SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • Tony Khan On Airing AEW All In Backstage Footage: ‘We’re Putting On The Best Show’

    Tony Khan On Airing AEW All In Backstage Footage: ‘We’re Putting On The Best Show’

    Airing backstage footage from All In 2023 is all in the interest of the fans who want to see the best show possible, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed.

    On the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite, behind-the-scenes footage of AEW’s largest-ever event will be aired. While not confirmed, many believe this will be footage of the Jack Perry-CM Punk altercation that would result in Punk being fired a week later. 

    Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Tony Khan said that this will not be a bait-and-switch and that AEW has a history of delivering on its promises. Khan also said the decision to air the footage is simply in AEW’s best interest.

    “This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

    The Young Bucks will also discuss the footage that is to be aired on Dynamite. Khan added that the AEW EVPs should explain why this is relevant ahead of AEW Dynasty.

    Why is the Footage Really Being Aired?

    The decision to air this footage has been met with criticism, despite Khan’s insistence that this is all to give fans the best show. Many have argued that AEW is using the much-anticipated footage as a ratings ploy in the wake of the highly successful WWE WrestleMania 40 event.

    There’s also an argument to be made that AEW should seek to move on from the backstage incidents that have often overshadowed their production. CM Punk was also part of the infamous All Out 2022 backstage fight that led to himself, The Elite, and others being suspended.

    CM Punk’s recent interview with the MMA Hour has likely also played a role in Khan’s decision. The WWE Raw Superstar was critical of AEW on the show in which he stated that Khan isn’t a real boss and that AEW isn’t a real company focused on making money. 

    Punk also gave his take on the All In brawl. In his recollection of events, Punk said he didn’t punch anybody but “choked somebody a little bit.” Punk stopped when Samoa Joe told him to before telling Khan “You’re a clown. I quit.”

  • Cody Rhodes: ‘MJF’s My Boy! He’s Got A Huge Future Ahead’

    Cody Rhodes is excited to see what’s to come in the future for MJF and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion sees big things ahead for the ‘Scumbag.’

    Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes’ interview was interrupted by a crowd chant for MJF. Acknowledging the moment, Rhodes put over the former AEW World Champion. 

    “His ex-girlfriend painted that picture of me getting busted open by The Rock. Yeah, and The Rock bought it.

    “You got to stand by your guy, though. You know what I’m saying? You stand by your boy. MJF is my boy. Shout out to MJF. Wonderful kid. Huge, huge, huge future.”

    Rhodes and MJF are no strangers. In AEW, MJF acted as a protege of Rhodes before betraying the American Nightmare during Cody’s sole AEW World Championship opportunity. The pair would later feud with MJF coming out on top at AEW Revolution 2020. 

    What’s to Come? 

    On the post-WrestleMania Raw, Rhodes basked in his victory at the Premium Live Event before being interrupted by The Rock. The Final Boss admitted that he’s going away for a while but will be coming for Rhodes when he returns. He also handed Rhodes something and warned him not to break his heart again. 

    As for MJF, he continues to be out of action and was last seen in the ring at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. While MJF was recently seen backstage at AEW Dynamite, there’s still no confirmation as to when fans can see him. Whenever he appears next, it’ll be for AEW as it was reported last year that MJF had signed a new contract with AEW despite teasing leaving for WWE.

  • Matt Hardy Is A Free Agent After AEW Contract Expires

    Matt Hardy Is A Free Agent After AEW Contract Expires

    Matt Hardy entered AEW during the pandemic, and now, he is no longer All Elite. The tag team specialist is now a free agent.

    Fightful Select reports that Matt Hardy is now a free agent. His contract with AEW was set to expire in March. Recent developments indicate that he is no longer associated with AEW.

    The reports stated that while his contract was initially set to expire, there were discussions within the company regarding an extension. The idea was that this extension might last a few weeks through WrestleMania.

    The reason behind this possible extension remains unclear, because there are no indications of any injury-related absences, given that Hardy continued to make television appearances following a concussion sustained years ago during AEW All Out in his Broken Rules match against Sammy Guevara.

    We’ve learned that Hardy and AEW had talks and Hardy had told those close to him that he was allowing his deal to lapse after not signing a deal offered to him.

    Jeff Hardy is still under contract with AEW. His deal was originally set to expire with his brother’s, but AEW froze his contract when he took time off to take care of his personal matters.

    Matt Hardy’s Road To AEW

    On the February 10, 2020, episode of Raw, Hardy confronted Randy Orton regarding Orton’s assault on Edge two weeks earlier. A brawl ensued between them shortly after, during which Orton viciously attacked Hardy. The following week on Raw, an injured Hardy made another appearance, only to be assaulted once more by Orton. This would mark his final appearance in WWE.

    On March 2, Hardy announced his departure from WWE via his official YouTube channel, citing differences in creative direction and expressing gratitude towards the backstage personnel. WWE then confirmed that his contract had expired on the same day.

    Hardy made his debut in All Elite Wrestling on the March 18, 2020, episode. He brought his Broken gimmick to the company, but it was abandoned during those Daily Place episodes.

  • Footage From CM Punk’s & Jack Perry’s Backstage Fight Will Be Shown on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite

    Footage From CM Punk’s & Jack Perry’s Backstage Fight Will Be Shown on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite

    Fans tuning in to the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite will get to learn more about what really transpired backstage at AEW All in 2023 in London, England. 

    During the April 7, episode of AEW Collision, it was announced that the Bucks will share footage from All In and will discuss what transpired backstage in Wembley Stadium last August. It was not revealed on Collision what this footage and discussion will be about. 

    Unsurprisingly, the tease of backstage footage from All In has led fans to speculate that they will see CM Punk’s infamous backstage fight with Jack Perry. Fightful Select later reported that AEW indeed plans on showing footage of Punk’s incident with Perry and that this footage will be genuine. Talent and staff who have asked about the footage have been told it relates to Punk’s altercation with Perry. 

    Legalities do not appear to be an issue, despite Punk now being with WWE. Sources believe that the video was enough cause for the company to part with Punk without much of an issue from a legal perspective.

    AEW Dynamite – April 10, 2024

    This mystery footage is just part of what’ll be quite the show on the upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite. Also on the show, Dustin Rhodes will face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in a Championship Eliminator Match. Should Rhodes win, he’ll receive a future title match against Joe. 

    TNT Champion Adam Copeland will put his gold on the line against Penta El Zero Miedo. The WWE Hall of Famer captured the gold from former friend Christian Cage during the March 20, episode of Dynamite in their native Toronto. 

    Chris Jericho, HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata will take on Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty & Anthony Ogogo) on the upcoming Dynamite. Ogogo joined the group on AEW Collision. 

  • Jade Cargill Reveals Multiple Factors Behind AEW Departure

    Jade Cargill Reveals Multiple Factors Behind AEW Departure

    Jade Cargill’s departure from AEW surprised a lot of fans. It did not take long for her to sign with WWE, but the company has certainly waited for the right moment to debut her.

    Cargill is set to team up with Bianca Belair and Naomi as they take on Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 40. That will mark Cargill’s first-ever actual match in WWE, and it will happen on the grandest stage of them all. As her WWE star shines even brighter every week, many believe that AEW dropped the ball with her.

    During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, host Dave LaGreca said that he feels as though AEW didn’t make the most of Jade. When asked if this was a reason for her AEW departure, she confirmed that many factors played into this decision.

    “There are a couple of things that made me go to WWE other than the fact that the machine is ridiculous over here, the connections, the history, the legacy, it’s one of one, you know? AEW was a new company, they’re still figuring things out, obviously. That happens with every company, right? You have to figure out what’s good and what’s bad.” “I’m 31. I don’t have time to grow with the company at my age. I have to be in an established company, and I have to go over there and let it be known, because I can’t do this forever.”

    She said that fans want to see “20 somethings on TV,” and she knew that her time is limited in the pro wrestling business. Jade went on to say that “time was not on my side, and I knew I had to make the best decision for me, and my family.” So, she decided to join WWE.

    Jade Cargill’s AEW Exit

    Tony Khan revealed that AEW offered Cargill more money to stay with them than she asked for. She still decided to do what was best for herself and make the jump to WWE.

    Jade Cargill remained undefeated for nearly three years and was prominently featured by both AEW and WBD as one of their top talents. She was even showcased as the main athlete at the network’s upfronts for the past two years. Despite achieving everything possible in AEW, Cargill felt that only a move to WWE would allow her to reach the next echelon in the pro wrestling business.

    In September 2023, Jade Cargill parted ways with AEW as her contract with the company came to an end. Just days after her departure, WWE secured Cargill with a multi-year contract.

  • AEW’s Keith Lee Makes Accidental Appearance At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    AEW’s Keith Lee Makes Accidental Appearance At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. 

    The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way. 

    Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.

    This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake. 

    Keith Lee

    In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021. 

    Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.

  • Brandon Tate Of The Boys Combats Tony Khan’s Reason For Their AEW Release

    Brandon Tate Of The Boys Combats Tony Khan’s Reason For Their AEW Release

    AEW recently released several names from its roster, including Brent and Brandon Tate, known as ‘The Boys.’ Their departures surprised fans, especially considering their involvement in the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV.

    At the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan disclosed that the Tates had been absent from work on multiple occasions. This prompted Khan to release them, though he emphasized the difficulty of this decision.

    Khan clarified that these releases were part of AEW’s careful budget management, ensuring resources are available to pursue top talent in the industry.

    Brandon Tate, who previously denied Tony Khan’s story, but he deleted that tweet, has now responded with a lengthy story. He told all about the Twins’ time in AEW, and what led to the alleged story around them no-showing events.

    He said that The Twins had initially intended to maintain silence regarding their release from AEW, in order to avoid overshadowing the significance of the upcoming ROH Supercard event. However, following Tony Khan’s remarks and the overwhelming support from fans, media outlets, friends, and colleagues, they felt compelled to address the situation publicly.

    Brandon Tate and his brother were informed that they would be prominently featured in the storyline leading up to Supercard, alongside Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie. They were encouraged to pitch ideas for their characters, suggesting that they would have opportunities to showcase their wrestling abilities in the future.

    However, on March 16th, the scheduled date following a storyline development, which involved Dalton Castle losing custody, they encountered an unprecedented change in their travel arrangements. Instead of departing from their home airport in Knoxville, their travel was booked out of Nashville. This departure from their usual travel pattern, which previously involved Sinclair ROH and now Tony Khan’s ROH, raised questions and concerns.

    He said the next thing that took place was their release. They were told they were let go due to budget cuts, with no mention of them no-showing any event.

    On Monday April 1st, we were contacted by management accompanied by HR on a call to inform us of our release due to “budget cuts.” At that time we raised concerns and repeatedly questioned if the release was due to the travel issues, we were repeatedly and adamantly assured that this was not the case and based solely on budget cuts. Since Tony’s statement, we reached out yesterday providing the specific details asking for Tony to clear this up. We have gotten no response. Unfortunately in the court or public opinion for a lot of people commenting, it’s assumed that we’re guilty from 1 man’s words until we now have to prove we’re not.

    https://twitter.com/tatetwinbrandon/status/1776330031536488749

    AEW’s Recent Signings

    It was a very interesting turn of events to see AEW release so many names from their roster. This came after Tony Khan stated for so long that he intends on fulfilling any contract he signs.

    AEW has just inked big contracts with Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Mone. That was followed by some cuts. We will have to see if Tony Khan has any response to Brandon Tate, but he’s been radio silent for now.

    In the end, those released names were The Boys, Dasha Gonzolaz, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl, Anthony Henry, Gravity, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J. You may find an updated list of AEW’s 2024 releases here with our tracker.

  • AEW Exiting Exclusive Television Negotiation Window With WBD

    AEW Exiting Exclusive Television Negotiation Window With WBD

    AEW has called Warner Bros Discovery their home since the company debuted Dynamite. As their deal with the television company ticks down, they are exiting a very important window of time.

    Tony Khan confirmed during the ROH Supercard of Honor media call that AEW’s deal with Warner Bros Discovery is exiting their exclusive negotiation window. The AEW President did not reveal any further details or timetable of the contract’s actual expiration.

    “I’m not sure that I am able to answer that question. I don’t want to endanger anybody who works here or get anybody in trouble. I’m not sure I can say. It’s coming up soon. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. I do appreciate you asking that. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. It’s coming up pretty soon here.”

    TNT and TBS hosts All Elite Wrestling’s weekly television shows: Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. Their partnership even caused AEW Dark to cease production on YouTube, because they wanted exclusivity.

    How AEW Got Their Television Deal

    In January 2020 AEW’s deal with WBD was extended with a four-year, approximately $175 million contract that included the addition of Rampage for Friday nights. Now, as we get even further into 2024, a new deal has not been signed. It all started in a rather interesting way in 2018.

    AEW first came to Warner Bros Discovery thanks to Tony Khan’s friend, Kevin Riley, who helped him get on the network. Years later, and Riley is no longer a part of the company. His firing as part of WBD’s massive restructuring was a big blow to AEW, as they lost an important ally.

    In 2021, Tony Khan appeared on AEW Restricted, as he walked Aubrey Edwards and Tony Scahivone down the road to AEW’s first television deal. It really all happened thanks to a close friend he already had, and the fact that Khan dressed as “Macho Man” Randy Savage at a Halloween party

  • WaleMania 2024: Highlights From Ultimate Night of Hip-Hop and & Wrestling Fusion

    WaleMania 2024: Highlights From Ultimate Night of Hip-Hop and & Wrestling Fusion

    WrestleMania weekend is always packed with events. There are indie pro wrestling shows going on, and other fan conventions. WaleMania went down at the Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on April 4, and there are a ton of highlights.

    Since its first show in 2015, WaleMania has combined hip-hop and wrestling. It stands apart from other events during WrestleMania weekend, serving as a gathering where fans and wrestlers come together, and every year it’s usually the best party all weekend. 

    Pro wrestlers from practically every company on the planet linked up for WaleMania this year. As you can see, it was quite a party, and there are many highlights to feature.

    WaleMania 2024 Highlights

    First off, we have to give Samantha Irvine all the flowers for this one. She not only rocked Razor Ramon’s theme music, but she did it on a flute. 

    Rob Van Dam was there, smoking on stage, alongside Katie Forbes. It was quite a party as the crowd fed into the performance on stage, who were having just as much fun as the fans.

    R-Truth was present at WaleMania, and he gave fans in attendance a different kind of show than they’re used to seeing from him. He grabbed the microphone and spit some fire bars for the fans.

    Although he’s not booked for WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer RVD was also present. NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap a photo with the Whole F’n Show.

    Big E couldn’t miss WaleMania, either. The New Day member cut one of his trademark promos for fans, where he introduced Wale. As you can see in the clip, Trick Williams was there as well, and he had a wonderful time ahead of his main event match at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Carmelo Hayes.

    Zilla Fatu didn’t miss the show, either. He was there in attendance at WaleMania, and he had a great time. As you can see in the video below, he also spent some time on the stage.

    Although it was all fun at WaleMania, things did get a big tense as Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes had a chance to trade some words on stage.

    Kiera Hogan stunned the crowd with her dancing skills. Willow Nightingale didn’t miss WaleMania, either, as the two AEW stars had a great time on stage in front of the live crowd.

  • Toni Storm Declares “The Forbidden Door is Always Open” in Surprise Appearance for STARDOM

    Toni Storm Declares “The Forbidden Door is Always Open” in Surprise Appearance for STARDOM

    Fans who attended the recent STARDOM event were stunned to see AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm appear with a very special message. 

    Storm appeared at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, better known as the ECW Arena. Storm began by expressing her gratitude for STARDOM, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the promotion. 

    The three-time and reigning AEW Women’s World Champion then presented flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. Turning her attention towards Mina Shirakawa, Storm got in the face of the Artist of Stardom Champion and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”

    After her appearance during the show, Storm had more to say about Mariah May.

    Shirakawa is booked for Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor 2024. She’ll team with Maika and Mei Seira against Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM. As for Storm, her next high-profile match will come later this month at AEW Dynasty. The Starlet of Wrestling will put her gold on the line against Thunder Rosa. 

    Another Surprising Name

    Toni Storm wasn’t announced for the event, making her appearance at STARDOM American Dream a big surprise, but she wasn’t the only notable non-STARDOM name at the show. WWE Superstar Natalya was also at the event. On Twitter, the former Women’s Champion spoke about reuniting with Kyoko Inoue at the STARDOM show and shared some pictures from backstage. 

    Natalya is not currently booked for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40. With that said, some fans are hoping to see a Women’s Battle Royal at the event, which would likely include the BOAT. The hashtag #WomensBattleRoyal trended for multiple days on Twitter. 

  • Tony Khan Says The Boys Were Released After No-Showing Multiple Events

    Tony Khan Says The Boys Were Released After No-Showing Multiple Events

    Two wrestlers recently cut from All Elite Wrestling have themselves to blame for being cut from the company after they no-showed multiple events. 

    AEW released several names from its roster earlier this week, including Brent and Brandon Tate, better known as ‘The Boys.’ Their releases came as a surprise to fans as they have been integral to the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV. 

    During the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan explained how the Tates had failed to show up to work on multiple occasions. This led to Khan deciding to cut them but made clear it was a difficult decision. 

    Khan explained that these releases were made with AEW carefully monitoring their budget, ensuring they have resources available to compete for top talent in the industry. The promotion recently reached high-budget deals with new signings including Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada.

    Who Else Was Let Go? 

    In total, ten stars were released from All Elite Wrestling. In addition to the Tate brothers, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, Slim J, Gravity, Anthony Henry, Jora Johl, Jose The Assistant, and broadcaster Dasha Kuret were also cut from the promotion. 

    While Anthony Henry has been released, fans can expect him back with ROH and AEW very soon. On the media call, Khan said that Henry got injured during an independent show and said his situation is a “challenging grey area.” He added that Henry will come back to AEW and Ring of Honor once he is cleared to wrestle again. 

  • AEW Dynasty: Women’s World Title Match Set For 4/21 PPV

    AEW Dynasty: Women’s World Title Match Set For 4/21 PPV

    During AEW Dynamite this week, Thunder Rosa defeated Mariah May. That means Rosa will now challenge Toni Storm for the AEW women’s championship at Dynasty.

    Toni Storm was sitting at ringside during the match. She was a bit shocked by the conclusion, as Thunder Rosa came out on top. Rosa also had some choice words for Storm after the match was over. That match acted as the main event contest for the night

    AEW Dynasty will go down on April 21 in Saint Louis. SEScoops will have full coverage of the pay-per-view event, and the events leading to the inaugural show.

    This Week’s AEW Dynamite Main Event Segment

    The company did not add any more matches to the Dynasty pay-per-view during Dynamite this week. They did conclude the match with a contract signing between Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe, one that ended in a bloody display as Joe busted Swerve open with a chain wrapped around his first.

    In the end, Strickland signed the contract with his own blood after saying that Joe will need to do more than that to beat him at Dynasty.

    The Young Bucks also beat The Best Friends to advance to the finals of the AEW Tag Team Title tournament. Then, Trend turned on Orange Cassidy before leaving.

    AEW Dynasty Card (So Far)

    • Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
    • The Young Bucks vs. TBD for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship
    • Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale (with Stokely Hathaway): House Rules match for the AEW TBS Championship
    • Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston, and Mark Briscoe vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews)
    • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther) vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women’s World Championship
    • Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) for the AEW World Championship
  • Mercedes Mone Calls Her Shot For Title Match At AEW Double or Nothing

    Mercedes Mone Calls Her Shot For Title Match At AEW Double or Nothing

    Mercedes Mone caused a lot of noise when she arrived in AEW. Now, she has called her shot for a title match at Double or Nothing.

    During AEW Dynamite this week, Renee Paquette invited Willow Nightingale out to talk about her TBS Title match at AEW Dynasty. She is very pumped about the match, but it didn’t take long for Mercedes Mone to show up.

    Mercedes Mone said that she is calling her shot as the next challenger for the TBS Title at AEW Double or Nothing. It doesn’t seem like she cares who she faces, whether it is Julia Hart or Willow.

    Willow Nightingale will take on Julia Hart at AEW Dynasty for the TBS Title. Mone will be paying close attention to that match and has already staked her claim to challenge the winner at Double or Nothing.

    Mone has not been booked for a match at AEW Dynasty on April 21, so it looks like her first match will happen at the 6th annual DoN PPV.

    AEW Double or Nothing 2024 takes place May 26 from at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

    Mercedes Mone challenging for the TBS Championship is the first match confirmed for the event. 

  • Mercedes Mone Reveals What Convinced Her To Join AEW

    Mercedes Mone Reveals What Convinced Her To Join AEW

    Mercedes Mone has found her new home in AEW and she has disclosed the behind-the-scenes talks leading up to her debut for the promotion at Big Business. The ‘CEO’ tells James Stewart of Stick to Wrestling that Tony Khan initially reached out to her about becoming ‘All Elite.’

    Mone says they’ve been negotiating for a while, but she wasn’t ready to sign on just yet. She wanted to see what TK was cooking for the Women’s division before getting on board.

    “When he called me the first time, I’m like, ‘I’ll think about it TK. We gotta build this relationship. You know, let me keep on watching. Let me keep on seeing this women’s division.’”

    The former WWE and IWGP Women’s’ champion is excited to mix it up with AEW’s top stars and has “so many beautiful things in the works.”

    “I kept on watching the women’s division and my dreams just became so much bigger and brighter and I knew instantly I wanted AEW to be my home.”

    Mercedes Mone is one of the most prominent free agent signings in recent memory and AEW President Tony Khan even spoke highly of Mone and labeled her as a possible face of the company. 

    She made her long awaited debut on the 3/13 ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite. She’s already put former opponent Willow Nightingale on notice ultimate goal and has stated her desire to go after ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship.

    Most fans are excited to see Mercedes Mone back on television, but her close friend Bayley says the move is ‘bitter sweet’:

  • Did Cody Rhodes Consider Going Back To AEW Before Inking His New WWE Deal?

    Did Cody Rhodes Consider Going Back To AEW Before Inking His New WWE Deal?

    Could Cody Rhodes have finished his story back in AEW? ‘The American Nightmare’ cleared the air as to if there were any inkling of him going back to AEW before he signed a new contract with WWE.

    Joining Ariel Helwani this week on the MMA Hour, Cody Rhodes was asked several questions about his old company AEW before getting into the WrestleMania talk. One of the follows had Helwani asking him if he gave any consideration of going back to AEW while in talks for a new contract with WWE.

    “No and it’s not in any way a negative towards them. I know I didn’t win the title at WrestleMania 39, but I was in the spot I always dreamed of, and I know how lucky I am to be in this spot.”

    Rhodes said when he sees poster along him amongst all the major stars, plus being on the WWE 2K24 cover was all very validating.

    “They didn’t hand me the exact ball and said, ‘Hey, you’re the quarterback,’ but they certainly gave me a lot of responsibility, that being Nick, that being Hunter, I feel that would have been against my being because I was slotted there.”

    Rhodes said he thinks he’d be doing a disservice to Khan and Triple H if he were to go against that trust they put on him. He reiterated that isn’t a slight against any other company, that was just his mindset. 

    Please credit the MMA Hour and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • Cody Rhodes Has A Different Assessment Of Tony Khan Than CM Punk, But Loves Everybody Involved

    Cody Rhodes loved his time in AEW and views his old boss a little differently than CM Punk.

    Ariel Helwani played host to CM Punk earlier in the week where Punk mentioned to him that he thinks Tony Khan is a nice guy, but not a boss. Rhodes happened to be Helwani’s guest on Wednesday’s edition of the MMA Hour and asked ‘The American Nightmare’ if he felt the same way.

    “That’s his assessment. It is not my assessment. It is always important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie [Cahill], Brandi, and Dana, and Chris [Harrington], and I name all these people, because I was in those meetings. As much as the Internet will try to spin a narrative one way, if one of those people had not been at that start-up level, the company would not have happened. And I am so proud of what was created. I am so insanely proud of what it does for the industry overall.”

    Rhodes says he has an unbelievable love for so many people there. Rhodes reiterated that it was a start-up company and he wishes AEW nothing but the best as it goes forward. 

    Cody Rhodes Believes The Tension In AEW Was A Misunderstanding

    Helwani then followed up by asking if Cody Rhodes can envision Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks getting abrasive with an outsider and established star like CM Punk.

    “I just think what happened there was a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication, you will see on indies and wrestlers that aren’t properly trained and I’m not talking about bullying etiquette or anything like that, but you do need to have a little ‘old school’ in you to know the collaborativeness of what this is, and I just think they were ships in the night. I know I was Switzerland the last time you asked me, I love Matt, Nick and Kenny and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m just happy for everyone involved.”

    Several times since leaving AEW, Rhodes has tipped the cap to his former AEW EVPs and they’ve done the same in exchange.

  • MJF Tells The Rock To Back Off After Offering To Buy Cody Rhodes Painting From His Ex

    MJF Tells The Rock To Back Off After Offering To Buy Cody Rhodes Painting From His Ex

    The Rock is making waves all over the pro wrestling world. He’s even doing enough that it can drive someone like MJF, who’s been mostly silent during his hiatus, out of his social media dormancy. 

    WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock and Roman Reigns team up to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. In the build to that big match, Dwayne Johnson made The American Nightmare bleed, and that moment inspired some art.

    MJF’s ex is a very talented artist, and she drew the attention of The Rock. Now, MJF is speaking up about the situation, and he’s not ecstatic about the idea of The Great One hitting up his ex on social media, especially after The Rock jacked his idea to whip Cody Rhodes. 

    The Rock and MJF cross paths

    The Rock is back, and he’s the ultimate heel as well. It appears that he might also be after MJF’s ex-girlfriend. This led to an experience on Twitter/X that we didn’t see coming.

    MJF’s ex-fiancée, Naomi Rosenblum, is a pretty impressive artist. Her paintings have gone viral a few times, and a recent photo caught The Rock’s attention. She did a new work of art in the likeness of The Rock holding Cody Rhodes’ bloody face to the camera.

    Rhodes and MJF’s history is well-known, so fans certainly noticed this interesting connection between The Rock and the former AEW World Champion.

    The Rock replied to Rosenblum, complimented her artistic abilities and offered to purchase it as a gift for a ‘special’ mom he knows.

    MJF Tells The Rock to Back Off

    MJF wasted no time in replying to this tweet from the People’s Champion. He accused The Rock of stealing his “glorious idea” to whip Cody Rhodes with a belt He respects final Boss, but asked for him to back off. 

    Friedman is currently in a relationship with wrestling personality Alicia Atout. They recently celebrated one year together.

    MJF is no longer listed as a member of the AEW roster on the company website, but he’s still under contract. Friedman was working through multiple injuries prior to losing the  AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End in December 2023.

  • Becky Lynch Happy For Mercedes Mone In AEW, Hopes They Work Together Again

    Becky Lynch is happy to see Mercedes Mone doing her thing and having a good time in All Elite Wrestling. There’s no hard feelings over the former Sasha Banks jumping to AEW. In fact, Lynch says we could see them back in the ring together one day. She didn’t specify if that would take place in WWE or elsewhere.

    Lynch is doing the media rounds this week to promote her championship match against Rhea Ripley this weekend at WrestleMania 40. During a chat with Shakiel Mahjouri for Shak Wrestling, she expressed excitement for her former rival.

    “Good for her,” Lynch said of Mone in AEW. “Go on, do your thing and have a good time over there.”

    She added, “Maybe one day, we’ll meet back in the ring.”

    Lynch and Mone have a fair share of history as they led the famous Women’s Revolution in WWE. They’ve faced each other in handful of matches, most prominently a Hell in A Cell match for the Raw Women’s title back in 2019. 

    Sasha Banks left WWE in 2022. She reinvented herself as Mercedes Mone, achieved success wrestling in Japan before her recent arrival in AEW.

    Lynch’s Future

    Becky Lynch’s star has steadily risen over the past several years. She’s cemented herself as one of the top sports entertainers in the world, which puts her in a great position for when her WWE contract expires in the next few months. She could test the waters of free agency.

    WWE has been her home, but Tony Khan has shown he’s more than willing to shell out huge money to lure stars like Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada to AEW. They’re all making millions working a schedule that requires far less time on the road than WWE requires. 

    Becky Lynch has “done it all” in WWE, but she will soon have a chance to explore other options.

  • 2024 AEW Releases & Departures Tracker

    This AEW Releases & Departures tracker will be updated throughout the year as details are made public.

    January 2024

    Andrade El Idolo

    At the Worlds End Media Scrum, Tony Khan disclosed that El Idolo’s contract ended on January 1st and his match against Miro marked his final appearance with the promotion. On New Year’s Day, El Idolo was taken off the promotion’s roster page, confirming his departure.

    March 2024

    Mike Santana

    Santana’s last appearance on AEW programming was in October when he defeated his former tag partner Ortiz in a No DQ match on Rampage. His departure was confirmed when he was taken off the AEW roster page. Santana and Ortiz debuted for AEW at All Out in 2019 and were part of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle faction until it disbanded in March 2022. Since then, Santana has been wrestling on the independent circuit.

    Kevin Kelly

    Kelly was fired by AEW after a public rant related to internal politics concerning his support of a popular film that Hollywood scorned and ignored. In response, Kelly attributed his absence from commentary to “libelous remarks” made by fellow AEW and ROH commentator Ian Riccaboni.

    April 2024

    The Boys

    Primarily recognized as Dalton Castle’s valets, they also appeared on Dark, ROH, and Collision. The brothers, alongside Dalton Castle, held the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship twice. They were released on April 1, along with many other stars.

    Dasha Gonzolaz

    Dasha Gonzalez became All Elite in 2019, taking on various roles such as ring announcer, interviewer, commentator, and co-host. Additionally, she briefly participated in a tag team match during the AEW Women’s Tag Team Tournament in 2020. Formerly known as Dasha Fuentes in WWE, her release came as a surprise, especially since she was serving as the ring announcer for AEW Collision at the time of her termination.

    Jose The Assistant

    He joined the promotion in 2021, taking on the role of manager for Andrade El Ídolo and La Facción Ingobernable, which included Rush, Dralístico, and Preston Vance. He was also part of the April 1 releases.

    Jora Johl

    Joining AEW in 2021, he made multiple appearances on Dark and Dark: Elevation. His final match for the promotion was in ROH in July 2023 before he was released on April 1, 2024.

    Anthony Henry

    Henry was part of the mass release on April 1. He made his debut in September 2021 on AEW Dark, gaining recognition primarily for his collaboration with JD Drake as The WorkHorsemen. He was also part of the April 1 releases.

    Gravity

    Gravity made his debut in January 2023 on AEW Dark and later appeared on Dynamite and Collision, where he faced opponents such as PAC and Samoa Joe. Despite showing promise and gaining fan support, he was released on April 1.

    Stu Grayson

    Grayson initially departed from AEW in 2022 when his contract expired but returned the following year. During his comeback, he predominantly wrestled in ROH while maintaining a regular presence on the independent circuit. Grayson’s name was part of the mass releases on April 1.

    Parker Boudreaux

    Bordeaux joined AEW in July 2022 following a short tenure in WWE under the name Harland, and he also had a stint in MLW. His AEW debut took place on AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation, where he teamed up with Ari Daivari and Slim J as part of The Trustbusters stable. Later, he aligned himself with Swerve Strickland in the Mogul Affiliates stable. He has appeared for AAA in recent memory, even just before his AEW release on April 1.

    Slim J

    Slim J made his debut in July 2022 and joined The Trustbusters faction. He had regular appearances on AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation, in addition to performing in ROH. He was also part of the April 1 releases.

    Matt Hardy

    Fightful Select reported that Matt Hardy became a free agent. His contract with AEW was set to expire in March. However, his deal was not extended as some expected, and his deal ran out.

    May

    Ethan Page

    Page, who was previously a regular on ROH TV, had not appeared on the show in recent months. He had increased his activities in independent wrestling and resumed promoting his Alpha-1 Wrestling events. His removal from the AEW roster page was officially noted on May 2, and his exit was confirmed after that. Page had expressed a desire to leave AEW as early as February. He was initially slated for a feud over the ROH TV Title with Kyle Fletcher, but it was postponed due to Fletcher’s visa issues. Update: Page made his WWE NXT debut on May 28, so he didn’t waste much time in his next career move.

    Mark Henry

    The WWE Hall of Famer confirmed his exit on Busted Open Radio. He decided to leave AEW in order to focus on his own brand and website, which he is trying to build on his own.

    Arn Anderson

    The Enforcer announced on The ARN Show that his AEW contract is expiring on May 31, and he will be leaving the company. He expressed gratitude for Tony Khan, acknowledging his significant impact on the wrestling industry by providing talent with new opportunities. Anderson stated that he plans to spend his remaining years in wrestling helping his son Brock Anderson, who is no longer with AEW, develop into a star.

    Jake Hager

    It was reported on May 28 that Hager decided not to sign a new contract with the company. He is now a free agent, but his exit was said to be a mutual decision. 

    Paige VanZant

    Paige VanZant is no longer with All Elite Wrestling. The former UFC fighter began appearing for AEW in September 2021, alongside Dan Lambert and American Top Team, and signed with the company in March 2022. She made her in-ring debut at AEW Double or Nothing 2022 but has not appeared since, due to three broken bones in her foot. Despite Tony Khan’s openness to her return, VanZant decided not to continue wrestling. It was reported in April that VanZant didn’t want to be a pro wrestler, as she opted to cash in on her OnlyFans instead. AEW officially removed her from their website in June 2024.

  • AEW’s Will Ospreay Was Approached About Stunt Work For Assassin’s Creed Movie Sequel

    AEW’s Will Ospreay Was Approached About Stunt Work For Assassin’s Creed Movie Sequel

    Will Ospreay was approached about performing stunt work for an Assassin’s Creed movie sequel, the All Elite Wrestling star recently revealed. 

    Ospreay announced at Full Gear 2023 that he was joining the company, but was allowed to finish off his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling. His first official match as an AEW-contracted wrestler took place at AEW Revolution 2024 and saw the Essex-born wrestler defeat Konosuke Takeshita. 

    Will Ospreay’s Assasin’s Creed Offer

    Ospreay has spent years making a name for himself in the ring and nearly had the chance to flex his muscles in the world of stunt work. Speaking with Dale Driver of IGN, Ospreay explained how he was at one time considered for a role in a planned Assassin’s Creed movie sequel. 

    “I was in New Japan when the Assassin’s Creed film came out [in 2016.] They wanted to use some of my photos from New Japan to help advertise the movie coming over! 

    “They said if there was going to be an Assassin’s Creed 2, I might be able to do some stunt work in it and I got excited. Nothing ever came of it but I’d love to be a part of Assassin’s Creed.”

    An Assassin’s Creed Sequel? 

    While Ospreay is still holding out some hope, the odds of an Assassin’s Creed movie sequel continue to look slim. Despite a star-studded cast including Michael Fassbender, Maron Cotillard, and Jeremy Irons, the film underperformed at the box office. A sequel was planned but was reportedly canceled by Disney following their 2019 acquisition of FOX. 

    Will Ospreay and Assassin’s Creed

    Ospreay’s love for the popular historical action video game franchise is hardly a secret. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, the Aerial Assasin dressed as Assassin Creed Syndicate’s The Ripper for his entrance. Ospreay had the franchise’s signature hidden wrist blade and entered to official Assassin’s Creed music. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1rtJ4VhywT

    In the interview, Ospreay said it’d be “sick” for him to get a themed skin in the next Assassin’s Creed game. He added that he’s “completely open” to any AC plans, whether it be for a game or movie, that he could be involved in. 

  • CM Punk Understood Hangman Page Defending His Friends, But Not In Front Of A “Million Dollar House”

    CM Punk Understood Hangman Page Defending His Friends, But Not In Front Of A “Million Dollar House”

    CM Punk’s new interview with Ariel Helwani is certainly chock full of newsworthy topics as ‘The Best In The World’ addressed quite a bit in the conversation, including Hangman Page.

    Punk was discussing his non-relationship with his former close friend, Colt Cabana, and mentioned that they only very briefly had an interaction while in AEW before Punk told him to go through his lawyer if he ever wants to speak to him again. That prompted Punk to mention how he believes Cabana was the crux for all that unfolded in AEW, including Page “going into business” for himself on AEW Dynamite. 

    Page and Punk were building to their match for AEW Double Or Nothing and Hangman made inside reference to Punk alienating himself from people backstage. Punk told Helwani he sympathized with Page’s thoughts, but not in front of a packed arena.

    “I applaud and I said this to Hangman, I was like, ‘Man, I get taking up for your friends, I get it. That’s commendable .I do that all the time right or wrong, I’ll stand up for my f***ing friends, but to f***ing go on national television and jeopardize a million dollar house that you ain’t ever drawn before. Now you’re disrespecting me and you’re disrespecting the business. This is my house. I drew that, not you,’ you know? And that’s egos. It is what it is.”

    Punk covered plenty of ground in this revealing interview on WrestleMania week including his brief interaction with Vince McMahon, his thoughts on Tony Khan and much more.

    Please credit MMA Hour and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • AEW Star Set For Surgery In 2 Weeks For Torn Pec Injury

    AEW Star Set For Surgery In 2 Weeks For Torn Pec Injury

    AEW star Ortiz recently shared an unfortunate update after suffering an injury. He has revealed that he is set to undergo surgery which will keep him on the shelf for several months.

    Ortiz has been away from the programming since last competing on January 20 edition of AEW Collision. On the show, he had joined forces with Eddie Kingston to face Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli in a losing effort. Now, it seems he will once again miss some action.

    Making an appearance on Isiah Kassidy’s vlog, Ortiz shared his current status with the promotion. He disclosed that he sustained a torn pec and the injury took place from a clothesline. The 32-year-old star then revealed that he will have his surgery in a couple of weeks and he will be out of action for at least four months. 

    “I’m injured. I’m about to get surgery in two weeks… It was just from a clothesline. I tore a pec. I tore my pec from a clothesline… Two weeks and four months recovery time, and then I’ll be back.”

    Later in the vlog, Ortiz and Kassidy were seen working on commentary for AEW star Ethan Page’s Alpha-1 Wrestling promotion in Hamilton, ON, Canada. Ortiz also worked as a guest referee on that show. 

    Ortiz and Mike Santana split

    Ortiz had been in a tag-team with Mike Santana for more than a decade and they were part of several promotions including AEW where their most prominent run was during their association with Inner Circle. 

    However, over the years Santana and Ortiz grew apart and they recently decided to split up due to their personal differences. Following the break-up, Ortiz started competing as a singles wrestler. It was only last month that Santana was released by AEW and he went on to shed light on why the duo decided to part ways. 

    As Ortiz awaits his surgery, we at SEScoops wish him a swift recovery and hope he is back in the squared circle soon.

  • AEW Releases Multiple Stars As They Evaluate Their Roster

    AEW Releases Multiple Stars As They Evaluate Their Roster

    All Elite Wrestling has a loaded roster of talent. Sadly, there isn’t room for everyone on the company’s five hours of weekly television shows. Now, the company has made a decision to release five on-screen talents.

    AEW doesn’t release many talents, but it appears that they are doing just that. SEScoops has learned that the following individuals have been released from AEW: The Boys, Dasha Gonzolaz, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl, Anthony Henry, Gravity, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J.

    AEW Releases 

    PW Insider reports that AEW has released the Tate Twins (Dalton Castle’s Boys), Anthony Henry, Dasha Fuentes, and Stu Grayson. The company is said to be reviewing its roster and making cuts for the overall benefit of both the company and its talent. 

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Twiter/X that AEW has released a few more stars in Jora Johl, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J.

    Parker Boudreaux’s AEW Release

    Parker Boudreaux recently made headlines when he showed up in AAA, but it was reported he was still under AEW contract. 

    His last appearance in AEW was on March 3, 2023, in a tag team match alongside Swerve Strickland against Naturally Limitless on AEW Rampage. Since then, the 26-year-old hasn’t made any appearances on Tony Khan’s television shows.

    Stu Grayson’s Time in AEW

    Stu Grayson had two stints with AEW. He was with the company from 2019 to 2022. He had a second run in AEW that started in 2023, but now that is over.

    Stu Grayson, along with Evil Uno, made a surprising debut as part of The Dark Order at AEW Double or Nothing on May 25, 2019. They kept going, and the Dark Order later evolved from that point.

    Grayson’s contract expired on May 2, 2022, after both parties failed to reach a renewal agreement. He did some things on the indies, but that time away from AEW didn’t last long.

    Grayson remained connected to The Dark Order, making a cameo appearance on the October 14 episode of Rampage. In a backstage segment, he highlighted the group’s inability to visit his native Canada without his presence. Eventually, Grayson was re-signed and returned to action on the March 15, 2023, episode of Dynamite, marking his comeback to AEW.

    We will have to see if Stu Grayson makes another return to AEW later on. Right now, it appears that he is off on his own once again.

    Other Released Talent

    It was later reported that Dalton Castle’s Boys, The Tate Twins, were released. They were featured on ROH content, and alongside Castle. Anthony Henry, who was a standout performer with a lot of potential, was also released.

    Dasha Gonzalez, who appeared as backstage interviewers in WWE as Dasha Fuentes, was also released. Her usage on television was diminished when Renee Paquette came in, but it was still a surprise to see her let go. She was used as ring announcer, but she was sadly part of the cut list. 

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we get additional updates. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

  • AEW Felt ‘Betrayed’ When CM Punk Visited WWE Raw Backstage In Chicago

    AEW Felt ‘Betrayed’ When CM Punk Visited WWE Raw Backstage In Chicago

    AEW and CM Punk’s working relationship wasn’t on the greatest of terms for a while, up to his eventual release. It seems that showing up to see some friends at WWE RAW wasn’t something they liked at all.

    CM Punk recently told Areil Helwani anything he wanted to know about the past few years of his career. That included retelling the story about how he ended up backstage at WWE RAW in April 2023, and how AEW felt a certain way about things afterward.

    AEW Felt Betrayed By CM Punk

    CM Punk showed up backstage at WWE RAW while he was still under contract. RAW happened to be in Chicago, but his stay backstage didn’t last long before he was thrown out. AEW was not happy with the situation at all.

    While speaking to Ariel Helwani, CM Punk said that it was Bayley who extended the invitation for him to attend RAW while they were in Chicago. Then, he said, it didn’t take long before Vince McMahon called in and had him ejected from the backstage area.

    “I went to visit people, I’m the old-timer in the business and there’s a show in town. I wasn’t trying to get a job or anything, I literally just to say hi to Bayley and a few other people.”

    Punk was then asked if anyone from AEW had issues with him visiting RAW while he was still under contract. He confirmed that was the case, and they felt “betrayed” on top of it.

    “Oh yeah [people in AEW were mad] … I think the word ‘betrayed’ was used, I was like, ‘alright man.’ As a company you’re allowing people to go on other company’s television shows to do things — I went backstage to say hi to friends. Two completely different things. So, if you’re gonna be mad about it, okay.”

    CM Punk’s Road Back To WWE

    CM Punk did make his return to AEW, but it was short-lived. He was released after that Brawl In situation went down with Jack Perry, an experience he also spoke about in detail with Helwani.

    WWE fans were shocked to see Punk return during the 2023 Survivor Series event in Chicago. Both WWE fans and fellow Superstars welcomed Punk home after that. Vince McMahon had nothing to do with that return, and Punk said that less than 10 people knew he was returning to the company. He signed his new contract and went straight out to the live crowd.

    Punk is currently injured, and his arm was in its brace for the interview. He is working out without the assistance of that device, so hopefully his in-ring return will come sooner than later.

    SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from the pro wrestling world. You never know what will break next, but we will be here with the headlines you need.

  • CM Punk Has “Nothing to Hide” Over AEW Brawl Out, Says Tony Khan Is Not a Real Boss

    CM Punk Has “Nothing to Hide” Over AEW Brawl Out, Says Tony Khan Is Not a Real Boss

    CM Punk may have “nothing to hide” regarding what transpired backstage at AEW All Out 2022 but regrets appearing on the media scrum after the pay-per-view. 

    At the September 2022 event, CM Punk captured his second AEW World Championship, besting Jon Moxley in the show’s main event. After the show, Punk would shoot on several members of the AEW roster. Backstage, Punk, Ace Steel, The Elite, and others would participate in a backstage fight that resulted in all parties being suspended.

    CM Punk on Brawl Out

    On the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Punk was asked for information about the infamous backstage fight. While Punk felt like he couldn’t discuss the matter in detail, he made clear that he has nothing to hide. 

    “I don’t think I can [talk about it] but I didn’t have to sign an NDA for anything I did wrong… I have nothing to hide and I don’t give a s***.”

    When asked if he regrets how things went down, Punk said he wishes things had gone differently. The two-time former AEW World Champion added that the idea of these press conferences in wrestling is not his style.

    “I think you can go back and be like ‘Well I wish I never did the scrum.’ Scrums are stupid anyway. Yeah, those things were really cringe.”

    CM Punk on Tony Khan

    One year on from being brought into AEW by Tony Khan, Brawl Out would forever change Punk’s relationship with Khan. In the interview, Punk didn’t hold back in his evaluation of the AEW President. 

    “He’s not a boss. He’s a nice guy. And I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company. But it’s not my company. I’m an outsider.”

    Punk added that the last time he spoke to Khan was at AEW All In following his backstage fight with Jack Perry. After the fight, Punk faced Samoa Joe in the opening match of the main show. Punk said that he walked into the match knowing it’d be his last AEW match and made clear he quit the company.

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