Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho were all set to challenge Ricky Starks and Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Titles at Worlds End on December 30th, but then the unexpected happened. Omega went down with a case of diverticulitis, and that changed everything.
Kenny Omega’s Current Condition
The most recent word we’ve heard is that Kenny Omega is doing better, but he is far from making a return to the ring. At this point, his comeback date is undetermined, because he must get healthy first.
Don Callis and Kenny Omega have a lot of history with each other, some good and some bad. Their most recent run-in on AEW television did not end in a pretty way, so there is storyline friction between the two.
Callis dropped all the kayfabe as he broke character for a sentimental post. He dropped a heartwarming video dedicated to his experiences with Kenny Omega, a reminder of everything the two have been through.
Although Don Callis did not provide any caption for his post, except to tag Kenny Omega, it is evident that he is wishing his old friend a speedy recovery. Kenny Omega’s illness was a shock for many, because it was kept very close to the vest, even up to his match against Ethan Page.
Don Callis probably wouldn’t break character like this on television to wish Kenny Omega well, but it’s good to see that he did on social media. This is another reminder of the real people behind those pro wrestling personas; no matter how good they are at making us hate them, like Don Callis.
AEW signed an impressive list of pro wrestling minds and legends when Tony Khan started the company. Dean Malenko was one man that helped in a big way during the company’s early days, but a health problem stood in the way. Now, he is recovering after brain surgery.
Dean Malenko’s Brain Surgery
During the recent Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross mentioned encountering Dean Malenko during the Dynamite and Rampage tapings in Oklahoma City. Ross shared that Malenko underwent surgery to address symptoms related to his Parkinson’s disease.
I saw Dean Malenko. Malenko’s had some health issues. I saw him there. And he had brain surgery and it stops his shakes form the Parkinson’s and it has, he’s had the surgery. He’s such a sweetheart of a guy.
Jim Ross elaborated on Dean Malenko’s significant contribution to AEW. He also shed light on Malenko’s role in guiding talent through the process of constructing their matches on AEW programming.
He one of those unsung guys that’s such an MVP at AEW because of his guidance, his coaching. He encourages the talents to bring with them to him what they want to do… and then he helps them, he contributes. It’s teaching. All that is is coaching. And he’s really, really good at it.
Dean Malenko’s History in Pro Wrestling
Dean Malenko is a veteran in the world of professional wrestling, with a storied career that spans multiple decades. Malenko gained popularity over the years, while working for various wrestling companies, including WCW, where most fans remember his work.
During Dean Malenko’s time in WCW, he achieved considerable success, earning the nickname “The Man of 1,000 Holds” for his extensive list of wrestling moves. That is a nickname he certainly earned by demonstrating his technical expertise every time he stepped in the ring.
In recent years, Dean Malenko continued to contribute to the wrestling industry, making a notable appearance in All Elite Wrestling. As part of AEW, Malenko played a crucial behind-the-scenes role, utilizing his experience to contribute to the development of younger performers on the AEW roster, and to ensure that they put out the best product possible.
Our thoughts are with Dean Malenko as he gets over this rough patch. Hopefully, there are much brighter days ahead for him.
We have a positive health update on AEW star Kenny Omega.
‘The Cleaner’ is currently out of action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis following his recent match with Ethan Page. The former AEW World Champion was hospitalized immediately after the match.
It’s worth noting that Omega and Chris Jericho, together known as Golden Jets were scheduled to compete in a tag team match at the AEW’s final pay-per-view of the year, AEW Worlds End. However, that match has been nixed due to Omega’s absence.
Update on Kenny Omega
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shared an update on Omega’s health condition and revealed that he’s doing a lot better. However, he has long road ahead of him.
“It’s been six days since Omega was hospitalized. And by the way, he is doing better, but he’s got a long road ahead of him.”
In addition to his, Meltzer said that he’s working on the idea that Omega will be out for a long time.
“I’m going to go with the idea that Omega is out for a long, long time, so I’m not going to figure him into this [building up challengers for AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF] right now until later.”
Chris Jericho spoke about Kenny Omega on AEW Dynamite
This week on AEW Dynamite, Omega’s tag team partner Chris Jericho spoke about him. Jericho stated that ‘The Cleaner’ would be out of action indefinitely and he also has no timetable to return as of now.
Moreover, he also mentioned that Omega’s absence has impacted The Golden Jets’ shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championship at World’s End. However, ‘The Demo God’ believes Omega’s health was of utmost importance and wished him a speedy recovery. He concluded his promo by assuring that their tag team run would resume once Omega returns.
Knight shared on Twitter on December 19 that he had been in the United States for the month and was traveling with AEW. In the tweet, he spoke highly of the company and the backstage environment and thanked Khan for giving him the opportunity. This caught fans’ attention, but it was unclear when he would wrestle for the company.
The following day, he posted a photo of himself and Saraya standing at the entrance ramp for AEW Dynamite hours before the show. On Twitter, The Franchise Sports’s Sean Thurmond shared that Knight faced Peter Avalon in a taped match before the episode. The photo Thurmond shared of Knight and Avalon in action showed them wrestling for a ROH. It was also noted that the debuting talent won the match.
It’s unclear if it will be shown on a future episode of ROH on Honor Club. That said, Saraya got her wish, and Knight was able to showcase his skills in front of an AEW and ROH audience.
After making his debut and getting a win, it’s possible Knight could be making more appearances for either AEW or ROH.
What’s Next For Zak Knight?
Knight revealed that he will travel from December 28 until January 21, 2024. He has a Visa to work in the U.S. and Canada and posted on Twitter on December 10 that he is accepting bookings for January.
While he is the Shropshire Wrestling Alliance Champion, Knight is looking to explore his options next year. It’s possible that Khan could book Knight for more appearances, as his availability seems open for now.
For Saraya, she’ll likely want to see the AEW President give her brother more chances and potentially make him “All Elite” in 2024.
AEW has plans to take their brand of professional wrestling across the world to India, according to Satnam Singh.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has mostly kept itself within the United States. In October 2022, AEW hosted its first events in Canada which also saw the debut of Renee Paquette. Earlier this year, AEW traveled outside of North America for AEW All In. The UK-based show was a huge success with a second event scheduled for next year.
AEW’s Coming to India
AEW is making its name across the globe and it appears India is in the sights of Tony Khan. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Satnam Singh was asked about his AEW career and revealed plans for the promotion to travel to India.
“I have signed with AEW now, and I stay with them always. Every week we travel and we have matches also. We are planning to bring AEW to India and expose it here so that the people in this country know what it is. This is important.
“The youth should know that something can be done with wrestling too. Children need to find something, analyse your health and power, and see what you can do. It is not important that you need to do sports, study, become a businessman, very important.”
Satnam Singh on a Potential Basketball Return
Before wrestling, Singh competed in basketball but was handed a two-year ban handed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after a positive test. While his ban is a thing of the past, a return to the court isn’t in Singh’s future.
“No comeback plans. I don’t have any plan to come back there after whatever happened to me, I am done. I am focussed in wrestling right now.”
Singh’s most recent match saw himself, Jeff Jarrett, and Jay Lethal lose to The Acclaimed at AEW All Out 2023.
Sources within AEW have confirmed to Fightful Select that Marshall has effectively finished his time with the company already. Marshall has not been at AEW shows in weeks after giving his notice months ago. Marshall had signed a short-term extension through the end of the year.
This Saturday, AEW will be in San Antonio, Texas for Collision. They are coming off of shows in Dallas, Arlington, and Garland (the latter also hosted ROH Final Battle on December 15).
Texas has seen some big moments in AEW’s young history. San Antonio was the site for the first ever women’s steel cage match between Thunder Rosa (who’s adopted the city as her own) and Britt Baker. Rosa won to become the AEW Women’s Champion.
At Fyter Fest 2021, Lance Archer defeated Jon Moxley in a Texas Deathmatch to become the IWGP United States Champion. “Winter is Coming” 2022 saw MJF defeat Ricky Starks to retain the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
Texas loves wrestling
On February 3, 2024, AEW will make its debut in Edinburg, Texas. Collision will be live from the Bert Ogden Arena. Daniel Garcia spoke with Valley Central about wrestling in front of strong Latino fanbases.
“I feel like every time we’re in a place like in South Texas, somebody that has that strong Latino fan base, it’s so dope to wrestle in front of them. They’re always loud. They’re always rowdy. In my opinion, Texas is the best crowds that we perform in front of.”
Garcia will wrestle this Saturday against Brody King in the Continental Classic. He has been mathematically eliminated, but could still pick up his first tournament win.
There are some early-on talks being made about the possibility of Warner Bros. Discovery merging with Paramount Global.
Axios learned from multiple sources that CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakis on December 19 about the idea of merging the two television powerhouses.
WBD plays host to TNT, TBS and HBO while Paramount controls CBS, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central so together the duo could really pack a punch for continuing and prospective customers. However, where does it all leave AEW and WWE?
Whenever a wrestling fan hears the term “merger” it could cause cold sweats because of the infamous AOL-Time Warner fusion that ultimately ended WCW. That changed the landscape of the business solely WWE. However, in this case, the move may bode well for perhaps both promotions.
It was believed that WWE would soon sign its Raw television rights over to WBD, but nothing has happened as of yet. It appears by past actions Zaslav has an appreciation for pro wrestling and if WBD were to mergr with Paramount, they’re the primary bread winner between the brands. WBD earnings are valued around $29 billion while Paramount is around $10 million. That’s likely an indicator that Zaslav would at least want to sign one promotion.
However, in the same turn, the fact that there may still be interest in AEW could allow Paramount to host AEW programming while Raw airs every Monday could be on TNT. In that regard, AEW’s brand identity doesn’t get diminished or discarded.
MJF was recently honored with an induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason Solomon was on hand and spoke with the reigning AEW World Champion.
During their interview, MJF addressed his transition to a babyface persona, admitting he initially hesitated to embrace the transformation due to concerns about rejection from the audience. The Solomonster brought up Tony Khan’s labeling AEW as a “challenger brand” (to WWE) which opened up the idea of so many wrestling fans rooting against AEW online.
MJF has seen a lot of the negativity levied at AEW on social media. AEW has been required to chart a unique path in the wrestling landscape, and MJF sees some similarities to his Jewish faith.
Why do some fans hate AEW?
“Yeah, well, here’s why. I’m actually going to relate this to Judaism, because I’m very good at my job. When you think about why people hate us and why we constantly get attacked, it’s because we’re different and being different makes people uncomfortable.
I genuinely feel the reason that a lot of the time you’ll find a lot of.. and don’t get me wrong, there was most certainly constructive criticism online, genuinely.. but you’ll find a lot of non-constructive criticism online. Just wild irredeemably messed up sh*t that people are saying that is either untrue Or just mean, you know? And I think the reason that’s happening is Monday Night Raw is the longest reigning episodic television show of all time. We have only been around for what, four and a half years? That’s new, that’s different, and what’s different.. different scares people.
So I actually do agree for once with Tony Khan’s assessment [AEW being the ‘challenger brand’ to WWE] and I think that’s the issue. I think the issue is that we’re fresh. We’re new. We feel dangerous to people – and I kind of get off on that, because I get to be the World Champion of that danger and that change, just like I get to be a champion of the Jewish people.”
AEW has a legion of die-hard fans who will defend the company’s decisions, but a vocal portion of the fan base does not make it easy for Tony Khan’s company to thrive in this setting. No matter how the fans feel, MJF appears to be in AEW’s corner 100% as their longest-reigning champion with the most title defenses under his belt as well.
MJF on Meeting John Cena
The Solomonster also asked MJF about his recent meeting with John Cena earlier this month at the movie premiere for The Iron Claw.
MJF has had bad things to say about virtually everybody, but not John Cena. MJF told Cena to his face that he’s an inspiration and raved about Cena’s work ethic to people everywhere:
Currently, as AEW World Champion title, MJF has transitioned into a babyface character, a shift not without its concerns. He is a complex character, but he is also not one to give up when he hits an obstacle in his way.
MJF is currently scheduled to defend the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at Worlds End on December 30th. This is a tricky situation, because MJF will enter the match with a nagging injury. Either way, he is going to fulfill is obligations with Tony Khan’s company.
On tonight’s All Elite Wrestling Dynamite episode, WWE Hall of Famer and AEW Commentator Jim Ross will return. The news of his comeback was announced by AEW Commentator Tony Schiavone on the AEW Control Center, previewing tonight’s episode. Ross has been away dealing with health issues, notably healing a wound following radiation treatment for skin cancer.
The December 20 episode of AEW Dynamite will occur at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is notable as fans will know that Ross is a proud Oklahoma native and could be part of why he is returning to the show. It’s unclear if he will be a part of the commentary team for the entire show, but it seems likely to be possible.
Regarding health issues, Ross shared on the December 7 episode of his podcast Grilling JR that he made positive changes during his break. He noted that he has stopped drinking, and he has seen weight loss due to the adjustment.
When speaking about the decision to quit drinking, he admitted that it was a needed change to get healthier.
SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo transcribed the following quotes.
“My goal is to get healthy, and drinking was not working well with my meds, my diabetes medication … it was a conflict of interest, so to speak, because I want to get healthier and these meds gotta work and I was diluting their strength by drinking so I hung it up.”
The news of Ross’s life changes and return on tonight’s AEW Dynamite is excellent news for fans who have wanted to see his presence on TV. The hope is that the positive lifestyle changes will help him stay healthy and more involved with AEW.
Although it is unclear where his future lies with the company.
Ross is represented by wrestling agent Barry Bloom, who has helped current AEW superstars reach lucrative deals with the company. While Khan and Ross are both interested in “JR” staying in AEW, it’s unknown what the negotiation process and terms of the deal could look like.
For now, Ross and the AEW fanbase will welcome his comeback and hope to see more of him heading into 2024.
This year, All Elite Wrestling superstar Swerve Strickland has become one of the breakout talents on the roster. He’s been featured on AEW TV and involved in big matches, notably against his rival “Hangman” Adam Page. That said, Strickland is looking to have a better year in 2024.
Strickland spoke with Jacksonville, Florida’s News Reporter Scott Johnson on Going Ringside about his plans for the new year. He shared that he’s looking to become an AEW World Champion and believes he could have been the champion if given the opportunity.
“…I said middle of this year, if I would’ve gotten the opportunities that Hangman Page would’ve gotten my first year, I would have been the first African American AEW world champion. And I do believe that. I can still do that. That is the only thing on my mind right now,” said Strickland.
While some fans may take Strickland’s confidence lightly, he has quickly become a superstar that AEW could decide to put the world title on. He’s coming off of the biggest rivalry of his career and won a highly praised Texas Deathmatch over Page at AEW Full Gear on November 18.
Strickland’s recent success and presence could give the company a reason to make him a title challenger in 2024. Currently, he is participating in the round-robin Continental Classic tournament. The winner of the tourney will become the inaugural AEW Triple Crown Champion. He has nine points in the Gold League division of the tournament and is in an excellent position to make it to the semi-finals. However, he needs to win his next match.
Preview Of Swerve Strickland vs. RUSH On AEW Dynamite
In tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Strickland will take on RUSH in a Gold League matchup. RUSH has been eliminated from the tournament but likely wants to end the round with a big win.
For Strickland, a win over RUSH advances him to the Continental Classic Semi-Finals on the December 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. If he was to lose, he would have to hope that White, who is tied with him, is defeated by Jon Moxley. The former AEW World Champion is the current leader in the Gold League with 12 points and already has a spot in the next round.
Both matchups will occur on tonight, so fans will want to tune in to see who will advance.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) received a huge honor on Monday as he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason ‘The Solomonster’ Solomon was on hand for the ceremony and conducted an exclusive interview with the AEW World Champion.
MJF spoke about what it was like to meet Cena, what sets the 16-time world champion apart from everybody else and Cena’s advice for him.
“He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.” – MJF on John Cena
“You’re an Inspiration”
The ‘Salt of the Earth’ said it meant the world to him that John Cena approached him at the event and paid him a compliment he’ll never forget.
“I don’t think it’s unprofessional for me to discuss what we talked about. He didn’t have to do this, and it meant the world to me. [John Cena] walked over to me, and he said he’s a fan of my work, and he respected my professionalism.
MJF had another chance to talk with John Cena when they were spotted together on the red carpet. MJF reveals he told John Cena that he’s an inspiration and says Cena’s work ethic puts him lightyears ahead so many people in wrestling who ‘phone it in’ and don’t go the extra 10 miles that Cena goes.
“Once we were on the red carpet, we talked some more and I told him straight up, I said, ‘You’re an inspiration’ because he is, you know?
There are a lot of people in my industry who phone it in. I cannot recall one time in the over a decade of John Cena’s career where he phoned it in even once. He’s incapable, just like I’m incapable.
He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.”
Cena was one of MJF’s wrestling heroes growing up, along with CM Punk. “… and for crying out loud, my two guys, I make no bones about it, everybody knows that one of my guys was CM Punk, but my other guy was John Cena. As I got older, it became Punk, you know, because I was trying to rebel a little bit, you know, I had a John Cena Fathead on my bedroom wall. You know, it’s John Cena!
We also discussed transitioning from pro wrestling to acting. He’s just an incredible person and I don’t have one negative thing to say about him.”
What’s Next For MJF?
MJF recently confirmed that he has not signed a new deal with AEW. He also believes that WWE wouldn’t put him in a corner, or prohibit his creativity. The Bidding War of 2024 could still be on, and someone like John Cena may be able to help grease the wheels in a big way.
Although original plans for MJF in “The Iron Claw” were initially cut, that film still gave him a great platform. He is also listed as an Executive Producer on the film, thanks to the contributions he made.
Without “The Iron Claw” film, fans wouldn’t have seen that meeting between MJF and John Cena. It’s anyone’s guess if that meeting will just be the first of many down the line.
Samoa Joe is gearing up for AEW Worlds End pay-per-view where he will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship. Ahead of AEW’s final pay-per-view, he has shed light on his inspiration which has helped him polish his mic skills for almost two decades.
‘The Samoan Submission Machine’ remains to be one of the most feared opponents in the pro wrestling industry. For a man of his size, the in-ring athleticism is remarkable and it has kept him the standout wrestler for years. 18 years have passed since Joe made a breakthrough as a pro wrestler and he has top promotions in his resume including TNA/Impact, NXT, WWE, ROH, and AEW.
Not only his in-ring ability, but his promo skills are unparalleled. He has revealed that the inspiration for scathing promos comes from movies.
Samoe Joe talks about his inspiration
In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, the two-time AEW TNT Champion revealed that he’s been enjoying the matches from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) from Mexico:
“It’s great action, and they obviously have a lot of guys who are tremendously skilled,” he said.
However, he has drawn inspiration for big talk from action movies.
“Most of my inspiration comes from outside the (wrestling) industry,” Joe said. “I watch a lot of drama, a lot of big action films, with great speakers plying their trade. I’ll see something that inspires me, recycle it, change it and make it my own.”
Samoa Joe believes he can defeat MJF at AEW Worlds End
Joe is gearing up for his shot at MJF’s World title and wants the champ to be at his best. Thereby, the veteran star is trying to protect him and even teamed up with him in the past. During the same interview, Joe said that MJF presents challenges for him and he’ll be merciless at Worlds End. He said:
“MJF presents some unique challenges for me. He’s got an abrasive tongue and wit. He’s duplicitous when he needs to be. But I plan to take a healthy MJF and beat him in due course. I’ll pummel him unmercifully when the time comes at Worlds End.”
We will have to wait and see if Samoe Joe manages to live up to his words at AEW Worlds End which takes place on Saturday, December 30 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York.
Rey Fenix was scheduled to have a match at Prestige Wrestling next month. However, he will be missing the event due to injury.
Prestige Wrestling recently announced that Rey Fenix will be unable to compete on January 5 at Roseland due to an injury. Fenix was scheduled to face Samuray Del Sol at the event. It was further revealed that Lio Rush will be replacing him.
Fenix has been dealing with a nagging injury for quite some time. He has been out of action for several months. He previously was part of the four-way tag team match at AEW WrestleDream in Seattle where the winning team earned a championship match against FTR.
The four teams in the match were The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), Lucha Brothers (Penta & Rey Fenix), The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn), and Orange Cassidy & Hook.
In the initial stage of the match. Fenix was thrown into the barricades a few times. The ringside doctors soon attended him and he was taken to the back. It was reported that it was this match in which he sustained the injury.
Fenix competed on the October 10 episode of AEW Dynamite when he lost the AEW International Championship to Orange Cassidy. In the final moments of the match, Cassidy hit an Orange Punch to score the pinfall and captured the title to become a two-time AEW International Champion. This ended Fenix’s reign as champion which lasted only 20 days and it marked his last match before getting sidelined.
It is to be seen when Rey Fenix manages to make his return to action.
Rob Van Dam has been associated with WWE for the past two decades, but his appearances might not be plentiful now. RVD made a surprising debut in AEW during the August 2nd episode of AEW Dynamite this year. That may have tainted his relationship with WWE.
During Marty Jannetty’s “Party with Marty” podcast, RVD hinted that his AEW debut might impact his chances of appearing at WrestleMania 40 in 2024. That is a shame, because the show of shows is going down in Philadelphia next year.
While RVD confirmed his presence at next year’s WrestleCon, he provided a somewhat elusive response regarding his WrestleMania 40 status, implying that there might not be a planned appearance.
“Allegedly I got booked for an appearance, and then allegedly that appearance was canceled when I showed up on an alleged competitor’s TV program, and then allegedly I might be pre-booked — either way, I’m going to be there at WrestleCon!”
WrestleMania 40 is set to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the former stomping grounds of ECW, sparking fan speculation about The Whole F’N Show being a natural addition to the festivities. If anything, Philly fans would love to chant “R-V-D” once again.
RVD never inked a contract with Tony Khan, and he was on a per appearance deal. He still made some waves in the pro wrestling world with that debut, as another WWE Hall of Famer graced an AEW ring.
We can only hope that RVD is included in WrestleMania 40 in some way, because Philadelphia really would be a great place to see him re-appear under WWE’s bright lights. If that booking is going to happen, RVD isn’t saying anything about it at this point. At least fans know RVD will be at WrestleCon.
AEW President Tony Khan is deeply passionate about professional wrestling, and that is what brought him to create his own company in the first place. Khan has also faced scrutiny for some questionable actions over the years, especially on social media. Recently, he found a measure of vindication with evidence supporting the existence of anti-AEW bots.
Tony Khan’s Tweet About Anti-AEW Bot Army
Last year, Tony Khan made an assertion that online AEW critics were paid trolls, or a coordinated bot army. He hinted at WWE’s potential involvement. This claim garnered criticism for its audacity, and its conspiracy theory centered nature.
‘An independent study has confirmed that much of the staunch anti-AEW online community aren’t real individuals, it’s a staff running thousands of accounts + an army of bots to signal boost them. Look closely, these aren’t real people. Who’d pay for such a *wildly* expensive thing?
Tony Khan’s prolonged ‘independent study’ of bots targeting AEW eventually yielded results. Khan even enlisted IT experts to offer a sophisticated explanation for the existence of anti-AEW bots.
A fan from a now-private X account shared photos revealing anti-AEW bots praising NXT, clearly fake Twitter users. Tony Khan responded to this evidence with a GIF of Tony Soprano expressing, his thoughts on the matter.
Well, I told you that.
AEW is wrapping up 2023 with as much momentum as they can get. They have also seen a few setbacks over the past 12 months. Either way, it’s hard to argue that there are many levels of social media engagement at work, all deigned to manipulate, persuade, and influence people with their own agenda.
Elon Musk said that he would put a stop to bots on X, but that may not be his #1 priority right now. If anything, Tony Khan is certainly appeased to see that his theory about anti-AEW bots has a bit more backup.
AEW star CJ Perry recently provided a new update following her surgery. She revealed how the finger infection occurred.
The Hot and Flexible one was recently scheduled to make an appearance at CMLL representing Andrade El Idolo. However, he was forced to miss the show. She also missed the December 16 edition of AEW Collision.
Fans were worried about her health and over the weekend, Perry took to her social media account and pictures which revealed a finger infection, leading to a visit to the emergency room.
The former WWE star went on to reveal that it required surgery and that she would be admitted to hospital.She revealed that the infection worsened and she even had to stay at the hospital for more than 50 hours.
Fortunately, CJ Perry underwent a successful surgery, and her real-life husband and AEW star Miro took to his Instagram and uploaded a photo of Perry at the hospital and said she’s recovering.
CJ Perry breaks her silence
The former Lana recently shared a positive update on her recovery. In a video clip posted on Instagram, Perry revealed that she got injured by a small splinter while backstage during an AEW show and she also urged the fans to be cautious of them because it can lead to a fatal infection.
“I have been in the hospital since Saturday, fighting a fatal infection that came from getting a small splinter backstage at work this past Wednesday. Please keep me in your prayers. And everyone really take care of any cuts you get. As small as a splinter can turn into a deadly infection. Love all of you guys and thank you to everyone who has reached out,” Perry wrote.
Currently, Perry is serving as the on-screen manager of Andrade El Idolo and they have been involved in a storyline with Miro. We will have to wait and see how that progresses when she returns.
As she recuperates, we at SEScoops wish her a swift recovery.
CM Punk and Ace Steel were both involved in the Brawl Out situation after All Out 2022. That ordeal cost Steel his job with AEW, and less than one year later, CM Punk was fired over a different backstage fight. Since that event is in the past, we are getting even more information about the inner workings of the messy situation.
Earlier this month, Ace Steel shared insights into his time working at AEW and the aftermath of his and CM Punk’s involvement in the “Brawl Out” incident. He is very proud of CM Punk’s WWE return, and was quite candid about that fact.
The former AEW producer disclosed that they had legal representation from Stephen P. New, known for advising Jim Cornette, ensuring their proper handling after the incident. Following Steel’s revelation, Cornette offered his thoughts on the matter during an episode of Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru.
“We weren’t going to be the ones to jump in and broadcast everybody’s business. But since Ace has publicly gone on record there, yes, Ace Steel and CM Punk were represented at various points this year by Stephen P. New in various parts of their issues with their former employers.”
“So instead, he got some of Tony Khan’s money not to go to work — which seems to be a very habitual thing that a lot of people are doing with that company — but at least this was legally orchestrated in a manner befitting an accomplished attorney and barrister like Stephen P. New.”
According to Jim Cornette, it was because of Stephen P. New’s representation that Ace Steel is able to live with “religious freedom“, having been, as Jim Cornette described, unable to do the job he was being paid for due to being interfered with and ostracized by officials in the company.
Ace Steel was initially terminated by AEW due to his role in “Brawl Out” following All Out 2022. He later returned to work, reportedly at CM Punk’s request upon his rejoining the company, only to be released shortly after Punk’s termination with cause following another backstage altercation. Steel humorously remarked that perhaps only his wife could reveal the truth about the events, teasing that the details might surface in a future “Dark Side of the Ring” documentary.
Jim Cornette certainly feels a certain way about how things went down with CM Punk and AEW. Cornette also didn’t forget to give plenty of love to his attorney friend, Stephen P. New in the process.
CM Punk is now in WWE once again, an event that many didn’t think would be possible. The stars aligned, and Punk returned. Now, we get to see what his fresh start looks like after returning home.
Konnan has some sound advice for AEW President Tony Khan and it involves filtering through the haters.The luchador legend’s K100 colleague Disco Inferno was under the ire of Khan after Inferno told Khan that AEW needs a “reset” on X, to which Khan called the former WCW star an “irrelevant parasite.”
“Just worry about the people that are supporting you and listen to the people that are giving you constructive criticism. You should be able to differentiate by now and listen to what they’re saying.”
Konnan in AEW
Konnan asked Disco if he made that post on X during the airing of AEW Collision to which Disco said he posted it after the show was over. With that factored in, Konnan empathized with Khan’s energy and response.
“So he’s probably right fresh off the show with adrenaline and he’s like, ‘I put out this thing and Disco shot right at me even though I haven’t talked to him directly so now I’m going to get him back,’ and he’s getting over with the red meat, his base, cause he hates you.’”
Does AEW Need need a reset?
Disco added that his main point at AEW needing a reset was constructive criticism.
“He works for a professional football team, he works for a professional soccer team, I watch football, I watch the soccer games, and bro you’re writing three shows and I’ve written shows and anybody in the business that has done this before will tell you, ‘Dude you need help.’
That’s the major criticism! That’s it. Your ratings have kind of stagnated, you need help writing these wrestling shows because that’s a very difficult job to do to write one and maintain good ratings.”
Konnan adds that Khan is also handling talent, signing contracts, sitting in Gorilla and trying to work TV deals on top of that.
He says he could be working so hard that it stress him out and believes that if Khan and Disco actually met one another, they’d hit it off as friends because of their similar interests in sports and other topics.
AEW star Kota Ibushi will not linger in the ring if he feels he’s no longer required.
In an interview with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Ibushi discussed his retirement and various other topics.
Ibushi mentioned that he’s not sure about when he’ll retire. He’s not someone who sets specific years to retire. His only consideration is if he can’t do it anymore or if there’s no more demand from his fans for his matches, then he’ll stop wrestling on his own.
Ibushi sees himself as someone who doesn’t want to stay longer than necessary and will leave when he realizes he’s not needed anymore.
“I am not the type to set my own time frame, so I want to do as much as I can,” Ibushi said. “But… well… if I can’t do it anymore, if there is no more demand, I think it’s the end. If there is no more demand, I ask them to cut me off immediately. I’m the type of person who says that if I find out, I’ll quit immediately.”
Ibushi reflected on the shoulder injury he sustained during the NJPW G1 Climax in 2021, admitting it made him contemplate retirement. He felt restricted in his movements compared to his usual performance level, which concerned him regarding fans’ expectations. Ibushi mentioned that if fans no longer wish to see him perform in that capacity, then it could mark the “end of the road” for him.
“So in my case, it could end tomorrow. It could be a year from now, or it could be ten years from now. I don’t know. When there is no more demand, it’s the end.”
Ibushi has also been involved as a commentator in martial arts broadcasts. He mentioned being a martial arts enthusiast and mentioned receiving frequent offers to provide commentary from the martial arts community.
Ibushi openly discussed his affection for junk food, evident from his social media posts. Despite being 41, he sees himself as still exploring and experimenting with his body, believing there’s more yet to be discovered.
“The body and mentality are connected. People can’t live in a harsh environment all the time. You have to loosen up somewhere. That’s the only thing that everyone picks up on. That’s why people tend to think that I eat only hamburgers, or that I love junk food, but I eat only junk food,” he added.
Ibushi was last seen in the AEW ring in a Street Fight at AEW Dynamite on November 15, where he teamed up with Paul Wight and The Golden Jets to defeat The Don Callis Family.
MJF is one of the most charismatic people in the pro wrestling business, and he’s been on WWE’s radar for a while. That doesn’t mean he’s jumping ship from AEW any time soon. Despite MJF’s recent claims, there is a belief within WWE that he is working the pro wrestling community regarding his contract status.
Earlier today, AEW World Champion MJF participated in The SI Media Podcast and responded to a report about his contract status. He claimed that no new deal has been signed at this time.
Report Contradicting MJF’s Claim
A new report has confirmed our previous reporting that MJF has not engaged in discussions with WWE. Additionally, WWE internally holds the belief that Maxwell Jacob Friedman quietly renewed his contract with AEW some time ago.
Haus of Wrestling is now reporting that “One higher-up WWE source responded simply with ‘storyline.’” The report elaborated to say that word within the company is that MJF inked a new deal with AEW before he even returned to the company after his 2022 hiatus.
Another higher-up source at WWE reiterated that they heard Friedman had re-signed last year and believe it happened before his return at AEW All Out 2022 as The Devil. They went on to say that Friedman is “locked in” and got a huge deal when he re-negotiated his contract with Tony Khan last year.
There are many reasons why MJF might not deluge his actual contract status with Tony Khan’s company. With his contract supposedly running up in 2024, along with AEW’s television rights, one has to assume that AEW wouldn’t want to hide the fact that they locked down their World Champion for years to come.
SE Scoops’ Previous Reporting
This falls in line to what I have been told, and previously reported. There is no talk about the Great Bidding War of 2024 anymore for a reason. The internal belief within WWE is that a new deal between Tony Khan and MJF was signed a long time ago.
It’s uncertain why MJF would work his contract situation, but that is his story right now. We will have to see if his contract status creeps its way back into AEW’s storyline sometime next year.
AEW World Champion MJF recently confirmed that he hasn’t inked a new deal with AEW.
‘The Salt of The Earth’ has been quite candid about his contract status and heavily spoke about the “bidding war of 2024.” He is set to become a free agent on January 1st, 2024. He hasn’t mentioned the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and fans have wondered about his future.
There have been rumors that MJF signed a new AEW deal that will keep him around for years. However, while speaking with SI Media, MJF said that fans leak things that they want to be true and gave examples of rumors about Cody Rhodes re-signing with AEW and CM Punk having a cordial relationship with Tony Khan, which weren’t true. He said that after AEW Worlds End pay-per-view later this month, he’ll assess his contract situation. He said:
“When stuff like that gets leaked out it makes me laugh because I remember something like Cody having secretly re-signed, then he showed up (in WWE). Something got leaked out about CM Punk or Tony Khan…I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW, I wanna stay in AEW. for professional setting.”
When asked if he re-signed with AEW, MJF said:
“Not yet”
MJF could join WWE
Cody Rhodes transitioned from AEW to WWE last year and many believed that several other stars would follow the suit. Soon, Jade Cargill also made a similar move this year and fans are still waiting for her official in-ring debut. It seems we can’t rule out MJF joining WWE. Even ‘The American Nightmare’ believes the same.
The AEW World Champion has teased signing with WWE from time to time. However, these teases have stopped since he turned babyface.
In the past, MJF had a tryout for WWE as part of 2011’s Tough Enough. He also appeared as a security guard during a segment with Samoa Joe, which has been referenced several times.
We will now have to wait and see what the future holds for MJF.
AEW World Champion MJF doesn’t believe that his persona could be watered-down in WWE, despite the PG nature of the Stamford promotion.
MJF has often teased leaving AEW for WWE, though these references on TV have dried up with Friedman’s face turn. Speaking on the SI Media podcast, MJF was asked about whether he feels his character would be toned down in the event of a WWE move.
“I just don’t know how the f*** you put a leash on me. And I swear to God that’s my honest opinion… I don’t know, I don’t think anybody can hold me back from being the monster that I am. I think my career trajectory in any company is going to be exactly the same.
“Do I think in some aspects AEW fits me more like a glove than anywhere else? Yeah, I do. Could an argument be made the other way around? Yeah, sure. These are all things that I have to think about. But I do know whatever company I pick, it will be because it feels right and it means the most to me.
WWE has reportedly had its eye on MJF for some time, in addition to other AEW talent. Cody Rhodes recently said that he predicts MJF will join WWE one day, but stopped short of saying what day he believes that will be. In the interview, MJF wasn’t surprised that those in WWE are showing great interest in him.
“It’s normal. Of course, you want MJF in your company. Who the f*** wouldn’t want me in their company? I’m the best thing going today. I’m the AEW World Champion. Nobody dresses like me. Nobody talks like me. Nobody looks like me. Nobody walks like me and nobody wrestles like me.
“I take it as a compliment and I think the AEW fans should take it as a compliment too. Because that means that their World Champion, the face of their company, is a hot commodity.”
Whatever the future holds, MJF’s next title defense will come at AEW Worlds End next week against Samoa Joe. The show will take place on December 30, from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
MJF was recently inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Click here to find out more.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
One night after competing for the ROH World Television Championship at ROH Final Battle, Bryan Keith received the opportunity to challenge for another title — Orange Cassidy’s AEW International Championship, to be exact.
While Keith’s title pursuits didn’t produce his desired outcome, he still has his eye on facing some more performers in both companies. During an interview with the To Be Someone Podcast, Keith revealed some of the names on his list of dream opponents, which includes representatives from NJPW, WWE, ROH, and AEW.
“One of them is a guy named [Tomohiro] Ishii that wrestles with New Japan. The Stone Pitbull. I feel like his aura is everything that I try to emulate,” Keith said. “When he comes out, he may not be the biggest guy, and he’s not the fastest, not the strongest, but when he comes out, the song hits, you hear the dogs barking, you know you’re in for like a hell of a match. It don’t matter who he’s in there with. He could be in there with anyone, and there’s going to be a five-star classic. I draw heavy influence from him and guys like him …
He just has that aura about himself that I always try to portray because I’m not the biggest guy, I’m not the fastest, I’m not the strongest. I don’t do a bunch of flips or anything like that. I just got that Texas ‘I’m coming there and I’m gonna kick your ass’ feel, I want people to feel that, and I feel like he’s got that aura. Japanese strong style versus Texas strong style, that’d be a hell of a match.”
WWE, ROH, & AEW Dream Opponents
Within the landscape of WWE, Keith identified Finn Balor and AJ Styles as two other names he’d like to face one day. In assessing their work, Keith noted that both performers display a crisp arsenal of offense and defense in the ring.
Within AEW and ROH, Keith is keen on squaring off with current ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston and former ROH Television Champion Samoa Joe. If he had to choose between them though, Keith would favor a match with Samoa Joe, whom he describes as one of his early wrestling influences.
“Samoa Joe’s the man. I’d love to wrestle Eddie Kingston, and Eddie Kingston is definitely a dream match for me, but Samoa Joe is legendary. Not the Eddie Kingston is not, but just Samoa Joe and what he’s done, what he means to me and the influence on me. I learned about Eddie Kingston later on in my career, whenever I was an older wrestler. So foundationally, I wasn’t really watching Eddie Kingston to grow up and be a better wrestler,” Keith said.
“I was foundationally watching Samoa Joe, seeing him wrestle on TNA, seeing him wrestle on the Indies, Ring of Honor and stuff. He’s a guy that definitely influenced my style in the way I wrestle.”
A native of Houston, Texas, Keith has steadily built a name for himself in the southern independent wrestling scene, notably becoming the longest-reigning New Texas Pro Champion.
Could Zac Efron one day compete in an AEW ring following the release of The Iron Claw? Don’t count it out according to the Greatest Showman actor.
The Iron Claw delves into the lives and numerous tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family. The wrestling lineage began with Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson,) and his sons would also find success in the squared circle. The Von Erichs are still a force in wrestling today with Marshall & Ross Von Erich competing to this day.
Zac Efron in AEW?
Efron’s performance has been heralded by critics and we could soon see more of the star in the Squared Circle. In a recent interview with The Masked Man Show, Efron was asked about the possibility of stepping into the ring and named AEW as a possible destination.
“It’d be fun if we could get in there with some of the guys we worked with, with Chavo [Guerrero ]or even the Von Erichs coming back with AEW. I’d love to do something with them. If we had some time and prep and, especially if we were all out there together, that would be fun as hell. Who knows. Don’t count it out, that’s for sure.”
Chavo Guerrero worked as the wrestling choreographer for The Iron Claw, and was very impressed with Efron. The Von Erichs, represented by Kevin, Russ, and Marshall, appeared on last week’s episode of AEW Rampage which was fittingly filmed in Texas. The segment saw Kevin deliver the Iron Claw to Jake Hager.
Check out SE Scoops’ official (spoiler-free) review of The Iron Claw by clicking here.
