AEW’s Big Business edition of Dynamite proved to be a historic night for the promotion, and Boston’s TD Garden was packed for this stacked event.
The March 13, 2024, edition of AEW Dynamite saw the much-anticipated arrival of Mercedes Mone, close to two years after her WWE exit. Mone spoke about her journey in wrestling and being home in Boston. Later in the show, Mone made the save for Willow Nightingale, who was being attacked by Skye Blue and AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart. It’s notable that Mone saved Willow, given that it was during a match with Nightingale that Mone suffered last year’s ankle injury.
AEW Big Business Does Big Business
AEW’s Big Business edition of Dynamite saw over 9,400 tickets distributed, sources confirmed to WrestleTix. They added that this means that several upper decks and sections on the hard cam side will have been fully open and distributed.
The show did a reported gate of $345,660, which makes for an average ticket price of $36 a seat. WrestleTix reported that the average ticket price was much lower than usual.
AEW Big Business
This week’s show also saw AEW World Champion Samoa Joe retain against Wardlow. The Bang Bang Scissor Gang imploded as Bullet Club Gold turned on The Acclaimed following Jay White’s victory over Darby Allin. In tag-team action, Chris Jericho & Hook, dubbed ‘LionHook,’ defeated Gates of Agony. The Elite defeated Pac, Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo, with Kazuchika Okada setting his sights on Kingston’s AEW Continental Championship.
After weeks of anticipation, Mone’s arrival in AEW has spawned a ton of reactions. WWE’s own Tyler Breeze was pleased to see his former colleague become All-Elite.
AEW is ready to light Boston up with tonight’s ‘Big Business’ show, and two WWE Superstars have come to Beantown to support their debuting ally.
Much of that buzz around AEW Big Business surrounds Mercedes Mone, who is expected to make her official AEW debut during tonight’s show. Mone, who has been on AEW’s payroll for some time, has hardly been subtle when it comes to her involvement in the show.
WWE Superstars in Boston
Mone’s debut is being seen by many as a sure thing, and the presence of two WWE Superstars certainly adds credence to the belief she’ll debut. Bayley and Naomi, both close friends of Mone, are in Boston ahead of tonight’s show, PW Insider reports.
The three have been closely linked for years, with Bayley and Mone being the ‘Boss ‘n Hug Connection’ in WWE while it was with Naomi that Mone walked out of that same promotion two years ago. Bayley and Naomi made the trip to Japan in January 2023 to watch Mone make her NJPW debut at that year’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event. The pair were also at NJPW Battle in the Valley 2023, which saw Mone capture the IWGP Women’s Championship.
Bayley and Mone were in attendance when Naomi, as Trinity, made her debut for TNA Wrestling (IMPACT Wrestling at the time) in May of last year. The pair were also present at TNA Hard to Kill 2024, which saw Trinity lose the TNA Knockouts Championship to current champ Jordynne Grace.
AEW Dynamite – March 13th, 2024
Here is what fans can look forward to on tonight’s show.
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardow
The Elite vs. Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo & Pac
Fans of AEW will be very satisfied with what transpires on tonight’s ‘Big Business’ edition of Dynamite, Tony Khan has promised.
AEW Big Business will be the first show of its name and has garnered a ton of buzz. Much of that buzz surrounds Mercedes Mone, who is expected to make her official AEW debut during tonight’s show. Mone, who has been on AEW’s pay-roll for some time, has hardly been subtle when it comes to her involvement in the show.
Tony Khan’s Vow
While many see Mone’s debut as a done deal, AEW President Tony Khan has unsurprisingly not commented on the reports of her much-anticipated arrival. Speaking with Scott Fishman of TV Insider, Khan didn’t reference the Mone rumors by name but guaranteed a satisfying show.
“I promise I will not disappoint the fans tonight. There has been an influx of huge names, and tonight is the biggest show yet.”
Khan also spoke about his roster, which he believes to be the best in wrestling, and is confident tonight’s show will showcase something very special.
“I think that constant innovation and the perpetual strides toward always wanting to get better are a big part of the spirit of AEW. I think tonight’s Big Business show on TBS will showcase that innovation.”
AEW Dynamite – March 13th, 2024
Here is what fans can look forward to on tonight’s show.
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardow
The Elite vs. Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo & Pac
One of the most decorated champions in wrestling will be at this Friday’s SmackDown when the blue brand comes to Memphis, TN.
Memphis’ own Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler is set to appear on this Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown, PW Insider reports. Lawler recently pulled out of an appearance in new York City originally set for Saturday, March 16.
Lawler, a WWE Hall of Famer, last appeared for WWE during the August 28, 2023, episode of WWE Monday Night RAW. Lawler did not appear on screen though, as his segment saw him brought out by Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens during a commercial break. It is unclear if Lawler’s appearance at SmackDown will be broadcast or solely for his fellow Memphis residents to see.
WWE SmackDown – March 15
This week’s SmackDown will see more than just an appearance by Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. The show will also see The Rock make an appearance as part of his recent heel run. It is believed that the Great One will host a ‘Rock Concert’ during the episode.
This Friday’s SmackDown will also see Bayley seek to gain a measure of revenge on Dakota Kai. The Kiwi Superstar turned on Bayley last week, reaffirming her role as part of Damage CTRL. Tis week’s show will also see the first of a series of qualifying tag-team matches. The winners will be part of the six-pack Undisputed Tag Title Ladder Match at WrestleMania 40.
Thunderbolt Patterson, an influential though often overlooked name in wrestling, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on the eve of WrestleMania 40. He will be inducted on Friday, April 5, following that evening’s episode of WWE SmackDown.
Patterson began his wrestling career by moving to Texas and working with Dory Funk Sr. (father of WWE Hall of Famers Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk.) His dedication to wrestling saw him move far from his home in Iowa.
Patterson immediately captivated audiences with his interviews that featured a delivery reminiscent of Black Southern church pastors. It was this charisma that his contemporary Virgil Runnels would take inspiration from, transforming the son of a plumber into the ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes.
In the ring, Patterson faced legends including Bruiser Brody and WWE Hall of Famer The Sheik. He was also an accomplished tag-team wrestler and was an ally of the late Ole Anderson. The two would eventually split and their brutal rivalry would serve as a catalyst for the launch of the legendary Four Horseman.
Behind the scenes, Patterson was vocal about supporting his fellow wrestlers and ensuring fair treatment. He spoke openly about ensuring the health and safety for wrestlers and was also vocal against racial discrimination in the industry.
WWE Hall of Fame 2024
Thunderbolt Patterson is the fifth name confirmed for this year’s class of the WWE Hall of Fame.
The US Express will be inducted this year, the only tag team to have received the nod so far. Boxing icon Muhammad Ali will be posthumously inducted on April 5.
Cinta de Oro was no fan of being forced to unmask in 2011 and has admitted that he felt ‘naked’ when said unmasking happened in WWE.
De Oro is known for his WWE run as Sin Cara, but he was the second Superstar to don the mask and name. De Oro became Sin Cara after the original man behind the mask, known as Mistico in CMLL, was suspended for 30 days for violating WWE’s Wellness Policy.
Feeling Naked
Later that same year, the first Sin Cara confronted de Oro’s imposter version, with the pair being dubbed Sin Cara Azul (Mistico) and Sin Cara Negro (de Oro.) This feud culminated with a Mask Vs. Mask match on a Mexico City edition of SmackDown in which de Oro lost.
Sitting down with Sportskeeda’s Wrestle Binge podcast, de Oro recalled being told of his unmasking and how upset he was at the time.
“I was very devastated because I had never wrestled without a mask in my career… Without a mask, I felt like I was naked. I didn’t feel it was me.”
Time as a Lucha Dragon
Ironically, Cinta de Oro would re-mask years later after the original Sin Cara was released by WWE but the promotion wanted to keep the character going. By 2014, he was part of the Lucha Dragons and would capture the NXT Tag Team Championships with Kalisto that same year. In the interview though, de Oro shared his honest take on being a Lucha Dragon.
“I used to hate when they would tell me to do this (mimics Lucha chants). I felt like I was a cheerleader… But then as the crowd started loving it, then you become part of it.”
Eventually, de Oro’s time with WWE would come to an end in 2019 after he asked for his release. That same year, he would return to Mexico to compete for AAA.
John Cena proved the lengths he’ll go to entertain with his viral appearance the 2024 Oscars, according to his friend and former rival Booker T.
At this year’s Academy Awards, Cena was on-hand to present the award for ‘Best Costume’ alongside Jimmy Kimmel. In a throwback to the 1974 ceremony that saw a streaker interrupt a speech by David Niven, Cena appeared in the ‘nude’ and covered his unmentionables with a large envelope.
Of course, Cena wasn’t actually nude at the Oscars, despite what some may believe. Backstage photos have revealed he wore skin-colored trunks to give the illusion of nudity.
John Cena at the Oscars
Cena’s performance at the Oscars immediately went viral with people from both in and out of wrestling weighing in. Addressing what happened in Tinseltown during the latest episode of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T said it demonstrated how willing John is to entertain.
“That was risky, but it just goes to show you how far we have come and how far John is willing to go to entertain. That’s all. That’s all it is. That’s a wrestler, doing something like that. Wrestlers gonna put themselves out there.”
What’s Next?
John is hoping to appear (clothed no less!) at WrestleMania 40 when the Showcase of the Immortals comes to Philadelphia, PA next month. The show will be the fifth-annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition which began thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of right now, there have not been any publicly confirmed plans for the 16-time WWE World Champion.
The latest episode of Dark Side of the Ring that focused on the life of Marcus ‘Buff’ Bagwell proved to be quite the spotlight on the infamous WCW star.
Here are just some of the many interesting talking points from the latest Dark Side of the Ring.
Buff Loves His Family
Right from the start, we get a sense of Buff’s love for his family, which is paid for in kind. The episode opens with Bagwell in his mother’s office that is filled with pictures and magazine covers of his wrestling career. Bagwell makes clear that his success comes down to the late Judy Bagwell and her drive.
Bagwell adds that from a young age, his family saw big things in him. It is mentioned that there was wrestling on TV growing up by there was never an inkling of getting into the business.
Buff’s Father’s Parenting
Buff isn’t the only notable Bagwell as his father Steve was a famous drag racer and self-made millionaire. Steve was the more calmer of the Bagwell parents but really lost it if he lost his cool. Former WCW and TNA referee, Mark “Slick” Johnson recalls a time when Steve lost a bet and fired a machine gun on a bunch of geese in anger. Steve confirms the story is true.
Another example of Steve’s parenting saw him hand out bags of cocaine to his son and his friends and would tell them “Have fun tonight but stay out of trouble.” The rationale was that if his son was going to get drugs, he’d rather he get them from a trusted source.
Buff and the NWO
Buff says he didn’t need to be asked twice about joining the NWO. He said his time in the faction changed his career and he was thrilled to be in the ring with such talent.
Buff on Monday Night Raw
After WCW’s collapse, Bagwell was signed to WWE in 2001 but after a critically panned match on Raw against Booker T, he was let go shortly after. Buff says he didn’t think the match was bad, but it wasn’t a barn-burner five-star classic either. Addressing being fired within days of the match. He said:
“I had a horrible match? So What? I am Buff Bagwell….why would you get fired over a bad match?”
Losing His Mom & Getting Clean
In November 2021, Judy Bagwell passed away after a battle with Alzheimer’s. This is the most difficult loss in Buff’s live and Steve breaks down talking about his wife. Steve recalls her final moments in which Judy fell into a state where she could not wake up and Steve spent over an hour trying to get her to wake. Buff says everyone says their mom is the best but he knows his was the best.
Judy’s death is seen as a wake-up call to Buff, who’s issues with substances is addressed multiple times in the episode. Buff talks about working to get sober after his niece made clear that he had to or the family would leave him. Buff shares his gratitude to ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page for all his work.
Feeling the Love
Buff’s ex-wives, Judy (not his mom) and Tonya say they still love and support him and that he has a great support network. Eric Bischoff adds that Buff is a lovable guy and that’s why his ex-wives still love him, and that’s he loves him. Steve says he’s most proud of Buff for working on staying sober and Tonya concludes by saying she’s rooting for him.
Special thanks to 411 Mania for assistance with this report.
KSI may have been left aching after appearing on last week’s SmackDown, but that won’t stop him from getting back on WWE programming.
During last week’s episode of SmackDown, Logan Paul and KSI announced that PRIME Energy will sponsor the ring mat of all WWE premium live events. This unprecedented move in WWE will begin with next month’s WrestleMania 40 event in Philadelphia, PA.
The PRIME Energy co-founders were interrupted by Randy Orton, who many expect will challenge the U.S. Champion at WrestleMania. While Paul escaped the RKO attempt, KSI was less lucky and was hit with the move before being dragged onto the PRIME logo.
KSI Ready to Return to WWE
On the most recent edition of the ImPaulsive podcast, KSI spoke about taking the RKO from WWE’s Legend Killer.
“Honestly, one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life… My nose is smushed, my lip got cut up. The inside of my lip is destroyed from my teeth slamming into his bicep.”
KSI was certainly hurting after his run-in with Randy Orton but is hoping to do much more as part of WWE programming.
“I like to see myself as the Shane McMahon of WWE. I don’t mind getting a Stone Cold Stunner. I just want one suplex.”
KSI in WWE
KSI’s unfortunate appearance on SmackDown is not the only time he was left hurting at a WWE event. At WrestleMania 39, KSI, dressed as a PRIME bottle, attempted to help Logan Paul during his match with Seth Rollins. Things backfired when Rollins would pull KSI onto the announce table and Paul, who had lept from the top turnbuckle when Seth had been prone, crashed into his friend and business partner.
Many see Mone’s debut on tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite as a foregone conclusion, and her most recent social media post certainly adds credence to the idea that she’ll appear on the show.
Taking to social media, Mone shared a photo from her flight to make clear she’s arrived in her hometown on Boston, MA, where tonight’s Dynamite will take place. If this wasn’t clear enough, Mone refers to ‘Beantown’ as ‘Bosston’ which is how the city is referred to on promotional material for the Big Business Dynamite.
Update: Wednesday afternoon, with five hours until Dynamite, Mone kept the hype going:
BO$$TON ????
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 13, 2024
AEW Dynamite Preview:
Here our preview for tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Big Business special live from Boston’d TD Garden:
What’s Next for Mercedes Mone?
Should Mone debut for Dynamite tonight as expected, there’s no shortage of talented women she can step in the ring with. Some have speculated that a feud with Saraya could happen given their history. It was a move from Mone (Sasha Banks) at the time, that led to Saraya (Paige) being forced to retire from wrestling due to a neck injury. The Brit would return to the ring at Full Gear 2022.
Brock Lesnar could be back on WWE programming, and soon, if movements happening within the promotion prove successful.
Lesnar is referenced in Janel Grant’s shocking lawsuit against WWE, in which she alleges to have been abused and trafficked by Vince McMahon. While not mentioned by name, Grant alleges that she was trafficked to a former UFC Champion who has been identified as Lesnar.
In the wake of Grant’s lawsuit, Lesnar was pulled from this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match and his name and stats were omitted from a Royal Rumble statistics video. Plans for a match with Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber were also shelved.
Bringing Back Brock?
Last weekend, Lesnar was re-added to WWE’s roster page, leading to speculation that he could make a comeback despite the scandal. During the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez said that there have been moves within WWE to make such a return happen.
“In the last few days, there have been moves regarding Brock Lesnar… There are movements to bring him back.”
Alvarez made clear that his comments should not be seen as confirmation that Brock will be brought back and believes it would be a bad idea on WWE’s part.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be back… I wouldn’t bring him back but I can tell you that there have been inquiries made… It seems like a bad idea to me. Put it that way.”
What’s Next?
If WWE intends to bring Lesnar back, they may do so in time for the Beast to have a match at WrestleMania. The former WWE Universal Champion has wrestled 12 times at WWE’s annual showcase and boasts an even 6-6 record.
WWE is celebrating four decades of WrestleMania with new limited-edition championships from four distinct eras of professional wrestling.
The new championships are $699.99 each on WWEShop.com and are being promoted with shipping within one business day. Each title features side plates bearing a 40 Years of WrestleMania insignia as well as a similar metal end plate.
The Golden Era
The four champions represent a different era in the promotion’s history. The Golden Era title celebrates WrestleManias 1 to 10 and features the Winged Eagle plates synonymous with Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, and others. The strap features the iconic WrestleMania logo.
The Attitude Era
The Attitude Era Championship features the plates of the ‘Big Eagle’ title held by ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Mick Foley, and others. The strap features the logos for WrestleManias 11 to 20. Dubbing this the Attitude Era title may raise some eyebrows, given that the acclaimed period of wrestling history didn’t really come into effect until WrestleMania 14 and the consensus among many is that it ended after just three years.
The Ruthless Agression & PG Era
The Ruthless Agression & PG Era title is emblazoned with the logos of WrestleManias 21 to 30. The plates come from the ‘Spinner Belt’ introduced by John Cena in April 2005. This championship is the only one of the four that includes a nameplate, which includes the dates 2005-2014.
The Modern Era
The Modern Era championship features the plates seen on the current Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and WWE Women’s Championship. Like the other titles, it features the logos of WrestleManias 31 to 40.
WWE SummerSlam 2024, is coming to Cleveland, Ohio, and U.S. Champion Logan Paul wants a piece of Lebron James at the biggest party of the summer.
On his ImPaulsive podcast, the reigning WWE U.S. Champion, a native of Forest City, confirmed that SummerSlam will take place at the Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3. As Paul pointed out, the show will mark the first time that SummerSlam has taken place in Cleveland since 1996.
Logan Paul’s Potential Opponent
Paul and his co-hosts, which includes his PRIME Energy co-founder KSI, spoke about bringing the excitement to the upcoming show. The Maverick especially wanted to put on a good show in his hometown.
When one of Paul’s co-hosts suggested LeBron James, Paul said he’s “probably” going to be stepping in the ring with the basketball legend. Dave Chapelle was also thrown out as a potential opponent, which Paul was also on board with.
WWE has a rich history of hosting Premium Live Events in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. WWE’s first PLE in the city was the aforementioned SummerSlam 1996 which saw then-WWF Champion Shawn Michaels retain his gold against Big Van Vader. Other WWE events hosted in Cleveland include No Mercy 1999, Survivor Series 2004, Unforgiven 2008, and WWE TLC 2014.
The promotion’s most recent PLE in Cleveland was Fastlane 2019 which saw The Shield defeat Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre in a six-man tag-team match. The bout marked the first match featuring the Shield following Roman Reigns’ return from his second victory over leukemia.
Imitation is considered the sincerest form of flattery, and Christian Cage certainly felt flattered during a segment on this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw.
“You know why everyone boo’s you? You don’t belong here. You think the internet hates you? You should hear what the girls in the locker room say. It’s a good thing your dead brother isn’t here to see what an embarrassment you’ve become.”
Christian Cage Weighs In
LeRae’s comment about Maxxine’s brother has spawned a debate about whether WWE went too far in the name of entertainment. Plenty of people have taken to social media to share their take on the situation. In a tweet of his own, Christian Cage didn’t mention the segment by name, but said how everybody wants to be him. As the comments showed, it’s clear that the AEW TNT Champion who has a tendency to bring up dead relatives was talking about LeRae’s comment on Raw.
They ALL want to be me
— Jay 'Christian' Reso (@Christian4Peeps) March 12, 2024
Maxxine Dupri’s Brother
Wyatt Zmrzel passed away at the age of 22 after a life of numerous challenges. Wyatt was born with adrenoleukodystrophy; a rare genetic condition that affected his ability to use the right side of his body and left him prone to seizures.
Due to adrenoleukodystrophy, Wyatt relied on car services for transportation. In December 2017, a Lyft driver made a turn onto a highway at a rural intersection. The Lyft vehicle collided with a Toyota 4-Runner, killing Zmrzel.
AEW’s CJ Perry has spoke about the impact social media has made on her mental health following her split from fellow All-Elite talent Miro.
TMZ Sports first reported earlier this week that the couple had “broke up once and for all” and that their split had happened in the winter of last year. It was added that the pair had been experiencing an on-and-off relationship for several years.
CJ Perry on Social Media
Taking to Twitter, Perry didn’t address the split directly but spoke about her mental health being severely impacted whenever she is on the platform. Perry added that it’s hardly a surprise that for the most part she tries to keep off of the site.
Every time I go to twitter or @x my mental health is severely impacted. Wild. No wonder I stay off this platform
Perry and Miro, as Lana and Rusev respectively, met in WWE and the Ravishing Russian would serve as a manager. The couple were called up to the main roster in 2014 but had an on-screen split in 2015. That year’s angle, which saw Rusev align with Summer Rae and Lana with Dolph Ziggler, was cut short after Miro and Perry announced their real life engagement.
Miro would be released from WWE in 2020 and debuted for AEW under his real name that same year. Perry’s tenure as Lana ended the following year and she joined AEW in 2023. At AEW Worlds End, Perry turned on Andrade El Idolo following the former NXT Champion’s loss to Miro. While many saw this as a sign of Miro and Perry reuniting as an on-screen duo, it’s unclear what the future holds given their real-life separation.
Chad Gable has shared just how visceral his loss on this week’s Raw has been for him after coming up short in the Intercontinental Title contenders gauntlet match.
The Olympian was part of the six-man match which also featured Ricochet, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, JD McDonagh, and Sami Zayn. The match came down to Gable and Zayn, both of whom have made emotional cases for challenging GUNTHER at WrestleMania. Despite a valiant effort by Gable, Zayn got the win and the title shot at WrestleMania 40.
Chad Gable on His Visceral Loss
In a WWE Raw Digital Exclusive after the match, Gable reflected on last night’s match and this latest setback.
“For those who have never felt something like this, it’s more visceral than I can describe. It’s not coming up short. It’s really letting people down that depend on you in a number of ways. For me this meant a lot more than WrestleMania, a lot more than a championship. It was a very personal, personal thing for me [and] my family.”
Chad Gable on Sami Zayn
After his defeat, Gable and Zayn shared some words in the ring. When asked what Sami said, however, Gable said he wasn’t going to divulge their private conversation.
“For now, that’s going to stay between me and Sami. To be honest, I was less interested in what he had to say and more interested in getting out of the ring.”
Gable acknowledged that was the winner of the match but argued that facing GUNTHER at WrestleMania would always mean more to him than the Canadian.
“I’m a man, willing to say that he [Zayn] was the better man tonight. I don’t think it meant more to him. I don’t think it still means more to him than it does to me but I have no problem showing respect.”
A huge ladder tag-team ladder match has been confirmed for WrestleMania 40, one that will see the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships on the line.
During a segment on the March 11, 2024, episode, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis spoke about wanting to make this year’s WrestleMania the biggest ever. The pair announced that the Judgment Day will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania in a six-team ladder match.
Tag teams will have the opportunity on both Raw and SmackDown to earn a spot in the ladder match. The first qualifying match will take place on this Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown.
Who Could Make the Cut?
There’s no shortage of tag teams in WWE who’d love a shot at the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. From Monday Night Raw, fans can watch the likes of the Creed Brothers and their allies in Alpha Academy. There’s also Awesome Truth, Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, as well as DIY and the New Day.
SmackDown is hardly lacking in tag teams either. The blue brand is the home of The Final Testament, which includes the Authors of Pain. The Latino World Order could also qualify for the title match though we’re sure Legado Del Fantasma would love to stop that. The O.C., Pretty Deadly, The Pride and New Catch Republic can also be found on Friday Nights.
WWE WrestleMania 40
This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins & Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns & The Rock
GUNTHER (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
The Judgment Day (c) vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs.TBA (Six-Pack Ladder Match, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
During this week’s Raw, WWE shared a photo from UFC 299, hardly a surprise given that WWE & UFC are part of TKO Group Holdings. The photo in question, as Michael Cole made clear, was of Rhea Ripley at the most recent UFC event. Ripley was photographed with her fiance Buddy Matthews of AEW. Cole didn’t mention AEW or Matthews, despite Pat McAfee asking “with who?!” was Ripley sat with.
In June 2022, WWE celebrated 20 years since the on-screen debut of John Cena. Many of Cena’s greatest rivals paid tribute to the 16-time WWE World Champion, including some from AEW. Bryan Danielson, Paul Wight, and Chris Jericho all appeared on Raw via video packages to recognize the impressive career of ‘Big Match John.’
Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan are among those named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, in which she claims she was abused and trafficked during her tenure.
The suit claims that Khan, WWE’s CEO, was instrumental in a scheme that saw Grant hired in an undefined role, Front Office Sports reports. Khan is listed in the paperwork as ‘Corporate Officer 1’ alongside WWE COO Brad Blum (Officer 2.) McMahon presented Blum and Khan to Grant as his ‘key fixers’ according to the suit.
A statement from WWE reads:
“WWE takes Ms. Grant’s allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact. Neither Nick Khan nor Brad Blum, prior to the lawsuit being filed on January 25, 2024, were aware of any allegation by Ms. Grant that she was the victim of abuse or unwanted physical contact; nor does the complaint allege that either had knowledge of such.”
The suit claims that in March 2021, Grant told McMahon that Khan responded to her introducing herself in a corridor by telling her he knew exactly who she was. McMahon told her, according to the suit, that Khan had “inquired whether Grant could be trusted.” A WWE spokesperson denies this conversation ever happened.
It should be stressed that neither Blum or Khan have been accused of acting sexually inappropriate with Janel Grant.
Brad Blum’s Alleged Role
Grant claims that when she first met with McMahon, she had minimal work history, but that the 78-year-old ensured her a meeting with Blum, the EVP of operations at the time. The interview with Blum saw “hardly any questions” asked, but she was hired to a $75,000-a-year role in WWE’s legal department. When McMahon told Grant that Blum had warned him “that there were a lot of rumors circulating” about the relationship, she was moved to another department.
Stephanie McMahon in the Lawsuit
The suit also makes reference to Stephanie McMahon (Corporate Officer 3) who stepped down from WWE in January 2023 following her father’s return. Stephanie is mentioned once in ambiguous context in the suit. She is described as knowing “of other instances of [Vince] McMahon engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct” and motioned for Grant to sit near her during a meeting. The meeting in question was said to be among WWE’s executive committee which Grant claims was odd for her to be present for, saying it was far above her pay grade.
Sami Zayn hopes to win his second championship in as many WrestleManias when he challenges Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER next month.
On Monday Night Raw, Zayn emerged as the victor of a Gauntlet Match to determine the Austrian’s next challenger. The match featured Zayn, Chad Gable, Shinsuke Nakamura, ‘Big’ Bronson Reed, Ricochet, and JD McDonagh of the Judgment Day.
The match started with Ricochet, the man GUNTHER dethroned in June 2022, taking on McDonagh. The One and Only pinned McDonagh before Bronson Reed eliminated Ricochet. Zayn would be the fourth entrant in the match and would eliminate Reed. He would then eliminate Nakamura and Chad Gable to get the win and the coveted title shot.
Sami Zayn as Intercontinental Champion
Zayn is a three-time Intercontinental Champion and won the title for the first time in March 2020. After opting to take a break from WWE programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zayn would be stripped of the title but in storyline claimed to still be the champion when he returned to TV in August that same year.
At Clash of Champions in September 2020, Zayn was crowned the Undisputed Intercontinental Champion but lost the title to Big E in December. His third reign began in February 2022 but he would lose the gold to Ricochet mere weeks later.
WWE WrestleMania 40
This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
GUNTHER (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
John Cena could indeed be free for an appearance at WrestleMania 40, despite previous concerns that his filming schedule could prevent him being at the show.
Cena’s blossoming acting career keeps him very busy, which is why WrestleManias 37 and 38 came and went without an appearance. Now, the show’s own Jennifer Holland has given hope to fans wishing to see Cena at WrestleMania 40. Responding to a fan’s question about the show’s second season, Holland, who portrays Emilia Harcourt shared her excitement. She also noted that the plan is for Peacemaker season two to begin filming this Summer, long after WrestleMania.
“Yessss we start filming this summer! It’s gonna be so gooooood.”
John Cena at WrestleMania
Cena made his WrestleMania debut in 2003 during the pre-show, and would open the show by winning the U.S. Championship the following year. Cena has competed a total of 16 times at WrestleMania with eight of those matches being for a World Championship. He currently boasts a win/loss record of 10-6.
Charlotte Flair’s efforts to thin her impressive wardrobe has resulted in the WWE Superstar donating 200 items of clothing to a shelter.
On her Instagram Stories, Flair noted that her closet was getting out of hand. Rather than just throw away items of clothing, the former WWE Women’s Champion donated 200 pieces to a local women’s and children’s shelter in an incredible act of generosity. Flair also shared a before and after photo to show the difference to her closet.
Charlotte Flair’s WWE Status
During the latter part of her December 9, match with Asuka, Flair was hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE’s medical crew after the match. The injury happened when Flair came off the top rope at an awkward angle and her legs bounced off the ropes. Despite this, Flair was able to finish the match that saw Asuka get the victory.
This injury wasn’t enough to keep Charlotte from supporting her husband Andrade at a CMLL event, in what would be one of the former NXT Champion’s final appearances before returning to WWE. In January, Flair had knee surgery and has been showing significant improvements.
While Omega hasn’t been competing, the AEW EVP has remained active on Twitch where fans can find him playing video games and sharing updates about his life and condition. Taking to Twitter, Omega said he’s thinking about delivering match ratings. the Cleaner admitted that the idea of rating matches may rub some fans the wrong way.
I’ve been enjoying the streams lately but have been thinking about adding a new activity.
One that’s sure to unite all wrestling fans and encourage peaceful discussion.
Kenny Omega isn’t rating matches yet but the former AEW World Champion knows all about giving high-star performances. Omega currently has 25 matches rated five or more stars by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. 12 of these matches surpassed the five-star scale. His highest rated match took place at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall and saw Omega and Kazuchika Okada give a seven-star performance.
What’s Next?
It’s ironic that Okada and Omega had the seven-star match as it seems the pair will face off nice more. On last week’ AEW Dynamite, the Young Bucks fired Omega as a member of the Elite. That same show saw Okada debut and align with the Bucks, seemingly replacing Omega in the role.
On the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Copeland ambushed Cage and challenged him to an I-Quit natch for the TNT Championship for the March 20, episode. The choice of date is no coincidence, as the show will take place in Toronto, Canada.
On the March 9, edition of AEW Collision, Copeland once again got the better of Cage and the Patriarchy. He also teased having a surprise for Cage when they next face for the TNT Championship. Taking to Twitter, Copeland continued to tease having something special for his former friend.
Hopefully, Copeland’s surprise will help nullify the numbers advantage that the Patriarchy gives the reigning AEW TNT Champion. In addition to Killswitch, Cage has Nick Wayne at his beck and call, as well as Mama Wayne. Copeland has some allies of his own in AEW, including Darby Allin and FTR.
