SEScoops

Category: AEW

  • Eddie Kingston Doesn’t Regret His “Whatever” Attitude to WWE Tryout

    AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston may not have made it big in WWE, but the Mad King isn’t going to lose sleep over it. 

    Before AEW was launched in 2019, Kingston had an ultimately unsuccessful try out with WWE. Speaking to Inside the Ropes recently, Kingston recalled his ‘attitude’ when stepping foot in the Performance Center. 

    “A friend of mine hooked me up with it… but I went there with this attitude of ‘whatever f**k it, I don’t really care.’ I didn’t really care, I was like ‘they’re not looking at me anyway.”

    Kingston added that at the time, WWE were more interested in hiring female talent for the Mae Young Classic. The all-female tournament meant Kingston walked in believing he had slim chances of being signed. 

    Another WWE Offer

    Kingston didn’t receive a WWE talent contract, but the company saw something in him, as he was approached about being a coach. During the interview, Kingston explained that he turned the offer down as the role didn’t suit him. Kingston also recalled being approached by his old friend Kevin Owens and how that made a lot of people take notice. 

    “As soon as they saw me say hello to Kevin Owens and he gave me a hug, and a couple of other people that were there, next thing you know the next day everybody was my friend.”

    No Regrets

    Looking back on his try out, Kingston had no issue with how things went. He explained that he already had a number of independent bookings on the horizon that would have paid him good money. Things would work out for Kingston, who in addition to his AEW gold in the NJPW Strong Champion and the reigning ROH World Champion. 

    H/T – Wrestling Inc

  • Daily Drop (3/10): Brock Lesnar Returns To Roster, Interesting Note On The Rock’s Official WWE Photos

    Daily Drop (3/10): Brock Lesnar Returns To Roster, Interesting Note On The Rock’s Official WWE Photos

    Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Sunday, March 10. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at.

    Days until WrestleMania 40: 27

    Before we get going, let’s talk about Vince McMahon. He just sold a ton of TKO stock, but how much does he really still own? We put out a nice article that breaks everything down and puts it into perspective. You can check that out here.

    WWE:

    – Brock Lesnar is back on the WWE roster page. We have no idea what this means, but it certainly isn’t a terrible sign for his status with the company.

    – I ran an exclusive last night about WWE’s new direction for Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits’ stable, and you can check that out here.

    – On another interesting note, WWE.com’s official gallery didn’t include any photo of The Rock last week. When I checked yesterday morning, there were still no Rock photos, as if the company skipped them on purpose. As of 3/9/24 in the afternoon, photos of The Rock from the 3/8 SmackDown are now up in the gallery, but they are out of order and tacked onto the end. I was told that this likely had something to do with photos of Dwayne Johnson needing special approval before they can be posted. It is certainly an interesting situation.

    – Former WWE Superstars Emma and Madcap Moss got married.

    – CM Punk was spotted at an indie show in Chicago.

    – Bayley re-shared that video of Paramore giving her permission to use one of their songs at WrestleMania. This was an old clip where Bayley slid into one of their live streams during the pandemic to request this song usage. Hayley Williams was more than thrilled to give Bayley permission years ago, and that hasn’t changed. We’ll see if Triple H gives Bayley that amazing entrance she wants at Mania this year.

    – The Rock may put his grandmother into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

    AEW:

    – Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay was added to the AEW Dynasty card for April 21st. That match should be a banger.

    – There was a bit of a stir during Collision this week as PAC returned, and he stood right up to Okada.

    – MJF pulled out of a big fan convention in Lexington, Kentucky. He was replaced by Swerve Strickland during the event.

    – Amanda Huber had something to say about The Rock calling Cody Rhodes a mistake, and then Ava, The Rock’s daughter, chimed in to clap back to her. It’s worth a look, and you can check it out here.

    – AEW had a different original plan for Sting’s retirement match at Revolution.

    – The company also announced the start of their new World Tag Team Tournament.

    Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
  • AEW Had A Different Original Plan For Sting’s Final Entrance At Revolution 2024

    AEW Had A Different Original Plan For Sting’s Final Entrance At Revolution 2024

    AEW rolled out the red carpet for Sting at Revolution 2024, but there was a different plan for the Icon’s final entrance as a professional wrestler. 

    In the main event of AEW’s pay-per-view, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. 

    After the show, Sting spoke passionately to the fans in attendance and was grateful for all the support he has been shown during his retirement tour and throughout his professional wrestling career. 

    A Different Entrance for Sting

    For Sting’s entrance, the legend’s sons Steven and Garrett Borden accompanied their father to the ring. Steven was dressed in the red and black of nWo Wolfpac era Sting while Garrett wore the Surfer Sting attire worn at Great American Bash 1990. 

    The presence of the brothers made the match extra special but this entrance was nearly different. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Steven explained that he was originally going to portray the black and white ‘Crow Sting’ fans are most accustomed to. 

    “The plan actually until the very end… was for me to just do Crow Sting. So Garrett was going to be Surfer, I was going to be Crow…. There was never contention over who was going to do what.”

    Steven added that it was Darby Allin who pointed out that Sting was already in his black-and-white attire and believed the Revolution show proved the perfect time to mix things up. 

    “Darby actually made a point to my dad maybe a week or so before the match going, ‘well, you know, don’t you think if Garrett’s going to be Surfer, Steven’s going to be Crow, and then you’re also going to be Crow this is an opportunity to mix it up a little bit?’”

  • AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament to Begin on 3/16 Collision

    AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament to Begin on 3/16 Collision

    The tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions will officially begin on next week’s episode of Collision, it has been confirmed. 

    At AEW Revolution 2024, Sting and Darby Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships. This match marked the final bout of Sting’s legendary career. During the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan announced that the titles had been vacated. This decision was reiterated during the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite in which Allin surrendered his AEW World Tag Team Championship. 

    AEW World Tag Titles Tournament

    It has been confirmed that the Young Bucks will be a part of the tournament, as well as Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta. On this week’s episode of AEW Collision, two-time former AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR also officially declared for the tournament. Tony Schiavone added that the tournament will begin in one week’s time on the March 16, episode of Collision. 

    FTR’s promo would be interrupted by The Infantry. The pairing of Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean also alluded to potentially being in the tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions. 

    The AEW World Tag Team Titles

    FTR and the Young Bucks share the record for the most AEW World Tag Team title reigns with two each. The Bucks hold the record for the longest individual reign, with their first lasting an impressive 302 days. The Bucks also hold the distinction for being the lightest champions, weighing in collectively at 350lbs. 

    Sting and Darby Allin’s 25-day reign with the titles is the shortest in AEW history and the Icon holds the distinction of being the oldest champion (at 64.) Four decades his junior, Jungle Boy became the youngest champion at 24 when he and Luchasaurus won the gold in January 2022. 

  • AEW Dynasty: Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay Confirmed For St Louis Pay-Per-View

    AEW Dynasty: Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay Confirmed For St Louis Pay-Per-View

    AEW is adding another pay-per-view to their schedule this year, and April 21st will see a big show in St Louis. Dynasty is coming at fans, and now there is a massive match scheduled for the show.

    Bryan Danielson stood up to Will Ospreay during the conclusion of AEW Dynamite this week. It was expected that the two will throw down, and now we know that April 21st is the date in St Louis.

    AEW Dynasty Match Gets Booked

    Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay are set to clash in the ring for the first time. During Saturday’s Collision, Ospreay officially issued a challenge to Danielson for a match at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. Danielson promptly accepted, and AEW swiftly confirmed the match.

    Danielson secured victory against Shane Taylor in the opening match of Collision when Ospreay made his presence known. Ospreay mentioned that he anticipated Danielson had something to discuss with him after Danielson entered the ring during the conclusion of Dynamite. 

    Danielson then informed Ospreay that he’s heard of him being hailed as the best in the world and wants to afford him the opportunity to validate that claim. The legend of Ospreay obviously traveled around the world. Now, he will lock up in St Louis.

    Will Ospreay in AEW

    Ospreay made his AEW debut at Revolution last weekend, triumphing over Konosuke Takeshita. He followed this with another victory against Kyle Fletcher on AEW Dynamite. Following the latter match, Danielson confronted Ospreay in the ring, setting the stage for their impending clash.

    Ospreay turned down WWE interest in order to lock down a deal with AEW. He recently commented that he was a big banged up after his first tour with Tony Khan’s company, but he went home for a little rest.

    Like Ospreay, Bryan Danielson also competed at Revolution, where he suffered a defeat to Eddie Kingston. In accordance with the match’s stipulations, Danielson extended his hand to Kingston in a display of sportsmanship following his loss. We will have to see how Danielson vs Ospreay pans out at Dynasty.

    SEScoops will have more on this story and many more from all over the pro wrestling word. Keep checking back for more information.

  • Ex WWE Star Making AEW Return At Dynamite Big Business On 3/15

    AEW fans are well aware of the fact that there are a number of stars who are out of action for one reason or another. The long wait for PAC’s return to AEW television is now over, and he’s in line for a big match.

    PAC returned to AEW television this week during Collision. He did so by squaring off with Kazuchika Okada. Now, he is set to compete in a huge six-man tag team match at AEW Big Business on March 13th.

    PAC’s AEW Return

    PAC is set to return to in-ring action at Big Business. During Saturday’s Collision, he made his comeback, assisting Penta El Zero Miedo and Eddie Kingston against opponents like The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada. Following this, PAC issued a challenge to the newest iteration of The Elite for a trios match scheduled for this Wednesday’s Big Business event.

    A video teasing PAC’s return aired during the AEW Revolution Zero Hour pre-show last Sunday, marking the end of his months-long absence from AEW television since July. Fans knew it wouldn’t be long until he showed up again after that teaser video dropped.

    More Backstory on PAC’s Return Situation  & Big Business

    The Young Bucks made waves on Dynamite last Wednesday by revealing Hangman Page’s suspension without pay and Kenny Omega’s dismissal from The Elite. They introduced Okada as the newest member, who attacked Eddie Kingston and aligned with Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, solidifying his new heel persona in AEW.

    Additionally, a tag team match featuring Chris Jericho and Hook against the Gates of Agony was confirmed for Big Business. Hook came to Jericho’s aid on Collision after members of the Mogul Embassy targeted Jericho following his match with Titan.

    The updated Big Business lineup includes expectations for Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defending against Wardlow, Darby Allin facing Jay White, The Elite versus Eddie Kingston, PAC, and Penta El Zero Miedo, and a matchup between Hook & Chris Jericho and The Gates of Agony. Plus, a showdown between Willow Nightingale and Riho is also anticipated.

    AEW Big Business Dynamite 3/15 Card: 

    • Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is expected
    • AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Wardlow
    • Darby Allin vs. Jay White
    • The Elite (The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Eddie Kingston, PAC, and Penta El Zero Miedo
    • Hook & Chris Jericho vs. The Gates of Agony
    • Willow Nightingale vs. Riho
  • How Close Was Kazuchika Okada To Signing With WWE?

    How Close Was Kazuchika Okada To Signing With WWE?

    Kazuchika Okada has been one of several big-name free agents AEW has locked down and Tony Khan is hoping it helps signifies a new era for the company, but could he have gone to WWE?

    A new report from Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated states that there was a real consideration on Okada’s behalf to ink a deal with WWE. He especially loved the idea of being apart of WrestleMania, however, there were several factors coming to to play with him signing with AEW instead.

    Okada has been friends with The Young Bucks for nearly a decade-and-a-half so that obviously came into play. Another added element is that Okada was not expected to relocate to the United States if he did sign with AEW.

    Not only that, but The Rainmaker believes that he’ll be given the greatest chance at succeeding in AEW and has a lot of trust in AEW President Tony Khan.

    Okada made his greatly-anticipated debut for AEW this past week on AEW Dynamite and did so in a memorable way, swerving the fans with an immediate heel turn. 

    After The Young Bucks made several announcements following their loss at AEW Revolution, Eddie Kingston came out to confront the brothers. Matt and Nick Jackson began attacking Eddie when The Rainmaker entered, making it seem like he was there to help Kingston. However, he joined in on the assault and aligned with The Bucks, officially becoming a member of the Elite.

    With him attacking Kingston and indicating an interest in his AEW Continental Championship, one would likely believe that it could be Okada vs. Kingston at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis, MO.

  • MJF Pulls Out of Major Fan Convention Amid AEW Absence

    MJF Pulls Out of Major Fan Convention Amid AEW Absence

    MJF hasn’t been seen on AEW television in a while. As fans wait for his return to television, it seems that some fans who were expecting to see him in Lexington, Kentucky were a bit bummed out by having the former AEW World Champion pull out of an appearance.

    It seems that MJF pulled out of a major fan event for the Lexington Toy & Comic Con recently. AEW was able to come up with a substitution with Swerve Strickland.

    MJF’s Missed Event

    Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that MJF opted out of another comic con appearance this week, marking a notable absence from the event lineup. In response, Swerve Strickland stepped in to fill the vacancy at the upcoming Lexington Toy & Comic Con in Lexington this weekend.

    It was not noted if MJF gave any reason for him pulling out of the event. Fans will get a chance to meet Swerve instead, so it’s a good trade. Still, some fans were probably a bit upset that The Salt of the Earth pulled out.

    MJF’s Last Match

    On December 30, 2023, at All Elite Wrestling’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view event held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, USA, MJF faced off against Samoa Joe in a high-stakes battle for the AEW World Title. In a match lasting 17 minutes and 52 seconds, Samoa Joe emerged victorious, clinching the championship title.

    Adam Cole also revealed himself as The Devil, and that put a huge nail in the coffin for his partnership with the former NXT Champion.

    This outcome marked a significant shift in the AEW landscape, with MJF conceding the title to Samoa Joe in a memorable showdown. That was also MJF’s last match to date. Only time will tell when he will re-emerge.

    SEScoops will have more information on MJF’s status if new details are made available. Keep checking back for more on the stories that you need from the pro wrestling world.

  • Kevin Von Erich Credits Tony Khan: “Every Company Needs A Guy Like That”

    Kevin Von Erich Credits Tony Khan: “Every Company Needs A Guy Like That”

    Kevin Von Erich is all too familiar with what it takes to run a wrestling promotion and the wrestling legend credits Tony Khan for a strong ability to hit the reset button.

    Speaking on the A2TheK, Von Erich talked about what he thought of AEW, who happened to showcase his sons, Ross and Marshall on their programming.

    “I love those people. It’s a great company. I know this isn’t anything, but the catering was great! What good food. The people are really nice.

    “Tony Khan is something else. Every company needs a guy like that. Somebody that loves the business. That can look at the business like it was his first day every morning. That’s that guy. I have a lot of admiration for him. The wrestlers, all great, old friends,”

    The Von Erichs starting appearing on AEW programming back when The Iron Claw was being released in theaters. Marshall and Ross actutally recently appeared on an episode of AEW Rampage as they teamed with Dustin Rhodes in triple tag action.

    The Von Erichs would certainly be a great fit for the upcoming AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament. Already in the mix is Orange Cassidy and Trent Barretta as well as the AEW EVPs, The Young Bucks, who inserted themselves into the equation. Both Ross and Marshall are former MLW World Tag Team Champions as they actually defeated Richard Holliday and MJF to become the champions. 

    If you haven’t gotten to see The Iron Claw, we have several reviews on the site, including a recent write-up from B.J. Bethel.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • The Rock’s Daughter Ava Takes on Amanda Huber’s Remark After SmackDown with Fierce Response

    The Rock’s Daughter Ava Takes on Amanda Huber’s Remark After SmackDown with Fierce Response

    The Rock is going all out when it comes to being a big time heel this time around in WWE. He took a shot at Cody Rhodes this week that drew a lot of attention, and it cut deep for some people.

    There was a bit of outrage when The Rock dropped his line about Cody Rhodes being a “mistake,” because of the age gap between him and his siblings. Amanda Huber made a crack at this line as well, and Dwayne Johnson’s own daughter read the message.

    Ava Claps Back

    Ava is an NXT Superstar now, and he is currently serving as the brand’s General Manager. She was formerly with The Schism, but that faction disbanded as their members found new places in the pro wrestling world. The Rock’s daughter was watching her father on SmackDown this week, and she also paid attention to social media.

    Amanda Huber fired back at this line from The Rock about Cody being a mistake. She said, “Talking about an age gap when your own daughters are almost 20 years apart is a weird choice.”

    When Ava saw that post on Twitter/X, she only commented back to say, “What a mark,” with a re-post. It seems that she isn’t going to let this negative backlash shake her. 

    Ava Received Death Threats Over The Rock’s WrestleMania Story

    Ava is back on Twitter/X after leaving the platform. She actually deactivated her account for a minute after heat on her father’s WWE return was so severe that she started getting death threats. 

    The Rock actually commented on Ava getting death threats, so it was a serious situation. He said it was a “crazy” situation. Thankfully, she is back on social media to chime in on matters like this. 

    WrestleMania 40 Plans & Beyond

    WWE confirmed this week that WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock and Roman Reigns take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of night 1 this year. If the heels win, then it’s Bloodline Rules in the night two Mania main event. However, if Cody and Seth can defeat Rock and Roman, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside during night 2. 

    It is also rumored that The Rock may wrestle again, next time in Saudi Arabia. So, he may still get that singles match against Roman Reigns after all, or he may just have to take Cody Rhodes up on that one-on-one challenge. 

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates on the stories you need.

  • Daily Drop (3/9): WWE Makes History With Logan Paul’s Prime Deal, Backlash Over The Rock’s SmackDown Promo

    Daily Drop (3/9): WWE Makes History With Logan Paul’s Prime Deal, Backlash Over The Rock’s SmackDown Promo

    Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Saturday, March 9. WWE SmackDown was last night, and we have AEW Collision tonight. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at.

    Days until WrestleMania 40: 28

    Before we get started, we have to address Ricky Stanicky. John Cena’s new movie, directed by Peter Farrelly, is a brilliant R-rated comedy. If you loved movies like There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene, then this is a movie for you. It dropped on Amazon Prime a couple of days ago, and we have a great review of the film on SEScoops.

    WWE:

    – WWE’s YouTube subscribers hit 100 million. The Rock posted about this as he said the channel is “Only the 10th channel globally to ever do so! Helluva milestone that deserves the well-earned flowers of recognition.”

    – The Rock really upset a lot of people by calling Cody Rhodes “a mistake” on SmackDown this week. Tons of people have reacted online.

    – Rey Mysterio will return to WWE SmackDown next week for their show in Memphis.

    – Speaking of SmackDown in Memphis, WWE is reportedly planning a Rock Concert. So, we should expect The Rock to break out some of his musical chops next week.

    – In other news about The Rock. It was reported that he has a big hand in picking the WWE Hall of Fame inductees this year. It was said that the intention of those choices will be made clear eventually. We will have to wait and see how that pans out.

    – WWE and Prime’s new deal is the largest in company history. This will secure center ring placement for the first time for any advertiser as well. The exact details and money numbers of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely they will come out when the next financial earnings report drops.

    AEW:

    – Will Ospreay said he’s a bit banged up after his first AEW tour. He’s on his way back to the UK now to rest up and spend some time at home with his family,

    – Tony Schiavone confirmed on his What Happened When podcast that Tony Khan did ask Martha Hart’s permission before Sting’s final descent from the rafters. He said, “Tony [Tony Khan] did call Martha Hart, I was there when he fucking called her. He told me, ‘Go let Sting, Darby, and the Bucks know that Martha Hart and I have talked and she has given it her blessing.’ I went and told them what the communication was. Would not have done it without first talking to Martha Hart.”

    – Santana made his first remarks since his AEW departure. He dropped a length text graphic in a post on Twitter/X. You can check that out below.

    – Matt Hardy took a moment to address his current AEW contract situation.

    – Former WWE Superstar Elias, now going as Elijah, said to For The Love of Wrestling that he would like to go to NJPW, but also, “The same with AEW, or TNA, I mean I love the idea. I have plenty of ideas about how to evolve my character and take it to the next step, and I feel like you need a TV audience in order to show that. So we’ll have to see what kind of opportunities come my way and which way we go, but all three of them are very appealing.”

    AEW Collision March 9th, 2024 Lineup

    • Atlanta Street Fight: Mark Briscoe, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. House of Black’s Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews
    • Chris Jericho vs. CMLL star Titan
    • Bryan Danielson vs. Shane Taylor
    • Mistico vs. Angelico
    • Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks in trios action
    • Mariah May will wrestle this week
    • Toni Storm presents the first-ever Toni Award

    Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

  • “The Best is Yet to Come!” Mike Santana Grateful to Fans & Ortiz After AEW Exit

    Mike Santana has shared his gratitude to the fans, Ortiz, and others following the Inner Circle alum’s exit from AEW.

    Earlier this month, . The tag-team specialist had been with the company since 2019 and had been a regular fixture of programming during the days of the Inner Circle. 

    Mike Santana is Grateful

    Taking to Twitter, Santana reflected on his exit from AEW. The wrestler was immensely grateful for the opportunities he received in the company. 

    ”Took a few days to reflect and I can’t tell you how truly blessed and grateful I feel. It’s been 5 years full of ups and downs, but above all it taught me so much about myself and this business. I’m thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of history at the ground level. I can say that I’ll forever be a part of that legacy right at day one. But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself. We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks.

    You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in “When one door closes, a bigger door opens”, and im so excited for what the future holds for me. With that being said, I want to thank God and my father for continuing to guide me. My family for their endless support.”

    ”All the fans who have backed me endlessly no matter what. To Ortiz, for the years. And AEW for the knowledge and opportunity.

    “I TOLD YOU THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

    While Santana is gone from AEW, fans can still find him in other promotions. He is the current House of Glory World Champion. 

  • Who Made the Call for Kazuchika Okada to Debut As A Heel in AEW?

    Who Made the Call for Kazuchika Okada to Debut As A Heel in AEW?

    Kazuchika Okada is in AEW and is a heel, and this creative direction came from those at the very top of the company. 

    The Rainmaker made his much-anticipated debut as an AEW wrestler on this week’s edition of Dynamite. While it has been rumored that he’d be joining WWE and potentially starting in NXT, it was reported last month that Okada had signed with AEW. His arrival on Dynamite came less than a month after Okada finished his lengthy career with New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

    Kazuchika Okada Joins The Elite

    Okada’s debut this week saw him tease aligning with Eddie Kingston who was on the show to confront the Young Bucks. Instead, Okada attacked Kingston, certifying his role as a heel and shook hands with the AEW EVPs. With Kenny Omega fired as a member of The Elite during the same segment, Okada has seemingly replaced the absent former World Champion. 

    There was no hesitation in bringing in Okada as a heel, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. All parties involved, that being the Bucks, Okada, and Tony Khan agreed that being a heel was the better fit, especially given his original big run in Japan being as a playboy heel. The idea that he should start as a heel came directly from Khan. Multiple sources confirmed that Okada has immense trust in the AEW President’s vision. 

    What’s Next?

    Okada competed in a six-man-tag at this week’s AEW Collision tapings, which will air tonight. SI reports that all indicators are that Okada will feud with Kenny Omega once the Canadian wrestler is ready to wrestle again. 

  • Matt Hardy Provides Clarity On His AEW Contract Situation

    Matt Hardy Provides Clarity On His AEW Contract Situation

    Is Matt Hardy’s time in AEW set to expire? The tag team legend addressed as much on the latest episode of his “Extreme Life” podcast.

    A report from Fightful surfaced this week that Hardy’s AEW contract was set to expire this Month and “Extreme Life” co-host Jon Alba asked Hardy if he’d like to address the report. Matt did give details about his current status with AEW and decided to have a little fun with fans while doing so.

    “It didn’t come from me because no one had known anything about it so once again, Sean Ross Sapp breaking the news, right? Yes, it is coming up in March and we’ve spoke about it, we’ve talked about it and I guess we’ll see what happens. So we’ll see, if you listen to the podcast just give me your feedback, tell me what you think I should do next. I’m a person of the people, I listen to the people.”

    Alba calls Hardy the consummate teammate and Hardy says that’s what he’s about.

    “If I work with you and you’re taking care of me, I’m gonna fly that flag high and with pride, that’s what I do, man and that’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s what being a wrestler is.”

    Hardy mentioned how close he is with The Young Bucks and how much he likes Tony Khan as a person too.

    “I love AEW. I’m cool with staying with AEW. I really enjoy the locker room there, I enjoy the vibe there, but if that’s not what happens then that’s not what happens and life goes on. It’s all good.”

    Hardy first showed up in AEW in 2020 under his “broken” persona, but has gone through several persona changes since, including being the manipulative “Big Money” Matt Hardy alongside Private Party and eventually reuniting with his brother Jeff as The Hardys.

    Please credit “The Extreme Life” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • Kenny Omega Draws A Line Between Himself, Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada

    Kenny Omega Draws A Line Between Himself, Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada

    Kenny Omega knows his role in AEW and it’s something that he believes separates him from Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, but will The Cleaner make a return to the ring?

    While on his Twitch stream, Omega happened to give an update on his recovery after his diverticulitis diagnosis, something that had him very close to death’s door.

    “I would love to say, ‘Hey guys, I’m on track to coming back next week, next month, a half of year.’ I don’t have that confidence this time. When they’re explaining to me that I was 24 hours away from a terrible blood infection and possibly dying, this is like news to me. I’ve never heard of anything like that. ‘I wasn’t close to dying, are you kidding me? No way.’ The doctors are there to ensure my safety and educate me as to how important this is. I don’t want to talk out of my ass too much and say I’m going to for sure be back, and I’ll be back at a certain date or time because I don’t know. I will say, after watching Dynamite, and getting a feel of the lay of the land. If I can come back, I feel like I have to.”

    https://twitter.com/puroresuflow/status/1765901475715207217

    With the official AEW debuts of Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay, the athletic bar has been raised in AEW and Kenny hopes that he’ll still be able to show who runs the show in All Elite Wrestling.

    “I used to be that guy. I used to have that confidence, and now instead of being the guy that’s got a chip on his shoulder, it’s my job as the old guard to be the gatekeeper. You want to call yourself the best? F***ing prove it, b****. That’s what I’m here for.”

    From a storyline perspective, Kenny Omega isn’t quite “running the show” as fellow EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson have “fired” Kenny from his position this past Wednesday on Dynamite. Kenny caught wind of it and simply used a photo of himself to express his surprise.

    Omega has been advertised for AEW’s upcoming residence in Canada, but there is no word as to what he may be doing.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Banged Up: Will Ospreay Addresses Health Status After First AEW Tour

    Banged Up: Will Ospreay Addresses Health Status After First AEW Tour

    AEW brought in Will Ospreay as a big signing, but he had to wait out his NJPW contract. Now that he is a member of the Don Callis Family on AEW television, he is ready for what is next. That being said, it will take some bumps along the way.

    Will Ospreay addressed fans after his first tour with AEW. He is incredibly motivated to keep going, but he is still nursing some issues with his health. After all, his style has never been what anyone would consider easy on his body.

    Ospreay Addresses Health Status After First AEW Tour

    In a post on Twitter/X, Will Ospreay expressed gratitude as he wrapped up his inaugural tour with AEW. He conveyed appreciation for the warm reception he received and extended thanks to everyone behind the scenes for welcoming him into their environment. 

    Despite feeling physically worn out, he emphasized his unwavering dedication. Now, he looks forward to returning home to his family and relishing the rewards of his hard work, reaffirming his belief in AEW.

    And thus my first tour under the @AEW banner has come to an end. Thank you so much for such an overwhelming response. To everyone backstage thank you so much for allowing into the home you’ve built, I will cherish this place & treat it as my own. I’m banged up bad but my foot is still on the gas pedal. But now I’m gonna get on this flight home to my beautiful Mrs & step son and enjoy the fruits of my labour. I believe in AEW.

    What’s Next For Ospreay in AEW

    Will Ospreay is now a full-time talent for AEW. Tony Khan will likely use him for some big matches in the pipeline, and he already has one huge one in store. Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay’s face-to-face on AEW Dynamite this week was certainly a sign of things to come.

    Ospreay entered AEW as one of the best pro wrestlers on the globe. Now he will get a chance to prove himself in front of a fan base that might be full of people who haven’t seen everything he has in store for them yet.

    SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story in case there are any additional updates.

  • Dave Meltzer Disputes Report About Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Contract

    Dave Meltzer Disputes Report About Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Contract

    AEW was able to sign Kazuchika Okada to a three-year deal, and WWE had interest as well. After this blockbuster deal was confirmed, numbers started coming out. It seems that they are not what they seem to be.

    It was reported that Okada’s deal with AEW is worth $4.5 million per year for three years. Although this number might be something that WWE would offer a top star like Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar, that isn’t what Okada is bringing in.

    Okada’s AEW Deal

    It was previously reported that Okada is making 2 billion yen over a three-year deal. That would certainly place Okada on top of any company’s payroll.

    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that this report about Okada’s massive AEW deal is not correct. The actual numbers were not revealed, but they were said to be much lower in reality to what he is actually bringing in.

    Okada signed a three-year deal. Tokyo Sports reported Okada signed a three-year deal at 2 billion yen ($13.5 million) over the course of the period of the contract, or an average of $4.5 million annually, but that number is not accurate at all. The real number is considerably lower, but it was still a very large number that he signed for.

    What’s Next For Okada

    AEW booked Okada as a heel to join the Young Bucks as the newest member of The Elite. Kenny Omega was also fired in the process, which sets up an eventual match between the two old foes.

    Omega has no timetable for his return from diverticulitis yet. Okada will have to find other things to do in the meantime, but AEW has no shortage of opponents for The Rainmaker.

    It was reported that Okada is moving to the United States as part of his new AEW deal. He will also be a full-time performer for the company. Only time will tell how AEW books him in the weeks to come, but he certainly has the pro wrestling world’s interest.

    SEScoops will have more information on this story as additional details are made known. 

  • Sting’s Retirement: AEW Didn’t Even Ask WWE For Permission To Use Archival Footage

    Sting’s Retirement: AEW Didn’t Even Ask WWE For Permission To Use Archival Footage

    Sting gave everything he could during his last run in AEW. He was already a WWE Hall of Famer, but it seems that the company that owns a majority of the footage with his career wasn’t even asked to contribute.

    WWE bought WCW in 2001 for a meager fee. $4.2 million got WCW’s brand, intellectual property, and video library. Arguably, this was an amazing deal for Vince McMahon’s company. Even though WWE owns all that Sting footage, Tony Khan didn’t reach out to inquire about using any of it.

    Sting’s Final Match Footage

    Before the match started at AEW Revolution, a video featuring Sting aired, depicting him alone in an empty movie theater in full ring gear. The video showcased photos and clips from his career, but they were missing a lot of action. After all, footage from Mid South, Crockett Promotions, WCW, and WWE, mostly owned by WWE, was notably absent.

    Sting reacted to the clips, displaying shock at some of the recent stunts he had performed. Then Sting uttered, “It’s Showtime for the last time.”

    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE wasn’t asked about using any footage of Sting for AEW Revolution. In the past, AEW has let their talent appear as talking heads for a few WWE things, but Tony Khan’s company apparently didn’t even reach out about using footage of Sting for his retirement match.

    Many people wondered, given in the past Khan has allowed his talent to appear on WWE television to honor John Cena and at the Hall of Fame ceremonies, if WWE would reciprocate here. The answer is that we don’t know because WWE was never asked. There was also no TNA footage shown.

    The report also noted that, “Most of the footage shown was from New Japan Pro Wrestling, as from AEW and his lone appearance in Pro Wrestling NOAH when he & Allin & Great Muta teamed up in the last match Keiji Muto donned the Muta gimmick. Sting made it clear that would be his last time in the ring in Japan.”

    WWE Gave Flowers to Sting

    WWE has a lot of things going on, and they did give Sting his flowers during the RAW after Revolution. That being said, whenever Pat McAfee spoke about how great his match was, Michael Cole quickly steered things back into talking about the WWE action in the ring.

    SEScoops will have more on this story if there are additional updates. As always, keep checking back for the best comprehensive stories.

  • Fenix’s Comeback: First Post-Injury Match Booked Outside AEW

    Fenix’s Comeback: First Post-Injury Match Booked Outside AEW

    AEW has a few stars on the injury list, but it seems that Fenix’s time away from the ring is coming to an end. The Lucha Bro member has been booked for an event in May.

    Fenix has been missing from action for AEW since 2023, but he fought through some injuries to make that happen. He needed to take some time off, but he has now been booked for a May 5th event for HOG Wrestling.

    Fenix’s Return

    House of Glory is gearing up for another event on May 5th with the announcement of Cinco De Mayo at the NYC Arena. A notable addition to the lineup is AEW star Rey Fenix, who is set to grace the HOG stage for the event, streamed live on Fite+.

    Fenix’s opponent has not been revelaed for the show yet, but he will apparently be wrestling, which is a good sign for his recovery.

    Although he has been out of action since last year, Fenix has been trying hard to make his way back to the ring. It was reported in late January that his previous comments about returning soon were a bit exaggerated.

    Fenix’s Injury

    Fenix was dealing with a nagging injury for quite some time, leading to several months of absence from action. He sustained the injury during a four-way tag team match at AEW WrestleDream in Seattle. The match featured The Young Bucks, Lucha Brothers, The Gunns, and Orange Cassidy & Hook.

    During the match, Fenix was thrown into the barricades multiple times, prompting ringside medical attention and his subsequent removal from the match. This injury marked the end of his reign as AEW International Champion, which lasted only 20 days. His last match before getting sidelined was against Orange Cassidy on the October 10 episode of AEW Dynamite, where he lost the championship.

    HOG’s Upcoming Event

    Mark your calendars as tickets for this spectacular event go on sale today, March 8th, at 12 PM EST. HOG’s social media channels will provide additional updates on talent to be revealed in the weeks leading up to the event.

    Located in Jamaica, Queens, the NYC Arena, House of Glory will bring a big Cinco De Mayo event to life in New York City. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available regarding Fenix’s return to the ring.

  • AEW Suspension Fallout: Additional Ramifications Arise After Sammy Guevara’s Punishment

    AEW Suspension Fallout: Additional Ramifications Arise After Sammy Guevara’s Punishment

    AEW laid down a suspension for Sammy Guevara when after his botches top rope move on Jeff Hardy went viral. Hardy was injured, and there is a lot to unpack now.

    Guevara had plans in place for him in AEW, but that didn’t matter once this incident took place. Now, he is waiting on the sidelines, and that also leaves Chris Jericho without a partner.

    The Spanish God’s Suspension 

    Sammy Guevara’s suspension stemmed from an incident during a match on February 14, where Guevara accidentally broke Jeff Hardy’s nose with a knee strike. Despite Hardy not suffering a concussion, the match continued, contrary to proper protocol, leading to Guevara’s suspension. 

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the intricacies surrounding a proposed tag team involving Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega, which ultimately didn’t materialize. Omega was taken out of action thanks to diverticulitis, and then Jericho went back to Sammy Guevara as his partner. 

    Meltzer explained how the plan evolved to include Jericho teaming with Sammy Guevara for a tournament, only for it to be trashed by Guevara’s suspension. 

    Meltzer noted the dissatisfaction regarding the handling of the situation, emphasizing that medical professionals should have intervened to stop the match rather than leaving it to Guevara. Consequently, the partnership between Jericho and Guevara was abandoned, leaving Jericho to potentially team up with Hook instead.

    “In this situation, the doctors should’ve stopped the match, and it should not have been up to Sammy Guevara to take it home. And again, like what he was told, I mean, I guess whatever it was, the fact he did a GT H and nailed the guy with the knee after the concern of concussion was one of the reasons why it went the way it didn’t end up suspended. So anyway, yeah, so that was the deal with the Jericho and Guevara team is now out the window. So I guess it’s going to be Jericho and Hook.”

    What’s Next

    We will have to see how long Sammy Guevara’s suspension lasts. Since the length of Guevara’s time away from AEW is unclear, we will have to keep a close eye for his return.

    Jeff Hardy is trying to get cleared for an in-ring return. His brother, Matt Hardy, commented to say that this will be a slow process. 

    On another note, Matt’s AEW contract is set to expire soon. The Hardys were supposed to have contracts that ran out at the same time, but Jeff Hardy’s breaks from the company caused Tony Khan to pause his deal.

    SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are made available. 

  • Kevin Kelly Fired: AEW Cuts Collision Commentator Over Twitter Outburst

    Kevin Kelly Fired: AEW Cuts Collision Commentator Over Twitter Outburst

    Announcer Kevin Kelly has been fired by All Elite Wrestling following a series of tweets in which he shared frustrations within the company. 

    This news, as first reported by PWTorch, comes shortly after wrestling fans noticed that his profile was was removed from the roster page of the AEW website.

    Kelly was absent from Thursday’s AEW Collision tapings from Atlanta, which was another ominous sign about his ‘All Elite’ status. Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuiness called the action for the show, which airs Saturday night on TNT.

    Kelly’s Twitter Outburst

    Kelly Kelly’s posts on social media last weekend cost him his job, sources confirmed.  The commentator gained attention for his series of tweets in which he claimed his career was being sabotaged. 

    He added that ROH announced Ian Riccaboni had libeled him and that he was being “pushed aside” in Tony Khan’s promotion.

    You can read all about the ‘Twitter meltdown’ that precipitated the end of his stint working for Tony Khan:

    Kevin Kelly

    Kelly was brought to AEW last year to serve as the lead commentator for AEW Collision. His start in the company did not go well as he came across as being unfamiliar with AEW’s product and the history of the wrestlers. Within months of his arrival on Collision, Tony Schiavone was brought in to serve as lead play-by-play commentator though Kelly would remain at the desk. 

    Outside of AEW, Kevin Kelly worked for WWE from 1996 to 2003 and was present for the infamous ‘Pillman’s Got A Gun’ segment that nearly saw Monday Night Raw thrown off the air. Later on, he would be the subject of ridicule from The Rock and has been critical of the company’s corporate policies and creative direction since his release. 

    He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. His time with both of these promotions earned him a lot of favor prior to his signing with AEW last year.

  • Daily Drop (3/8): WWE Missing Top Stars From MITB Poster, AEW Sees Another Controversial Exit

    Daily Drop (3/8): WWE Missing Top Stars From MITB Poster, AEW Sees Another Controversial Exit

    Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Friday, March 8. We have a lot of stories to get into, so let’s not waste any more time!

    Days until WrestleMania 40: 29

    WWE:

    – Dominik Mysrterio married his long-time girlfriend. Interestingly enough, Dirty Dom was even booed during the reception.

    – Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes are both missing from the Money in the Bank poster. I was told that there is nothing to read into regarding Cody’s absence from the graphic.

    – Bianca Belair has received a ton of support after racist comments regarding her WWE 2K24 cover.

    – The location for WrestleMania 41 may have been accidentally slipped out there already as Minneapolis Minnesota.

    WWE SmackDown (3/8/24) Lineup so far:

    • Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross.
    • Logan Paul returns to Smackdown.
    • Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins to respond to Rock regarding WrestleMania challenge.

    AEW:

    – There is no timetable for Kenny Omega’s return to the company.

    – AEW is paying Okada $4.5 million per year on a three-year deal.

    – Kevin Kelly was removed from the AEW roster, and then he wasn’t around for Collision’s taping this week. It was later confirmed that Kelly has been fired.

    – Tony Khan has been planning Okada’s debut for some time now.

    AEW Rampage (3/8/24) Card:

    • Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs Kip Sabian & The Butcher
    • TBS Championship Match: Julia Hart (c) vs Robyn Renegade
    • Action Andretti vs Penta el Zero Miedo
    • Komander & Bryan Keith vs Private Party vs Top Flight

    Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

    • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
    • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
    • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
    • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
    • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
    • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
    • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
    • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

  • No Timetable for Kenny Omega’s Return Despite Being Advertised for Canada Taping

    Fans should not expect to see Kenny Omega back any time soon, despite the Cleaner being referenced on this week’s Dynamite. 

    The former AEW World Champion has been out of action since late 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis. This situation forced AEW to change plans as Omega and Chris Jericho had been in line for an AEW World Tag Title shot before the Cleaner’s hiatus. Instead, Jericho teamed with his Inner Circle alum Sammy Guevara in a losing effort.

    Kenny Omega Advertised

    In January, Omega was advertised for upcoming AEW Dynamite tapings that will take place this month in Toronto, Canada. While fans took this as a good sign, Tony Khan made clear that fans shouldn’t expect to see the Cleaner at the tapings when he spoke at the AEW Revolution 2024 media scrum. 

    “I don’t think it would be fair to create the expectation that Kenny Omega would be cleared by then… I don’t know the exact date.”

    Latest on Kenny Omega

    With that in mind, there is still no timetable as to when fans should expect Kenny Omega, according to Fightful Select. During this week’s AEW Dynamite, Omega was ‘fired’ as a member of The Elite and has been replaced by Kazuchika Okada. Fightful adds that the plan is for Okada’s inclusion in the Elite to set up Omega’s return and feud with the group. 

  • Rush Shares Family Tribute to Akira Toriyama After Dragon Ball Creator’s Death Aged 68

    AEW’s Rush has shared a touching scene in tribute to Akira Toriyama following the manga titan’s death this week at the age of 68.

    Toriyama suffered an acute subdural hematoma, which is a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio reported following his death. Toriyama is best known for creating manga hit Dragon Ball, which has spawned shows, movies, video games and more. The main series follows Goku and his efforts to collect the titular Dragon Balls to protect the Earth. 

    Rush’s Tribute

    Taking to Twitter, Rush shared that he had begun re-watching the series, this time with his new-born son. Rush was grateful to Toriyama for making him happy in his childhood and is grateful he can now share Dragon Ball with his son. 

    Pro-Wrestling and Dragon Ball

    Rush is hardly the only professional wrestler to have their life influenced by Toriyama and his hit manga series. For WrestleMania 32, the New Day donned armor similar to the Saiyan alien species from Dragon Ball. In 2020, Rhea Ripley wore a Vegeta-themed attire for her WrestleMania debut against Charlotte Flair in the crowd-less WWE Performance Center. 

    WWE Money in the Bank 2023 saw not one but two references to Dragon Ball. For her Women’s Tag Team Championship match, Ronda Rousey wore an attire based on Majin Vegeta, the darker version of the series staple. Zelina Vega, who has cosplayed several manga characters in the ring, wore an attire referencing series villain Frieza. The power of the Dragon Balls wasn’t with either Superstar as Rousey would lose her title match while Vega failed to capture the Women’s  Money in Bank briefcase.

  • Kevin Kelly Absent from 3/9 Collision Taping In Latest Sign of AEW Friction

    Kevin Kelly Absent from 3/9 Collision Taping In Latest Sign of AEW Friction

    Fans tuning into this week’s Collision will not be greeted by Kevin Kelly in the latest development in his issues with AEW. 

    Earlier this week, Kelly took to social media to claim that he was being sabotaged within the promotion. Kelly added that in AEW he is being “pushed aside” but that nobody is better than him as a broadcaster.

    The veteran broadcaster added that he had been libelled by ‘Ian’, believed to be Ian Riccaboni, a broadcaster for AEW, ROH, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He later stated that Ian’s attempts to tie Kelly to a”fringe conspiracy theory that everyone knows is bullsh*t” was libellous. 

    Missing AEW Collision

    Following his comments on social media, Kevin Kelly was removed from AEW’s roster section of its website. Many have taken this as a sign that his time with the company is ending, if it hasn’t already. 

    Now, there has been another sign of Kelly’s exit from the company. This week’s episode of AEW Collision was filmed following this past Wednesday’s live edition of Dynamite. Kelly did not appear at the Collision taping, leaving Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone to call the action as a duo. This is particularly alarming given that Kelly was hired to AEW last year with the explicit reason being for him to commentate on Collision. 

    Kevin Kelly

    Outside of AEW, Kevin Kelly worked for WWE from 1996 to 2003 and was present for the infamous ‘Pillman’s Got A Gun’ segment that nearly saw Monday Night Raw thrown off the air. Later on, he would be the subject of ridicule from The Rock and has been critical of the company’s corporate policies and creative direction since his release. He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling.