WWE fans are enjoying the latest run Randy Orton is on after a potential career-ending injury. After more than a year out of action dealing with a back injury, he returned to WWE Survivor Series on November 25, 2023. Since then, he has been regularly featured on TV and competing with the best in the company. Although he has shared that he feels he’s entering his prime in his career, Orton is not opposed to taking the right opportunity in Hollywood. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd81IRoMpkI

In an interview with Adam’s Apple, Orton revealed that the United Talent Agency represents him and has done auditions. 

“…I’m with UTA, and I do turn in auditions. Do some self-tape here and there, but sometimes I’ll see these roles pop up a year or two years later that I don’t get, and I’ll see it and say, Man, I’m glad I didn’t get that role,” said Orton. 

He noted how difficult it could be to wrestle for WWE, commit to his acting career, and be involved with his family. He also doesn’t want to take a role that doesn’t do anything for himself. 

Randy Orton On When He Plans To Retire

Despite wanting to focus on his wrestling career, Orton has acknowledged that he may have a few years left as a competitor. In the interview, he spoke about dealing with injuries at 35 and how the company leadership under Vince McMahon could be grueling to a talent’s body. However, Orton notes that times have changed with the new regime, and he is allowed to take time off to heal.

“…It’s a great atmosphere to okay how can we make this guy last and the beauty of it is, I’m not even there yet. I feel so great after my surgery. I’m a full-time guy,” said Orton.

The former WWE Champion also shared that he doesn’t want a schedule like The Undertaker, where he may wrestle for significant events like WrestleMania. While he feels in great shape, the 44-year-old believes he may end his career in six years. 

“…I want to be on the road every week. I want to make all the TVs. I want to be on all the PLEs (Premium Live Events), and at 44, just turned 44, I would love to be able to go into my 50s. Maybe I wrestle until I’m 50 and call it, and that’s 30 years with the same company,” said Orton. 

While there may be questions about whether Orton’s body can maintain wrestling for another six years, he is currently in the best shape of his career. The changes in WWE have also made it possible for him to improve his health. For now, fans can enjoy Randy Orton on Smackdown as he hopes to show that he is just reaching his peak. 

All Elite Wrestling Fight Forever is still going strong after its official release last year. The game was released on June 29, 2023, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Steam. Although AEW Fight Forever was met with mixed reviews universally, the company is still adding more content to appease fans. 

On X/Twitter, AEW revealed that they have updated the game for free with new character skins and five music tracks. The company also announced that Stadium Stampede mode has been updated. 

“As a thank you to the fans for making #AEW the fastest growing wrestling promotion of all-time, the new Elite Beats and Stampede Expansion is available to #AEWFightForever players starting today,” wrote AEW.

The timing of the update is interesting as the company will celebrate the anniversary of its first pay-per-view, AEW Double or Nothing, on May 25. This year, the annual AEW event will occur on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s unclear if the AEW Fight Forever will add more free content in connection to other milestone events for the company. However, AEW Fight Forever fans will appreciate the free additions to the game. 

AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 DLC

Along with adding a free update, AEW has also announced that their fourth Season Pass is available for download today for $19.99 on social media. The game has added Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Adam Copeland to be playable for fans who purchased it. AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 also adds two arenas, 30 move sets, and a new tournament mode. 

The new DLC is notable for wrestling fans as it will be the first game that Copeland will be involved in which isn’t WWE. The last game he was involved in was WWE 2K23 from the previous year. 

There are still wrestlers that have yet to appear in the game. It’s possible AEW Fight Forever could add more DLC or a free update later this year. However, their latest update could be enough for now to enjoy. 

All Elite Wrestling fans are dumbfounded by the inactivity of Ricky Starks. The company hasn’t featured Starks since his tag team loss with Big Bill against Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) on the March 30 episode of AEW Collision. It was rumored that his absence was due to an injury. However, he has revealed that he is fine despite the speculations. 

In his last appearance, Starks seemed to have gotten hurt towards the end of the match. After he took the pin after a Tornado DDT from Darius, doctors checked on the former tag team champion. Starks would reveal later on Instagram that he wasn’t hurt and that the doctors were looking at him for precautions. However, AEW’s decision not to feature him for over a month has left fans wondering if he was injured. 

On X/Twitter, Starks shut down rumors of him being hurt. 

“To ease anyone’s mind, I’m not injured. Never was. Pick another narrative pleaseeeee,” wrote Starks.

Starks’s comments were in response to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson’s report that he was getting checked out by my AEW medical team last week. He shared that doctors saw him because it was his annual physical. He also noted that he squatted over 400 pounds during his visit. It’s unclear why the AEW superstar isn’t being featured on TV, but fans are wondering what the company’s plans are for him. 

AEW Seemingly Splitting Up Ricky Starks & Big Bill Tag Team

In recent weeks, Bill has started to look for guidance from ‘The Learning Tree’ Chris Jericho. He interrupted the current FTW Champion during an in-ring segment on the April 24 episode of AEW Dynamite. 

Although he didn’t address his status with Starks, Bill seemed ready to move on to be with Jericho. The company could build towards Starks eventually returning to confront Bill about switching allegiance. However, it does seem like their tag team may be over. The hope for fans is that AEW could bring back Starks to be more involved on TV soon. 

WWE 2K24 is set to have the first batch of downloadable content on May 15. The popular video game series will have five DLC packs, which fans can purchase together in a season pass for $39.99. In preparation for next week’s release, WWE 2K24 has shared a first look at ECW legend The Sandman. 

The upcoming DLC titled the ECW Punk Pack features The Sandman, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley), Terry Funk, and CM Punk as playable characters. It will mark the first time they will be playable in the last few years, including The Sandman, who hasn’t been in a WWE video game since Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. 

WWE 2K24’s X/Twitter account previewed a first look and the entrance for The Sandman. 

Let's hear it for The Sandman ?

The ECW Punk Pack for #WWE2K24 is available May 15 pic.twitter.com/adPs0h39mD

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) May 6, 2024

More On The Sandman In WWE 2K24

Although the hardcore icon character model looks good, his appearance resembles his time in WWE. Fans may be disappointed that his signature ECW theme, Enter Sandman by Metallica, isn’t featured in his entrance. It’s also noticeable that the ECW legend doesn’t come to the ring from the crowd in the game. 

It’s unclear why WWE 2K developers didn’t include The Sandman’s signature entrance in their latest installment. Alongside the first look at the hardcore legend, WWE 2K24 revealed that he has an 86 overall. The Sandman’s stats come as a surprise, with the ECW icon having better numbers than current WWE superstars. 

The Sandman’s Overall Compared To Current WWE Superstars In The Game

The Sandman’s high overall may surprise some fans compared to active WWE talent featured in the game. WWE 2K24 has the former ECW World Heavyweight Champion rated higher than the likes of AJ Styles (85), Chad Gable (80), and Austin Theory (72). He also has a better overall than other WWE Hall of Famers featured in the game, like Booker T (85) and Harley Race (84). 

In an interview with Squared Circle Pit’s Rob Pasbani, WWE 2K24 Producer Bryan Williams explained how it’s decided to give certain wrestlers their overall. 

SEScoops’ Thomas Lowson transcribed the following quotes. 

“For us on the design side, we’re really big on character differentiation and making sure that when you select a character that they are of their appropriate hierarchy on the card. Not everybody can be a Roman Reigns. You have people that are at the tippety top of the card and then you have people that are not, but there’s no slight on anybody,” said Williams.

Williams also noted how many championships a wrestler has held and their win/loss record were considered when making the decision. 

It’s unclear why the WWE 2K developers felt The Sandman should have a better overall than several top current talent and legends. However, fans of the ECW legend will soon get a chance to put his overall to the test next week. 

Cody Rhodes has reached new heights after defeating Roman Reigns to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40. The year-long story finally ended after Rhodes overcame the odds to end the title reign of ‘The Tribal Chief.’ In the aftermath of his career achievement, Rhodes shared great advice that JBL had given him about being a champion. 

In an interview with Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg and Stat Guy Greg, Rhodes revealed that JBL spoke to him after his title win at the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All’ and what it meant to him. 

“He said, try not at this point to focus on any numbers, because you’ve already broken every record that matters. And I thought, oh, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear at the time. It was just from a guy who’s not a soft man, not an easy guy to get to get that type of love. So much love for the Cowboy, former WWE champion himself, John Bradshaw Layfield,” said Rhodes.

Although JBL advised Rhodes not to focus on numbers, the champion is motivated to be WWE’s most profitable superstar. In the same interview, he shared that he aims to surpass other greats like Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena. While Rhodes’s new goal is very ambitious, he has to remain focused on his next challenger, AJ Styles. 

Preview Of Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles At WWE Backlash

Rhodes will have his first title defense against Styles at WWE Backlash. The event will occur at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Décines, France. At this time, Rhodes and Styles are expected to be the main event of the PLE. 

Styles earned his title opportunity after defeating LA Knight on the April 19 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. The matchup will also be the first time Rhodes and Styles have competed against each other. 

‘The American Nightmare’ is coming into his first title defense with confidence after dethroning Reigns at WrestleMania 40. However, he can’t take Styles lightly as the challenger will try to push Rhodes to his limit to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes’s year is off to a great start after defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. He finally earned a victory over ‘The Tribal Chief’ to win the title that eluded his family successfully. What made the win more remarkable was that he overcame many odds, including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s interference in the match. 

‘The Rock’ became involved in the feud after Rhodes backtracked his offer for Johnson to face Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This led to the Hollywood megastar siding with his ‘The Tribal Chief’ and joining The Bloodline(Reigns, Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso). Rhodes’s issues with Johnson also took a violent turn before ‘The Grandest Stage Of Them All’ when ‘The Final Boss’ savagely assaulted Rhodes to make him bleed.

Despite being disadvantaged, ‘The American Nightmare’ landed his signature Cross Rhodes finisher to best reigns to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

Cody Rhodes On His Relationship With Dwayne Johnson 

Rhodes spoke about his victory in a recent interview on the Cheap Heat Podcast with Peter Rosenberg and Stat Guy Greg. When Rosenberg asked Rhodes about his relationship with ‘The Rock’ before WrestleMania 40, the champion revealed that he didn’t have much of a relationship with Johnson prior to their feud. 

 “…We did some dark match stuff back in the day, but Wrestlemania in Miami, I gone into his locker room to thank him for the house, and that was something that I think he remembered, whereas for me, it was just the right thing to do. We had that previous moment, but other than that, I don’t think Rock respectfully was very familiar with me, said Rhodes. 

The champion shared that he didn’t blame Johnson if he didn’t because the Hollywood megastar has too many important things to focus on. However, Rhodes shared that he enjoyed ‘The Final Boss’ getting to know him during the build toward WrestleMania 40. 

“…I enjoyed him figuring out who I was in real time as moments were happening. For example, coming down the steps with Seth Rollins, with him and Roman in the ring, I think it’s the first time he had ever heard the crowd do the whoa. I think he really took to what was going on,” said Rhodes. 

What’s Next For Cody Rhodes & Dwayne Johnson?

The night after WrestleMania 40, Rhodes and Johnson had an in-ring segment on Monday Night Raw to tease a future matchup. ‘The Final Boss’ warned the champion that he was coming for his title in the future. Rhodes accepted the challenge and claimed he would hold the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship when he returned. 

Rhodes is currently focused on defending his title against AJ Styles at WWE Backlash on May 4. The champion faces a tough matchup, and it will be the first time they will cross paths in the ring. WWE fans will unfortunately be forced to wait a little longer before they can get a dream match between Rhodes and ‘The Great One.’

A new four-part docuseries about legendary wrestling promotion WCW is coming to Vice TV on June 4. The former rival to WWE has seen many involved share their stories and experiences from working or competing against the promotion. However, WWE and Hollywood megastar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson plans to share new stories about the company’s fall with Who Killed WCW this June. 

Johnson and longtime business partner Dany Garcia are the executive producers for the docuseries. The creators of Dark Side Of The Ring are also involved in the project. 

Here is the official trailer for Who Killed WCW from Vice TV’s X/Twitter account.

"Who Killed WCW?" from our @SevenBucksProd & the Co-Creators of @Darksideofring comes a 4-part series about the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of the cultural phenomenon that was World Championship Wrestling.

Premiering June 4, 10P ET on VICE TV. pic.twitter.com/qIRJLYAQLC

— VICE TV (@VICETV) April 30, 2024

In a press release about the making of Who Killed WCW, Johnson shared why he wanted to create the docuseries and what fans can expect. 

SEScoops’ Michael Shalik transcribed the following quotes. 

“The iconic rise and fall of WCW is one of professional wrestling’s most captivating stories – full of big dreams, massive successes, painful failures, and the harsh realities of the pro wrestling business. With wrestling viewership and fan engagement at an ultimate high, there has never been a more perfect time to tell top-quality wrestling stories, and there’s no better one to start with than a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes look at this epic saga, known as The Rise and Fall of WCW and personally, the rise of WCW, not the fall, inspired me greatly early in my career where I would eventually become, the Final Boss,” said Johnson.

More On Who Killed WCW 4 Part Docuseries 

How many former WCW superstars or em ployees will be involved in the project is unclear. However, the trailer shows former WCW Senior Vice President Eric Bischoff, Goldberg, and Booker T, who will share their experiences of the company’s decline.

Although the premiere date is June 8, Vice TV will likely release a new weekly episode. The series may stream on Hulu the next day after it airs on ViceTV. 

The new project seems like it may shed new light on WCW’s fall. However, it will be interesting to see how much new information will come from stories shared for over two decades. 

WWE superstar Chad Gabe has begun to embrace his new role as a ‘Heel,’ as he aims to be a champion. He turned his back on fans after attacking WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn following a defeat on the April 15 episode of Monday Night Raw. Although he’s still earlier in his new persona, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angles sees himself in Gable’s new ‘Heel’ role.

On a recent episode of The Kurt Angle Show, the former WWE Champion praised Gable’s new character change. When answering a fan’s question about his thoughts on the WWE superstar’s in-ring promo on the April 22 episode of Raw, Angle believes that Gable is doing things he used to do in his career. 

“Well, listen, the Kurt Angle formula worked the first time. The Kurt Angle formula will work today. I’ve noticed. I’ve been watching Chad, and he’s doing a lot of actions that Kurt Angle used to do,” said the WWE Hall of Famer.

 Angle noted that Gable’s characteristics, facial expressions, and even finisher(Ankle Lock) seem inspired by him. 

“…I feel like this is a rebirth of Kurt Angle, but I’ll tell you this: he’s doing a great job at it, too. He’s really stepped up and I don’t know if I can do it any better than him. He’s doing really good right now,” said Angle. 

While Gable may be taking inspiration from Angle, the WWE Hall of Famer has shared that he would be open to being his manager. 

Kurt Angle On Possibly Being A Manager For Chad Gable

Angle believes the WWE Universe would love to see a new version of his classic faction, Team Angle. The popular group was led by the former WWE Champion and featured a tag team of Shelton Benjamin and Charlier Haas. WWE fans have also recently considered the possibility of the Creed Brothers(Brutus & Julius Creed) working with Gable to form a new faction. 

Currently, Gable is focused on his Alpha Academy and winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship. However, Angle thinks he can greatly advocate for Gable under the right circumstances. He didn’t share the terms, but his co-host Paul Bromwell suggested money is a factor. 

It’s unclear if WWE would consider bringing Angle back to be a manager for Gable. For now, Gable has set his sights on Zayn and finally aims to finally put singles gold around his waist. 

Yoga and Pilates enthusiasts are in for a great opportunity, as Brandi Rhodes has announced information for her first Naked Mind Yoga and Pilates Retreat. The former All Elite Wrestling Chief Brand Officer has steadily found success in the yoga business after getting certified as an instructor in 2023. After a month of taking surveys, Rhodes revealed that fans can now join a waitlist for her first yoga and pilates trip.  

Rhodes tweeted on X/Twitter that the retreat will be held from September 17 to September 20 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. She also shared a link where people can sign up and reserve a spot on the trip early. 

On February 15, the former AEW Chief Brand Officer posted information about her first trip on social media and asked fans to complete a survey. The purpose she shared was that the feedback would help Rhodes craft the best retreat possible. Less than a month later, she thanked everyone who had responded to the survey in a video and asked for people who hadn’t responded to complete it. 

Take the Naked Mind Yoga + Pilates Retreat survey today!! Building a ? ? trip that caters to you? Yes, please! And we'll do some yoga and Pilates while we're at it. Click the link! https://t.co/7LKF28oYik pic.twitter.com/pqTMf0SQXE

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) March 6, 2024

It seems Rhodes has gathered all the information she needs, as she hasn’t recently promoted fans to take the survey. At this time, it’s unclear if there is a limit to how many people can join or what the cost will be for the trip.

As Rhodes prepares for her company’s first yoga and pilates retreat, she is still celebrating her last career achievement. 

More On Brandi Rhodes’s Success In Yoga & Pilates Business  

Rhodes’s newest career path comes at an excellent time, as My Roswell/Crabapple recently awarded her the title of Best Pilates Studio. She shared the achievement on X/Twitter on March 11. The award is very impressive, as Rhodes opened her studio last October. 

She wrote about how quickly she received the award and encouraged her fans that “A lot can happen in a short period time if you grind!!”

Brandi’s first yoga and pilates trip is another incredible goal she aims to achieve successfully. Fans looking to join may want to sign up now, as it’s unclear how fast the waitlist will fill up. 

This Summer, it will be a little more expensive to be a WWE fan. NBC Universal’s streaming platform Peacock is set to increase its subscribers’ prices. The price hike is expected to start on July 18, ahead of one of WWE’s biggest premium live events of the year, WWE SummerSlam, on August 3. 

Variety’s Todd Spangler has reported that Peacock plans to increase its monthly plans by $2. Peacock Premium (with ads) will increase from $5.99 to $7.99, while Peacock Premium Plus will move from $11.99 to $13.99. The timing of the decision comes not only ahead of WWE SummerSlam but also the 2024 Summer Olympics starting July 26. 

The report states that “The new prices will be effective starting July 18 for new Peacock customers and for existing subscribers with their next billing date on or after Aug. 17.” 

In addition to the monthly fee surge, the yearly plans will increase by $20. Peacock Premium’s annual price jumps to $79.99, and the Premium Plus yearly subscription will be $139.99 for new members after July 18. For subscribers who are currently subscribed to a yearly plan, the increase will not go into effect until it’s time to renew. 

The report notes that Peacock had 34 million subscribers in the United States, with a net gain of 3 million added members in the first quarter of this year. While it’s fewer than competitors like Netflix or Disney+, the NBC Universal streaming service is up 55% year-over-year. 

It’s unclear if the new subscription price will decrease the number of Peacock members. However, WWE fans may stick around for WWE SummerSlam, which occurs two weeks later. 

More On WWE SummerSlam 

WWE’s ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer’ will be held at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets for WWE SummerSlam will go on sale to the public on May 9. The company is currently accepting requests from fans to receive exclusive pre-sale information on its website. 

Although no matches have been announced yet, Ohio native Logan Paul is expected to be featured at the premium live event. He is currently the WWE United States Champion and has been promoted on the WWE Summerslam poster. 

Paul has already called for some big appearances, like NBA megastar LeBron James being in attendance. While it’s unclear if it will come to fruition,  wrestling fans may want to keep Peacock to avoid missing what WWE has planned for SummerSlam. 

For years, one of the most controversial topics in wrestling has been talent having a non-compete clause in their contract. WWE is most known to have 30 to 90 days compete clauses in their talent contracts to avoid situations where the former stars can immediately find employment. However, a new ruling from the Federal Trade Commission may change that in the future. 

When United States President Joe Biden got into office, one of his goals was to combat non-compete clauses. He signed an executive order on July 9, 2021, for the FTC to oppose these agreements and other provisions that negatively impact employers.

UPI’s Joe Fisher reported on January 5, 2023, that FTC Commissioner and Chair Lina Khan proposed a new rule banning employers from enforcing non-compete clauses. 

Last year, Biden also spoke about his issues with non-compete clauses in his State of the Union. 

He believes that employers should have to pay their workers their worth. 

“…For too long, workers have been getting stiffed, but not anymore. We’re beginning to restore the dignity of work,” said President Biden. 

He noted that in 2021, he discovered that 30 million workers must sign non-compete agreements to be employed. President Biden confirmed that he was continuing to challenge these issues and was committed to banning non-compete clauses. 

President Biden continued, “…We are banning those agreements(non-compete clauses) so that companies have to compete for workers and pay them what they are worth.”

Today, the FTC has finally approved banning the non-compete clause that could affect the workforce, including the wrestling business. 

FTC Voting In Favor Of Banning Non-Compete Clauses 

Huffpost’s Dave Jamieson reported that the FTC voted 3-2 to ban non-compete agreements in employer contracts. It’s noted that three FTC Democrats voted for it, while two Republicans were against it. This expectation is that prohibiting the non-compete clause will lead to more leverage for workers in the job field. 

The Hill’s Taylor Giorno also reported on the historic vote and shared that it can go into effect in 120 days. However, business groups are expected to oppose the ruling to prevent it from going into effect.  

“Business groups say noncompete agreements are critical for protecting proprietary information and intellectual property, although the rule would not ban other methods for protecting that information, including nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. They also question the agency’s authority to issue the blanket, retroactive ban,” the report said. 

While it’s unclear if the ruling will change, this presents significant ramifications for wrestling contracts if passed. 

How This Can Affect The Wrestling Industry

If the ruling is passed and non-compete clauses are prohibited, it could change the wrestling business. Most companies like WWE or TNA Wrestling argue that their superstars are independent contractors. However, the FTC’s ruling would also prevent them from enforcing non-compete clauses. 

The ruling going through allows signed talent more negotiating leverage in reaching deals with companies, continuing to pursue career after being fired, and possibly preventing releases before contracts expire. 

WWE recently released several talents, including Jinder Mahal and Cameron Grimes. They cannot sign or compete for another promotion for 90 days. If the ruling goes through in 120 days, this will help other future potentially released talent from dealing with the same issues that have plagued the wrestling business. 

It also could prevent companies from firing talent from their contract early to avoid competition. This could be both negative and positive, as talent may be able to stay under contract and have more opportunities to avoid being let go. However, a company may hesitate to oblige talent looking to explore options until their term is finished. 

The next few months will be interesting, as the FTC ruling may change the wrestling business forever. 

Wrestling fans are still stunned after Rhea Ripley announced that she has been forced to vacate the WWE Women’s World Championship. Ripley’s incredible title reign ended after she injured her AC joint in a backstage brawl with Liv Morgan on the April 8 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.

It’s believed that the injury occurred when Morgan slammed Ripley’s arm against a wall. WWE fans have noticed that once the champion’s arm hit the wall, she immediately grabbed her arm. She revealed in the following episode that she was injured in the altercation and vowed to return stronger to reclaim the WWE Women’s World Championship. While it’s unclear what Ripley’s timetable is for a return, it could be a few months. 

As she hopes to recover fully, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley wishes her a swift return. 

Mick Foley Talks About Rhea Ripley’s Injury

Foley shared his thoughts on Ripley’s injury on his YouTube channel. He also spoke positively of WWE booking for Ripley and has been impressed with her since 2019. 

“…We’ve here at the Foley family really thought highly of her since the first time she premiered when we saw her, Royal Rumble 2019. I’d written stories about her saying WWE really had to treat her like the special entity that she is. I’m the first to say, look, I knew she needed special treatment. I didn’t know it would be this good,” said Foley.

‘The Hardcore Legend’ continued to praise Ripley’s growth in WWE and believes she’ll gain more popularity when she returns.  

“…We watched Mami just grow from a superstar into an iconic entity. I have to believe she’s going to come back better than ever and more popular than ever,” said Foley.

Although the injury is unfortunate, WWE is moving forward and ready to crown a new women’s champion. 

New Champion To be Decided On 4/22 Episode of WWE Monday Night Raw

WWE has announced that the vacant women’s world title will be on the line in the next episode of Raw. The championship will be decided in a Battle Royal Match, including Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Morgan.

It’s unclear how many participants will compete in the match, but it seems to be exclusively members of the Raw brand. The timing of the title opportunity is also interesting as WWE plans to shake up the rosters with the WWE Draft starting on April 26. 

After injuring Ripley, Morgan has set her sights on becoming the new WWE Women’s World Champion. Fans seem to have picked her as the favorite to win, and she could be in line for a big match with ‘Mami’ when she eventually returns. 

All Elite Wrestling returns on pay-per-view for their first Dynasty event tonight. The event will occur at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. AEW has been building towards the card for weeks, and the PPV is set to have 12 matches.

In the main event, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend his title against Swerve Strickland. The challenger earned an opportunity after defeating  Konosuke Takeshita to become the number one contender on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. Strickland enters the matchup motivated to dethrone Joe and become the first black AEW World Champion. However, he won’t have an easy task, as Joe has yet to lose in over six months. 

Elsewhere on the card, Will Ospreay will face Bryan Danielson in a highly anticipated match. Since officially joining the roster at AEW Revolution last month, Ospreay has quickly become a threat in the men’s division. He has won five matchups in the company to join the conversation of being a potential AEW world title contender. That said, Danielson stands in his way and will try to humble the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

Start Time & How To Watch

AEW Dynasty will kick off their event with a pre-show at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT. The pre-show will have three matches and be streamed live on AEW’s YouTube channel for free. 

After the pre-show, the event will move toward pay-per-view at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. AEW fans must pay $49.99 to watch on Bleacher Report, AEW’s YouTube channel, or Triller TV. The PPV portion will consist of nine matches, including the AEW World Championship main event. 

AEW Dynasty Full Match Card

(Match Card Is Subject To Change)

Pre-Show Card:

• Matt Sydal vs. Trent Beretta
• Katsuyori Shibata & Orange Cassidy vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
• (C) Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. (C) Bullet Club Gold (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn & Jay White)-AEW World Trios / ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship Match

PPV Card:

• (C) Hook vs. Chris Jericho-FTW Championship Match
• (C) Roderick Strong vs. Kyle O’Reilly-AEW International Championship Match
• (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. PAC-AEW Continental Championship Match
• (C) Toni Storm with Luther & Mariah May vs. Thunder Rosa-AEW Women’s World Championship Match
• Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)-Six Man Tag Team Match
• The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)-Vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Final Ladder Match
• (C) Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale with Stokely Hathaway-AEW TBS Championship House Rules Match
• Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
• (C) Samoa Joe vs. Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana-AEW World Championship Match

WWE superstar Drew McIntyre hopes to stay on the road despite a recent setback. McIntyre’s was having a very successful year up until WrestleMania. He won the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match on February 24 and later dethroned Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight title at the biggest show of the year.

Then, things took a turn for the worse. The title reign ended after just a matter of minutes when Damian Preist successfully cashed in the Money in the Bank contract and walked out as champion.  We’ve now learned the Scottish Warrior was in serious pain for the short match against the Judgment Day member.

Drew McIntyre “badly hyperextended” his elbow at WrestleMania during his match against Seth Rollins, according to a report by PWInsider. He worked this week’s United Kingdom live events tour, but may need some time off afterwards to heal. 

It’s an ironic setback for McIntyre, who has been trolling CM Punk for his tricep injury and inability to stay healthy. He’s not currently advertised for WWE’s next premium live event, Backlash France. This might end up as a blessing in disguise., as the two people he’s currently feuding with (CM Punk and Seth Rollins) are also unable to wrestle any time soon.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract winding down has been a hot topic of conversation for wrestling fans wondering if he could follow Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone to AEW. 

If WWE can’t re-sign McIntyre, he could be wrestling elsewhere this summer. That said, he’s having one hell of a run with WWE. He’s working a top program against CM Punk that is sure to draw both of them a lot of money when they’re healthy. Most importantly, he is having fun and enjoying himself.

Matt Cardona will be out of action for quite some time. He suffered a torn pec injury during a match for Reality of Wrestling on April 13 and recently underwent successful surgery. While the operation went well, fans shouldn’t expect to see him in the ring this year. 

‘The Indy God’ shared on Twitter on April 18 that the surgery was a success. He thanked his doctor for repairing him and his wife Chelsea Green for being by his side. Cardona also delivered a defiant message in writing a n 

“Surgery done. The road to recovery starts now. Thanks to all who reached out. Thanks to
@ImChelseaGreen
for being by my side. Thanks to
@DarylOsbahrMD(Daryl C. Osbahr, MD) for fixing me. You can’t kill me… I’m already dead,” wrote Cardona.

Although fans won’t see Cardona compete, he shared on Instagram that he will be available to make appearances and sign autographs. The expectation for a torn pec recovery is that it could take up to six months, according to WebMD’s Shishira Sreenivas. He could be ready to wrestle by the Fall, but it’s unclear currently and depends on his rehab. It’s also worth noting at 38 years old, Cardona may want to make sure he’s at 100 percent before he decides to step back into a ring. 

Matt Cardona’s Peers Shares Support After Successful Operation

After Cardona revealed that his torn pec surgery was a success, his wrestling peers expressed positivity toward the announcement. One of the notable supporters was Reality of Wrestling Owner Booker T, who wished him well. Cardona responded to the post on Twitter by sharing that he plans to return to the promotion once he’s healed. 

Thanks Book! I’ll be back. I’ve got some unfinished business at @TheOfficialROW!

— Matt Cardona (@TheMattCardona) April 18, 2024

All Elite Wrestling superstar Brian Cage also reacted to Cardona’s successful operation on Instagram and wished he heal well. 

“Just heard. Bummed for ya man, but hope you’re on good spirits and heal fast,”wrote Cage.

After completing his torn pec surgery, ‘The Indy God’ will have to focus on making a full recovery. The hope is that he can return potentially late this year and compete against the best on the independent wrestling scene. 

Artist Rob Schamberger seems to have a project in the works with All Elite Wrestling. After over a decade of making art for WWE and hosting their YouTube show Canvas 2 Canvas, he announced his exit on April 15. Three days later, AEW has teased working with Schamberger. 

The AEW Shop Twitter account shared a graphic revealing that they have something planned with the famous artist. The graphic also shared the date of April 22, with the expectation that’s when AEW will share what they are working on with Schamberger.

Despite not having more information, fans have reacted positively to Schamberger’s working with AEW. He has done work outside of WWE but gained a following for his art on the Canvas 2 Canvas show. On February 12, his last episode was a portrait of former WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky. 

It’s unclear if Schamberger will make portraits of some of AEW’s biggest superstars or if the company has other plans for him. AEW has artist Mel Coleman creating items, including posters and shirts. However, the company may decide to have Schamberger create a unique supply of merchandise for them. 

As of now, it seems fans will have to wait and see what AEW has planned. However, it does create excitement for the possibilities of what Schamberger is doing with them. 

Recent AEW Hires

Several of AEW’s recent hires have been former WWE employees. One notable example is former WWE Senior Writer and Producer Jennifer Pepperman, who left her position on February 15. AEW hired Pepperman on February 21 to become the Vice President of Content Development. SEScoops correspondent Aaron Varble reported that her exit from WWE was unexpected and that the day she left, it was believed she had another job set. 

Another key hire this year from AEW was former WWE Regional Director of Live Events, Kosha Irby. He became ‘All Elite’ on March 26, in the role of Chief Operating Officer. 

Schamberger would be another strong pickup as AEW continues to make strategic moves behind the scenes.

WWE superstar Sheamus made his highly anticipated return to the company on the April 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. He took on Ivar in a physical matchup that saw him win with his signature Brogue Kick. Although some fans were happy to see him back after neck surgery, he drew criticism over his physique. 

Sheamus appeared noticeably heavier than when he last appeared on WWE TV. While he competed similar to what he had in the past, some fans couldn’t help poking fun at his body. This has led to a debate on social media and memes from fans criticizing ‘The Celtic Warrior’ appearance. 

After his match with Ivar, the WWE superstar noticed the fan reaction and tried to play it off. The following day, he responded to fans’ body-shaming by writing on Twitter that “I’m just big boned.” 

After hearing more complaints from the internet wrestling community, Sheamus took to Twitter again to defend himself. 

Sheamus Comments On Body-Shamming From Fans

On Twitter, the former WWE Champion acknowledged the body shaming he’s received by posting a meme about himself. He also shared that he wasn’t supposed to compete on the April 15 episode while preparing for a return at the WWE Draft. However, he has been working to get back into the shape he desires. 

Ok Ok take your best shots.. Whalemus, Too Many Pies, etc.. and then we’re done with the photoshopping & shaming. I was aiming for the Draft & got an early call-up. My bad. On me. Been sleeping in the gym ever since SO watch this space ?? i appreciate the love too #Sheamoose pic.twitter.com/KlO6TmWTz4

— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) April 18, 2024

Unfortunately, some of the WWE fanbase continued to body-shame Sheamus, leading to his supporters coming to his defense online.

Fans Come To Defense Over Sheamus Being Body-Shamed 

In response to the criticism over Sheamus’s physique, wrestlers and wrestling content creators have come to his aid on Twitter. One of the notable support came from Impact Wrestling superstar Jordynne Grace.

“Every single person I’ve seen talking shit either doesn’t have a profile or look like they haven’t lifted a weight in their entire life,” wrote Grace. 

More support has come in for Sheamus. Here are a few. 

You don't owe none of these shits an explanation!! As long as you're healthy and happy.. we're happy!!

— Stephanie Hypes (@StephanieHypes) April 18, 2024

LEAVE HIM ALONE!!! https://t.co/xY4dbgPmLI

— ?Lovely? (@ItsLovelyLaveau) April 18, 2024

I’m just thankful to have Sheamus back in the ring ??

Anyone clowning him & his body can fck off

Sidebar: I hope he brings back Celtic Warrior Workouts…really appreciate those vids & him jumping out of his comfort zone ?? pic.twitter.com/Yt7bYAbrxb

— ? ?????? ? (@itsJustinRitch) April 17, 2024

If I see anyone body shaming Sheamus, it’s an instant block. You’ve got to have rocks for brains if you think Sheamus can’t beat you to a pulp and then steal your girl.

— Auntie Collins | Fightful Overbooked ?????? (@_queerauntie) April 16, 2024

The USA Channel Twitter account has also expressed support for ‘The Celtic Warrior’ by posting, “You look great!”

What’s Next For Sheamus?

Although Sheamus is receiving negative backlash, he also has fans who are happy that he is back and ready to speak in his defense. As stated in his tweet, he prepares to make the best of his return. 

The win over Ivar was an excellent showing for his comeback and set up opportunities for the future. Sheamus will be involved in the WWE Draft from April 26 through April 29. It’s unclear what he’ll sign with, but the former WWE Champion will likely want to make his presence felt. If his match with Ivar indicates his condition and motivation, Sheamus could be a force to be reckoned with in WWE.

All eyes are on Jade Cargill as she aims to dominate the WWE women’s division. She made her impressive in-ring debut with the company in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match on January 27 and had fans wanting more. After two months of inactivity, she teamed up with Bianca Belair and Naomi in a win against Damage CTRL(Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) at WWE WrestleMania 40 on April 6. 

As she continues to build momentum in the company, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley already has her eyes on Cargill. 

During a surprise appearance at the Cheat Heat Live event over WrestleMania weekend,  host Peter Rosenberg asked Ripley if she was looking forward to a potential clash with the new WWE superstar. She replied that she was excited to step into the ring against Cargill.

“…I mean, it really excites me. It does. I love a good challenge, and Jade Cargill is someone that I think could bring that to me,” said Ripley. The champion also spoke highly of her potential rival and what impresses her about Cargill. “… She looks the part. She acts the part. She talks the part. She dresses the part. She does everything correct and when that day comes, I think that’s a big match feel. I don’t know when that will be, whether it is WrestleMania 41, WrestleMania 42, (WrestleMania)43, I’m not sure, but when that day comes, people are going to be talking about it, and people are going to be looking forward to it, so I’m also looking forward to it.”

Ripley also confidently said she will champion when she finally faces Cargill. Although fans and Ripley are looking forward to a dream match, it seems it won’t happen soon. 

What’s Next For Jade Cargill?

Both Cargill and Ripley’s future is uncertain, as both are expected to be involved in the upcoming WWE Draft. It will start on the April 26 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown and continue on the April 29 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. It’s unclear what brand either superstar will end up on.

 However, the company has also decided to pair Cargill with Belair as they try to dominate the women’s tag team division.

On the April 12 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, Cargill teamed with Belair to defeat former tag champions Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. After the match, WWE Commentator Corey Graves teased that they could be looking to take over the women’s tag division. In a backstage interview, Cargill and Belair confirmed their intentions, saying that they like working together and want to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship from the Kabuki Warriors(Asuka & Sane).

After defeating Damage CTRL at WWE WrestleMania 40 and recently Green and Niven, it seems only a matter of time before Cargill and Belair get a title opportunity. If true, fans shouldn’t expect the new WWE superstar to be on the hunt for Ripley’s championship for some time. Although the dream match won’t occur anytime soon, the more Cargill accomplishes in WWE, the bigger the eventual showdown will be when it happens. 

WWE fans are still buzzing about the ending of the Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. The bout’s climax saw run-ins from various legends, including John Cena , The Rock and The Undertaker. 

‘The Deadman’ prevented The Rock from attacking Rhodes and choke-slammed him before disappearing in front of the crowd. Rhodes capitalized on the help from his peers and finally defeated Reigns to become the new champion. The moment Rhodes finished his story may be remembered for quite some time, and The Undertaker is happy he was involved in it. 

On the Six Feet Under Podcast, The Undertaker shared that WWE WrestleMania 40 gave him closure on his wrestling career. He noted that he has struggled with being fully retired but that his involvement in the Rhodes vs. Reigns match finally put his mind at ease. 

“…I’ve been struggling with it since I retired, but this weekend gave me closer. It really did,” said The Undertaker. 

He noted that he had fun getting involved in the main event, especially with how it was one of WWE’s biggest storylines for the event. 

The WWE Hall of Famer continued, “…When it was over, and I’m running out of the building, I’m like, I’m good now, and I don’t know if I needed, because you know, my last match was the Boneyard, so there is nobody there. It’s cinematic. It was, I don’t know how you say, it was like a moment of clarity that I had like I’m okay now.”

Will The Undertaker Make Another Appearance For WWE?

The Undertaker also noted that he wouldn’t mind WWE asking him to be involved in similar situations in the future. However, the wrestling legend feels after WWE WrestleMania 40 confirmed that he doesn’t have the same drive to want to wrestle again. 

“…I don’t have that feeling in my chest like I’ve had since I retired that I need, like, you know, I hadn’t come to peace with it, and I knew just like I knew when the Boneyard Match at four in the morning, like I’m good,” said Undertaker. 

He continued to speak positively about how much it meant to be involved at WWE WrestleMania 40 and how good it felt to have closure. While anything can happen in wrestling, The Undertaker seems optimistic that he can remain away from in-ring activity if WWE doesn’t ask him to. WWE WrestleMania 40 continues to be a show to remember, as it may be the last chokeslam fans will ever see from ‘The Deadman.’ 

As WWE WrestleMania 40 approaches, many independent wrestling events will occur that weekend. One of the events is Game Changer Wrestling and Orange Crush’s annual Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame. The 2024 class on April 7 will highlight several independent wrestling legends like The Briscoes(Jay & Mark Briscoe) and Trent Acid. 

On Twitter, GCW has shared that their latest inductee will be former ECW superstar Sabu. The high-flying and risk-taking legend had a long career in the defunct company but competed on the independent wrestling scene for many years. GCW and Orange Crush’s decision could also be due to the event occurring in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where ECW held many events. 

*2024 Indie HoF Update*

Inductee #5:
SABU

Inducted by:
TBA

Also Announced:
Steve Corino
Trent Acid
The Briscoes
Kevin Hogan

The 2024 #IndieHoF Ceremony takes place in Philadelphia on Sunday 4/7 at Noon and streams LIVE & FREE on Youtube!

Tix:https://t.co/EZnfwCxQHj pic.twitter.com/raGa8FGrun

— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) March 29, 2024

Regardless of the decision, Sabu is a great addition to the 2024 Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame class. His style has left an influence in wrestling that has helped inspire others to be as daring as he was in his career. He’s also been honored by GCW over the years and has made appearances for them, including The Wrld On GCW on January 23, 2022. 

Tickets for the 2024 Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame are still on sale on Eventbrite. The general admission to attend is $25, and the VIP table seating costs $49.99. Both also come with an additional fee for a ticket. GCW has announced that it will stream live at noon ET/9 AM PT on their YouTube Channel for fans who can’t attend. 

More On GCW Plans For WrestleMania Weekend

GCW will host 11 shows as part of their Collective schedule from April 4 to April 6. The popular independent company is still finalizing some of the cards, but it’s looking to be an incredible slate of events. One of the notable shows that fans are excited about is Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X on April 4. 

The event will feature several independent talents engaging in a more grappling and hard-hitting match than fans may see in other shows. WWE has gotten involved in the unique attraction by allowing Shayna Baszler to appear and take on Masha Slamovich. A few outlets reported that more WWE talent could appear for GCW and Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport X. However, neither WWE nor GCW has made an official announcement. 

The entire GCW Collective schedule will stream live on TrillerTV+, which fans can watch for a 7.99 subscription. Tickets for most of the event are sold out or close to it on Eventbrite. Fans looking to attend one of the shows will have to buy their ticket now as they all may sell out very soon.  

WWE superstar AJ Styles may get an all-new presentation for WWE WrestleMania 40 next month. He has been featured as a ‘Babyface’ and a ‘Heel’ in the past but has retained the same entrance music. However, ‘The Phenomenal One has recently hinted that he may be getting a new theme along with his new persona. 

Styles recently did a live auction on the UpUpDownDown YouTube Channel alongside Tyler Breeze. While signing merchandise for fans, Styles said they shouldn’t be surprised to hear something different when he appears at ‘The Grandest Stage Of Them All’ next month.

“…You’ll be surprised come WrestleMania when it comes to music. I probably shouldn’t have let the cat out of the bag,” said Styles. 

Breeze replied that Styles’s changing his music is a big deal, as it has been the same since his WWE debut in 2016. However, Styles feels that it’s necessary for his current persona and that it is time for him to evolve. 

“…It’s big because my music is pretty freaking awesome, but it doesn’t suit the AJ Styles that people are seeing at this moment,” said the former WWE Champion

Styles’s personality shift changed after he was taken out of action for two months by The Bloodline(Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso) last year. Styles would return with a different physique and attitude, looking to go against the faction. He also set his sights on popular ‘Babyface’ LA Knight, as he feels Knight took his spot when he was on hiatus. 

Preview Of AJ Styles vs. LA Knight At WWE WrestleMania 40

Styles is currently involved in a heated rivalry with Knight. Both prevented the other from winning crucial matches that had championship implications. They will compete at WWE WrestleMania 40 next month to settle their feud. 

On the March 29 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, they got into a brawl, with Knight winning the exchange. They aren’t advertised to appear on next week’s show, but it could change. However, fans reacted well to their segment and seemed excited for their matchup at the company’s biggest event of the year. 

If Styles isn’t on TV next week, fans may not hear his new theme song until he comes out for his match against Knight. The hope is that the former WWE Champion’s next entrance music will be great and add to his character. 

Newly signed All Elite Wrestling superstar Will Ospreay has been getting plenty of action on TV lately. He made his in-ring debut as a talent in a win against Don Callis Family ally Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution on March 3. Since then, he has racked up wins over Kyle Fletcher and Katsuyori Shibata on AEW Dynamite.

On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan has shared that Ospreay will again be featured in a match on the April 3 episode of the company’s flagship show. The ‘Commonwealth Kingpin’ will take on Powerhouse Hobbs on the upcoming AEW Dynamite. Khan also revealed that Callis will be on commentary as he watches two people from his faction face off. 

The decision to have Ospreay challenge another Don Callis Family member is interesting, as it could cause a split within the group. AEW currently positions Ospreay as a ‘Babyface,’ while the faction remains ‘Heel.’ It may not happen in the next week, but the company may be laying the groundwork to eventually separate their newly signed superstar from the faction. 

Ospreay is also expected to defeat Hobbs next week, as he is set to face Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty on April 21. The matchup was announced on the March 7 episode of AEW Collision. Both superstars have been gaining wins on TV to build anticipation for their pay-per-view bout. 

A win for either Ospreay or Danielson would immediately put them in the running for the AEW World Championship. That said, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion must first get through Hobbs on April 3. 

What Else Has Been Announced For April 3 Episode Of AEW Dynamite?

Ospreay vs. Hobbs wasn’t the only featured match announced for the upcoming AEW Dynamite episode. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) will take on Best Friends (Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta) in the semifinals of the AEW tag team tournament. The winners will move to the finals, where they will compete for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships. 

The April 3 episode will also have the contract signing segment between Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland for their match at AEW Dynasty. It’s expected that they will get enough time to hype up their bout for next month.

Khan may announce more matches as the show approaches next week. The upcoming AEW Dynamite looks to be important as it continues to set the stage for the company’s next PPV. 

The clock is ticking on Matt Hardy’s future with All Elite Wrestling. He shared that his contract expires at the end of the month and that he has reached an agreement with the company. In giving an update to fans, Hardy revealed that AEW has offered him a new deal. 

The wrestling legend admitted on his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, that he was given a new contract to stay with AEW for quite some time. 

“…There is a little news to go along with my contract negotiations. I have a contract sitting in front of me for a few years, and now I’m looking through it, I’m like deciding what I want to do moving forward,” said Hardy.  

Although Hardy has revealed that he already has an offer to stay, he seems still undecided. One of the wrestling legend’s concerns is that he wants to be utilized to his full potential while he can still compete. 

“…There’s obviously still some options. I got to make sure that I’m aware of the ins and outs of the contract, and I want to make sure everything is up to par as far as like want I want it to be because, once again, as I say pretty often and I know that I only have a couple more years of doing this and I want to make the most out of those years whatever they may be. I want to be optimized in whatever I am doing, so that’s very important to me,” said Hardy. 

More On Matt Hardy Remaining Undecided On Future With AEW

The AEW superstar comments are interesting as the company has decided to feature less on TV over the years. He signed with AEW in 2020 and has been given opportunities to be involved in multiple storylines throughout his tenure. However, he has been seen less on TV over the last year. 

Hardy has remained adamant that he likes working for AEW and shared on the podcast that he is happy he was offered a contract to return. That said, the wrestling legend acknowledged on the podcast that he has several other options. 

“…I’m very happy to, you know, be invited to return to AEW and work for the foreseeable future, but you know, we shall see because right now, I’m just currently weighing out the options. There’s a couple of things out there, and I would say in the next month, I should probably know what my immediate future is going to hold,” said Hardy

It seems fans will have to continue speculating on Hardy’s future until he makes an announcement next month. However, it doesn’t look promising that he has yet reached an agreement with a few days left in March. 

Kevin Kelly wants to give back to the wrestling business after an abrupt exit from All Elite Wrestling. The former AEW commentator was let go on March 8. 

AEW has not publicly addressed the reason for his release, but it occurred just days after some controversial social media activity. While he remains a free agent, Kevin Kelly will host a virtual workshop for wrestlers and sports broadcasters.

Starting in mid-April, I’ll be teaching virtual classes for wrestlers who want to improve their promo abilities and announcers from all sports who want to take their broadcasting career to the next level,” wrote Kelly on X.

Kelly shared his email so that people interested could gain more information about the group courses and individual training. 

The opportunity may be attractive to many, as Kelly has valuable knowledge of working in wrestling. Fans may recall his successful tenures with WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling before joining AEW. His broadcasting experience may also be helpful for people trying to work outside of wrestling in other forms of media. 

Positive Reactions To Kevin Kelly’s Next Career Plan

The reaction to Kelly’s announcement has been positive, with other wrestlers sharing their experiences attending his classes. Independent wrestling star Anthony Greene was among those who reacted to Kelly’s new plans on Twitter and recommended learning from him. 

“As someone who has done multiple courses with Kevin. I can vouch that this is definitely worth your time and money,” wrote Greene.

Another independent wrestling talent, Keith Youngblood, approved Kelly’s teaching on Twitter. 

“I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar with Mr. Kelly when
@MattTaven
had his school in RI years ago.
One of my favorites to date. Incredibly informative and fun! Take advantage of this opportunity if you can,” wrote Youngblood.

It’s unclear how much it will cost to attend a class with Kelly. However, the positive responses and his career background could make it appealing to those looking to advance their wrestling and media careers.  

All Elite Wrestling fans have wondered about the status of former world champion MJF with the company. He has been out of action since losing the title to Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End on December 30, 2023. While ‘The Devil’ has been recovering from injuries he suffered throughout last year, fans have speculated if he was still with AEW. A new report has given an update on his current health status. 

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson shared that MJF is still trying to recover from his multiple injuries and has no clear timetable for his return. The report also confirms that his peers in AEW believe he is still with the company and was backstage for AEW Dynamite Big Business on March 13. 

Throughout last year, MJF has given fans the impression that he will be a free agent at the start of 2024. The company added more fuel to the online speculation, with the former AEW World Champion being removed from the roster page on their website. They’ve also taken off his merchandise from the AEW store. However, the impression from most in the company and reports from others is that ‘The Devil’ has made a deal to stay off the free agency market. 

What’s Next For MJF?

It’s unclear what injuries still prevent MJF from having a timetable for his in-ring return. He publicly shared that he had a torn labrum in his left shoulder ahead of his match against Joe at AEW World End. MJF also suffered a hip injury from his match with Jay White at AEW Full Gear on November 18, 2023. 

The company has also not mentioned MJF on TV, so it doesn’t seem they have plans to feature him anytime soon. AEW has an unfinished storyline with the Undisputed Kingdom, which MJF could be involved in when he is ready.

After his match against Joe, The Salt of The Earth was attacked by the Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett). Whenever ‘The Devil’ returns to the ring, he is expected to try to get revenge on the faction. 

There is some buzz that he could return at the upcoming Dynasty PPV but we will have to wait and see if it really happens.