SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • Matt Hardy On Why The Broken Character Didn’t Work In AEW

    Matt Hardy On Why The Broken Character Didn’t Work In AEW

    After fighting hard to win the rights of his Broken character, Matt Hardy finally got a chance to use the character with the creative freedom he desired when he signed with All Elite Wrestling in March 2020.

    However, the gimmick still failed to get traction and the wrestling veteran had to switch personalities. During a recent interview with Essentially Sports, the AEW star discussed the reasoning behind it.

    Hardy explained that the broken character didn’t work because of the lack of fans in the arena. He also teased the potential return of it:

    “The Broken Matt Hardy Character is a very fan-driven character and it was just very hard for it to work as well as it should without having fans in the venue. Obviously, the whole world was in the midst of this pandemic.

    So, we just changed courses and then I went to a more reality-based character in Money Matt and you know, we took a step back from Broken Matt. Who knows, now the fans are back, maybe you’ll see Broken Matt again down the road.”

    Apart from this, Matt Hardy also talked about the backstage culture of AEW. He explained that from all the way down to Tony Khan at the very top, people in AEW have the mentality of making the product as good as they can.

    The former champion claimed that everyone is allowed to feel comfortable in AEW. If you have an issue, you can talk to anyone including Tony Khan.

    Matt Hardy: WWE May Have ‘Jumped The Gun’ by Releasing Jeff Hardy
  • Cody Rhodes Wins TNT Title At AEW Rampage Holiday Bash

    Cody Rhodes Wins TNT Title At AEW Rampage Holiday Bash

    AEW Rampage Holiday Bash aired on Christmas Day and was taped from the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. Sammy Guevara defended the TNT Championship against Cody in the main event of the show.

    Cody Wins The TNT Title For A Third Time

    Sammy Guevara controlled the action early and Clotheslined Cody out of the ring. The TNT Champion posed in the ring as Cody took a walk through the crowd to regroup. Arn Anderson coached Cody up as Guevara continued to show off in the ring. Rhodes battled back and got the champion in a Headlock.

    Guevara escaped and connected with an Arm Drag. Sammy followed it up with a Powerslam but Cody kicked out at two. Rhodes got Sammy in a submission hold in the middle of the ring and focused his attack on Guevara’s arm. Cody climbed to the top rope and went for a Moonsault but Sammy got out of the way.

    Sammy connected with a beautiful springboard Cutter but couldn’t put Cody away. Guevara hit Cross Rhodes but Cody rolled out of the way. Guevara hit a ridiculous springboard 450 Splash on the floor outside the ring. Cody Powerbombed Sammy into the crowd and turned him inside out with a Disaster Kick in the ring.

    Cody hit Cross Rhodes but Sammy somehow kicked out. Guevara then hit the GTH but Cody wouldn’t stay down. Sammy went for the 450 Splash but Cody got his knees up. Cody hit two Cross Rhodes and a Tiger Driver for the pinfall victory. The Rhodes family celebrated to a mixed crowd reaction and then David Crockett presented him with the TNT Title.

    https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1474938325047914497?s=20

    Rampage Results

    • Kris Statlander def. Leyla Hirsch via submission
    • HOOK def. Bear Bronson
    • Jungle Boy def. Isiah Kassidy
    • Cody def. Sammy Guevara to become the new TNT Champion
  • Britt Baker gets the last laugh after WWE scrubs her NXT appearance

    Britt Baker gets the last laugh after WWE scrubs her NXT appearance

    AEW Women’s World champion Britt Baker was ringside NXT Takeover: War Games back in 2019. She was actually shown on camera during the broadcast, but you wouldn’t know that by watching the event on Peacock / the WWE Network.

    A fan informed Britt Baker on Instagram that WWE edited her off the broadcast – “they cut your moment out lol”

    Baker doesn’t seem bothered by WWE snubbing her with this edit. The Doc replied:

    “That’s okay. They took me out, I took their BAY BAY”

    Of course, Baker is referring to her significant other – Adam Cole, bay-bay.

    After being featured as the franchise player of NXT for the past several years, Cole jumped ship to All Elite Wrestling back in September.

    Kyle O’Reilly Comments On Signing With AEW
  • Tay Conti Releases Statement On Her Social Media Hiatus

    Tay Conti Releases Statement On Her Social Media Hiatus

    Tay Conti has come forward to comment on her social media hiatus and respond to the people who have accused her for Sammy Guevara’s split with his fiancé.

    The AEW star posted a statement on her Insta story earlier today where she mentioned how she had to take some time off of social media because she was reading unnecessary comments.

    Conti noted how her personal life is nobody’s business and nobody has the right to harass her by creating false rumors about something that wasn’t her fault.

    She ended the statement by thanking the people who have supported her through the ordeal. You can check out Tay Conti’s statement in the photo below:

    For those who don’t know, AEW star Sammy Guevara announced a split with his long-time girlfriend Pam Nizio earlier last week. The couple had gotten engaged in August.

    Since Sammy did not mention a reason for the split, many rumors started brewing up about the sudden end of their relationship.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/sammyguevara/status/1474558251169722369/

    Some people started accusing Tay Conti, who is a close friend of Guevara and regularly appears on his YouTube vlog.

    This campaign against the female star led to her deactivating her Twitter account for a while. Sammy Guevara has since commented on the matter. He has also clarified that Conti had nothing to do with his breakup.

    Update on Tay Conti’s Social Media Hiatus
  • CM Punk Reveals Which Young AEW Stars Have Impressed Him the Most

    CM Punk Reveals Which Young AEW Stars Have Impressed Him the Most

    Since announcing his return to professional wrestling this past August with AEW, CM Punk has worked with several young stars. Rather than jumping right into the main event scene, the former world champion has been sharing the spotlight with both new faces and legends.

    Speaking with ESPN’s SportsNation, Punk revealed which young AEW stars have impressed him the most and who he sees as future main event stars.

    “There’s so many honestly,” CM Punk said when reflecting the roster (h/t Wrestling Inc.). “There’s so many guys. I think the future of AEW is in such good hands. Most of the younger guys that we have that we’re going to wind up spotlighting in the next five years or so are in their early 20’s. Britt Baker, Hook. I mean, everyone seems to love Hook and the guy’s had one match. I just think we take our time with our talents.

    “AEW as a whole is still a baby. Two years old. And we’re going to be moving to TBS in the new year. That’s a big step. And just taking time and fostering the new talent instead of just kind of throwing them out there and having a sink or swim attitude, I think helps. Daniel Garcia is a guy that I think is phenomenal. Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks. I’ll forget so many people if I name them. I just think that the future is very, very bright.”

    Punk also explained why he has chosen to work with young talent like Darby Allin, Hobbs, Garcia, and others.

    “I think I could use my name, whatever value that has, and kind of highlight some of the guys while knocking off some ring rust and moving myself up the ladder. So for storyline purposes, it makes sense to me. And I always remember guys helping me and they were few and far between. I think more people should help more people and I’m just trying to do my best to do that.”

    Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

  • Anthony Ogogo Reportedly Has Backstage Heat In AEW

    Anthony Ogogo Reportedly Has Backstage Heat In AEW

    Olympic Bronze-medal boxer and member of the AEW roster, Anthony Ogogo, reportedly has backstage heat due to his recent comments on Twitter. Following Ring of Honor’s Final Battle PPV earlier this month, Ogogo Tweeted comments directed at Jonathan Gresham.

    “Super cute that @TheJonGresham was the last ever ROH champ, kinda reminds me when Hornswoggle was the last ever cruiserweight champ. Congrats kiddo,” Ogogo Tweeted.

    The comment drew responses from Gresham’s wife Jordynne Grace as well as Hornswoggle.

    According to a report from Fightful, Ogogo’s comments did not sit well with several members of the AEW roster. While several members of the roster were said to be upset, Ogogo’s heat is not believed to be substantial. One member of the roster stated that they believed Ogogo was trying to create an angle but by the time Grace had stated it was not a storyline, Ogogo had gone too far to go back.

    Jonathan Gresham took to Twitter to clarify that he was not working an angle with Ogogo.

    “No it’s not an angle. It is not a gimmick. We are not working on this together. It is simply someone going into business for themselves. And legit taking shots at myself and my wife online. But please continue to support that kind of behavior as its seems to entertain you,” Gresham Tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/TheJonGresham/status/1473116704112840707
    Jordynne Grace, Anthony Ogogo, & Hornswoggle Trade Shots On Twitter
  • CM Punk Explains His Slow Start In AEW

    CM Punk Explains His Slow Start In AEW

    CM Punk took a 7-year hiatus from wrestling after quitting WWE before he made his triumphant return earlier this year. Though during his time away, he never took his hand off the pulse of the industry. He kept an eye on the up-and-coming talents. While many have criticized some of the storylines he has been a part of since his return, it appears that giving young talents the spotlight was always part of his plan.

    The straight edge star recently appeared on ESPN SportsNation. He was asked why it was important for him to make his return in this capacity where he is working with a lot of younger talent. Answering it Punk explained that it’s about using his name to help the relatively unknown talents:

    “Because very selfishly, it’s what I wanted to do. When you take seven years off of something that you’re pretty decent at and you’re priding yourself at having your finger on the pulse of everything. I think there’s an undercurrent and there’s a lot of young professional wrestlers out there that are probably better than a lot of people give them credit for. They just don’t have the spotlight. They don’t have anybody that’s saying, ‘Hey, look at this guy.’ Or they do but just not on a national level.

    Punk continued, “I think I could use my name, whatever value that has, and kind of highlight some of the guys while knocking off some ring rust and moving myself up the ladder. So for storyline purposes, it makes sense to me. And I always remember guys helping me and they were few and far between. I think more people should help more people and I’m just trying to do my best to do that.”

    Will We Get To See CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Adam Cole & Britt Baker?

    CM Punk and AJ Lee

    AEW is not very big on mixed tag matches but there is one match that many people want to see. The match of CM Punk & AJ Lee vs Adam Cole & Britt Baker is something that even Cole and Baker have shown interest in. Though when asked if we will get to see the bout, the former world champion said that he can’t promise that:

    “That one I can’t promise you. She is doing her own thing. To be completely honest, I know her and if I said, ‘Hey, you want to do this wrestling match?’, and if she was all gung-ho to do it, I know she would want to get into stupid shape to do it, and I like her thick. So I don’t want to take that away from myself.”

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  • Tony Khan Reacts To Dynamite Getting Back To Over 1 Million Viewers

    Tony Khan Reacts To Dynamite Getting Back To Over 1 Million Viewers

    With stars such as CM Punk, Sting and Adam Cole in action and the big debut of Kyle O’Reilly, this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite managed to break through the barrier of 1 million viewers again.

    The Holiday Bash edition of the show featuring the main event match of Punk, Sting, and Darby Allin taking on The Pinnacle drew 1.020 million viewers according to Showbuzz Daily.

    President Tony Khan took on his Twitter to react to the ratings. He thanked the fans and noted how it was their highest number since October when Dynamite was temporarily moved to Saturday night for a few weeks:

    This is a 7.59% increase from last week’s Winter Is Coming special of Dynamite. The show featuring the Bryan Danielson vs Hangman Page world title match had drawn 948,000 viewers.

    Dynamite also saw a big increase in the key demo. This week’s episode drew 0.37 ratings in the 18-49 demographic representing 480,000 viewers of the age group.

    This is a significant 19.35% improvement over last week’s episode of the show. It had done a 0.31 rating, representing 398,000 viewers of the demographic.

    This was a 31.61% improvement in the year-over-year ratings for Dynamite. The 2020 Holiday Bash special of the show had not gone up against NXT either.

    AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash Results (12/22): Kyle O’Reilly Debuts, CM Punk & MJF
  • Ruby Soho: AEW Fans Know When Something Isn’t Authentic

    Ruby Soho: AEW Fans Know When Something Isn’t Authentic

    Ruby Soho thinks AEW fans can sense inauthenticity from miles away.

    In pro wrestling, some of the best moments, storylines, characters, and matches come when the fans feel it to be genuine. It’s the reason why scripted promos and over-the-top gimmicks often get criticized.

    Ruby has been received well by the fans of AEW and she has an idea as to why that’s the case.

    Ruby Soho Praises AEW Fans

    Ruby Soho is of the belief that AEW fans have allowed her to be authentic because otherwise, they wouldn’t accept her. She explained when being interviewed by Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald.

    “Feeling like I am accepted for exactly the way that I am, and be able to be me and be the most authentic version of me. I think that’s one of the things that also makes AEW so special.

    “That’s one of the reasons [why] our fans are as incredible as they are. They see all of the performers being the most authentic version of themselves. And I think that they relate to that. They connect with that.

    “Because everybody knows when you’re trying to be something that you’re not people can tell. Especially our fans, they can tell. When you’re the most authentic version of yourself I think people connect with that even more and that’s why our fans are as incredible as they are.

    “So being able to be that version of myself, unapologetically is really, really a great gift.”

    In the same interview with Jim, Ruby said she feels there’s something truly special about AEW as a whole. She described the energy of the locker room as “intoxicating.”

    Ruby also said that she feels motivated thanks to the energy of her peers. She also called Tony Khan the best “hype man.”

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  • Mark Henry On Kyle O’Reilly’s AEW Debut: ‘I Never Saw Him All Day’

    Mark Henry On Kyle O’Reilly’s AEW Debut: ‘I Never Saw Him All Day’

    Mark Henry has likened Kyle O’Reilly to a ninja.

    O’Reilly made his surprise AEW debut on the Dec. 22 Holiday Bash episode of Dynamite. The former Undisputed Era member attacked Orange Cassidy during his match with Adam Cole. This allowed Cole to connect with The Boom for the three-count.

    It appears O’Reilly did a heck of a job evading people in the backstage area before making his debut.

    Mark Henry Unaware Of Kyle O’Reilly’s Presence

    During an episode of Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry praised Tony Khan for being able to snag Kyle O’Reilly after his WWE contract was up.

    “Tony Khan continues to give the crowd what they want. And when I say crowd, not just the people in Greensboro but all of the fans of AEW.

    “You get these little — it’s not even Christmas presents. It’s like a birthday, it’s a Wednesday gift. Every month it seems like there’s a surprise at AEW.

    “Whether it’s a return from injury or a new wrestler that’s All Elite, something to that effect that gets everybody stirred up. Man, I feel like that’s the M.O. of AEW is never letting things get stale by mixing things up and last night was no different.”

    Henry insisted that he never knew that O’Reilly was going to appear on Dynamite and never saw him before he made his way out.

    “No, I know who he is. I never saw him all day. I’m a tell you, man they some super Secret Squirrel — they some kingsmen. They the Mission Impossible people. I don’t know what the hell is going on but they do a good job of keeping a secret.”

    Some drama is already brewing between The Young Bucks and Cole over Bobby Fish and O’Reilly. Cole promised The Bucks a surprise but Matt and Nick Jackson weren’t exactly thrilled with what they saw.

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  • Eddie Kingston Defends AEW’s Loaded Roster

    Eddie Kingston Defends AEW’s Loaded Roster

    The AEW roster is stacked and growing by the month. While some may feel it’s time for the company to focus on the talent currently under contract, Eddie Kingston says you really can’t have too many big names in your company.

    Kingston spoke to TalkSport this week and spoke about the pros and cons of having a locker room loaded with star power.

    When asked if you have too many top talents, Kingston said, “No, because it makes everybody else step up. And if you don’t step up, you get left behind and that’s your fault. That’s not Punk’s fault. That’s not Bryan’s fault. That not whoever comes in fault.”

    AEW signed a ton of people this year. CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, Ruby Soho, Malakai Black and Andrade el Idolo are just some of the performers who became ‘All Elite’ in 2021.

    Kingston continued, “When Bryan signed, when Punk signed and when Adam Cole signed I said ‘Alright, let’s go. Let’s see what you got.’ Because I know what I got. I know what I have to improve on. Let’s see what you got. I like it. I have a big chip on my shoulder.”

    Visit TalkSport to check out the full interview with Eddie Kingston.

    AEW Roster: A Team Effort

    Adam Cole recently addressed this topic during an appearance on Barstool’s Rasslin’ podcast. Cole says he was very impressed how well everyone gets along behind the scenes.

    “It very much feels like the ‘you’re one of us’ thing,” said Cole. “It very much feels like a team in every sense of the word. That was one of the more attractive things to me as well about AEW.”

    Cole added that the veterans in AEW are excited to work with the young talent, and vice-versa.

    “You look at the young crew of guys like Jungle Boy, Sammy, MJF, Darby, and you’re like, ‘Man, I could do some really, really cool stuff with these guys.’”

  • AEW Rampage Holiday Bash Spoilers

    AEW Rampage Holiday Bash Spoilers

    AEW taped Rampage Holiday Bash following Dynamite last night from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show was headlined by a TNT title match between champion Sammy Guevara and Cody Rhodes.

    Cody Rhodes defeated Sammy Guevara to win the TNT Championship for a 3rd time. Reports are that Rhodes used multiple Cross Rhodes and a pedigree to win the match.

    The other 3 matches all had submission finishes.

    Kris Statlander defeated “Legit” Leyla Hirsch via submission. In his second ever match, HOOK defeated Bear Bronson. Jungle Boy also defeated Isiah Kassidy from Private Party.

    The TNT Championship has now changed hands 7x, with Rhodes being the only champion to hold the title more than once. His first run with the belt lasted 82 days and included 8 title defenses. Rhodes then dropped the title to Brodie Lee who defended it twice before dropping it back to Rhodes again. He would then drop the title to Darby Allin, who eventually lost it to Miro. Guevara then defeated Miro before dropping it back to Rhodes.

    Next up for AEW will be a show in Jacksonville on December 29th. Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish will reunited to take on the Best Friends and Orange Cassidy. Jade Cargill will face Thunder Rosa in the second TBS Title Tournament semi-final. Eddie Kingston will also team with Santana and Ortiz to take on 2.0 and Daniel Garcia.

  • Ruby Soho Opens Up About Her AEW Experience: “There’s Something Very Special About The Place”

    Ruby Soho Opens Up About Her AEW Experience: “There’s Something Very Special About The Place”

    Ruby Soho has wrestled for many different companies in her career so far. The list includes promotions such as WWE, Stardom, Shimmer, and more. Though while she has been part of many different locker rooms, none can match the energy and vibe that is found in the AEW locker room, according to the female star herself.

    Soho recently spoke to Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald. She compared the energy within the AEW locker room to other organizations and claimed that it has a very indie feeling to it:

    “I have said before that AEW kind of has a very independent wrestling like underground vibe to it. It’s different than anything that I’ve ever been a part of. The energy within it is definitely kind of an indie wrestling vibe just because we’re all working together as a team to put together this amazing product. And we’re all just a bunch of misfits putting together this incredible show that are brought together by the love of wrestling,”

    Ruby Soho Says Tony Khan Is The Best Hype Man

    Ruby Soho and Tony Khan. Photo: Instinct Culture by Denise Salcedo

    Ruby Soho made her AEW debut during the All Out PPV in September. In the short time since then, she has won a Casino Battle Royal and challenged for the AEW women’s world title. She is now competing in the TBS title tournament and reached the finals of it. When asked what her experience at the promotion has been like, Soho said that there is something very special about the place:

    “There’s something very special about the place, about the energy that’s in the locker room. Like I said, we’re all just trying to prove that there’s something different out there in the world of professional wrestling and that’s what we’re delivering. So, it is an energy that is intoxicating and motivating. Then on top of that our boss, Tony Khan is probably the best hype man anybody could ask for. He’s just so excited about wrestling and so excited about his product and passionate about it. That energy is infectious throughout the rest of the locker room.”

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    Ruby Soho On AEW Women’s Division & Future Opponents
  • Sting Praises “Electrifying” CM Punk, Grateful to Retire on His Terms

    Sting Praises “Electrifying” CM Punk, Grateful to Retire on His Terms

    This week’s special Holiday Bash edition of AEW Dynamite saw Sting team up with Darby Allin and CM Punk in the main event. They defeated the team of Maxwell Jacob Friedman and FTR of the Pinnacle.

    Sting and Punk paid homage to one another with their face-paint and ring gear.

    Ahead of this memorable bout, Sting spoke to Sports Illustrated and had glowing things to say about Punk.

    “CM Punk, he’s truly amazing to me,” he began. “Hearing the crowd respond to him, it’s made me turn back the clock and think of all the different memorable reactions over the years to different wrestlers. I’ve especially been thinking about The Road Warriors. Animal was really big on that. He would say, ‘This guy got a huge pop, but it wasn’t a Road Warrior pop.’ That’s what Punk gets.”

    Sting and CM Punk

    Sting has wrestled alongside some of the biggest names in pro wrestling history. He’s worked with them all, yet still credits Punk for being a “remarkable” and “electrifying” performer.

    “I had an idea of CM Punk’s greatness, but now I have experienced it,” Sting continued. “His appearances are so electrifying. He is remarkable, and I am grateful to have this opportunity to be in the ring with him and Darby as their tag team partner.”

    Sting Retiring on His Terms

    Sting also spoke about how fortunate he is to write this final chapter of his career on his terms.

    “Not many people get to rewrite their final chapter, not at this level. I had great matches at the Greensboro Coliseum with Lex Luger, and now I get to do it with Darby and CM Punk against MJF and FTR. It’s a great way to end my career. The crowd, their appreciation makes me want to tear up. It’s almost as if they don’t want to say goodbye.”

    Sting has a lot of great memories wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum. Back in 1988, he wrestled NWA Champion Ric Flair to a 45-minute time-limit draw at the first-ever Clash of the Champions. That show went head-to-head with WWE’s WrestleMania IV.

  • Kyle O’Reilly Comments On Signing With AEW

    Kyle O’Reilly Comments On Signing With AEW

    Kyle O’Reilly made a shocking debut on Wednesday’s Holiday Bash edition of AEW Dynamite on TNT.

    O’Reilly did a run-in during Adam Cole’s match against Orange Cassidy. In doing so, he reunited with former Undisputed Era partners Cole and Bobby Fish.

    After Cole picked up the victory, O’Reilly, Cole and Fish stood together in the ring. Out came the Young Bucks, who questioned Adam Cole’s loyalties.

    Cole has partnered with the Bucks, as well as Fish & O’Reilly. He left with Fish & O’Reilly, which sets up an interesting scenario about where this leaves the Super Elite.

    Kyle O’Reilly debuts on AEW Dynamite

    Kyle O’Reilly comments on his AEW debut

    O’Reilly addressed his arrival in AEW on social media.

    “Life is crazy and I’m very grateful that my professional wrestling abilities have taken me to a new frontier in which to explore my ass-kicking ways,” he wrote. “Proud to be apart of AEW and thanks to Tony Khan for the opportunity.”

    “If you’re a fan of mine from elsewhere I hope you continue to support me. If you’re new to KOR prepare to see a man that pours his f’n soul into that ring every night and has an unquenchable thirst for cans of whoop ass.”

    “Also, reDRagon is back!!!”

    Tony Khan Reacts

    Tony Khan also commented on signing O’Reilly and reuniting him with Adam Cole and Bobby Fish.

    “I’m still amazed that we were able to reunite Adam Cole & Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly tonight on AEW Dynamite; it doesn’t seem like it should’ve been possible, still doesn’t feel real. The only reason it was possible was because of you great fans supporting AEW on TNT! Thank you.”

    Kyle O’Reilly Is All Elite, Aligns With Adam Cole & Bobby Fish
  • Page vs. Danielson II Set for AEW Dynamite TBS Premeire

    Page vs. Danielson II Set for AEW Dynamite TBS Premeire

    Hangman Page and Bryan Danielson have a date for their second match.

    Page and Danielson went to war on the Dec. 15 episode of AEW Dynamite. Hangman’s AEW World Heavyweight Championship was on the line. The two fought to a one-hour time limit draw.

    Danielson suggested that there be judges on tap for the rematch in case he and Page go to another 60-minute draw. Hangman Page was in agreement but he vowed that the match won’t make it to the one-hour mark again.

    AEW has announced the date for Hangman Page vs. Bryan Danielson 2. The action will take place inside the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Jan. 5. This will mark AEW Dynamite’s debut on TBS.

  • Kyle O’Reilly Is All Elite, Aligns With Adam Cole & Bobby Fish

    Kyle O’Reilly Is All Elite, Aligns With Adam Cole & Bobby Fish

    Kyle O’Reilly has joined the AEW roster and drama has already reared its ugly head.

    On the Holiday Bash episode of AEW Dynamite, Adam Cole went one-on-one with Orange Cassidy. Cole got a major assist from the debuting Kyle O’Reilly, which allowed Cole to hit The Boom for the three-count.

    https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1473826691902550017

    After the match, The Young Bucks made their way down the ramp and they did not look too pleased. Cole promised a surprise for his fellow Elite members but this isn’t what The Bucks were hoping for.

    Bobby Fish was also at ringside and he posed with O’Reilly. Cole looked conflicted as he noticed that The Young Bucks were not happy with what had transpired.

    Cole, O’Reilly, and Fish were all members of the Undisputed Era on NXT. The group eventually added Roderick Strong to the group.

    O’Reilly had been with WWE under the NXT brand since 2017. Once his contract came to an end, O’Reilly decided to leave the company. Many expected the move given that NXT has changed direction.

  • Tony Khan Initially Didn’t Understand Appeal Of Orange Cassidy’s Gimmick

    Tony Khan Initially Didn’t Understand Appeal Of Orange Cassidy’s Gimmick

    Tony Khan always admired the athletic ability of Orange Cassidy but he was iffy on his gimmick at first.

    Cassidy garnered a lot of attention on the indie scene. Many fans loved his gimmick of being the chill wrestler who puts his hands in his pockets. Others felt that OC had no shot of getting over on television.

    Cassidy has been well received since coming to AEW and his gimmick hasn’t been as over the top as it was on the indies. Still, OC is allowed to be himself and has garnered success.

    Tony Khan Didn’t Get Orange Cassidy At First

    Tony Khan appeared as a guest on Busted Open Radio and said that he wasn’t sure what to make of the Orange Cassidy gimmick initially.

    “The gimmick is very entertaining and people love it but the thing I really love about Orange Cassidy is how great of a wrestler he is when he really wants to try [laughs]. It’s what really made me fall in love with Orange Cassidy.

    “I didn’t understand it at first either and I’ll be the first to admit that.

    “The first time I ever really talked to him was after a PWG show I think and I had really not gotten to know him very well, and I spent a lot of time with him and talking to him about how I saw the character and how I would want to see Orange Cassidy in AEW.

    “One thing I’m really proud of is if you’re an independent wrestling fan then you probably would know this or maybe looking back this would make sense to you, the Orange Cassidy in AEW is very different from the independent Orange Cassidy from pre-AEW.”

    On the Dec. 22 Holiday Bash episode of AEW Dynamite, OC will be going one-on-one with Adam Cole. OC and Best Friends, who recently joined the NJPW faction CHAOS, have been in a feud with The Elite.

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  • AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker Reveals Her Favorite Match Of 2021

    AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker Reveals Her Favorite Match Of 2021

    Britt Baker has unveiled her favorite match of 2021 and it isn’t one that she competed in.

    Many agree that 2021 was a great year in terms of quality wrestling matches. We’ve seen plenty of “Match of the Year” candidates from promotions such as AEW, NJPW, WWE, and Stardom.

    This year, fans got to witness instant classics such as Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi from NJPW’s Wrestling Dontaku event. Or how about that steel cage match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships at All Out between The Lucha Bros and The Young Bucks?

    Of course, the hard-hitting NXT TakeOver 36 match between Ilja Dragunov and WALTER didn’t disappoint. As for the women, Utami Hayashishita and Syuri tore the house down, going past the time limit in their World of Stardom Championship match.

    Britt Baker’s Personal Choice

    • Christian Cage Kenny Omega
      Christian Cage & Kenny Omega

    Appearing on an episode of Busted Open Radio, Britt Baker revealed that her favorite match of 2021 has a bit of personal meaning behind it.

    “This is gonna be weird for you guys but I have a match that was special to me for many reasons.

    “And it’s not mine so just hold up before you say I’m like too arrogant but when we were in Pittsburgh everybody there was saying, ‘Oh my gosh, this city is so brutal, we hate coming to Pittsburgh, the fans suck.’

    “And I took that as a personal attack. I’m like, ‘What? No, Pittsburgh shows up.’ The Kenny Omega-Christian match that happened, it was a great match but the fans were absolutely rabid.

    “They were insane for this match and it made me so excited to just tell everybody, ‘See, the fans will come when you give them what they want.’ That match proved that because it wasn’t me.

    “It wasn’t the hometown chick getting the great reaction. The place came unglued when Christian won the Impact Title. So, for me, that was a really cool moment cause that’s my city.”

    The match Britt is referring to took place on the debut episode of AEW Rampage. It was held inside the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA on Aug. 13. The bout was contested for the Impact Wrestling World Title, which was held by Kenny Omega.

    Britt herself had a highly-praised match in 2021. On the March 11 episode of AEW Dynamite, Britt had a Lights Out match against Thunder Rosa. The bloody matchup ended with Thunder Rosa getting the win.

    Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

  • Jon Moxley Tried to Get WWE to Sign Eddie Kingston Years Ago

    Jon Moxley Tried to Get WWE to Sign Eddie Kingston Years Ago

    Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston are long time friends, a fact that AEW has tied into on-screen storylines nicely. The two have been both enemies (wrestling in an I Quit match at AEW Full Gear 2020) and friends (tag team partners) over the last year with the company.

    In an interview with TalkSPORT, Kingston revealed how Moxley (then Dean Ambrose) tried to get WWE to sign him several years ago.

    “Jon has been one of the biggest advocates for me in my whole career, since we met,” Kingston revealed. “A lot of people don’t know that he was trying to get me into WWE years ago. Trying his best to do what he could. ‘Hey, I told this guy to check you out.’ And this is me and Jon not talking for years and out of nowhere he’ll text me ‘Hey, I told so and so to watch your match from blah blah blah’ and I’ll be like ‘Who is this?’ And he’ll be like ‘Jon’ and I’ll be like ‘Oh hey, what’s up Mox?’ [laughs]. That’s the kind of friends we are.”

    Moxley is currently off of AEW television after checking himself into treatment for alcohol abuse just over one week before AEW Full Gear earlier this year.

    “That was real man stuff. He understood that his family is number one, that’s grown man stuff,” Kingston said regarding Moxley’s decision to get help.

    He continued, “And you got to think about it like this, what’s wrong with being honest with the people? There’s so much stuff on social media now you can’t hide anything anyway. Be honest with the people, if they accept it, they accept it. If they don’t, they don’t. 

    “But you’ve got to do what’s right for you and I’m proud of him. I’m very proud of him.”

    Kingston is currently in the midst of the most successful period of his wrestling career, starring on national television on a weekly basis. It took years for him to get there (with many trials and tribulations recently revealed in a column for The Players Tribune), but Kingston ended up making it in the business without ever signing a WWE contract.

    Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

  • Bryan Danielson defends AEW using Time Limit Draws

    Bryan Danielson defends AEW using Time Limit Draws

    Bryan Danielson said 2021 has been a year of surprises for him. He was speaking with the Asbury Park Press recently and noted that he’s done multiple things this year that he didn’t expect to.

    Bryan noted during the interview that he was surprised to be inserted into the WrestleMania main event earlier this year. He noted that he told WWE he was leaving, and didn’t think being in the main event of WrestleMania was what they would have him do on his way out.

    “The thing that surprised me the most (in 2021) was being inserted into the main event of WrestleMania,” said Danielson. “When I started the year, I knew my contract was ending and I was part of the creative team with WWE and I was like, ‘OK, what’s the best thing for me to do on my way out?’ And it was certainly not (being part of) the main event of WrestleMania”.

    Bryan Danielson On Time Limit Draws In Wrestling

    Since arriving in AEW, Danielson has wrestled in two time-limit draws. Him and Kenny Omega went to a 30-minute time limit draw at Dynamite Grand Slam in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Then at Winter is Coming last week, Danielson and Hangman Page went to a 60-minute time-limit draw. He also spoke about these matches during the interview.

    “If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that I would do a 60-minute match on television, I would have been like, ‘Where’s that happening?’” Danielson said. “So I’ve had some really cool surprises this year.”

    He continued to say that time limit draws are an interesting storytelling device, one that sets the stage for a rematch.

    “It’s just a story device, right?” Danielson continued. “And it’s interesting to me in the sense of in sporting events, and especially when you’re looking at MMA or boxing and the idea that there are draws in boxing and there are draws in MMA … Usually what it does is it’s a mechanism to lead to a rematch.”

    Visit App.com to read their full interview with “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson.

  • Danhausen in AEW? Tony Khan comments

    Danhausen in AEW? Tony Khan comments

    AEW President Tony Khan has commented on the possibility of Danhausen joining All Elite Wrestling.

    The very nice, very evil grappler is one of the most popular performers on the independent scene. He was on board for the latest Jericho Cruise. This marked his first appearance in an AEW ring and got fans wondering if he’ll ever join the company in an official capacity.

    Khan was interviewed for CBS Sports this week and said the Danhausen-AEW situation is something to keep an eye on.

    “Well, he was on the Jericho cruise, interacting with a lot of the AEW wrestlers and that was great,” said Khan. “He’s had an injury recently, I know, so it’s something to keep an eye on, for sure.”

    Khan acknowledged Danhausen’s popularity, stating, “He’s got a big following and he does sell some merch. He’s a very nice guy, so he’s got a lot of things going for him.”

    Tony Khan’s response is a bit ambiguous, so it’s difficult to get a read on whether or not there is real interest in Danhausen at this time. Danhausen is currently recovering from a broken tibia and fibia, so he won’t be wrestling for several more months.

    Orange Cassidy is another comedy wrestler and he’s carved out a niche for himself on the AEW roster, so Danhausen could fill a similar role if they decide to bring him in.

    Watch Shak’s complete interview with AEW President Tony Khan:

  • Serena Deeb Working As A Producer & Coach Backstage In AEW

    Serena Deeb Working As A Producer & Coach Backstage In AEW

    Serena Deeb recently noted that when she was out with a knee injury earlier this year she began working backstage in AEW as a producer and a coach. Deeb was speaking with Wrestling Inc. when she mentioned having taken on the role.

    “When I was kind of sitting on the sidelines I stepped into the coaching role and the producing role,” Deeb said. “Kind of like the stuff I was doing before at the other company,” she said. “I’m helping them with their matches, I am on headset next to Tony calling their matches, talking to the truck, doing all of that. I love that too and, you know what? That has an exhilarating component in itself. Like, especially when you really help and then you watch them go out there and they kill it. You feel like you’re part of that, it’s very rewarding.”

    Deeb worked as a trainer in the WWE Performance Center from 2017 until the spring of 2020. She was released in April 2020 along with many others at the start of the pandemic.

    “Yesterday I did what was supposed to be a four-hour seminar but it ended up being a six-hour seminar because we were just in it and we were just going. I felt so good at the end of it,” Deeb continued. “I really love coaching and I want it to be a part of my life and my future and I am getting to do a little bit of that at AEW, as well. So that’s a part of me, for sure. I have an innate desire to help people and I’ve kind of always been like that, I really love it.”

    Deeb recently faced Hikaru Shida in the rubber match of their series at Winter is Coming. Deeb had defeated Shida on the October 6th episode of Dynamite. Shida then defeated Deeb in the 1st round of the TBS title tournament. Deeb attacked Shida after the match, targeting her already damaged knee. She then attacked Shida during her quarter-final match with Nyla Rose, again attacking the knee. Rose ended up submitting Shida with a stretch muffler shortly after. Shida then defeated Deeb in the 3rd match in their trilogy last week.

  • Tony Khan Admits He Would’ve Made A Play For Kevin Owens If He Didn’t Re-Sign With WWE

    Tony Khan Admits He Would’ve Made A Play For Kevin Owens If He Didn’t Re-Sign With WWE

    AEW boss Tony Khan says he would’ve had interest in Kevin Owens had he not re-signed with WWE.

    Owens had a decision to make regarding his in-ring career. His WWE contract was running out and he had the choice of staying with the company or testing free agency. Ultimately, he signed a new deal with WWE which is said to last for three years.

    Tony Khan Praises Kevin Owens

    Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports, Tony Khan said that Kevin Owens is a great talent and that he would’ve looked into possibly signing him had he been available.

    “I would have been interested in that. He’s a great wrestler. I think he ended up signing for what I believe is probably a lot of money. I think that’s great and good for him. We have a lot of people spotlighted here and he’s great. Any company he goes to he’ll be a great wrestler for them.”

    Tony Khan speaks with Shakiel Mahjouri

    Owens’ new deal with WWE is said to be quite lucrative. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Owens’ contract is in the $2-3 million range per year.

    The report also noted that the feeling is AEW wouldn’t have matched such an offer. WWE has been releasing plenty of talent as of late so it’s clear that the company wanted KO to stick around and didn’t hesitate to throw out a hefty offer.

    KO will be featured in a WWE Title match at the Day 1 PPV. He’ll challenge WWE Champion Big E. KO won’t be the only challenger as this will be a fatal four-way match. Bobby Lashley and Seth Rollins will also be competing for the gold.

  • Tony Khan Responds To Reports Of WWE Being Interested In MJF

    Tony Khan Responds To Reports Of WWE Being Interested In MJF

    Tony Khan is aware of the report claiming that WWE as well as FOX and USA Network executives have great interest in MJF.

    MJF will tell anyone who listens that his AEW contract will expire in 2024. He even mentioned it following the Long Island show on Dec. 8. MJF got on the mic and said Khan will need to roll out the big bucks in order to keep him.

    While MJF is having some fun playing things up, it’s a very real situation that AEW will have to face in a couple of years. Many consider MJF to be a top heel in the wrestling business and at the young age of 25, there is plenty of upside.

    Tony Khan Welcomes WWE’s Interest In MJF

    • MJF
      MJF (Photo: AEW)

    Andrew Zarian recently reported that WWE, along with FOX and USA Network execs have their eyes on MJF. Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports, Tony Khan explained why WWE’s interest in MJF is a good thing.

    “I think that’s great. I encourage that. I think they should keep talking about him because he’s a wrestler that’s a big part of AEW and is signed here for a few more years.

    “So I think please keep giving us that buzz because he’s been getting great ratings for his segments and those have also been featuring CM Punk pretty regularly as they continue to interact.

    “They’ve had a war of words and now there’ll be on opposite sides of this huge trios match where you got Sting [and] Darby Allin teaming with CM Punk against MJF and FTR.

    “I think that’s great. You know, [WWE] had some wrestlers I really wanted to sign there and I signed him, Bryan Danielson and Adam [Cole] and Ruby Soho.”

    As Khan mentioned, MJF is currently in a feud with CM Punk. A match hasn’t been made official between the two but it’s bound to happen.

    MJF may have more issues to deal with other than CM Punk, however. His bodyguard, Wardlow, has been showing signs of frustration. Wardlow told Busted Open Radio that his “contract” with MJF won’t last forever.