Hacksaw Jim Duggan has some unfortunate news to share but perhaps he’s avoided disaster once more.
The WWE legend underwent emergency surgery after being diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2021. Following surgery, Hacksaw was able to reveal that he was cancer-free.
Unfortunately, his cancer has returned but thankfully there is some optimism.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan Update
In a new video posted on social media over the weekend, Hacksaw Jim Duggan broke the news but luckily, doctors were able to diagnose him quickly.
“Hi, folks, I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos of our travels. We’ve been having a great time. But reality is here and I’m afraid I have some bad news. It seems like my cancer treatment is not over even after the removal of my prostate last October.
“Tomorrow, I’m having my second hormone shot and Tuesday, I’m being set up for radiation treatment, which will be eight weeks, five days a week. The doctors are very optimistic that they caught it early.”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CdlyRdvJyEw/
Duggan continue, “But still, it’s a very terrifying time for me and my family. The doctors also said to go ahead and live life, which we’re going to do. I’m going to make most shows, but some shows, I’m gonna have to postpone or cancel and I’m sorry about that, but that’s the way it’s got to be. I’ll be posting this whole ordeal as I go through it.
“So tomorrow on the way to the doctor to get the hormone shots. I’m going to be posting that after the shots. I’ll be posting throughout the whole experience. Hopefully, it will help someone out there because I know a lot of men, a lot of families, are going to go through this. I know it’s going to help me.
“You folks have helped me through an awful awful lot over the years many times before and sharing this with you is going to help me get through this. So thank you, and please don’t feel sorry for me. Be thankful that they caught it early. Thoughts and prayers are more than welcome and remember, I’ll get through this.
“Thanks very much, folks.”
SEScoops wishes Hacksaw Jim Duggan thoughts and prayers during this next chapter of his cancer battle.
There are some new details regarding the situation with MJF and AEW.
It’s clear that MJF is poised to be the hottest thing in pro wrestling when 2024 rolls around. As it is, he’s one of the top heels in the business and his stock continues to soar.
Of course, 2024 is important because that’s when MJF’s contract with AEW expires.
Latest On MJF & Tony Khan
Will Washington of Fightful recently claimed that the issue at hand with MJF and AEW President Tony Khan has to do with a contract extension. He claims that the word is that MJF wants more money but Khan isn’t willing to fulfill his request if his top heel won’t sign an extension.
Furthermore, Will claims that not many within AEW are taking MJF’s side on the matter because they feel he must honor the original agreement.
It’s important to note that someone could very well be feeding one-sided information to put pressure on MJF. After all, if things aren’t going someone’s way, it’s easy to put out something negative on the person who won’t cooperate.
It isn’t difficult to understand why MJF would want more money. He’s definitely exceeded the value of his 2019 deal. With that said, if he truly wants more money yet doesn’t want to sign on beyond 2024, you can see why AEW wouldn’t want to do that.
Since signing his initial AEW deal, MJF has seen the likes of Bryan Danielson and CM Punk get big money contracts.
Social media has already been abuzz with AEW fanboys and detractors chiming in. The fanboys are roasting MJF, while the detractors are buttering him up in hopes that he’ll make the jump to WWE.
One former WCW personality is hoping that Ric Flair doesn’t go through with plans to return to in-ring action.
Flair, who is 73 years old, has been pushing to get inside the squared circle once again. He’s posted a couple of training videos with Jay Lethal where he’s actually taking bumps inside the ring.
Ric Flair To Be Blocked From Returning?
This has left some concerned including former WCW announcer Chris Cruise.
In a lengthy statement on social media, Cruise revealed an email he sent to the Maryland State Athletic Commission urging them to refuse Ric Flair a license to wrestle:
“Hey you rubes, I screw around here a lot, but this is serious: Ric Flair should not be allowed to wrestle. Some reports indicate he has been working out with Jay Lethal in preparation to returning to the ring. He can’t be stopped from doing so in states that don’t have athletic commissions and licensing protocols, but insurance companies can step in and refuse to issue a bond to a promotion that books him. And for those states that do have commissions, they should be contacted to demand that they not allow Flair to wrestle. Simply put, Ric Flair returning to the ring is not wise. No how, no way. He’s 73, in poor health, an alcoholic, and has a pacemaker installed.
“Today I emailed the following to the Maryland State Athletic Commission, since I live in Maryland, and will contact other commissions as well. I would encourage you to also email the commission (athletic@dllr.state.md.us) and urge its members to deny Flair a license. It won’t take long, and could help keep Flair alive. Here is the email I sent:
‘To the Commissioners of the Maryland State Athletic Commission:
‘Recently, published reports indicate the professional wrestler known as Ric Flair, who is 73 and has a pacemaker, is considering returning to the ring. Obviously, that is not wise. It’s almost as if he wants to die in the ring.
‘I am writing as a citizen of Maryland to express my concern about the prospect of Mr. Fleihr being granted a license to wrestle in this state. I’m sure you understand how disastrous it would be for the Commission if he died in the ring during a performance for which you granted him a license.
‘I’d like to know what standards the Commission has for granting a license to a professional wrestler. Is a physical examination required? Are athletes over 70 and who have a pacemaker installed allowed to wrestle professionally in Maryland?
‘I look forward to your reply.'”
Flair is rumored to be gearing up for a tag team match that would see him paired with FTR to take on The Rock ‘n Roll Express and a mystery partner. Once again, this is only a rumor.
Juice Robinson is now a three-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.
The IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship was at stake in the main event of NJPW Capital Collision.
Hiroshi Tanahashi was the titleholder going into the event. He put the gold on the line against Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, and Juice Robinson in a four-way match.
The action was held inside the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC.
The match ended in controversy as Juice hit a low blow on Ospreay and landed his finisher for the three-count. The real controversy wasn’t in the low blow, as this four-way match was No DQ.
Ospreay seemingly had his foot under the rope but the referee never noticed. It’s yet another Ospreay match that ends with more questions than answers.
Lio Rush is back and he’s ready to take the NJPW junior heavyweight division by storm.
Just before the co-main event of NJPW Capital Collision in Washington, Rush made his way to the ring in a surprise appearance.
Rush addressed the crowd in DC and admitted he is not medically cleared to compete. With that said, he made it clear that he’ll eventually be good to go.
When he does return, he’ll compete in the junior heavyweight division.
Lio Rush stuck around and did commentary for the tag team match between Kazuchika Okada and Rocky Romero vs. Jay White and Hikuleo.
Capital Collision will take place inside the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. This card is heavily stacked and will feature a four-way match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Titleholder Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend against Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, and Juice Robinson.
We’ve also got Tomohiro Ishii taking on AEW star Eddie Kingston. Another AEW wrestler, Brody King, will be in action as he meets Minoru Suzuki.
“Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada will be in tag team action tonight. He’ll be joined by Rocky Romero to take on Jay White and Hikuleo. Trent Beretta was supposed to team with Okada but he was forced off the card due to COVID-19.
The action starts at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on FITE TV in the United States. Keep refreshing this page for live quick results below:
Karl Fredericks def. Ren Narita. After the match, QT Marshall and The Factory attacked Fredericks.
Team Filthy (Danny Limelight, Jorel Nelson, JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor) def. David Finlay, Fred Rosser, The DKC, Tanga Loa & Yuya Uemura
Chase Owens def. Great-O-Khan
TMDK (JONAH, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) & Bad Dude Tito def. United Empire (Aaron Henare, Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
Brody King def. Minoru Suzuki
Tomohiro Ishii def. Eddie Kingston
Bullet Club (Hikuleo & Jay White) def. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Trent Beretta)
Juice Robinson def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c), Jon Moxley, and Will Ospreay – for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
MJF has been the talk of the town and in 2024, he’ll be the biggest story in wrestling.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is a top heel in AEW and even though he’s a star now, the 26-year-old hasn’t even scratched the surface. Many see Plainview’s finest as a major player in the industry for years to come.
While AEW has its golden goose for now, things could change in 2024. That’s when MJF’s contract with the company will expire. Reports have claimed that MJF is a bit unhappy with Tony Khan after a chat regarding taking media interviews without permission.
While that ultimately could turn out to be nothing, Maxwell has teased testing the market both on and off-air. It’s left many wondering if MJF will be making the big jump to WWE.
If he does, here are five WWE superstars who would be perfect opponents for him:
The Miz
(via WWE)
You knew this was coming, so might as well get it out of the way now. If WWE signs MJF, he’s bound to have a program with The Miz. Wrestling fans have long made comparisons between the two.
It makes sense. After all, both characters have a sense of entitlement, enjoy the finer things in life, and think they’re better than everyone else.
Heck, CM Punk even referred to MJF as a “less famous Miz” during their AEW feud.
MJF and The Miz have actually exchanged pleasantries. Back in late 2021, Maxwell appeared on SiriusXM’s Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha and he expressed his belief that Miz is “tremendous” as a performer.
Miz returned the favor, telling Peter Rosenberg that MJF is no copycat. Miz also said he feels MJF has done a great job in a short period of time.
Kevin Owens
(via WWE)
When you think of Kevin Owens, you don’t think of the prototypical WWE superstar.
KO is so good that he ended up being a Swiss army knife for Vince McMahon’s empire. You can put Owens in any role and he’s going to succeed.
For a feud with MJF to work, however, there’s no doubt that Owens will have to play the babyface role. Maxwell would thrive in this situation being the snotty, rich brat running down the hardworking Owens who was never meant to grace the cover of GQ Magazine.
As a heel, Owens has a way of making the audience hate him. As a face, he’ll make the WWE Universe love him. He’d be the perfect good guy in this feud.
This would be a home run.
John Cena
(via WWE)
This one is a bit tougher to pull off since John Cena is a busy man these days with Hollywood.
With that said, this would be a fantastic rivalry.
When you think back to Cena’s feuds with the likes of AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, and others, he always brought straight heat on the mic. He and MJF would have some memorable verbal battles and the match would also likely deliver.
As he proved during his rivalry with Styles, Cena does a great job handling programs with stars who had been established in another promotion. He knows how to hit close to home with his words and sell the audience on the significance of the match.
If MJF ends up in WWE and Cena’s schedule allows for it, this match is a must.
Roman Reigns
Photo: WWE.com
Roman Reigns is easily the top star in WWE today.
Ever since transitioning to his “Tribal Chief” character, his stock has soared. Reigns has been such a dominant force that he’s running out of legit contenders on TV.
If MJF enters WWE and feuds with Reigns, fans will get the added bonus of witnessing Maxwell and Paul Heyman go at it on the mic. Much like Cena, Heyman knows how to make things more personal and he’d likely do the same for an MJF-Reigns storyline.
The idea behind Reigns’ character is that he thinks he’s in “God Mode.” All of the opposition are supposed to fear him but MJF is quick-witted and would greatly challenge the “Head of the Table” in promo battles.
The question is, will Roman Reigns be around in 2024 if MJF makes the jump?
Reigns has signed a new deal to take fewer dates and some question whether or not he’ll be on his way out of WWE sooner rather than later should Hollywood come calling.
Cody Rhodes
This one is a no-brainer.
There is simply too much history between MJF and Cody Rhodes to ignore. The two had been booked as best friends on AEW TV until Maxwell turned on Cody by booting him in the nether regions.
The two ultimately collided at the AEW Revolution PPV back in Feb. 2020. MJF emerged victorious, putting an end to their rivalry although it definitely felt like there was some unfinished business that would be addressed after some time passed.
Cody made the shocking jump to WWE at WrestleMania 38 back in April. For WWE to book a high-profile feud with two of AEW’s golden boys would probably be a huge feather in the cap of company officials.
There’s no doubt Cody would push for this to happen if WWE snags MJF and he’d likely get his wish.
WWE has given a storyline injury update on Madcap Moss.
During the May 13 episode of SmackDown, Moss had an in-ring interview. He discussed defeating Happy Corbin at WrestleMania Backlash.
Moss said he wanted to form an intergender tag team with Sasha Banks called, “Madcap Boss.” He also expressed his desire to win the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Things went awry when Corbin attacked Moss from behind. He placed a chair on Moss’ neck and crushed it with the Andre The Giant Memorial trophy, which Moss had won prior to WrestleMania 38.
WWE has given the following update on Madcap Moss:
After the show, Happy Corbin had a backstage interview and he made it clear that he has no remorse over what he did to Moss. In fact, he said he’ll do whatever it takes to make him happy.
Fans will now wait to see if this is the beginning of a new gimmick for Moss. Many believe that retaining his heel character despite going babyface was a mistake. Perhaps Moss will come back looking for revenge on Corbin with a more serious attitude.
In Paul Heyman’s mind, one does not simply imitate the “Tribal Chief” or any members of The Bloodline for that manner.
The Bloodline is on the top of the mountain in WWE. The company has been pushing the idea that this is the most dominant faction in its history. Roman Reigns is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, while The Usos are the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
While The Usos are quite busy, being pushed at the forefront of WWE TV, Reigns is taking a step back. He reportedly signed a new contract with WWE to work fewer dates. He is not expected to have a match at WWE Hell In A Cell on June 5.
It appears Alberto Del Rio caused quite a stir during a KAOZ Lucha Libre event in Monterrey.
Del Rio has been known to stay in the headlines for negative reasons over the past few years. He’s back at it again over an incident that took place during a wrestling event in Mexico.
Reports have claimed that Del Rio initially wasn’t allowed in a KAOZ event, which took place on May 7 despite being scheduled to perform. The reason for this is Alberto Del Rio allegedly showed up at the venue over two hours late.
Never one to leave well enough alone, Del Rio seemingly forced his way backstage and performed at the show anyway. Throughout the fracas, Del Rio’s brother, El Hijo de Dos Caras, was also making a scene by shouting at the promoter.
You can check out footage of the incident below (courtesy of Lucha Libre Ahora):
A WWE Tag Team Title unification match has been set for the May 20 episode of SmackDown.
RK-Bro, the Raw Tag Team Champions, made it clear after WrestleMania Backlash that they were going to SmackDown to lay down a challenge to The Usos. Jimmy and Jey Uso hold the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
The Usos accepted RK-Bro’s challenge and Riddle left The Bloodline with something to think about. He landed a knee to the jaw of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns to end the May 13 edition of SmackDown.
This match was initially advertised for WrestleMania Backlash. In storyline, Reigns ripped up the contract and it ended up being a non-title six-man tag match with The Bloodline picking up the win over RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter had reported that a Tag Team Title unification match was never the actual plan for WrestleMania Backlash. He also reported that WWE has no plans of actually unifying the titles despite being set on booking the match.
Of course, plans can change but if the titles were to be unified, it’s expected to be short-lived.
Cody Rhodes made the shocking transition from AEW back to WWE but many feel he shot himself in the foot due to a booking decision prior to the move.
Cody had served as an EVP for AEW along with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. The group was adamant about not wanting to take away the spotlight from other talent just because they had a position of power.
Rhodes took things a step further, booking himself in an AEW World Heavyweight Title match against Chris Jericho with a stipulation that had a big consequence.
If he lost the match, which he did, then he was not allowed to ever compete for AEW’s biggest prize again.
Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes
A Costly Stipulation
During an edition of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Matt expressed his belief that Cody ended up unintentionally limiting what he could do in AEW from a storyline perspective (h/t Wrestling Inc).
“I don’t know if that was him just trying to be unselfish because of the position he was in as an EVP where he was part of management. I do agree, he’s such a big player in pro wrestling and you don’t want to take yourself off the table like that because it really limits what you can do from storytelling.”
Matt also said an opportunity was there for Cody to add to his family legacy before deciding to take the loss with that stipulation in place.
“Especially with the backstory of his dad never winning the title and that’s what he set as his goal, his destiny to win the title his dad never did,” Hardy said. “That’s a great story too.”
Rhodes has since admitted that this may have not been his brightest idea. He said he didn’t want to live and die by the TNT Championship in AEW, so he returned to WWE where he can become a world champion for the big kahuna.
There is no doubt that Roman Reigns is the top dog in WWE, but is the clock ticking?
The Tribal Chief garners all the attention whenever he’s out with The Bloodline. His presence oozes ‘superstar’ and the WWE Universe has indeed acknowledged him.
The ‘Head of the Table’ gimmick was a much-needed turnaround for Reigns. While WWE always viewed him as a main-eventer, the audience knew he was being forced on them for many years.
Back in the summer of 2020, Reigns turned heel and aligned with Paul Heyman. Eventually, he forced The Usos to join him and they formed The Bloodline faction.
Since then, Roman Reigns has become the top draw in WWE. He is the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
While WWE has been enjoying the success of the “Tribal Chief,” it may not last much longer. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Reigns has signed a new contract for fewer dates.
Prior to the news breaking, Reigns spoke to fans during a house show in Trenton, New Jersey and said that he was entering a new phase in his career.
It’s also been reported that Reigns could be missing the June 5 Hell in a Cell show. With Reigns having fewer dates and the potential of Hollywood knocking on his door in the not-so-distant future, it’s left many wondering who could be the one to replace Reigns when the time comes.
For the five stars named here, we won’t be including the likes of Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre. They have already been established as big stars who are in their mid-30s. Instead, we’ll be taking a look at talent on the rise.
Let’s dive into five potential WWE Superstars to replace Roman Reigns:
Gable Steveson
Gable Steveson was drafted to Raw
WWE has high hopes for Gable Steveson. The Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling is signed to a WWE contract. While Steveson hasn’t had a match yet, he’s already gotten physical, giving Chad Gable an overhead belly-to-belly suplex at WrestleMania 38.
Very few are doubting that Steveson can become a great in-ring performer given his amateur wrestling background. The real question is, can he captivate the WWE audience with his personality?
So far, Stevenson has been purely presented as an athlete but he’ll need more than that to thrive in WWE.
Time is certainly on Gable Steveson’s side. He will turn 22 years old on May 31. He’ll be hard at work in the ring and in promo classes behind the scenes before he becomes a regular on WWE TV.
Theory
(WWE)
At least for now, Theory is Vince McMahon’s golden boy.
The reigning United States Champion has been pushed on TV as Vince’s new “chosen one.” WWE officials are high on Theory as he seems to attract younger viewers to Monday Night Raw, something the company has struggled with.
Some fans are struggling with Theory’s rise, however. The concern is that he’s a bit too generic on the mic and in the ring, at least when working the WWE style. Some feel Theory is being held back by heavily scripted promos and needs to be unchained similar to what happened with Reigns.
This option would certainly be close to home for Reigns. Solo Sikoa is the younger brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso. He’s currently featured on the NXT 2.0 brand and it hasn’t taken him long to become a fan favorite on the show.
Being a member of the Anoai family certainly isn’t a bad thing when you’re a WWE superstar. At 29 years old, Sikoa isn’t the youngest guy on this list but he isn’t the oldest either. His size certainly fits the bill with WWE’s new initiative when looking to build stars.
If Sikoa develops fast enough, they may just have the perfect person to dethrone Reigns and possibly snap his brothers out of the mind control that the “Tribal Chief” has over them.
Madcap Moss
(via WWE)
Madcap Moss is in the midst of a babyface push. After winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Happy Corbin got jealous and the team ended up splitting. They had a one-on-one match at WrestleMania Backlash, which Madcap won.
While many within WWE feel Madcap has potential, he has some things working against him. WWE has had difficulty finding the right fit for Moss and even as a face, he has still retained his bad joke gimmick when he was with Corbin.
At the age of 32, Moss isn’t exactly a young prospect either. While he may not seem like the most appealing choice, don’t rule out WWE trying to tie the rocket ship to Moss’ back.
Bron Breakker
(via WWE)
To many fans, this is the only option.
Bron Breakker just looks like he was born to be a WWE main eventer. The son of Rick Steiner hasn’t had a lot of experience but he’s already been impressive in the ring.
He certainly stands out above the other green talent that fills up NXT 2.0. Breakker made his WWE TV debut back in Sept. 2021 and he’s already a two-time NXT Champion.
He’s got an intimidating presence, has great facial expressions when selling, is as intense as they come, and can hold his own on the mic.
To top it off, Breakker will be 25 years old this October. He has all the ingredients to headline WrestleMania one day. It’s up to WWE to maximize his potential.
Whether that means replacing Roman Reigns remains to be seen.
Perhaps fans asking for Naomi to join The Bloodline will get their wish.
Naomi is currently one-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions with Sasha Banks. Naomi has been making fans feel “The Glow” but could a change of direction be on the horizon?
After all, she is the wife of Jimmy Uso.
New Member For The Bloodline?
Speaking to Corey Graves on WWE After The Bell, Jimmy Uso said fans might just be seeing his wife join the hottest faction in WWE (via Fightful).
“It’s very likely. She talks about it a lot. She talks about like, ‘I got an idea. I’m ready to go. I can just snap.’ She can snap. She’s snapped on my ass plenty of times.
“She can bring that promo. She’s so ready to try something new. She’s always been adapting and she gets it. She’s been around. Sometimes, I forget she’s been here ten years too.
“She’s been right there from when NXT first started, she was on the road. When we debuted, the girls had the first NXT show. She was on the road when we were on the road. I forget too, ‘You’ve been on the road too.’
“She’s like, ‘It’s about time I jump in the Bloodline and I need to start snapping.’ I’d like to have it, she talks about it a lot. Even Heyman touched on it too.”
Naomi recently told Inside The Ropes that she finds it to be “a little weird” that she hasn’t been aligned with Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and The Usos yet.
Jim Ross isn’t opposed to wrestlers using steroids but only if one crucial condition is met.
Steroid use in the wrestling industry was rampant in the 1980s and it became a serious legal problem for WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in the early 90s. Vince was accused of supplying anabolic steroids to WWE talent illegally.
Today, measures are taken to ensure that illegal drug use is tackled through the WWE wellness policy.
For legendary play-by-play commentator Jim Ross, steroid use is only acceptable in one scenario.
Steroid Use Under Medical Guidance
During an episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross said he’d only be fine with wrestlers taking steroids if they were prescribed by a doctor (h/t Fightful).
“When things get negative, you’ve got to address them and take some heed that we got to make some changes. I’m not an advocate of people using steroids if it hurts them.
“If they’re under doctor’s care and they’re paying attention to their health, then I don’t have any issues with it, as long as it’s under doctor’s care. But if you’re going to go outlaw and you’re going to diagnose yourself, and dosages, and supplies, that ain’t good.
“So I’m sitting on the fence I guess it sounds like, but if you’re under doctor’s care and you’re taking care of your health and you’re doing all your blood tests and so forth, then I don’t understand the uproar. “
McMahon ended up being acquitted of all charges against him in July 1994.
WWE is working with Blumhouse Television for a ‘The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon’ series. The series is set in the 1990s and will focus on the infamous federal court case against Vince McMahon back in 1994
Many assumed that Dakota would be going back to the “Evie” name that she used on the indies. That isn’t the case as she took to social media to reveal that she’s closing the door on that era.
“I am thankful for being able to meet, work, and intertwine with so many beautiful people, people I looked up to, people I learned from. I met some of my best friends over these last few years that will remain in my life forever. I don’t know what’s next for me. I chose ‘Evie’ at 17 years old. That chapter is shut.. just know this; I’m far from being done.”
New Trademark
Instead, Dakota Kai has filed a new trademark which could indicate her name going forward. The trademark she filed is for “King Kota.”
The Goods and Services usage description reads:
“Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes.”
What’s next for Dakota Kai following her WWE exit is unknown. It’s been said that some within AEW are pushing for her to be signed. That isn’t a guarantee but time will tell.
Malcolm Bivens is no longer in WWE but he isn’t done with the wrestling business.
In a new report from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was said that Bivens is believed to have turned down a contract extension with WWE because he wanted to make the jump to AEW.
It looks like that’s what indeed will happen. The belief is that Bivens will ultimately sign with AEW once his noncompete clause expires.
WWE released Bivens after he declined the extension.
NXT creative was reportedly blindsided by the departure. Malcolm Bivens took to one of his comedy shows in New York City to reveal the truth about his WWE exit (via POST Wrestling).
“All right, so here’s the truth: There’s a lot of rumors, a lot of speculation. Was I offered a contract in February? Yes. Did I say no to said contract? Yes. Was I offered to be with Omos? No. No one said a word to me about managing Omos.
“Was I told about the main roster? Yes, and people, they think I’m crazy. Like, ‘Malcolm, you threw away millions potentially, you walked away.’ Yeah, I did, because I didn’t wanna do it anymore and unfortunately, I wasn’t happy.”
It looks like he thinks he’ll find that happiness in AEW. The good news for Bivens is that he can continue doing comedy shows, perhaps on a larger scale, while still working for AEW.
Prior to his WWE run, Bivens was a manager for ROH and MLW. He also made appearances on the indies. He used his real name, Stokely Hathaway.
Tessa Blanchard may have just burned yet another bridge.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the belief is that Tessa Blanchard’s time with WOW has come to an end. The report notes that this isn’t a confirmation but that’s the feeling at this time.
It was also said that Tessa Blanchard was removed from her role heading the workshop classes and that Selina Majors has taken her place.
Also in the Fightful report, a source implied that Tessa will only be able to find work in Mexico going forward. On top of that, a former WOW star was under the impression that Tessa was done with the company.
Tessa seemed to fan the flames when taking to social media to share a post with the following quote:
“When standing up for your beliefs becomes a matter of great inconvenience, will you stand anyway?”
Problematic Behavior
This isn’t the first time Tessa has been on the outs with someone. She had a nasty split from IMPACT Wrestling back in 2020. It was reported that Tessa agreed to record videos for an IMPACT taping but she never did.
At the time, Tessa was IMPACT’s world champion. There was a claim that Blanchard refused to send the title back but her camp denied that accusation.
Speaking of accusations, Tessa was accused of hurling a racial slur toward La Rosa Negra back in 2017 during a show in Japan. Several notable wrestlers have backed La Rosa Negra on this claim including Allysin Kay and AEW star Rebel.
Tessa has also been accused of bullying by the likes of IMPACT star Chelsea Green. Blanchard has denied the accusations of racism and bullying.
Matt Hardy doesn’t know how much time he and his brother have left in the ring.
The Hardys are one of the most iconic tag teams in the history of the business. Before The Young Bucks, Matt and Jeff took the wrestling world by storm as the brothers with tremendous in-ring chemistry.
The two also found singles success as well. They are back teaming together again but perhaps on borrowed time.
Time Running Out On The Hardys?
(via AEW)
During an edition of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Matt told fans that if they want to see him and his brother perform live they should do so as soon as possible (h/t Wrestling Inc).
“Jeff loves it here in AEW and we think this is going to be where we end our in-ring careers, here in AEW. We do want to go around the indie scene and work as many things as we can.
“We want to cement our legacy as one of the greatest tag teams ever.
“That’s very important to us and when we say final run, we’re assuming as a tag team that we are going to wrestle out the rest of our careers here at AEW and also do some indies and stuff. I don’t know how long this is going to last.
“Hopefully, it lasts for a while, but it’s also motivation that if we’re going to be in your town at some local promotion, a territory, it’s a good opportunity to come out and see us because I don’t know how many more of these we’re going to do.
“We’re going to do as many as we can until we can’t do anymore.”
Matt made his AEW debut back in March 2020. At the time, Jeff was still under contract with WWE. After being released by WWE over a house show incident, Jeff made his way to AEW earlier this year.
Jeff made the save after Matt was attacked by the AFO. The two have been teaming ever since and many feel dream matches are being made as soon as possible given that time may be running out on the stellar careers of both men.
Killer Kross has reflected on not making an appearance at ROH Supercard of Honor.
When ROH underwent a “reconceptualization” period, many were skeptical of the future of the promotion. The company announced it would be releasing all of its talent but was aiming for a return in the spring.
The wrestling world was turned upside down when AEW President Tony Khan announced he was purchasing ROH. This caught many off guard including someone who was trying to get Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux on the Supercard of Honor show.
Killer Kross On What Went Wrong
Killer Kross was expecting to be featured on the Supercard of Honor show before Tony Khan made the deal. This gave some the impression that Khan blocked Kross and Scarlett from appearing.
As it turns out, Kross may have simply been the victim of many moving parts. He told Wrestling Inc that the person who was trying to get him on the show lost his job due to the acquisition.
“I was like, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to keep this quiet,’ we were really pumped about this, it’s going to be awesome. She might be able to revisit some stuff from Ring Of Honor that she previously did,” he said. “We can do something new, so, all of these ideas are coming to light.
“Then it was announced on TV that Tony Khan had bought Ring Of Honor. So, I hit my correspondent back, and I was like, ‘what the f*ck is going on here?’
“He’s like, ‘I have no idea,’ and then a little bit of time went on, and then we began to find out through my other friends in the company, who didn’t even know. Because we were fading them too, not like we thought they’d maliciously stooge it off, we just didn’t want it to leak. We are very old school, we don’t tell anybody what is going on.
“So, what happened was everybody lost their jobs, or they were out of jobs. They didn’t have work anymore at Ring Of Honor.”
Kross said at that point, it wouldn’t have been right to keep asking the person about his appearance.
“At that point, on a humane level, there was no way I could continue talking to this person. I felt bad for that person on the phone. Like, here is this person that was offering us work, and then they’re not there anymore.
“My heart was broken for them, I was like, I don’t think this is something, just on a human level, that we should continue pursuing. I guess, that’s just basically what happened, it was kind of like sad actually. I felt bad, I didn’t pursue it beyond that.”
During the Supercard of Honor media scrum, Tony Khan dismissed the notion that he didn’t want Kross and Scarlett on the show. He insisted that the two weren’t booked when he took over ROH and that he actually likes them.
MJF knows he’s going to be in high demand in the near future and he’d be foolish not to weigh his options.
The young AEW star will see his current contract end in 2024. While many believe that MJF could be primed to be a main event player for AEW for several years to come, the Plainview native hasn’t been shy in entertaining an offer from WWE when the time is right.
It’s also been reported that perhaps things haven’t been as rosy between MJF and AEW President Tony Khan lately. Back in March, Maxwell had an interview with Ariel Helwani that apparently wasn’t cleared by AEW beforehand, leaving Khan upset.
A report from Fightful claims that the relationship between wrestling’s hottest prospect and the AEW boss has soured a bit since then. It’s important to note that MJF has built the reputation of being a top-notch heel worker.
The lines have been blurred ever since MJF started publicly talking about his contract situation. While reports have surfaced about MJF being unhappy, nothing has changed in terms of any negotiations.
He knows his contract is up in 2024 and continues to be featured prominently on AEW programming.
At the end of the day, Tony Khan would be remiss to not give MJF a massive offer when it’s time to renegotiate. On the flip side, WWE must do their due diligence and make MJF a substantial offer to get one over on the competition.
With so much momentum built up already, MJF isn’t likely to re-up with AEW before he’s able to test the market. Letting WWE know he’d be all ears way ahead of time is a good way to keep his name in the minds of those in Vince McMahon’s circle.
It’s no secret that WWE is high on Theory. The 24-year-old has been seen on WWE TV as Vince McMahon’s new “chosen one.”
He is the current WWE United States Champion and after he defeated Finn Balor for the gold, he was surrounded by a group of fellow heels in celebration.
Theory recently tried ruffling the feathers of Cena, saying he’s a better U.S. Champion than the “Doctor of Thuganomics” ever was.
Cena responded by saying that while Theory has talent, he better be able to back up his words.
Everyone understands that you have far more talent, strength, and gifts than I ever had. Don’t apologize for that. Ever. An apology should come 20 years from now if you fail to provide the EFFORT needed to turn your potential into your legacy. I hope that day never comes. ? https://t.co/3apKiTwgDw
During an appearance on WWE’s The Bump, Theory said he’s already reached heights that John Cena couldn’t.
“Yeah, I think the pressure is definitely applied now. It’s always been there, though for myself since I was 12 years old and I knew I wanted to be in WWE.
“I did everything that I could to get there and that’s why I’m here at such a young age. John Cena was always an inspiration but I think that right there just kinda hammered the nail down.
“It’s like the pressure’s on, and I get where he’s coming from but at the end of the day, I’m doing achievements that John Cena hasn’t. I’m the youngest United States Champion in WWE history.”
Theory went on to say that while he’s flattered by the Cena comparisons, he wants to surpass what the “Babe Ruth of WWE” accomplished.
“I have so much respect for John Cena and I like the comparisons, I appreciate them but I’m in my own lane. I’m gonna do things that John Cena’s never done.”
Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline took to Wrestling Observer Live to report that Vince McMahon sees Theory as the next John Cena. A match between the two wouldn’t exactly come as a shock and Theory has even hinted at the showdown taking place at SummerSlam.
Jake Roberts is aware of rumblings that he isn’t in good health and he has responded.
Jim Ross gave fans a scare during an episode of his Grilling JR podcast. Ross said that Jake “The Snake’s” health was “not good” but that he was taking measures to address it.
Here’s what the legendary play-by-play ace had to say (h/t WrestlingNews.co).
“I just saw him here a few weeks ago and he’s still battling his breathing issues. He’s not in great health. That’s why you don’t see him as often on AEW television as he once was when he was fronting Lance Archer.
“But his health is not good and he’s taking the means to address it. He still has surgeries left. But he has breathing issues.”
Jake Roberts Dismisses Health Claim
Jake Roberts took to his Twitter account and insisted that he’s not in bad health.
“Hey guys once again someone wants to make a splash on the internet and what better way is there than putting out Jake Roberts is in bad health. Totally untrue. I’m going to be around a long time.”
Hey guys once again someone wants to make a splash on the internet and what better way is there than putting out Jake Roberts is in bad health. Totally untrue. I’m going to be around a long time.
Jake has come a long way from the days when he was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Roberts was lifted back to his feet by DDP and he credits the former WCW star for saving his life.
Roberts recently revealed to SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio that he was preparing for hip surgery. He also admitted that he’ll be using an oxygen tank again from time to time. There was a point where he didn’t need it anymore but now he’s back on it.
Kurt Angle has taken notice of one WWE superstar who has pushed himself beyond the in-ring work.
Angle was a tremendous wrestler but he also had the charisma to match. Angle was wildly entertaining in his backstage segments and promos in the ring. It’s what helped him become a legend in the business.
The WWE Hall of Famer believes one current member of WWE’s main roster has found his entertaining side.
Kurt Angle Vouches For Chad Gable
(via WWE)
Taking to his own podcast, The Kurt Angle Show, the Olympic gold medalist said that Chad Gable has been able to separate himself from the pack thanks to his improvement as an entertainer (h/t Wrestling Inc).
“I do believe Chad Gable’s getting a better push, I wish he’d get pushed a little bit more. But I do believe that he is becoming more entertaining.
“I do see similarities between him and myself, and I’m really proud of the kid. He’s really come out of his shell and he’s been able to show that he has the ability to be an entertainer, not just an overall wrestler but an entertainer.
Gable has found great success on WWE TV ever since he was paired with Otis. Together, the two are known as the “Alpha Academy.” They are former WWE Raw Tag Team Champions.
At the moment, Gable and Otis have found themselves in the good graces of Kevin Owens. All three have aligned in an attempt to prove that Ezekiel is actually Elias.
Tammy Sytch continues to go on a rampage against those who are holding her accountable for her alleged actions.
Sytch has had a slew of legal issues but things are far more serious this go-around. Late last week, Sytch, formerly known as “Sunny” in WWE, was arrested in connection to a fatal three-car crash. She was booked into Volusia County Branch Jail.
Her bond was set at $227,500, which she was able to meet but prosecutors are seeking to revoke the bond. Sytch was hit with nine charges, the most serious one being DUI manslaughter, which is a felony in the state of Florida.
Recently, Bill DeMott called for the removal of “Sunny” from the WWE Hall of Fame. He had the following to say on social media:
“When do we start holding people accountable BEFORE they kill themselves or someone else? When do we decide as lawmakers and judges that we DO NOT get to decide who should and shouldn’t be punished? When do organizations speak up for EVERYONE not just influential cases?”
This enraged Tammy Sytch, who took to her Twitter page to unleash a rant toward DeMott.
“I think Bill Demott should be removed from the WWE hall of fame! Ohhh that’s rite, he was never inducted. He was too busy sexually harassing female talent and degrading male talent as well. Yet he is worried about a crime that has NOT even been proven in a court of law yet??”
Sytch has been lashing out at those who have called for her to be locked up for many years. It’s clear that she refuses to take responsibility and isn’t keen on making changes in her life.
If Sytch is convicted of DUI manslaughter, she could be facing up to 30 years in prison.
