AEW’s Kenny Omega was recently dealt another ‘roadblock’ in his recovery from diverticulitis which required the Canadian wrestler to go under the knife. The former AEW World Champion has been out of action for months, after disclosing in December 2023 that he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis.
“It’s been really touch and go. I was feeling great for a week or two. When you feel terrible, a week or two feels like a long time… For two weeks, I was feeling great.”
Omega then added that after this period of feeling great, he required emergency treatment.
“I ran into a bit of a roadblock and I had to get some emergency treatment again. Well, I wouldn’t say it’s two steps forward, two steps back, but maybe it’s one and a half steps back.”
What’s Next?
While Omega would love to be back in the ring tomorrow, he explained during the stream that he can’t answer as to when he’ll be back in the ring. The former AEW World Champion added that he doesn’t want to get back in the ring until he’s healed and feels he can perform at the high-level fans expect from him.
This week’s episode of AEW Collision was an action-packed show as the promotion continued forward following this week’s season premiere of Dynamite.
AEW Collision was taped following the most recent episode of Dynamite, which served as the season premiere of AEW programming. This marked the debut of a new stage (which marked the return of the tunnels) as well as a new color scheme.
Dynamite saw the debut of Kazuchika Okada who established himself as a heel by attacking Eddie Kingston and aligning himself with the Young Bucks. It had been reported for some time that Okada was going to debut on the show, with Tony Khan promising something huge in the days leading up to Dynamite.
AEW Collision Spoilers [4/9/2024]
Here are the spoiler results for this week’s AEW Collision:
The House of Black defeated Mark Briscoe & Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett in a Street Fight
Mistico defeated Angelico
Bryan Danielson defeated Shane Taylor. After the match, Will Ospreay came out to confront Danielson. The American Dragon challenged Ospreay to a match at AEW Dynasty to which Ospreay agreed.
The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada defeated Jon Cruz & Liam Gray & Adrian Alonis. Eddie Kingston tried to attack the Bucks and Okada but was overpowered. Penta and then PAC hit the ring, setting up a six-man tag for Big Business on March 13.
Mariah May defeated Trish Adora. Toni Storm came out and awarded May a “Toni Award” but Deonna Purrazzo attacked Storm. May made the save.
Nick Wayne defeated Adam Priest. Christian Cage ripped up a masked fan’s sign. The fan attacked Cage and unmasked as Adam Copeland.
Tony Schiavone interviewed FTR in the ring about the tournament to crown the AEW Tag Team Champions. FTR said they want to be the first-ever three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions. The Infantry came out and said they want to be champions before everyone shook hands.
Lionheart Chris Jericho defeated CMLL’s Titan with the Walls of Jericho. The Gates of Agony attacked Jericho but Hook made the save with a Singapore Cane.
AEW is hoping for some big attendence numbers for Big Business next week, but how are sales going in Boston?
WrestleTix on X notoriously keeps tabs on what WWE and AEW are doing at live events and AEW has a whopper of an event next week in place of Dynamite with Big Business.
According to the account, the TD Garden, which is home to the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtcis, is set to hold 7,800 and the tickets currently distributed are 7,004, meaning there are 796 tickets still available.
AEW Dynamite: Big Bu$iness Wed • Mar 13 • 7:30 PM TD Garden, Boston, MA
Available Tickets: 796 Current Setup: 7,800 Tickets Distributed: 7,004
?+108 since the last update (3 days ago) ?Days until show: 6 ?7/19/2023 Dynamite: Blood & Guts 8,956 ?Sections 14 & 145… pic.twitter.com/12HMT9fY9p
For reference, the last time the TD Garden hosted AEW was for Blood & Guts back in July and that set-up was made for a bigger crowd, with 8,956 attending.
With less than a week remaining, it remains to be seen if AEW will reach it’s goal of sales, but if one were to go by the sales over the past three days, AEW may only sell just over 200 more tickets.
What’s On Tap For AEW Big Business
Whether AEW reaches it’s goal or not for Big Business, the card is becoming quite stacked for the show. Darby Allin will square off against Jay White in singles competition and not only that, but a World Title match is set to go down. Wardlow is cashing in his scramble victory from AEW Revolution to challenge Samoa Joe.
Those may be the only matches announced for the moment, but Tony Khan is basically telegraphing the much-anticipated debut of Mercedes Mone. It’s also likely that we’ll have one or two World Tag Team Title tournament matches.
AEW’s quest to present the strongest roster possible took a big step forward on Wednesday in Atlanta when Kazuchika Okada made his debut. He is now a heel alongside The Young Bucks, and he’s making a ton of money for his services.
Tony Khan is known to throw out huge money for people he wants. According to a new report, Okada is making around $4.5 million per year under his new three-year AEW deal.
Okada’s AEW Deal
During the March 6th episode of AEW Dynamite, Kazuchika Okada made a significant appearance, joining a confrontation involving AEW Triple Crown champion Eddie Kingston and the Young Bucks, who also hold executive roles within AEW.
According to reports from Tokyo Sports, Kazuchika Okada has signed a three-year deal with AEW, estimated to be worth two billion yen over the contract’s duration, roughly equivalent to $4.5 million USD per year.
In an unexpected twist, Okada didn’t support Kingston as anticipated. Instead, he surprised the audience by betraying the Triple Crown champion and aligning himself with Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, becoming the latest member of The Elite faction.
What’s Next For Okada in AEW
Okada has been a heel before, and now it appears that he will have some fun with the Young Bucks. As we previously reported, Tony Khan has been planning this for months.
It is also reported that Okada is moving to the United States. He will also be with AEW full time from now on.
Kazuchika Okada will be on a full-time AEW deal and is planning to relocate to the United States, Fightful Select has learned.
— FightfulSelect.com! Exclusive Pro Wrestling News (@FightfulSelect) March 7, 2024
WWE was in the running for Okada, but he picked AEW instead. The money was better in the Land of All Elite. Only time will tell how Tony Khan goes about getting his money’s worth.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and many more in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates.
AEW just had a successful season premiere for Dynamite. They are also bringing in some big names, but it seems that one notable member of the crew is no longer around. Kevin Kelly is no longer listed on the company’s roster.
All Elite Wrestling and one of its announcers seem to have parted ways. This comes not too long after Kevin Kelly went on an unhinged rant on Twitter/X about how he was being sabotaged in the company.
Kevin Kelly’s AEW Status
Fans noticed on Thursday that Kevin Kelly is absent from the AEW roster page. While this could potentially be an error on the promotion’s part, it suggests Kelly’s departure from the company.
It has not been 100% confirmed that he is gone from the company. That being said, being removed from their roster page was a pretty clear hint that this is the case.
Kevin Kelly has been removed from the AEW roster page. We're working to find out more
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) March 7, 2024
Kelly’s AEW Tenure
Kelly began his time with AEW last June as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Collision program on TNT, alongside Nigel McGuinness. He remained a fixture on the program until recently, although he was notably absent from last Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view.
Before joining AEW, Kelly served as a backstage interviewer for WWE before transitioning to announcing roles for ROH and later NJPW.
Kevin Kelly has been associated with several wrestling promotions, including WWE, ROH, and NJPW. His recent replacement on AEW commentary has led to controversy, with Kelly expressing dissatisfaction and pointing fingers at a specific individual.
In that rant, he shoveled a lot of shade on Ian Riccaboni as he said, “When you go out of your way to intentionally mischaracterize my raising awareness of the global horrors of child trafficking to a fringe conspiracy theory that everyone knows is bullsh*t in order to hurt my career and standing in the industry, that at the very least is libelous.”
Jim Ross can buy all the cowboy hats he wants thanks to his AEW salary, which the Hall of Famer says far surpasses anything he made during his WWE career.
Ross joined AEW in 2019, immediately lending a sense of credability and the upstart promotion a sense of legitimacy. Since then, he has called the action for some of the promotion’s top matches. JR was on hand when Chris Jericho became the first AEW World Champion that same year with his All Out victory over ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. JR recently returned to the desk after an absence caused by health issues to call Sting’s final match.
JR’s Lucrative AEW Deal
Earlier this week, Ross revealed that he had signed a brand new deal with AEW and that his previous one had been set to expire in February. JR didn’t share details of the new deal but admitted it was “probably the quickest and easiest negotiation I have ever done.”
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer disclosed more about JR’s new AEW deal. Meltzer explained that Ross is paid very well for his role in AEW and while he commentates less in AEW than he did in WWE, he’s earning much more.
”He’s paid really well. He makes more money in AEW as an announcer than he ever made in WWE. It’s a great, great deal.”
Ross is hoping to commentate more following his return at AEW Revolution. The wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer has unfortunately had multiple stints off of TV due to injuries and his battle with skin cancer.
AEW and WWE were both interested in Kazuchika Okada’s services, but it was Tony Khan who pulled down the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Now Okada is a heel in AEW alongside the Young Bucks, and they are off to the races.
Although AEW didn’t really hype Okada’s impending debut, they had time to do so. For whatever reason, they declined to tease this huge moment in company history, so fans didn’t know that this week’s episode, a week before Big Business, would be anything special.
Tony Khan’s Plan for Okada
Kazuchika Okada shocked the pro wrestling world when he finally debuted for AEW during the March 6th episode in Atlanta. This was a huge surprise, but it was also something they had in the pipeline for a while.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer remarked that Tony Khan had this plan in place for Okada months ago. It was still a secret, but the plan was certainly in place.
“The Young Bucks’ segment with Okada, that has been known for — not by me — but it has been known by the Young Bucks and Okada and Tony Khan for literally months. It was Tony Khan’s idea to do this a long time ago, like it was the show after Revolution.”
It was noted that they could have announced that the Young Bucks had a big surprise weeks ago. For some reason, they didn’t announce that the Bucks had any kind of surprise until the day of the show. That is when Okada rumors started really churning, but this was the plan for a long time.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else going on in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more details as additional updates are made available.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Thursday, March 7. AEW Dynamite was last night and Okada debuted. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.
– Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara’s team is not happening anymore after The Spanish God’s suspension.
– Lufisto dropped a lengthy post on Twitter/X, where she claimed that companies have not booked her because they want to keep a good relationship with AEW.
MY USA VISA COMING TO AN END
(Long text, sorry)
On August 23, 2024, my O1A visa that allows me to work as a performer and producer in the field of professional wrestling will expire.
Since US immigration has all the documentation that proves that I’m eligible for such a… pic.twitter.com/p51Ft2fawv
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.
Pro wrestling legend Sting recently shared some unforgettable pictures from AEW Revolution 2024 ahead of his final match.
‘The Icon’ recently bid adieu to the squared circle at AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view where he competed in his final match, alongside tag team partner Darby Allin. It was nothing but a fitting tribute to his legendary career which spanned decades.
During the match, Sting’s sons also got involved. Pro wrestling legends Ric Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat couldn’t help but involve themselves as well. Ultimately, Sting and Darby Allin were triumphant and with the win, ‘The Icon’ ended his AEW career undefeated.
Sting reflects on the memorable night at AEW Revolution
Taking to Twitter/ X, Sting shared some backstage pictures from the event. He went on to reflect on his final match at AEW Revolution. He claimed that he had hoped that the night would be memorable for the fans it was a night he would never forget. He also thanked the AEW staffs and all the fellow wrestlers. He also thanked the audience.
I had hoped #AEWRevolution would be a memorable night for the fans, but it was a night that I personally will never forget.
Thank you to all the wrestlers. Thank you to all the @AEW staff. Thank you to Greensboro. And thank you to the fans, one and all!
With Sting’s retirement, it’s the end of a memorable chapter in pro wrestling history. His immense contribution to pro wrestling will resonate for the time to come and fans will cherish the beautiful memories ‘The Icon’ has scripted during his decorated career.
AEW star Will Ospreay recently came up with a heart-touching gesture as he paid tribute to the late Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman on this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite.
The wrestling world was recently saddened as Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman tragically passed away at the age of 26 in December 2023. His final match took place in June last year and he had successfully retained his Resurgence Arthouse Championship.
Will Ospreay honors Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman
Will Ospreay headlined last night’s AEW Dynamite against ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher. During the match, ‘The Aerial Assassin’ decided to honor Mad Kurt.
It was nothing but a touching gesture as he danced and dabbed in the ring, paying homage to Mad Kurt in the process. The crowd certainly recognized the value of this heartfelt moment.
The hard-fought bout saw some intense action with both Ospreay and Fletcher showcasing their talent. At the end of the match, it was Will Ospreay, who emerged victorious by pinning Fletcher with his signature move, the Hidden Blade.
Following the match, he displayed sporting spirit and showed respect to his opponent. Don Callis joined the celebration but it was short-lived as it was interrupted by none other than The Blackpool Combat Club’s Bryan Danielson
Danielson confronted Ospreay, leading to a staredown that has created a buzz. This staredown left the fans speculating about their future storyline. Fans are wondering what Danielson has to do with Ospreay. We will have to wait and see as the drama unfolds.
What does Bryan Danielson want with Will Ospreay?!
AEW’s most recent pay-per-view was attended by 16,118 fans, according to Venues Now. This is up significantly from the previous year’s event, which saw 9,000 gather in San Francisco’s Chase Center.
This year’s event was the highest-attended AEW Revolution pay-per-view in history. It was the highest-attended AEW pay-per-view since last year’s record-breaking All In event inside London’s Wembley Stadium.
AEW Revolution 2024 Gate
Last weekend’s show generated a gate of over $1 million, another huge win for Tony Khan’s first promotion. The average ticket price was $55 for the pay-per-view.
On-Site Purchases
OVG Hospitality’s food and beverage per capita spending averaged at $19, excluding suites, resulting in $306,242 in concessions revenue. In terms of merchandise, the average amount per attendee was $21.64 and was said to be largely driven by Sting’s final match in the main event. This resulted in approximately $349,000 in gross sales.
Nearly all merchandise items sold out. The report stated that the commercial performance was at the higher end for family-oriented shows and more in line with the revenue generated by concerts
Kenny Omega is not so impressed after The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) fired him from The Elite.
‘The Cleaner’ is currently out of action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis. However, The Young Bucks don’t care about it. During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, EVPs The Young Bucks addressed the fans and went on to speak about one of their old friends, Kenny Omega.
While Omega recuperates from diverticulitis, The Young Bucks raised questions about his absence as he has been missing dates which they think have baseless reasons. After that, they announced Omega has been fired from his position in The Elite.
Taking to his Twitter/X account, Kenny Omega posted his picture from a match in which his facial expression doesn’t look too impressed. He didn’t add any caption as the image was self-explanatory.
Omega was diagnosed with Diverticulitis following his match with Ethan Page last year. The former AEW World Champion was hospitalized immediately after the match. Omega was set to team up with Chris Jericho at AEW Worlds End last December but that match had to be nixed off due to Omega’s absence.
We had previously reported that Omega has a long road ahead for recovery. Well, his condition is bad enough that surgery could be risky at the time and a decision of the surgery hasn’t been made
We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Kenny Omega. We at SEScoops wish him a speedy recovery.
Players of AEW Fight Forever can now bring the Big Swing, European Uppercuts, and more to the game with the inclusion of Claudio Castagnoli as DLC.
First announced in 2020, AEW Fight Forever is the promotion’s first console video game follows on from the company’s mobile games ‘AEW Elite: General Manager‘ and ‘AEW Casino: Double or Nothing.’ Fight Forever’s development would take longer than many fans expected, before hitting shelves and online stores in June of last year.
Giant Swing in the Ring
In a YouTube video, it was confirmed that the newest DLC will bring Claudio Castagnoli to the popular game. The Swiss wrestler narrates over footage of himself in the game to a remix of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.
The Blackpool Combat Club member mentions that he is coming to the game with a bunch of new skins for characters as well as the rare ‘Gold Attire.’ This unique attire is available for all playable characters but can only be unlocked by winning the AEW World Championship 20 times in the game.
AEW Fight Forever’s Roster
Many fans weren’t happy when AEW Fight Forever was released that the playable character roster was noticeably smaller than expected (and far smaller than WWE’s 2K games.)
Kazuchika Okada’s arrival in All Elite Wrestling has had the wrestling world talking following this week’s edition of Dynamite.
On the most recent edition of AEW Dynamite, the Young Bucks were furious following their loss to Sting & Darby Allin at AEW Revolution 2024. The EVPs exercised their authority by suspending ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and firing Kenny Omega.
AEW President Tony Khan took great pleasure in response to a tweet alleging that Okada was set to debut for WWE in January of this year as part of the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
Khan would also confirm Okada’s status by sharing the All Elite graphic while adding that the Rainmaker is a ‘business partner’ of Matthew and Nicholas Jackson.
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) March 7, 2024
TNA Wrestling, who have often made use of Search Engine Optimization, shared a video of Okada taking on Generation Me (the future Young Bucks) during a TNA Xplosion match from 2010.
Check out Kazuchika Okada and Homicide vs. Generation Me from Xplosion in 2010.
Lex Luger was one of several wrestling legends who were able to attend Sting’s final match and had a blast at the event. On a recent edition of the Busted Open Radio podcast, Luger made it clear that WWE had no issue with him attending, as long as he opted to keep off of the show.
“WWE is classy. They said you can go and everything, just don’t be on camera or be a part of the match. It was an incredible evening. A wonderful sendoff.”
“I love him to death but damn, he’s a different animal bro.”
Luger was similarly amazed by the work of the former AEW TNT Champion and said that Allin’s attempt to climb Mt. Everest later this month is “unbelievable.”
The Young Bucks are living it up as heels, and this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite was no different. Coming off their loss to Sting and Darby Allin at AEW Revolution, they took credit for retiring Sting. Then they took care of some business on live television.
Hangman Page beat up some referees after he failed to win the AEW World Title at Revolution. Kenny Omega has not been on AEW television for a while due to suffering from a bout with diverticulitis. It seems that the Young Bucks don’t care about their excuses, because they still laid down punishments for their former stablemates.
The Young Bucks Speak
During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, The Young Bucks seized the spotlight in the ring, stepping up to address the audience in their roles as EVPs. Their purpose was clear: to convey their stance on Hangman Page’s recent altercation with AEW officials during Revolution, and this resulted in his suspension. However, their message extended beyond this initial incident to another one of their old friends: Kenny Omega.
The Young Bucks redirected their attention to Kenny Omega. They raised concerns about his absence from scheduled appearances, attributing it to purportedly baseless reasons. It’s worth noting that Omega is currently in the process of recuperating from diverticulitis. Nevertheless, in a bold move, they proceeded to announce Omega’s termination from his position within The Elite.
It should be noted that The Young Bucks said “The Elite” and not “AEW.” So, this wasn’t a termination from the actual company. Only time will tell how this plays out.
This is when Eddie Kingston came down to play the part of a babyface trying to take on the massive heel EVPs. That didn’t turn out too well for him, and he was jumped.
AEW has their eye on several people who could really do numbers for the company. It was reported last month that Tony Khan beat out WWE’s offer for Kazuchika Okada, and this week finally saw The Rainmaker’s debut, and he has a very Elite role.
Kazuchika Okada made his big return to AEW television, and this time he was not under NJPW contract. Now, Okada is All Elite, and this was a big surprise.
AEW’s Big Debut
During AEW Dynamite this week, The Young Bucks took the microphone in the ring, and they cut a promo as EVPs. They had something to say about Hangman Page assaulting AEW officials at Revolution, and he was suspended. That was only the beginning.
The Young Bucks then turned their focus to Kenny Omega. They said that he has missed all of his dates recently for no reason. Of course, Omega is still recovering from diverticulitis. Then they fired Omega.
Eddie Kingston then came out and he started something with The Bucks. This was followed by Nicholas and Matthew Jackson ganging up on Kingston. Suddenly, Kazuchika Okada’s music hit.
This was a massive shock as The Rainmaker made his way to the ring. Suddenly, it was very clear that he was not a babyface. Okada turned his aggression toward Kingston, and then The Young Bucks announced that he is the newest member of The Elite.
It turns out that Omega is out of The Elite, and Okada is in. The segment ended with a shocked crowd as the newest member of the AEW roster posed in the ring.
The Young Bucks and Okada got to be close friends while they were all being misused in TNA Wrestling years ago. Now, they have a chance to work with each other again.
WWE tried to get Okada, but AEW offered him a better deal. Now, he will get to do his thing in Tony Khan’s company. We will have to see what is next for him after linking up with The Young Bucks.
SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is available.
AEW has lost a few people in recent memory, and others are reportedly on their way to the company. Now, we know that Jim Ross is not leaving the Land of All Elite.
Jim Ross is not leaving AEW. He signed a brand-new deal with the company. This was not a renewal, but a full new contract, and he seems very pleased with things.
Jim Ross’ New AEW Contract
During the latest episode of Grilling JR, Ross revealed that he has inked a new deal with AEW, as his previous contract was due to expire on February 14. He also commented on how smooth the whole process was.
“We wrote a new deal. We wrote a completely new deal. No extension. New contract. It was probably the quickest and easiest negotiation I have ever done in my career of 50 years. That’s all because of Tony Khan’s commitment to me as a broadcaster. He’s always been a fan of my work, which helps your cause when your boss is a fan of your work. We got a new deal.”
AEW may lose some people in the coming months, as Matt Hardy’s contract is up. We will have to see how everything pans out, but the landscape of Tony Khan’s company will not be losing JR.
What’s Next
Jim Ross is a WWE Hall of Famer who gave decades of his life to the pro wrestling business. He’s held positions all over the business as well, and now he will continue with AEW as an announcer for a long time to come.
Although Ross is not used as much as he once was with AEW, he seems to be content with what he is given. We know that JR isn’t ready to hang up his hat just yet, and this new deal with AEW will make sure of that.
SEScoops will have additional information on this story if it is made available.
AEW has lost a few people in recent memory, but they are also picking up a few stars as well. It seems that Matt Hardy’s time in AEW may be numbered at this point, as his deal is set to expire this month.
Matt Hardy recently made headlines when he showed his displeasure about how Sammy Guevara injured Jeff Hardy during their match on Rampage. Now, Matt’s contract is set to run out long before Jeff’s.
Matt Hardy’s Contract Situation
Sean Ross Sapp revealed on Fightful Select that Matt Hardy’s current contract with AEW is due to expire in March.
Initially signed in March 2020, Hardy’s deal was originally intended to align with his brother Jeff Hardy’s contract length. However, due to various factors such as injuries and inactivity, adjustments were made, resulting in an extension of Matt’s contract duration.
It was noted that there have been discussions between the two sides about a new deal. At this time, it is unclear how far along those talks are, and how likely it is that a deal will be arranged.
Matt Hardy’s Time in AEW
Despite his lengthy tenure in the wrestling industry, the 49-year-old Hardy has seen limited in-ring action in 2024, with only one match under his belt thus far. However, his involvement in 2023 was more consistent, with over 40 matches both in and out of AEW.
Hardy’s wrestling career spans three decades, dating back to his matches against notable opponents such as Undertaker, IRS, and Razor Ramon in 1994. We will have to see what he does next, but his days in the Land of All Elite may be numbered.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, as additional information is made available.
With this being Sting’s final match, there were plenty of talks during the planning process, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. It is noted that everyone involved, including Tony Khan, felt it was very important for Sting to win the match, though the Icon himself disagreed. During the post-show media scrum, Sting admitted that he had some resistance to winning his last match and ending his career as a champion.
Reasons For the Finish
Sting wanted to lose so that he could give the major moment to the Young Bucks, in a sign of selflessness from the notoriously giving Icon. However, Khan and the Bucks believed that Sting deserved to go out on top and everyone agreed that the show called for a happy ending that would be best for AEW.
The report adds that the commentary team was not told what to expect and only a small group knew of the finish to the match in advance.
Tony Khan has a lot of plans for AEW, and that includes bringing in even more talent. He could have plans to debut someone this week, and it might break the pro wrestling world wide open.
Kazuchika Okada is reportedly on his way to AEW, and that debut may happen tonight. A new report says that he is in the United States, and only time will tell if tonight’s AEW Dynamite is his landing pad.
Major Debut on the Horizon
A major name is expected to make their full-time debut with the company, although details remain undisclosed. Tony Khan has hinted at exciting plans for AEW fans in the coming weeks, suggesting significant developments on the horizon.
According to PW Insider, former IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada recently traveled to Los Angeles and is currently in the United States. It is widely speculated that Okada will be present at tonight’s Dynamite episode in Atlanta, potentially signaling a significant moment for the promotion.
Additionally, there are expectations for the debut of Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, in Boston next week for the company’s Big Business special. With these developments on the horizon, anticipation is high for tonight’s Dynamite episode and the future direction of AEW.
AEW Dynamite For 3/6
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite promises to be eventful, with several notable announcements and developments anticipated. Among the highlights are scheduled matches such as Riho vs. Kris Statlander and Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher. Moreover, The Young Bucks have teased a “Huge Announcement,” adding to the intrigue of the evening.
They also added Hook vs Brian Cage for the FTW Title to the show in the afternoon. More matches should be expected as we approach the two-hour program.
SEScoops will have more coverage of AEW Dynamite, and everything else in the pro wrestling world. Check back often for more updates!
A new era of AEW Dynamite begins tonight on TBS. With Revolution 2024 in the history books, All Elite Wrestling rolls through Duluth, Georgia for two back-to-back nights of action at the Gas South Arena. After Dynamite goes off the air, they’ll take matches for Fridays Rampage. Thursday night, they’ll tape Saturday’s Collision.
The March 6, 2024 edition of Dynamite is being billed as a ‘Season Premiere’ and will feature a new logo, a new stage and new on-screen graphics.
New Logo and Graphics
AEW has been dropping hints about the new look for AEW Dynamite on television and on social media. First, it was the new logo:
At Revolution, they showed an on-screen graphic for tonight’s showdown between Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher, featuring the new Dynamite logo:
AEW Dynamite Preview (3/6):
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
Kris Statlander vs. Riho
Plus, fallout from Sunday’s AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view.
New Stage and Theme Music
AEW Dynamite has an all-new look for Spring 2024
Dynamite got a new stage as well, including the return of the “tunnels” that fans loved so much about the original Dynamite set. If AEW is looking to recapture the “feeling” of the company’s best times, this fresh coat of paint is a great start.
Furthermore, we’ve heard talk that AEW composer Mikey Rukus has crafted a rock-based song that could be used as new theme music for the flagship show.
AEW has a packed roster full of talent, but Tony Khan has never announced a hiring freeze. It’s anyone’s guess who TK may bring back next to insert some extra energy into the situation. Lio Rush seems open to the idea of having another run in the Land of All Elite.
Lio Rush, although his AEW exit was sudden and a bit controversial, will not say “no” to the idea of returning to Tony Khan’s company. Things just didn’t pan out the last time around.
Lio Rush in AEW
Lio Rush’s time with the promotion was brief, as he became a free agent following the expiration of his contract with AEW in February 2022. This took place shortly after he voiced his opposition to Tony Khan’s controversial tweet regarding Big Swole.
Rush garnered attention amid AEW’s controversy involving Big Swole. The latter criticized the company’s treatment of Black talent at the forefront and expressed disappointment in the lack of representation of individuals who resemble her among top executives behind the scenes.
He later made it very clear on Twitter/X that his contract was up on February 14, 2022, and he was off to his next venture.
Lio Rush Speaks On Possible AEW Return
While speaking to WrestlingNews.co, Lio Rush clarified that his tenure in AEW ended prematurely because it simply didn’t pan out. Regardless of the specific reasons, he acknowledged that sometimes in life, circumstances don’t align for various individuals and situations.
“It was cut short because it was cut short. I mean, it just didn’t work out. I say this quite often every time that it is brought up. Yeah, it just didn’t work out and it, but regardless of what those reasons are, things just don’t work out. You know, it’s like that in life for many things and for many people. If it was a different time period, if it was a different situation, if it was, yeah, all of these what ifs, but they weren’t what ifs. It was what was going on in the present time and in that time, things just didn’t work out.”
Lio Rush went on to say, “So you know, not to say that you’ll never see me there again or not to say that the relationship is bad or anything like that. I think it was just a period in time that it just didn’t work out for both parties, and we had to split ways.”
What’s Next For Lio Rush
Lio is still working on music, and he’s not retired from the ring either. He continues to impress whenever he’s booked. Hopefully, he can get back on a major television company again someday, because at 29-years-old, he still has plenty of time.
We will have to see if AEW brings Lio Rush back to the company. Tony Khan has a loaded locker room already at this point, but you never know what can happen in pro wrestling.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as additional updates are available. We also invite you to check out our Daily Drop for all the biggest headlines, tidbits, and other exclusive notes throughout the pro wrestling world!
AEW hasn’t seen Jack Perry compete since All In London, where he battled Hook in a controversial Zero Hour match. He may have been suspended due to the fight that broke out with CM Punk after that match, but Perry is now back in the ring.
Jack Perry has finally returned to the wrestling ring after a prolonged absence. This did not happen in an AEW ring, as the former Jungle Boy wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Jack Perry has showed up in mainland NJPW making his debut in the New Japan Cup… as literally a SCAPEGOAT.
Perry’s disappearance from the spotlight followed a highly publicized altercation with CM Punk during the AEW All In event last August. The fallout from the incident led to Perry’s suspension, while Punk was released from the company.
On a somewhat related note, CM Punk has since made a triumphant return to WWE, capturing the entire pro wrestling world’s attention with his historic comeback at Survivor Series. However, Punk’s comeback has been short-lived, as he is currently sidelined due to injury.
Jack Perry’s NJPW Match
Perry’s return to the wrestling scene went down during the NJPW Battle in the Valley event, where he made a dramatic entrance by attacking Shota Umino. In a symbolic gesture, Perry tore up an AEW contract and adorned himself with an armband bearing the word “Scapegoat.”
Making his debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Perry faced off against Shota Umino in a match as part of the New Japan Cup Tournament. Perry won that match as well, and now he will continue to make an impact in the tournament.
Following the match, Perry aligned himself with The House of Torture faction, adding another layer of intrigue to his comeback story. We will have to see what Perry does next, but it may not be in AEW.
Despite his successful return to NJPW, it remains uncertain when Perry will step back into the ring for All Elite Wrestling. Reports surfaced last year that his AEW suspension was already over, but he did not come back. Only time will tell what happens in this situation, but we will keep a close eye on his situation here at SEScoops.
Jack Perry took the help of Ren Narita to beat Shooter, EVIL and co. then came out to offer Jack Perry a spot in House of Torture. Jack then accepted the shirt and joined the faction.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Wednesday, March 6h. NXT Roadblock was last night. There is a lot of news to get to, so let’s get to it.
– John Cena revealed that WWE had plans for him to turn heel in his WrestleMania 28 program against The Rock. He even had new ring gear and music made for the change.
– An old WWE legend has been debunked. During A&E’s Biography on Sgt. Slaughter, it was confirmed that WrestleMania 7’s venue move happened because of poor ticket sales. I wasn’t due to more salacious reasons, like Slaughter has said for years.
– Sting’s son, Garrett, commented on playing his role at AEW Revolution. He wrote on his YouTube channel as an update: “Alright, it’s time for an update and a bit of a reveal. Last night, my dad, Sting, retired from his completely legendary pro wrestling career. My brother and I got to play a small part in his final match as younger versions of his character. I’ve got the American outfit, my brother has the red (or, Surfer Sting and Wolfpack Sting for any wrestling fans!) It was absolutely insane, and by far the coolest night of my entire life. The admiration and love from the fans toward my dad made me even more proud of him than I already am. So, this is obviously why I’ve been a bit absent the past month or so. I was largely focused on looking as good as possible for the show, so lots of hours that would have been spent grinding Destiny were instead spent in the gym haha. All that to say, thanks for being patient. I can’t wait to upload again soon, and I’ll for sure try to do a recap video that goes more in-depth on this weekend.”
– Sting’s other son, Steven, also commented on his appearance. He did so with a humorous post on Twitter/X where he expressed his inner thoughts before nailing that Stinger Splash at AEW Revolution.
“Do not shame your dad, do not shame your dad, do not shame your dad”
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.
