SEScoops

Author: Staff

  • Eric Bischoff Fantasy Books The Undertaker In WCW

    Eric Bischoff Fantasy Books The Undertaker In WCW

    At the height of the Monday Night War, WWE and WCW were locked in a merciless battle to secure to top wrestlers in the industry. It was a huge deal when when WCW mainstay The Giant jumped to WWE, or when Bret Hart showed up on Nitro. The Undertaker was one of the performers most synonymous with WWE and a defection to the competition would have had seismic consequences.

    During a recent episode of his 83 Weeks podcast, former WCW President Eric Bischoff talked about how he would have booked The Undertaker, if they could have signed him away from Vince McMahon. Bischoff says he intended for the nWo to ultimately take over Nitro and secondary show Thunder would have been the new home of WCW. Since The Undertaker had worked for WCW as Mean Mark back 1989-1990, Bischoff envisioned The Undertaker being one of the top players in WCW.

    “Hypothetically, the whole NWO/WCW storyline as I had it in my head, would have played out the way I wanted it. nWo would have officially taken over Monday Nitro, top to bottom, would have been an nWo show. WCW would have been over on Thunder, had we had it play out the way I hoped for. Because WCW and [The Undertaker] previously had a relationship, I would have probably tried to play off that. I would have probably tried to bring [him] in on the WCW side of the equation to be kind of a counter for Kevin Nash.”

    Bischoff said he was never a big fan of larger wrestlers like Kevin Nash or The Giant, because it’s hard creatively to get sympathy on them.

    “It’s hard for them in a believable way to sell, unless you take a chainsaw to them or a bazooka,” he explained. “It’s hard for them to be a good heel because it doesn’t make any sense for a guy that big to be a chickensh*t. It’s not believable. I just don’t know. I wouldn’t have been excited about hiring him, not because he’s not a super talented guy. But if you would have looked at our roster back then, where would he have fit?”

    The Undertaker in WCW was not meant to be, but the Dead Man did eventually work with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, DDP and Booker T after WWE bought out WCW in 2001.

    Listen to The Undertaker talking about how he would have booked The Undertaker in WCW:

    https://youtu.be/UQDoAQAyBmM

  • Tony Khan Interested In Goldberg Wrestling For AEW

    Tony Khan Interested In Goldberg Wrestling For AEW

    All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan is “obviously” open to the prospect of Bill Goldberg wrestling for AEW, under the right circumstances. During an appearance on the X-Pac 1-2-360 podcast, Khan said that he knows Goldberg and hyped up his mainstream appeal.

    “I have spent some time will Bill, I really like Bill a lot and he’s one of the greatest drawing cards ever in the business, he’s a huge star, a household name … and yeah, if the situation was right, obviously. I haven’t agreed to anything with Bill or anything but I like Bill a lot.”

    After 12 years away from wrestling, Goldberg returned to the ring at WWE Survivor Series back in 2016. He flattened Brock Lesnar in less than two minutes, reigniting a rivalry that culminated at WrestleMania 33 and a WWE Hall of Fame induction.

    At 52-years-old, the prospect of Goldberg having another run seems unlikely. That said, The Undertaker is 53 and wrestled several times this year. Chris Jericho, AEW’s biggest signing to date, isn’t much younger at 48. Goldberg’s agent is Barry Bloom has been working on AEW behind the scenes since its inception.

    With AEW looking to make some noise, secure a TV deal and sell out the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (Capacity: 16,800), Goldberg could be another piece of the puzzle that helps them achieve these goals.

    Do you think Goldberg could be an asset to AEW, even if it’s for one special attraction match? 

  • Tony Khan On AEW Partnering With Other Promotions, Healthcare & More

    Tony Khan On AEW Partnering With Other Promotions, Healthcare & More

    All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan appeared on the X-Pac 12360 podcast on Wednesday and spoke to Sean Waltman about a wide variety of topics. In the first part of our recap, we covered what Khan said about his vision for the company, the challenges associated weekly programming and rumors of Goldberg joining AEW.

    Khan also spoke about AEW partnering with other promotions, talk of AEW wrestlers receiving healthcare and male and female competing on an even financial playing field.

    Partnering With Other Promotions

    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently reported that AEW turned down a proposal to purchase Impact Wrestling. Khan flat out denied that AEW is interested in acquiring other wrestling promotions, saying “No. No.” at the prospect.

    “We’re looking to start something new I am not looking to absorb… I am open to partnerships. There are a lot of people doing exciting things all over the world and especially internationally; I am very open to partnerships. And domestically, I think I’ve seen the future and it’s what we’re doing. I am very very happy with where we’re at today … I am not really looking to acquire a lot of other companies or even libraries but as far as partnerships and things of that nature I think there’s a lot of exciting things that people can do.”

    Healthcare & Equal Pay

    Coming out of Tuesday’s Double or Nothing press conference, there have been conflicting reports about whether or not AEW talent will be given health care coverage. Khan clarified the situation, noting that some AEW talent will be independent contractors (and allowed to wrestle elsewhere), but some AEW wrestlers (Cody and Brandi Rhodes, The Young Bucks)  will have full-time office jobs with AEW and will have similar benefits to other sports executives. “At the end of the day a lot of people are doing office jobs so a lot of wrestlers are gonna end up with healthcare out of this.”

    As for the talk of ‘equal pay for men and women’ in AEW, Khan said it’s entirely based on performance and merit, but the ‘base pay’ is the same for everyone. From there, it’s up to the talent to perform. If certain people draw more money for the company, they will get paid more. But it will be an even playing field for everyone no matter their gender.

    You can listen to Tony Khan’s appearance on X-Pac 12360 below:

  • Tony Khan Talks About His Vision For AEW, Producing Weekly Content, Goldberg

    Tony Khan Talks About His Vision For AEW, Producing Weekly Content, Goldberg

    All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan was Sean Waltman’s guest on Wednesday’s edition of the X-Pac 12360 podcast. Khan spoke about a wide range of topics during the interview, including rumors that Bill Goldberg joining AEW, the prospect of partnering with other promotions, his vision for All Elite Wrestling and much more.

    Tony Khan’s Vision For All Elite Wrestling

    “I want to grow this into being something that the wrestling community will embrace… From top to bottom, beginning to end, every show we’re going to give you things we think you’re gonna enjoy and I don’t want to give you anything unless there’s a reason. Where it’s gonna be important later where you saw it, I don’t want to give you anything that you’re not going to enjoy now. If that makes sense… I think what we have, is we have a group of people with so much talent and so much wrestling know-how that I think we’re going to be able to generate a wrestling show that’s not just build with great work and awesome promos but spontaneity and a live show that really feels like a live show like ’ooh anything can happen’… I am excited about what we’re going to do.”

    The Importance of Wins and Losses in Wrestling

    Over the years, many fans have bemoaned the concept of “50/50” booking, a concept where everybody wins and loses against everyone else and nobody gets ahead. At the Double or Nothing press conference, Cody Rhodes referenced the importance of wins and losses in pro wrestling. Tony Khan agrees that it’s crucial for pro wrestling to be presented as athletic competition with consequential matches.

    “[Wrestling] hasn’t been taken seriously as the true athletic competition it is, in other sports wins and losses matter and I feel like wins and losses are a huge part of the equation. I really want a win and a loss to be taken seriously and the win/loss component should be a huge part of the competition to build up to the championship. Something we will take very very seriously. In my background in sports, I am huge believer in statistics and I think that’s one area where in wrestling we’ve seen some cool stuff get over…To me I think there’s real opportunities to do some interesting things just in terms of building up athletes the way UFC has as legitimate competition.”

    Challenges AEW Will Face

    When asked about what challenges lie ahead, Tony Khan spoke about the need to produce a compelling product “every week” and deliver something people want to see (and will pay to see) regularly.

    “I think it will be on the company to deliver something that people want to see and I think we have the performers that can deliver that, we have the brainpower within the organization to deliver that,” he said. “So, I think it’s not gonna be easy, everyone has to work really hard but I think that’s the challenge that everybody’s up too.”

    You can listen to Tony Khan’s appearance on X-Pac 12360 below:

  • Chris Jericho Signs With All Elite Wrestling (Video)

    Chris Jericho Signs With All Elite Wrestling (Video)

    The big surprise at the conclusion of Tuesday’s AEW Double or Nothing Rally was the appearance of Chris Jericho. Just as it seemed the event was ending, Fozzy’s hit song Judas hit and out walked Jericho.

    The former IWGP Intercontinental Champion declared that he has arrived in AEW. “I’m not here for the money – I already got the money,” he said. “I am here because I believe in doing something different, I believe in doing something new. It’s what I have always done through my entire career. I am a maverick, I am an outlaw. I am a pariah. I am Chris Jericho, baby.”

    Jericho announced that he’ll be at AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-pay-view, which takes place Saturday, May 25th in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

    He finished, “I’m not here to just change the world. AEW is not here to change the world. We are going to change the whole universe!”

    Several fans on social media noticed that shortly after Jericho showed up at the AEW event, his Superstar profile was moved to the “Alumni” section of WWE.com.

    Chris Jericho has been linked to The Elite’s new promotion with Tony Khan since our exclusive report on the billionaire-backed upstart group back in October. He worked with The Elite extensively throughout 2018, including with a match against Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 12, a surprise appearance at All In and the Alpha vs. Omega match on the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea cruise.

    All Elite Wrestling released this video of Chris Jericho signing his AEW contract alongside AEW President Tony Khan. 

  • AEW Double Or Nothing Rally Recap & Video

    AEW Double Or Nothing Rally Recap & Video

    All Elite Wrestling is holding the AEW Double or Nothing Rally this afternoon from the TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

    Conrad Thompson and Sirius XM NFL Radio host Alex Marvez kicked off the live stream by welcoming everybody and talking about the significance of today’s gathering. The guys spoke about the events that have brought us to this day, including the success of Being The Elite, All In selling out and the grassroots following of this movement.

    Conrad says wrestling history will be made today and teased that AEW will ‘break the Internet’ with what transpires today. Strong hype from Conrad as we’re about to officially kick off the rally.

    After some technical difficulties, the rally kicks off with a nice pyro display and Conrad Thompson and Alex Marvez on stage behind the podium. Conrad hypes an introduces SoCal Uncensored. Scorpio Sky plays to the Jacksonville crowd and says he doesn’t feel this is the worst town they’ve ever been in. Christopher Daniels shows off SCU’s Jacksonville t-shirt before getting to business. He says there’s been a lot of speculation about SCU’s future, but they’re now officially part of the All Elite Wrestling roster. We now have Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders on stage. Kazarian spoke for a second before the music hit and SCU left with the cheerleaders.

    Conrad and Alex welcomed All Elite Wrestling’s Executive Vice President, Cody Rhodes. Pyro goes off and the fans chant “Thank you Cody.” Cody says he was standing in the ring at All In surrounded by the fans and he knew right then and there, they need to keep that passion going. The Elite has a saying: Change The World. To do that, sometimes you need to change the world you live in. All he’s ever known is professional wrestling. Long ago, his mentor taught him that compared to sports stars and professional entertainers, pro wrestlers are always the least paid. At All Elite Wrestling, they’re going to change that. “We’re going to change the wrestling economy.” Happy wrestlers means happy fans and the fans come first.

    Cody says in All Elite Wrestling, wins and losses will matter like they’ve never mattered before. Cody acknowledges the rowdy fans and says he’s not going to coach the fans on how to act. He’s surrounded by a great team and he introduces The Young Bucks.

    Fans chant “Thank you, Young Bucks” as Matt Jackson says, “This is unreal.” Matt said a few months ago, they achieved their goal of putting 10,000 fans in an arena for All In. They broke all the rules of how to put on a pro wrestling show. They were eventually approached by the Khan family, who asked them, “Do you guys really want to change the world?” They said, “We can help.” A promotion that welcomes all elite talent. They don’t care about race or gender or sexual orientation. Their doors are open to all. Matt announces All Elite Wrestling has partnered with Chinese wrestling group oWe wrestling and promises the fans will love these guys.

    They have another big announcement to make. Double or Nothing takes place on May 25th, 2019 from Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

    Out next is Chief Brand Officer Brandi Runnels. Brandi says AEW will absolutely have a women’s division, but that’s not all. They want to be a strong women’s division with the best female wrestlers in the entire world. To accomplish that, a lot of work needs to be done. Brandi announces the women of All Elite Wrestling will be paid equally to the men. Brandi says she’s traveled the world and has come across tremendous female talent, but AEW didn’t have to look far to find their first female signing. Brandi introduces All In competitor, Dr. Britt Baker, who said she’s excited to be part of AEW.

    Conrad Thompson is out next and he’s interrupted by MJF, Maxwell J. Friedman. MJF trash talked Conrad and cut a heel promo talking about Jacksonville being a dump of a town and being better than everyone in the crowd. While MJF was arguing with the Jacksonville Jaguars mascot, he was attacked by Joey Janela, who was accompanied by Penlope Ford.  Janela said in 2019, he’s All Elite and shot t-shirts into the crowd.

    Alex Marvez announces over 100,000 people are live streaming this rally across various outlets on social media, which is pretty wild. Conrad introduces Cody Rhodes’ favorite wrestler, the man they call the future of the business, Adam “Hangman” Page. Hangman says he looks at today as his first day on the job. He doesn’t have any corporate overlords controlling him like a puppet and telling him what to say. The fans are his boss and for that reason, he’ll work harder for them than he ever has before. Page says that he intends to be the first-ever All Elite Wrestling Champion. He is interrupted by .. PAC! The two had a staredown and Hangman said he accepts a challenge from PAC.

    Conrad introduces Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks once again. Cody says they have another announcement. Their second show will be taking place in Jacksonville, Florida. Not only will it be taking place in Jacksonville, but a large portion of the gate will be going to benefit victims of gun violence. We’re about to go off the air until … wait a minute, it’s .. Chris Jericho! Jerichos says he’s not here for the money. He believes in doing something different, something new. He’s a maverick, he’s an outlaw, he’s a pariah – he’s Chris Jericho, baybay. Chris Jericho says this is the day that AEW begins. He will be there on May 25th in Las Vegas and you better be too. Jericho says AEW is here to change everything as pyro goes off in the background above the stadium.

    AEW Double Or Nothing Rally Stream

  • AEW Double Or Nothing Rally: What To Expect, How To Stream

    AEW Double Or Nothing Rally: What To Expect, How To Stream

    All Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing rally takes place later today at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Starting at 5pm ET. AEW executives were in Jacksonville on Monday afternoon scouting out the location. AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes tweeted these photos of himself with AEW President Tony Khan and his wife, AEW Chief Brand Officer Brandi Runnels.

    On Monday, it was revealed that Being The Elite regulars Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky have signed with All Elite Wrestling. The SoCal Uncensored trio confirmed on Twitter they are headed to Jacksonville for the Double or Nothing Rally.

    What To Expect

    At the very least, we should get some concrete information regarding the date and location of All Elite Wrestling’s inaugural event, Double or Nothing. The most prominent rumor is that Double or Nothing is headed to Las Vegas during Memorial Day Weekend (late May), but that is simply a rumor at this time.

    AEW is hyping, “attendees can expect the unexpected as the rally will showcase the true spirit of wrestling entrepreneurialism and feature special guests, inside info and limited edition merchandise.” Fans are already speculating about what sort of guests will be showing up. One man who can be ruled out is Kenny Omega, who remains under contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling through the end of the month. Omega has announced he is leaving New Japan and considering jumping to AEW or WWE.

    Signing the Best Bout Machine would be a tremendous coup for All Elite. That said, we don’t know if Omega has decided his next move. Even if he is leaning towards joining AEW, he would need the blessing of New Japan to appear at the rally.

    SEScoops will be covering the Double or Nothing Rally this afternoon. Check back later for our coverage. 

  • Big Hint About Kenny Omega’s Future On Being The Elite (Ep. 133)

    Big Hint About Kenny Omega’s Future On Being The Elite (Ep. 133)

    The latest episode of The Elite’s Being The Elite Youtube series features footage from Marty Scurll’s New Years Day Party, footage of the guys signing their AEW contracts, backstage footage from NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 and more.

    In true Being the Elite fashion, the show is chock full of zany moments. However, it’s not all insider references and “size” jokes. About 16 minutes in, The Elite crew is hanging backstage at the Tokyo Dome after their losses at Wrestle Kingdom. Matt Jackson mentions this might be the last time that they’re all together for a long time, since he, brother Nick, Cody and Hangman Page are about to venture out with All Elite Wrestling. This reality was lost on Marty Scurll, who apparently didn’t watch the previous episode of BTE and hadn’t heard about AEW. They hugged it out and before taking off, Kenny Omega mentioned to Marty that he lost his phone. No big deal, right? Wrong.

    At the conclusion of the episode, the standard outro video package is interrupted and we’re back outside the Tokyo Dome, where AEW and Double or Nothing were revealed last week. Dramatic music played in the background as the camera panned around a few corners. The camera eventually revealed a lost cell phone, presumably Kenny Omega’s. With Omega’s phone in frame, we hear the familiar “clock ticking” sound, which played for months on BTE up until the big reveal of AEW.

    This tease regarding Omega’s future comes just hours after news broke that he is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. He told Tokyo Sports that he’s considering wrestling for WWE or AEW in 2019. It seems unusual that The Elite would start teasing Kenny Omega for AEW if they didn’t have an agreement in place, but perhaps we’ll find out at Tuesday’s AEW Double or Nothing Rally.

    Being The Elite (Ep. 133): “After Wrestle Kingdom”

  • Juice Robinson Signs Multi-Year Deal With NJPW

    Juice Robinson Signs Multi-Year Deal With NJPW

    Juice Robinson has signed a new multi-year contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, it’s a 3-year contract that would keep him with the promotion through the end of 2021.

    The 29-year-old Robinson has been with New Japan since 2015. Prior to his run in Japan, Robinson wrestled for WWE’s NXT brand (2012-2015) as the hippie character CJ Parker. WWE was reportedly interested in re-signing him, but the preliminary ‘feelers’ never led to a formal offer being made.

    Juice Robinson defeated Cody Rhodes at Friday’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 pay-per-view to reclaim the IWGP United States Championship. He also wrestles for Ring of Honor as part of ROH’s working relationship with NJPW. This coming Sunday, he’ll be competing at ROH’s Honor Reigns Supreme event, which streams live at FITE.TV. Robinson and David Finlay will team up against the Best Friends (Trent Barreta and Chuck Taylor).

    This is a great signing for NJPW and a smart career move for Robinson. With the departures of Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, KUSHIDA and possibly Kenny Omega, he’s got a chance to fill that void and continue proving himself as one of the top stars on the New Japan roster.

    Below, you can check out video of Juice Robinson at the WK13 post-show press conference celebrating his title win. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-LtJBcyHOI

  • WWE RAW Preview (1/7): Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Brock Lesnar & More

    WWE RAW Preview (1/7): Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Brock Lesnar & More

    With the holidays behind us, Monday Night Raw is back for the first live episode of 2019. After two weeks of taped shows (each drawing under 2 million viewers), WWE is stacking the deck with big returns from part-time Superstars and Hal of Famers.

    The following items are advertised for tonight when Raw invades the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida:

    – Hulk Hogan returns to celebrate the life of the legendary “Mean” Gene Okerlund, who passed away last week. It’s rumored that Ric Flair will also be in attendance to pay tribute to Okerlund.

    – WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar will make a rare television appearance. Lesnar will clash with Braun Strowman later this month at the Royal Rumble.

    – John Cena returns to Raw. Cena appeared on last week’s SmackDown Live and teamed up with “The Man” Becky Lynch in mixed tag team action.

    – Alexa Bliss’ new talk show segment “A Moment of Bliss” debuts.

    – The Revival will challenge Bobby Roode and Chad Gable for the Raw Tag Team Championships in a Lumberjack Match.

    Plus, Elias will take on Baron Corbin in singles action.

    Join us here later tonight for our weekly WWE RAW Results & Live Coverage.

  • Impact Wrestling Homecoming: Final Card, How To Stream

    Impact Wrestling Homecoming: Final Card, How To Stream

    Impact Wrestling returns to pay-per-view tonight with Homecoming, live from The Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit FITE.TV to purchase and stream the show for just $39.99. We are running a promotion with FITE.TV where fans can enter a chance to stream Impact Wrestling: Homecoming for free – click here for details.

    Here is the final card for Impact Wrestling Homecoming:

    • Impact World Champion Champion Johnny Impact vs. Brian Cage
    • Impact Tag Team Champions LAX vs Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix
    • Ultimate X for the Vacant X Division Championship: Jake Crist vs. Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann vs. Trey Miguel
    • Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie
    • Monster’s Ball: Eli Drake vs Abyss
    • Falls Count Anywhere: Moose vs. Eddie Edwards
    • Sami Callihan vs. Willie Mack
    • Allie and Su Yung vs. Kiera Hogan and Jordynne Grace

    Ahead of tonight’s Homecoming PPV, Impact Wrestling has released the video package that will kick off the broadcast.

    https://youtu.be/rzyc98K-e00

  • Cody Rhodes Undergoing Knee Surgery, Talks NJPW-WWE

    Cody Rhodes Undergoing Knee Surgery, Talks NJPW-WWE

    All Elite Wrestling executive Cody Rhodes held a Q&A session on Twitter over the weekend. After losing the IWGP United States Championship to Juice Robinson at Friday’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 PPV, Cody answered some fan questions before arriving back in the United States for Tuesday’s AEW Double or Nothing rally in Jacksonville, FL.

    Cody revealed that his knee is “shot” and shouldn’t even be walking on it, let alone wrestling. He is currently dealing with multiple meniscus tears, but will be getting ‘scoped’ after the AEW rally and expects to make a full recovery.

    At Tuesday’s Double or Nothing Rally, AEW will provide details about All Elite’s inaugural live event. When asked if All Elite Wrestling plans to hold shows at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Cody said they hope to answer as many fan questions as possible at the rally.

    A fan asked Cody how he could apply to be a member of a wrestling promotion’s creative writing team. Cody encouraged the fan to send their work to the company that’s hiring.

    When asked about his favorite company and era in pro wrestling, Cody named WCW 1984-1994. Finally, Cody got into it with a contentious fan who claims New Japan “doesn’t matter” because their top shows don’t draw well. The fan said they would laugh their ass off when the Royal Rumble draws more fans than Wrestle Kingdom did over the weekend. Wrestle Kingdom drew around 38,000 fans. Cody replied:

  • NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 Final Card & Predictions

    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 Final Card & Predictions

    This Friday, New Japan Pro Wrestling presents Wrestle Kingdom 13 live from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. This is the biggest show of the year for NJPW and features the culmination of several big feuds. Wrestle Kingdom is regularly one of the best pro wrestling shows of the year and the 13th installment should be no exception.

    Visit FITE.TV for details on how you can watch NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13.

    Our own Jake Jeremy, Ian Carey and Andrew Ravens will be running down the card below and giving their picks for who we think will be victorious in each match. Of course

    Gauntlet Match to determine #1 Contenders to the NEVER Six-Man Championships

    Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Togi Makabe vs. David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata vs. Best Friends and Hirooki Goto vs. Killer Elite Squad and Minoru Suzuki vs. Marty Scurll, Adam Page, and Yujiro Takahashi

    Jake Jeremy: (Prediction: David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata)

    Ian Carey: The amount of talent in what is essentially a throw-away match here is pretty amazing. Ultimately, I’m selecting the team of Finlay, Cobb, and Yuji Nagata. The winning team will meet Bullet Club for the titles and I’m expecting NJPW to start things off with a team of true babyfaces winning. (Prediction: David Finlay, Jeff Cobb, Yuji Nagata)

    Andrew Ravens: For me, this is a real pick em as any team could get it done. I’ll take David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata to go over in a fun, exciting, and spot fest match that is sure to get the fans pumped for the rest of the card. (Prediction: David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata)

    Consensus: David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata

    IWGP NEVER Openweight Champion Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay

    Jake: What a way to start the card, this NEVER Openweight Championship match could be the show stealer and potentially the match of the year…we’re only 4 days in at this point. This is actually a difficult match to assess, it was clear earlier in the year that Ospreay was being slated for a NEVER title win before his recent injury. In an ideal world Ospreay would’ve gotten the belt instead of Goto and faced Ibushi as Champion in the Dome. With Ibushi now already Champion I could see him retaining, he could be the poster boy for the NEVER division going forward. (Prediction: Kota Ibushi)

    Ian: Will Ospreay is the man NJPW wants this title on. As much as everyone loves Ibushi, he’s not going to sign a contract and hence NJPW is hesitant to put, or in this case keep, titles on him. Ospreay, on the other hand, is someone NJPW is committed to elevating. (Prediction: Will Ospreay)

    Andrew: I believe that this will be the match of the night as it has all of the ingredients to be. The fact that it will go on early in the night means that they will be a hard act to follow if given the right amount of time. I have Ospreay going over to win the title that way it allows Ibushi to go onto a bigger feud that will likely be with Kenny Omega. (Prediction: Will Ospreay)

    Consensus: Will Ospreay

    IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. Roppongi 3K vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi

    Jake: Again another difficult match to predict, the tag champs Kanemaru and Desperado did not have a stellar World Tag League and the Junior tag belts aren’t as prestigious as they have been years prior. Having The Bucks move up to heavyweight hasn’t helped matters either. I’m giving the win to Roppongi 3K here, I can see the young team being pushed as the next generation of the Juniors scene. (Prediction: Roppongi 3K)

    Ian: I feel like we just saw this match…probably because we just saw this match. The Suzuki-Gun team will drop the belts here, the only question is which team will take them. It feels as though NJPW will go with Bushi and Takagi here but Roppongi 3K could also win. (Prediction: BUSHI and Shingo Takagi)

    Andrew: Suzuki-gun has had one heck of a reign as champs and carried those titles well but it’s time for a change. I actually see BUSHI and Shingo Takagi going over with a feud being built over the new few months with Roppongi 3K eventually getting the titles down the line. (Prediction: BUSHI and Shingo Takagi)

    Consensus: BUSI and Shingo Takagi

    RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

    Jake: This is my dark horse match of the night. Both men are severely underrated when it comes to the international scene. Ishii could be regarded as one of the best of the modern era, his longevity and penchant for stellar performances make him a revered performer for Japanese wrestling fans. ZSJ is also hitting a fantastic stride, although his breakout this year has been in his promo abilities. Sabre Jr has been goading and taunting several of New Japan’s elite and now he gets the chance to dethrone the Rev Pro British Champion, a title that has real prominence in the UK scene. I’m going with a ZSJ win here. (Prediction: Zack Sabre Jr.)

    Ian: Zack Sabre Jr. feels like someone who NJPW is going to elevate even further in 2019. He won the New Japan Cup in 2018 and having him win back the Rev Pro title here would only further establish him as one of the top stars internationally and a top star in NJPW. Ishii is a popular and respected wrestler but it doesn’t feel as though NJPW is interested in pushing him past his current position. (Prediction: Zack Sabre Jr.)

    Andrew: I look forward to seeing this match and it’s a nice change to have RevPro be represented on this show instead of ROH. These two guys will bring their A-game and although it would be a cool moment to see Sabre Jr. get the title, I think they keep it on Ishi. (Prediction: Tomohiro Ishii)

    Consensus: Zack Sabre Jr.

    IWGP Tag Team Title Champions Guerrillas of Destiny vs. The Young Bucks vs. EVIL and SANADA

    Jake: Speaking of feeling on top of the world, The Young Bucks must be right up there with Cody. This match is an interesting one, we just had an entire month of the World Tag League to determine the number 1 contenders…yet the Bucks just seemingly inserted themselves after Los Ingobernables won the thing. In terms of interest this is right at the bottom of my list, but I see Tonga and Loa actually retaining here. (Prediction: Guerillas of Destiny)

    Ian: This is a must win match for the Guerillas of Destiny. They’ve lost to Evil and Sanada two years in a row in the World Tag League (though they beat them in the round-robin this year). Another loss to Evil and Sanada would be quite the blow. I’m not expecting the Young Bucks to leave Tokyo with any titles, so it really comes down to LIJ or Bullet Club here. My Haku fandom won’t let me pick against the Tongans. (Prediction: Guerillas of Destiny)

    Andrew: Obviously, you can count out the Bucks in this match to win the titles so it leaves two teams. It’s a safe bet to say that out of any of the matches featured on this card, this title changes hands the most out of any other championship that NJPW presents. (Prediction: EVIL and SANADA)

    Consensus: Guerillas of Destiny

    IWGP United States Champion Cody vs. Juice Robinson

    Jake: Cody Rhodes must be on top of the world right now. The new EVP of his own company, the wrestling world at his feet? Who wouldn’t be? With that in mind it is time to pull the trigger on Juice, he has already been US Champ but his babyface who doesn’t quite get there routine needs to be shelved…he has the opportunity and skill to be a big player for New Japan and with the uncertainty of AEW and the international scene in general New Japan need to start building new stars. Interestingly this is a rematch from Cody’s first WK match, a bout that saw the ‘American Nightmare’ welcomed into New Japan with a bit of a whimper…I’m hoping that they both can surprise me and deliver a great match on the night. (Prediction: Juice Robinson)

    Ian: This is type of storytelling you get in NJPW that you don’t get in promotions from outside Japan much. The idea is Juice Robinson is getting better as a wrestler. He’s lost to Cody twice, once at Wrestle Kingdom 11 and the other time for the IWGP United States Championship. It’s been established to the fans that Juice isn’t quite as good as Cody… yet. Then, provided Juice wins this match, it’ll show fans that Juice has improved so much that he is now beating people who used to beat him. This means fans can look forward to title shots, better performances in tournaments and the like. 2019 will be a big year for Juice Robinson and it starts here. (Prediction: Juice Robinson)

    Andrew: This appears to be the easiest pick of the night as Cody’s future has already been well established with AEW. Robinson has reinvented himself while in NJPW and is the right man to not only take the title from Cody but also be the face to hold this title while representing NJPW in the states. (Prediction: Juice Robinson)

    Consensus: Juice Robinson

    IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA vs. Taiji Ishimori

    Jake: I’m going out on a limb here…this will be one of KUSHIDA’s last matches in a New Japan, for the moment anyway. There were rumblings that KUSHIDA was wanted over in the United States with WWE and I actually believe that he should go, he has the charm and likability to do well in NXT. Whether this could translate to the bigger stage of the main roster is anyone’s guess but he should take the chance if it is there. Ishimori also deserves to win the big one after his renewed run in Bullet Club, he’s thrived in the new role and had an excellent run in the Best of The Super Juniors earlier this year. Taiji Ishimori to win the belt here. (Prediction: Taiji Ishimori)

    Ian: There are rumors that KUSHIDA and WWE have been speaking. Should that be the case it seems likely that Taiji Ishimori will win here. Also, Don Callis will be on commentary and Ishimori is the only wrestler on Wrestle Kingdom that Callis has under contract with Impact Wrestling. This match will take place 2 days before Impact Wrestling’s Homecoming PPV. Smart money says Callis finds a way to mention that fact during this match. (Prediction: Taiji Ishimori)

    Andrew: I think this is a case where this show typically has a ton of title changes and this match falls right into that model. Although KUSHIDA hasn’t had a long title reign, it would add further to this story if he had something to chase. (Prediction: Taiji Ishimori)

    Consensus: Taiji Ishimori 

    Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White

    Jake: I actually love what New Japan has done with Okada since he lost the match against Kenny Omega. Giving the ‘Rainmaker’ balloons and having him ‘go off the rails’ somewhat has lead to a fairly directionless year for the ‘current’ ace of NJPW, but that is the perfect story to tell. With Jay White defecting from CHAOS and joining Bullet Club you have the evolution of New Japan’s newest and deadliest heel. White told Okada from the very start that he was gunning for him, even when he joined CHAOS…and it’s come to fruition. Jay White should win this bout, Okada doesn’t need to. (Prediction: Jay White)

    Ian: It feels as though babyfaces should win the last 3 matches, which is perhaps a reason to think they might shake things up a bit with White going over here. It’s no secret that NJPW sees a bright future in Jay White. They had White beat both Tanahashi and Okada in the G1 which likely allows them to have Okada beat White here but that doesn’t mean they will go that route. I think NJPW continues their push of White and gives him the win here. (Prediction: Jay White, but I’m not that confident about my pick, however)

    Andrew: As much as White has done a great job to get to where he is today, Okada has been and will likely be the face of the promotion for years to come. White will put up one heck of a fight and likely dominate the match but Okada gets it done in the end. (Prediction: Kazuchika Okada)

    Consensus: Jay White

    IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito (No Disqualification)

    Jake: This needs to be an all out brawl and won’t be a technical masterclass…no detriment to the performers at all. This bout was recently announced as being No DQ, giving both the opportunity to add some character and bring a different dimension to the card, which is stacked up to the gills with in-ring style already. Naito needs to win the belt here, with Jericho quite happy to drift in and out of short term deals it would be fitting for him to bring his NJPW run to an end at the Dome. (Prediction: Tetsuya Naito)

    Ian: There shouldn’t be any surprises here. Tetsuya Naito will avenge his loss to Jericho from earlier in the year and win back the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. What, if anything, is next for Jericho in NJPW is something we might not know for a few months still. Expect a brawl as this match has just been made a NO DQ match. (Prediction: Tetsuya Naito)

    Andrew: This might be the second easiest pick of the card as Naito not only gets his revenge on Jericho but also reclaims his title. You can never count out a surprise from Jericho and they could delay a title change but if they are going for the biggest impact of a title change, this show is better suited for it. Prediction: (Tetsuya Naito wins.)

    Consensus: Tetsuya Naito

    IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

    Jake: This is the definition of old guard versus new. We’ve all seen the back and forth between the two and rumors that certain NJPW stars aren’t happy with the ‘westernization’ of New Japan, well this match solidifies the two schools of thought. Omega, the young and dynamic de-facto leader of the new generation has brought further interest from North America, especially through his match last year against Chris Jericho. Tanahashi IS New Japan, the veteran has been producing some of the finest in-ring work of his career over the past year including a show-stealing match against Kota Ibushi in the G1 Climax final. It is very difficult to judge how this one goes, does Tana get one last run with the IWGP Heavyweight title? Or will Omega extend his run into 2019 and try to help establish NJPW further into the Western territories? Tanahashi could of course still be promoted in the States and Europe with a legacy run, but Omega is the face of the company right now. Annoyingly Omega’s run thus far as Champion hasn’t actually been met with critical acclaim, a difficult feat when you consider that Okada’s run prior saw some of the best matches in New Japan history take place. For me Tanahashi should get one final run on top, the Ace returning to the top of the mountain. (Prediction: Hiroshi Tanahashi)

    Ian: Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend the honor of traditional New Japan style pro-wrestling. After all, that is the theme to Wrestle Kingdom this year. Omega’s loss in the main event will also complete a night of losses for the Elite, similar to what occured at Final Battle. As soon as Wrestle Kingdom is over, we might start to get some answers regarding the Elite’s future in NJPW. (Prediction: Hiroshi Tanahashi)

    Andrew: The out come of this match will tell a lot regarding Omega’s future in the promotion. Clearly, NJPW officials see him as the future of the promotion but depending on his decision to stay or go will likely be revealed in the outcome of this match. I think Omega goes to AEW and thus, Tanahashi wins the strap here. (Prediction: Hiroshi Tanahashi)

    Consensus: Hiroshi Tanahashi

    There you have it. Check back Friday for our complete results of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 13!

  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. Signs With MLW, “Hart Foundation” Trademark Filed

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. Signs With MLW, “Hart Foundation” Trademark Filed

    Second generation wrestler Davey Boy Smith Jr. has signed a multi-year deal with Major League Wrestling (MLW). The agreement allows for the Bulldog to continue working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he’s a 3-time IWGP Tag Team Champion.

    In a press release, league CEO Court Bauer called Smith a special talent. “He’s been a part of MLW dating back to when he was just 18 and I know I speak for fans and the league when I say we’re very excited to see what the big guy does in 2019 and beyond.”

    Over the past year, Smith has been aligned with Teddy Hart and Brian Pillman Jr. as part of the Hart Foundation faction. Both Hart and Pillman signed with MLW in recent months, an indication the Hart Foundation will be a force to reckon with in 2019.

    The Hart Foundation

    Speaking of the Hart Foundation, MLW filed a trademark on the name back on December 19th, 2018. That trademark was previously held by WWE, but was canceled in May of 1999, the week of Owen Hart’s tragic death.

    There have been many incarnations of the Hart Foundation over the years. The name was first used by 2-time WWE tag team champions Bret Hart and the late Jim Neidhart. During the Attitude Era, the Hart Foundation was a faction comprised of Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith Sr. and Brian Pillman Sr. Other wrestlers affiliated with other incarnations include Jack Evans, Natalya Neidhart and husband Tyson Kidd.

    Back to MLW, Teddy Hart and Brian Pillman Jr. recently launched a new web series, H2tv. The first two episodes are at MLW’s YouTube channel. The third episode will be released tonight (1/3) at 8:15pm EST. You can catch the first two episodes below, each are about 2 minutes.

    Davey Boy Smith Jr. signing with MLW bolsters their roster and is the latest development in the rapidly-evolving free-agent scene.

  • Roman Reigns Health Update From Seth Rollins (Video)

    Roman Reigns Health Update From Seth Rollins (Video)

    Seth Rollins has provided an encouraging update on the health of former Shield partner Roman Reigns. Rollins spoke with Detroit’s FOX 2 news last week to promote last Friday’s WWE Raw taping, which aired this past Monday night (New Year’s Eve).

    Rollins spoke about a wide variety of topics, including WWE’s upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view, feeling good about what he accomplished in 2018 and more. Midway through the interview, the host brought out a young fan named Nolan, who was one the son of one of the show’s directors. Nolan showed off a replica WWE Championship belt that Rollins signed and asked how long it would take for him to become a WWE Superstar one day. Nolan is only 11 years old, so Rollins encouraged him to stay in school and get an education before pursuing pro wrestling.

    Nolan then asked about the health of Roman Reigns, who is currently battling a recurrence of leukemia. “Roman is doing great,” said Rollins. “He obviously spent the holidays home with his family and he’s doing really good. He’s in a good position. He’s primed to make a comeback, hopefully sometime sooner rather than later.”

    Rollins continued, “At the end of the day, he’s just focusing on getting healthy right now. But I will say that he’s doing good, he’s in good spirits.”

    You can see video of Seth Rollins’ interview at Fox2Detroit.com.

  • All Elite Wrestling’s First Signings, Goldust Congratulates Cody & More

    All Elite Wrestling’s First Signings, Goldust Congratulates Cody & More

    The All Elite Wrestling news continues to roll in. On Tuesday night, Cody Rhodes issued a statement regarding the new venture. Dustin Rhodes, Cody’s older brother, congratulated him on following in their father’s footsteps.

    WWE Superstar Xavier Woods also wished the Young Bucks good luck with All Elite Wrestling. New Day and the Young Bucks have long talked about working together one day. With the formation of All Elite Wrestling, this dream match is more likely to take place in AEW than WWE.

    Finally, the official Twitter account of All Elite Wrestling posted a photo of what appears to be Cody and Brandi Rhodes Rhodes, The Young Bucks and Hangman Page signing their AEW contracts. Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks joked that he and Nick were free agents for about 12 hours, confirming Dave Meltzer’s report that the Bucks were unsigned when the AEW announcement was made at midnight on New Year’s day.

    https://twitter.com/MattJackson13/status/1080430937953906688

  • Update On All Elite Wrestling Contracts, Starrcast Returning, Tony Khan & More

    Update On All Elite Wrestling Contracts, Starrcast Returning, Tony Khan & More

    Happy New Year once again to everyone, it’s been a hectic day with the early morning announcements from The Elite regarding All Elite Wrestling and the company’s first big show, Double or Nothing. Be sure to check out our AEW News page for all the latest information regarding the upstart promotion.  Here are the latest details about All Elite:

    – Somewhat lost in the shuffle of today’s news was a clue about the return of Starrcast, the wrestling convention presented by Conrad Thompson during All In weekend. Next Tuesday, The Elite is holding a Double or Nothing rally in Jacksonville, Florida. The poster promoting the rally features the logos of Starrast, a strong indication that the convention will be returning for Double or Nothing weekend. We reached out to Conrad Thompson to get a comment on the return of Starrcast and he simply said “Stay tuned.”

    – Sean Radican over at Pro Wrestling Torch had some exclusive details regarding talent contracts for All Elite. According to Radican, AEW has signed several independent wrestlers to “holding deals” that will convert to full deals once the promotion secures a TV deal. The contracts are said to be quite lucrative, with the floor being “a good six figure deal.”

    – Radican also confirmed that B.J. Whitmer will be working behind the scenes at AEW. Whitmer recently left Ring of Honor (having worked there in a similar capacity) and tweeted out the AEW logo earlier today.

    – Finally, Pro Wrestling Tees has launched the the official merchandise store of AEW. You can see the first AEW merch below:

  • All Elite Wrestling Roster, TV Deals In The Works, More News

    All Elite Wrestling Roster, TV Deals In The Works, More News

    After our world exclusive report back in October and months of clues and speculation, Upstart promotion All Elite Wrestling is now official. Shortly after the initial announcements were made at midnight on New Year’s Eve, Dave Meltzer of F4wonline checked in from Tokyo with some exclusive new details about who is signed and the status of AEW negotiating a television deal.

    – All Elite Wrestling has already signed several performers to multi-year contracts. Cody Rhodes (and presumably his wife Brandi) are signed. As of midnight on New Year’s Eve, The Young Bucks had not signed on, but Meltzer speculated they are expected to be locked in imminently.

    – Tony Khan is the head of the company. Khan is the son of billionaire Shad Khan, a co-owner of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars and Premier League’s Fulham F.C.

    (Note: As we reported back in October, agent Barry Bloom, Jim Ross and Chris Jericho have also been instrumental in getting this project off the ground. Barry Bloom, in particular, has made multiple trips to Japan in recent months – more on that below.)

    – Chris Jericho is “on the radar” of All Elite Wrestling (to say the least), but is not under contract.

    – All Elite Wrestling currently has multiple television deals under consideration, but nothing is signed. All In back in September got the attention of major players in the television industry, who were very impressed with overall production. The success of All In was the “difference maker” that sold everyone on this project’s viability.

    – All Elite Wrestling is now in direct competition with Ring of Honor. The two companies are already competing for talent. ROH recently signed Bandito, who was part of the main event of All In and part of AEW’s early roster planning.

    – Ring of Honor’s partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling is now less secure, due to The Elite’s affiliation with NJPW. With the departure of The Elite, Ring of Honor has been rebuilding their roster in an effort to regroup that huge loss. In addition to Bandito, the company has recently signed PCO, Brody King and Mark Haskins.

    – It’s a good time to be an independent wrestler. With WWE, NJPW, AEW, ROH MLW and Impact all competing for talent, the market value for unsigned free agents is skyrocketing.

    We’ve heard that WWE is looking to continue their signing spree and is prepared to offer ‘much higher than usual’ money to the remaining free agents out there. Guys like Kenny Omega (free agent later this month), PAC, Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix are very well-positioned at this time.

    Visit our All Elite Wrestling news page for the very latest on AEW.

  • AEW: Double Or Nothing Details, Rally Scheduled For Tuesday

    AEW: Double Or Nothing Details, Rally Scheduled For Tuesday

    As you probably know by now, The Elite’s major New Year’s announcement was the official formation of All Elite Wrestling. Details surrounding the new group will be covered here at SEScoops extensively in the coming days, but let’s start with the news of AEW’s first event.

    The first live wrestling show under the AEW banner will be titled, Double or Nothing. “Double or Nothing” is a gambling term referencing the act of doubling down on initial success with the risk of going for broke. The Double or Nothing name is a nod to the wildly successful All In show, which was the genesis of this All Elite Wrestling venture. It’s also a reference to where the show might be taking place.

    We learned exclusively back in October that The Elite was scouting locations for Double or Nothing. The group considered a couple locations on the West Coast before settling on Las Vegas. For what it’s worth, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is one of the venues followed by the official All Elite Wrestling Twitter account.

    It has been rumored that AEW: Double or Nothing will be held during a holiday weekend, with Memorial Day weekend at the end of May being the logical timeframe. However, we have not been able to confirm this independently.

    Shortly after the All Elite Wrestling announcement, it was revealed that The Elite will be holding a Double or Nothing Rally this coming Tuesday, January 8th at the TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The rally, which is free for all fans, will feature a “special announcement” by The Elite.

    Coincidentally, Tuesday night’s WWE SmackDown Live will be taking place less than a mile away at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

    Stay tuned to SEScoops.com for more on this blockbuster developing story.

  • The Elite’s Big Announcement Coming At Midnight PST

    The Elite’s Big Announcement Coming At Midnight PST

    Update: ALL ELITE WRESTLING is officially announced.

    Previously: The Elite is set to make a major announcement in a matter of hours. What do Cody, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and the rest of the gang have in store for us in 2019? After months of hints and an ambitious campaign to #ChangeTheWorld, a new episode of Being The Elite should set the record straight once and for all.

    Fans on social media have been wondering exactly when to expect this big announcement. Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks clarified that the “very special” episode of Being The Elite drops January 1st, 2019 at Midnight PST / 3AM EST.

    https://twitter.com/MattJackson13/status/1079898649365078017

    We hope to get an article up soon after the new episode of Being The Elite is released. The Elite has vowed to stick together in 2019, wherever that may take them. Cody and The Young Bucks have finished up with Ring of Honor and will be featured prominently at Friday’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 pay-per-view from Tokyo.

    Whether it’s the official announcement of All Elite Wrestling, another All In event or something else entirely, The Elite has once again commanded the attention of wrestling fans worldwide.

    Head over to the Being The Elite Youtube channel and Subscribe if you don’t already. 

  • Cody Shows Off Jacksonville Jaguars Inspired Belt For Wrestle Kingdom (Photo)

    Cody Shows Off Jacksonville Jaguars Inspired Belt For Wrestle Kingdom (Photo)

    This Friday, New Japan Pro Wrestling presents Wrestle Kingdom 13 live from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The card is stacked, with IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega defending against Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. In addition to Kenny Omega, fellow Elite members Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page and Marty Scurll will all be in action.

    Wrestle Kingdom is the biggest show of the year for New Japan, but it’s no secret there’s something else brewing involving The Elite that could alter the landscape of the entire industry. Of course, we’re talking about All Elite Wrestling, the upstart wrestling promotion involving The Elite and financially backed by the Kahn family, owners of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

    Cody Rhodes will defend the IWGP United States Championship against Juice Robinson at Wrestle Kingdom. One week out from this challenge, Cody posted a photo on Twitter showing off the weight-lifting belt he’ll be wearing at the Tokyo Dome.

    The belt, seen below, is inspired by the Jacksonville Jaguars’ logo and features the words “Won’t Back Down” in teal and gold. For what it’s worth, Cody’s tweet showing off the belt has since been deleted.

    Cody’s Jacksonville Jaguars Inspired Weight Lifting Belt

  • Don Callis: Expect A “Sexier & Edgier” Impact On Pursuit In 2019

    Don Callis: Expect A “Sexier & Edgier” Impact On Pursuit In 2019

    Don Callis, Impact Wrestling Executive Vice President, has commented on Impact moving to the Pursuit Channel next month. On the latest episode of his Killing the Town podcast, Callis put a positive spin on Impact leaving Pop TV and dropped some hints about what to expect from the promotion in 2019.

    “This week we announced our move from Pop TV, which was a great partner for us,” Callis said. “A lot of fans thought, ‘wow, you guys should be on a different network with a different demographic,’ so we announced we’re moving to Pursuit, which is an exciting thing for me. When you talk about how you deal with your content as a company because our parent company, Anthem, owns not only the Fight Network and Game TV, they also own a significant stake in Pursuit, so it’s a great strategic move for us.”

    With a new television home comes yet another adjustment to Impact’s approach to producing content. The Pursuit Channel caters to an audience that is interested in hunting, fishing and the outdoors. With that backdrop, Callis says the product will be “sexier” and edgier.

    “I think people are gonna love to see a sexier, edgier, maybe a little more hardcore Impact Wrestling. I’m really really pumped about that, so I’m pretty excited.”

    You can listen to the Killing the Town podcast over at PodcastOne.

    Impact Wrestling returns to pay-per-view on Sunday, January 6th for Homecoming live from Nashville, TN.

    Impact moves to the Pursuit Channel Friday night, January 11th at 10pm (Eastern). 

  • Impact Wrestling Moves To Pursuit Channel January 11th

    Impact Wrestling Moves To Pursuit Channel January 11th

    Impact Wrestling has announced a new television partner for 2019. Starting on January 11th, Impact will air Friday nights at 10pm ET on the Pursuit Channel. The Pursuit Channel is an outdoors channel (hunting & fishing) that is affiliated with the Fight Network and FNTSY Sport Network, which are both owned by Impact parent company Anthem.

    In a press release sent out Friday morning, Impact Wrestling President Ed Nordholm put a positive spin on the news. “Pursuit Channel is a natural fit for IMPACT! It has a passionate viewership base that correlates strongly with our core audience, and is one of the few broadcast destinations that is expanding its footprint, enjoying a 15% increase in broadcast distribution this year alone.”

    Nordholm continued, “With IMPACT Wrestling coming off a tremendous year of audience growth globally and positive fan engagement, we look forward to leveraging our respective resources to bring fans more of the wrestling content they want to see: tougher, edgier action.”

    There are pros and cons to this move. Several months ago, it was widely reported that Pop TV had soured on Impact Wrestling and was looking to drop the show at the end of the year. Impact was drawing around 300,000 viewers this year through July, when things went south. Impact has not drawn above 200,000 viewers since September and dipped below 100,000 in October when Pop TV moved the show out of prime time.

    Landing another “TV deal” means Impact Wrestling will live on, for now. On the flip side, the Pursuit Channel is an obscure channel co-owned by Impact’s parent company Anthem, so it’s unlikely they will be getting significant TV rights fees, if any. This latest change of network and air date will not do their audience any favors.

  • Cody & Young Bucks Address Finishing Up With ROH

    Cody & Young Bucks Address Finishing Up With ROH

    Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks are one step closer to realizing their next chapter of their careers, whatever that may be. After Friday night’s Final Battle pay-per-view from New York City, The Elite addressed the live crowd (Video) and gave a farewell address. Matt Jackson teased the formation of All Elite Wrestling and told the fans something big is about to go down.

    Cody and The Elite worked Saturday night’s ROH television taping from Philadelphia, PA. You can check out full results from those tapings here. This is most likely their final appearance for ROH before the big announcements start rolling out following NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 13 on January 4th.

    On Sunday morning, Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks tweeted that he’s “leaving the territory.” The Bucks have been working for Ring of Honor on-and-off since 2009.

    https://twitter.com/MattJackson13/status/1074310767070101505

    Cody Rhodes posted a heartfelt message thanking Ring of Honor for providing him “shelter from the storm” 2 years ago after he left WWE. Cody, a former ROH World Heavyweight Champion, called his run with the company a beautiful experience.

    “Thank you to all the fans, Cody wrote. “Thank you to a wonderfully talented locker-room. Thank you to an outstanding crew/production top-to-bottom. Thank you Joe Koff & Greg Gilleland. Thank you ROH, I needed “shelter from the storm” & you gave me a home the past 2 years. Beautiful experience”

  • The Elite Bids Farewell To Ring Of Honor After Final Battle (Video)

    The Elite Bids Farewell To Ring Of Honor After Final Battle (Video)

    Members of The Elite bid farewell to Ring of Honor after the conclusion of Friday night’s Final Battle pay-per-view from New York City.

    The Young Bucks, Cody, Hangman Page and S.C.U. (Christopher Daniels, Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) were all in action on the card. All of them are rumored to be departing Ring of Honor and all of them lost their matches Friday night. You can check out our full breakdown of the Final Battle pay-per-view here. The main event saw the Briscoe Brothers defeat the Young Bucks and S.C.U. in a Ladder War to capture the ROH world tag team championships for the 10th time.

    After the show went off the air, The Elite hit the ring to address the live crowd. Matt Jackson thanked everyone for their support and said the Manhattan Center is their favorite venue to wrestle in. Fans chanted, “January 1st” in reference to The Elite teasing a major announcement regarding their future after the new year.

    Jackson said this was not going to be some emotional farewell speech or anything like that, which brought on more supportive chants. The Young Bucks started in Ring of Honor 10 years ago and this past 2-year run as best the best time of their lives. They thanked Ring of Honor executives and their families for joining them each step of their journey.

    Matt Jackson then asked, “We’re all elite, right?” He said “the timer is ticking” and something big is about to go down. He encouraged everyone to stay tuned and keep watching their Youtube series, Being the Elite, for details on their next moves.

    Fans chanted “Double or Nothing” as The Elite signed off and promised they will return to New York City again.

    Check out this video of The Elite saying farewell to Ring of Honor, courtesy of Youtube user Joseph Santangelo.