Andrade has been expressing his displeasure with being pulled off the Forbidden Door PPV vocally. He has now revealed the original plans for him at the show.
The AEW star recently had an interview with Lucha Libre Online. He talked about things such as Ric Flair’s upcoming retirement match and more.
During the talk, he also revealed that he was actually supposed to face the current IWGP US Champion Will Ospreay at the Forbidden Door PPV.
Andrade says he was supposed to face Will Ospreay on Forbidden Door, was schedule to go to Japan to set it up, and then it was stopped.
Andrade mentioned that he was scheduled to go to Japan to build up this match against the former IWGP world champion before the plans were canceled.
The former NXT champion also claimed that he was originally booked for the AAA’s TripleMania Tijuana event on June 18 but that appearance has been nixed as well.
Andrade noted how he cannot work with NJPW because he chose to work with AAA. Now AAA is also not booking him when they said they would. This has resulted in him sitting at home while everyone else is headed to Tijuana.
For those who don’t know, AAA is a rival promotion to CMLL. Since CMLL and NJPW have a partnership, they are prohibiting any AAA contracted talents from working the co-branded Forbidden Door PPV. Apart from Andrade, this also includes The Lucha Bros who are not booked for the upcoming show.
This week’s episode of AEW Rampage has come to a close and there was something extra for fans in attendance.
The June 17 Road Rager edition of Rampage was held inside the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. The show featured Darby Allin vs. Bobby Fish, a TBS Championship match, Jon Moxley vs. Dante Martin, and more.
Once the show went off the air, Tony Khan made his way out and he introduced HOOK and Danhausen. Sting grabbed the mic and called himself “Stinghausen.”
Sting was still in the ring as he had made his return to close the show. He helped Darby Allin even the odds as Kyle O’Reilly tried helping Bobby Fish put Darby out of action.
Commentator Tony Schiavone was also in the ring and Sting had some fun with his good friend.
In the end, Tony Khan thanked the fans of St. Louis for attending Dynamite and Rampage.
Hardy’s problems with substances have seen him face suspensions in WWE, Impact Wrestling and now AEW, in a sad repeated pattern of behavior from the former World Champion.
Matt’s Comments
On this week’s “Extreme Life” podcast, Matt said he is doing all he can to support his younger brother after his latest run-in with the law.
Speaking about what he believes started Jeff’s problems, Matt said a traumatic childhood event had a profound effect on “The Charismatic Enigma.” (via WrestlingNews)
“I feel like some of Jeff’s issues probably come from our mother dying when he was so, so young. That was always an issue that he carried with him deeply. I know 100%, the biggest thing that drives me to stay healthy and not have an addiction issue at all, because I’m sure I have an addictive personality, but the thing that keeps me running and stronger than anything else is my family, my children, specifically.”
Ruby Moore Hardy died in 1986 of brain cancer when Matt was just 12 years old and his brother Jeff was nine.
What’s next for Jeff Hardy?
This week, AEW President Tony Khan suspended Jeff without pay, stating that he will only be able to return if he can prove his sobriety.
That is a huge setback for Jeff, but things could get much worse for the popular albeit problematic star.
If convicted of a DUI, his third in ten years, Jeff could face up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
AEW has been left reeling from Jeff Hardy’s recent arrest, as the popular wrestler has been charged with three felonies, including driving under the influence.
Prior to his arrest, Jeff and Matt were scheduled to face AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurrasic Express and the Young Bucks in a triple-threat Tag Team Title Ladder match.
The match went ahead without the Hardys, and while the Bucks won, becoming the first two-time AEW World Tag Team Champions, the company had much different plans at first.
The Plan
According to Bryan Alverez, the original plan for the match was for Matt and Jeff to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles, which would have marked their first reign in the company.
However, those plans changed following Jeff’s performance at May’s Double or Nothing Pay Per View, as it was deemed that the former WWE World Champion looked too bad in the ring.
There were at one point, plans for the Hardys to be attacked before the match began, but neither Jeff nor his older brother was used at all for the match.
Jeff’s arrest as expected played a massive role in the decision to change plans, and it’s reported that his openly telling the officers that he was going to undergo a brain scan was also an issue.
What’s next for Jeff?
Jeff Hardy has been suspended from AEW without pay, according to a statement given by Tony Khan over Twitter.
This marks Hardy’s third DUI arrest within a decade which could lead to a hefty jail sentence for “The Charismatic Enigma.”
In the state of Florida, where Hardy was arrested, a third DUI in under ten years can lead to a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Jeff could also face up to $5,000 in fines, and a minimum 10-year driver’s license revocation.
Killer Kross has confirmed the reports about having talks with AEW owner Tony Khan earlier this year about a potential debut. The former NXT champion recently had an interview with Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast. He first claimed that he is open to working with anybody as long as he is genuinely interested.
Kross also confirmed the rumors of having discussed potential opportunities with Khan. He said he liked the AEW owner and mentioned how many people would have jumped on the opportunity:
“I like the guy. There’s a lot of people who upon getting that phone call would’ve just taken his money, and maybe they’re in a position where they absolutely have to.”
Though Killer Kross did not go into details of his talks with Tony Khan, claiming that “some conversations are meant to be private.” The former WWE star explained that the ideas he heard weren’t the best fit for him. He said that he is going to be honest when he feels that an idea is not suited for him.
While Kross did not reveal any details about their talks, reports that came out last month suggested that AEW did not want to bring in Scarlett Bordeaux with him. The heavyweight star felt that without his wife, his AEW debut would have been no different than how he was treated on WWE’s main roster.
If you needed more proof that MJF is a jerk in real life, we have it for you.
On a recent episode of “The Wendy Williams Show,” television personality Sherri Shepherd talked about a recent interaction she had with MJF and her kid at an airport. Shepherd’s child was too scared to ask MJF for an autograph, so Shepherd herself did it for him.
When she asked him if he was MJF, he said no. She then followed up and asked if people tell him he looks like a professional wrestler named MJF, he then abruptly responded, “yes” and turned away from her.
However, Shepherd did note her son tried to explain to her that, because MJF is a bad guy, he needs to stay in character all the time.
“When I was flying from Los Angeles to New York, I had an encounter with a former child star who appeared on The Rosie O’Donnell Show back in 2001. So at the time he was five years old, and some of you may remember him because his name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
“And Rosie had on as a guest, and he came on at the age of five and came on to sing … Now, young Max did not grow up to be a professional singer. He’s now 26 years old, and he goes by the initials MJF. And he’s a professional wrestler.
“He is a professional wrestler, and I guess the J in MJF stands for jerk. And I’m gonna tell y’all why – that’s what he was acting like when I met him at the airport when we were waiting in the lounge.
“Not nice at all. And see, my son Jeffrey, he’s a big wrestling fan and he knows all of the wrestlers. He spotted MJF while we were waiting for the plane. And you know, Jeffrey was really nervous going up to him and asking for an autograph.
“Because you don’t know. And so I said, ‘I’ll do it for my baby,’ because I’m mother bear. I said I would go up and ask him for an autograph. And I know how to be with celebrities, I know they don’t want you to do a bunch of talking.
“So I was very nice and I tapped him gently on the leg. And I said, ‘Excuse me, are you the famous wrestler MJF?’ He snapped back, he said, ‘No!’
“So I said, ‘Okay, well do people tell you that you look like the famous wrestler MJF?’ Then he snapped back and went, ‘Yes!’ and he put his headphones on and turned away from me.”
“And I wanted to say to him, ‘I don’t like your tone.’ That’s what I wanted to tell him. And I was like, ‘He has one more time to snap at me before I lay the smackdown on him.’
“I was not playing. You don’t — really? Jeffrey was standing right and he was smiling and everything. He goes, ‘No, mom. MJF is a bad guy. And he’s supposed to be a jerk.’
“And I’m like, I told my son, ‘No, no, you don’t know what a real bad guy is, unless he pisses off a black momma trying to get a photo for her son.’ I’m trying to get a photo for my baby. Like, I wasn’t bothering him, I just wanted a little picture, I was so mad at him.”
Currently MJF and his status with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) seems to be the big story surrounding the controversial star. He hasn’t been seen since his “pipebomb” promo on Dynamite a few weeks ago.
MJF swore on live TV, begging Tony Khan to fire him before the live feed was ended abruptly. It remains to be seen what will be next for the 26-year-old.
AEW wasted little time referencing the latest drama surrounding WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
McMahon could be in hot water after The Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE boss made a secret $3 million pact with a former employee. Vince was said to have had an affair with the ex-WWE worker and paid the person to keep quiet.
The report also notes that Vince allegedly passed the former employee off to WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis “like a toy.”
The WWE Board is investigating the allegations.
Max Caster Drops Rap Referencing Vince McMahon Drama
Max Caster was in action during a recent taping for AEW Rampage, which is set to air on June 17. Caster usually does a rap during his entrance and as expected, he wasn’t about to let this investigation slide.
At one point in the rap, Caster said, “Honestly I have something to say/But somebody made me sign an NDA.”
This isn’t the first time Max Caster has tried ruffling the feathers of the WWE Chairman. He recently flipped the bird at McMahon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Many have been wondering what the potential fallout could be for Vince McMahon and WWE as a whole. Many experts believe that this is a legitimate threat to Vince’s power in WWE.
Some also feel that John Laurinaitis could be the scapegoat here and eventually get released. For now, it’s “business as usual” as PWInsider reported that McMahon is expected to be behind the scenes for this week’s episode of SmackDown.
The show, which is set to air on June 17, featured Jon Moxley vs. Dante Martin, Max Caster and The Gunn Club in action, a TBS Title match between champion Jade Cargill and Willow Nightingale, and Darby Allin vs. Bobby Fish.
It’s Sting!
(AEW)
Of course, Bobby Fish wasn’t alone on Rampage. He tried to get Kyle O’Reilly in on the action but a familiar face put a stop to that.
Sting made his return to even the odds for Darby. O’Reilly had put “The Icon” out of commission after placing his ankle through a chair and crushing it with a diving knee drop last month.
It’s clear that Sting is back for revenge.
I WAS SO CLOSE TO STING TONIGHT I COULDN’T STOP SCREAMING WHAT AN AMAZING NIGHT pic.twitter.com/81y1jr4sDO
AEW star Sonny Kiss was featured on last night’s AEW Dynamite, but it wasn’t in a match.
Instead, the 28-year-old wrestler was part of a commercial celebrating Pride month, but the timing of this has been criticized by one ex-AEW talent.
Janela’s response
After the commercial aired, ex-AEW talent Joey Janela pointed out how Kiss was featured, but she hasn’t been used in a match on TV in years.
Sonny Kiss’ last match on AEW Dynamite was back on the October 21, 2020 edition of Dynamite, where she lost to Kenny Omega.
Janela said that AEW should “cut the bullsh*t,” insinuating that the only reason the company featured Kiss was due to Pride month.
You can check out Janela’s tweet below.
I heard @SonnyKissXO was finally on tv tonight! Oh yeah its June, & it was a Pride commercial of course!
Hasn’t been in a match on tv in like 2 Years, cut the bullshit
— “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) June 16, 2022
AEW and LGBTQ+
Anthony Bowens with his partner Michael, in a 2019 video where the AEW wrestler announced he solely identifies as gay.
Sonny Kiss is proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community but she isn’t the only star on AEW’s roster who is part of this group.
Anthony Bowens previously identified as bisexual, but revealed that he solely identifies as gay in a 2019 video.
Despite a recent injury, Bowens has appeared regularly on AEW programming as part of The Acclaimed.
Nyla Rose is a transgender woman and was the first transgender World champion in a major American promotion after capturing the Women’s World Championship in February 2020.
Diamante is openly gay and is in a relationship with Impact Wrestling star and former Knockouts Tag Team Champion Kiera Hogan.
Kiss uses both he/him and she/her pronouns. For consistency and given that Kiss identifies as transfeminine, the author has used she/her pronouns throughout this article.
AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa and Marina Shafir aren’t going to let recent claims cause problems between them.
Recently, the pair made news after there were accusations of Rosa sabotaging a match between them.
The reigning AEW Women’s World Champion responded to the claims when speaking to Ariel Helwani, and said that people will always talk, but she will move forward.
On Twitter, Rosa shared a couple of photos of herself and Shafir breaking bread, a sign that they have made amends.
Today day we take responsibility and work on being better. Because at the end of the day we break bread. Two mothers navigating a world in where we both never ending learners. @MarinaShafirpic.twitter.com/OyViMgqJgr
During the match though, several spots didn’t go as planned, and at one point, Shafir struggled to lift the Women’s World Champion.
Online, some accused Rosa of ‘sandbagging’ making her body go limp and as difficult to maneuver, in an attempt to make Shafir look bad.
A fan who tweeted about the match, claiming that Rosa had sabotaged the match had their tweet liked by both Shafir and former Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker.
The Past
This is the latest accusation against Rosa, after ex-AEW star Ivelisse had a match with her in 2020 in which both women were not on the same page.
After departing the company, Ivelisse claimed that Rosa had sabotaged the match and said the bout had been a factor in her departure.
Another episode of AEW Dynamite is over and something took place after the June 15 airing.
AEW stacked this Road Rager special for Dynamite. Fans got to witness a stellar main event for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. The Young Bucks are now two-time AEW World Tag Team Champions after defeating Jurassic Express in a ladder match.
After the match, Christian Cage turned heel by hitting the Killswitch and a Conchairto on Jungle Boy.
That wasn’t all for the show as Will Ospreay and Dax Harwood had a fantastic match. Orange Cassidy also made his return from injury and it was announced that he’ll take on Ospreay at Forbidden Door.
After The Show
(via AEW)
Asa Gray was kind enough to send us the following recap of what transpired once the cameras stopped rolling:
“After they went off the air, Cage confronted the crowd and went to the back. Tony Khan came out to check on Jungle Boy, he apologized to the crowd for what we just saw and then plugged the Rampage matches. Moxley vs. Dante Martin. Jade Cargill vs. Willow Nightingale for the TBS title, Max Caster and The Ass Boys (Gunn Club) vs. Ruffin It (Leon Ruff & Bear Country), Darby vs. Bobby Fish.”
Here is footage of Tony Khan’s speech to the crowd following Dynamite:
The Road Rager edition of AEW Dynamite ended with a big heel turn.
The June 15 episode of Dynamite emanated from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. This was a stacked show that featured a hair vs. hair match, a fantastic outing featuring Will Ospreay and Dax Harwood, Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker, and much more.
Of course, the night ended with a ladder match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. It was Jurassic Express putting the gold on the line against The Young Bucks.
This was a thrilling match that ended with The Young Bucks capturing the gold.
After the match, things went awry for Jungle Boy.
Christian Cage Turns Heel
After the title match, AEW doctor Michael J Sampson was checking on Jungle Boy inside the ring. Christian Cage went inside the ring and initially appeared to assist him.
Instead, Christian planted Jungle Boy with the Killswitch. He then nailed him with a Conchairto.
AEW has teased Christian Cage eventually turning on Jurassic Express for a while now. The plan has finally been executed and a fresh feud between Christian and Jungle Boy has begun.
The Road Rager edition of AEW Dynamite took place on June 15. The action was held inside the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.
The show opened with a hair vs. hair match between Chris Jericho and Ortiz. Jericho won the match thanks to interference from Sammy Guevara. Ortiz ended up shaving his own head.
Road Rager also featured one heck of a match between Will Ospreay and Dax Harwood. Ospreay won the match and after the fact, there was a surprise return.
Orange Cassidy Returns
After the match, a brawl broke out between members of the United Empire and CHAOS. Suddenly, a familiar tune blared out of the speakers.
It was none other than Orange Cassidy returning from injury.
OC had a staredown with Will Ospreay before the United Empire leader bailed.
Orange Cassidy suffered a shoulder injury during the Face of the Revolution ladder match back on March 6. He had made some appearances after the injury but he would soon be off TV to heal.
AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa isn’t too worried about claims that she deliberately sabotaged a recent title match on AEW Dynamite.
During last week’s show, Rosa defended her title against Marina Shafir in a match that left fans scratching their heads.
One fan thought the clunky spots in the match were a perfect example of a wrestler ‘sandbagging:’ deliberately making it difficult to work in the ring.
Both Shafir and former Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker liked the tweet from the person that was accusing Rosa of sandbagging.
The AEW Women’s World Champion said that she has nothing but respect for her opponents, and while she’ll try harder next time, chalked this experience up to people talking (via WrestlingNews.)
“I have nothing but respect for my opponents. Anyone who dares to stand in the ring with me, I have nothing but respect to my opponents and send them nothing but blessings. Moving on forward I will continue to work harder to have the best matches I can bring and to bring the most opportunities to all of the women that are behind me. When they step into the ring with me they’re like ‘cool.’ People are going to talk and that’s fine, I’m not worried about that. I will continue to move forward and I will continue to show with my body of work what I’m all about. That’s all I have to say.”
“People are going to talk and that’s fine, I’m not worried about that. I will continue to move forward.”
Thunder Rosa on accusations of sabotaging her match with Marina Shafir.
Speaking to @arielhelwani on #TheMMAHour, AEW women's champion Thunder Rosa dismissed accusations of sandbagging in her recent match against Marina Shafir.
Jeff Hardy is once again in trouble with the law, after being arrested last weekend and driving under the influence.
After being tested by police, who at one point had to pull guns on the AEW star, Hardy’s blood-alcohol level was over triple the legal driving limit at which point he was arrested.
A lot has been said about Jeff and who should share responsibility for his actions, but one former WWE Superstar has taken aim at Matt Hardy.
Matt Hardy and Bill DeMott
It’s been reported that Matt Hardy was with Jeff hours before his arrest, and after AEW President Tony Khan issued a statement about Jeff’s arrest, one fan asked whether action will be taken against Matt.
“What about @MATTHARDYBRAND who was getting drunk with him and let him drive knowing he was drunk and doesn’t have a license full accountability @TonyKhan right @BillDeMott”
DeMott responded by saying “it’s a good question.”
Matt responded, unhappy about DeMott’s insinuation that he bears responsibility for his younger brother’s arrest.
“Understand your passion on this & agree that DD is unacceptable. I expect speculation from fans, but not you. I haven’t touched a drug in over a decade, haven’t drank since I’ve been a Dad. Saw Jeff last on Sun night & flew early Mon w/@RebyHardy. I can’t be with Jeff every min.”
DeMott responded by saying he has nothing but respect for the former ECW Champion.
“No disrespect or anything toward you Matt. Utmost respect, we are all accountable for ourselves.”
Understand your passion on this & agree that DD is unacceptable. I expect speculation from fans, but not you. I haven’t touched a drug in over a decade, haven’t drank since I’ve been a Dad. Saw Jeff last on Sun night & flew early Mon w/@RebyHardy. I can’t be with Jeff every min.
Jeff and Matt Hardy aren’t the only people that Bill DeMott has been especially critical of regarding driving under the influence.
Earlier this year, DeMott called on WWE to remove Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch for the Hall of Fame following her own arrest and being charged with DUI manslaughter.
Sytch is accused of killing 75-year-old Julian Lasseter via her drink-driving, and DeMott knows what it’s like to lose a loved one.
In 2015, DeMott’s daughter Keri Anne DeMott was killed by a drunk driver. She was 20 at the time.
In response, DeMott founded the Keri Anne DeMott Foundation, which looks to reduce the risk of drunk drivers on the road.
An AEW star didn’t appreciate how one former WWE executive handled things following tryouts.
For many wrestlers, WWE is the pinnacle. From a business standpoint, it truly doesn’t get any bigger. In some cases, however, the money and fame aren’t enough to sway a talent. Sometimes, it comes down to other preferences such as having family time and creative input.
In the case of this AEW talent, it was a conversation that rubbed him the wrong way.
Daniel Garcia on Not Signing With WWE
(via AEW)
Daniel Garcia appeared on Talk is Jericho and he revealed that he initially thought WWE was going to sign him after a few tryouts. He claims Triple H even told him, “Welcome to the team.”
Things went awry, however, when Garcia had a conversation with now-former Senior Vice President of Talent Development Canyon Cemen.
“I talked to Canyon Ceman right before I left. He said, ‘Hey, let me know if any other place has interest because we’ll sign you sooner.’ In my mind. I’m like, that’s disrespectful to me. If you want to sign me, just sign me,” he said.
“I was like, Okay, if he wants to play that, I’ll play it back to him. At the time, I had an interest from Ring of Honor and I knew AEW wanted to bring me back in for extra work. But I was like, I’m gonna make this seem bigger than it actually is. So I said to him, ‘With that being said, I’ll talk to you very soon.’
“I think he got kind of hot at me for that. I think it shook him up a little bit. They emailed me a couple weeks later, kind of saying like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna stay in contact, blah, blah, blah’, and then that kind of made me mad. Then I went on a crazy Indie run and then I signed with AEW.”
Garcia has been working his way to main event status in AEW. He’s headlined several Dynamite and Rampage shows already. He is currently aligned with Chris Jericho in the Jericho Appreciation Society faction.
There is frustration brewing over the booking of one AEW star.
AEW’s success has been quite impressive considering the company has only been around since 2019. Tony Khan has been able to score a TV deal with WarnerMedia and figures to be in for a massive broadcast deal once it’s time to renew.
Just as is the case with any other company, AEW does have its faults. Fans and experts have criticized the promotion for signing so much talent that many of them are off TV for weeks and only return in random spots.
It has left one Hall of Famer frustrated.
Jake Roberts Not Happy With Lance Archer’s Booking
(via AEW)
Jake Roberts, a wrestling legend who currently manages Lance Archer, had some things to say on a recent edition of the DDP Snake Pit.
Jake “The Snake” expressed frustration over how AEW has been using Archer.
“It is so frustrating for me to see Lance in the spot that he is in. He’s such a phenomenal athlete, he’s in such great shape, he’s got an unbelievable look. The only thing Lance doesn’t do really well is talk and that’s why they brought me.”
Archer has more often been seen on AEW Dark and when he has appeared on AEW TV, he’s been used to put others over. He did have a title match against Hangman Page but the booking just seemed random as AEW didn’t do much to build him up before he attacked Hangman to set up the match.
It’s a far cry from the promo Sting cut on Archer and Roberts back in 2021. Sting told Archer on an episode of Dynamite that he thinks he has what it takes to win the AEW World Championship.
It had been reported by Voices of Wrestling that there are some other stars in AEW that aren’t happy with how they’ve been used.
Archer will be able to show off more of what he can do soon as he’s been announced for this year’s NJPW G1 Climax.
Jeff Hardy was arrested last weekend and charged with three felonies, including driving under the influence, and that’s Jeff’s responsibility alone.
Since Hardy’s arrest, his third DUI within ten years, there’s been a discussion about who bears responsibility for his actions and how this arrest could have been prevented.
Many have said that Jeff’s brother Matt and wife Reby should have worked to stop Jeff from drinking, but the latter has hit back at these claims.
Reby Fires Back
On TikTok, Reby argued that she and Matt have done more than enough to try and limit Jeff’s proximity to alcohol in a scathing response to critics (via eWrestlingNews.)
“Oh, so you were there when I booked the event, right? And when I told the promoters to make sure there was no alcohol there and he was not served alcohol? You were there? And you were there when I was trying to make sure all night through the handlers that that was not happening? You were there when we walked into his hotel room that night, right? You were there. You know, because you were there? Oh, you weren’t there.”
“Short of having him sleep in between me and Matt, there’s really not much more I could have personally done.”
Reby Hardy
Hardy added that she will not be speaking about Jeff Hardy’s situation any further and that her brother-in-law is a fully-grown adult and responsible for his own actions, not her or Matt.
What’s next for Jeff?
In a statement issued on Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that Jeff has been suspended from the company without pay.
Jeff will have to complete courses and prove his sobriety before Khan allows him to return to the ring.
Outside of wrestling, Jeff is facing some serious consequences for his actions, as this marks his third DUI arrest within ten years.
If convicted, Jeff could face a maximum five years in prison.
Jon Moxley‘s autobiography, MOX, is now available in audio form after the initial book was released on November 2, 2021, via Simon and Schuster publishing.
MOX is narrated by the AEW star himself, which makes it even better. The run time is listed as 9 hours and 6 minutes long. You can check it out on Audible.
After making a name for himself on the independent scene, he joined WWE where he was repackaged as Dean Ambrose and made his main roster debut as a member of The Shield along with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. After years with the company and several championships held, Moxley made the call to leave WWE in 2019 where he signed with AEW.
Jon Moxley Book Description
The description reads like the following:
“A vivid trip through the mind of the top professional wrestler in the business—a nobody from nowhere who achieved his ambitions and walked away with the gold and the girl of his dreams.
Ride alongside Jon Moxley as he retraces some of the highways traveled on his remarkable journey. Revel in the never-before-told stories about his early life in Cincinnati, Ohio; the gritty independent wrestling scene where he cut his teeth; the complicated corporate landscape of the WWE where he bucked against authority; and the rebellious upstart AEW, where he won the championship in 2020 and was finally free to achieve the vision of the wrestler he’d always wanted to be.
With plenty of pitstops and revelatory insights, including grizzly ultraviolent encounters, crazy characters who became lifelong friends, and his unforgettable matches in Japan, MOX is the riveting account of the life of a brawler. It is a tale written in blood and soaked in debauchery, with a good dose of wisdom accumulated along the way.
More than a backstage pass into the arena, MOX is a ticket into the ring. Once inside, you’ll never look at pro wrestling the same again.”
“It’s a heavy emphasis on international competition, but the US can get involved in the competition. And I think it’s a great way to spotlight a lot of the international wrestlers in AEW, and the international presence that AEW’s developed over the years now with our shows on in 130 countries around the world and great ratings in so many huge international markets, including every week finishing as the number one wrestling company in the UK and our ratings there continue to rise.
“So for the international fans and for the international wrestlers on the roster, I felt like it would create more opportunities. But I also don’t think this title or these opportunities are exclusive to the international wrestlers. But it’s a big benefit of the term.”
NJPW will have two qualifying matches for the All Atlantic tournament as part of their New Japan Road tour event on June 20th.
The qualifying matches will see Tomoaki Honma take on Clark Connors and Suzuki-gun’s Yoshinobu Kanemaru battle Tomohiro Ishii. The winners of these bouts will face each other on June 21 in Korakuen Hall with the winner of that bout moving on to the finals. On the AEW side of the tournament, PAC has already advanced. Ethan Page vs. Miro and Malakai Black vs. Penta Oscuro still needs to take place.
The finals will take place at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view event on June 26th to become the first-ever AEW All Atlantic Champion.
A big-time NJPW star and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will be wrestling on AEW Dynamite this week.
AEW will be airing a special edition of Dynamite on June 15. This will be the Road Rager episode. It’ll feature a tag team title ladder match between champions Jurassic Express and The Young Bucks.
Fans will also get to witness a hair vs. hair match between Chris Jericho and Ortiz.
Will Ospreay Makes Dynamite In-Ring Debut
(via NJPW)
AEW President Tony Khan has announced that Will Ospreay will wrestle one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions Dax Harwood this Wednesday night.
It looks like an AEW star who had some promise will no longer be working for the company.
Things can change seemingly overnight in the world of wrestling. One minute a performer is in the midst of a big push, the next that person is sent all the way down the card.
Real-life issues can also get in the way of someone’s career and cost them a job. That appears to be what has happened in this situation.
Atlas allegedly attacked his partner and signed a no-contact order back in May. Atlas allegedly followed his partner after initially charging at him and left the victim with a scratch.
The police report alleges that the issue began as Atlas had a night of drinking and felt his partner was giving more attention to a female friend than him.
There were high hopes for Atlas as he was immediately put in a match with Adam Cole earlier this year and many felt he showed promise before tearing his ACL. It was a tough bump in the road for Atlas but this is even worse.
The Fightful report notes that Atlas had been working on a per appearance deal with AEW.
Atlas signed with WWE back in 2019. He was released by the company in Aug. 2021.
AEW was Atlas’ second chance on a big stage and one has to wonder if he’ll ever get another opportunity again.
Tony Khan has released a statement regarding Jeff Hardy’s standing with the company.
Hardy was arrested early Monday morning and charged with felony DUI and driving without a valid license. According to the arrest report, police witnessed Hardy’s car swerving and running off the road. Cops pulled him over and drew their guns on the wrestling legend, as seen below.
Hardy was reportedly “in a stupor,” unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol when he failed a breathalyzer test. His blood-alcohol levels were nearly 4-times the legal limit to drive.
Tony Khan issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon. Hardy is suspended without pay and cannot return to AEW until he completes a rehabilitation program and maintains his sobriety. According to Khan, Hardy was open to the idea of getting professional help.
“We were able to resume contact with Jeff Hardy this afternoon. AEW does not condone Jeff’s alleged behavior. We’ve made it clear to Jef that we’ll assist him in getting treatment for substance abuse issues, which he has indicated that he’s open to receiving. In the interim, he is suspended without pay, and he can only return to AEW upon successfully completing treatment and maintaining his sobriety.”
Khan also encouraged people to reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline if you or a loved one needs help with substance dependency.
Jeff Hardy and those closest to him have been left reeling after the “Charismatic Enigma’s” latest arrest.
Last weekend, Hardy was pulled over and arrested in Volusia County, Florida, and faces three charges, including driving under the influence.
When a breath test was administered, Jeff blew an 0.294 on his first and 0.291 on his second, both well over the legal limit to drive a vehicle 0.08.
Jeff was said to be unsteady on his feet and at one point, officers had to pull their firearms on Hardy to get him to comply.
There’s been plenty of talk since Jeff’s most recent arrest, and now someone extremely close to the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has weighed in.
Matt’s Statement
Taking to Twitter, Jeff’s older brother Matt said it was “disheartening” to hear about his brother’s most recent arrest.
Matt added that he will continue doing what he can to support Jeff and that being healthy and well is the most important thing for them and their families at this time.
It was disheartening to hear the news about my brother yesterday. Recovery isn’t a linear process & I’ll continue doing whatever I can to help my brother be healthy. Being healthy & well is the most important thing for Jeff, his wife, his children & our family at this time.
This situation is unfortunately not Jeff Hardy’s first run-in with the law.
In 2009, shortly after his departure from WWE, Hardy was arrested on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and pled guilty the following year.
In September 2011, Hardy was sentenced to ten days in jail, 30 months of probation, and a fine of $100,000.
Years later, after returning to WWE, Hardy was arrested in July 2019 for public intoxication and arrested again three months later for driving under the influence.
The scene of Jeff Hardy’s recent DUI arrest is more frightening than many even realized.
Early Monday morning, the AEW star was arrested in Volusia County, Florida. He was charged with Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Driver’s License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs, his third offense within 10 Years.
Hardy’s BAC was nearly four times the legal limit.
Scary Jeff Hardy DUI Arrest Video
TMZ has released footage of Jeff’s recent arrest and it’s quite terrifying. Jeff seemingly wasn’t cooperating with three police officers, prompting all of them to pull out their firearms.
As of now, there has been no word on what actions AEW will take against Hardy. The company did remove advertising for a planned ladder match involving Jeff.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer also reported that WarnerMedia has told AEW to pull any advertising featuring Jeff Hardy.
