SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • Ethan Page’s Mind Blown In WWE After AEW’s Chaos & Disorganization

    Ethan Page’s Mind Blown In WWE After AEW’s Chaos & Disorganization

    Ethan Page says working for WWE has already been a mind blowing experience a stark contrast to AEW, which he called, “chaotic and unorganized.”

    Page recently arrived in NXT after an uneventful stint with All Elite Wrestling. He attacked NXT Champion Trick Williams in his debut appearance. By going straight after the brand’s top champion, he’s effectively invited himself into the main event scene. He lost their showdown at NXT Battleground 2024 on June 9, but All Ego is here to stay.

    Comparing AEW & WWE

    During an appearance on the Talk’n Shop podcast recorded ‘on location’ at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Page tells hosts Gallows and Anderson that he still cannot believe how professional the WWE ‘machine’ is compared to the last national wrestling promotion he worked at.

    “I went from somewhere that was so chaotic and unorganized to a place that, I mean I’m still learning because I’m still so new here, but this is a machine and it’s incredible.”

    Page learned firsthand that disorganization negatively affects talent morale. He admits he felt a bit neglected by ‘AEW creative’ and didn’t receive the support he was expecting.

    “It feels good to not feel like I have to do everything myself. To have people that want to see me succeed is kind of mind blowing.”

    Listen to Page’s appearance on Talk’n Shop here and make sure to check out our new Wrestling Podcasts section for more great shows to listen to.

    What Others Have Said

    Ethan Page is the latest wrestler to leave AEW and join WWE, but he’s not the first. Cody Rhodes has been nothing but complimentary about the company he helped co-found.

    Jade Cargill has provided some unique insights as well, having started her wrestling career under the AEW banner. Cargill said working there prepared her for WWE, but moved on when she’d achieved all of her goals in AEW.

  • Chris Jericho Believes Wrestling Could Be An Olympic Sport

    Chris Jericho Believes Wrestling Could Be An Olympic Sport

    Chris Jericho believes wrestling should be included as a Olympic sport.

    Pro Wrestling has always found itself battling for legitimacy in the broader climate of sports. Those who are not familiar still think of it as a fake performance instead of a scripted art form similar to many performing arts. The AEW star has a great idea to help it attain the respect it deserves.

    The former AEW Champion recently appeared on the Blocks Podcast to discuss things such as what it means to be an entertainer, how long he will continue performing and more.

    During the interview, Jericho floated a very interesting idea, suggesting that pro wrestling could be included in Olympics similar to any other sport that is judged on points:

    “I’ve started to really think about how pro wrestling could easily be an Olympic sport, because it’s a athletic display between two people, much like figure skating or synchronized swimming or anything else that’s judged on points.”

    Chris Jericho Explains How Wrestling In Olympics Would Work

    Chris Jericho explained that wrestlers from different countries can put together matches to the best of their abilities. They can then be judged on their performances instead of the outcome of the match:

    “Think about that. So let’s say I’m from Canada. Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, best wrestlers from Canada. We put together our routine, and then you got you know, Will Ospreay and Michael Oku from England. They put together their routine.

    Then you got you know Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, from the United States putting together their routine. Then the judges would say, ‘Okay, this was the best,’ It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. Like figure skating.”

    The 2024 Summer Olympics, branded as Paris Olympics 2024 is set to begin later this month in France. The opening ceremony will be taking place on July 26 with some competitions starting as early as July 24. The 2024 edition will notably feature the debut of breakdancing as an Olympic event.

    Apart from this, The Learning Tree also talked about things such as his start in wrestling, the backstage politics he had to deal with in 90s, and how things have changed since then.

  • AEW News: Hangman Page’s New Theme Music, Mustafa Ali At Dynamite, Hayabusa

    AEW News: Hangman Page’s New Theme Music, Mustafa Ali At Dynamite, Hayabusa

    Here are some news and notes coming out of this week’s AEW Dynamite Beach Break special from Chicago, IL:

    Backstage at Dynamite: Former WWE Superstar Mustafa Ali was backstage at visiting at Dynamite, according to PWInsider. Ali currently wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA, where he’s the reigning Division Champion. As previously reported, his former Retribution factionmate Dijak was backstage at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

    Man in the Black Hat: Hangman Adam Page’s new theme music is “Black Hat” by Vincent Pedulla for AEW Music.

    Page made a surprise return on this week’s AEW Dynamite: Beach Break special. The former AEW World Champion was revealed as Jeff Jarrett’s mystery opponent in the Owen Hart Cup men’s quarterfinals. He was victorious and Jay White in the semi-finals this Saturday on AEW Collision.

    Later in the evening, Page rejected an offer by the Young Bucks to rejoin The Elite for the big Team Elite vs. Team AEW Blood and Guts match later this month.

    Hangman Adam Page finishes off Jeff Jarrettat AEW Dynamite, July 3, 2024 (by Ricky Havlik/AEW)

    World on Fire: In addition to a new entrance tune, ShopAEW is selling a new Hangman t-shirt featuring the tagline, “World on Fire.”

    Hangman Page World on Fire Shirt

    Hayabusa: AEW has released a letter they received from Takanori Ezaki, brother of Japanese wrestling legend Hayabusa, prior to Sunday’s Forbidden Door PPV.

    Hello, This is Takanori Ezaki, a younger brother of Hayabusa.

    I heard that Will Osprey would like to use Hayabusa’s costume and entrance theme for Forbidden Door. We, the family of Hayabusa, felt very proud.

    It’s been more than 20 years since he was injured in 2001. Many people still sent him their respects over seas. We greatly appreciate it.

    I wish the AEW wrestlers safety. Please keep showing us good fights, and be careful not to get injured. I also wish that both Forbidden Door and AEW will be successful.

    Takanori Ezaki

  • Mercedes Mone Explains Shane McMahon Airport Meetup

    Mercedes Mone Explains Shane McMahon Airport Meetup

    Mercedes Mone confirms that she bumped into Shane McMahon over the weekend at New York City’s LaGuardia Airpot.

    Mone defeated Stephanie Vaquer at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door on Sunday to capture the Strong Women’s Championship. She’s now a double-champion and has held the TBS title since her win over Willow Nightingale at Doubule or Nothing back in May.

    Mone she couldn’t believe her eyes when she came face-to-face with an old friend. The CEO sent the following message to subscribers of her weekly newsletter:

    “My first day being a double title holder and the first wrestler and former WWE Superstar I see is [Shane] McMahon….come on, if that isn’t the universe working in divine timing, I don’t know what else it could be,

    I’ve always loved Shane. When we locked eyes, we both kind of looked at each other like IS THAT YOU? Our faces lit up as we got to talking a bit and before he boarded his flight, he gave me his number… the rest as they say [is] history or maybe a mystery!”

    Shane McMahon & AEW

    The idea of Shane McMahon appearing for All Elite Wrestling is far-fetched, but this is pro wrestling and stranger things have happened.

    During a recent edition of the Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross and Conrad Thompson discussed the possibility of Shane McMahon in AEW. JR said the idea is so crazy it might just work, but it would all hinge on the creative storytelling. The hypothetical scenario became a hot topic of conversation online and is not out of the realm of possibility.

    “There was a friend of ours, I shouldn’t say their name, but he went out of his way to text me and say, ‘Hey, that’s not as crazy as you think. I know for sure that Shane McMahon has reached out to wrestlers on the AEW roster to at least hypothetically discuss the idea.’ Are we saying that’s going to happen? No. We are saying it’s not that crazy of an idea,” said Conrad.

    Tony Khan has spoken about Shane McMahon publicly a few times over the years, most recently during an interview with Justin Barrasso for SI. Khan said he’s heard the rumors about Shane asking around about AEW and he’d welcome the opportunity to meet.

    “I have a lot of respect for him as an executive and a professional wrestler. Shane is always welcome in AEW.”

    – Tony Khan on Shane McMahon (SI)
  • ‘Hangman’ Adam Page Returns in Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

    ‘Hangman’ Adam Page Returns in Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

    Hangman Adam Page returned on this week’s AEW Dynamite as Jeff Jarrett’s mystery opponent in the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

    Marking his first AEW appearance since Revolution in March, the former AEW World Champion battled the veteran Jarrett, a former tag partner of the late Canadian legend.

    Page was a surprise entrant, chosen by The Elite as their wild card. He showed no signs of ‘ring rust’ as he executed his signature moves, the Buckshot Lariat and the Deadeye, en route to a dominant victory.

    With this win, the cowboy advanced to the semifinals, where he’ll face Jay White this Saturday, July 6 on AEW Collision.

    Is Hangman Elite?

    After the match, Page was in a backstage segment with the Young Bucks. Page looked pretty aggressive, and the Bucks said they lifted his suspension and got him a spot in the tournament. They hinted at a partnership moving forward for their upcoming Blood & Guts match as the Elite.

    Page declined their proposal and let them know things are different these days. He warned the EVP’s that he is not their child, puppet, nor is he associated with the Elite. He’s focused on winning the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and won’t be distracted by them.

  • Britt Baker Announces She’s Medically Cleared After Herniated Discs, TIA Diagnosis

    Britt Baker Announces She’s Medically Cleared After Herniated Discs, TIA Diagnosis

    Britt Baker made her return to All Elite Wrestling at Forbidden Door on June 30, confronting Mercedes Mone, who had just retained her TBS title and became the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion against Stephanie Vaquer.

    Baker, who hadn’t been seen in AEW for months, addressed her absence on Beach Break on July 3. She revealed on Dynamite that her condition towards the end of 2023 was not good. She suffered from burnout, two herniated disks, and an injured hip labrum.

    The Dentist explained that she started feeling sick and experienced symptoms such as blurry vision and a numb and tingly right arm. She was diagnosed with a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), which worsened, causing her entire right side to stop working, leading to a week-long hospital stay.

    Fortunately, Baker’s health has improved, allowing her to return to AEW. The 33-year-old stated that she is now in good health and ready for in-ring action. Her first target upon return is Mercedes Mone, who she challenged for a match at AEW All In: London in August. However, Mone wasn’t keen on giving Baker a chance at her title and the match is not official just yet.

    CEO vs. DMD

    Mercedes Mone and Britt Baker have spoken about wanting to work together before, but their on-screen dynamic is far more tense now that this match is likely happening this summer.

    At Sunday’s AEW Forbidden Door post-show media scrum, Mone spoke about the significance of winning the Strong Women’s Championship. She took the opportunity to address Baker’s surprise return after her match, which she felt was a poor choice.

    “Well, I know a certain bitch wanted to come out and decided to steal my spotlight, right? But that’s not gonna happen, because I’m gonna party all night long and show her that I am Mercedes Mone for a reason. And there’s a price to pay when you interrupt me, ok.”

    AEW All In 2024 takes place Saturday, August 25 from London’s historic Wembley Stadium.

  • Will Ospreay Embraces Autism as His Wrestling ‘Superpower’

    Will Ospreay Embraces Autism as His Wrestling ‘Superpower’

    Will Ospreay proudly identifies as autistic, describing it as a ‘superpower’ that has elevated his wrestling abilities to a ‘superhero’ and ‘super genius’ level.

    The reigning AEW International Champion recently spoke with Alistair McGeorge of Metro and explained why he doesn’t view the condition as a hinderance. Instead, he embraces being neurodivergent and feels it’s enabled him to become one of the top wrestlers today.

    “I feel like it’s excelled my abilities to the point where I do think I’m at a superhero level, super genius level of pro wrestling now.”

    Ospreay opened up about the way his mind works, and said his autism has helped him dive into something he genuinely loves and (wrestling) and become so great at it that he can share his passion with others. He enjoys being a role model and showing fans th hopes some of his fans they should fight through things holding them back.


    “I do understand when people see someone and go, “I’ve got the same thing as you do and you’re on this stage. If anyone is struggling with that and is struggling to find their joy and their happiness, because they feel like this is holding you back – don’t let it hold you back. Look straight ahead at where you want to get to and then you’ll find a way of getting there.”

    Earlier this year, Ospreay appeared on the Hey! EW digital series and discussed his the challenges he faced growing up with learning difficulties. Even as an adult, he needed to have someone his AEW contract to him.

    “I just want to show people that, yeah, I’ve got autism,” Ospreay said. “I have ADHD as well. I’m super dyslexic. I can’t read. I had to have someone read my contract out for me.”

    Ospreay is proud to show people that you can still achieve your dreams, no matter what obstacles you may face.

    The former IWGP Champion became emotional after his bout with Swerve Strickland at AEW Forbidden Door 2024. You can check out what happened after the show went off the air here.

  • MJF Goes Full Scumbag, Turns Heel On Daniel Garcia

    MJF Goes Full Scumbag, Turns Heel On Daniel Garcia

    This week’s AEW Dynamite from Chicago, IL went out with a bang, as MJF revealed his true colors, proving that his recent positive streak was a carefully crafted illusion. The night’s main event saw Will Ospreay successfully retain his International Championship against Daniel Garcia in a hard-fought match.

    Post-match, MJF entered the ring, initially appearing supportive of Garcia. He raised Garcia’s hand and embraced him, seemingly showing respect for his effort. However, this facade quickly crumbled as MJF suddenly delivered a vicious low blow to Garcia. What followed was a brutal assault that left Garcia bloodied and battered.

    MJF’s attack escalated, targeting anyone who tried to intervene, including security personnel. The violence peaked when MJF executed a devastating piledriver on Garcia, necessitating medical attention and a stretcher job.

    Ospreay attempted to come to Garcia’s aid, but MJF had already made his exit through the crowd, even engaging in heated exchanges with fans along the way.

    This unexpected betrayal cements MJF’s position as one of AEW’s top heels, shattering any notions of a genuine face turn. The dramatic attack sets the stage for intense storylines in the months ahead as AEW marches towards Blood and Guts on July 24 and All in: London on August 25.

    MJF will kick off AEW Collision this Saturday, July 6 on TNT from Southaven, MS. We can be sure he’ll have plenty to say about his ‘new’ attitude.

    Watch: Daniel Garcia finally gets a chance at AEW International Champ Will Ospreay:

  • AEW Blood & Guts 2024 Will Be Team Elite vs. Team AEW (7/24)

    AEW Blood & Guts 2024 Will Be Team Elite vs. Team AEW (7/24)

    AEW: Blood & Guts 2024 comes to Nashville, TN on Wednesday, July 24 at the Bridgestone Arena. The event will air live on TBS as part of a special edition of AEW Dynamite. This year, the dreaded 5-on-5 double cage match will pit Team Elite against Team AEW.

    • Team Elite will be The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry and one more partner TBA.
    • ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe is the first member to declare his participation on Team AEW. The four remaining spots will be announced in the week ahead.

    Blood & Guts is an annual TV special produced by All Elite Wrestling since 2021.

    The Blood and Guts match is AEW’s version of the classic WarGames match. This involves two teams fighting inside a roofed cell structure surrounding two rings.

    The event was originally scheduled for March 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually debuting in May 2021. It has since become an annual mid-year event, with subsequent shows held in June 2022 and July 2023.

  • AEW Dynamite ‘Beach Break’ Preview: Bryan Danielson vs. PAC, Britt Baker & More

    AEW Dynamite ‘Beach Break’ Preview: Bryan Danielson vs. PAC, Britt Baker & More

    It’s Wednesday and you know what that means – AEW Dynamite will be live tonight on TNT from Chicago, Illinois at the Wintrust Arena. This will be as special Beach Break edition of Dynamite, presented by Shark Week, which is hosted by none other than John Cena.

    AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door is in the history books. Swerve Strickland remains the AEW World Champion, while TNT Champion Mercedes Mone now also holds NJPW’s Strong Women’s Championship. Dr. Britt Baker is back and has sights on getting her title back.

    Dynamite Preview (July 3, 2024)

    Tonight on AEW Dynamite: Beach Break 2024, the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments continue, we’ll hear Britt Baker and more:

    Matches

    • Daniel Garcia challenges Will Ospreay for the AEW International Championship

    Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Semifinals

    • Bryan Danielson vs. PAC
    • Jeff Jarrett vs. Wild Card (chosen by The Young Bucks)

    Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semifinals

    • Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale

    Segments

    • We’ll hear from Dr. Britt Baker
    • Mercedes Mone will host a Double Championship celebration. She now holds the AEW TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship.
  • Mercedes Mone Talks Difficulty With WWE During Filming Of ‘The Mandalorian’

    Mercedes Mone Talks Difficulty With WWE During Filming Of ‘The Mandalorian’

    Mercedes Mone loves the WWE, but she says they were difficult to deal with when she was offered a role in The Mandalorian.

    Speaking on HOT 97 in promotion for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, the former Sasha Banks talked about her time under the Star Wars banner as Koska Reeves, and how WWE wasn’t as enthused with her being in a galaxy far, far away.

    “I love WWE but they tried so hard to not make me do the Mandalorian and put me on house shows when I was supposed to film.”

    Mercedes noted that WWE would put her on house shows to further complicate her Mandalorian aspirations.

    “It was pulling teeth just to get on that show.”

    Someone who is familiar with pulling teeth is Mone’s next big rival in AEW, Britt Baker, DMD. Mone secured a solid victory against Stephanie Vacquer on Sunday before Baker walked out to make clear she has her eyes on Mercedes multiple gold.

    RELATED: Mercedes Mone Unhappy With Britt Baker Stealing Her Spotlight At Forbidden Door 2024

    When WWE Stars Go Hollywood

    In the past, WWE garnered a reputation for not being supportive of talent outside the “WWE Universe.” Even back when Batista first got casted as Drax The Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise, WWE didn’t do any promotion for the film despite the fact that “The Animal” made his return for WrestleMania XXX.

    Another talent familiar with WWE stonewalling their silver screen aspirations was The Rock. Aside from his WWE film projects, WWE didn’t exactly herald The Rock’s initial rise stardom until he came back into the company fold. On the flip side of that, The Rock had to distance himself a little from his pro wrestling past when he tried his hand at Hollywood.

    Circumstances may be greatly different in WWE without Vince McMahon at the helm. With The Rock now on the TKO Board Of Directors and Triple H being more open-minded, Mone and other modern talent could be getting the WWE support from outside ventures.

    RELATED: Batista Would Choose Being a WWE Hall of Famer Over James Gunn’s DC Universe

  • Zack Sabre Jr Reveals Preferred Location For Bryan Danielson Rematch

    Zack Sabre Jr Reveals Preferred Location For Bryan Danielson Rematch

    Zack Sabre Jr. wants his re-match with Bryan Danielson to happen in England.

    The NJPW star picked up a big victory at the Forbidden Door 2024 PPV. He managed to make Orange Cassidy tap out with a submission.

    He took part in the post show media scrum after his big win where the former NJPW TV Champion was asked about another star who picked up a win on the same show – Bryan Danielson.

    The two have shared the ring a number of times and ZSJ was asked what would be his preferred place if a rematch between the two were to take place. The English star mentioned how their first match was in England and expressed his interest in repeating that:

    “Our first match was in England. We had a rematch in Germany that’s somewhat forgotten, and then we had the match at WrestleDream in Japan. I know that Bryan says he’s winding it down, but he’s a pervert so I can’t imagine. In a wrestling sense, that’s not against his character. We at least have to have one more match in England.”

    I Can Never Repay The Debt: Zack Sabre Jr

    Zack Sabre Jr. mentioned how his early match with Bryan Danielson helped put him on the map and he can never repay the debt of it. This is why he wants to have another match with the wrestling veteran:

    “I’ve said this countless times but when I wrestled with Bryan for the first time in England, in front of a pub in front of 50 people when he had no idea who I was and he gave me so much. It kickstarted my entire career, and I can never repay the debt to him, outside of trying to break all his limbs. I’m yet to tap out Bryan Danielson so we have to have at least one more match where he lets me try.”

    The 36-year-old is not the only star who is gunning for a rematch against the former world champion. During the same media scrum, AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland mentioned how his previous loss against Bryan irks him to the day and declared that Danielson is at the top of the list of talents he wants to face.

    You can check out the full AEW Forbidden Door 2024 media scrum below:

  • Tony Khan Confirms Forbidden Door 2024 Drew $1 Million Gate For Third Straight Time

    Tony Khan Confirms Forbidden Door 2024 Drew $1 Million Gate For Third Straight Time

    Tony Khan has confirmed that the third Forbidden Door PPV from the UBS Arena in New York was a huge success for the company.

    The AEW president took part in the post Forbidden Door 2024 media scrum where he talked about things such as the upcoming Wrestle Dynasty PPV from Tokyo Dome which will be a joint show hosted by AEW, NJPW, and CMLL.

    During the press conference, Khan also touted the success of the latest AEW PPV. He confirmed that the show drew a million-dollar gate for the third consecutive time:

    “What a huge success this PPV has been. This is our third Forbidden Door, what a great partnership. Tonight was not only a great PPV, also a great live event here. Like we said over 11,000 fans here at UBS arena paid and over a million dollars live gate, really really, special. Third straight year with over 11,000 fans and over a million-dollar live gate, which is pretty cool too.”

    Tony Khan On Super Heavyweight Championship

    One interesting question Tony Khan was asked during the scrum was the potential of adding a ‘meaty super heavyweight championship’ after the match between Samoa Joe and Jeff Cobb at the PPV.

    The AEW official mentioned how we’ve seen a lot of ‘meat moments’ in AEW and fans can chant ‘meat’ whenever they want to. On the potential of a title exclusive for the big men, Khan said that such matches are always exciting:

    “There are a lot of championships in wrestling, but certainly any time we can get the big men fighting, I love it. Even if we’re not ready for a championship, those matches are exciting and we’ve seen people get engaged when those big guys start fighting and they love chanting ‘meat,’”

    Apart from this, Tony Khan also discussed the upcoming Brodie Lee tribute shoes and more. You can check out the full Forbidden Door 2024 media scrum below:

  • Swerve Strickland Has Bryan Danielson At Top Of List Of Talents He Wants To Face

    Swerve Strickland Has Bryan Danielson At Top Of List Of Talents He Wants To Face

    Bryan Danielson is at the top of Swerve Strickland’s list of opponents he wants to face.

    Swerve once again defended his AEW World title successfully against Will Ospreay in the main event of Forbidden Door 2024 from UBS arena in New York.

    The AEW star took part in the post-show media scrum after his victory. He was asked about Bryan Danielson competing in the Owens Hart Foundation Cup Tournament and if he was still gunning for a re-match against the American Dragon.

    The winner of the Owen tournament is set to receive a world title shot at the upcoming All In PPV from Wembley Stadium. Swerve Strickland referenced this fact, saying that Bryan is in the position to gun for him now:

    “I think he’s at the position to gun for me now, especially after tonight. But I still want that win back so bad. That’s something that still irks me to this day, that loss from Bryan. Because he’s someone I idolize and look up to, especially coming from the Pacific Northwest. We both share the Seattle-Tacoma native background.”

    Swerve Strickland Wants His Win Back

    Swerve Strickland then mentioned that he has been following Bryan’s career for a long time and he is determined to get his win back from the former world champion:

    “And from his career for the last 10, 15 years I’ve been watching and studying that man. And getting in the ring with him, feeling how special he is? That’s a win that I need to mark off of my list. And I don’t have a long list really, it’s very small. But definitely, Bryan Danielson’s at the top of it.”

    Strickland has shared the ring with Bryan only once. The two had a singles match at the October 10, 2023 episode of Dynamite where Danielson picked up the victory.

    The former WWE star picked up another victory at the Forbidden Door PPV tonight. Bryan defeated Shingo Takagi in a quarterfinal match of The Owen Cup, getting him one step closer to a shot at Strickland’s world title.

    You can check out the full Forbidden Door 2024 media scrum below:

  • Dijak Shares Backstage Forbidden Door Photo After Sudden WWE Exit

    Dijak Shares Backstage Forbidden Door Photo After Sudden WWE Exit

    Former WWE Superstar Dominik Dijakovic has had fans speculating on his next move after being present at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door.

    The third annual Forbidden Door show saw talent from AEW and New Japan converge on the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. In addition to the two titular promotions, wrestlers from STARDOM and CMLL were also involved as part of the show’s 14-match card.

    Dijak At Forbidden Door

    Dijakovic didn’t appear during AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door but he was at the UBS Arena. Taking to social media, the ex-Superstar shared a backstage photo of his sunglasses in front of a screen showing the event. To make his point clear, Dijakovic tagged AEW President Tony Khan as well as the company itself.

    Dijakovic’s presence at the show came after he teased making an appearance and will no doubt fuel speculation that the former WWE Superstar could soon be All-Elite. Dijakovic announced his sudden exit from WWE last week after reports that his contract was set to expire in June 2024. According to the Retribution alum, WWE made no serious effort to re-sign him despite drafting him to the main roster in the 2024 WWE Supplemental Draft.

    Where Else for Dijak?

    AEW may not be the only option for Dijakovic now that his time with WWE has ended. Speaking last week, the former Superstar said in an interview with Joe Lowry that he is interested in appearing for TNA Wrestling and that the two sides had been in communication.

    Dijak made clear however that these talks have not been contract negotiations. Ironically, TNA forged a partnership with WWE NXT this year shortly after Dijak’s call-up to the main roster.

  • Mercedes Mone Unhappy With Britt Baker Stealing Her Spotlight At Forbidden Door 2024

    Mercedes Mone Unhappy With Britt Baker Stealing Her Spotlight At Forbidden Door 2024

    Mercedes Mone is unhappy with Britt Baker trying to steal her spotlight at Forbidden Door 2024 and she has invited the DMD for a confrontation.

    The AEW TBS Champion picked up a big victory at the company’s latest PPV. She defeated Stephanie Vaquer to win the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Though she couldn’t celebrate for long as Britt Baker made her return and stared down the former WWE star.

    The double champion took part in the post Forbidden Door media scrum where she was asked about having a double target on her back and if she had any message for someone coming after her. Mercedes Mone claimed that there is a price to pay for anyone who interrupts her:

    “Well, I know a certain bitch wanted to come out and decided to steal my spotlight, right? But that’s not gonna happen, because I’m gonna party all night long and show her that I am Mercedes Mone for a reason. And there’s a price to pay when you interrupt me ok.”

    Mercedes Mone Teases Britt Baker Confrontation

    Mercedes then reiterated that she is the biggest free agent signing in AEW history before inviting Baker for a confrontation at this Wednesday’s Dynamite:

    “Tonight was about me and my celebration. Who the hell does Britt Baker thinks that she is? She wants to show up to my show? I understand she is the first ever woman to sign here in AEW. But Tony, am I correct that I am the biggest free agent that you’ve ever signed here? So this Wednesday at Dynamite, to any woman who wants to come out here and steal my spotlight — it’s on.”

    Britt Baker has been away from ring for more than 9 months. She last competed against Kris Statlander at the September 16, 2023 episode of AEW Collision. Now it’d be interesting to see what the company has planned for the former women’s champion.

    You can check out the full Forbidden Door 2024 media scrum below:

  • Watch: What Happened With Will Ospreay After Forbidden Door 2024 Went Off Air

    Watch: What Happened With Will Ospreay After Forbidden Door 2024 Went Off Air

    Will Ospreay was visibly battling with emotions after his loss to Swerve Strickland at AEW Forbidden Door 2024 from UBS Arena in New York.

    The former IWGP Champion gave everything he had to dethrone the current AEW Champion in a hard fought main event of the company’s latest PPV.

    At the end however, it was Ospreay’s conscience that cost him the bout. He decided against using the screwdriver handed to him by Don Callis after the referee got knocked out. The time he took to make the decision allowed Strickland to recover.

    Swerve then took control of the match and delivered not one but three House Calls on his opponent to finally retain the AEW World title.

    The AEW Champion took the time to show respect to an emotional Ospreay after the match before he celebrated his win to end the show.

    Ospreay received a huge applause from the crowd as well when he was making his return after the Forbidden Door 2024 PPV went off air. He can be seen still battling his emotions in the video from after the show as Kyle Fletcher cheered him on:

    What’s Next For Will Ospreay?

    Will Ospreay already has his next rivalry set against former AEW Champion MJF after the two shared a segment on this week’s episode of Dynamite.

    MJF was offering a match to Daniel Garcia at the upcoming All In London PPV before Ospreay interrupted him. The AEW International Champion offered a title shot to Garcia for next week’s episode of Dynamite instead and the match was then made official.

    Both MJF and Garcia were shown to be watching tonight’s main event very closely after the Dynamite segment. The match on Wednesday should further confirm the direction for the British Star heading into the All In PPV.

    Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa ‘Kiss It Out’ At Forbidden Door
  • Mariah May On Toni Storm-Mina Shirakawa Kiss: “I Can Take Them Both!”

    Mariah May On Toni Storm-Mina Shirakawa Kiss: “I Can Take Them Both!”

    AEW’s Mariah May is looking forward to the future after locking lips with Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa at Forbidden Door 2024.

    Storm and Shirakawa faced off at the third annual AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door event for Storm’s Women’s World Title. Going into the match there was speculation as to where Mariah May’s loyalties would lie. The British wrestler is a long-time friend and tag-team partner of Shirakawa’s but also serves as the ‘understudy of AEW’s ‘Timeless’ star.

    Toni Storm On The Kiss

    May stayed relatively uninvolved at ringside, leaving it to the two women in the ring to tell the story. In the end, Storm retained her title after delivering a Storm Zero finisher to Shirakawa.

    After the match, May was able to bridge the gap between her two allies. The three women shared a handshake, followed by a hug and a three-way kiss before leaving the ring together as a united front.

    Speaking after the match, Storm was asked if she’s been able to put aside her differences with Shirakawa.

    “When I first met Mariah’s friend Mina, I was not impressed. In fact, I was quite pissed. But now, after touching those cushiony lips, I can honestly say that I feel this is the start of a very beautiful relationship.”

    Toni Storm.

    Mariah May Responds

    This three-way kiss is a huge victory for Mariah May who has struggled to remain aligned with both women in this feud. When asked for her own comments, she said:

    “I can take them both.”

    Mariah May.

    Shirakawa was also asked for her comments, and admitted that at first she did not rate Toni Storm. Now though, she has grown very fond of the AEW Women’s World Champion. It remains to be seen what’s next, but these three could prove to be a dominant trio, if they remain a united front.

  • Tetsuya Naito Regains IWGP World Heavyweight Title At Forbidden Door

    Tetsuya Naito Regains IWGP World Heavyweight Title At Forbidden Door

    Tetsuya Naito is once again the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion after regaining the title at AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door.

    In the show’s co-main event, Naito dethroned Jon Moxley, ending his reign at 79 days. Naito was able to kick out of a Deathrider by Moxley though the AEW star was able to withstand Naito’s Destino. In the end, a second Destino clinched the win, and the title, for Tetsuya Naito.

    This win makes Naito a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. At Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024, Naito won the gold for the first time with a win over Sanada. His 99-day reign would be ended by Moxley at Windy City Riot in April. This win also makes Naito the second-ever two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, alongside Kazuchika Okada.

    What’s Next?

    With Jon Moxley no longer the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, it remains to be seen when we’ll see the title next defended at an AEW event. While the next Forbidden Door is a year away, AEW and New Japan have close ties, meaning we could see the title defended far sooner than that. In the meantime, Moxley will turn his attention to AEW All In 2024, while the next major event for New Japan is the Fantastica Mania: USA show on July 13.

  • Swerve Strickland Retains AEW Title Over Will Ospreay At Forbidden Door 2024

    Swerve Strickland Retains AEW Title Over Will Ospreay At Forbidden Door 2024

    AEW is still the house of Swerve Strickland.

    The AEW World Champion defended his title against Will Ospreay in a hard-fought match in the main event of the Forbidden Door 2024 PPV from UBS Arena in New York.

    Both the competitors got special entrances for the match. Will Ospreay entered first paying tribute to the legendary Hayabusa with a mask during his entrance.

    Strickland then got a special introduction from rapper Jim Jones who came out with the AEW Title and handed it to Swerve when he appeared.

    The match was every bit as brutal as expected with both the stars missing no opportunity to take things to the extreme. This included a crossbody Ospreay delivered to Swerve over the top rope very early in the bout, taking the champion outside.

    The ending of the bout saw Ospreay accidentally knocking out the referee with a Hidden Blade. Don Callis then appeared at the ringside to hand his client a screwdriver, before being tackled by Prince Nana.

    Ospreay thought about using the screwdriver on Nana but then threw it away. The distraction allowed Swerve to recover and he hit Will Ospreay with a House Call.

    A new referee showed up to continue the match and Strickland then delivered a second and third house call to finally put Will Ospreay down.

    What’s Next For Will Ospreay?

    Will Ospreay appears to be moving away from the world title picture for the moment as his next feud has already been teased on AEW Programming.

    After an opening segment between Ospreay, MJF and Daniel Garcia on this week’s Dynamite, both MJF and Garcia were shown to be watching tonight’s world title match very closely.

    The tease at Forbidden Door only further confirms that AEW is building towards an MJF vs Will Ospreay match for the upcoming All In PPV from London, with Garcia playing a crucial part in this rivalry.

    Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa ‘Kiss It Out’ At Forbidden Door
  • Jack Perry Wins Vacant TNT Championship At Forbidden Door 2024

    Jack Perry Wins Vacant TNT Championship At Forbidden Door 2024

    Jack Perry is the new TNT Champion.

    AEW had announced a ladder match at Forbidden Door after Adam Copeland had to relinquish the title due to his foot injury. Apart from Perry, the contestants for the bout included El Phantasmo, Mark Briscoe, Lio Rush, Konosuke Takeshita, and Dante Martin

    The grueling match featured many brutal spots as expected. One highlight of the fight was when Takeshita landed a blue thunder bomb on Phantasmo through a pair of tables outside.

    The ending of the bout saw Mark Briscoe hitting Takeshita with a chair as he looked to grab the title. Briscoe then sent the Japanese star crashing through a ladder and looked to win the match himself.

    The Scapegoat, however, used a second ladder to send Briscoe crashing. He then took out Mark using repeat chair shots. The Elite member finally climbed the ladder and grabbed the TNT title to win the bout

    The Elite Continues To Dominate

    Jack Perry wasn’t the only Elite member in action tonight at The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada faced the team of Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, and Hiroshi Tanahashi, collectively known as The Scissor Ace.

    The Elite won this bout as well. The Continental Champion picked up the victory for his team after he blasted the NJPW President with a rainmaker for the pin.

    AEW has started teasing the return of Hangman Adam Page after The Young Bucks announced that they will be introducing the wild card entry into the ongoing Owen Hart Tournament. Now we will have to see when Page actually makes his return.

    Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa ‘Kiss It Out’ At Forbidden Door
  • Britt Baker Returns At Forbidden Door To Confront Mercedes Mone

    Britt Baker Returns At Forbidden Door To Confront Mercedes Mone

    Mercedes Mone is still the CEO of the TBS Championship, but she may have to deal with Britt Baker.

    Mone retained her TBS Title and became the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion against Stephanie Vaquer. However, it was the challenger who stole the show with her performance. Vaquer was trending worldwide although Mone picked up the W in a hard-fought match and the Long Island crowd was in store for a treat as Britt Baker walked out on the entryway to confront Mone.

    Baker has been gone from AEW for months and it was greatly unknown regarding her status with the company. AEW President Tony Khan did give an optimistic update this week during the media call, expressing excitement for her forthcoming return.

    RELATED: AEW Drama: Britt Baker Addresses Rumors of Problems with Mercedes Mone

    “It’s going to feel amazing when we’ve got great stars — Britt Baker is a great example — it will be great to have the Doctor back in AEW,” Khan stated. “Certainly, for me, I know that Dr. Britt Baker and fans all over the world will be excited to see her return. I’m glad that she’s going to be cleared to return very soon.”

    Britt Baker feuding with Mercedes Mone has been a high-profile beef that AEW fans have been clamouring for and by all indications we’re about to get that. Since making her debut, Mone has primarily feuded with Willow Nightingale who competed earlier on the Forbidden Door card in tag action.

    Mone vs. Vaquer wasn’t the only women’s match on the card as Toni Storm took on Mina Shirakawa for the AEW Women’s Championship. Storm retained her title in that one as she and Shirakawa “kissed it out” following the fight.

    RELATED: AEW’s Britt Baker Hits Back At “Dumb” False Claims Of Issues with Mercedes Mone

  • Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa ‘Kiss It Out’ At Forbidden Door

    Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa ‘Kiss It Out’ At Forbidden Door

    Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa went above and beyond showing respect for one another at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, and it all came courtesy of Mariah May.

    Toni Storm’s “love triangle” with Mariah May and Shirakawa has arguably been the best told story on AEW television over recent weeks and this contention ended up having a happy ending.

    RELATED: MJF Pays Homage To NHL Team At Forbidden Door, Possibly Debuts New Finisher

    The eccentric Storm took on the wild child Shirakawa one-on-one for the AEW Women’s Championship at the PPV and it was Storm who ultimately retained her title by defeating her challenger. However, the most talked about aspect of this match may be what happened afterwards as Mina offered Toni her hand in respect. May watched on, who remained neutral during the fight and was dressed reminiscint to Miss Elizabeth at WrestleMania V.

    Storm ended up shaking it, but Mariah wanted more than that between her two friends. Akin to The Best Friends of old, instead of “hugging it out” May, Storm and Shirakawa “kissed it out” as all three smooched one another at once.

    This turn of the tables was quite different from all that went down on the pre-show to Forbidden Door. May had her Owen Hart Cup quarterfinals match against Saraya and she nearly lost, but did get a roll-up pin victory against the former Paige. After her win, Storm and Shirakawa both came out to celebrate but May had to split the two up from fighting with one another. Now all is harmonious between the three, but for how long? If May ultimately ends up winning the Owen Hart Cup tournament, she’ll have a ticket to ALL IN in Wembley to face Storm if she’s still the champion by Labor Day weekend.

    RELATED: Kazuchika Okada Gets Major Pinfall Win For Elite At Forbidden Door

  • Kazuchika Okada Gets Major Pinfall Win For Elite At Forbidden Door

    Kazuchika Okada Gets Major Pinfall Win For Elite At Forbidden Door

    Kazuchika Okada may have got the biggest pinfall victory to date in his AEW career and it happened to come up against an opponent he is far too familiar with.

    ‘The Rainmaker’ teamed up with The Young Bucks to face The Acclaimed and Hiroshi Tanahashi at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, pitting two great rivals against one another in trios action. The Young Bucks and Acclaimed have been building toward a feud for weeks now, but the unexpected addition of ‘The Ace’ to the side of Anthony Bowens and Max Caster created an added ripple of interest to the match.

    RELATED: Eric Bischoff mocks The Young Bucks during AEW Forbidden Door

    All that culiminated in the final minute of the fight when it came down to Okada and Tanahashi in the ring. The two duked it out before Okada ended up hitting The Rainmaker lariat for the finish and the 1-2-3.

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    by inSquaredCircle

    Since joining AEW as a full-time member of the roster, Okada has found himself in the unexpected position as a heel alongside The Young Bucks, all but replacing Kenny Omega in The Elite. Okada’s other big win of note since coming into the AEW fold was against Eddie Kingston, defeating ‘The Mad King’ for his AEW Continental Championship. This win at Forbidden Door, can certainly help position Okada in more of a main event light as ‘The Rainmaker’ has been greatly regulated to a comedic heel role since he’s aligned with Matthew and Nicholas Jackson.

    Even though The Elite did get the victory, that doesn’t mean they’re fully free from The Acclaimed as Caster and Bowens beat The Bucks in an eliminator match, meaning they will have a future Tag Team Titles shot against the EVP brothers.

    RELATED: AEW News: Dueling CM Punk chants break out at Forbidden Door

  • Bryan Danielson advances in the Owen Hart Tournament at AEW Forbidden Door 2024

    Bryan Danielson advances in the Owen Hart Tournament at AEW Forbidden Door 2024

    Bryan Danielson has advanced in the Owen Hart Tournament after defeating Shingo Takagi at the AEW Forbidden Door 2024 PPV event.

    It was a fantastic back and forth match between both competitors, with the winner set to face PAC ahead of All In at Wembley Stadium in August.

    It was confirmed that PAC vs Danielson will be taking place this week on the special AEW Dynamite Beach Break themed event.

    Read More – AEW News: Dueling CM Punk chants break out at Forbidden Door

    Bryan Danielson vs Shingo Takagi at AEW Forbidden Door 2024

    Speaking ahead of the match with Justin Barasso of Sports Illustrated, Takagi revealed that he saw the match as a dream match for the fans.

    “If the fans are happy, then I’m happy. I think this is the result and a recognition of all that Bryan has accomplished in his career, and all I’ve done in my career. I like that this will be on display worldwide. The whole world will see true ‘Made in Japan’ spirit. It’s a real dream match, a real dream situation for the fans worldwide. This is something that will send shockwaves through the wrestling world.”

    It is not currently known if Danielson is planned to go all the way in the tournament, as a rumored match with Nigel McGuinness has apparently been on the cards for some time and it was expected to have taken place at All In last year before Danielson was injured.

    Danielson is winding down his in-ring career this year, so the prospect of getting another match between he and his hated ROH rival one more time at the biggest venue possible in London, England could be too good to pass up for Tony Khan and co.

    Read More – Eric Bischoff mocks The Young Bucks during AEW Forbidden Door