ESPN has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for AEW programming to ESPN subscribers in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

AEW shows that will air on ESPN in those regions include Dynamite, Rampage and (on delay) the quarterly PPV lineup including Revolution, Double orNothing, All Out and Full Gear.

Here’s the official announcement sent in to SEScoops:

February 9, 2023 – ESPN announced that it has secured exclusive broadcast rights to top American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), bringing its premium matches and entertainment to ESPN subscribers in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands starting February 16.

This marks AEW’s first broadcast deal in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and ESPN’s first broadcast partnership with a professional wrestling organization in the region. AEW, the new professional wrestling league taking the world by storm, is continuing its meteoric rise with record-high ratings, world-class roster and highly entertaining product.

Each week on ESPN, fans in the region can catch all the action on “AEW: DYNAMITE” on Thursday AEDT, and “AEW: RAMPAGE” on Saturday AEDT, with same-day replays and episodes made available on-demand. In addition, through ESPN, fans will have access to all of AEW’s quarterly pay-per-view events on delay: REVOLUTION, DOUBLE OR NOTHING, ALL OUT and FULL GEAR.

AEW’s star-studded roster includes Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, MJF, Jon Moxley, Jamie Hayter, Saraya, Kenny Omega, Matt & Nick Jackson, Darby Allin, Sting, Orange Cassidy, Jade Cargill, Dr. Britt Baker, Claudio Castagnoli, Adam Cole, The Acclaimed, Jungle Boy, Samoa Joe, Athena, Toni Storm, Ricky Starks, Wardlow, Buddy Matthews, and Powerhouse Hobbs. Further bolstering its global pop culture infiltration, AEW has launched impressive collections of video games, action figures, trading cards, merchandise and more.

AEW will be available on ESPN in the following locations:
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Niue, Nauru, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Northern Marianas, Tokelau, Tahiti, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, American Samoa, Marshall Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, and Wallis and Futuna.

About AEW

Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, AEW is offering an alternative to mainstream wrestling, with a roster of world-class talent that is injecting new spirit, freshness and energy into the industry. In the U.S., “AEW: DYNAMITE” airs every Wednesday night on TBS and attracts the youngest wrestling audience on television, and the fight-forward show “AEW: RAMPAGE” airs every Friday night on TNT.

For more info, check out Twitter.com/AEW; Instagram.com/AEW; YouTube.com/AEW; Facebook.com/AEW

About ESPN

ESPN is the world’s leading sports entertainment company and is renowned for delivering sports with personality and authority. In Australia and New Zealand ESPN operates the ESPN and ESPN2 sports television networks, distributed on the Foxtel, Fetch, Kayo Sports and Sky platforms. We deliver over 10,000 hours of live events and studio programming each year, with a broadcast rights portfolio that includes NBA, NFL, UFC, US Open, NBL, MLB and NHL, and much more. In addition, the ESPNews, ESPNU, ACC Network and SEC Networks are available to stream via the ESPN App. ESPN networks feature some of the most respected and recognizable sports anchors and reporters on the globe, with names like Scott Van Pelt, Stephen A Smith, Doris Burke, Adrian Wojnarowski, Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose.

ESPN and ESPN2 and available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ.

We have another encouraging update on Jerry Lawler’s health after suffering a “massive” stroke on Monday outside his home in Fort Myers, Florida.

Lawler’s official Twitter account (@JerryLawler) posted the following update on Thursday, February 9. The King is scheduled to leave the hospital Friday. He’s still experiencing some speech and cognitive issues, but doctors are optimistic that he’ll make a full recovery.

Dutch Mantell, Lawler’s longtime friend, also provided an update after speaking with Lawler’s son, Kevin.

Previously … On Wednesday (February 8), Lawler’s official Twitter account (@JerryLawler) checked in with some great news: he’s expected to make a full recovery.

His friend and longtime meteorologist Dave Brown had a video call with the King on Tuesday (February 7) and provided this account to Commercial Appeal:

“Some of the initial reports were just horrible, so I feel much better than I did 18 hours ago when I felt like I got hit in the face with a shovel. I was incredibly encouraged after I did a FaceTime. Jerry was alert. He talked to me. He could only say a couple words at a time, which is pretty normal. But (he) was able to move both legs and both arms.”

Once again, SEScoops wishes Jerry Lawler a full and speedy recovery.

All Elite Wrestling’s first console video game has finally received a rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

AEW: Fight Forever has received a “Teen” rating for some suggestive content, including the use of molotov cocktails, deep cleavage, partially exposed buttocks, crotch chops, depictions of alcohol consumption, smoking and more.

• Pre-Order AEW: Fight Forever Now (Amazon)

AEW: Fight Forever Rated ‘Teen’

Here’s the official Rating Summary, courtesy of the ESRB:

This is a wrestling game in which players compete in matches with wrestlers from the AEW roster. Players use punches, kicks, and grappling maneuvers to drain their opponents’ health. In some match types (e.g., Barbed Wire, Stadium Stampede, Unsanctioned) players can use barbed wired, baseball bats, metal chairs, and Molotov cocktails against opponents, eventually resulting in submission and/or knock outs. Blood-splatter effects can occur during matches, staining the mats; video footage of real matches also depicts blood on wrestlers’ faces and bodies. The game contains some mildly suggestive material: female wrestlers in revealing outfits (e.g., deep cleavage, bunny outfits, partially exposed buttocks); wrestlers performing taunting gestures (e.g., crotch chop, slapping buttocks). Real footage sometimes depicts wrestlers drinking alcohol and smoking. The word “sh*t” is heard in the game.

Fight Forever is ‘coming soon’ and has been coming soon since 2021. In recent weeks, there has been speculation that the ESRB rating was one of the issues holding up the game’s release, so this is one more hurdle cleared.

The game will be available, at some point, for Windows PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.

Matt Cardona, best known to wrestling fans as Zack Ryder in WWE, is a master of branding and self-promotion. When WWE creative didn’t have anything for him in the early 2010’s, Cardona took it upon himself to create the groundbreaking Z! True Long Island Story digital series. He generated so much organic popularity that the company had no choice but to feature him more prominently on television.

He’s been wrestling independently since leaving WWE in 2020, with appearances for Game Changer Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, Impact and more. Throughout his career, Cardona has proven to be creative and innovative.

Necessity has been one of the main reasons Cardona has been forced to get so creative. When WWE wouldn’t push him, he took matters into his own spray-tanned hands and made them push him. When he saw that WWE let the “Zack Ryder” trademark lapse, he jumped at the chance to secure the name and monetize it himself. According to the Long Island Broski, that was not a smooth process.

Zack Ryder Trademark Battle

Cardona recently spoke with Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net for the Pro Wrestling Boom podcast. During his discussion with the veteran journalist, Cardona explained that he had big plans for a “Matt Cardona vs. Zack Ryder” cinematic match. That would have led to all sorts of merchandising opportunities, including a “Ryder & Cardona two-pack” of wrestling figures produced by his very own toy company, Major Bendies.

Unfortunately, WWE lawyers fought Cardona’s attempt to secure the Zack Ryder Trademark. He knows a legal battle with WWE would be costly, so decided to abandon his effort. As a result, he’s officially closing the book on that portion of his career.

“I applied for [the Zack Ryder trademark] knowing there’s a chance [WWE] could fight it and they have so that’s it, I’m letting it go,” he said. “… I’m not gonna fight — because at the end of the day, it’s their intellectual property. They would win if we ever went to court over it so I tried, they fought it so that’s it, I’m backing down.”

“Zack Ryder is dead, in my opinion … It’s over, it’s dead, it was great. I’m grateful for that time but it’s done.”

– Matt Cardona

There’s always a chance we could see ‘Zack Ryder’ make another run in WWE, but he’s moving on from ever owning that character himself. Cardona’s wife, Chelsea Green, recently returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble.

• Matt Cardona Comments on Whether He’s Interested In a WWE Return

Check out our exclusive interview with Matt Cardona (June 2022):

Major League Wrestling sent in the following announcement:

Philadelphia to host Battle RIOT V, tickets on sale this Friday at MLW2300.com

(PHILADELPHIA) — Major League Wrestling today announced Battle RIOT V for Saturday, April 8 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

? Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. at MLW2300.com and the 2300 Arena box office. Tickets start at $15.

40 wrestlers will riot in Philly as one combatant looks to outlast 39 others and earn a world title shot anytime, anywhere against Alex Hammerstone.

More talent and matches will be announced in the coming weeks ahead at MLW.com.

WHAT IS THE BATTLE RIOT?

A mash-up of a battle royal, royal rumble and anything goes street fight, this super-sized main event will feature 40 wrestlers with new participants entering the ring every 60 seconds.

There will be surprises! There will be legends! There will be WTF entries… and there will be no disqualifications!

Elimination is by pinfall, submission or by throwing an individual over the top rope.
Anything is possible in a Battle Riot!

WHAT DOES THE WINNER GET?

The winner gets a World Heavyweight Title Shot anywhere, anytime! It could be that night; it could be in 6 months. The challenger has the key to unlock an instant title shot against whoever the champion is!

More athletes and matches will be announced at MLW.com.

Major League Wrestling returns to Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on Saturday, April 8. Buy tickets at http://MLW2300.com. Tickets will also be available day of show at the box office unless the event sales out in advance.

Major League Wrestling founder Court Bauer has penned an open letter to fans ahead of Tuesday night’s MLW Underground premiere on REELZ:

Dear MLW Fan,

It’s been more than five years since we embarked on bringing back Major League Wrestling. During that time, we’ve introduced a new generation of wrestlers while showcasing gifted talent who had been underappreciated and underutilized elsewhere. 

Together we broke through barriers, broadcasting MLW in 60 countries and hitting amazing milestones from live specials to our new Boss Fight Studio action figures to Pay-Per-View. 

Along the way, you helped build the foundation of MLW by showing up and supporting us. Whether it’s watching us every week, coming to our shows, spreading the word on social media, buying your favorite MLW shirt or just telling a friend about us. You are the heart of MLW.

We’ve endured a lot together. From a pandemic to billionaires attempting to cripple the hard work so many have put into your league. 

For five years MLW has been the best kept secret. Our secret. All we needed was the platform. 

Now we have the platform with REELZ. Now we have an opportunity to show the world what Major League Wrestling, its roster and its fans are all about.

Tonight begins a new chapter for us. 

Tonight, and every Tuesday at 10pm MLW Underground will be on one of the top 25 networks in cable TV in REELZ. 

This moment is about more than MLW. It’s an opportunity for wrestlers, fans, and the sport of professional wrestling to usher in a challenger to the status quo. 

MLW Underground is the culmination of five years of blood, sweat and tears of MLW wrestlers, staff and crew and we couldn’t be more pumped to be here… watching it together with you on REELZ in prime time across the country.

Welcome to the Underground! See ya 10pm tonight.

Sincerely,

MLW on REELZ Preview

The following matches are scheduled for tonight’s MLW Underground on REELZ premiere:

• Last Man Standing Match: Alex Hammerstone vs. EJ Nduka

• Bomaye Fight Club leader Alex Kane has an open challenge

Plus, Real1, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Mance Warner will appear.

WWE SummerSlam is headed to Detroit, Michigan this summer. The event will take place Saturday, August 5 from Ford Field, home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The stadium has a capacity of approximately 65,000 people.

• This will be the first time SummerSlam emanates from Detroit, although the 1993 installment was held in the Detroit-area (Auburn Hills, MI).

• This will be the third consecutive year that SummerSlam is held in a football stadium, following Allegiant Stadium (Paradise, NV) in 2021 and Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN) last year.

• Ford Field hosted WrestleMania 23 back in 2007. That event, which featured the infamous Battle of the Billionaires (Vince McMahon and Donald Trump) is one of the biggest box office successes in company history.

Here’s the official SummerSlam press release:

SUMMERSLAM® HEADED TO FORD FIELD IN DETROIT AUGUST 5

First WWE Event at Ford Field Since WrestleMania® in 2007 and First SummerSlam To Be Held in Michigan In 30 Years

STAMFORD, Conn., February 7, 2023 – WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that Ford Field in Detroit will host SummerSlam on Saturday, August 5.

SummerSlam marks the first WWE event to be held at Ford Field since WrestleMania in 2007 and the first SummerSlam to take place in the state of Michigan since 1993.

“We are excited for Ford Field to host WWE’s biggest event of the summer and look forward to the WWE Universe converging on Detroit to celebrate SummerSlam’s long-awaited return to Michigan,” said Dan Ventrelle, EVP, Talent at WWE.

“Landing WWE SummerSlam at Ford Field is a signature win for Detroit and continues the momentum of the Detroit Sports Commission in attracting major sporting events to the region,” said DSC Executive Director Dave Beachnau. “Metro Detroit enjoys a special place in WWE history and has produced many iconic moments. Thank you to the entire WWE family for entrusting us with this incredible opportunity, and we look forward to delivering a first-class experience.”

Tickets for SummerSlam will go on sale Friday, April 14, 2023, via Ticketmaster.com. To learn more about registering for presale opportunities, please visit:
https://www.wwe.com/summerslam2023-presale-registration

In addition, official SummerSlam Priority Passes will be available soon through exclusive partner On Location, giving fans the opportunity to purchase ticket packages before they go on sale to the general public. SummerSlam Priority Passes will offer fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment, including premium seating, all-inclusive pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise, and much more. For more information about SummerSlam or to secure your access with a refundable deposit, please visit https://onlocationexp.com/wwe/summerslam-tickets or call 855-346-7388.

Chris Jericho has claimed an important piece of memorabilia from his legendary wrestling career.

The WWE Intercontinental championship has long been considered one of the industry’s most prestigious prizes. Often referred to as the ‘workhorse’ belt, there have been 89 IC champions since the title was introduced in 1979. Pat Patterson was crowned the inaugural champion after winning a grueling, very-real tournament held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The list of men who have held the IC championship includes Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, Steve Austin, The Rock and more.

Chris Jericho and the Intercontinental Title

The IC title holds special meaning for Jericho. He’s had a record nine IC title reigns. It was also the first championship he won as a WWE Superstar.

Jericho’s first reign came when he defeated Chyna at ‘WWE Armageddon’ on December 12, 1999. He lost possession of his first Intercontinental belt at some point over the years. Now, it’s back where it belongs.

Dan Lambert, founder of the American Top Team MMA gym, is an avid wrestling fan and belt collector. Lambert was on board the recent Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager: Four Leaf Clover cruise and brought a special gift with him.

As seen below, Lambert presented Jericho with his first Intercontinental belt. The smile on Jericho’s face as he hoists the gold over his head once again shows how much the gesture means to him.

• Jericho Cruise ‘Five Alive’ Announced for January 2024

AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman wants people to know his longtime friend Zachary Wentz (Zachary Green) is not an anti-Semite.

Wentz, who previously wrestled for WWE as NXT star Nash Carter, was released in April 2022 after his ex-wife alleged he was physically abusive to her. She also released a photo of him sporting a ‘Hitler’ mustache.

The former NXT tag team champion later issued a statement explaining how ashamed and apologetic he was for the photograph, which was taken in 2015. He stated, “There is no excuse for such behavior and I take full responsibility for my actions and ask for forgiveness.”

He took a bad situation and made the best of it by reflecting on his conduct, re-educating himself about the horrors of the Holocaust and vowed to ‘do better’ in the future.

MJF Defends Zachary Wentz

On Monday, MJF posted a thread on Twitter defending Wentz. MJF has spoken about his experiences with anti-Semitism in high school and in the wrestling industry. There are a lot of ignorant and hateful people out there, but he wants to make it known that Wentz is not one of these people.

MJF continued, “When a wrestler who shall remain nameless keyed my car and called me a kike, Zachary went out of his way when everyone else turned a blind eye to check in on me.”

He added that fans on Twitter can sometimes run dirtbags out of the industry, but fans aren’t right about everything and they’re wrong in this case.

Wentz has been wrestling on the independent scene since leaving NXT in April 2022. Over the past several months, he’s wrestled for REVOLVER, Warrior Wrestling, AAW and other independent promotions.

Last week, he wrestled a tag match with The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Myron Reed) at REVOLVER’s A Night at the MOXbury event. Last month, he wrestled against AEW star Konosuke Takeshita at Warrior Wrestling 27.

Chris Jericho’s ‘Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea’ cruise is returning in 2024. The fourth installment, dubbed Four Leaf Clover, just wrapped up. On Monday, organizers announced the first details about Five Alive.

The Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager returns to the high seas January 26-30, 2024 from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico. Once again, Jericho and company will be commandeering the Norwegian Pearl.

According to the official announcement sent in to SEScoops, “It’ll be the incredible Jericho Cruise experience that you know and love, full of insane AEW wrestling, Fozzy performances, up-close-and-personal meet and greets and more. This year, we’re adding a Top Rope Belly Flop competition and The Gimmick Gala.”

Here’s all the information regarding the pre-sale and general on-sale events:

• First Round Pre-Sale Deadline: 2/13 @ 11:59 PM ET

• Final Pre-Sale Deadline: 2/15 @ 11:59 PM ET                      ?

• Public On-Sale: 2/17 @ 2 PM ET

For booking information, visit JerichoCruise.com.

WWE rolls into Orlando, Florida tonight for a live episode of Monday Night Raw from the Amway Center.

We’re now less than two weeks out from Elimination Chamber, which takes place next Saturday, February 18 from Montreal.

We’ve got four matches confirmed for tonight’s broadcast, including three Elimination Chamber qualifying matches and a steel catch match between two of the biggest female stars in WWE.

Matches for Raw

Here’s what we’ve got on tap:

• Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a Steel Cage match

Elimination Chamber Qualifiers:

• Michin vs. Candice LeRae vs. Carmella vs. Piper Niven in a Fatal 4-Way
• Angelo Dawkins vs. Damian Priest
• Montez Ford vs. Elias

After Raw, the participants for each the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches will be set.

On the women’s side, confirmed participants include Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, Nikki Cross, Asuka and Natalya. The winner will challenge Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at WrestleMania.

For the men, Austin Theory’s United States Championship will be on the line. Confirmed participants include Theory, Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed and Johnny Gargano.

Steel Cage Match Preview

The steel cage match between Bayley and Becky Lynch was originally scheduled for the recent Raw 30 anniversary special, but was cut that night due to time constraints. WWE fans were so upset that the match was bumped that “WWE Women Deserve Better” trended on Twitter.

Since then, there have been even more twists and turns in this heated rivalry. WWE has put together the following video recapping the ‘road to steel cage match’ between these two former friends:

Cody Rhodes says he wants to bring back the iconic Winged Eagle WWE Championship belt if he can defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood.

The American Nightmare won the Royal Rumble this past weekend to punch his ticket to the main event of WWE’s biggest show of the year. Earlier this week, he posted a photo of the winged eagle on Instagram, which set off a frenzy of excitement on social media.

During a Wednesday appearance on WWE’s The Bump digital series, Rhodes spoke about why the Winged Eagle is so important to him.

“Through my youth, the WWE I was watching, was really synonymous with the Winged Eagle. I think there’s a lot of people who love the Winged Eagle design, some people like the Big Eagle, but the Winged Eagle was the one for me. Today’s design with the giant W is also incredibly special because it’s this walking billboard for the promotion.

If anybody can get the Winged Eagle brought back, it’s Cody Rhodes. He was the man responsible for reviving the since-retired Intercontinental championship belt design held by legends including Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect and The Mountie.

“It was just a pipe dream. I posted that, I don’t want people to think I’m calling a shot, I don’t want people to think I’m going into business for myself. The reality is, I was able to change the Intercontinental Championship once before, which seemed before.

So, if I’m able to get to the finish line, the biggest WrestleMania of all time, SoFi, in Hollywood, if I’m able to get to the finish line and get my hands on these things that like I said, have eluded my family up until now, maybe it’s just a pipe dream, a glimmer, but it would be fun to just say lets just boil ‘em down and bring back the winged eagle.”

Winged Eagle Dreams

Rhodes knows his comments are going to get a lot of people buzzing. He made sure to clarify that he’s just sharing how he feels about this particular subject. However, that’s how he got WWE to bring back the classic IC title, so there is some cause for optimism.

“Listen, this is me just talking. I feel like I’m going to leave and get a bazillion texts like, ‘No, no!” All the titles, it’s the equity within them that makes them special. But just from a design standpoint, I have a lot of love and reverence for that one. It’s just a little pipe dream.

I had the same pipe dream for the Intercontinental title and I was lucky enough to make that come to fruition. So, follow along, because this is where the fun begins.”

Watch Cody Rhodes’ comments about wanting to bring back the Winged Eagle WWE Championship belt on The Bump:

MLW sent in the following press release on Wednesday announcing BetOnline.ag as the promotion’s official sportsbook partner:

Los Angeles–Feb. 1, 2023– Major League Wrestling (MLW) – one of the fastest growing wrestling organizations in the world – today announced worldwide online gaming leader BetOnline.ag as the title sponsor and official sportsbook partner of the league.

This announcement comes on the heels of MLW’s landmark U.S. TV distribution deal with leading cable network REELZ, which will debut the new weekly flagship series MLW Underground Wrestling on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, and reveal of the first-ever MLW action figures produced by BossFightShop featuring Alex Hammerstone, Killer Kross, Jacob Fatu and Mads Krugger in the past month.

“Sports gaming is embedded in all forms of sports and a partner like BetOnline goes hand-in-hand with MLW and our distinct combat sports product,” said MLW CEO Court Bauer. “Just as they are a leader in the rapidly growing sports gaming space, MLW aims to lead in a time when pro wrestling has never been hotter, and we’re looking forward to all the ways this partnership will grow.”

“We are extremely thrilled to partner with Major League Wrestling this season,” Dave Mason, Brand Manager at BetOnline, said. “As a leading provider in the North American sports betting market, BetOnline is always eager to support initiatives that align with our product, and MLW is a burgeoning behemoth in the pro wrestling space. 

“BetOnline’s sponsorship allows us to heavily engage with MLW’s rabid fanbase, bringing new and exciting entertainment and gambling products to its growing audience. We’ve been offering wrestling odds to U.S. customers for more than 15 years, and we’re excited to be part of MLW’s trailblazing entry into the industry.”

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE WRESTLING

Major League Wrestling (MLW®) is a sports media holding company, offering television content, action figures, apparel, live events, and ancillary entertainment. MLW operates live events in major markets throughout the United States and Mexico, including New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Tijuana. One of the fastest growing wrestling leagues today, MLW programming is available in over 60 countries worldwide, including its new flagship series MLW Underground Wrestling on REELZ in the United States airing Tuesdays at 10pm ET / 7pm PT; and MLW Fusion on Pro Wrestling TV in the U.S. and Ayozat TV on SKY in the United Kingdom.

For more information visit MLW.com and follow MLW on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

All Elite Wrestling has announced a refresh of its community outreach program. The revamped program, named AEW Together, includes a restructure of programming and the addition of key staff.

Here’s the full announcement, sent in to SEScoops Wednesday morning:

Feb. 1, 2023 – AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan today announced the company’s refreshed and refocused community outreach program under a new name: AEW TOGETHER. Moving forward, AEW TOGETHER will operate as AEW’s philanthropic initiative designed to foster lasting, positive change in each market AEW visits.

Under the leadership of new Director of Community Engagement Katelyn Borden, AEW TOGETHER will dedicate its efforts and initiatives around four core pillars: (1) Next Generation, focusing on youth programs, (2) Equity, with an emphasis on human rights and social change, (3) Service, helping those in need in the local area, and (4) Wellness, focusing on physical and mental health. The efforts of AEW TOGETHER complement AEW’s commitment to fostering the physical and mental wellness of its talent and staff. Borden and AEW Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh established these core pillars with a renewed emphasis on selecting and serving causes near and dear to the hearts of AEW’s roster.

AEW TOGETHER will continue its larger-scale national partnerships with charitable organizations throughout the year, including KultureCity, the American Heart Association and Oceana. In tandem, the team will continue to develop collaborations with local nonprofits and organizations to support communities in need. AEW Together will also continue fundraising efforts and awareness campaigns for groups that align with the program’s core values.

AEW TOGETHER’s relaunch kicks off today, the start of American Heart Month, with a CPR training session done in coordination with the American Heart Association for AEW talent and staff ahead of a live episode of “AEW: Dynamite” in Dayton, Ohio.

The following updates to the AEW TOGETHER team, who will report into Parekh, are effective immediately:

Katelyn Borden will serve as AEW TOGETHER’s Director of Community Engagement. She will be responsible for driving the overall strategy of philanthropic and local activations, managing fundraising targets and overseeing team members. She will also manage the evaluation of proceeds, data and results, and work to secure and develop partnerships and implement activations.

Amanda Huber will continue her impactful work as Community Engagement Coordinator, spearheading the identification of local organizations for collaborations in AEW’s touring markets. Her role will encompass coordinating logistics for activations and meet-and-greets, as well as managing all team communications channels.

Mark Henry, Paul Wight, Jake Roberts, and “Captain” Shawn Dean have been promoted to Special Advisors to AEW TOGETHER. In this role, they will bring their experience and passion for community relations to help identify partner organizations across the country, assist in incorporating talent participation and provide counsel on enhancing activations.

“The overarching mission of AEW TOGETHER is to fight collectively for a better world, and I’m honored to lead this incredible team in our effort to create meaningful impact,” said Katelyn Borden. “With our roster of passionate wrestlers and amazing partners across the country, we have the power to make a difference. We’re thrilled to officially kick off AEW TOGETHER today, and I’m looking forward to all that’s to come this year and beyond.”

“Hand-in-hand with delivering the best product to our fans each week is our strong commitment to fostering a safe, healthy and inclusive community through the power of wrestling. AEW TOGETHER complements this by identifying causes that are important to our talent and supporting organizations in the cities we visit throughout the year,” said Tony Khan. “The team behind AEW TOGETHER will ensure that we make a positive impact in every town we visit through volunteering, fundraising and helping to drive social change.”

For the latest updates and activations, follow @AEWTogether on Twitter & Instagram and visit www.aewtogether.org.

Charlotte Flair just returned to WWE after eight months out of the spotlight. That’s a long time in the fast-moving world of WWE.

During a recent chat with Ryan Satin on the Fox Sports’ Out of Character podcast, the reigning SmackDown Women’s champion says she had no concerns about being “replaced” by someone else during the hiatus.

WWE is an extremely competitive environment in and out of the ring. There is no shortage of performers eager to be featured in main events and holding championships. This can lead to some people being protective of the spots, but not Charlotte. When asked if she was worried about someone replacing her in the eyes of management, she confidently replied, “No.”

“If anything, I feel like the longer you’re away, the more important you become.”

– Charlotte Flair

Focused on Personal Development

Charlotte admits she’s a bit of a control freak. This characteristic serves her well in some respects, such as her training and how she presents herself. On the flip side, her career was on hold while the WWE machine moved forward.

“I never worry about somebody replacing me or taking my spot,” said Charlotte. “What I was feeling was like, ‘What am I doing? It’s been eight months and I haven’t done anything. Realistically, I got married. I had all these dental procedures. I was able to travel the world. But professionally, what am I doing?’

One day I’d be like, ‘You’ve been non-stop since like 2012. Relax. Maybe this is a growing period.’ But then I’d be like, ‘No, I’ve gotta be doing something.’ I went back and forth, back and forth.

“I’m someone that likes to be in control, and I didn’t feel like I was in control. So that’s more what I worried about, was not progressing at something, whether personally or professionally. But someone taking my spot? No.”

She has every reason to be this confident. While some roles are interchangeable, Charlotte Flair is a once-in-a-generation performer. She’s determined to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time and is well on her way to taking that crown.

• Charlotte Flair Eying Champ vs. Champ Match with Bianca Belair

Charlotte Flair made a triumphant return to WWE on the final SmackDown of 2022. She beat Ronda Rousey in an impromptu match on December 30, the same woman who took the title off her in an ‘I Quit’ match seven months prior at ‘WrestleMania Backlash.’

A lot happened during her hiatus. She married AEW star Andrade El Idolo. She also underwent dental surgery. Now that she’s back on top, the Queen looks ahead to the latest chapter of her storied career.

Charlotte is the latest guest on Fox Sports’ Out of Character podcast with host Ryan Satin. During their discussion, she reveals the moment she decided to return to WWE, her dental procedure journey, details about her wedding day and much more.

During her time away from WWE, she took inventory of her WWE career. She strived to gain a renewed understanding of character’s motivations and what’s left for her to accomplish.

Major Dental Issues

Charlotte WWE absence was primarily due to her needing to undergo dental surgery. In fact, she had 22 stitches in her mouth during her wedding.

“I have three implants and one of them failed. Like a week before the wedding, literally a week before the wedding, the implant failed,” she said. “So actually, during my ceremony, I had like 22 stitches [in my mouth], because they had to cut out the .. when it failed, it was an infection.”

“So over the summer, [I had] bone graphing, two gum graphing procedures. I mean, everyone was like, ‘Why were you gone? Why were you gone?’ Dental issues are hard to explain. It’s still not done. I’m probably going to have to replace that third implant that we tried to save.”

She’s experienced dental issues her entire life. When she was six years old, she fell off her bike and knocked out four teeth. They were only able to salvage two of them. During her days as a cheerleader in middle school and high school, more teeth got knocked out. Even as a WWE Superstar, she’s lost teeth in the ring, including several years ago during a match against Carmella in Germany.

Getting Married by Nacho Libre

Charlotte also spoke about her wedding to Manny [Andrade]. She says the wedding was awesome, in part because it was officiated by famed luchador Fray Tormenta, who was the inspiration behind the 2006 movie Nacho Libre. Tormenta lived a wild life during his days as a wrestler, but has reformed himself and is now one of the most sought after priests to officiate weddings in Mexico.

“I did not understand the service completely, but Manny was whispering everything the guy was saying,” she said. “It wasn’t just, your typical service or ceremony. The priest was talking about how he was a luchador and participated in negative things that hurt his marriage, but changed his life, [learned about] happiness and loyalty and respect, how when he found god, it changed his life. It was really cool.”

It was very special for them to have their families together, even if just for one day. Andrade was way more stressed than her, because he had more family at the wedding than she did.

Right after they got they went to Costa Rica and Tequila, Mexico. Then later had their official honeymoon in Italy and had an amazing time.

Watch Charlotte Flair’s appearance on Out of Character:

Game Changer Wrestling has announced that New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kota Ibushi will return to the ring and debut for GCW next month. It all goes down over ‘WrestleMania Goes Hollywood’ weekend from Los Angeles as part of GCW’s The Collective 2023.

Ibushi last competed on October 10, 2021 when he faced (and lost to) Kazuchika Okada in the G1 Climax 2021 Final. He’s been out of action with a shoulder injury and also had a public falling-out with NJPW during that time.

Ibushi will be appearing for GCW on two shows:

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9
Thursday March 30, 4pm

Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7
Friday, March 31, 8pm

Both events will stream live on FITE+ from the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California. If you’ll be in town WrestleMania weekend, visit Eventbrite to buy tickets for the GCW events.

Click here for more information on additional talent announced for GCW The Collective 2023.

Austin Theory will defend his United States Championship inside the Elimination Chamber at WWE’s next premium live event. Byron Saxton announced the news late Monday afternoon.

The first Elimination Chamber qualifying matches will begin tonight on Raw. Seth Rollins faces Chad Gable and Baron Corbin battles Johnny Gargano to determine who will fill the second and third spots in match.

Aside from the men’s Elimination Chamber match, the event is also expected to see a women’s Chamber match, as well as Roman Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Based on what transpired at the Royal Rumble, Sami Zayn is almost certainly Reigns’ next challenger.

WWE Elimination Chamber takes place Saturday, February 18 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Bell Centre (formerly known as Molson Centre).

Bobby Lashley couldn’t help but ‘dunk’ on Brock Lesnar after eliminating him from Saturday night’s men’s Royal Rumble match.

Lashley cut a promo on SmackDown and warned the entire WWE Universe that he plans on being the last man standing in San Antonio. As he was speaking, Lesnar emerged from the crowd and viciously attacked the Almighty with an F5. The Beast declared his entry into the Rumble, setting the stage for another clash between these two heavyweights.

Having won Rumble in 2003 and 2022, Lesnar was considered one of the favorites the moment he was announced as a participant. In the hours leading up to the Rumble, Lashley warned WWE Superstars to stay out of his way.

He wrote, “I’m getting rid of Brock tonight, and THEN I’ll take care of the rest of you!”

Lashley Eliminates Lesnar

Brock Lesnar entered the Royal Rumble at #12 and went on a rampage. He flung Chad Gable, Santos Escobar and Angelo Dawkins out of the ring with ease. The next entrant into the Rumble was Bobby Lashley at #13. Two combustable forces like this do not co-exist for long. It all came to ahead when Lashley stunned the Alamodome by eliminating Lesnar.

As you can see below, Lesnar did not handle it well.

On Sunday morning, Lashley took a moment to mock Lesnar on Twitter. He told the former UFC Heavyweight champion to kiss his ass. It’s one thing to talk trash to Brock Lesnar. It’s another thing to antagonize him when he’s already riled up.

Brock Lesnsar vs. Bobby Lashley is rumored to be one of the top matches at ‘WrestleMania Goes Hollywood’ in April.

Natalya made a surprise return to WWE at in the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match. The second-generation Superstar had not publicly declared for the match. She’s been out of action since November after undergoing nasal surgery to move her dislocated nose “back to the center” of her face.

As the daughter of WWE legend Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Natalya regularly wears pink and black as an homage to the Hart Foundation, his classic tag team with Bret “Hit Man” Hart.

It wasn’t a big surprise to see her rocking the ‘Hart colors’ at the Royal Rumble. On Sunday, the 2-time Women’s Champion revealed her Rumble ring attire was extra special, with deep ties to her father’s legendary tag team.

Natalya’s Royal Rumble Ring Gear

In a post on Twitter, Natalia revealed that her Rumble gear was designed by the same person who (along with her sister) is responsible for the Hart Foundation wearing pink and black in the first place.

“The costume designer who made this outfit for me, Julie, also designed the very first ever Hart Foundation gear with her sister, Terry,” she wrote. They were the ones who came up with the concept of The Hart Foundation wearing pink and black.”

She also wore a skull cap, a look coined by her father during the Hart Foundation’s tag team title reign in 1990. As seen below, you can see the inspiration behind this latest look.

Natalya has been a member of WWE’s main roster since April 2008. As a senior member of the women’s locker room, she has a ton of experience to offer some of Raw and SmackDown’s more recent additions.

Mentoring aside, Natalya is not over the hill by any means. Just last year, she challenged then-SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at WWE’s Money in the Bank premium live event. Rousey got the win, but Natalya showed she can still compete at the highest level.

Rhea Ripley was in a partying mood after winning the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble match, but she didn’t go the distance without taking a few bumps and bruises.

Ripley now has a one-way ticket to a main event match at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood. She’ll get to choose whether she challenges Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship or SmackDown women’s champion, Charlotte Flair. She’s already held the Raw Women’s title, a factor that could play into her decision.

WWE held a press conference after the Royal Rumble. Several Superstars including Cody Rhodes, Bray Wyatt fielded questions from members of the wrestling media. Ripley was all smiles when she spoke, telling the room that she’s planning to celebrate in a big way.

“The Judgment Day, we get pretty wild when we party,” she said. “There’s a lot of things that go down, I might get in trouble if I say anything. There’s definitely gonna be a good old Judgment Day party. Dom Dom’s gonna get rowdy, Priest is definitely gonna get rowdy and Finn Balor is gonna get rowdy, and I’m gonna celebrate, I don’t care.”

Update on Rhea Ripley After Winning the Royal Rumble

On Sunday, Ripley posted a photo on Twitter showing off the scrapes and cuts she sustained on the way to her big win. This is nothing compared to what happened to Sonya Deville, but you can see she didn’t make it out unscathed.

Rey Mysterio did not appear in the men’s Royal Rumble match, despite WWE having creative plans for him in the match.

Mysterio was scheduled to enter the Royal Rumble at #17. His music hit, but the lucha libre legend was nowhere to be found. The following entrant was his son, Dominik, who came out wearing his father’s signature mask. He removed the mask and tore it up as he made his way to the ring to officially enter the match.

What unfolded on television was not what WWE had planned for the Mysterios at the Rumble, but the company was forced to call a last-minute audible due to Rey sustaining an injury the previous night.

Rey Mysterio Update After the Royal Rumble

Rey Mysterio was injured during his match against Karrion Kross on Friday’s SmackDown, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Mysterio defeated Kross on SmackDown, which was taped from the Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas.

“[Rey Mysterio] was going to be in the Rumble, that spot was changed,” said Meltzer. “I think they were actually supposed to do some teases with him to set up a WrestleMania match [against Dominik].”

Rey Mysterio won the 2006 WWE Royal Rumble, so he would have been a formidable contender, even at this late stage in his career.

With Rey unable to compete, WWE’s creative team instead came up with what we saw on television, and the idea that the Judgment Day attacked Rey Mysterio and prevented him from participating.

We’ll be looking into the nature of Rey Mysterio’s latest injury and will provide an update when we get more information. The extent of his condition may dictate whether or not he’s healthy enough to face his son Dominik at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood.

WWE Superstar Sonya Deville suffered a nasty gash above her left eye in Saturday night’s Women’s ‘Royal Rumble’ match.

Deville entered the Rumble at #27, an advantageous spot that most entrants would be happy to receive. She eliminated a few people, including Indi Hartwell and Zoey Stark, before getting kicked in the head and tossed out by Asuka.

Early Sunday morning, Deville checked in on social media to let her fans know she’s alright, and to show off the full extent of her injury.

Sonya Deville’s Royal Rumble Injury (Graphic)

As seen below, she suffered a huge cut on her eyebrow that likely required several stitches to close up. She’s taking the setback in stride and says, “I’m a beast!”

The 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match was ultimately won by Rhea Ripley of Judgment Day. Ripley now who heads to WrestleMania Goes Hollywood, where she’ll face either Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair or SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.

Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble premium live event concluded with the latest chapter of the ongoing saga of Sami Zayn and the Bloodline (Results).

After months of tension, the storyline that many have likened to Scorsese-level cinema culminated with Zayn interrupting a Bloodline beatdown on Kevin Owens, hitting Roman Reigns with a steel chair and being left for dead by Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso. As for Jey Uso, well, he’s a bit conflicted.

To see what happened after the Royal Rumble went off the air, watch the footage above, courtesy of the What a Vlog Youtube channel.

Former MLW star EJ Nduka made his debut for All Elite Wrestling at Saturday’s AEW Dark tapings from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. He faced Konosuke Takeshita in a match that will soon air on the AEW Youtube channel.

Nduka had two tryouts for WWE before signing with the company in August 2019. He trained at the Performance Center but was released less than two years later.

He signed with Major League Wrestling shortly thereafter as part of that year’s MLW Open Draft. Known as The Judge, Nduka held the MLW World tag team championships with Calvin Tankman. His MLW contract expired earlier this month and he decided to test himself on the free agency market.

Here are some photos of Nduka’s AEW debut, courtesy of Jacob Cohen:

Nduka is friends with AEW TBS Champion, Jade Cargill. They attended Jacksonville University together and broke into the business on the very same day.

During a November 2021 interview with SEScoops correspondent Samira, “So, Jade and I, we both went to college together. Ironically, we knew of each other, but we didn’t know each other. In college, she played basketball and I played football. We actually got close when we got in the industry the same day.”

“We had our tryout at the WWE at the PC (Performance Center). She was literally right behind me in line. We started chopping it up and ever since then we’ve just been really good friends and we train whenever we get a chance. They were in Orlando for the AEW Dynamite, so we got an opportunity to train.”