SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • Adam Copeland’s Brood-Style Bloodbath Stuns Malakai Black On 5/22 AEW Dynamite

    Adam Copeland is widely known for his accomplishments under the Edge moniker in WWE. As a member of The Brood, the WWE Hall of Famer popularized bloodbaths, and he brought that to AEW for the May 22 Dynamite.

    During this week’s Dynamite, Malakai Black faced Roderick Strong in a highly competitive match. In the end, Black emerged victorious, but his night took an unexpected turn.

    Following his win, the lights in the arena shifted to an ominous red, and music reminiscent of The Brood began playing. Although it wasn’t the exact Brood theme, it sounded strikingly similar. Suddenly, the ceiling opened above Malakai Black, and the House of Black leader was drenched in a crimson bath. While the liquid wasn’t real blood, it was convincingly realistic, leaving Black in a state of shock and anger.

    Then the screen revealed Adam Copeland, standing with a look of satisfaction. This dramatic moment set the stage for their upcoming clash at Double or Nothing. The AEW TNT Title will be on the line in a barbed wire steel cage match, with Copeland putting his title on the line.

    You can find the card for AEW Double or Nothing below. We will have continued coverage at SEScoops.

    • Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay – Singles match for the AEW International Championship
    • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb – Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
    • Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black – Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the AEW TNT Championship
    • Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator match
    • Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy – Singles match
    • Chris Jericho (c) (with Big Bill) vs. HOOK vs Katsuyori Shibata – FTW Rules match for the FTW Championship
    • Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné – Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship
    • The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin) – Anarchy in the Arena match
    • Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) – Singles match for the AEW World Championship
  • Watch the Custom ‘Mad Max: Furiousa’ Opening Video For AEW Dynamite

    Watch the Custom ‘Mad Max: Furiousa’ Opening Video For AEW Dynamite

    This week’s AEW Dynamite featured a custom intro tied in with Warner Bros. Discovery’s new Mad Max movie, Furiosa. 

    Tony Khan’s company is known for incorporating outside sponsorships, and this week was no exception. Throughout the broadcast, the new Mad Max film was prominently highlighted, creating a unique experience for viewers.

    Commercials for Mad Max: Furiosa aired during every break, ensuring that the film stayed top of mind for fans. But the promotion didn’t stop there. Before Dynamite began, a special mash-up video combining elements of AEW Dynamite and Mad Max: Furiosa was released, further hyping the fans for both the show and the movie.

    Mad Max: Furiosa is hitting theaters this Friday. Directed by George Miller, this new movie tells the story of young Furiosa who is taken from the Green Place of Many Mothers by a biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. 

    The events of Furiosa serve as a prequel to those of Mad Max: Fury Road. Despite some timeline inconsistencies with the original Mad Max trilogy, Fury Road is considered a spiritual sequel or reboot of the earlier films. 

    By integrating the Mad Max: Furiosa campaign into Dynamite, AEW can leverage its audience to create more buzz for the open. This strategic partnership not only entertained fans but also highlighted the synergy between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery,

  • The Death Triangle Reunites On 5/22 AEW Dynamite To Set Up Double or Nothing Title Match

    The Death Triangle Reunites On 5/22 AEW Dynamite To Set Up Double or Nothing Title Match

    AEW has a few key members of their roster on the shelf for one reason or another. This week on AEW Dynamite, the Death Triangle reunited for the first time in months.

    The Bang Bang Gang, Jay White and the Gunns, have been enjoying their time in AEW as a heel faction. They needed a wheelbarrow to carry all of their gold to the ring. During the May 22 episode of AEW Dynamite, the trio took the ring.

    Their attention soon shifted to Pac, and they began berating the British star. Unexpectedly, Pac appeared on the entrance ramp, but he was not alone. Penta and Fenix were by his side, reuniting the Death Triangle. The faction has been absent as a trio for quite some time.

    Fenix’s injury had kept him from competing alongside his brother and their partner, Pac. Now, they are back together. It didn’t take long for the Bang Bang Gang to make it clear that they didn’t want to fight that night.

    They instead challenged a match for the AEW Unified Tag Team Titles. This set up a match for this Saturday at Double or Nothing.

    The Death Triangle held the AEW Trios Championship for 126 days before losing to The Elite. Their defeat came in an Escalera de la Muerte, which was the seventh and final match in a Best of Seven Series for the championship in January 2023.

    Las Vegas will once again host AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday, May 26, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. You can find the card below.

    • Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay – Singles match for the AEW International Championship
    • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb – Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
    • Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black – Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the AEW TNT Championship
    • Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator match
    • Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy – Singles match
    • Chris Jericho (c) (with Big Bill) vs. HOOK vs Katsuyori Shibata- FTW Rules match for the FTW Championship
    • Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné – Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship
    • The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin) – Anarchy in the Arena match
    • Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) – Singles match for the AEW World Championship
  • Darby Allin Is Training Sting’s Son To Wrestle

    Darby Allin Is Training Sting’s Son To Wrestle

    Sting and Darby Allin’s bond continues even after the Icon’s unforgettable retirement back at AEW Revolution. Sting has kept a low profile since then, but we may not have seen the last of his bloodline. 

    During a recent interview with Sean Ross Sapp for Fightful Allin said he’s helping Steve Borden Jr. follow in his father’s footsteps. Sting’s son has spent time at his house learning the basics of wrestling and working out in his ring. The full interview  drops this Thursday on Fightful’s YouTube. 

    Sting’s son was so inspired by his father’s match at Revolution that he wanted to begin his own wrestling journey. Allin noted further that Steve had never considered becoming a professional wrestler before Revolution, but that event provided an intense emotional rush for him. When Sting asked if he’d help train his son, he jumped at the chance.

    Sting’s Retirement

    In March, Steve and his brother Garrett participated in an emotional farewell match for their father Sting. Sting and Darby Allin successfully retained the AEW World tag titles against The Young Bucks in a Tornado Tag match. Sting’s career ended with him celebrating as a champion, a final chapter that was worthy of his legacy.

    As part of Sting’s entrance, Steve and Garrett dressed as different versions of Sting that fans had seen throughout the years. Garrett played the part of “Surfer Sting”, the babyface star that Sting portrayed in WCW, with Steve embodied “Wolfpack Sting”, when The Icon joined nWo Wolfpack. 

    Sting and his sons make a grand entrance at AEW Revolution 2024

    Sting’s face-painted sons even got physical in the match, hitting The Young Bucks with a flurry of their dad’s infamous Stinger Splash in the corner.

    The Aftermath

    Watch what happened after Sting’s retirement match at AEW Revolution 2024:

  • AEW Dynamite Preview: Time To Go Double Or Nothing

    AEW Dynamite Preview: Time To Go Double Or Nothing

    Tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite will be one to watch as the All Elite roster sprints to the finish line at Sunday’s Double or Nothing 2024 PPV from Las Vegas. This go-home show will feature in-ring action from top stars including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, ‘birthday boy’ Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay. Plus, we’ll hear from Mercedes Moné, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moley and World Trios champions Bullet Club Gold. 

    AEW Dynamite Preview (May 22, 2024)

    Nick Wayne vs. Swerve Strickland

    AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will get a taste of what awaits him at Double or Nothing when he faces off against Nick Wayne on Dynamite. Strickland will put the title on the line this weekend against Christian Cage. 

    Bryan Danielson vs. Satnam Singh

    In a battle of two very different opponents, Bryan Danielson will take on Satnam Singh. Danielson will compete at AEW Double or Nothing in the Anarchy in the Arena match but Singh could get the biggest win of his career tonight. 

    HOOK vs. Bryan Keith vs. Katsuyori Shibata

    With Chris Jericho on commentary, these three wrestlers will face off for a shot at the FTW Championship on the line. The victor will go on to face Jericho at AEW Double or Nothing. 

    Kyle O’Reilly vs. Malakai Black

    Black hopes to gain momentum heading into Double or Nothing when he faces Kyle O’Reilly. This weekend, Black will challenge O’Reilly’s ally AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland in a barbed wire steel cage match.

    Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. Saraya & Harley Cameron

    Ahead of her Women’s World Title match with Serena Deeb, ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm will team with Mariah May to face Saraya and Harley Cameron. Storm and Saraya are no strangers as they were part of the Outcasts with Ruby Soho. 

    Will Ospreay & Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta & Roderick Strong

    Ospreay will face Roderick Strong for the AEW International Title at Double or Nothing while Cassidy and Beretta will face off in a “wrestling match.” Tonight, the two sides will be at odds in a tag-team match. 

    Final Hype for Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale

    In a rematch a year in the making, Mercedes Moné will face AEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale at Double or Nothing. With tensions at their highest between the two, fans will get a preview of their upcoming match on Dynamite. 

    Here’s the latest Control Center for a more in-depth look at what we can expert when AEW comes through Bakersfield, California:

    SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling. Stay tuned over the next few days for our comprehensive coverage of AEW Double or Nothing 2024.

  • Eddie Kingston Names Current WWE Stars As One Of His Modern Favorites

    Eddie Kingston Names Current WWE Stars As One Of His Modern Favorites

    Eddie Kingston wants to push back against pro wrestling tribalism and did just that on his Instagram profile.

    Kingston is notorioiusly out of this weekend’s AEW Double Or Nothing Anarchy In The Arena match with a fractured tibula, and tears in his ACL and meniscus.

    The injury has not hampered Kingston’s love for the one true sport, however as he’s clearly an active watcher of all wrestling. That’s all kinds of indicated on his latest Instagram post.

    While on YouTube, Kingston happened to share a screenshot of Asuka, adding the caption that the Damage CTRL member is “One of my modern day favorites.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C7PRly2uahl

    Kingston suffered his devastating injury during his unsuccessful NJPW Strong Openweight title defense against Gabe Kidd at Resurgance. The Elite took Kingston out in an attack after the match, which opened up a spot to be filled for Double Or Nothing. The surprise entrant to fill in for Kingston will be Darby Allin, who returned in the closing moments of last week’s AEW Dynamite.

    Kingston isn’t the only member of the AEW roster to tip the cap to WWE names. Kenny Omega recently praised Triple H for being a “body guy” and using that physical presence to his advantage. 

    Although they also worked together, Ricky Starks recently just went to bat for CM Punk, saying that he was sick of the tribalism that continues to go down in pro wrestling.

    Transversely, former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes has taken plenty of opportunities to credit some of his former colleagues.

  • Mercedes Moné Prepares for AEW Debut with Help from Ex-WWE Wrestler

    Mercedes Moné Prepares for AEW Debut with Help from Ex-WWE Wrestler

    All Elite Wrestling superstar Mercedes Moné puts in extra work at the gym as she prepares for her in-ring debut. The ‘CEO’ will have her long-awaited rematch against AEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale for the title at AEW Double or Nothing on May 25.

    The rematch against Nightingale marks Moné’s first match since she suffered an ankle injury in their first encounter at New Japan Pro Wrestling Resurgence on May 21, 2023. The former IWGP Women’s Champion has shared that the injury was so severe it could’ve ended her career. Luckily, she recovered and will be motivated to get her revenge at the upcoming AEW pay-per-view. 

    Ahead this very important matchup, Moné has shared that she’s training with former WWE superstar Sidney Akeem (FKA Scrypts).

    Moné has been honing her skills and shaking off the last traces of ring rust at the House of Champions Pro Wrestling Training Center in Seminole County, Florida. 

    Mercedes Moné & Sidney Akeem’s History

    Longtime WWE fans may recall that Akeem has worked with Moné. He started his WWE career as Reginald, working for Carmella as a sommelier/ ringside manager in 2020. During this time, Carmella was involved in a feud with Moné, and Akeem would get involved in trying to aid his client unsuccessfully. 

    Akeem also competed against Moné in a losing effort on the January 22, 2021, WWE Friday Night Smackdown episode. 

    After the feud with Carmella ended, Akeem and Moné teased working together. However, Moné felt she didn’t need him, and they went their separate ways. 

     WWE recently decided not to renew Akeem’s contract after it expired on June 1. He has since started to look for opportunities on the independent wrestling scene. It’s interesting timing that Akeem and Moné have reunited as he prepares for his next career path, and she looks to avenge her last defeat. Akeem debuts for Game Changer Wrestling next month.

    It seems in the end, they’ll need each other to accomplish their next career goals. For Moné, she’ll need to be at her best if she hopes to dethrone Nightingale at AEW Double or Nothing. 

  • Arn Anderson Warns Wrestlers Like MJF To Protect Their Bodies: “You’ve Only Got One”

    Arn Anderson Warns Wrestlers Like MJF To Protect Their Bodies: “You’ve Only Got One”

    Arn Anderson’s advice to young talents like MJF is to focus more on building moments instead of doing more moves. The wrestling veteran recently had an interview with WrestleBinge for Sportskeeda and spoke about topics including Cody Rhodes meteoric rise to the top of WWE.

    During the interview, Arn was asked why he thinks today’s matches are not as memorable compared to the matches of the past. The AEW star explained that back in the day they used to build a match around just one big moment:

    “You know why? Because we built a match around one big thing usually that would occur during a match. Today’s mentality is do a bunch of just spectacular, which it is, athletically unbelievable things and string them all together. The problem with that is, to the naked eye there I just saw six unbelievable things, but I don’t remember what was third, second, fourth because it’s just too much. In the old days we had to make everything mean something because you had to do that every single day, sometimes for 365 days a year.”

    You can watch the full interview with Arn Anderson here:

    ‘You’ve Got Only One Body’

    Later in the discussion, the Four Horseman original was asked for his thoughts on Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF). Anderson first said that the former AEW Champion has unlimited potential. He then advised MJF and others to protect their bodies in the ring.

    “I think MJF is unlimited in what he can achieve in this business as long as…You gotta take less chances in this business than a lot of these guys take and I’ve seen him do things. Were they spectacular? Yes. Were they athletic? Yes. Were they incredible? Yes. But did they particularly need it? and I’m using him as an example but it’s kind of across board. You just don’t beat your body up, you only got one, to the point that before you know it, you’ve had a brilliant five-year career.”

    Many wrestlers have spoken about having a “bump card,” a term used to describe the finite number of bumps a wrestler can take throughout their careers. You take a bump, you ‘punch’ the card. If you don’t take care of your body, your bump card will fill up and your career can be cut short.

    MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at the Worlds End PPV in December 2023. He was supposed to start a feud with Adam Cole who cost him the title after the show but the Salt of The Earth had to take time off due to a shoulder injury.

    The former champion reportedly underwent a surgery and currently there is no timetable for his return. He spoke with Jason Solomon for SEScoops just before Worlds End and detailed the injuries he was working through at the time.

  • Watch AEW Star Tay Melo Training For Her Wrestling Return

    Watch AEW Star Tay Melo Training For Her Wrestling Return

    Tay Melo is working hard towards making a return to in-ring competition after giving birth to a baby girl in November 2023. 

    Melo and fellow All Elite Wrestling star Sammy Guevara welcomed their daughter Luna in the world last year and shared the joyous news on social media. The couple went viral at AEW Double or Nothing 2023 in May of that year by announcing during the show that they were expecting. 

    Fans have not seen Melo return to AEW since she became a mom. Taking to Twitter, the Brazilian wrestler shared that she is happy to be back in the ring and with a lot of patience, she will be ready to return in the future. Melo added that she has a new body post-pregnancy but she is working every day to get stronger. 

    Melo hasn’t wrestled since March of 2023 with her most recent match being a tag team match for NEW Wrestling that saw herself and Guevara defeat Encore and Tiara James. Her most recent match for AEW was back in January 2023. This AEW Rampage bout saw herself and Annaj J-A-S lose to Ruby Soho and Willow Nightingale. 

    Tay Melo is working towards her in-ring return.

    Wrestling Moms

    Tay Melo isn’t the only wrestler who is on maternity leave. Last November, Alexa Bliss and Ryan Cabrera welcomed their daughter Hendrix into the world. Bliss has not competed since the WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Premium Live Event. 

    Jessie McKay, formerly Billie Kay, gave birth to her son Cooper in December 2023. Her tag-team partner Cassie Lee gave birth to her and Shawn Spears’ son Austin the following month. 

    After previously suffering a miscarriage, Carmella gave birth to her and Corey Graves’ son Dimitri in November 2023. The former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion has been dealing with some nerve damage since the birth. 

     

  • Keith Lee Grateful For Support He’s Received During AEW Hiatus

    Keith Lee Grateful For Support He’s Received During AEW Hiatus

    It remains unclear when AEW fans will next see Keith Lee in the ring, but the former World Tag Team Champion is appreciative of the report he has received. 

    The Limitless One hasn’t competed since the Holiday Bash edition of AEW Collision in December 2023, where he defeated Brian Cage. Taking to Twitter, Lee shared his thanks to those who have wished him well either publicly or in private. 

    Keith Lee In All Elite Wrestling

    Lee joined AEW in 2022, mere months after he was released from WWE following an impressive NXT run and mixed tenure on the main roster. That same year, Lee and Swerve Strickland captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Their 70-day title reign ended at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam in September 2022 at the hands of The Acclaimed. Lee would briefly feud with Strickland who has since gone on to become AEW World Champion. 

    Much like his final days in WWE, Lee’s AEW tenure has seen him miss plenty of in-ring time due to health issues. Lee was set to face Strickland at AEW Worlds End but these issues forced the Limitless One to be pulled from the show. 

    In January 2024, Lee disclosed that he had undergone a double surgery that has kept him out of the ring ever since. There’s currently no timeframe on when Lee will be expected to return. We here at SE Scoops are wishing him all the best in his recovery. 

  • Update On Mark Henry’s Contract Status With All Elite Wrestling

    Mark Henry’s time with All Elite Wrestling could be over within a matter of days unless a new contract between the two parties is reached. 

    Henry’s contract with AEW is set to expire this month, Fightful Select reports. The WWE Hall of Famer and former World Heavyweight Champion signed with AEW in 2021 and made his debut as part of that year’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Since joining, Henry has worked as an analyst, coach, scout, and mentor for AEW. On-screen, the bulk of Henry’s work has been as an interview/personality as part of AEW Rampage. 

    Neither Henry nor AEW President Tony Khan have openly discussed what the future holds for Henry at this time. When not appearing for AEW, Henry can be found hosting the Busted Open Radio podcast alongside fellow WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray and a cast of other names from the industry.

    Mark Henry makes his AEW debut, 2021. 

    One More Match?

    Henry hasn’t competed since WWE’s Greatest Royal Rumble 2018 Premium Live Event where he was part of the titular match won by Braun Strowman. His most recent singles match came on the February 13, 2017, edition of Monday Night Raw, where he was also defeated by Strowman. While the World’s Strongest Man has teased a return to the ring for one last match, he has said he doesn’t know what it’d take to make such a match a reality. 

    As a veteran of the industry, Henry brings plenty to AEW even if he never has this proposed final match. It remains to be seen if the World’s Strongest Man will remain All-Elite or if his three-year tenure with AEW will end later this month. 

  • Eddie Kingston Has Another Major Setback With Injury

    Eddie Kingston Has Another Major Setback With Injury

    Unfortunately, Eddie Kingston will likely be out of action for a very long time despite the initial thought that he’d be back in a few months.

    After reporting that Kingston was planning to return by AEW ALL IN in London, Kingston not only has a fractured tibula, but he has a torn meniscus and a torn ACL. While at NJPW Strong Resurgance, Kingston lost his Openweight Championship to Gabe Kidd at the event and suffered said injuries. 

    Kris Statlander was another star to tear her ACL and meniscus. The injury had her out for months on end and only just recently made her return.

    The Young Bucks and Jack Perry attacked Kingston following the fight, effectively taking him off television for the foreseeable future. Over the weekend, Kingston posted a photo of himself on Instagram in a massive leg boot. Before his injury, Kingston was a triple crown champion before losing his other titles to Kazuchika Okada and Mark Briscoe.

    Kingston was slated to be involved in the Anarchy In The Arena match at Double or Nothing this weekend in Las Vegas. He was set to join Bryan Danielson and FTR to face The Young Bucks, Okada and Perry. However, AEW pivoted in the closing moments of last week’s Dynamite as they replaced Kingston with a returning Darby Allin. 

    Allin had suffered his fair share of injuries recently as of well. Following AEW Revolution, he broke his foot in his match against Jay White. Then just a few weeks back, was hit by a bus in New York City. 

  • Jon Moxley Hates Twitter: “Take it off your phone. Throw it in the garbage.”

    Jon Moxley Hates Twitter: “Take it off your phone. Throw it in the garbage.”

    Jon Moxley has made it clear that he has a strong hatred for X (formerly known as Twitter).

    Wrestlers put their lives at risk to entertain the fans. However, some critics never shy away from crossing the limit and hurl insults at them on social media platforms including Twitter. Irrespective of the topics, users on Twitter always share their opinion on the happenings in the world which Moxley is not a fan of and prefers staying away from the platform. 

    During an appearance on Hey! (EW) the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight champ expressed his distaste towards Twitter. Mox reckoned that the platform brings the worst out of everyone and the worst medium for people to interact. He suggested everyone to get rid of the application and dump it in the garbage. 

    “I don’t like Twitter, it’s hard to escape because everything that’s in the news, about any subject, is about something, somebody said or did on Twitter, so it’s impossible to escape. I feel like Twitter particularly is like, it brings the worst out of everyone, and it’s the worst way for people to interact, it’s terrible. I think everyone should drop it. I think my advice to the entire world would be, get off that f***ing thing. Take it off your phone. Throw it in the garbage.”

    It seems that staying away from Twitter has helped Jon Moxley to focus more on his career and distance himself from toxicity. He recently captured the IWGP World Heavyweight title at NJPW Windy City Riot. He has already retained his title by defeating the likes of Powerhouse Hobbs and Shota Umino. His next title defense will take place against Evil at the Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 9.

    He is also set to battle Konosuke Takeshita in an IWGP World Heavyweight title Eliminator match at Double Or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 26. Should Takeshita defeat the champ, he would receive a title match at a later date.

    Ahead of the massive matches, he made a comeback to a wrestling promotion. Read more below:

  • Chris Jericho Expected ‘Please Retire’ Reaction From Crowd At AEW Dynasty

    Chris Jericho Expected ‘Please Retire’ Reaction From Crowd At AEW Dynasty

    Chris Jericho may be one of wrestling’s most popular stars, but he wasn’t surprised by the hostile response he received at the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view. 

    While Jericho, a heel, was supposed to receive a negative response, the chants from the crowd in St. Louis went much further than a typical reaction. Throughout the match, the crowd hurled “Please retire!” and “Go home, Jericho, go home!” chants at the veteran who has been with AEW since the very start. The St. Louis crowd also loudly booed when he defeated HOOK to capture the FTW Championship.

    Jericho Sees Things Coming

    Many fans watching at home were taken aback by the negative response to Jericho’s presence at the show, but Chris himself wasn’t shocked, Fightful Select reports. According to those close to the current FTW Champion, the crowd reaction during the match was almost identical to the way he described it to them ahead of time.

    Chris Jericho predicted the highly hostile reaction.

    AEW Dynasty is not the first time that the crowd have severely turned on Jericho. In the days prior to AEW Worlds End, it was alleged that Jericho had been inappropriate years earlier with Kylie Rae, with some believing an incident between the two would explain Rae’s abrupt exit from AEW in 2019. In response, fans chanted “Kylie Rae” and “NDA” at Jericho during his tag-team match on the show. After the event, Tony Khan said he would not speak on unverified rumors. 

    What’s to Come? 

    Since capturing the FTW Championship, Jericho has formed an alliance with Big Bill that has ended Bill’s previous tag team with Ricky Starks. On the most recent AEW Collision, HOOK defeated Johnny TV in an FTW Title Contenders Series match.  

  • Saraya Returning To In-Ring Action For The First Time In 3 Months

    Saraya Returning To In-Ring Action For The First Time In 3 Months

    Saraya is set to return to the ring on next week’s AEW Dynamite.

    Next week’s edition of AEW Dynamite will emanate from the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California. It will be the final build before the promotion’s, Double Or Nothing pay-per-view that takes place on Sunday, May 26. It has been announced that Saraya will be teaming with Harley Cameron and face the duo of ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm and Mariah May.

    This will mark Saraya’s first match in over three months. In her last match before in-ring hiatus, she teamed with Ruby Soho to take on Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale on the February 7 edition of AEW Rampage. The 31-year-old star endured not only a defeat but a betrayal from Ruby Soho in that match. Soho left the Brit wrestler in the ring during the match and it put an end to the former’s association with The Outcasts.

    Saraya, who is set to co-host MTV Catfish, had formed The Outcasts by recruiting Toni Storm and Ruby Soho in January last year. However, Storm turned her back on the stable at All Out last year. She then recruited Harley Cameron, the only member currently on the former AEW Women’s World Champion’s side.

    Other matches announced

    More matches are lined up for the show. Konosuke Takeshita will lock horns with Matt Sydal. Meanwhile, Hook, Katsuyori Shibata, and Bryan Keith will battle in a three-way match to determine the number one contender for the FTW Championship match against Chris Jericho at Double Or Nothing.

    AEW International Champion Roderick Strong will join forces with Trent Beretta and face the pair of Orange Cassidy and Will Ospreay.

    Kyle O’Reilly is also set to go head-to-head with The House of Black leader, Malakai Black.

    The Blackpool Combat Club member Bryan Danielson has a huge task at his hands as he will face Satnam Singh.

    Ahead of his title defense at Double or Nothing, the AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will take on Nick Wayne.

  • Bryan Danielson: ‘I’m Fighting The Elite Because I Love AEW’

    Bryan Danielson’s love for AEW has led the American Dragon into a war with the company’s EVPs The Elite that will culminate with Anarchy in the Arena. 

    Danielson will join FTR and the recently returned Darby Allin to face the Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks, Jack Perry and Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada. Speaking after this week’s AEW Collision, Danielson shared his reasoning for aligning with ‘Team AEW.’ 

    “I’m watching Dynamite, and I see the Young Bucks and the Elite piledrive Tony Khan. A guy who started this company. The guy who if he wasn’t here, this company wouldn’t even exist. And I watched that and I was angry, mad as hell.

    “And then I watch the next week, as they took out Kenny Omega and hospitalized him. When he’s already sick, when he’s already hurt! You were supposed to change the world together. And that’s how I know, you guys say you’re good Christian boys but you guys are evil. Because who turns their back on their best friend like that?

    “And that’s when I realized, I can’t stay at home anymore. I can’t rehab anymore. I have to come back and I have to fight! I have to fight for AEW because I love this place! You guys say you want to change the world! You won’t even show up on a Saturday!”

    Danielson has been a part of AEW since 2021 after a highly successful run in WWE as Daniel Bryan. The upcoming Anarchy in the Arena match will be Danielson’s second time competing in such a match after the BCC beat The Elite last year. 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

  • Bushiroad’s Takaaki Kidani “Had No Choice” But to Let Kazuchika Okada’s NJPW Deal Expire

    New Japan had no other alternative but to let go of Kazuchika Okada, according to parent company Busihiroad’s President Takaaki Kidani. 

    Despite being one of New Japan’s top stars for years, it was in January 2024 that the company announced it would not be renewing the contract of the ‘Rainmaker.’ This ended the 18-year tenure of Okada under contract and was met with a backlash at the time. 

    In an interview with Proresu-TODAY, Kidani was asked for his thoughts on Okada’s departure. 

    “I can only say that I had no choice. As I have said many times, if I were in the same position, I would have done the same thing. So I can only say that it can’t be helped and that I wish them all the best, and I may sound like a customer, but all I can say is, please spread the word of Japan’s greatness to the world.”

    Okada benefitted greatly from Bushiroad’s influence during his NJPW run as the company scored him media appearances and commercials that elevated his star power. With that said, Kidani made clear that Okada’s in-ring success was all his own doing. 

    “He became what he is because he worked hard, but I think it was also due to the cooperation of those around him and good rivalry between them.”

    NJPW felt they had no choice but to let Okada’s contract expire. 

    Since leaving New Japan, Okada has signed with AEW and wasted no time in March by siding himself with The Elite. The Rainmaker is currently in his first reign as AEW Continental Champion. He will team with his Elite allies at AEW Double or Nothing 2024 to face FTR, Darby Allin, and Bryan Danielson in the Anarchy in the Arena match. 

  • AEW’s Ruby Soho And Angelo Parker Married

    AEW’s Ruby Soho And Angelo Parker Married

    AEW’s Ruby Soho and Angelo Parker have gotten married in a ceremony ahead of becoming parents. The two tied the knot over the weekend, with Dark Order member John Silver posting a photo from the wedding on social media. They’re been romantically linked other since 2023. 

    The photo above shows that Soho’s ‘baby bump’ is starting to show. The Outcasts alum revealed after the April 17 edition of AEW Dynamite that she is pregnant with her and Parker’s first child. 

    Wrestling Moms

    Ruby Soho will soon join an elite club of wrestlers who prove themselves in the ring while also being moms. In December 2020, Becky Lynch gave birth to her and Seth Rollins’ first child Roux, and returned to TV at SummerSlam 2021 as a heel. The same year that Lynch returned, her former rival Ronda Rousey had a daughter with Travis Browne. Wanting to be a mom was part of Rousey’s decision to step away from WWE in 2019.

    After previously suffering a miscarriage, Carmella gave birth to her and Corey Graves’ son in November 2023 after a 60-hour labor. Alexa Bliss would welcome her and Ryan Cabrera’s daughter Hendrix into the world that same month. In February 2022, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae welcomed the birth of their son Quill, named after Peter Quill from the world of Marvel Comics.  

  • Tony Khan Challenged For ‘Presidential Showdown’ At Forbidden Door III

    A challenge has been made for AEW President Tony Khan to step inside the ring at the upcoming Forbidden Door PPV next month.

    The AEW owner announced on Twitter earlier this week that Konosuke Takeshita will be facing Jon Moxley in an IWGP World Title Eliminator match at the Double or Nothing PPV on May 26. If Takeshita wins this match, he will earn the right to challenge for the title currently held by Mox.

    NJPW star EVIL who is set to challenge Moxley for the belt at the Dominion event on June 9 has taken an exception to this announcement. While speaking to Tokyo Sports, he questioned Tony Khan’s authority to make the bout concerning the NJPW title.

    Tony Khan Challenged For Forbidden Door Showdown

    The Japanese star claimed that he is the ‘highest authority’ of New Japan and suggested a ‘presidential showdown’ between the two at the upcoming PPV:

    “You’re doing whatever you want, and I’m not going to stand by and watch. Don’t act like you’re an equal to me, the president of an organization that’s not that big. My company and your company are not of the same caliber. You don’t seem to know your place, so I’ll give you a lesson. You can stand in front of me (at Forbidden Door). Next time you won’t be wearing a corset. You and I are on different levels,”

    EVIL is not the first NJPW star to speak against the treatment of the IWGP Title by AEW Authorities in recent times. Yota Tsuji had previously questioned NJPW management’s decision to put the belt on Moxley in the first place.

    The Third Annual Forbidden Door jointly hosted by AEW and NJPW will be held on June 30 from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

    Considering the recent remarks from NJPW talent, it appears that there will be some bitter competition between the two rosters this time around instead of the friendly warfare we have seen in the past.

    The quotes in the article have been translated through Google Translate

  • When Eddie Kingston Aims To Return To AEW

    Eddie Kingston is hopeful of making a comeback to the ring in a matter of few months.

    Reports of Kingston’s injury emerged after his match at NJPW Resurgence last week. PWInsider has confirmed that Eddie Kingston has sustained a leg injury (tibular fracture). ‘The Mad King’ underwent a string of X-rays in California after the event and it detected the injury. 

    The former AEW Continental Champion is waiting to be informed on how his injury will be medically dealt with. The outlet has reported that Kingston is hopeful of returning by AEW All In: London which is scheduled to take place in August. However, his return will depend on whether he will have to undergo surgery.

    Eddie Kingston’s injury 

    Kingston unsuccessfully defended his NJPW Strong Openweight Championship against Gabe Kidd in a No-rope Last Man Standing match. In the final moments of the match, Kidd hit a suplex to Kingston through a table which was bridged across the ring to the guardrail. During the move, Kingston’s leg hit the guardrail which might have caused the injury. Reports suggested that the former champion was “limping bad backstage” which raised concerns.

    Following the defeat, Jack Perry had a stardown with ‘The Mad King’ followed by a blindsided assault by Nicholas and Matthew Jackson. The EVPs then delivered a promo and attacked him with an EVP trigger. 

    It was recently announced that The Young Bucks will join forces with Jack Perry and Kazuchika Okada and face the team of FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler), Eddie Kingston, and Bryan Danielson in an ‘Anarchy In The Arena’ Match at the upcoming AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday, May 26. Given Kingston’s injury, his replacement was announced earlier this week on Dynamite.

  • Konosuke Takeshita Says He Has Stopped Having Fun In Wrestling Since Moving To America

    Konosuke Takeshita Says He Has Stopped Having Fun In Wrestling Since Moving To America

    Konosuke Takeshita has opened up about his struggles as a Japanese wrestler trying to make his mark on an American wrestling program.

    The 28-year-old recently spoke to DDT Pro to promote his upcoming match with Minoru Suzuki at Referee Matsui’s 30th-anniversary produce show on May 19th.

    During the interview, the AEW star opened up about his struggles in America. He mentioned that he thought hard work would get him the spot he desired in the company. There have been aspects at play, however, that have gone against him:

    “Discrimination is not the word here but unfortunately there’s a lack of space for an Asian person to be on a TV show watched by Americans. No matter how good my condition was nor the amount of matches I was put it, or how many times they said my match was good, it felt like I couldn’t make it in the starting lineup, to put it in Baseball terms.”

    I Didn’t Feel The Enjoyment: Konosuke Takeshita

    Takeshita also discussed the effect these conditions have had on his psyche. He explained that everyone wrestling in Japan felt like they were having fun, which isn’t necessarily the case in US:

    “I didn’t had any fun wrestling ever since I got to America. The effort was bearing fruit, but I didn’t feel the enjoyment. It was the most mentally exhausting period in all 12 years of my wrestling career. However when I stopped having fun, my matches were better received and I gained more recognition. And its not proportional.”

    The young star later took his Twitter to clarify this part of the interview. He explained that he is taking the current phase of his career as a challenge:

    Konosuke Takeshita was considered one of the most promising prospects when he made his AEW debut in 2021. His matches with people such as Hangman Page and Eddie Kingston helped showcase his talent and led to his official signing with Tony Khan’s promotion in late 2022.

    Since signing a contract with the promotion, however, things have not gone the way he had hoped. While Takeshita has continued delivering impressive performances in the ring, the lack of character development and the company’s backstage troubles have stopped the Japanese star from being featured as prominently as he had hoped.

    Takeshita has most recently been announced to face Jon Moxley in the IWGP World Title Eliminator Tournament at the upcoming Double or Nothing PPV. You can check out the full card for the show here. 

  • AEW To Host Five Collision Tapings In Arlington, Texas In Lead Up to All In: London 2024

    AEW To Host Five Collision Tapings In Arlington, Texas In Lead Up to All In: London 2024

    AEW’s road to the company’s second-ever All In pay-per-view will see the roster stay in Arlington, Texas for a series of Collision tapings. 

    In a statement released by AEW, it was confirmed that the city will host five Collision tapings at the Esports Stadium, starting with the July 20 show. Not only that, but the deal ensures that Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor 2024 will also happen in the Esports Stadium on Friday, July 26. 

    AEW President and CEO Tony Khan was excited about the deal with Arlington. 

    “We are thrilled to partner with the City of Arlington for AEW’s first-ever events at Esports Stadium. This AEW summer series will add to the rich legacy of major professional wrestling events held in the great state of Texas and serve as the ultimate springboard for AEW: All In London.”

    Arlington Sports Commission Executive Director Matt Wilson was similarly excited to host the Collision tapings in the city. 

    “We are honored to team with Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling for this incredible opportunity. The ability to host TNT’s wildly popular AEW: Collision program is another milestone achievement to bring worldwide events to Arlington and shine a global weekly spotlight on our beautiful city.”

    Five episodes of AEW Collision will air from the Esports Stadium. 

    This is a much different move from AEW’s usual method of weekly touring and will mark the longest period that an AEW show has stayed in one place since the pandemic. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for All In: London 2024, but the show has already seen over 40,000 tickets sold for Wembley Stadium. 

    More information about the upcoming AEW Collision episodes in Arlington, including how to purchase them, can be found at AEWTix.com

  • AEW Collision Spoilers For Saturday, May 18th

    AEW Collision Spoilers For Saturday, May 18th

    Fans were in store for a stacked AEW Collision taping this week as the promotion continues on the road to AEW Double or Nothing. 

    On AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin made his return to programming to be revealed as the fourth man for Team AEW at the upcoming pay-per-view. The quartet of Allin, Bryan Danielson, and FTR will face The Elite in Anarchy In The Arena at Double or Nothing. 

    AEW Collision Spoilers [5/18/2024]

    Here are the spoilers for the May 18, edition of AEW Collision: 

    • Will Ospreay defeated Shane Taylor. Post-match, Roderick Strong and The Undisputed Kingdom attacked Ospreay but he took out Mike Bennett and Matt Taven and escaped unscathed
    • Bryan Danielson & FTR defeated Lance Hoyt and The Righteous. The Righteous attacked Dax Harwood with a steel chair after the match and Archer hit Blackout on a chair on Cash Wheeler. Danielson and Daniel Garcia made the save. 
    • Orange Cassidy pinned Brother Zay. Trent Beretta was at ringside and was interviewed after the match. Trent challenged Cassidy to a ‘wrestling match’ at Double or Nothing, saying Cassidy had cheated to beat him in the past. Cassidy and Beretta scuffled before being pulled apart. 
    • Hook defeated Johnny TV with Taya Valkyrie
    • Katsuyori Shibata defeated Rocky Romero

    Bryan Keith defeated Beefcake Boulder of the Iron Savages

    • A segment took place that saw Jay White and The Gunns on the stage with a beaten PAC. 
    • Serena Deeb defeated Anna Jay. ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm stole the flag for Deeb’s dojo and Storm undressed behind it, wrapping herself in it to disrespect Deeb.
    • Nick Wayne defeated Jack Cartwheel

    This was the order of the matches as they were taped. It is possible that they could air in a different order when AEW Collision goes on the air this Saturday. 

  • AEW Touts Triple Main Event For Double Or Nothing 2024

    All Elite Wrestling is now promoting a “Triple Main Event” for this month’s AEW Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view. The three bouts, each getting equal billing on the Las Vegas marquee, include:

    1. In the first main event, Willow Nightingale defends the TBS Championship against the debuting Mercedes Mone. Match order aside, this will mark the first time a women’s match has headlined an AEW PPV. 

    2. The second main event match is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, defending the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage, who will be accompanied by Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne. The Patriarch certainly raised the stakes this week by busting Swerve open by using a glass picture frame of his family.

    3. The third main event is an Anarchy in the Arena match. The Elite, consisting of Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson, will face Team AEW, which includes Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin. The daredevil AEW star made his return to television this week, having taken some time off due to injury.

    AEW Double or Nothing 2024 

    Triple Main Event

    Six matches have been announced for the upcoming PPV, scheduled for Sunday, May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada:

    • Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mone – Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship
    • Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay – Singles match for the AEW International Championship
    • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb – Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
    • Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) – Singles match for the AEW World Championship
    • The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin) – Anarchy in the Arena match
    • Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black – Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the AEW TNT Championship

  • Update On Oklahoma’s Stance On Transgender Wrestlers After Warning AEW Over Nyla Rose

    The state of Oklahoma is reportedly considering a rule change that’d allow transgender wrestlers to face those of their gender identity. 

    In December 2023, AEW received a warning after Nyla Rose competed against Alejandra Lion at a taping in Oklahoma City. The motion made by Sports Commission member Larry Lovelace said that AEW would face “punitive action” if they allowed Rose to compete against women in the state. 

    Now, it appears that those in the Sooner State are reconsidering their stance. Records obtained through a public records request show that Commission Administrator Jim Miller informed AEW SVP Chris Harrington that allowing Rose to wrestle violated state rules regarding matches “between males and females.” Miller’s email to Harrington adds: 

    “For your information the Commission is currently in discussion to possibly change this rule. However if it is determined by the Commission that the rule should be changed it will have to go thru [sic] the legislative process for rule-making and would not be in effect until July 2024.”

    Oklahoma had previous warned AEW not to use Nyla Rose. 

    Miller has since retired from his position as Commission Administrator and quietly exited the role in March 2024. He has since been replaced with Diana Fletcher who did not wish to comment on the matters related to the December 2023 match. 

    AEW President Tony Khan expressed his support for Rose in April 2024 and said he was “disappointed” by the position and the warning. Khan was noncommital when asked if the statute will prevent future events in Oklahoma but to date no events in the state have been announced. Khan’s support for Rose is no surprise as AEW has various LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and has shown support for other LGBTQ+ wrestlers on its roster. 

    Another Incident

    This situation isn’t the first time that rights to compete have been discussed in the state of Oklahoma. In 2022, Konner Vaughn became a licensed wrestler in the state. He was subsequently banned from having any matches against fellow men as he transitioned from female to male years early. 

    When Vaughn asked the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission to reconsider their stance, they did not return his emails. Vaughn is currently not involved in wrestling and said the “soul-crushing” statute by OSAC played a huge role in him hanging up his boots. Vaughn has said he hopes to return to wrestling in his home state if the rules are changed.