When it comes to wrestling, there is no bigger name than the Rock. While he may have hung up his boots years ago (or did he?) his name is still synonymous with the sport.

Earlier this week, the People’s Champion popped up on social media to answer a tweet sent out by WWE. The simple tweet asked people to name the match they thought to be the most important to WWE history. The Rock answered with a classic match. One that has very solid grounds for winning the debate.

Hulk Hogan vs Iron Shiek in Maddison Square Garden back in 1984.

The Birth of Hulkamania was Pivotal for WWE

There can be no denying the calibre of the Rock’s choice. The match between Hulk Hogan and the Iron Shiek was a pivotal one, not just for the company but for the entire evolution of professional wrestling.

The match was a classic tale of good versus evil, with all the political nods that the ’80s needed. Hogan became the first man to escape the camel clutch and went on to get the pinfall and secure his first-ever world title. More importantly than that, however, were the now immortal words uttered by Gorilla Monsoon.

Hulkamania is here.

The Rock is a wrestler, but more importantly, he is a wrestling fan. He has admitted on numerous occasions that he grew up as a fan of Hulk Hogan. His choosing that match as the most important is no real surprise. The Rock got to face his boyhood idol in an idol vs idol match at Wrestlemania X8, a match he championed and campaigned to Vince McMahon for.

The Rock has his own fair share of legendary matches during his run in WWE. Should rumours pan out, perhaps we will one day be talking about The Rock versus Roman Reigns in the same way we do Hogan and Shiek?

The Dark Order has fast become one of the hottest and most over factions in AEW. Under the guidance of the late Brodie Lee, they grew into a dominant force in AEW.

Ever since his passing in December 2020 the group have been acting without a dedicated leader. However, AEW has allowed his son Brodie Lee Jr to appear on the show, assuming the identity of Negative One. While still only a child, Negative One loves wrestling. He already has the promise of a contract when he turns 18, should he want it.

Recent articles have discussed his appearances, with his mother Amanda Huber recently confirming he had been taken off TV after his grades slipped at school.

The internet has been full of talk ever since it was confirmed that WWE had released both Braun Strowman and Aleister Black. Both men being touted as the ones to assume the mantel of the leader of the Dark Order.

This talk was silenced by Cody Rhodes last night when he confirmed the only leader of the Dark Order.

There is something incredibly wholesome about the Negative One story. Allowing him to continue to develop his love of professional wrestling. It is a sign of how AEW operate as a company that they have allowed Brodie Lee Jr to carry on in his father’s role.

Negative One is the leader of the Dark Order. It will take a force bigger than Braun Strowman and Tommy End (Aleister Black) to dethrone him.

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla are back! The company have just confirmed they will be holding their first show since 2019. Nothing is known about the event at this point in time, other than its date. August 1^st.

The last Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show was The Makings of a Varsity Athlete in December 2019. The pandemic than saw the company freeze operations, cancelling its final show KOBE in March 2020. The company is based in California and at the time was one of the early cities to impose strict COVID prevention measures.

Times have changed since their last show, with several of their superstars now tied to contracts with other promotions. Namely, the reigning PWG tag team champions The Rascalz’s Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz who are now better known as MSK.

The reigning PWG champion, Bandido was also set to defend against Johnathan Gresham. It will be interesting if these two will be able to finish their feud.

It is interesting to note that six members of the PWG roster are all now signed to AEW. AEW color commentator Excalibur is also one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.

Wil AEWs willingness to work with other companies, it is not inconceivable to think there could be some sort of cross-promotion. At the very least, you would imagine AEW would be agreeable to let their stars appear for at least one Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show given the close associations between everybody involved in the two promotions.

Ever since the passing of Mr Brodie Lee in December 2020, his son, Brodie Lee Jr (or -1 as he is known in AEW) has been a regular member of the Dark Order. However, in recent weeks, his absence has been noticed by many.

After a social media user jokingly suggested the youngster was grounded for not trying hard at school. His mother, Amanda Huber responded saying they were correct.

“100% He stopped doing his work so he lost privileges,” wrote Amanda of her son, Brodie. “I don’t make any money off any appearances he does at AEW, it’s purely for fun. It’s his favorite place in the world and a reward for hard work. He managed to finish his school year with all A’s & B’s despite slipping up a bit. I’m very proud of him.”

The way AEW handled the passing of Brodie Lee is commendable. How they have helped the family and made sure that Brodie Lee Jr gets to continue spending time in his favorite place is a story that deserves all the attention it gets.

However, there is something undeniably wholesome about this. There seems to be little doubt right now that Brodie Lee Jr will enter the wrestling world. However, it is good to see he will not do so at the expense of his education.

-1 has been a popular figure in his time in AEW, and as the de facto leader of the Dark Order, his presence is always felt.

In a time when everybody is talking about big money signings and contract disputes, it is refreshing to see that it’s not always about money. It’s great to see that the love of professional wrestling is still there in many people.

Drew McIntyre is a man at the top of his game. He may not be the champion, but he certainly still stands atop the wrestling world right now. His run as WWE champion will long be remembered. Not just for taking place during the pandemic era, but for the success story it was.

Talking in a recent interview with Rassling with Brandon F Walker, Drew McIntyre talked about his career to date, being the champion and which fighter he would like to face once he is finished with Bobby Lashley.

Many thought that the feud was over after his Backlash loss. However, following a series of wins on RAW, the Scot has found himself back in the title picture. McIntyre will square off against Lashley at Hell in a Cell on June 20th. The conversation turned towards a rather unlikely name, WALTER, after the Austrian ring general had previously named Drew McIntyre as being a man he would like to face.

“I can’t wait until it happens, it’s going to happen,” asserted McIntyre. “It’s just a matter of time. You know, we rolled in the ring a few minutes at Survivor Series. We got into a big man chop battle. You can decide for yourself who won that one, obviously, I’m going to be a bit biased.

“But WALTER is just someone who, talk about believability in the ring, you watch a WALTER match, and he makes you believe. He’s so big, unique looking, and dominant, with such a believable style. He is somebody who has done a great job as the NXT UK representative and a representative of European wrestling.”

We might have to wait a little while still, but when Drew McIntyre and WALTER face-off, it is going to be a hard-hitting affair.

Since the latest round of WWE releases, there is one name that everybody has been talking about. However, it is actually Buddy Murphy who seems to have the world at his feet right now.

According to sources at PW Insider Indie promotions are chomping at the bit to get their hands on Buddy Murphy. The 32-year-old Australian will not be short of offers once his 90-day break is seen out.

He is a special kind of wrestler who has power beyond his size and athletic ability that lets him keep up with the lighter guys on a roster. The former best-kept secret would be an incredible asset to any promotion. If he was to return to the indies, rather than sign for one single promotion then there is no end to the potential matches he could have.

An athlete of Buddy Murphy’s calibre could walk into any promotion and instant be a star draw.

Murphy has already set up a new email account for anybody looking to get in touch about future bookings. The name used is SecretNoMore.inc@outlook.com a clear homage to his old nickname as the Best Kept Secret.

Buddy Murphy is a former singles and tag team champion in WWE. His most memorable moment would surely be winning the cruiserweight title in front of his home fans during a WWE show in Australia.

While Buddy Murphy has not yet signed on for any events just yet, the wrestling world has its eyes peeled for where he will appear. Expect it to be a very busy second half of 2021 for this talented wrestler.

Talking on his My World with Jeff Jarrett podcast, the founder of TNA spoke about the birth of the company.

Jarrett talked at length about starting the company and how the idea occurred while he was under contract with WWE, but at home injured. Talking candidly about the early days of TNA Jeff Jarrett spoke about trying to capitalize on the aftermath of WWE’s purchase of WCW.

Early names they wanted to sing included Sid Vicious and Chyna. One other superstar that Jeff Jarrett (and his father) tried to sign was Ultimate Warrior.

Jarrett was brief on the details surrounding these attempts. “I had a couple of conversations with [Ultimate Warrior], but very top-level … o put it back in context, I had never done business with him, our paths really never crossed in WWF. Me and [Warrior’s] paths never really crossed other than I met him on Thanksgiving day in 1985 and I met him with Sting. Our paths had never crossed, he was more a business colleague, he was a friend of my dad’s. I reached out, had some conversations but my dad was doing all the business negotiations.”

Jeff Jarrett blames the hot and cold nature of the talent, looking at a new promotion in the wake of such a huge deal between WWE and WCW. Ultimate Warrior never signed for Jeff Jarrett’s fledgling promotion, but it is fun to think about what could have been.

Former WWE tag team Authors of Pain (AOP) have set the record straight about their future in the wrestling business.

The duo was the most dominant tag team in WWE at one time. They ran over NXT and the RAW roster, claiming both the NXT and RAW tag team gold. Their final storyline saw them working as Seth Rollins’ enforcers. AOP was released in September 2020 run of cuts, which surprised virtually everybody.

AOP never resurfaced. Earlier this week, Fightful reported that a wrestling promoter reached out to the tag team hoping to bring them in. They were told AOP are retired. Journalist Sean Ross Sapp reached out to Rezar for an interview. He replied, “I’m not a wrestler,” which seemed to corroborate the news that they are effectively retired.

AOP “Ain’t Done Yet”

Akam has since replied to the buzz about their status. According to the big man, we have not seen the last of the team (or their former manager, Paul Ellering).

These are strong words that imply retirement is not currently in their vocabulary.

While the Authors of Pain have not been seen for a while, it is not necessarily their own fault. AEW went on record as saying they didn’t feel the duo were a good fit for the promotion – at the time. While NJPW lacked the budget to make a deal happen for the pair. Both big men make a formidable team but would surely come as a package.

Hopefully, the Authors of Pain will be back between the ropes soon, as the post-pandemic wrestling landscape starts to take shape. Who wouldn’t like to see these two behemoths run over the Good Brothers, or flatten the Young Bucks at some point?

If there is one man who could be called the voice of wrestling, then it is Jim Ross. Good Ol’ JR has been the voice of several generations, as well as being an influential figure behind the scenes. Talking on his Grilling JR Podcast, he took time out to talk about AEW’s recent Hall of Fame signing, and what is really means for the company.

Jim Ross of full of praise for Mark Henry, and while he was surprised AEW were able to coax the world’s strongest man away from WWE, he believes it shows the true intentions of AEW Rampage.

 “You know he’s got a good eye for talent, he’s coachable, he likes to mentor so that was pretty cool. It gives me credence that the Friday night show Rampage is not going to be a throw away, it’s not a space filler. I was kind of surprised that Mark got out from under the WWE banner and is coming to work with our team.”

Jim Ross Feels Mark Henry Has a Big Role to Play at AEW

Jim Ross is not believed to be part of the Rampage team. However, he believes Mark Henry has what it takes to make the show something special. He also feels as though we will be seeing Mark Henry competing in an AEW ring also. Jim Ross also spoke about how AEW kept Mark Henry’s signing a true surprise for everybody.

“It’s a win-win for everybody I believe, and it also opens the door potentially down the road for Mark to have another match or two. He’s still got the itch; it seems to me like. I didn’t see him all day, so they kept him sequestered all day. It didn’t leak, it never got out.”

AEW need the show to hit the ground running. Especially after a run of disappointing figures for Dynamite during its recent stint on the Friday night slot. The same slot Rampage will fill.

The wrestling world is still coming to terms with the news of Braun Strowman’s WWE release. Going from competing in the main event and challenging for the world title, to being released in just a few months.

However, Strowman is not the first superstar to sign a big-money deal only to find the rug pulled out from under them.

Talking in a recent interview with SK Wrestling, Erick Redbeard (formerly known as Erick Rowan) had some words of encouragement for his former Wyatt Family brother.

“You know, a year ago, I was in the same position,” Rowan said. “That’s what you get when you sign that big-money contract. It’s not guaranteed money, man! [laughs]. Nothing in this world is guaranteed. Just get back on, just get back on the horse and keep moving on, man.”

The World is Braun Strowman’s Oyster Right Now

There has been no word yet as to where Braun Strowman is going to head, but he would be an asset to any promotion. The monster among men brings a draw that not many can match these days. Having grown exponentially in recent years. This is in terms of physique, in-ring and mic skills, as well as general character development.

There are many interesting potential feuds for the big man, depending on where Braun Strowman decides to go next. It’s not inconceivable that he and Erick Redbeard could end up on the same card someday in the future.

Since leaving WWE, Erick has refrained from signing with anybody. He did make a single once-off appearance for AEW at the Brodie Lee tribute show. Recently, Redbeard has confirmed he has reached an agreement with a company, but the details have yet to be confirmed. One thing is for sure, any match involving him, and Braun Strowman would have a huge draw, especially with the history the pair share. The Brodie Lee connection would also make it an emotional moment for sure.

Since debuting on NXT, Johnny Gargano has seen his character change a few times. From his heel role in DIY to the ultimate babyface with the Undisputed Era. Now, as leader of The Way, he is seeing his character develop in a way nobody would have predicted.

Playing the role of your stereotypical sitcom dad, alongside (real-life) wife Candice LeRae and their ‘children’ Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell. The heel stable has really taken on a life of its own since forming, changing drastically from the original concept.

Talking to Ryan Satin’s on his Out of Character podcast, Gargano discussed the group’s evolution.

“When I pitched this whole faction idea, trust me, the whole sitcom family thing was not something I pitched,” Johnny explained. “It came when we filmed the Christmas special. Everyone was just kinda interacting with one another. We would joke around a lot and call Austin and Indi our kids because they kinda looked like big versions of ourselves that we made in a lab. So we would call them our kids, and it just kinda became something that kinda took off on-screen, and that just became our dynamic.”

According to Johnny Gargano, the group have really embraced the sitcom theme now, and are really pushing it to see how far they can go. Ever the professional, Gargano was eager to talk about the way the faction has allowed his ‘children’  Austin Theory and Indi Hartwell to grow and develop their skills.

For Johnny Gargano, the future is looking bright indeed, as he prepares for a chance to win his second NXT championship. Taking on Karrion Kross, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne and Adam Cole in a Fatal-5-Way at the upcoming In Your House PPV.

Wrestling is a dangerous business. Tyson Kidd is a wrestler who knows this better than many others. After suffering a serious, career-ending injury back in 2015, he was forced to accept his in-ring career was over. However, Kidd was not done with wrestling.

A product of the legendary Hart Dungeon, Tyson Kidd got back on his feet and is helping keep the Hart training legacy alive.

Talking in a recent interview alongside the legend, Bret ‘the Hitman’ Hart, Kidd talked about his transition from in-ring talent to coach. Recently, Kidd had the pleasure of watching one of his trainees claim their first title in WWE.

Not only that, but they did is alongside his wife, Natalya. A natural teacher, Tyson Kidd has always been one to share knowledge, and help others improve.

“I was kind of training Tamina on the road since 2010. She’s been this very long-term project of mine. She’s such a great person, and it’s so easy to open up and want to help her. It’s so easy to do.” Kidd said when talking on a recent episode of WWE’s The Bump.

Alongside his role as a coach and mentor, Tyson Kidd has also excelled in the role of producer. He is working exclusively as a producer for women’s matches in WWE, and it is a role he loves.

“I fell into and started producing more and more women’s matches until it became exclusive now. But I love it. It’s so much more than my own career. It’s more sentimental. Not to take away from my own career, but what I’m doing now is not even close. The comparison is not even close.”

Tyson Kidd’s wrestling career may be over, but his career in wrestling is just getting started.

Johnny Gargano is one of the biggest names on the NXT roster. The leader of The Way, he was also part of the biggest faction in NXT history with Undisputed Era. He is a three-time North American Champion, a former NXT Champion and a tag-team champion. He is the first-ever NXT triple crown champion.

His NXT legacy is cemented. Yet, there is one feud in particular that Gargano credits for building his NXT career. During an appearance on the Out of Character podcast, Johnny Gargano credited DIY versus The Revival (FTR) for starting his NXT career.

“And then obviously, our work with Revival [Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood]. I cannot say enough good things about that. That really cemented us and really kind of — that was obviously our first TakeOver. TakeOver: Brooklyn at the Barclays Center was our first one and to go in there with those guys and to have that match, I don’t think I’d be sitting here today if that match didn’t go the way it did.”

Gargano continued, “I think that match went so well, it made them realize like, ‘Oh, wait a minute, we might have something special here with these guys and obviously the rest is history. But to be able to do that in Brooklyn then have the 2-out-of-3 Falls in Toronto, we were made men from those matches.”

The two matches between DIY and The Revival introduced the NXT universe to Johnny Gargano. Since debuting, his character has evolved, his style has evolved. The sky is the limit for Gargano, and exciting times are surely ahead.

Like him or loathe him, Paul Heyman is a man who knows wrestling. He has been involved in the wrestling business since he was 21 years old. Now, 35 years later he is still a major name. His allegiance to first Brock Lesnar and now Roman Reigns has shaped a character in both himself and the wrestlers he manages that will live on long in the memories of wrestling fans.

Talking in a recent High Spots Virtual Q&A session, Paul Heyman was asked which superstars he felt were most undervalued for their mic skills.

Heyman wasted no time in giving his answer. Naming a tag team as one of the most underrated talents in WWE right now. Talking about The Street Profits, Paul Heyman was quick to claim that the duo was great but also had so much more still to offer.

“The Street Profits. They get a lot of credit for being great promos, I don’t think they’ve even scratched the surface of how great they are yet. Both of them. The rhythm between the two of them is just magic,” Heyman said.

The Street Profits have become firm fan favourites during their time with WWE. Their chemistry on the mic extending deep into their in-ring skills also. The Street Profits are only the second tag team to have held all three WWE tag-team belts.

Paul Heyman also reserved praise for two NXT superstars. Citing both Austin Idol and Armando Estrada as being exciting prospects on the mic.

This is high praise, coming from Paul Heyman, who cuts some of the best promos in the business.

Since its inception in August 2020, NJPW Strong has been a place to see some great wrestling names. This coming week on Strong, Fred Yehi will make his debut. Yehi is a name known to many wrestling fans and is currently the number one contender for the ROH Pure Championship.

Yehi will perform in a tag team match alongside Wheeler Yuta. Their opponents are Misterioso and Jordan Clearwater.

Fred Yehi has wrestled for many promotions, including ROH and MLW. Interestingly enough, during this time in MLW, Yehi was a member of Team Filthy.

Tom Lawler, the leader of Team Filthy is the first and inaugural NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. The stable is the primary one based on the NJPW Strong brand. If Fred Yehi impresses in this match he could secure a regular place on the Strong roster. It is then not inconceivable to assume he will join the team.

Team Filthy is currently down one member, after Tom Lawlor, orchestrated a beat down of form member Chris Dickinson.

Fred Yehi is a talented wrestler, and while he might not be the powerhouse that Dickinson was, he could certainly fill the spot in Team Filthy and help them continue their brand dominance.

As NJPW Strong approaches its one year anniversary, the show is moving from strength to strength. Growing in confidence each week. The use of freelance talent and willingness to not tie fighters down to just their promotion gives them a lot of room to grow. This is a benefit to the brand, and to fighters like Fred Yehi, who are looking to build their career in the business.

The storyline involving the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Cameron Grimes and LA Knight has been dominating NXT. The build-up between Grimes and DiBiase grained pace when Knight stepped into the frame. Both men claiming they have what it takes to carry on the million dollar legacy.

The pair will face off one-on-one at the upcoming NXT In Your House PPV, with the winner believing they will receive the favor of Ted DiBiase. However, the story is not yet fully told.

WWE recently tweeted that tonight on the In Hour House go-home episode of NXT, Ted DiBiase is making a priceless announcement.

This is most likely to be the confirmation of the return of the Million Dollar Belt. The winner between Grimes and Knight being awarded the belt at NXT In Your House.

This would be the logical conclusion to any storyline involving Ted DiBiase. Not to mention, the poster for the NXT In Your House show already features the belt.

With both Grimes and Knight playing heel characters the feud lacks the traditional good guy versus bad guy appeal. However, it means both men would be a perfect fit for some million-dollar tutelage.

The Million Dollar Belt has been out of circulation since 2010 but hasn’t seriously been used since the mid-’90s. While never officially recognized as a title, there is no denying that having that on your shoulder and Ted DiBiase in your corner is a benefit for any wrestler.

Following his release from WWE, Aleister Black is the latest wrestler to turn to Twitch as a means of creative expression. In a series of streams discussing his wrestling career, and the end of his WWE run, Black talked to fans about some of the storyline ideas he pitched ahead of his return. All of them rejected by WWE creative.

He explained one particular plan in some detail. Talking about how he wanted his character to return with a hit list of sorts. He would go on to feud his way up the WWE ladder until reaching the very top with Vince McMahon himself.

“The good thing about this character was that he could’ve endlessly blamed people. He would start with Kevin Owens because Kevin Owens wasn’t there for him. After Kevin Owens, I wanted him to go to Rey Mysterio and then Rey Mysterio Junior. While actually the other way around, I wanted to like kinda work an angle where I would take Mysterio Junior and his daughter hostage and kind of make him feel the way he made me feel by abandoning me.”

Sadly, these were all rejected by WWE, and Aleister Black was subsequently released just weeks after a return from a lengthy injury layoff. Retuning just long enough to start a feud with Big E, but not long enough to finish it.

Aleister Black is subject to the standard 90-day release clause, but expect to see Tommy End back in a wrestling ring on August 31^st.

Sometimes you need to change things up a bit. A fresh look or a new attitude can change the fortunes of a wrestler. In a cryptic, yet revealing social media post, AEW star Hikaru Shida has hinted at just that.

Posting an image of cut hair on a salon floor with the simple caption ‘Restart’.

Hikaru Shida was the AEW women’s champion for just over a year. The longest reign in the entire AEW promotion so far. Dr Britt Baker dethroned the Japanese star at the recent Double or Nothing PPV. The loss clearly had an effect on Shida, prompting her to make a drastic change.

It’s unlikely that this will signify a heel turn for the star, with Baker filling that dominant heel role for now. However, a change in attitude might be what is needed for Shida to reclaim her title.

There is only one belt for the packed female roster in AEW right now. Hikaru Shida is a fan favourite and has a star power draw. However, after recent segments on Dynamite, it looks as if Baker is set for a feud with Nyla Rose.

Whatever the creative plans at AEW, it is clear that Hikaru Shida has a big role to play still. It will be interesting to see how she copes with the loss of her title, and where she goes from here.

Seeing Andrade El Idolo in an AEW ring was something fans were calling for since his WWE release. Andrade has been much talked about since his WWE release, many expected him to return to Mexico.

With AEW confirming his signing the same night as his appearance, the arrival of El Idolo is certainly a shake-up for the already stacked roster. Things are shaping up nicely for AEW ahead of their show expansion in a few months.

Since then, details have emerged about the contract negotiations that took place ahead of Andrade signing.

Possibly driven by frustrations spilling over from his previous employment, Andrade insisted on having creative control over his matches. Including the ability to veto losses.

According to Wrestling Inc’s Raj Giri, AEW started negotiating with Andrade the week following his release. However, it took a while to iron out. Sources claim that the final details give El Idolo a modicum of creative control over his match finishes.

With a host of promotions showing interest in signing Andrade, business pressure surely swayed things in his favor. IMPACT was willing to give the control but only on a per appearance basis, while ROH was also sniffing at making a play for the Mexican star.

Update: SEScoops has learned that reports of Andrade having any sort of “creative control” in AEW are incorrect. We apologize for this error.

A match against current AAA Mega Champion (and current AEW and IMPACT champion) Kenny Omega already set for Triplemania. This means a feud could easily be set for all three belts should all companies be willing to work together.

In signing Andrade El Idolo, AEW are the ultimate winners. It will be interesting to see how Andrade settles, and who he sets his sights on first.

Well, you can now add Matt Cardona’s name to the list of people who want a piece of Nick Gage. Cardona stunned the crowd at the recent GCW Zombie Walk show, attacking Gage after the match. What made the altercation even more interesting is how it all transpired.

Matt Cardona came to the ring, covered from head to toe and gave the crowd his best Moxley swagger. Hitting Gage with a paradigm shift before removing his mask. The nod to Mox is understandable give the feud running between Mox and Gage. However, it does make you wonder if there is something else running.

With the recent news of show titles such as Battle of the Belts being trademarked by AEW, the concept of cross-promotion fights is interesting. The crowd certainly went wild, both when they assumed it was Mox in the ring, and after Matt Cardona unmasked himself.

A hardcore promotion like GCW might not be the place you instantly think of when discussing Matt Cardona. Yet, it seems as if this is something legit. Cardona took to Twitter after his appearance to share some thoughts before calling out Nick Gage from a steakhouse.

You would be hard pushed to find any bigger wrestling fan than Matt Cardona. He lives and breathes the business. Should a match go down between him and Gage, or him, Gage and Moxley, it will be a headline event. This looks likely, especially given how Cardona picked up the GCW title belt and held it aloft.

With all the recent cuts in WWE, it’s no surprise there is a lot of speculation about their ultimate destination. Current IMPACT star and X Division Champion Josh Alexander is the latest to voice his opinion.

During a lengthy interview, Josh Alexander spoke about the recent WWE releases, naming Samoa Joe as his opponent of choice.

 “For me, just as a fan, I would love to see Samoa Joe come in and try and get the X Division Championship from me” Alexander said. Since winning the title, Alexander has put in great displays against the likes of El Phantasmo and TJP. However, a match against someone like Samoa Joe would be a mouth-watering affair.

Josh Alexander was not short on comments about other stars he would like to see fighting again.

“But, there are a lot of other talents. Samurai Del Sol – Before he went to WWE as Kalisto, he was being regarded as the next Rey Mysterio Jr. but somehow that got lost in translation while he was there. I think the IIconics are great. I think Chelsea Green is great and would be an asset to the Knockouts Division.”

There is a wealth of talent lurking in the free-agent pool right now. Josh Alexander is a fan of wrestling and agrees we are in exciting times.

“I’ve not asked any of these questions and I don’t know anything. I just want to be pleasantly surprised along with everybody else.”

Josh Alexander is enjoying his first singles championship run in IMPACT. Whoever his next run of opponents may be, they will need to bring their A-game if they want to take his title.

Don Callis has been a major player in the recent partnership between AEW and IMPACT wrestling. The cross-promotion heel Elite he has created is drawing heat from wrestling fans across the board.

Talking at the Double or Nothing post-show media scrum, AEW President Tony Khan addressed Callis’s position in AEW. Especially after his recent status change with regards to his position as an IMPACT Wrestling executive.

“He helps in Kenny’s segments, and he’s involved. He’s doing that here,” Khan stated. “There was a point where he’s been here every week. I think it makes sense. We’re doing TV. We’re going back live every week.”

With AEW getting back to a fully live weekly show, now that fans are allowed back into the arena, it does change the nature of things a bit. Without the ability to tape segments in advance, character availability is crucial.

“Kenny’s defending other titles. He’s got the Impact and AAA Titles. He’s (Callis) will be with Kenny wherever Kenny is. I think Kenny’s signed here for years, so Don will be here for years whether you like it or not.”

Don Callis is drawing the ire of many with his involvement with Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks but playing the heel role well. Looking at Tony Khan’s words, it is clear that Don Calis still has a big role to play with AEW.

Callis also has strong ties to NJPW, which is another company AEW have cross-promotion involvement with. Love or hate the character he plays, Don Callis is a connected man.

Slammiversary is the biggest show in the IMPACT Wrestling calendar. Schedule for July 17^th, it has recently been announced that there will be a limited number of fans allowed in attendance.

This will be the first IMPACT Wrestling show in over 16-months to have an audience. The Slammiversary card was already shaping up to be a big one, but this announcement means it is that much more special.

Due to the limited number of tickets, IMPACT has said that every Slammiversary seat will be ringside. They also come with a whole host of extras and goodies.

IMPACT Executive Vice-President Scott D’Amore broke the news “We have waited over a year to say these three words: Welcome Back, Fans. We know Slammiversary will be an amazing event, with title defenses, jaw-dropping excitement, breath-taking moves … AND NOW, FANS.”

“I speak for everyone at IMPACT Wrestling when I say that we are thrilled to welcome back our fans. IMPACT is going to deliver an amazing night of action in front of the thunderous roar of fans for the first time since early-March 2020 at the two-night A-Town Beatdown in Atlanta.”

Slammiversary tickets go on sale today, June 4^th at 10 am.  There have been no matches announced for the event just yet. However, there has been lots of speculation about the names people could expect to see appear. Especially after the video package released by Impact in May, teasing several recently released WWE superstars.

All Elite Wrestling will launch a second weekly television series this summer called AEW Rampage. The 1-hour show will air Friday nights at 10pm (Eastern) on TNT.

We already know that Mark Henry will be part of the AEW Rampage broadcast team. AEW President Tony Khan says he has a “big announcement” about another major star who will be part of Rampage.

During the media scrum that took place following Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view, Khan says one of AEW’s top stars will be joining Mark Henry on commentary.

“I’m not necessarily gonna say he’s going to be the play-by-play or color analyst, but he’s going to be a big part of the show,” said Khan. “I have a big announcement. I don’t want to sound like it’s going to be an outside person. It’s somebody who’s one of our top stars that will be on commentary on the show. He’s a great commentator and a great wrestler. That might narrow it down, but I’m going to put him on commentary.”

There are only a handful of top in-ring performers who have done commentary. Based on the criteria laid out by Tony Khan, Chris Jericho seems like a likely candidate for this position.

AEW Rampage premieres Friday, August 13^th on TNT.

Coming from a wrestling family often means the sport is in your blood from a young age. Yet, for Dominik Mysterio, that drive and passion to be in the ring came quite late. Recently, Rey Mysterio sat down for a chat with Ryan Satin’s Out of Character podcast and opened up on Dominik’s decision.

For many parents, the idea that their children want to enter the ring is a moment they dread. They understand the rigors of life on the road and the toll wrestling takes on the body. Not Rey Mysterio, however.

“I think because he asked to be a part of this profession at a very late stage. Out of nowhere, I wasn’t expecting it. He was like, ‘Mom and Dad, I want to talk to you guys. I want to see if I can break into the business. I was like, ‘Whoa.’ I guess because it happened to me and I grew up around this sport. At the age of four or five years old, I was already bumping and jumping in the ring. So, the fact that he started late, I never thought that day would come. I was really excited. I was really pumped when he said he wanted to break and see if he had what it takes.”

Since making his debut, Dominik and Rey Mysterio have gone on to capture the tag team titles. Making them the first father and son team to hold gold in WWE. Dominik is only in the early stages of his career, but already looks set on doing the Mysterio name proud.