.U’s loss to the Young Bucks.

It’s a sleeper storyline, one playing out around everything else, interwoven into programming rather than being given its own slot. The best way for such a story to be done. Frankie Kazarian is putting in the performance of a lifetime and it’s exciting to watch it play out each week.

Current AEW Women’s Champion Dr Britt Baker has spoken to Daily Star Online about the evolution of the women’s division in AEW. The current champion has been with AEW since the very beginning and has grown and evolved as a performer each and every week ever since.

Talking candidly about AEW and its first three years, Dr Britt Baker openly admits that the AEW women’s roster were inexperienced when it comes to working live television.

“I came in and was pushed as one of the top girls [but] I’d never wrestled a match on live TV, I had no idea what a hard cam was and had never cut a live promo.” Dr Britt Baker said, speaking humbly, leaving her character at the door. “Now I humbly dub myself one of the faces of the whole company, and that has been a very challenging yet rewarding growth process.”

Dr Britt Baker Admits the NXT Women’s Division is Impressive

During the interview, talk turned towards WWE, specifically NXT. The black and gold brand was AEW’s biggest rival. Branded the Wednesday Night Wars, Dr Britt Baker stood at the forefront of the women’s division.

Baker was eager to point out that she has no hard feelings towards her competitors and is very close with many of them. “I love the NXT women’s division and am friends with so many of those girls.”

However, Dr Britt Baker was also keen to point out that WWE stars have an entire training complex to rely on. While the women of AEW did that in the ring before a live audience week in and week out. Honing their craft thanks to trial and error and the unwavering support of Tony Khan.

“But they have a Performance Center. My Performance Center was AEW Dynamite, live on Wednesday nights. I was learning as we go… you train in the ring, you cut promos and practice as much as you can, but I don’t have a wrestling ring in my back yard, a television set-up or a hard cam to pan to. So, a lot of what you see on tv was just trial and error because, again, we don’t have that Performance Center.”

During her time in AEW, Dr Britt Baker has defined herself as the ultimate professional. Earning fans respect the hard way, the organic way. By busting her butt each week, refining her promos and competing in matches. From squash matches to her record-setting unsanctioned match against Thunder Rosa.

With gold now around her waist, Dr Britt Baker is eager to lead the charge. Repaying Tony Khan for the faith he instilled in everyone on the AEW women’s roster.

Recently released WWE wrestler Kalisto has spoken up about the single biggest regret he has from his time in WWE. Regrets can be haunting things, especially when they were within our own control the entire time.

For Kalisto, the regret was not something he did or something that was planned and then scrapped. Rather, it was something he wanted to propose but never felt bold enough to do. Despite having the approval of the wrestler involved.

The plan? A mask versus mask match with Rey Mysterio. Kalisto detailed the plan during an interview with Chris Van Vliet for his Insight podcast.

Kalisto was released from WWE after an 8 year run with the company. He was a solid performer and held several championships during his time. Yet sadly, never felt bold enough to suggest his idea. That was until just before his release. He had his entire idea mapped out in a storyboard, and was finally ready to give the pitch to Mr McMahon but was released before he had the chance.

Everybody Was On-Board with Kalisto’s Mask vs Mask Idea

As he talked, Kalisto explained how he had taken his idea to many of his colleagues, including Daniel Bryan, Edge and of course, Rey Mysterio. All of them thought his idea was fantastic. Paul Heyman going so far as to brand it a work of genius, urging the young star to pitch his idea.

Sadly, we never got to see Kalisto go up against Re Mysterio in a WWE ring. That is something that he openly admits his own fault.

 The man formerly known as Kalisto has not yet made any announcements about his ring return. However, he has already confirmed that he will revert to his old ring name of Samuray del Sol and has two new t-shirts available through his website or via Pro-Wrestling Tees.

Two-time Hall of Fame inductee Sean Waltman has broken the news that WWE are currently working on a new documentary. This will focus on the first show they held immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attack.

While talking during an appearance on the Pro Wrestling 4 Life podcast, Sean Waltman spoke about the recent anniversary of the NWO formation. It was much celebrated on the WWE network. It was then, during that conversation that Waltman let the details slip.

“I sat down for some talking head stuff. They’re doing a documentary on the SmackDown after 9/11. I have vivid memories of all that. We were the first ones to do anything after that happened.” Sean Waltman revealed.

He didn’t have any more details that he was able to divulge, but the announcement is newsworthy in and of itself.

WWE was the first company to hold a live event with a crowd after the attacks. It was a special night that carries with it more than a little historical significance.

Sean Waltman Wil Likely Feature in the New WWE Documentary

While many people are highly critical of the WWE in-ring product right now, one fact remains unshakable. They make fantastic documentaries and behind the scenes shows. A documentary detailing the events leading up to and surrounding their show immediately following the 9/11 attacks would be a very emotional affair. Sean Waltman was there that night and will surely play a part in the final documentary.

While Sean Waltman was unable to give any more specifics about the show, he was clearly given the all-clear to mention it. With the 20^th anniversary of the attack this year, it is likely that the documentary will air sometime around then.

There is something even more haunting about a documentary regarding the terrorist attacks, as we stand at the end of a pandemic that saw crowds removed from wrestling shows for over eighteen months. Wrestling is entertainment, but it is something that has been there for some of the largest moments of our generation. For many, it is the lifeline that gets us through the tough times that life throws our way.

The RAW after Wrestlemania was the last time anybody saw Bray Wyatt on WWE television. Missing since then, little has been said about him or the Fiend. The reasons for his absence have been documented and are not due to any problems or squabbles behind the scenes.

However, it has left the WWE universe wondering when we will see Bray Wyatt back on your screens. Whatever character he plays, his pull with the fans has always been nothing short of spectacular.

So much so that a fan recently took to Twitter to express how much they miss Bray. Little did they know, but the superstar would answer, proclaiming he missed the WWE universe just as much as they missed him.

There is no word when Bray Wyatt is set to return, however, his image has been used recently for some upcoming live events.

Would We See Bray Wyatt Return at Money in the Bank?

WWE have a long history of springing surprise returns in the main event of PPV matches. With both the WWE and Universal Championships being defended at Money in the Bank this Sunday, there is every chance that we will see Bray Wyatt make a sudden return.

Bray is a former WWE champion, and will surely want to get himself back into the title hunt. Interfering in a title match would be a great way to start a feud with whoever emerges victorious.

That is, of course, pure speculation. However, with Bray Watt being advertised for RAW on August 9^th, you have to expect WWE to at least have some video packages ready to go. These could make a wonderful little distraction to change the tide of a title fight.

There is also the unanswered story of Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss, who is competing in the MITB ladder match. The more you look at it, the more plausible angles you can find for the fiend to return this Sunday.

Edge has returned to WWE with a renewed vigor and attitude. His feud with Roman Reigns over the Universal Championship has been running since his victory at the Royal Rumble. However, talking on a recent episode of Talking Smack, he threw shade at another WWE champion. The 24/7 champion, R-Truth.

Talking to the show’s presenters, Edge referenced his accolades in WWE and then shot down the 24/7 belt. This dig did not sit well with R-Truth.

“But I’ve been there, done that. I’ve won 31 championships; that’s more than anyone else in this company, and I’m sorry I don’t count the 24/7 Championships.” Edge ranted.

The comments drew fire from R-Truth, who is the current 24/7 champion with a record-setting 52 reigns. Truth, who wasn’t on the show, took to Twitter to settle to score with Edge and make it clear which title he feels the more important.

Edge Making the 24/7 Title Relevant

The majority of professional wrestling is scripted in some way. All wrestlers are playing characters, and their words and thoughts belong to that character rather than them. Very few are better at this than R-Truth, whose goofball character never fails to win over the crowd.

Everybody knows that the 24/7 title is not a ‘real’ title. However, with Edge mentioning it on Talking Smack, you do have to wonder if there is an angle being planned. Something to either add relevance to the title or to give R-Truth a feud of his own. Coincidences are not often accidental in professional wrestling. While they make an odd pairing, it would be a fun feud to watch however long it lasts.

It’s hard to think of a wrestler more liked than R-Truth, and while not the youngest, he is entertaining and certain still has ‘it.’  Very few fans would begrudge him being given an interesting storyline, whether it ends with a more legitimate title or not. With Edge’s feud with Roman surely coming to a head this weekend, one way or another he will be looking for a new direction.

WWE superstar Bayley has undergone successful surgery to repair her torn ACL. The injury occurred during a training session at the performance centre. Training sessions were imposed by Vince McMahon ahead of the return of live crowds.

Bayley’s injury could not have come at a worse time as she was preparing to face off against WWE Smackdown Women’s champion Bianca Belair in an I Quit match at Money in the Bank. Injuries are a part of wrestling and plans often need to change last minute. However, for Bayley who was enjoying a good push after being largely marginalized during Wrestlemania it will be a big blow.

The title match that was set for Money in the Bank has since been pulled from the card. Instead, Belair will defend against Camella on the go home edition of Smackdown.

Tweeting from her hospital bed, Bayley remained in her heel character, blaming the fans for her injury. “Can’t wait to miss the first show in front of fans again. I blame YOU for this. Thanks a lot,” she wrote.

Bayley Has Come a Long Way

Bayley has been a mainstay in WWE ever since her time in NXT. Her character and in-ring abilities have evolved over the years and she is not one of the more interesting heels on the roster. While the character she is building doesn’t always appear to be fully understood by the creative minds driving it, she has great potential is allowed to explore it fully.

This injury will be a blow, and nine months is a long time to miss. Hopefully, though she will be back on programming before then, in a non-competitive role. It would suit her heel persona, allowing her time to build on it during her time out of the ring.

One thing is for sure, Bayley will be back. She will be eager to get her hands on WWE gold once more.

Malakai Black shocked the world when he appeared on AEW Dynamite just a month after his WWE release. Since his release, Black has taken to the popular streaming platform Twitch, using it as a platform to air his thoughts and feelings.

Talking on his wife’s (WWE’s Zelina Vega) channel he talked about how Malaki Black was a character a long time in development. Black elaborated, explaining that this was the vision he had from the very start. He even went as far as pitching the idea of Triple H ahead of his NXT debut.

“It’s funny. The reason I did this is because this is actually how I wanted the WWE version to be,” Malakai Black explained. “When I started, I wanted to come in as a heel. Hunter [Triple H] wanted me face. If anyone has ever seen any work of me on the independents, you would know that the gimmick I was portraying in the WWE was an amplified version of what I did on the indies. That’s why they wanted me. But I wanted to be a heel because I was coming off a heel run on the independents. But then Hunter had this idea of making me face, a stoic face character.”

Malakai Black Has Room to Grow in AEW

Malakai Black then went on to explain how he is enjoying the creative freedom afforded to him by AEW.

“It feels really good that I’m in a place now where my creative mind can be utilized versus stopped, and controlled, and being presented in things that I know are not gonna work. Because, no offense, I knew a lot of the stuff wasn’t going to work. I said that to them as well back in the day. Lo and behold it didn’t work.”

The level of frustration behind the words speaks volumes and echoes the thoughts and sentiments of other released superstars. However, WWE’s loss is AEW’s gain, and Malakai Black is now free to unleash his full creative force on the world. We have already seen glimpses of Black’s creativity. The wrestling world now waits with bated breath to see where he goes from here.

There can be no denying that Chris Jericho is a man who has been there and done it all. One of the greatest of all time in a ring. A multiple-time champion the world over and known for some of the best fights we have seen.

Talking during a recent interview with Busted Open Radio the G.O.A.T of professional wrestling discussed his time wrestling in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Many will think of his iconic match with Kenny Omega from WrestleKingdom 13. Yet it was a match the following year that Jericho spoke about. Likening his match with Hiroshi Tanahashi to the first time he fought the Undertaker.

“When you get in the ring with him (Tanahashi), wow,” Chris Jericho said. “He is so good, I’m smiling just thinking about it. What it actually reminded me of was the first time I ever worked with Undertaker, who I did not work with until I had been in the WWE for about ten, twelve years. We just never were on the same show and never really crossed paths. And to be in there with a guy like that was just unbelievable, like ‘oh my gosh it’s all true. It’s true! Everything you hear about The Undertaker is true! He’s really that good.’ And that was the same way I felt about Tanahashi. We just had so much fun being in there together and it was such a blast.”

Chris Jericho Understands the Importance of Chemistry

Chemistry is essential in wrestling. You can have two of the best wrestlers around but if they have no chemistry with each other, the audience will pick up on it in a heartbeat. There are a lot of parallels that could be drawn between Chris Jericho and Tanahashi. They both hold legendary status in their individual promotions and in the eyes of fans around the world.

“He’s so smooth. People think that the Japanese style is dumping each other on each other’s heads and all that stuff, it’s not the case at all. It was really just a great match and as I said, it helped sell out the Tokyo Dome that year. When we did the two nights in Tokyo, it was the second night My last match in New Japan, maybe ever. Who knows if we’ll ever go back. But if that’s the last one, what a way to go out.”

With the pandemic slowly ebbing away, and the forbidden door well and truly open, we can all hope that we will get another chance to see Chris Jericho and Tanahashi square off once more. The G.O.A.T versus the Ace, just one more time.

On night one of AEW Fyter Fest, current TNT champion Miro showed off his brand new, customized TNT Championship belt. In its brief existence within AEW, the TNT title has already gained a prestige that some could argue runs deeper than the AEW Championship. This is largely thanks to the legacy of Brodie Lee and the crowd-endearing fearlessness of Darby Allin.

Now, the TNT Championship is in the hands of God’s Greatest champion Miro. A wrestler who is relishing the creative freedom offered in AEW and is becoming the brutal warrior everybody always knew he could be.

The new TNT title design is one that has been fully customized for the new champion. It carries a deep and personal meaning for Miro, who was born and raised in Bulgaria. The belt, designed from white leather has a green ribbon replacing the red running across the center. This has been done to represent the Bulgarian flag. The missing component of which in the design is the lower red section which will be completed by Miro’s trunks.

Miro is an old school champion and wears the TNT Championship around his waist. This is a clever design that goes deeper than just the belt but incorporates the champion wearing it also.

The belt also has the traditional customized side plates which include the Bulgarian flag at the Bulgarian crest.

Will We See a Customized TNT Championship for Every Champion?

This is the third TNT Championship design so far. The first was retired and awarded to Negative One after Brodie Lee passed. The second was held by Darby Allin. The highly personal nature of this design would indicate that AEW is going to give all of its champions a customized belt.

Changing the side plates of a belt is standard practice for a new champion, but there are easily interchangeable parts. To design an entirely new belt for each holder is an investment in the champion and a wonderful touch to make each reign mean something to said wrestler.

It could be that this design is a once-off, and Miro is going to be given a good run with the belt, after which it will revert to its standard design. However, that seems counterintuitive to the way AEW have conducted their business thus far.

The effort and thought that has gone into this new TNT Championship belt is further proof of AEW’s investment in their wrestlers. Not only from a financial standpoint but from every angle.

For WWE wrestler Kalisto can get back into the squared circle as of tomorrow. His 90-day release clause complete. While he has not given any indication as to where or when he will return, one thing is looking likely. He will be returning to his old ring name of Samuray del Sol.

He has been keeping himself in shape since he was let go if his recent social media posts are anything to go by.

Earlier this month, he applied for a trademark to use the Samuray del Sol name for merchandise including shirts, hoodies and caps.

Before signing with WWE in 2013, Kalisto wrestled in several promotions as his del Sol character, including CZW and Dragon Gate and Evolve. He never held any championships in these promotions, which is surely something he will be eager to set straight now.

Kalisto Honed His Skills in an Eight Year WWE Run

During his eight years with WWE, the man formerly known as Kalisto honed his skills inside and outside of the ring. He won two US championships, and the cruiserweight title and the NXT tag team titles. He was part of both the Lucha Dragons and the Lucha House Party. In 2016 he was even ranked as the 25^th best wrestler in the PWI 500.

However, he was deemed surplus to requirements in WWE and was released in the now traditional post Wrestlemania cull. However, Kalisto is just 34 years old, and there are plenty of promotions who would benefit from adding him to their roster. As with most released talent, he has something to prove after becoming a marginalized figure at the end of his WWE run.

Kalisto is adept as both a singles and a tag-team competitor. He could make a splash in any roster and in any weight class. He has not announced any booking right now. However, a mysterious countdown clock on his website has just 21 hours to go, which indicates something big is coming.

If there was ever a man in wrestling who had an eye for talent, an ability to spot potential, then it is Jim Ross. He has been influential in the careers of so many stars over the years. In addition to his role as the voice of a generation. So, when he took time out on his podcast Grilling JR to talk the praises of Ethan Page, everybody listened.

“Darby is one of my favorites,” said Ross. “He’s one of my favorites to talk to. Darby is very creative. He comes up with a lot of his own material, shall we say. He’s one of our homegrown guys that we take pride in; he and Jungle Boy Jack Perry, for example. Nobody should sleep on Ethan Page. He’s going to be a big-time player. He’s doing really well.”

Ross says Page has the look, the attitude and the smarts to reach the upper echelon of AEW. As long as Page stays healthy, JR sees him contributing in a big way for many years to come.

Jim Ross Has an Eye for Talent

Ethan Page joined the AEW roster after the Revolution PPV back in March. Since then he has gone on to team with Scorpio Sky, entering into a long-running and violent feud with Sting and Darby Allin. That rivalry looks to reach its culmination this week at Fyter Fest when the pair face off in a coffin match. Jim Ross will be there to call the shots and has spoken to both fighters in recent weeks about their feud.

Ethan Page is no rookie when it comes to professional wrestling. He had quite the reputation in IMPACT, forming a formidable tag-team with Josh Alexander. However, the AEW roster is stacked for to get special praise from Jim Ross speaks volumes.

While partnering with Scorpio Sky, both men have been actively pursuing singles competition. Once the feud with Darby is over, it will be interesting to see where they position themselves. They will inevitably be chase gold, but which belt remains to be seen. There is no real opening right now, as all of the current AEW champions are involved in long-running feuds. However, that doesn’t mean the men of the year won’t start building something.

Jim Ross has been around a long time and doesn’t give praise where it’s not due. Expect to see Ethan Page move from strength to strength within AEW.

The upcoming Slammiversary match between Kenny Omega and Sami Callihan for the IMPACT World Championship has an interesting new stipulation. The challenge was laid down by Callihan last night and confirmed by IMPACT Wrestling this morning.

The championship match will now be a No-Disqualification match. Kenny Omega, the current holder of the IMPACT World Championship has not commented on this late-stage change, however, given his fondness for bending the rules, this could play into his hands.

Callihan is a brawler. You don’t get a nickname like Death Machine without knowing how to get physical. The ability to take the fight to a more hardcore level will certainly give him an extra level to fall back on. However, the same stipulation means the Elite could get involved at any moment. Should the Young Bucks show up at Slammiversary, there is every chance the fight for the IMPACT World Championship could become a 5 on 1 affair.

Will The IMPACT World Championship Finally Come Back Home?

Kenny Omega holds multiple belts across multiple organizations. That grip has to end at some point. Will his match at Slammiversary be the one to chip away at his pro-wrestling dominance? IMPACT fans will be hoping that Callihan has what it takes to wrestle the IMPACT World Championship from his grip.

Omega has held the belt since April. While this will only be his third defence, his reign has already made enough headlines to be memorable. While Sammi Callihan is a former IMPACT World Championship belt holder and is eager to reclaim the gold.

Slammiversary is just 3 days away and will be held in front of a limited capacity live audience. You can always watch it live on Fite TV.

It is worth noting that should Kenny Omega call on his Elite brethren to come to his aid, there is a very well known AEW name who has a history fighting alongside Callihan. Former AEW champion Jon Moxley has unfinished business with Kenny Omega. Wrestling fans will be hoping for a switchblade collective reunion. One thing is for sure, Mox would love to play a hand in helping strip Omega of his IMPACT World Championship.

Prior to his release in April, Bo Dallas had not been seen on WWE TV for over eighteen months. The former NXT champion had been riding a high wave after he and Curtis Axel formed the B-team. An unlikely fan favourite, the duo reached the top of the tag team ranks claiming the RAW tag team titles. Then, WWE released his partner, and he was removed from programming.

While many of the recent releases have come as a surprise to the WWE universe, the news of Bo Dallas being let go was greeted differently. Most people surprised to hear he was still employed, expecting his release to have simply gone unnoticed. Bo is a rather quiet person, rarely active on social media, so a quiet departure would not have been a surprise.

Now, as he approaches the end of his mandatory no-compete period, details have emerged about the role Bo Dallas played backstage at WWE.

Fightful reported that he wasn’t used in the performance center, and he didn’t try his hand at being a producer or anything else directly linked to the business his family are embedded in. Bo had instead been used to help test camera setups, lighting rigs and live event configurations.  

Wrestling is in Bo Dallas’s Blood

It is no secret that Bo Dallas comes from a rich wrestling heritage. His grandfather was Hall of Famer Blackjack Mulligan. His father the taxman himself, I.R.S., and his brother is WWE stalwart, Bray Wyatt. Bo Dallas is an accomplished wrestler. He was never really afforded a real chance in WWE. Yey, with so much wrestling history running through his veins, it’s unlikely that we have seen the last of him.

Bo Dallas will undoubtedly have a fair bit of ring rust to shake off. However, with his 90 days served as of tomorrow, it will surely only be a matter of time before we see him back between the ropes again. It was reported earlier this year that Dallas, along with Liv Morgan had set up a real estate business. This is in preparation for their post wrestling careers. At just 31, Dallas surely has something left to prove, and wouldn’t want the Running Bo-Dog to be his legacy.

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has taken to social media to become the latest celebrity to troll UFC star Connor McGregor. McGregor suffered a broken leg at the end of the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.

Kurt Angle has never been one to back away from reminding the world he won an Olympic gold medal with a broken neck. Breaking it out once more to laud over the Notorious One.

“So….@TheNotoriousMMA (Conor McGregor) broke his freakin’ ankle this past weekend. Big deal. I break my ankle all of the time. Broke my ankle this morning and I’m jumping around right now!! I even won a gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck too,” Kurt Angle said.

The comments from Kurt Angle are of course made in jest, aimed at a fighter who has built a career from his barbed comments and scalpel-sharp wit. Now, he finds himself on the other end of things, and people are wasting no time in taking advantage of the situation.

Kurt Angle Knows a Thing or Two About Injuries

All athletes suffer injuries. Some are luckier than others. Kurt Angle is one of those who understands full well the toll a serious injury can take a performer. Angle broke his neck four times during a career that included both amateur and professional wrestling glory.

While Kurt was quick to jump on the trolling bandwagon, he was no doubt pleased to hear that Connor’s surgery was successful. Regardless of persona, it’s never good when someone suffers such a possibly career-ending injury.

Now retired, Angle is still very much active in the wrestling world thanks in part to this podcast The Kurt Angle Show. Kurt Angle has spoken recently about how he lives in constant pain as a result of his wrestling career. Pain management is a part of his life. It is the price that is paid for a career inside both the squared circle and the octagon.

Alexa Bliss took to social media yesterday to voice her eternal support to recently released WWE wrestler, Buddy Murphy.

Murphy was released on June 2^nd after his career within WWE had stagnated. Talking during a recent interview with Chris van Vliet, he was full of praise for Alexa Bliss thanking her for helping him adjust after moving to the US from Australia. Bliss was instrumental in his formative period in WWE.

There was no secret made that Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy were a couple for several years and have remained incredibly close even after their break-up. As evidenced by their near-constant exchange of kind words and well wishes.

In response to Murphy’s words of praise Alexa Bliss said she was excited to see what he does next and that she would always be there for him.

Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy Have a Deep Connection

There is something about the connection between Alexa Bliss and Buddy Murphy that runs deeper than anything else. They are close friends and echo the same sentiments as recently shared by Killian Dain. Regardless of promotion, regardless of factions, faces or heels, friendships in wrestling are few but genuine.

When Alexa Bliss first started in NXT, she was paired with the tag team of Blake and Murphy, turning heel for the first time with them. Since those days, Alexa Bliss has moved through several different characters, earning multiple championships along the way.

A main event star, Bliss has garnered plenty of attention creating headlines that have dominated wrestling news around the world.

The pair have followed very different career paths since their early days. However, there is no denying both are extremely talented performers. The future is looking very bright for both of them.

Buddy Murphy will return to action on September 18^th taking on AEW star Brian Cage for Battleground Championship Wrestling. While Alex Bliss is set to compete in another Money in the Bank ladder match as she continues her quest to reclaim WWE gold.

In a recent article, we detailed how poor WWE ratings led to the removal of highlight shows from Channel 5 programming. Channel 5 is a free to air channel in the UK. Since that article was published, more details have come to light regarding the changes.

The WWE highlight shows for RAW and Smackdown are no longer part of scheduled Channel 5 programming. However, they are available as part of the My5 on-demand service. We also mentioned that the deal with Channel had been lost. It has since been confirmed that the deal was not exclusively with Channel 5, but rather with ViacomCBS. Channel 5 comes under the ViacomCBS banner, and that deal is very much still in place.

We also incorrectly stated that the only places to watch WWE in the UK were via subscription channels such as BT Sport. While BT Sport is the primary channel, the highlight shows for all three brands are available on Paramount TV. This is a free to air channel available on the UK’s Freeview service. Channel 5 is a terrestrial channel, available with or without a digital connection. Freeview is a free to use digital TV service.

WWE Ratings Not Behind Programming Change

We originally reported that the reason for Raw and Smackdown highlights being removed from Channel 5 programming was due to poor WWE ratings. However, according to WWE sources, this was not the case.

Currently, in the UK, WWE shows can be watched on the following channels and via their associated on-demand services.

• Paramount Network (My5 on-demand)
• BT Sport

BT Sport is part of a subscription package costing a minimum of £15 a month, while Paramount is a free to watch channel. Both Raw and Smackdown are broadcast live as part of their subscription package. BT Sport also offers access to all WWE PPV events.

Sescoops apologizes for the inaccuracies in our previous report on WWE ratings in the UK.

The New Day were a group that shook up the WWE Universe. Their growth and appeal had the organic surge that no amount of creative talent could scribe. They dominated the scene until they were separated in the last WWE Draft. Since then, Big E has been left to go it alone as a singles competitor.

This is a role he has relished, and a challenge he has risen to. As of writing, he stands on the precipice of something great. The Money in the Bank ladder match and a near-guaranteed championship run. During a recent chat with TalkSport, Big E spoke about WWE trying to break up New Day. He alluded to a conversation with WWE boss Vince McMahon and his desire to see the New Day disband in dramatic fashion.

Big E told Alex McCarthy, “I know there were rumors for a while that certain things were pitched, but I think because we had been so adamant about not wanting to be broken up, I think that’s where people were like ‘Ehhh, I don’t know if we should because they really don’t want it.’ I can’t really divulge the conversation, but even from the top of the business, the very head of what we do – you know exactly who I’m talking about – he directly told us ‘Hey, this is the idea’ and we said, we’re not feeling it.”

He added that this conversation took place after KofiMania, but the idea of him turning on Kingston and Woods had been pitched several times prior.

New Day Has More to Offer

A betrayal is a classic way for a group to disband. There have been times over the years where such a thing looked likely for the New Day. Whether it be jealousy at Kofi’s championship run, or when Bray Wyatt put his spell on Xavier Woods. However, Big E is glad they were able to convince the creative folk at WWE otherwise.

“I think we still have so much to offer as a group, and I just like telling stories in a different way. I get our business is a business of conflict, but I think the story of brotherhood and three guys who genuinely want the best for each other is different and unique.”

Big E is enjoying his singles push; however, the group have already shown that individual success doesn’t weaken their bond as a group. With the 2021 WWE draft drawing ever closer, could we be seeing the New Day reunited?

One of the marquee signings for NXT UK made her debut last week. Blair Davenport as she is now known had been a rumoured signing, but her appearance shocked everybody. In a recent interview with TalkSport, the wrestler formerly known as Bea Priestley explained how everything came about.

Blair Davenport was a star in Japan, wrestling under her previous name for Stardom. She even made a few appearances for AEW. Then the pandemic struck, and the wrestling landscape changed.

“During the pandemic, there was a small window,” Davenport explained to Alex McCarthy. “Obviously, I got cut from AEW because my visa expired and there was no hope for a new visa happening at that time. There was a tiny window in August where people who had Japan visas could go back, so I went back to Japan. I loved STARDOM so much, but this time I think I was the only foreigner there, whereas before, I had a group of friends with me. I love the roster, but I did feel very isolated.”

Wrestling is a global enterprise, and when something unprecedented like a pandemic happens, even the best-laid plans are forced to change. For Blair Davenport, however, everything has worked out for the best.

She got to finish her time in Japan and settle her business out there. She got to wrestle for AEW, in a deal that let her combine both Stardom and AEW appearances. Then, as she was ready for a break and some time at home, NXT came calling.

Blair Davenport’s Road to WWE

For a star as impressive as Blair Davenport, it’s not surprising that she was on WWE’s radar for some time. Timing is key when it comes to professional wrestling. That does for outside of the ring as much as it does within.

Davenport didn’t sign with WWE because she had other things, she needed to do first. She didn’t want to have any regrets by the end of her career.

“NXT UK reached out to me when they were first making the roster in 2018 but it was the day after I signed my World of Sport contract. They reached out again at the beginning of 2019 and I spoke to Canyon Ceman. I was going to sign, but I wanted to do more in Japan. I said that to Canyon. He said, ‘Okay, cool, we’ll keep in touch and call you back in six months.’ Literally, two days later, AEW got in contact with me and offered me the schedule where I could live in Japan but still work for them and have the best of both worlds.”

The time is now right for Blair Davenport. It’s a new era in wrestling, and it’s a new name and a new attitude for the woman formerly known as Bea Priestley.

It has been a long hard road for Tyson Kidd. The former WWE tag team champion had his career ended in 2017. Lucky to be alive after a bad bump from a muscle buster on a RAW dark match against Samoa Joe. Even luckier it could be said to come out the other side being able to walk or move at all. The injury was very similar to that suffered by Christopher Reeve.

Tyson Kidd is aware of how lucky he is. Offered a full-time backstage role with WWE in 2017, Kidd has wasted no time in becoming a pivotal figure behind the scenes. He has been instrumental in pushing the women’s division. He has become s driving voice behind women’s wrestling and is the producer for most of their matches.

Many have credited him for the award-winning Wrestlemania 37 match between Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair.

Tyson Kidd is a Popular Figure Backstage at WWE

There can be no escaping the fact that Tyson Kidd is a popular figure backstage. He has learned a lot about wrestling and himself as a result of his injury. This knowledge he is all too happy to pass on to the next generations.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that so many stars turned out to wish Tyson Kidd a happy 41^st birthday yesterday. Including the Man herself, Becky Lynch, who proudly declared Kidd as being the “Best in the biz!”

Shanya Baszler also took time out to proclaim that Tyson Kidd was a genius.

In recent interviews, he talked about how he feels prouder of what the WWE women’s roster is achieving than he ever did in his own career. It is a sad fact that there will be no Daniel Bryan or Edge style comeback for Tyson Kidd. However, he is relishing his new role and has a very promising future ahead of him.