Category: AEW

  • Adam Cole to Explain Himself on 1/3 Episode of AEW Dynamite

    Adam Cole to Explain Himself on 1/3 Episode of AEW Dynamite

    Adam Cole will (hopefully) explain his actions at Worlds End during tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS. 

    At AEW Worlds End, MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. In the closing moments of the show, Adam Cole revealed himself as The Devil while Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow were his henchmen. In his first remarks after Worlds End, Cole tweeted that it was a new year and fans were seeing the real him. On Twitter, it was confirmed that Cole will speak on tonight’s show. 

    MJF is Missing

    One name fans shouldn’t expect to hear from tonight is MJF himself. The former AEW World Champion is reportedly taking time off to heal up from injuries. MJF acquired several injuries throughout his run as champion but reportedly insisted on seeing his reign to the end. MJF’s profile has been removed from AEW’s roster website, seemingly referencing MJF’s contract expiring on January 1. However, it is believed that MJF signed a lengthy new deal with AEW months ago. 

    AEW Dynamite – January 3

    Tonight’s show will see the triumphant return of Samoa Joe, fresh off his victory at Worlds End. The show will also see the AEW International Championship on the line as record-breaking champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Dante Martin. 

    Mariah May will also make her AEW in-ring debut during tonight’s edition of Dynamite. The British wrestler will face Queen Aminata. Swerve Strickland will take on Daniel Garcia while fans will hear from the two-time and new AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage. 

  • Andrade El Idolo Posts Touching Goodbye Message To AEW

    Andrade El Idolo Posts Touching Goodbye Message To AEW

    Andrade and Miro threw down at AEW Worlds End, and the Redeemer won that confrontation. That was also Andrade’s final match in AEW, as he put the former Rusev over on his way out. Now, Andrade has a message for those he is leaving behind in AEW.

    Andrade’s Message About His AEW Exit

    Andrade El Idolo has officially left AEW and made his sentiments public on X regarding his departure. He did so with a text graphic. In his statement, he relayed appreciation to the company, particularly singling out Tony Khan. 

    Andrade also mentioned several individuals by name, including Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Tazz, Tony Shiavone, Aubrey Edwards, Jerry Lynn, Will Hobbs, Hook, Eddie Kingston, Ricky Starks, Orange Cassidy, Thunder Rosa, Jack Perry (Jungle Boy), Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Sonjay Dutt, and many others.

    Andrade also addressed sharing the ring with people like Sting, PAC, Darby Allin, Jeff Hardy, Jay Lethal, and more. He had some great experiences in AEW, but now he is going onto the next phase of his life.

    “I want to thank you for this time that I belonged to the company @aew and above all to Tony khan I also want to say goodbye to all the talent, security people, cameramen, referees and everyone who works in the company for being part of my time in AEW. Kenny, young bucks, Tazz, Shiavone, Aubrey, Jerry, Hobbs, hook, Kingston, Ricky, Orange, thunder, jack Perry, Austin, Colten, Sonjay and many more that I can name, also how to forget all the Mexicans (todo el relajo) | enjoyed sharing the ring with STING, PAC, Darby, García, Jay and many more. I would have loved to face MOX, Page, Hobbs, Ricky, Dante, Cage, Dustin. Thank you AEW AND Thank you to all the fans for your support always. I wish you the best always!!!”

    Andrade’s Future In Pro Wrestling After AEW Exit

    Andrade El Idolo is expected to make a return to WWE at this point. His wife, Charlotte Flair, inked a new extension with the company, which is one of the biggest female contracts in pro wrestling history.

    WWE did not book Andrade el Idolo to return during the January 1st Day 1 RAW. There are other possible events for him to make that big debut at, especially with Triple H calling the shots.

  • Malakai Black Fires Back At A Fan Claiming He Refuses To Take Pins

    Malakai Black Fires Back At A Fan Claiming He Refuses To Take Pins

    AEW star Malakai Black recently fired back at a fan, who made bold claims regarding him not competing in singles matches. 

    The former NXT Champion has been leading The House of Black stable, which comprises of Brody King and Buddy Matthews since returning from injury in October last year. 

    Black had been recuperating with a slight calf tear and knee hyperextension which put him on the sidelines for several months. However, fans have noticed that Malakai Black has not been competing in singles matches for quite some time now which sparked a rumor.

    One of the fans on social media claimed that Black has not only refused to lose singles matches but he has prioritized other talent over himself. 

    Malakai Black responds

    Black couldn’t help but fire back at the fan and called him a “goofb**l” and said that the claim was “bull****” and the former Aleister Black made it clear that he has never refused to lose or put someone over.

    “Usually I don’t reply because these laughable takes from goofb*lls like this nerd is why this place is the equivalent of people opening their front doors and screaming their excrement laced opinions into the street, however: bull*****, never happened, isn’t a thing. Happy NY.”

    It is well noted that Black hasn’t competed in a singles match in over a year and it is something to think about. There were teases that he and Bryan Danielson would ignite a feud last year. However, AEW went in a different direction when Danielson suffered an injury. 

    It is unclear when Malakai Black will return to singles competition as he continues to compete in trios bouts with the other members of House of Black for the time being. In the past he has expressed his frustrations with the lack of singles matches in AEW. Read more below:

  • Ortiz Confirms Mike Santana Was Adamant About Breaking Up Their Tag Team

    Ortiz Confirms Mike Santana Was Adamant About Breaking Up Their Tag Team

    Mike Santana and Ortiz joined AEW in 2019, quickly becoming fixtures in the tag team division. Proud n Powerful had a lot of momentum coming into AEW as the former LAX, but that team is no longer a factor. 

    Why Mike Santana & Ortiz Split Up

    Unfortunately, Mike Santana and Ortiz’s relationship soured, leading to a permanent split. Last year, they made a surprising return but remained at odds. Aligning with the Blackpool Combat Club for the Stadium Stampede match at AEW All In, their partnership was short-lived. 

    Despite a feud that ended with Mike Santana winning on the October 25th Rampage, fans were disappointed they didn’t reunite for another run. The two are not going to reunite, from everything we can tell.

    The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast recently spoke to Ortiz, where his split with Santana came up. He made it clear that their team’s disbanding was totally Santana’s call.

    ”Unfortunately, it wasn’t the company’s call to split us (Santana & Ortiz). Me and Santana just couldn’t get it together personally and he was just very adamant about not working with me anymore. So, the company kind of had no choice but to split us up, right? So they’re like, ‘Okay, you’re just not gonna not tag. It doesn’t make any sense. Let’s at least make this make sense why you split.’”

    Mike Santana & Ortiz’s Future

    Mike Santana has been missing from AEW television since concluding his program with Ortiz. He remains part of AEW and continues to accept independent bookings. 

    The future of the former tag team is uncertain, but it appears that if a reunion is in the cards, then they have a lot of personal issues to work through first.

  • CM Punk is PW Tees/ShopAEW’s Best Seller of 2023, Jay Briscoe Takes Second, MJF at #3

    CM Punk is PW Tees/ShopAEW’s Best Seller of 2023, Jay Briscoe Takes Second, MJF at #3

    WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk proved to have quite the 2023, which saw the Best in the World become PW Tees number one best-selling wrestler. 

    Punk moved more merchandise on PW Tees and Shop AEW than any other wrestler, according to data from PW Tees themselves. Jay Briscoe, who passed away in January, took second place, with shirts being released in his memory. MJF, who lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at Worlds End, took third place. 

    You can check out the top 25 selling wrestlers on PW Tees below. 

    CM Punk in 2023

    Punk’s accolade is even more impressive when you consider that he spent the vast majority of 2023 not appearing on TV. Punk was suspended going into 2023 due to his role in the AEW All Out 2022 backstage brawl with The Elite. Punk was brought back to TV to be the main star of AEW Collision when the show launched in June

    Just two months after his return, however, Punk was again suspended from AEW, this time for his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In. A week after this incident, Punk would be released from AEW shortly before the All Out show in Chicago. Tony Khan stated that he was fearing for his life during Punk’s outburst backstage at Wembley Stadium

    With his ties to AEW well and truly burnt, Punk shockingly returned to WWE in November at Survivor Series. The following month, he would compete in his first WWE match in close to a decade, defeating Dominik Mysterio inside Madison Square Garden. 

  • Update on Mercedes Mone’s Next Move In Pro Wrestling

    Update on Mercedes Mone’s Next Move In Pro Wrestling

    Sasha Banks’ WWE walkout in May 2022 still stands as her swansong with the company. Although there was some hope that Mercedes Mone would come back to WWE, it appears that homecoming hit a snag.

    Mercedes Mone’s WWE Return is Reportedly Nixed

    Mercedes Mone and WWE were talking about a return for The Boss. Then, they hit a financial roadblock, as the two sides couldn’t come together when it came to money.

    It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone is no longer expected to make a WWE return. The expectation is that she will go somewhere else, and that will be very soon.

    AEW Is Expected to Get Mercedes Mone

    Now, a new report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select points to the idea that Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is now the most popular idea for her. 

    Those that we’ve spoken to expect her to land in All Elite Wrestling, though nobody could confirm she’s signed on the dotted line. Of late in both WWE and AEW, there have been instances – specifically with Will Ospreay and CM Punk – where the physical contracts were not signed until the day of their appearances with AEW and WWE respectively. One source claimed that they heard AEW and Mercedes were close to agreeing on terms, but said “it’s never official until it’s official.”

    Nothing is official until it actually happens, because pro wrestling contracts can come together in a hurry. AEW has lost a few notable names in recent memory, but bring in Mercedes Mone could be a massive boost for their roster.

  • AEW Exec Rafael Morffi Addresses His Departure, Talent Reactions

    AEW Exec Rafael Morffi Addresses His Departure, Talent Reactions

    Recent reports indicated that AEW’s Vice President of Live Events and Touring, Rafael Morffi, was set to leave the promotion after the Worlds End event on December 30. Morffi, one of AEW’s founding executives, was tasked with coordinating AEW live event tours, which included booking venues, local marketing, and other logistics. 

    Following his exit from AEW, Morffi is now expected to transition into a senior executive position with the Barclays Center in New York City, where he will be responsible for booking events in entertainment and sports. Morffi will also reportedly be working under the Brooklyn Nets’ owners as well. 

    In addition to AEW, Morffi is also known for his previous behind-the-scenes work in TNA Wrestling, WWE, and Tommy’s Dreamer House of Hardcore independent promotion. 

    Morffi Confirms His Exit, Sends Departing Message

    On December 31, Morffi confirmed his exit on X (formerly Twitter), posting a departing message directed to AEW President Tony Khan, as well AEW talent and staff.

    “Thank you @TonyKhan @AEW talent, staff. I’ll forever remember my time at #AEW fondly,” Morffi wrote. “2024 will be the start of a new era in my professional career. Been blessed with a wonderful opportunity. Excited to start this new journey & challenge soon. Happy New Year-stay safe & sound!”

    Multiple AEW stars have since responded to Morffi’s post, many of which expressed their congratulations and gratitude toward the former AEW’s Vice President of Live Events and Touring. 

    “Raf! Oh my goodness [crying emoji] we’ll miss you so much and all that you did for us all. Best of luck in this new chapter,” wrote Penelope Ford. “Happy New Year”

    “There’s some people that just bring comfort and familiarity when you walk into a room full of people and you were always that for me Raf. Love you Raf, and I’ll miss ya. I still owe ya a whiskey,” wrote Rebel.

    “Oh man. Had no idea! Thanks for always being such a legend Raf man, stay in touch,” Kib Sabian wrote.

    “Thank you for everything Raf! You will definitely be missed. I can’t thank you enough for how kind you were. Best of luck to you in your next chapter,” wrote Leyla Hirsch.

    “Omg you will be missed!! [red heart emoji],” Anna Jay wrote.

    Former AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa, Daniel Garcia, Diamante, Jon Silver, and many others also sent their positive regards to Morffi. 

  • Ric Flair Pressed On Fox Nation Over Apologizing For AEW Rampage Controversy

    Ric Flair Pressed On Fox Nation Over Apologizing For AEW Rampage Controversy

    Ric Flair created considerable buzz when he made his AEW debut. Despite his widespread respect in the industry, his stint in the company hasn’t been devoid of controversy.

    The Ric Flair AEW Rampage Controversy

    One incident that sparked controversy was Ric Flair’s appearance on AEW Rampage, where he made some eyebrow-raising remarks.

    A fan account from the AEW Rampage event noted “Flair invited all the women in the audience from ages 18-28 to meet him in his hotel room,” Ric Flair said via The Boulder on Twitter. “No boyfriends or husbands.”

    Ric Flair’s Apology

    The comment triggered a social media uproar, prompting Ric Flair to issue an apology and even express his willingness to step away from AEW.

    “I Am So Tired Of Hearing All This Negativity! I Don’t Need To Work, And I Don’t Need The Money. Can’t I Simply Enjoy Being By My Dear Friend Sting’s Side For The Next Few Months,” Ric Flair shared on social media. “Without So Much Hatred? I Know I’m Old, But That Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Enjoy Life! I Have Earned The Right To Do Whatever I Want & I’m Exactly Where I Want To Be! I Appreciate Everything Tony Khan, But I’m More Than Willing To Walk Away If I Am Embarrassing You And Your Company. All I Can Say Is I’m Sorry!”

    Backlash Over Ric Flair’s Reaction

    However, not everyone shares the sentiment that Flair should have apologized for his remarks. In a recent interview on FOX News, former WWE Superstar Tyrus offered robust opinions on The Nature Boy.

    Tyrus reminded Ric Flair of his legendary status in wrestling, emphasizing that Flair has forgotten more about the business than most will ever know. According to Tyrus, Flair stands among the last greats, and his mere presence can captivate wrestling fans across generations.

    ‘‘I got a little bit of beef with you and I’m just gonna bring it up with you real quick. You put a post out where you had the temerity that maybe you shouldn’t have walked out there in AEW. Let me remind you of who you are. You have forgotten more wrestling than most of us will ever know. You are one of the last greats, when you come out and walk that isle, that a grandfather can look at his grandson, ‘I saw this guy wrestler and that is why you’re here.‘

    Tyrus firmly believes that Ric Flair should never have apologized for his AEW debut, highlighting the thunderous pop he received when he walked down the aisle.

    Ric Flair has continued to appear on AEW television, whenever Tony Khan can use him. Those dreams of managing Andrade El Idolo in AEW aren’t going to happen though, because Ric Flair’s son-in-law left AEW, with many under the belief that he is WWE bound. 

  • CM Punk’s Lawyer: If Chris Jericho Saw Brawl Out, He Should Be Bound By An NDA

    CM Punk’s Lawyer: If Chris Jericho Saw Brawl Out, He Should Be Bound By An NDA

    Steve New, the lawyer of CM Punk and Ace Steel, believes that Chris Jericho should be bound by an NDA relating to All Out 2022 if he isn’t already. 

    Jericho has been very vocal about the infamous backstage brawl that saw Punk and Steel fight the Elite and overshadow the September 2022 pay-per-view. Recently, Jericho claimed that he was not bound by an NDA, teasing that he’d speak publicly about the matter. When New refuted the idea, Jericho gave a fiery comeback on Christmas Day and branded New a “mark” who should shut up. 

    Chris Jericho’s Potential NDA

    On a recent edition of Nick Hausman’s Rumor and Innuendo podcast, New was asked for his reaction to Jericho’s remarks. New admitted to being surprised and still believes that Jericho should be tied to an NDA preventing him from speaking about the matter. 

    “Without revealing too much of the confidentiality to which I am bound, is my understanding that anyone who witnessed the incident at All Out 2022 would have been obligated to sign an NDA. Chris indicated he was a witness, which, to me, implies that he would have been examined by the law firm investigating the incident and required to sign an NDA.”

    New added that whether Jericho saw the backstage fight or not, AEW’s confidential policies may prevent him from addressing the matter publicly. 

    “Furthermore, I believe that AEW talent is obligated to maintain confidentiality, as it is part of the company’s policies, handbooks, and regulations. Therefore, whether Jericho witnessed a part of the incident or not, he is still bound by the company’s confidentiality policies.”

    While Jericho has claimed that he doesn’t have an NDA preventing him from talking about the “disgusting” events of the brawl, he has yet to give any new information about what happened. 

    Chris Jericho’s Potential Trouble

    Chris Jericho is currently facing allegations of misconduct with Kylie Rae which may have been a factor behind her exit from AEW. The inaugural AEW World Champion faced “NDA” and “Kylie Rae” chants at Worlds End, and a hashtag calling for him to be fired trended during the show. On the post-Worlds End media scrum, Tony Khan (donned in Toni Storm’s hat and sunglasses) says AEW takes allegations like this very seriously

  • MJF Disappears From AEW Roster Page To Kick Off 2024

    MJF Disappears From AEW Roster Page To Kick Off 2024

    MJF teased an impending bidding war in 2024 for his services. Now, it appears that he is off the AEW roster.

    MJF’s AEW World Title Loss & Disappearance

    At Worlds End, MJF lost of the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe. MJF was banged up, after suffering several injuries leading to the event, but he persevered and had the match anyway.

    AEW made a notable move by removing MJF from their official roster page on January 1st, 2024. The Salt of the Earth is currently absent from the roster listing.

    MJF After AEW Worlds End

    In the aftermath of AEW Worlds End, MJF notably abstained from participating in the media scrum. Tony Khan, when questioned about MJF’s AEW contract, skillfully avoided providing any specific details.

    It’s worth mentioning that both within AEW and WWE, there is a belief that MJF may have signed a new contract with AEW upon his return before AEW All Out 2022.

    Exclusive Insight On MJF’s AEW Contract Situation 

    It was previously reported that MJF is likely to take time off from AEW. A hiatus was expected following Worlds End, because he has several injuries that mounted up on him. Now, it appears he is totally gone from the roster, which is a must different story from a simple hiatus.

    I have spoken to people within WWE, who have confirmed with me that there was no talking with MJF about coming in. The lack of discussions led many to believe that he did re-sign with Tony Khan. Now, this recent development of his removal from the official roster page adds a layer of intrigue.

  • AEW’s Next Battle of the Belts Special Could Be Happening Very Soon

    AEW’s Next Battle of the Belts Special Could Be Happening Very Soon

    The next ‘Battle of the Belts’ event from All Elite Wrestling could be a matter of weeks away, despite not being confirmed yet by the promotion. 

    Battle of the Belts is a one-hour special presented by AEW in which championship matches are the key. The show has also seen titles defended for AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor Wrestling, which Tony Khan acquired in March of 2022. 

    While not advertised, the next Battle of the Belts event could be just 12 days away. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful notes that the next Battle of the Belts event is listed on TNT’s schedule for January 13, at 10 PM EST. This is the same day of TNA Hard to Kill, which will be the promotion’s relaunch after years as IMPACT Wrestling. 

    AEW Battle of the Belts

    The first Battle of the Belts event took place in January of 2022 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since then, a total of eight Battle of the Belts events have taken place. The most recent was in October of 2023 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. 

    Despite the name, title changes have been a rarity at AEW’s Battle of the Belts events. Over the two years of events, only two matches have seen a new champion be crowned. At the first Battle of the Belts event, Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes to win the Interim AEW TNT Championship. The second and most recent title change at Battle of the Belts also involved Guevara and saw the Spanish God win the TNT Championship from Scorpio Sky at Battle of the Belts 2 in April 2022. 

  • PHOTO: Spoiler On New AEW World Title Design

    PHOTO: Spoiler On New AEW World Title Design

    Samoa Joe beat MJF at AEW Worlds End, and now he is the AEW World Champion. That will come with an aesthetic change for the title belt itself.

    Samoa Joe expressed his clear intention to change the design of the AEW World Title, doing away with the Burberry title and pledging to present a more respectable one. ‘

    Recent details have emerged, with Sean Sapp on Fightful Select stating that, while it’s unclear if the title will be entirely new, steps have been taken to make some alterations. He also dropped a photo that could be a massive spoiler for the upcoming title.

    Tony Khan, in a recent gesture, presented a custom title to the Clemson Tigers, indicating the possibility of side plate options for the new title. Following Clemson’s victory in the AEW TaxSlayer bowl, Khan customized a world title for them with Clemson side plates. There are, at the very least, side plate options for the upcoming version of the championship, with AEW also having plates produced for Kentucky had they won.

    The report mentioned that the new version of the title seen so far displays the AEW logo on a black background. The debut of this title remains to be seen. 

    Samoa Joe had notably criticized MJF’s Burberry World Title during the press conference after Worlds End. 

    “Oh, this is going in the garbage, don’t worry about that. This trash right here. This little knockoff Gucci stuff that he got going on, it’s going away. We got the good belt, the right belt, something that’s designed well. I spoke with Tony Khan intensely about it, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

  • Adam Copeland Shows Off Busted Face Thanks To Brutal AEW Worlds End Match

    Adam Copeland Shows Off Busted Face Thanks To Brutal AEW Worlds End Match

    Adam Copeland had a hard-fought No DQ match at Worlds End in Long Island, and he actually won the AEW TNT Title while he was at it. Sadly for him, that reign was incredibly short-lived, but the Rated R Superstar has the battle wounds to prove he was in a war.

    Adam Copeland vs Christian Cage at AEW Worlds End

    Adam Copeland made his AEW debut at WrestleDream and the WWE Hall of Famer was off to the races with his old friend, Christian Cage. His feud with former friend Christian Cage reached its peak in a No DQ match at AEW Worlds End. Copeland initially won the title but faced surprising twists that led to its loss. 

    Killswitch, who won a battle royal for a #1 contender match previously on the show, came out and presented that contract to Christian, who cashed in like it was a Money in the Bank situation to steal the TNT Title back. Now, Adam Copeland is revealing the aftermath of the intense match.

    ”It’s not a tumah! Now the work starts on becoming a 2 time TNT Champion.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1h9Hl5O7YI

    Adam Copeland’s Future in AEW

    Adam Copeland and Christian Cage’s story in AEW doesn’t appear to be over yet. They are apparently going to stretch that feud into 2024, but they also have a lot of unfinished business between E&C. 

    The former Edge wants to hold the TNT Title again, and next time he wants it for more than 3 minutes. 

    Adam Copeland has suffered bumps and bruises for decades at this point, so that gash on his head isn’t going to keep him down. If anything, the blood in that AEW Worlds End match only added to the drama.

  • Adam Cole’s First Remarks After Revealing Himself As The Devil At AEW Worlds End

    Adam Cole’s First Remarks After Revealing Himself As The Devil At AEW Worlds End

    AEW Worlds End captured audiences’ attention for a few reasons. The closing moments of the pay-per-view saw The Devil reveal himself to be Adam Cole. That was a bit of a surprise, especially for MJF.

    Adam Cole Is The Devil

    Adam Cole has played a heel before, and he’s quite good at it. Now, the former NXT Champion will get to flex that villain muscle once again.

    Adam Cole broke his silence after AEW Worlds End. This was not a prophetic statement, or any long address. He simply dropped a photo of himself during that big reveal at Worlds End, along with a succinct caption.

    New Year, Real Me. #Hero

    Adam Cole’s Future As The Devil In AEW

    Adam Cole is still injured, because that surgery situation was a shoot. Still, as the leader of a heel faction, Cole can also get by without taking bumps for a while, which he may need to do so for a long time.

    Tony Khan built toward The Devil’s reveal for a very long time. It finally went down at Worlds End. Love it or hate it, Adam Cole will be back on AEW television now, just as MJF starts an expected hiatus from the company.

  • Thunder Rosa Has Heartfelt Message For Andrade El Idolo Upon His AEW Exit

    Andrade is making headlines today, as it is reported that his AEW days are done. He could have a big surprise return to WWE coming for him, but some in AEW will miss him.

    Thunder Rosa’s Message For Andrade El Idolo

    Thunder Rosa hasn’t been on AEW television over the past year, as she was out of action with an injury. She was still a voice on the company’s Spanish language commentary team. After just making her return to in-ring action, Thunder Rosa is now losing someone she will truly miss in AEW.

    In her caption, translated from Spanish, Thunder Rosa included a touching message for Andrade El Idolo. She will miss having him around AEW, as he is one of the most real people she’s ever met.

    You are one of the most real people I have ever met. I am proud of you my friend and for always doing what is best for you. You are a role model! I hope to see you soon and much, much success buddy and I’m going to miss you

    Andrade El Idolo’s AEW Exit

    As we previously reported, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there’s an expectation within WWE that Andrade might make a return to the company. With a champion’s return hyped for the January 1st Day 1 RAW, anything is possible. 

    People close to Andrade El Idolo indicate that a return to WWE is a possibility, but he remains open to staying if Tony Khan puts forward a more enticing offer than WWE. Some have voiced concerns about AEW not fully utilizing Andrade, who hasn’t secured any championships in the promotion. 

    Andrade is also interested in collaborating with New Japan Pro Wrestling if the opportunity arises. While he would have liked to participate in the FantasticaMania show in February, scheduling conflicts prevent him from doing so.

    It was later reported by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select that Andrade El Idolo wrapped up his time with AEW at Worlds End, as he lost to Miro. His exit was reportedly not a pleasant one. Tony Khan also confirmed Andrade’s exit during the press conference following the pay-per-view, but he provided an open door for his eventual return.

  • Julia Hart Doesn’t Care About Internet’s Opinion: ‘They Can Think Whatever They Want’

    Julia Hart Doesn’t Care About Internet’s Opinion: ‘They Can Think Whatever They Want’

    Everybody has an opinion on the internet and Julia Hart cares about none of them.

    The 22-year-old has been one of the break-out stars of AEW in 2023. She picked up a number of impressive victories in the last few months. The female star is ending the year as a champion after defeating Kris Statlander and Skye Blue for the TBS title in a triple-threat match at Full Gear and becoming the youngest champion in AEW history.

    She picked up another victory while successfully defending her title against Abadon at the Worlds End PPV. In the post-show press conference, Hart was asked about handling criticism online. The young star claimed that the only opinions that matter are hers and her boss Tony Khan’s:

    “When it comes to the internet, it’s different because at the end of the day, the only person’s opinion that matters is Tony and myself. So whatever, the internet’s always going to have an opinion on you. It’s going to be negative, it’s going to be positive.” said Julia Hart,

    She continued: “They can think whatever they want because I also remember being a fan and I thought I knew everything as well. A fan doesn’t know everything. What I do know, Tony is my boss and if he says I do good job, I believe him. If I tell myself I do a good job, that’s all that matters. The fans, they can say whatever they want.”

    Worlds End was only the third title defence for Julia Hart in her title reign and 2024 will bring even more challenges for her. You can check out the full media scrum featuring the AEW star below:

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Swerve Strickland Is Done Waiting For Keith Lee After Worlds End

    Swerve Strickland is not waiting for anybody going into 2024 and if Keith Lee wants to have a match with him, then he’s gonna have to work hard for it.

    The two former tag team partners were supposed to finally face each other in a singles match at the Worlds End PPV. Hours before the show, however, it was revealed that Lee was not cleared by doctors. This resulted in a last-minute change in the match card, and Dustin Rhodes stepped up to face Strickland in a match instead.

    The Limitless One’s injury was addressed at the Worlds End press conference. In response to a question, company president Tony Khan confirmed that Lee wanted to wrestle at the show and detailed why he wasn’t allowed to do so:

    “Keith absolutely did want to wrestle. There is a process there and it involves a doctor examining the wrestler every time before they go out and wrestle but also keeping in touch with him during the week. Keith mentioned he got injured in his match at Final Battle. He had a great match with Shane Taylor hard hitting match in Dallas at Final Battle. Then after that, Keith had gotten back in the ring and had a great match with Brian Cage. Did a great number on Collision. 

    Keith, today when he went in to see the doctor, his injury had gotten worse during the week and really it was worse than it was after the Shane Taylor match and it was worse than it was after the Brian cage match. The swelling had gone up and with the swelling being what it was the doctor didn’t feel comfortable clearing Keith. So it’s a tough call. But the doctor did what he thought was right and I respect the medical team’s decision.”

    On the question of this long-anticipated match taking place sometimes later, Swerve Strickland said that he is done waiting. He explained that if Keith really wants to get a shot at him now, he’ll have to do something to earn it:

    “It’s quite unfortunate. I’m done waiting though. I don’t wait on anybody. For me. I’ve been waiting for a while now. Now I have my sights set on something else, and that’s championship gold. So either Keith’s gonna have to work harder than ever in 2024 to reach me at that point or reach to the championship or do something, but I’m not waiting on anybody. If the match happens, he’s gonna have to work hard to get to me at this point.”

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Adam Copeland Paid Tribute to Iconic WrestleMania Match at AEW Worlds End

    Adam Copeland Paid Tribute to Iconic WrestleMania Match at AEW Worlds End

    Adam Copeland’s days as a WWE Superstar may be a thing of the past, but the Rated R Superstar paid tribute to one of his iconic WrestleMania matches last night. 

    Since joining AEW at WrestleDream, Copeland has been feuding with his former friend and ex-tag team partner Christian Cage. The two faced off for the TNT title in Montreal earlier this month on an episode of Dynamite in a match that Cage would win. 

    Copeland’s WrestleMania 22 Tribute

    At AEW Worlds End, Copeland once again challenged for the AEW TNT Championship, this time in a No Disqualifications match. Throughout the match, Copeland paid tribute to his epic Hardcore match at WrestleMania 22 in 2006, which saw the then-Edge defeat Mick Foley. Copeland wore the same attire at Worlds End that he wore for the match with Foley, right down to his vest. 

    Later in the match, Copeland used a flaming table, just as he had at WrestleMania 22 nearly two decades earlier. Rather than spearing someone through the table though like he did in Chicago, Copeland powerbombed Nick Wayne onto the table at Worlds End. 

    https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1741304743354376211

    Copeland was able to dethrone Christian Cage as TNT Champion and finished his former friend with Cage’s own Killswitch finisher. This marked Copeland’s first championship win since 2011 but was also his shortest reign. Post-match, he was attacked by Killswitch (the wrestler, not the move.) Killswitch had earned a shot at the TNT Championship by winning a battle royal on the Zero-Hour pre-show. Killswitch surrendered his title opportunity to Cage, who promptly won the title back from Copeland. 

  • Tony Khan Confirms Andrade El Idolo’s AEW Departure

    Tony Khan Confirms Andrade El Idolo’s AEW Departure

    Tony Khan has confirmed that Andrade El Idolo’s AEW contract is expiring at the end of the year and he will not be renewing his deal with the company.

    The AEW President took part in the media scrum after the World’s End PPV. Among other things, he talked about this being the 5 year anniversary of AEW and how it means that some contracts are bound to expire. Khan gave a shout-out to QT Marshall who is one of the day one talents leaving the promotion at the end of the year. He then confirmed that Andrade’s AEW deal is coming to an end as well:

    “Somebody who has not been with us the entire five years, but they’ve been with us about half the time. They’ve been outstanding and somebody I really respect and I don’t expect to see necessarily, as it stands right now renewing the contract but somebody that I have a great amount of respect for and would be parting on good terms and was tremendous, was here and did wrestle tonight is Andrade El Idolo.

    Andrade El Idolo’s contract is up at the end of the year. We’ve had great talks. I have a tonne of respect for Andrade El Idolo. He’s been a huge performer in the Continental Classic week after week I talked about this great run Collision’s been on, Andrade El Idolo has been a huge part of it. Also has wrestled on the other shows and the Blue League of the Continental Classic.

    Tony Khan claimed that they would have given a prominent position to Andrade if he had decided to stay with the company. He then praised him for the World’s End match with Miro, saying that he will be leaving on a high note:

    “He’s outstanding. I wanted to keep him involved at the top. If we had been able to reach an agreement, certainly he would be somebody we would slot in, in a prominent position. I think we did everything we could to show Andrade El Idolo we really do value him.

    I think this last run he’s had in recent months has been tremendous. If this is going to be the way he’s gonna leave AEW, talk about leaving on a high note because he had a great match with Miro tonight.”

    Andrade has long been rumored to be on his way back to WWE. A contract expiration means he will be free to make an appearance for any company he likes at the start of the year. With Triple H’s latest tease, many believe that we may see him back in the Endeavor owned promotion sooner rather than later.

    You can check out the full Worlds End media scrum below:

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Adam Cole & More React to The Devil Reveal at AEW Worlds End

    Adam Cole & More React to The Devil Reveal at AEW Worlds End

    The reveal of the Devil at AEW Worlds End has proven to be a huge talking point among fans and those within the wrestling business. 

    In the main event of AEW Worlds End, MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. After the match, the Devil’s henchmen’s attacked MJF and revealed themselves to be Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett. Adam Cole watched on as the four men beat down Cole’s ‘best friend’ before revealing himself as the Devil. 

    The Wrestling World Reacts

    After months of build, the reveal of the Devil has had the wrestling world talking. Taking to Twitter, Cole shared a snippet from the song ‘pride.is.the.devil. by J. Cole and Lil Baby. 

    While some suspected Britt Baker of being the Devil, that was never the plan. On Twitter, Baker was pleased to prove those who doubted her wrong. 

    Anthony Bowens has been aligned with MJF and was attacked by The Devil’s henchmen alongside the rest of the Acclaimed recently. The AEW Trios Champion had just two words for Cole and his allies. 

    Alex Hammerstone recently wrapped up his time with  MLW and has teased joining AEW. The former MLW World Champion shared a photo of himself alongside MJF, and others during their time as The Dynasty and asked if MJF needs some help. 

    Richard Holliday was also once part of The Dynasty and shared his own reaction to the reveal of the Devil and his henchmen. 

    There have been some negative reactions to the closing moments of AEW Worlds End, but that hasn’t phased Samoa Joe. The new AEW World Champion made it clear he’s enjoying the ‘salty tears’ of fans. 

  • Tony Khan: AEW Takes Accusations of Sexual Harassment Very Seriously

    AEW is the safest place for professional wrestlers, according to AEW President Tony Khan, as the allegations against Chris Jericho continue to make headlines.

    While AEW Worlds End was a historic night for the promotion and saw the crowning of a new World Champion, much of the show was overshadowed by the allegations about Chris Jericho. The veteran is alleged to have acted inappropriately with Kylie Rae, which is said to have been a factor in her AEW exit in 2019. 

    Tony Khan on Harassment 

    Jericho faced NDA and Kylie Rae chants during AEW Worlds End, and a hashtag movement calling for him to be fired trended on Twitter. Speaking on the post-Worlds End Media Scrum, Tony Khan was asked about the allegations and the protocol to keep wrestlers safe from unwanted advances. 

    “We’re very serious about [that] and we’ve had a policy in place. Certainly I think any time there’s anything like that, we would make sure we do everything we can to prevent it. AEW has the best safety record I believe of any pro wrestling company in the world. I believe we have the most safe environment. I believe we have the best safety record of any pro wrestling company and I would hold the record of AEW on safety against any wrestling company in the world. I think we, AEW is the safest place for pro wrestling and if any of our wrestlers ever have a concern they always have an open line to talk to me and I you know I believe anybody would sit here and tell you they always can talk to me anytime they are concerned about anything.”

    When asked for details about the steps wrestlers can take if they feel they are being harassed, Khan outlined what happens to a wrestler if they are found to have violated company policy. 

    “If there was anything that came to light to me, I would take it to the disciplinary committee. That’s how we’ve been doing it and I think our disciplinary committee has been doing a great job. Everybody knows they have an open line to me or anybody on that committee.”

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

  • Samoa Joe Confirms New Belt Design For AEW Title After Worlds End Win

    Samoa Joe Confirms New Belt Design For AEW Title After Worlds End Win

    The new AEW World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe has confirmed that we will be getting a new belt for the top prize of the company in his new era.

    The Samoan Submission Machine took part in the World’s End press conference after his big win at the PPV. He was asked about the current title design and Joe confirmed that the current belt is ‘going into garbage’:

    “Oh this is going into garbage, Don’t worry about that. I mean this trash right here, this little knockoff, BS Lucha stuff that he got going on, this is going away.

    We’re getting the good belt, the right belt. Something that’s designed well. I’ve spoken with Tony intensively about it and we’re we’re very much looking forward to it. I mean, we got a whole new era starting up here.”

    The current AEW title design was introduced by MJF last year after he defeated Jon Moxley at the Full Gear PPV to win the title.

    The Scumbag held the championship for 406 days before Samoa Joe defeated him for the title. Though Joe had a lot of help in doing so.

    The new AEW champion had been helped by the mysterious devil who was revealed at the show tonight. You can check out the identity of the masked man here, and read what the future holds for MJF after the show tonight here.

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • MJF Expected To Take Time Off From AEW After Worlds End

    MJF Expected To Take Time Off From AEW After Worlds End

    MJF has made no secret about the number of injuries that he has raked up during his career, especially in recent memory. Now, the Salt of the Earth is expected to take some time off.

    MJF Taking Time Off

    MJF lost the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. That was a hard-fought main event match in Long Island, MJF’s homestead, but he still lost to the Samoa Submission Machine via a chokehold.

    After the match, Adam Cole revealed himself to be The Devil. The Kingdom, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow were also unveiled as his associates. That storyline will apparently carry on without MJF as a target, because Our Scumbag is taking time off.

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that many within AEW that he spoke to “immediately following AEW Worlds End said that they expect MJF to be off TV for a while immediately, if not almost immediately.”

    MJF had sustained a plethora of injuries during his AEW Title reign, but was adamant that he wanted to see it through. As MJF is often influential in his own creative, there’s always a chance he could insist on an absence not happening, but it’s expected internally.

    MJF’s Future With AEW

    MJF claims that he has not inked a new AEW contract. Those in WWE, and in AEW, believe that he actually signed a contract extension in 2022 prior to his big All Out return.

    MJF has not brought up the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and most believe that it is due to a contract resigning that was not publicly announced. There are also currently no talks between MJF and WWE at this time.

    MJF also wants a dual career in Hollywood and pro wrestling. With The Iron Claw’s release, that possibility is certainly out there for the former AEW World Champion.

    Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Wardlow were revealed as the Devils during AEW Worlds End. Despite MJF’s ongoing angle with that masked faction, it appears that he will be taking some time off.

  • Samoa Joe Wins AEW World Championship, Adam Cole Revealed as The Devil

    Samoa Joe Wins AEW World Championship, Adam Cole Revealed as The Devil

    AEW Worlds End will go down as one of the worst nights in the career of MJF, who lost his AEW World Championship and his best friend in one fell swoop. 

    For months, MJF has been targeted by somebody in his ‘Devil’ mask, who has been attacking anyone close to the scarf-wearing wrestler. Suspicion had been running rampant within AEW, with several wrestlers and even MJF himself being accused of being behind the attacks. 

    A New AEW World Champion

    With his tag-team partner Adam Cole injured, MJF was until recently in an unlikely team with Samoa Joe. On this week’s Dynamite though, Joe betrayed MJF, who would lose the ROH World Tag Team Championships to two of the Devil’s henchmen. It was revealed on Dynamite that MJF had done ‘business’ with the Devil. 

    At Worlds End, MJF defended his AEW World Championship against Joe and a title change took place. The finish saw Samoa Joe lock MJF in the Coquina Clutch, and his arm fell three times, resulting in the submission victory and a title change. 

    The Devil is Unmasked

    Following the match, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF and Cole, who was at ringside for the match to ‘support’ his ‘friend.’ When one of the masked men was about to hit Cole with a chair, the lights went out. When they came back on, CVole was revealed as the Devil. 

    The masked men were also revealed as Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The four men beat down MJF and left him out cold to close the show.

  • 5 Takeaways From AEW Worlds End

    5 Takeaways From AEW Worlds End

    All Elite Wrestling’s final pay-per-view of 2023 is in the books, but the show wasn’t short of headlines.

    News, rumors, and more flew around the wrestling world just hours leading up to the event and once the main event closed, we were left with more questions than answers.

    So, without further ado, here’s what you need to know coming out as AEW closed out their 2023:

    Samoa Joe Heads Into 2024 as AEW World Champion

    A legitimate injury, nearly everybody in the AEW locker room going after him, and the impending arrival of The Devil, it was very much a MJF vs. the world scenario in the now-former World Champion’s hometown of Long Island, New York. While everyone thought it would be the doing of The Devil that would be the ultimate undoing of MJF’s World Title reign, it was a Coquina Clutch from Samoa Joe that would put MJF out cold and leave referee, Bryce Remsburg with no choice but to call for the bell. Samoa Joe now sits at the top of the mountain in All Elite Wrestling.

    ‘The Devil’ Adam Cole Was Pulling The Strings All Along Against The Puppet Master Himself, MJF

    Rewind all the way to the June 14, 2023 edition of AEW Dynamite…MJF and Adam Cole fought to a 30-minute time limit draw with MJF’s AEW World Championship up-for-grabs. Just weeks later, the pair were ‘randomly’ drawn together as teammates in the inaugural ‘Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament,’ a tournament the pair ending up winning, but ended up falling short in their bid for the AEW Tag Team Titles against then-champions, FTR. However, MJF and Adam Cole would gain something more valuable than gold (to some)…friendship. MJF and Cole put their differences to the side and respected one another after such a grueling rivalry. The pair would kick-off AEW’s biggest show in the company’s history ‘All In’ by defeating Aussie Open to become Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions in front of 70,000-plus fans inside of London, England’s historic Wembley Stadium. MJF and Cole would also close out the show with their long-awaited AEW World Title rematch, but this time, MJF would get the better of Cole, and retained his title.

    After a string of injuries and health woes, Cole would be in-and-out of competition, leaving MJF to fend for himself and defend the titles by himself, which led to numbers being too much for the Long Island-native to handle, when he dropped the ROH Tag Titles to his newest rival ‘The Devil’s’ masked friends on the December 27 edition of Dynamite. With Samoa Joe lurking in the shadows for a rematch of his own, MJF accepted Joe’s challenge, for a helping hand leading up to tonight’s showdown…something Joe honored until the aforementioned 12/27 Dynamite, where Joe took out MJF following the latter’s title loss.

    And on one fateful night in MJF’s hometown of Long Island, New York…his past finally caught up to him as he lost the AEW World Championship…and his best friend, Adam Cole. Following Joe’s victory over MJF, the vaunted masked men surrounded the ring before rushing inside and attacking both men…but the attack stopped and the masked assailants held MJF and Cole face-to-face before the lights would go out…and when they came up, Cole was standing side-by-side with the masked men, all facing MJF. By the time the now-former champion figured out what just happened, it was too late as Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett all removed their masks to reveal Cole’s newest creation…which closed out ‘Worlds End’ by taking out Cole’s now-former tag team partner…and The Devil was no longer MJF…but the man playing the strings all along, Adam Cole, Bay Bay.

    Eddie Kingston Wins Inaugural Continental Classic

    ‘The Mad King’ cemented his place in AEW history. During AEW’s inaugural Continental Classic tournament, Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley did exactly what they do best, brutalize their opponents and a collision course to the finals was exactly what many wanted and predicted. The Heart and Soul of AEW against the Ace of AEW was exactly what the doctor ordered for what was otherwise a somewhat lackluster pay-per-view event. Both Kingston and Moxley came with their best and after violent attack after violent attack, it was the pride and joy of Yonkers, New York who came out on top in front of his home state fans as the first-ever AEW Continental Classic Champion.

    Take a look at All Elite Wrestling’s newest title belt, as well as some of the highlights of this brutal encounter, below:

    Christian Cage Outsmarts The Ultimate Opportunist

    In-ring wise, the best match on the card was Christian Cage’s (technically) unsuccessful TNT Championship defense against longtime friend and rival, Adam Copeland. After a beautifully violent 20-plus minute encounter, Copeland planted Cage’s protege, Nick Wayne through a table engulfed in flames before delivering a Killswitch of his own to Cage to secure the 1-2-3. Just moments after his victory, Copeland was celebrating with his first title in AEW, however, Cage’s sidekick and former TNT Champion, Killswitch (FKA Luchasaurus) attacked Copeland before getting ready to cash-in his TNT Title opportunity that he earned by outlasting 19 other competitors during the show’s ‘Zero Hour’ battle royale affair.

    However, Cage would return to the ring and somehow convince Killswitch to hand him over the contract, which the then-former champion would sign and hand over to senior referee, Paul Turner. The bell would ring before Cage did what Copeland did to him…finish him off with his own signature move, the spear. The devastating spear would garner the three-count for Cage, and in doing so, make him a two-time TNT Champion, and now becoming the TRUE Ultimate Opportunist. 

    Miro Sends Andrade el Idolo Packing While Redeeming His Ultimate Prize

    With rumors swirling that Andrade el Idolo would be departing AEW following tonight’s pay-per-view, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Miro would have his hand raised following the pair’s match. While that was exactly the case, it was far more competitive than many previously thought after the news of Andrade’s impending departure came about, and while securing the 1-2-3 was the goal of the match, Miro gained something far, far more valuable…his wife CJ Perry, who assisted ‘The Redeemer’ and was reunited with her husband at long…long last.

    CONCLUSION

    As previously mentioned, many rumors and news surrounded tonight’s show. Throughout the first handful of matches, the damper of the earlier day’s news sure casted a dark cloud over AEW’s final pay-per-view offering of 2023, however the classic TNT Championship match between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland began a hot streak for the night as Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley’s Continental Classic Final before the ultimate reveal of Adam Cole as The Devil lea
    ding to Samoa Joe’s World Championship victory over MJF closed out the night on a high note.

    Who will Samoa Joe set his sights on for his first title defense? Will Adam Cole have answers for MJF after months and months of manipulation? Will MJF even be with AEW in 2024? We have a TON of loose ends to tie up as All Elite Wrestling opens up to a new chapter, starting this Wednesday night on Dynamite.

    AEW begins their 2024 when the company returns to your screens this coming Wednesday, January, 3, when Dynamite takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

    All Elite Wrestling will be back on pay-per-view on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will feature the legendary Sting’s final match against a yet to be announced opponent.