WWE Superstar Big E recently appeared on Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast. During the show, Big E would discuss a number of different topics regarding his ongoing WWE career and being Intercontinental Champion.

Big E was previously a heavy favorite to win this weekend’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. However, when Big E won the IC title on the Christmas Day episode of SmackDown his odds shifted and he is now down the rung quite a bit. Despite this, Big E did mention during the podcast that his wish is for a WrestleMania match against ‘The Big Dog’ Roman Reigns.

Big E on WrestleMania Wish List

Paquette asked Big E how he feels about potentially facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania; with Renee saying that this a match that the fans ‘want to see.’ “When you look at the WWE pecking order, he’s at the very top” Big E began. “Having that match is the biggest moment, and I hope we’re at a point in another month or two, where I feel like I’m established enough and I’m hot enough where it makes sense.”

• Possible Spoiler For Surprise Royal Rumble Entrant

“In the same vein, I have no idea what the plan is” Big E continued. “I also want this to feel earned. I think sometimes you get too much too soon. That’s also weird to say for someone who’s been around for eight years, I don’t feel like I just came up and they just handed me this world title opportunity, but like obviously gun to my head? [My dream WrestleMania is] a match with Roman for the World Title.”

Would you like to see Big E in a main event run? Do you think that he’ll get a shot at Roman Reigns at the Universal Championship at some point? Let us know in the comments

WWE and NBC recently revealed that the WWE Network, at least the United States version, will be moving exclusively to the Peacock streaming service. Corey Graves recently discussed the benefits of the move on his WWE After The Bell podcast.

“It actually saves you money, it’s going to cost less than WWE Network costs right now” Corey Graves began on the podcast. “This is terribly exciting. I actually already subscribe to Peacock and I have for a really long time. I subscribed actually for reasons that have nothing to do with what I knew, or what was advertised on Peacock. It was the Universal horror movies; Dracula, Wolf Man all those classics, like Frankenstein, they were available on Peacock.”

“This is who I think the move benefits the most” Graves continued. “That would be the lapsed fan. The fan who loves WWE, or loved WWE, maybe hasn’t watched for a few years? Maybe doesn’t tune in every Monday or Friday and isn’t quite familiar with the product? But let’s say as you’re going to turn on The Office on Peacock and you see the WWE Network logo pop up. Now maybe a fan who goes ‘oh man I used to really love Goldberg, I used to love Stone Cold,’ you scroll down and you click a button and there’s modern content. Now you can try and bring fans back.”

Corey Graves on Lapsed Fans

Corey Graves finished by reiterating how important it is for WWE to try and engage with lapsed or even new fans. “It’s so easily accessible. I wasn’t looking for The Office, I never watched The Office but I got the app and I got all the the promotion that came with it. I said ‘I heard this show is great, I’m gonna check it out.'”

• Daniel Bryan On When He Plans To Retire

“Now that’s all I’ve watched for basically two months straight. I think this is a great opportunity for lapsed fans who have not followed or maybe they just aren’t as in tune with WWE as they should be. Because let’s be honest, there’s a lot of content, we’re moving really fast” Graves continued. “If you miss two or three weeks? You may have no idea what’s happening. I think it’s all about access it’s all about accessibility. I think it’s very very exciting. And oh, it’s cheaper than it already is. So what’s it’s a win win win.”

Are you excited for WWE to join the NBC Peacock streaming service? Let us know in the comments

WWE commentator Corey Graves’ After The Bell podcast has come back after a short layoff in 2020. Graves had Goldberg appear on the show this week as part of the WWE Royal Rumble build-up.

During the show, Corey Graves would give his picks for the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches. Going against the more established betting favorites, Graves would say that he sees Bayley and Cesaro winning the Women’s and Men’s matches respectively.

Corey Graves Picks His Rumble Winners

“I’m picking Bayley to win the Women’s Rumble” Corey Graves began on the show. “She’s won the Grand Slam and she’s done everything there is to do in the Women’s division. However, she has yet to win a women’s Royal Rumble match, and for my money Bayley is just firing on all cylinders right now.”

Graves the revealed that he is picking Cesaro to win the Rumble match and go on to face Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. “And for the men’s side of things? I’m gonna throw a dark horse at you. It’s no secret, I have advocated for him on this podcast for many moons. I think, finally? The stars have aligned and he is functioning at a high enough level. I think Cesaro shocks everybody and wins the Royal Rumble. And I’m going to do you one better. Not only is Cesaro winning the men’s Royal Rumble match? Cesaro then challenges Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.”

• Goldberg Agrees With The Undertaker, Says WWE Today Is ‘Soft’

The chances of Bayley winning the Women’s Rumble are arguably far higher than Cesaro taking the Men’s. Whilst SmackDown has done a very good job week to week this year building more stars? For Cesaro to win and defeat the likes of Brock Lesnar (potentially), Daniel Bryan, Goldberg (potentially) and Big E would be a real shock, but a welcome shock.

Do you agree with Corey Graves? Do you think that Bayley and Cesaro have a shot at winning the matches this Sunday? Let us know in the comments

WWE Superstar and former WCW Legend Goldberg recently appeared on WWE’s After The Bell podcast with Corey Graves.

Goldberg discussed a number of topics during the interview, including the recent comments made by The Undertaker. ‘Taker recently appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast, and the Deadman stated that he feels today’s WWE is ‘soft’ comparative to his era. “It’s tough right now, for me, because the product has changed so much. It’s kinda soft” ‘Taker said on the podcast.

“When you hear the comments about me coming back and doing one or two matches a year?” Goldberg began on After The Bell. “How you know people were like; he doesn’t deserve it. He never paid his dues, he was never on the road and these people are on the road.’ Man people forget very quickly what all of us did back in the day. So I earned the spot that I’m in now and again I’m one of the luckiest guys in the world.”

Goldberg on Undertaker’s Comments

“Yes, I believe comparatively [to my era that] the business is soft,” Goldberg continued. “But the business is in 2021, so things have to change and things have to be different. [We had] Mega superstars that were bigger than life, but it’s hard in this generation, seemingly, to build those people. There are a couple people who have have made it beyond relying upon the public to do that, and they forced their way up and they’ve earned their spot. Drew McIntyre is one of them.”

Goldberg then finished by addressing the odd promo that he cut on RAW just a couple of weeks ago. The former WCW Champion made claims about Drew McIntyre being disrespectful to the legends of WWE past. Although McIntyre was reportedly going to cut a promo like that, it was cut for time, however Goldberg was still sent out to read his scripted lines.

• Nia Jax Blasts “Weak Ass Loser” WWE Fans After Latest Botch

“I think mainly when I was talking to Drew in the beginning? I was speaking to the locker room” Goldberg stated, seemingly trying to save face. “So I was speaking to everybody. And he’s the leader, right? So you got to go to the leader and you got to make sure that everything is taken care of in the right way. I mean, like I said, times are quite different than they were back in the day, but people are soft. People take take offence to things way too quickly, I mean you know, grow a little thicker skin, boys and girls, that’s all I can say.”

Goldberg faces Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship this Sunday at the Royal Rumble.

The ‘Bullet Club Cold War’ appears to be heating up. Kenny Omega, The Good Brothers and The Young Bucks have all seemingly been trying to bring the band ‘back together’ on US television.

At the recent IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill PPV, Kenny Omega, Gallows & Anderson all appeared wearing Bullet Club emblazoned gear. Up to that point, it was assumed that the group could not use the Bullet Club moniker for copyright reasons; New Japan Pro Wrestling still own the rights to the name and logo of the faction.

Whilst the idea of AEW and IMPACT working together has been exciting during late 2020 and early 2021, many fans have been wondering when and if New Japan will be part of the angle.

Bullet Club member Tama Tonga has been vocally unhappy about the US based ex-members of Bullet Club using the ‘too sweet’ sign and wearing BC gear.

Tama Tonga on Working Relationships

Tama Tonga also recently stated that he would be more open to working with WWE than the likes of AEW. “Let me tell you something, man. I ain’t got no problems with WWE. No problems,” Tonga stated on the Tama’s Island podcast. “You know what? Hunter, anybody else out there, Vince McMahon, anybody, we open for business man. You come take care of me and my peoples, and I’m talking about BC and New Japan, let’s do business man.”

• Roman Reigns Comments On His Relationship With Jon Moxley

“I ain’t got no beef with y’all” Tama continued. “Not like these other cats, building a company just to rival you. Nah, New Japan, we been here. We been here before all of y’all. We been here. So look, we ain’t got no problems. Look, our gates is wide open. Let’s do business.”

credit to WrestlingINC for the transcription

WWE’s Royal Rumble event will be taking place this Sunday at the WWE ThunderDome. Several names have already been confirmed for the event; and WWE Backstage will be confirming the number 30 entrant in the men’s Rumble match this weekend.

The WrestleVotes Twitter account recently stated that WWE may be planning something ‘scary’ for the ending of the men’s Rumble match. “Sorry for the lack of details here but still noteworthy IMO; had a brief conversation earlier with a source regarding the Men’s Royal Rumble match. They said quote: ‘There’s a finish that scares the death out of me. And it’s legitimately getting heavy consideration’ yikes.”

Whilst all rumor should be taken with a grain of salt, WrestleVotes have been correct on backstage instances on several occasions in the past.

• WWE Raw Ratings See Slight Drop For Go-Home Royal Rumble Edition (1/25)

There’s absolutely no confirmation on what exactly the ending may be; the ‘scary’ phrasing may be regarding something actually ‘spooky’ on screen such as The Fiend, or it could mean something that could rile up the WWE fans and viewing audience and cause a backlash online. With the way that WWE likes to book their WrestleMania main events, we could well see the likes of Goldberg being the last man in the ring on Sunday.

We will update as and when there’s more to the story.

AEW EVP Cody Rhodes recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The former TNT Champion discussed a number of topics during his time on the show, including how the AEW Awards show came about. The Awards Show will be taking place tomorrow night on Bleacher Report.

“It’s all gonna be on Bleacher Report” Cody Rhodes began on Busted Open. “It’s very exciting because this award show, like, I don’t know how much inside baseball this is, but this award show was an idea from our partners at AEW on TNT, the WarnerMedia folks” Cody then revealed.

Cody Rhodes on Awards Night

“This was an idea that they presented us” Rhodes continued. “They produced it, they sent the crew and they worked with Tony Khan on it. I just really appreciate all that crew at WarnerMedia; it’s very much a lot of the same crew who helps with Go Big show.”

Cody then finished by further praising WarnerMedia and the company’s partners. “It’s great to have a good partner in the space, and someone who’s proud of what we’re doing as a AEW on Warner media networks” Cody Rhodes stated. “That’s why I really enjoyed it. They got to do everything and we just got to sit back. [Tony] Schiavone and Britt Baker hosted it, we just got to sit back and accept some award, it’s real physical awards, so that was, that was cool. It was a real treat.”

Here’s the full list of the 2021 AEW Awards categories and nominations:

Best Moment on the Mic

• MJF “We Deserve Better” Speech
• Cody Rhodes accepts Dog Collar Match
• Jon Moxley accepts Inner Circle Invitation
• Brandi Rhodes confronts Jade Cargill
• Orange Cassidy Debates Chris Jericho

Biggest Surprise:

• Matt Hardy’s Debut
• Jake the Snake Roberts confronts Cody
• Brodie Lee arrives as The Exalted One
• Sting’s AEW Debut
• Miro revealed as Best Man

Breakout Star – Male:

• Orange Cassidy
• Darby Allin
• Eddie Kingston
• John Silver

Breakout Star – Female

• Hikaru Shida
• Anna Jay
• Tay Conti
• Big Swole
• Penelope Ford

Biggest Beatdown

• Inner Circle jumps Orange Cassidy
• Dark Order attacks Nightmare Family
• Nyla Rose puts Riho + Shida through tables
• Brian Cage sneak attacks Jon Moxley
• The Nightmare Family and Inner Circle brawl

High Flyer Award

• Rey Fenix
• Marq Quen
• Nick Jackson
• PAC

Hardest Moment to Clean Up After

• Orange Cassidy drops orange juice on The Inner Circle
• The Parking Lot Brawl
• The Bunkhouse Match
• Big Swole dumps garbage on Dr. Britt Baker

Biggest WTF Moment

• Cody Rhodes steel cage moonsault
• Sammy Guevara hit by golf cart
• Kenny Omega wins AEW World Championship and walks out of AEW
• Bloody Dr. Britt Baker vs. Hikaru Shida
• Young Bucks frog splash off the stadium railing

LOL Award

• Jericho + MJF: Le Dinner Debonair
• Britt Baker waxes Tony Schiavone
• Young Bucks kick MJF into a pool
• Inner Circle Vegas Trip

Best Twitter Follow

• MJF
• Orange Cassidy
• Dr. Britt Baker
• Nyla Rose

Bleacher Report PPV Moment of the Year

• Stadium Stampede
• Moxley wins AEW Championship
• Shida wins AEW Women’s Championship
• Omega + Page defeat The Young Bucks
• Darby Allin wins TNT Title from Cody
• The Young Bucks win AEW Tag Team title

AEW star Jon Moxley recently spoke to Bleacher Report for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session. During the Q&A a fan would ask Moxley if he could ever consider returning to WWE at one point.

“You gotta say never say never” Moxley stated during the interview. “Because you don’t want to run back what you said years later because you don’t know what’ll happen. Just the creation of AEW was so vital to the wrestling industry, and that’s part of the reason why I’m so proud to be a part of it.”

“I wouldn’t rule out ever doing business with them (WWE) again” Jon Moxley continued. “We had a mutually beneficial relationship for a long time.”

• Dax Harwood: I Want Chad Gable In All Elite Wrestling

Jon Moxley finished by saying that he would speak to WWE if they called him, but he doubts that he and the company would ever be on the ‘same page.’ “If they called? I would listen, but I highly doubt we would ever be on the same page. I’d be open to an idea. I don’t not like money. I got a kid on the way and gotta put it through college, so ya know? I would take a phone call, but I highly doubt anything would materialize.”

Do you think that Jon Moxley/Dean Ambrose could ever return to WWE? Would you like to see the Lunatic Fringe back in a WWE ring? Let us know in the comments

Former NWA commentator and outspoken pro wrestling personality Jim Cornette recently discussed the ongoing online ‘feud’ between Ryback and Mark Henry.

Ryback recently made comments on Championships in wrestling, saying that they are ‘props.’ “Wrestling’s fake guys and the Championships are props to market entertainers as ‘Champions’” Ryback said. “Nobody has actually ever won or lost a prop, as scripted physical entertainment is incapable of that.”

Mark Henry took exception to this, making multiple disparaging comments on Busted Open Radio towards The Big Guy. It appears as though Jim Cornette agrees with Henry, making the following comments on his Drive Thru podcast.

Jim Cornette on Ryback

“He don’t get the f*cking picture” Cornette began. “Because he’s (Ryback) got such a hard on for Vince and the WWE, because they didn’t make him a world champion. He sounds…he is a disrespectful piece of sh*t that wouldn’t have been allowed in the wrestling business 30 years ago; because the way he talks about it, thinks about it, obviously, and considers it.”

• Two Part-Time Legends Expected Compete at WWE WrestleMania 37

“F*ck you” Jim Cornette continued. “Just because you didn’t get to be World Champion, and you didn’t get to win the belt and you didn’t get to do whatever you wanted to do; to where you had to walk away on a multimillion dollar contract because they wouldn’t see how ‘great’ you were? You call the business phoney and fake, you tell everybody the championships are props, don’t mean anything. You were f*cking jilted by your f*cking boyfriend so you try to tear him down.”

Jim Cornette has thrown comments at Ryback in the past, but these recent words seem far more incendiary. Mark Henry does not seem interested in discussing the ‘feud’ on Busted Open further; Ryback himself has made it clear that his issues were only ever with WWE themselves and not the talent.

AEW star Dax Harwood recently appeared on a special AdFreeShows watchalong as part of the ARN podcast. Harwood joined AEW on-screen coach and former WWE agent Arn Anderson to discuss The Revival vs American Alpha from NXT Takeover Dallas in 2016.

The match is heralded as one of the greatest tag team bouts in WWE history; with the team now known as FTR losing the belts to Chad Gable and Jason Jordan.

During the special ‘Top Guy’ AdFreeShows watchalong, Dax Harwood stated how all four men became best friends during their run of NXT house shows working the tag team match. Harwood also stated that Jason Jordan is probably one of the hardest working performers he has ever been in the ring with. Dax clarified also that Jordan is right up there in talent with the aforementioned Chad Gable.

“That’s what separates you. That’s what separates the wrestlers from guys who are playing wrestler” Dax Harwood stated during the stream; discussing the nuance and intricacy of the match. “Theres guys who can go in there and do some athletic, crazy stuff. And I wish I could, but if you believe in your heart that you’re the best? If you believe that you’re the biggest badass in the world? Nobody can beat you, you’re gonna look legit.”

Dax Harwood on Chad Gable

Dax Harwood then finished by saying that All Elite should look at getting Chad Gable brought into the company. “I think we should get Gable into AEW, but that’s just my thought.”

Whilst Chad Gable’s WWE contract status is not clear? The phrasing from Harwood seemed to indicate that this could be a possibility, although there’s no way to truly determine if that’s the case without speaking to Gable. The former NXT Tag Team Champion Chad Gable has been used on SmackDown more over the past few weeks; running his Alpha Academy with Otis and also helping Daniel Bryan.

There’s clearly a huge upside to be had with Chad Gable as a legitimate singles star. Back in his NXT days there was a lot of comparisons made to another former amateur wrestler with charisma, Kurt Angle.

A fan on Twitter stated that they agree with Dax Harwood’s opinion about Chad Gable. Harwood said that most people don’t even know how good Gable really is.

Do you agree with Dax Harwood? Do you think that Chad Gable should head to AEW? Let us know in the comments

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre recently discussed The Undertaker’s comments about modern day WWE being ‘soft.’ The Deadman recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and compared today’s product to that of the Attitude Era and prior.

“It’s tough right now, for me, because the product has changed so much. It’s kinda soft” Undertaker said on the podcast. “I’ll probably piss a lot of people off but they need to hear it” Undertaker continued. “To the young guys, ‘oh, he’s a bitter old guy.’ I’m not bitter, I did my time. I walked away. I just think the product is a little soft. There are guys here and there who have an edge to them, but there’s too much pretty and not enough edge.”

Drew McIntyre on The Undertaker

“I don’t agree whatsoever” Drew McIntyre began speaking to Riju Dasgupta from Sportskeeda. “Especially from an in-ring perspective. I’m not sure if…I listened to part of it, I haven’t listened to the whole interview because it’s pretty new. But I think he (Undertaker) meant referring to the storylines and characters etc.”

“The co-host on the [Joe Rogan] show is a fan from the Attitude Era” McIntyre continued. “So I think they were referring to outlandish storylines back in the day, more sexually based content, more risqué, more 18 plus. Our current product is PG, so there’s only so far that we can push it and are willing to push it. There’s certain things from back in the day that were awesome, there’s certain things that were not awesome that I wouldn’t want to go back to. So I’m not sure if it was more from like that perspective, when it comes to the stories not being as adult based as it used to be.”

• Two Part-Time Legends Expected Compete at WWE WrestleMania 37

Drew McIntyre then finished by saying that today’s WWE roster the ‘best ever.’ “But I think we’re walking a good line right now. When it comes to the in-ring game? That’s not true at all [about the product being soft]. It’s never been more physical, the in-ring talent right now? We’ve got the best in-ring roster of all time.”

Do you agree with The Undertaker or Drew McIntyre? Let us know in the comments

Renowned talk show host and household name Larry King passed away earlier today. The host of ‘Larry King Live’ died at the age of 87 following treatment for COVID-19.

King has appeared on WWE programming a number of times in the past. The company released a statement earlier today remembering the iconic talk show host.

The statement released by WWE reads as follows:

WWE is saddened to learn that Larry King passed away at the age of 87.

The talk show titan reimagined possibilities in the world of television with his iconic “The Larry King Show.” Prominent figures from the entertainment, sports and political worlds graced his show nightly, but King made a special impact on the national coverage of wrestling.

“They are incredible athletes, their fan following is amazing, but their results are never in the paper… To me, if someone is interesting, then I am curious. And wrestlers—and wrestling—are interesting,” King once told Sports Illustrated.

When “The Larry King Show” debuted on Ora.TV in 2012, King featured a special WWE Superstars episode that included John Cena, The Miz & Maryse, Big Show and more. After being named Social Media Ambassador for Raw, King would bring his legendary show to the red brand in 2012. It was an eventful night for two-time Peabody Award winner, as the A-Lister memorably couldn’t help but crash his set and King also provided some life advice to Daniel Bryan.

• Cedric Alexander, Aiden English & Others React To Undertaker’s Recent Comments

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Larry King at this time.

WWE Superstar and Intercontinental Champion Big E recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The New Day member discussed a number of topics during the show, including how the wrestling world has been affected by the passing of Jon Huber/Brodie Lee/Luke Harper.

Brodie Lee of course passed away late last year. AEW and WWE have been paying tribute to Lee over the past few weeks, with his son Brodie Lee Jr being well looked after by All Elite, especially during this extremely difficult time in his family’s life.

Big E Talks Outpouring of Love for Brodie Lee

“It’s a very, very strange time for me” Big E began on Busted Open. “For all of us actually. I think the hardest thing is…I’ve really been touched by the outpouring of love for Brodie, for John Huber. He was a very, very good, dear friend of mine. I’m still kind of, you know, dealing with him not being here and his passing.”

“He was a regular part of my life” Big E continued. “He lived like 15 to 20 minutes from me, and I got to see him all the time. And you know he’s, he’s someone…I’ve never, it’s my first time losing someone who meant so much to me, and was really close to. So, the one thing that’s been really rewarding is man, you know, a lot of times I think we talked about wrestling being a family, that can be cliche, but there is a real brotherhood.”

• Clarification On WWE Superstars Declaring Entry Into The Royal Rumble

Big E then finished by saying how the ‘brotherhood’ of wrestling came together to mourn the loss of their dear friend. “I feel a real Brotherhood. In that I have so many guys that I’ve worked with, who hit me up, who cried with me, who reached out to me, and that’s beautiful. It really made me think ‘man, we have something special in our industry.'”

Our thoughts go out to Jon Huber’s family and all that have been affected by his passing

AEW Women’s division star Dr Britt Baker recently appeared on the Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast. The pro wrestler/dentist talked a number of topics whilst on the show, including her Waiting Room segments.

The Waiting Room was originally only used as a segment on AEW Dark, but this past week was the first time it was brought to AEW Dynamite. The segment featured Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill, furthering the storyline involving the aforementioned pair, Shaq and Brandi Rhodes.

Baker would discuss how Cody Rhodes was influential in bringing the concept to life, and how he’s now ‘hands off’ with it.

Britt Baker on The Waiting Room

“When we first started, I obviously met with Cody [Rhodes] and Tony [Khan] to make sure we had the the vision down, that we’re on the same page with what we wanted to do” Baker began on the Sunday Night’s Main Event show.

Britt Baker then described how the segment is used to help get ‘other storylines over.’ The Waiting Room has a Barber Shop or Piper’s Pit vibe, with a full set created to backdrop the action. “Essentially, it’s just a great platform to get other storylines over, to get people who maybe don’t get to talk as much.”

• Nyla Rose Off Dynamite This Week Due to COVID-19 Protocols

“[It was for] people who don’t get to talk as much on Dynamite or Dark” Baker continued. “Give them the mic let’s, you know, see what they can do.” Baker then finished by saying how as the segment has progressed Cody Rhodes has had less and less involvement in it. “Cody, as of now? Has very little to no involvement in it. Because once Cody Rhodes gets involved, it turns into Cody Rhodes project! And I’m sick of that (laughs)! So, now? It’s my baby.”

IMPACT Wrestling held their Hard To Kill PPV event this past weekend. One of the featured ‘matches’ on the card saw Ethan Page face ‘Karate Man,’ an alter ego of Page that was originally created on YouTube and brought to television.

Ethan Page had already left the company before the PPV aired, so he did not hold back in stating his thoughts on the Mortal Kombat inspired video at all. “I’m going to take a full blown break from social media,” Page noted in on social media. “I’ll be staying active on my personal Patreon as much as I can & probably in this group too cuz I love the fig life & u guys. Xoxox.”

“But man, last night sucked” Page continued, talking about the segment. “I’m so embarrassed with how IMPACT! lazily edited that segment last night & forced it to be a joke. I felt the thought of the same guys fighting eachother was comedy enough & the more serious we took it the better the reaction would be. But cuz I left the company, they lied to my face & just did what they wanted the whole time. I’m sorry if any of my fans paid for that PPV & felt cheated. I honestly feel the free version I gave away was made with more love, care & attention to detail.”

The actual presentation from IMPACT had Ethan Page appear in front of a green screen and cut cheesy lines. Whilst the spectacle had humorous moments, Page was absolutely livid that he didn’t even get a look at the footage before it aired.

Ethan Page’s Departure from Impact

“Sadly I had no control over the creative or the final product” Page then continued. “The editor refused to send it to me before hand, so I saw it live with you guys & was surrounded by family. [They were] all scratching their heads at that high school project level delivery on a PPV. I pray ppl know I didn’t edit that hot garbage. I actually begged IMPACT! Not to even have Karate man on tv. I only wanted it for my YouTube channel. But, we don’t write the shows. We just get the scripts & do our best. Idk what else to say. Breaks my heart this company refuses to respect its talent or it’s fan base on a regularly basis.”

• Ethan Page Says The North Is Not Splitting Up, Even If He Leaves Impact

Did you see the Hard To Kill PPV? Did you enjoy the Karate Man vs Ethan Page segment? Let us know in the comments

IMPACT Wrestling X Division star Chris Bey recently spoke to Fightful. The former X Division Champion discussed a number of topics during the show, including how AEW was previously interested in signing him.

“So, with everybody that’s been talking to me over the last year like, ‘Man, AEW was interested in you. Why didn’t you go there?’” Chris Bey begin the interview. “Now it’s looking like I don’t even have to have made that decision to still make it happen, you know?”

Chris Bey then discussed how he could potentially work for AEW, but under the IMPACT banner as part of the ongoing ‘invasion’ storyline with Kenny Omega.

“For me, it’d be even better if I can do it wearing the IMPACT! banner and holding the IMPACT! flag while I do it, you know? I think it’s just going to set up some dream match scenarios. If this keeps going in the direction it’s going in we can provide history for the fans that we possibly look back to for the foreseeable future of our business and be like, ‘Man, that’s when things really changed in this industry.’ This could be the start of something.”

Chris Bey appeared at IMPACT’s Hard To Kill PPV this weekend. He was part of the triple threat match for the X Division title, where Manik/TJP would take the win after rolling up Rohit Raju.

Former WWE and AEW performer Matt Cardona appeared in shock fashion on IMPACT Wrestling’s Hard To Kill event last night. The Major Brother would appear during the show to face Ace Austin in an un-advertised match that took place during the event.

The match would end when Madman Fulton interfered and Cardona would win via DQ. Matt Striker on commentary would not confirm if Matt Cardona had signed with the company; or if it was a one-night only appearance. Cardona however would look as if he was there to stay. The former Zack Ryder made gestures after the match as if IMPACT was going to be his new home.

PWInsider recently reported that Matt Cardona is scheduled to appear at the IMPACT tapings that will be taking place this week. Reportedly the company are looking to film a number of weeks of television, meaning that Cardona could be on AXS TV going forward for some time.

Cardona tweeted following the show to say thanks to Scott D’Amore. “I needed tonight. Thanks @ScottDAmore for the opportunity. Thanks @IMPACTWRESTLING, thanks to all my fans! I’m #AlwayzReady…I’m #HardToKill…and I’m NOT DONE with @The_Ace_Austin & @FultonWorld!”

Matt Cardona last appeared on television for All Elite Wrestling. Cardona signed a short term deal with AEW and he fulfilled those dates last year before moving on. With the ongoing feud between elements of IMPACT and AEW it will be interesting to see if the former Zack Ryder will be inserted into the storyline.

WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of Busted Open Radio Bully Ray recently discussed the ongoing ‘Wednesday Night War’ between AEW and NXT. For many months AEW has been beating NXT in the rating; with this past week seeing a gulf in difference, particularly in the 18-49 demographic.

Bully Ray pointed out that whilst AEW is the better drawing show? Ray believes that NXT has the better in-ring action and it is a ‘crisper’ and more ‘polished’ style of pro wrestling.

“It’s hard for me to come on the show, and I don’t want to do this, first and foremost, I don’t look to come on the show and point out holes in the game or the negatives” Bully Ray began on Busted Open.

“Honestly, I just want to come on talk positive about pro wrestling, and tell everybody what a great job everybody did. When I watch NXT? I don’t see glaring issues, like I see maybe with AEW. But the work in the ring is solid, it’s tight [in NXT]. Nine times out of 10? It makes psychological sense. The physicality is there.”

Shifting his focus to AEW, Bully Ray sees some ‘glaring’ issues that might be holding the company back.

“A lot of times? You watch AEW and you know, guys and gals are missing stuff. It can get a little indie-rific at times, whereas the NXT product is a lot more polished and the work rate is extremely tight.”

However you feel about Bully Ray’s comments about AEW’s in-ring product, there’s no question that what they’re doing is working. AEW regularly draws higher viewership and greater fan interest than NXT.

• AEW Tops NXT Ratings (1/13), Trump Impeachment Coverage Dominates

Do you agree with Bully Ray? Do you believe that NXT’s in-ring product is superior to that of AEW? Let us know in the comments

IMPACT Wrestling held their Hard To Kill 2021 event tonight. The main event of the card was once of the most anticipated bouts of the past couple of months; Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers would team up to take on; IMPACT Champion Rich Swann, Chris Sabin and TNA Champion Moose.

The scheduled main event was originally supposed to see Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers take on Rich Swann and the Motor City Machine Guns. Unfortunately, MCMG member Alex Shelley was unable to appear and therefore had to be pulled from the match. Rich Swann’s longtime rival Moose was then added to the match.

Here’s the quick results from IMPACT Wrestling’s Hard To Kill 2021:

• Kenny Omega, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs Rich Swann, Chris Sabin and Moose. – Kenny Omega took the win for his team after hitting the One Winged Angel on Rich Swann

• Barbed Wire Massacre: Eddie Edwards vs Sami Callihan – Eddie Edwards took the win after hitting the Emerald Flowsion on a barbed wired covered chair

• The Karate Man vs Ethan Page – Karate Man took the win after he pulled Ethan Page’s heart out of his chest, seemingly killing him

• IMPACT Knockout Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Taya Valkyrie – Deonna Purrazzo took the win via submission to retain her IMPACT Knockouts Championship

• IMPACT X Division Championship Match: Chris Bey vs Manik (c) vs Rohit Raju – Manik (TJP) took the win after rolling up Raju. Rohit Raju pulled Manik’s mask off during the match to reveal TJP with facepaint. The commentary team pretended at first it wasn’t him

• Ace Austin vs Matt Cardona – Matt Cardona took the win via DQ when Madman Fulton interfered

• Knockouts Tag Team Championship Match: Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan vs Havok and Nevaeh – Kiera Hogan took the win for her team to win the Knockouts Tag Team Championships. Gail Kim and Madison Rayne appeared after the match to present the newly re-introduced belts to the Champions

• Eric Young, Joe Doering and Deanor vs Tommy Dreamer, Rhino and Cousin Jake – Eric Young took the win for the newly named Violent By Design after hitting a Piledriver on Cousin Jake. Moments before Eric Young had been dropped onto thumbtacks.

• Rosemary and Crazzy Steve v.s Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb with a K – Rosemary and Crazzy Steve took the win after spewing mist on their opponents. Crazzy Steve hit a tornado DDT on Kaleb to gain the pinfall

• Brian Myers vs Josh Alexander – Brian Myers took the win after hitting a Lariat

The official replay for IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill will be available to view via FITE TV.

Hard to Kill Videos

Impact Wrestling has updated the following videos from Hard to Kill:

IMPACT Wrestling presented Hard To Kill Saturday night on pay-per-view. During the show the X Division Championship would be defended in a triple threat match with Chris Bey and Rohit Raju challenging Manik for the Championship.

Before the match, Ace Austin would appear and demand that he be added to the match, making it a fatal four way. Company Executive Scott D’Amore would appear and tell Austin that he wouldn’t be getting a shot in the X Title match, but he would be facing a man who was Alwayz Ready…Matt Cardona.

The match would end when Madman Fulton interfered and Cardona would win via DQ. Matt Striker on commentary would not confirm if Matt Cardona had signed with the company or if it was a one-night only appearance. Cardona however would look as if he was there to stay, making gestures after the match as if IMPACT was going to be his new home.

• Update on Matt Cardona’s Status with IMPACT Wrestling

Matt Cardona last appeared on television for All Elite Wrestling. With the ongoing feud between elements of IMPACT and AEW it will be interesting to see if the former Zack Ryder will be inserted into the storyline.

The official replay for IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill will be available to view via FITE TV.

Watch Matt Cardona’s Impact debut here:

Former Knockouts Champion and Knockouts Tag Team Champion Madison Rayne confirmed her retirement this evening. The former member of The Beautiful People stable confirmed as such on the IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill pre-show panel.

Madison Rayne was part of the IMPACT commentary team until tonight’s broadcast alongside Josh Matthews. It was recently confirmed that Matt Striker and D’Lo Brown will be taking commentary duties going forward for the promotion.

It is unknown at this time if the switch in commentary prompted the retirement announcement; or whether Rayne made it clear that she wanted to leave before the change was introduced.

An emotional Madison Rayne told fans during the pre-show for Hard To Kill that after 12 years with the company and wrestling over 3 different decades? That it was time for her to go home.

Madison Rayne’s accomplishments in IMPACT/TNA include being a 5-time Knockouts champion. Rayne was also Knockouts Tag Team Champion on 2 occasions; once with Lacey Von Erich and once with Gail Kim. Rayne would also be crowned Queen of The Knockouts in 2014.

Rayne tweeted shortly after Hard To Kill started, referencing the new commentary team of D’Lo Brown and Matt Striker. Madison would write “I already love this team!!”

The official replay for IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill will be available to view via FITE TV.

IMPACT Wrestling Women’s Champion Deonna Purrazzo recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The Virtuosa would discuss a number of topics on the show, including how she now feels ‘fulfilled’ in her professional wrestling career.

Co-host of the show Bully Ray would mention how Deonna was far more jovial during the interview than she had been just a year prior speaking to Busted Open. When asked why, The Virtuosa said “part of it is just feeling fulfilled in your professional role. I think it takes such a mental toll on you when you’re not happy with what you’re doing. When you’re not happy with your life’s work.”

Deonna Purrazzo on IMPACT

“All I’ve ever wanted to be? Was a wrestler” Deonna Purrazzo continued. “So you know, I felt so stifled by not being able to just wrestle. And now the fact that on a daily basis I’m featured either wrestling, or in backstage segments? I’m growing as a professional every week and we get to see that every week. It is exactly what I needed to be able to take myself to the next level.”

• Alex Shelley Releases Statement On Missing Hard to Kill

Deonna then finished by saying how IMPACT ‘reignited’ a flame in her love for professional wrestling. “Just like personally? It has helped to take me to the next level. It’s reignited a flame for my love for wrestling, for my love for myself, my love of bettering my life outside of wrestling. So I feel like 100% a brand new Deonna Purrazzo from this time last year, to who I am now.”

The IMPACT Women’s Champion will be defending her belt tonight at IMPACT’s Hard To Kill PPV. The Virtuosa will be defending the title against Taya Valkyrie.

Do you think that Deonna Purrazzo leaves Hard To Kill with the IMPACT Women’s Championship tonight? Let us know in the comments

Former IMPACT and WWE Superstar EC3 recently wrote a series of tweets regarding the IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill main event. It was confirmed yesterday that Alex Shelley could not appear in the main event of the show. Travel reasons were the catalyst for this, although nothing further has been released publicly by the company.

IMPACT Wrestling made a change to the card and inserted Moose into the main event of the show. Moose is now teaming with Rich Swann and Chris Sabin. This adds extra intrigue to the main event, as Moose and Rich Swann have been at odds recently; with Moose beating Swann’s close friend Willie Mack at last week’s Genesis event.

EC3 would write a series of tweets regarding the inclusion of Moose into the main event. The can be seen at the bottom of this article.

The former Ethan Carter The Third is not included on tonight’s card officially, nor is he contracted to IMPACT Wrestling (at least this isn’t known publicly). EC3 has been adopting the ‘Control Your Narrative’ stance ever since he left WWE last year, and this appears to be another wrinkle in that story.

• Impact Hard To Kill Main Event Changed: Alex Shelley Unable To Appear

It’s worth noting that the below tweets do not indicate that EC3 will get involved at Hard To Kill; but it is certainly something to watch out for.

Former WWE referee Mike Chioda recently appeared on an AdFreeShows Patreon exclusive interview. The special episode of the Monday Mailbag would see Chioda tell an unbelievable story regarding The Big Show, Pat Patterson and Vince McMahon from the 90s.

“We’re in North Carolina” Chioda began on the show. “We’re at the show, and of course Vince [McMahon] and Pat [Patterson] would always watch the monitors. They would watch what WCW was doing, and it’d be in Vince’s office. I’d say three to six months prior to this show in North Carolina? We’re doing Monday Night Raw and I’d met Big Show, before he was a wrestler. And I was in a nightclub in Philadelphia, I lived in South Jersey, and I was in a nightclub in Delaware Ave, in Philadelphia.”

“Well, who comes up to me? Big Show” Chioda continued. “He comes up to me and I turn around. This guy is huge! I’m like ‘holy sh*t, my god this is another Andre [The Giant].’ So, I talked to Big Show for a while at that club, and he knew who I was and everything, that’s why he came up to me. I mean his hands are huge, he’s got great hair, he’s in great shape, AND he’s huge. So I get his name and his number.

Big Show as The Giant

“I’m at TVs one day and I said, ‘Pat, you’ve gotta check this guy out, he’s another Andre The Giant, unbelievable great shape. Huge, long hair, hands just like Andre! I’m like flipping out with Pat, you know? I’m telling them, ‘you got to call this guy!'”

Chioda would then reveal the funniest part of the story. “So a couple months goes by and that’s when I’m walking past Vince’s office in North Carolina. And all of a sudden? I see Big Show, which then he was Paul Wright, I saw him in WCW on the monitor. Vince and Pat had their eyes on his monitor like ‘holy sh*t who is this guy!?'”

“So I walked by, and I’d seen him on the monitor. I go ‘hey Pat, what happened to that guy? He didn’t work out? Or he didn’t want to come over here?’ Vince looks at me, looks at Pat. Pat goes ‘what do you mean?’ I said ‘I gave you that guy’s phone number a couple months ago, Pat. I told you I met him in Philadelphia nightclub. He was a bouncer.’

Then Vince McMahon lost it. “Vince went, ‘What the f*ck Pat!’ Vince goes ‘Mike, you mean this guy!?’ and I went ‘yes that guy.’ I get out of there because Vince says ‘excuse me, Mike,’ and he slams the door!”

“Only five minutes later Pat comes and chases me down. He said ‘Mike what the f*ck! What the f*ck? You gave me HIS number? That was him!? I said yes, that was him. ‘I thought you were talking about El Gigante! we had already signed him!'”

So Big Show could’ve been in WWE before he went to WCW.

• The Good Brothers On Losing Their Confidence In WWE

AEW‘s Eddie Kingston recently appeared on Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast. The ‘Mad King’ would discuss a number of topics on the show, including his current relationship, appearing overseas and tribute to his long-time friend Brodie Lee.

Eddie Kingston made a speech following the Brodie Lee Tribute episode of AEW Dynamite. It wasn’t something that Kingston planned; but he felt he had to say something to the other talent about the emotion of the show. He also stated how as a further tribute to Brodie? They should bring that to the forefront every single week.

The speech was filmed and released by AEW. It would end up going viral amongst wrestling fans.

Eddie Kingston on Tribute Speech

“Homicide busted my balls about it” Eddie Kingston began on the podcast. “‘I see you’re the locker room leader now!’ I’m like, ‘leave me alone.’ He’ll randomly send me like a picture of something saying ‘boss’ on it or something, I’m like ‘oh come on.'”

“I just had this overwhelming feeling of energy after the show was over” Kingston then continued. “And I was kind of like, I feel like I need people to understand why I’m getting this energy. I just started…just yelling because I was like, ‘why can’t we do this every week? Why does it take one of our fallen brothers to pass away for us to be this emotional in the ring? Bring it out to the people so that people can feel us?’ You know?”

• Erick Redbeard Reveals New Tattoo Honoring Brodie Lee

Eddie Kingston then described how everyone would quieten down and then his speech started to get filmed. “And then? I’m going on and on and I’m like ‘oh man this is really embarrassing, people are looking at me. What the fuck is going on!?’ And then I see the camera and you can actually see me, see the camera! I Look at it and I go ‘okay! We got to carry it! Then I run away as fast as I can, because it’s not about that. And I get why they (AEW) put it up [online] and that’s cool.”

Did you see the speech from Eddie Kingston? Let us know in the comments