SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • Chris Jericho Compares Hiroshi Tanahashi to The Undertaker

    Chris Jericho Compares Hiroshi Tanahashi to The Undertaker

    There can be no denying that Chris Jericho is a man who has been there and done it all. One of the greatest of all time in a ring. A multiple-time champion the world over and known for some of the best fights we have seen.

    Talking during a recent interview with Busted Open Radio the G.O.A.T of professional wrestling discussed his time wrestling in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Many will think of his iconic match with Kenny Omega from WrestleKingdom 13. Yet it was a match the following year that Jericho spoke about. Likening his match with Hiroshi Tanahashi to the first time he fought the Undertaker.

    “When you get in the ring with him (Tanahashi), wow,” Chris Jericho said. “He is so good, I’m smiling just thinking about it. What it actually reminded me of was the first time I ever worked with Undertaker, who I did not work with until I had been in the WWE for about ten, twelve years. We just never were on the same show and never really crossed paths. And to be in there with a guy like that was just unbelievable, like ‘oh my gosh it’s all true. It’s true! Everything you hear about The Undertaker is true! He’s really that good.’ And that was the same way I felt about Tanahashi. We just had so much fun being in there together and it was such a blast.”

    Chris Jericho Understands the Importance of Chemistry

    Chemistry is essential in wrestling. You can have two of the best wrestlers around but if they have no chemistry with each other, the audience will pick up on it in a heartbeat. There are a lot of parallels that could be drawn between Chris Jericho and Tanahashi. They both hold legendary status in their individual promotions and in the eyes of fans around the world.

    “He’s so smooth. People think that the Japanese style is dumping each other on each other’s heads and all that stuff, it’s not the case at all. It was really just a great match and as I said, it helped sell out the Tokyo Dome that year. When we did the two nights in Tokyo, it was the second night My last match in New Japan, maybe ever. Who knows if we’ll ever go back. But if that’s the last one, what a way to go out.”

    With the pandemic slowly ebbing away, and the forbidden door well and truly open, we can all hope that we will get another chance to see Chris Jericho and Tanahashi square off once more. The G.O.A.T versus the Ace, just one more time.

  • Trent Injury Update Following Spinal Fusion Surgery

    Trent Injury Update Following Spinal Fusion Surgery

    AEW’s Trent is looking at a long stretch on the injured list. The popular member of the Best Friends underwent spinal fusion recently. According to a report on Wrestling Observer Radio, the surgery went well but he’s going to be out of action for quite awhile.

    “He had his surgery, they fused 2 vertebrae in his neck. It went well but he’s going to be out for quite awhile. But the surgery went well,” said Dave Meltzer.

    Trent’s doctor, Michael J Sampson, took to Twitter yesterday to share an X-Ray from Trent’s surgery:

    Trent was out of action due to a torn pec from last December to this April as well. His injuries have prevented the Best Friends from remaining in the top-5 rankings.

    The last time the Best Friends appeared in the top-5 was on January 6th, 2021. They challenged for the AEW World tag team titles most recently last October.

    The Best Friends accompanied Wheeler Yuta the ring for his match on Dynamite this week. Yuta was defeated by Sammy Guevara in singles action. It was said on the broadcast that Yuta is something of a protege for Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor.

  • Miro Debuts Personalized TNT Championship Belt at Fyter Fest

    Miro Debuts Personalized TNT Championship Belt at Fyter Fest

    On night one of AEW Fyter Fest, current TNT champion Miro showed off his brand new, customized TNT Championship belt. In its brief existence within AEW, the TNT title has already gained a prestige that some could argue runs deeper than the AEW Championship. This is largely thanks to the legacy of Brodie Lee and the crowd-endearing fearlessness of Darby Allin.

    Now, the TNT Championship is in the hands of God’s Greatest champion Miro. A wrestler who is relishing the creative freedom offered in AEW and is becoming the brutal warrior everybody always knew he could be.

    The new TNT title design is one that has been fully customized for the new champion. It carries a deep and personal meaning for Miro, who was born and raised in Bulgaria. The belt, designed from white leather has a green ribbon replacing the red running across the center. This has been done to represent the Bulgarian flag. The missing component of which in the design is the lower red section which will be completed by Miro’s trunks.

    Miro is an old school champion and wears the TNT Championship around his waist. This is a clever design that goes deeper than just the belt but incorporates the champion wearing it also.

    The belt also has the traditional customized side plates which include the Bulgarian flag at the Bulgarian crest.

    Will We See a Customized TNT Championship for Every Champion?

    This is the third TNT Championship design so far. The first was retired and awarded to Negative One after Brodie Lee passed. The second was held by Darby Allin. The highly personal nature of this design would indicate that AEW is going to give all of its champions a customized belt.

    Changing the side plates of a belt is standard practice for a new champion, but there are easily interchangeable parts. To design an entirely new belt for each holder is an investment in the champion and a wonderful touch to make each reign mean something to said wrestler.

    It could be that this design is a once-off, and Miro is going to be given a good run with the belt, after which it will revert to its standard design. However, that seems counterintuitive to the way AEW have conducted their business thus far.

    The effort and thought that has gone into this new TNT Championship belt is further proof of AEW’s investment in their wrestlers. Not only from a financial standpoint but from every angle.

  • Jim Ross Says Ethan Page Will Be A “Big-Time Player” In AEW

    Jim Ross Says Ethan Page Will Be A “Big-Time Player” In AEW

    If there was ever a man in wrestling who had an eye for talent, an ability to spot potential, then it is Jim Ross. He has been influential in the careers of so many stars over the years. In addition to his role as the voice of a generation. So, when he took time out on his podcast Grilling JR to talk the praises of Ethan Page, everybody listened.

    “Darby is one of my favorites,” said Ross. “He’s one of my favorites to talk to. Darby is very creative. He comes up with a lot of his own material, shall we say. He’s one of our homegrown guys that we take pride in; he and Jungle Boy Jack Perry, for example. Nobody should sleep on Ethan Page. He’s going to be a big-time player. He’s doing really well.”

    Ross says Page has the look, the attitude and the smarts to reach the upper echelon of AEW. As long as Page stays healthy, JR sees him contributing in a big way for many years to come.

    ~

    Jim Ross Has an Eye for Talent

    Ethan Page joined the AEW roster after the Revolution PPV back in March. Since then he has gone on to team with Scorpio Sky, entering into a long-running and violent feud with Sting and Darby Allin. That rivalry looks to reach its culmination this week at Fyter Fest when the pair face off in a coffin match. Jim Ross will be there to call the shots and has spoken to both fighters in recent weeks about their feud.

    Ethan Page is no rookie when it comes to professional wrestling. He had quite the reputation in IMPACT, forming a formidable tag-team with Josh Alexander. However, the AEW roster is stacked for to get special praise from Jim Ross speaks volumes.

    While partnering with Scorpio Sky, both men have been actively pursuing singles competition. Once the feud with Darby is over, it will be interesting to see where they position themselves. They will inevitably be chase gold, but which belt remains to be seen. There is no real opening right now, as all of the current AEW champions are involved in long-running feuds. However, that doesn’t mean the men of the year won’t start building something.

    Jim Ross has been around a long time and doesn’t give praise where it’s not due. Expect to see Ethan Page move from strength to strength within AEW.

  • Scott D’Amore Says Britt Baker Cornered Him For Match Against Knockouts Champ

    Scott D’Amore Says Britt Baker Cornered Him For Match Against Knockouts Champ

    Impact Wrestling executive Scott D’Amore appeared on Vickie Guerrero’s Excuse Me podcast yesterday. During the discussion, D’Amore mentioned that he was cornered by AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker for a match against Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo.

    “I got cornered by Britt Baker down in Jacksonville a few weeks ago and she’s like, ‘When do I get Deonna?’ I said, ‘Hey, Britt oh, come on. We’ve always said we have an open-door policy and we’re open to doing it,’” D’Amore said on the show.

    “Sometimes there’s a lot of hurdles to jump through but I think the relationship with AEW has been fantastic,” he continued.

    Baker has made no secret of the fact that she would like to face Purrazzo. She’s posted to social media about the potential match multiple times.

    Britt Baker Wants To Face Deonna Purrazzo

    Baker also discussed possibly facing Purrazzo during an interview with TV Insider.

    “Personally, I would love to see Deonna Purrazzo come through the forbidden door. She is one of my best friends and arguably one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. She is amazing.. When she was released from WWE, she was told in a roundabout way she wasn’t good enough. Now she is one of the faces in Impact Wrestling. I was similar in that I was told I wasn’t ready, and now I’m the face of All Elite Wrestling. Our paths are paralleling, so it would be amazing to be in the ring with her.”

    D’Amore continued to talk about his relationship with AEW’s Tony Khan.

    “We share our vision for a world like that and I love to see it because I mean whether it’s Nyla Rose or whether it’s some of the many other talents that you have there. Imagine if Nyla came in and hid the ring on Deonna and just laid her lying there and picked up the title, right?”

    Purrazzo is scheduled to face a “Mystery Opponent” this Saturday at Slammiversary. Gail Kim revealed to the Knockouts Champ last week that her opponent will not be named ahead of time.

    H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.

  • AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam At Arthur Ashe Stadium Ticket Info, Pre-Sale Code

    AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam At Arthur Ashe Stadium Ticket Info, Pre-Sale Code

    AEW will hold a Dynamite episode on Wednesday, September 22nd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens, NYC, which is titled Dynamite: Grand Slam. 

    The pre-sale for tickets will be this Wednesday. Pwinsider.com reports it will be just for 24 hours on Ticketmaster.com in advance of this Friday’s official on sale date. 

    The pre-sale will last from 10 AM – 10 PM EST. The reason for that is due to tickets going on sale for the US Open Tennis at the same stadium on Thursday. 

    The pre-sale code is AEW718. For fans planning to attend the show, ticket prices are listed as the following: $250, $100, $80, $60, $40 and $25

    This will not only be AEW’s first-ever stadium show, but also the first-ever professional wrestling event at the stadium. Weather conditions won’t be an issue as the stadium has a retractable roof. AEW will air a live Dynamite episode in addition to taping matches for Dark Elevation and Dark before Dynamite then the Rampage episode after.

    The likes of Eddie Kingston, MJF, Santana, Ortiz, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, Max Caster, Kris Statlander, Trent Beretta, and more are from the area.

    This venue is the largest tennis stadium in the world as it sits 23,000 for tennis. As the event gets closer, All Elite Wrestling will be announcing matches for the show, which is likely to be loaded.

  • Rickey Shane Page Announced for AEW Dark

    Rickey Shane Page Announced for AEW Dark

    Deathmatch legend and leader of 44.OH Rickey Shane Page has been announced for this week’s episode of AEW Dark. The tenured GCW star has been with Game Changer Wrestling since 2018, and Page has worked with AEW star Joey Janela in the past.

    RSP will be facing Dark standout Dante Martin on this week’s episode of the show, following his recent Dynamite match against Matt Sydal.

    Rickey Shane Page held the Game Changer Wrestling title for 488 days until he was defeated by the Deathmatch King Nick Gage at GCW rSpring Break on April 9 of this year.

    Rickey Shane Page in AEW

    RSP has also held several titles from the independent scene, racking up an impressive resume that includes the likes of the AAW Heritage, IWA King of The Deathmatch and the CZW World Heavyweight Championship. Page also won the fabled CZW Tournament of Death in 2016.

    Here’s the full confirmed lineup for this week’s episode of AEW Dark:

    • Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) vs. Papadon & Sean Maluta
    • Brian Cage vs. Foxx Vinyer
    • Matt Hardy vs. Jah-C
    • Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson vs. Mark Davidson & Aaron Frye
    • Penelope Ford vs. Robyn Renegade
    • The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. Derek Pisaturo & Roman Rozell
    • Dante Martin vs. Rickey Shane Page
    • Gunn Club (Billy & Colten Gunn) vs. The Wingmen (Cezar Bononi & JD Drake)
    • Diamante vs. Harlow O’Hara
  • Buddy Murphy Facing AEW Star in First Post-WWE Match

    Buddy Murphy Facing AEW Star in First Post-WWE Match

    Former WWE Superstar Buddy Murphy has been confirmed for his first post-WWE match this September. The former WWE Cruiserweight Champion will be facing AEW star and FTW Champion Brian Cage on an independent card in the ECW Arena.

    Brian Cage confirmed on Instagram that he would be facing the ‘Best Kept Secret’ on Saturday, September 18 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The match will be taking place for the Battleground Championship Wrestling promotion.

    “JUST ANNOUNCED! Murphy vs Machine” Brian Cage wrote concerning the upcoming match with Buddy Murphy. “One of the hot matches I was looking forward to since the slew of WWE releases.”

    Buddy Murphy vs Brian Cage

    “Bout to own the spotlight, have the match of the night and def get my s–t in! One helluva return to the ECW Arena. On Saturday September 18th live from the 2300 Arena Worlds Collide! Secure your tickets now at battlegroundcw.com and witness live the epic clash of two forces that will come together in one incredible showdown.”

    Buddy Murphy was released from his WWE contract back on June 2, meaning that he is still currently under the 90-day non-compete clause which ends on Tuesday August 31. Murphy would then be eligible to sign for the likes of IMPACT, NJPW, MLW or All Elite, who run the ALL OUT PPV event just a few days after his non-compete is up.

  • Chris Jericho Comments On AEW’s Attempts To License Songs By AC/DC & Van Halen

    Chris Jericho Comments On AEW’s Attempts To License Songs By AC/DC & Van Halen

    AEW has been licensing music for some of its top stars recently. Orange Cassidy uses the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” as entrance music and Jungle Boy now uses “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora as well. According to comments made by Chris Jericho, however, attempts by AEW to license songs by AC/DC and Van Halen have not been successful.

    Jericho commented on this recently while on the Two Man Power Trip podcast.

    “We tried to get ‘Back in Black’ for our return promo after we attacked The Pinnacle in our dressing room,” Jericho said about the popular AC/DC song. “They wouldn’t even give us the time of day.”

    “There have been other ones,” Jericho continued. “We wanted Van Halen right after Eddie [Van Halen] died, we wanted to use ‘Runnin’ With The Devil and they came back with $500,000. That’s just a polite way of saying ‘No fuckin’ way.’ AC/DC didn’t even come back with that, but then I see them on an Applebee’s commercial using ‘Back in Black.’ I guess they are fans of the baby back ribs. I thought the concept of back in black fit us; we’re coming back focused, serious, and darker.”

    Tony Khan has previously spoken about difficulties in licensing music for AEW as well. He had the following to say during a post-show media scrum from Double or Nothing:

    “You can’t just want to buy a song, you have to get responses and you never know who’s going to bite on it,” Khan said. “Sometimes they’ll make—sometimes people don’t even respond and they wait a long time to get back to you. In some cases, you’re really far apart on money.”

  • Jora Johl Accepts Invitation To Join Hardy Family Office

    Jora Johl Accepts Invitation To Join Hardy Family Office

    High-flying AEW star Jora Johl has accepted the offer from ‘Big Money’ Matt Hardy to join the former world champion’s Hardy Family Office faction.

    The Indian star made his debut for the promotion last month. After wrestling the young prospect during an episode of AEW Dark: Elevation, the former WWE star had offered him a position in his group.

    Johl at the time had mentioned how Hardy was one of his heroes growing up and wrestling him was a dream come true. Though mentioning Hardy’s recent heel turn, Jora had claimed that he was struggling with the decision.

    The star formerly known as Robo The Punjabi Lion, finally accepted the offer from the veteran before tonight’s Dark: Elevation episode with a promo.

    Jora Johl said that he had been thinking about Hardy’s offer day and night. He is accepting the offer because it’s the only way to achieve his dreams:

    The high-flying star made his wrestling debut in 2016. He had been competing in the independent circuit. He has wrestled for promotions such as Beyond Wrestling, Immortal Championship Wrestling, and more.

    Jora Johl joins stars such as The Private Party, The Butcher and the Blade, and The Hybrid 2 in the Hardy Family Office faction.

  • AEW Games Announces Release Date For “AEW Elite General Manager”

    AEW Games Announces Release Date For “AEW Elite General Manager”

    AEW Games announced today that fans will be able to download “AEW Elite General Manager’ later this week. According to a comments made by Aubrey Edwards on social media, the game is scheduled to be released on July 15th.

    “AEW Elite General Manager will drop on iOS and Android this Thursday. Get hype,” the referee/video game producer Tweeted. She included a video of an enthusiastic Kenny Omega playing the game.

    https://twitter.com/RefAubrey/status/1414634673301430272

    “Think you have what it takes? Prove it, with AEW Elite General Manager. Draft your favorite AEW wrestlers and book your own shows from week to week. Download AEW Elite General Manager available July 15th on IOS and Android,” Paul Wight says in the video.

    The game went through a series of beta testing last month.

    ”We’ve spent more than a year dissecting the wrestling GM genre, analyzing feedback and rebuilding it in a way that appeals to today’s fans,” said Stephen Kim, CEO of Crystallized Games said in a press release back in May. “AEW Elite GM takes the best elements of the simulator genre to create an immersive experience that wrestling fans will love. We’re excited to put the responsibility of calling the shots in the hands of wrestling fans.” 

    https://twitter.com/AEWGames/status/1414634272552624131
  • Eric Bischoff on the Lack of Balance in AEW Managers

    Eric Bischoff on the Lack of Balance in AEW Managers

    Managers have always been an important part of professional wrestling. They play a crucial role in a wrestler’s career. This is a mentality that AEW has run with. The list of managers is long, including Arn Anderson, Jake the Snake Roberts, Vikki Guerrero and more. Talking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff addressed what he sees as a problem with the AEW managers scene.

    Eric Bischoff had nothing bad to say about the current managers in AEW but rather commented on the lack of diversity among them.

     “Arn, Tully, Jake, these are serious shoot ass-kicking motherf—ers,” Bischoff said. “There’s no Jimmy Hart’s in that conversation, there’s no balance. Yes AEW is doing a great job in terms of integrating some of the legends, I being one of them occasionally getting to show up and I love that. Balancing the serious, intense with the high-flying, super athletic ridiculous skill sets but still have some of that goofy sh-t mixed in so that the whole audience is satisfied. Not just the portion of the audience that identifies with one specific era or style of wrestling.” Bischoff said.

    Eric Bischoff Understands The Need for Diversity

    Too much of a good thing can make it bad. That applies to all walks of life. Eric Bischoff understands that different fans are looking for different things when they tune in to a show each week. By having something to cater for all tastes, a brand like AEW can appeal to a wider audience.

    AEW already have a mix of wrestling talent, from the serious to the comedic. Eric Bischoff believes adding more managerial variety would bring more balance to the ranks. You already have Vikki Guerrero who, it could be argued, plays a Mouth of the South style role, however, she lacks the comedic appeal.

    Could a faction like Best Friends benefit from having a jovial manager leading them? Possibly not, but is there validity in Eric Bischoff’s words? With two weekly shows and two dark shows each week, there is surely a spot that could be filled by a comedically inclined manager.

  • Kenny Omega & Jim Cornette Take Shots At One Another On Twitter

    Kenny Omega & Jim Cornette Take Shots At One Another On Twitter

    On Dynamite this week, a fan jumped the guardrail and was briefly on the stage area before being grabbed by security. The fan, or someone purporting to be him, then appeared on social media yesterday.

    “I did this for all of us real wrestling fans, wrestling is no longer a safe space for friends to dance around and play dress up,” the fan Tweeted at Jim Cornette.

    Cornette then Tweeted the following in response to the fan.

    “Got news for you dipshit, the ring is sacred ground for US, and even if you and a lot of others THINK you can kick the shit out of the Young Bucks, I would have turned you into a tennis racket popsicle, & you’re lucky someone there didn’t gut you like a fish. And you’re blocked,” Cornette Tweeted.

    Kenny Omega then Tweeted out some comments that many are taking as being directed at Cornette.

    Cornette then responded to Omega.

    “You & I agree for the first time–this guy IS a moron, or he wouldn’t have been at a show with your phony ass on it. Two clarifications: Unlike you I’ve SEEN violence in an arena & this wasn’t it, & secondly looking at your supporters I wouldn’t toss the phrase “low IQ” around,” Cornette Tweeted.

    Cornette continued:

    The co-host of Jim Cornette’s podcast also responded to Omega’s comments.

  • Brian Pillman Jr Signs Full Time Contract With AEW

    Brian Pillman Jr Signs Full Time Contract With AEW

    The Varsity Blondes are mounting a charge through the AEW Tag Team rankings. After debuting. Spending their early days appearing on AEW Dark, they can now be found as a mainstay of AEW Dynamite. The team of Brian Pillman Jr and Griff Garrison have already challenged the Young Bucks for the AEW Tag Team titles, and are currently ranked number two behind the team of Eddie Kingston and Penta el Zero.

    Pillman is certainly a star on the rise with AEW, and while he might not have any gold around his waist, he has good cause to celebrate. Following the expiry of his contract with MLW, he has now signed as a full-time member of the AEW roster.

    It was thanks to a loophole that Brian Pillman Jr had been able to work for AEW. The contract he signed with MLW did not allow wrestlers to work for other promotions. However, when he signed his deal, AEW did not exist. This meant that they were not mentioned in his deal.

    On Monday, AEW confirmed the news of Brian Pillman Jr.’s signing by announcing that he is #AllElite:

    Bright Future Ahead for Brian Pillman Jr.

    When Brian Pillman’s episode of Dark Side of the Ring aired, a new light was cast over his son. The extent of what Brian Pillman Jr had to endure following his father’s passing pulled at the heartstrings, endearing him to fans around the world.

    At just 27, Pillman has the world at his feet, with his size, power and athletic ability. It is surely only a matter of time before we see the Varsity Blondes with gold around their waist. AEW is building a roster full of talent not just for the present day, but for the future.

    With the likes of Jungle Boy, MJF and Darby Allin all primed to lead the singles division, Brian Pillman Jr and Griff Garrison could well be the future of tag team wrestling.

  • Jim Cornette Rips Into Fan Who Jumped The Barricade at AEW ‘For Him’

    Jim Cornette Rips Into Fan Who Jumped The Barricade at AEW ‘For Him’

    Outspoken pro wrestling personality Jim Cornette has taken to social media to rip into a ‘fan’ who claims that they jumped the barricade at the AEW Dynamite Road Rager show ‘in his name.’

    There was an altercation at the start of the Chris Jericho and MJF segment on this week’s episode of the show, an both Jericho and Maxwell Jacob Friedman referencing the ‘fat b*stard’ jumping the rail during their promos.

    The ‘fan’ was sent to jail following the incident, however he has now taken to social media himself to tell Cornette and Brian Last that he did it in the name of ‘real’ wrestling fans.

    Jim Cornette Responds To Dipsh*t

    “@TheJimCornette @GreatBrianLast, how did you like my #AEW debut?” The ‘fan’ wrote. “I did this for all of us real wrestling fans, wrestling is no longer a safe space for friends to dance around and play dress up.”

    “Reality can hit at anytime” the man removed from Dynamite continued, “did they think it is going to be f*cking playtime forever?”

    Despite Jim Cornette not liking AEW or some of the stars on the show, he absolutely ripped the ‘fan’ a new one for his actions and said that he does not do anything in his name.

    “Got news for you dipsh*t” Cornette began. “The ring is sacred ground for US, and even if you and a lot of others THINK you can kick the s–t out of the Young Bucks, I would have turned you into a tennis racket popsicle.”

    “You’re lucky someone there didn’t gut you like a fish. And you’re blocked,” Cornette concluded.

    Cornette’s podcast host Brian Last also lambasted the barricade jumper, saying “real wrestling fans don’t jump the rail. You should be embarrassed. You are blocked.”

  • Chris Jericho Rips Fan Who Jumped The Barricade At AEW Dynamite

    Chris Jericho Rips Fan Who Jumped The Barricade At AEW Dynamite

    Chris Jericho had an interesting moment in Miami on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite when a fan tried to rush the ring to attack the former AEW World Champion and MJF. 

    Security was quick to stop the fan while it looked like Jericho took a swing at him. The person was seeking approval from Jim Cornette on social media but he found out that Cornette wanted nothing to do with him. 

    Cornette tweeted, “Got news for you dips**t, the ring is sacred ground for US, and even if you and a lot of others THINK you can kick the s**t out of the Young Bucks, I would have turned you into a tennis racket popsicle, & you’re lucky someone there didn’t gut you like a fish. And you’re blocked.”

    Jericho also ripped the fan by writing, “Do you really think @TheJimCornette would condone this you fu**in loser? Jimmy would’ve shoved a tennis racket up your ass and smashed your car windows.”

    Speaking of Jericho, Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the top AEW will be missing some Dynamite episodes later this year. 

    He’ll be on tour with his rock band Fozzy in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Ireland from November 30 to December 12. According to that schedule, he’ll be missing the December 1st and 8th episodes of AEW Dynamite. 

  • AEW All Out 2021 Sells Out Almost Immediately

    AEW All Out 2021 Sells Out Almost Immediately

    Once again, tickets for AEW All Out sold out almost immediately.

    Thursday, AEW held a ticket presale for the event, which resulted in nearly every ticket inside Chicago’s NOW Arena to sell out. Friday, the general public was given access to the remaining seats, which were also snagged incredibly quickly, selling-out the venue for the September event.

    POST Wrestling reported they were told once AEW arrives in Illinois and finalize production set-up, the company may have more seats available.

    According to WrestleTix, a Twitter account that posts live ticket information for numerous wrestling promotions including AEW, NJPW, and WWE, the map held 9,496 seats, with suite seats likely increasing that number. The venue’s website itself states the center has 11,800 seats.

    WrestleTix also reported that the All Out sold out before the que could lighten, sharing screenshots that revealed very few seats were available before the general public sale began. Even the Trio Combo packages were mostly sold out when WrestleTix made it to the front of the ticket line.

    In 2019, AEW also sold out the same venue in 15 minutes for their inaugural All Out event.

    This is the third All Out in the event series, the second to be held an hour outside of Chicago in Hoffman Estates, IL. AEW will hold a total of three events at NOW Arena during the same week as All Out— including Dynamite on Wednesday and Rampage on Sunday.

    AEW All Out Week begins Wednesday, Sept. 1 with Dynamite. AEW All Out 2021 takes place Sunday, Sept. 5, live from NOW Arena starting at 7:30pm EST.

  • Aleister Black Was Nothing More Than a Psychotic Episode for Tommy End

    Aleister Black Was Nothing More Than a Psychotic Episode for Tommy End

    The man formerly known as Aleister Black is wasting no time in getting back into the ring. This week, he released a short horror vignette showing Tommy End in a psychiatric facility, being examined by doctors. The next day, he appeared on AEW, attacking Cody Rhodes and Arn Anderson. In doing so, debuting his new character Malakai Black.

    Black also appeared on the YouTube show Drinks With Johnny, where he spoke about his new character and what he is trying to do.

    The simple takeaway from it is not that Aleister Black is dead, but rather he never existed at all. Talking in his interview, Tommy End made two announcements.

    “What you’re going to see is what happened to Tommy End during the 4 years that Aleister Black was on TV.” He explained. “The base of my character has always been that Tommy End was possessed by the devil and turned into Aleister Black.”

    This is a creative way to not only move on from a character created in an old promotion but also to tie together a career spanning multiple incarnations. Wrestler’s identities will often change when they move around. However, linking everything to an underlying psychosis is a clever way to weave the different stages of a career together.

    Aleister Black Likens WWE to a Psychotic Episode

    There has been no shortage of released wrestlers talking about the level of frustration they felt while working for WWE. Jon Moxley created his prison break video which aired to the minute of his contract ending. However, writing off your entire WWE experience as one bad psychotic episode is a creative touch that would surely make his former employers jealous.

    Aleister Black went on to explain how Tommy End could not beat his episode and eventually gives in to Malakai. He did this to great effect in his video. Yet, it was not without intent. It is another layer to the Tommy End story, with Black wanting to put a little distance between himself and End.

    “I’m also moving away from Tommy End for a while. I just wanted to get rid of my WB name for a while. I’m creating a specific IP for something else. You will know it when it happens because it will most likely happen on the same day.”

    Aleister Black is taking storytelling and character development to an entirely new level. Luckily, fans will get to see that unfold in AEW. It could be that what Black was alluding to was his AEW debut with his comments. However, there is clearly a lot of thought going into his new character and it is exciting to think where it could go.

  • Malakai Black Details How His AEW Debut Came Together

    Malakai Black Details How His AEW Debut Came Together

    Malakai Black (FKA Aleister Black, Tommy End) hosted Thea Trinidad’s (Zelina Vega’s) Twitch channel yesterday. During the stream, he spoke about how his AEW debut all came together.

    “Once I found out that my contract was a tad different than the usual, I just came up with this idea,” said Black (transcriptions via Wrestling Observer). “We made it a thing to make it available to as limited people as possible because that’s how you keep it under wraps. Security, Cody Rhodes, and a few others. It may have been five or six total people.”

    On AEW Dynamite this week, Arn Anderson was in the ring when the lights cut out. When they returned, Black was in the ring. He attacked Anderson and then Cody Rhodes as well.

    “I pitched that idea and said, ‘What if we do multiple blackouts throughout the show and insinuated the technical difficulties?’ Commentary did a great job getting that over and it came off great,” he continued. The lights also went out during the Rhodes vs QT Marshall strap match, with commentary alluding to there having been technical difficulties throughout the day.

    Shortly after Black was released from WWE, there were rumors that some in the company were pushing for him to be brought back. Black also addressed his decision to sign with AEW during the stream.

    “It was the right move for me to make for me, my family, my career, the state of mind I’m in. It’s just a really good company. I can’t say enough good things about it. They have a bright future.”

    “Last night was top three one of my favorite moments of my career… It was the cumulation of months and months and months and having this big payoff was worth the pain, chaos, and perseverance,” Black concluded.

  • Jon Moxley to Defend IWGP US Belt Against Karl Anderson on Dynamite

    Jon Moxley to Defend IWGP US Belt Against Karl Anderson on Dynamite

    Having a gaijin as champion worked well for NJPW in the past, however, during the pandemic era it has caused one of their belts to essentially be suspended. Jon Moxley, the reigning IWGP US Heavyweight Champion has held the belt since January 2020. Claiming victory over Lance Archer at Wrestle Kingdom. It is his second reign, after being stripped of the belt while battling a nasty MRSA infection in his elbow. It was the enforcement or a rather strict rule in Japan about making commitments and defending belts.

    While unable to travel to Japan, Jon Moxley has defended his NJPW title a few times. Including a defence on Dynamite against Japanese legend Yugi Nagata.

    Now, Jon Moxley is defending his belt once again taking on Karl Anderson on Night One of Fyter Fest. This is an interesting match as it not only a continuation of the existing feud between Mox and The Elite but also represents a chance at singles goal for Anderson. Aderson created a video to challenge Moxley. Claiming it makes him sick to see Mox with the belt Omega first held.

    Karl Anderson has a long working relationship with NJPW and was one of the founding members of Bullet Club. He has never held a singles title for the promotion and will be looking to emulate his Elite team lead Kenny Omega in capturing the gold.

    Jon Moxley is a fighting champion, however, and will not be giving up the gold cheaply. While it is unlikely to be a fair fight, Mox will have Eddie Kingston by his side. This should help even the odds somewhat. Whatever happens, this will not be the last time The Elite will have to contend with Mox and Kingston.

  • Chris Jericho Takes a Swing at Barricade Jumping AEW Fan

    Chris Jericho Takes a Swing at Barricade Jumping AEW Fan

    AEW was back on the road this week for the first time since before the pandemic. It has been 15 months since AEW left Daily’s Place. It’s understandable that those in attendance were excited. However, for one fan, a rush of blood got the better of him. Jumping the railings, he tried to get into the ring along with Chris Jericho.

    Jericho was making his way to the ring for a segment with his long-time rival MJF when the fan tried to get involved. Chris Jericho swiftly called for security, but still took a swing at the many as he tried to get through the ropes.

    https://twitter.com/SkullsMedia/status/1412938218731827203

    Both AEW commentator Jim Ross and wrestler MJF weighed in on the event. With the latter working the moment into his character shouting “I welcome any other one of you fat, white trash hicks to jump in the ring too, so I can beat your ass.”

     While Jim Ross stated, “Well, we don’t condone that kind of behaviour, quite frankly.”

    Chris Jericho Soon Got Back to Business

    AEW Security swiftly got things under control, and Chris Jericho and MJF got straight back down to the matter at hand. The Labours of Jericho.

    “This ain’t about them, Chris, it’s about us.” MJF declared before detailing his stipulations for Jericho earning a title shot against him. “You’re gonna have five labours, Chris. The first four will be opponents of my choosing, all with different stipulations, and you have to win back-to-back matches. And if you manage to get through the first four, which you won’t, you get that MJF rub one more time.”

    https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1412937680921505796

    The long-running feud between The Pinnacle and the Inner Circle has been entertaining. From singles competition to full faction matches such as Blood and Guts and the Stadium Stampede. Both Jericho and MJF are fantastic on the mic and have led both sides by example.

    Chris Jericho is currently 0-2 against MJF, but every AEW fan will be behind him as he embarks on his own hero’s journey, chasing the ultimate goal, victory over Maxwell Jacob Friedman.

  • Malakai Black (Aleister Black) Debuts On AEW Dynamite

    Malakai Black (Aleister Black) Debuts On AEW Dynamite

    AEW made a big splash during its first show back on the road by having Malakai Black, formerly known as Tommy End and Aleister Black, make his promotional debut on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite from Miami, Florida at the James L. Knight Center. 

    It happened in the second hour of the show when Cody Rhodes, who had beaten QT Marshall in a Strap Match earlier in the night, did a promo segment with Arn Anderson in the ring.

    The lights went out with Black appearing and hitting his signature swinging kick finisher to Anderson then to Rhodes. He had some makeup on his face and a contact lense in his right eye to change up his look. 

    Black’s real-life wife, Thea Trinidad (Zelina Vega), just returned to WWE Friday Night SmackDown last week.

    Malakai Black had posted a creepy vignette on his Instagram account earlier in the day where he teased his new name. He was released by WWE last month due to budget cuts. While most WWE talent are subject to 90-day non-compete clauses, Black only had to sit out for 30 days.

    He’s been rumored to be AEW bound, despite a push from people in WWE to bring him back.

  • AEW Road Rager Preview from Miami: Andrade Debuts, Tag Title Match

    AEW Road Rager Preview from Miami: Andrade Debuts, Tag Title Match

    Tonight marks the beginning of a new chapter for All Elite Wrestling. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, AEW hits the road for a special edition of AEW Dynamite from Miami, Florida.

    AEW presents Road Rager tonight on TNT. The event will feature the in-ring debut of Andrade El Idolo, the Young Bucks defending the AEW World Tag Team Championships, an Inner Circle vs. Pinnacle 6-man tag match and much more.

    Here is the full lineup for tonight’s AEW Road Rager edition of Dynamite:

    • AEW Tag Team Championship Match:
      The Young Bucks vs. Penta El Zero M and Eddie Kingston
    • Mixed Tag Team Match:
      Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander vs. The Bunny and The Blade
    • South Beach Strap Match:
      Cody Rhodes vs. QT Marshall
    • Andrade El Idolo vs. Matt Sydal
    • Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Chris Jericho go face-to-face
    • The Inner Circle (Santana, Ortiz, and Jake Hager) vs. The Pinnacle (Wardlow and FTR)

    Ahead of tonight’s broadcast, check out AEW’s latest Road To special previewing Road Rager:

  • Ethan Page Reveals His AEW Debut Almost ‘Didn’t Happen’ at Revolution

    Ethan Page Reveals His AEW Debut Almost ‘Didn’t Happen’ at Revolution

    AEW star ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page recently appeared on the AEW Unrestricted podcast. The former IMPACT star discussed a number of topics on the show, including his All Elite debut at the Revolution PPV event earlier this year.

    Page would admit that the debut was almost actually not going to happen due to visa issues for the Canadian. “Probably a week or less before the match. I was given the date and start time, but it was up in the air because of the whole visa process,” Page began on the podcast.

    “So before it was actually confirmed, which is literally probably about a week before, it was just a hope and a dream, which is a lot in pro wrestling, until it happens, it might not happen” Ethan Page continued.

    Ethan Page on AEW Debut

    Page would also talk about the difficulty of moving from the pre-taped environment of IMPACT, which was without a crowd due to the pandemic, to Daily’s Place where there was at least some audience members and a live environment in general.

    “I had to book private sessions in a closed-down wrestling school, during a pandemic, and Canada is very high restriction level” Page revealed. “I’m trying to manage that, have a training partner that I trust that will keep a secret or not care why he’s coming to train with me.”

    You can check out the latest episode of AEW Unrestricted below:

  • Tony Khan Says Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch Expenses Were Refunded

    Tony Khan Says Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch Expenses Were Refunded

    The Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch between World Champion Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley in the main event of this year’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view event didn’t go according to plan.

    There was supposed to be a big explosion when the clock counted down to zero, but that didn’t happen as it was a botched explosion or as some have stated, a “dud.”

    AEW President Tony Khan talked about the situation in February during an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show. 

    “I’ll never let the non-wrestling people…I was trying to be too safe and I let the professionals handle the stuff and they are guys who don’t understand wrestling. A professional pyrotechnic guy. They totally shit the bed. I ended up not paying them. It was like $100,000 they ended up refunding for all the expenses of the match. I ended up not paying for the (exploding) barbed wire deathmatch, which I shouldn’t have. They screwed up royally.”

    Khan stated that they put together something great and Omega and Moxley worked hard, but it was forgotten due to the final explosion. 

    “This is because we used professional pyrotechnic people who are supposed to know. The next time we do this, and I will do it again because the match drew. Everything Jon and Kenny did up until that point was outstanding, it wasn’t their fault it didn’t go off.”

    Khan stated that it was a long time ago and they’ve bounced back since then. He pointed out how the next pay-per-view [Double or Nothing] was up and did a big number.