Jade Cargill has reached a historic milestone in AEW as her dominant run as TBS Champion continues.
She has been the AEW TBS Champion for 373 days, making history by becoming the longest-reigning champion in company history. Cargill broke former AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida’s previous record of 372 days.
Throughout her time at AEW, she has accomplished several impressive feats. She had her first wrestling match in March 2021. Another impressive aspect of this accomplishment is that she has held a title longer than she has not in her short career thus far.
Another Impressive Stat
Cargill remains the only TBS Champion in history, as she won a tournament to be crowned the inaugural champion in January 2022 by defeating Ruby Soho in the finals.
She also broke Shida’s record when she was the AEW Women’s Champion, as Cargill has defended the TBS Championship 17 times. That’s also a record in AEW with the most title defenses by any champion in the company’s history.
Over that time, she has defended against various talents such as The Bunny, and Willow Nightingale. Her most recent title defense came against Skye Blue at Battle of the Belts V. Shida only defended her title eight times successfully during her 372-day reign as champion.
In an update from CNBC, they are reporting that several sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the Khans are interested in a merger.
The report adds that the Khans would not seek to buy WWE themselves, but would team with a financial group and pool their resources.
The idea is described by CNBC as a “long shot” given the hostility between WWE and AEW that has existed since the latter was founded in 2019.
Shahid Khan is said to have a net worth of $7.56 billion, and in addition to AEW, the Khans own the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team, and the soccer club Fulham FC.
If this merger went ahead, it is unclear if the Khans would cease WWE production, keep the brand going, or create a new hybrid brand of WWE and AEW.
Competition
The Khans are interested in merging with WWE, but they’re not the only ones open to a deal.
This week, it was reported that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund had purchased WWE, but those reports were later clarified to be premature.
As Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE CEO Nick Khan recently spoke to Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
Sting has spent decades building a legacy as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and now the Icon’s daughter is ready to follow in his footsteps.
D Magazine reports that Sting’s daughter Katelyn is taking her first steps into becoming a pro wrestler herself.
In addition to her training, Katelyn works for All Elite Wrestling as part of the promotion’s social media team.
Katelyn Borden
Katelyn still has plenty to learn in the world of professional wrestling, but the second-generation star has already reached championship glory.
Borden is currently the Rhodes Wrestling Academy Women’s Champion and is in her first reign.
Going by the name ‘Jael’ Katelyn captured the title last July, dethroning inaugural champion Shawna Reed.
The End of Sting
While Katelyn’s career is on the rise, her father’s career, by his own admission is coming to an end.
Speaking to D Magazine, Sting said that he has broached the topic of his final match, which he believes will be for AEW.
The former WCW World Heavyweight Champion added that he realizes the high expectations his final match will have.
“I’ve got some insecurities about that, I guess, mainly due to age. The more focus, now you’ve got to follow that big build-up, you know?”
Sting
Sting added that he knows the details of his retirement will be decided sooner rather than later, but he is trying to avoid specifics.
The Icon said that with his final match, the most important thing to him will be how he makes the fans feel, which takes precedence in his view over the setting or the opponent.
All Elite Wrestling talent Britt Baker has shared her thoughts on her husband, Adam Cole, returning to the company.
Cole made his shocking return to AEW Dynamite on Jan. 11 after several months off TV for AEW. His last match was against Jay White, Okada and “Hangman” Adam Page in a fatal four-way match at Forbidden Door on Jun. 26, 2022. He had been dealing with injuries, including a concussion that people were uncertain when Cole would return. However, Cole revealed in a promo on AEW Dynamite that he will return to competition and aspires to be the top performer in the company.
During his segment, he also spoke openly about the issues he faced from his concussion, including dealing with anxiety and motion sickness during his recovery. Baker has posted on Twitter about Cole’s return and expressed how proud she was of him.
“For months, the only time @AdamColePro left the house was to go to brain/physical therapy appointments. There was a time he wasn’t allowed to fly on planes or do anything more than go for a walk. I’m so damn proud of how hard he worked every single day to get back to you all,” said Baker.
Adam Cole responded to the tweet by saying, “Thanks for being in my corner every step of the way. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
(via AEW)
What’s Next For Adam Cole?
Although Cole made his return to AEW, it’s unclear when he will return to competition. In his promo, he didn’t say if he’s medically cleared to compete or when he expects to wrestle again. AEW also has yet to comment on when fans should expect to see Cole compete in the ring.
However, the important part of Cole’s return was that he seemed healthy and in good spirits. Cole’s immediate wrestling future may be unclear, but he is still motivated to be a top performer in professional wrestling.
All Elite Wrestling superstar Saraya wouldn’t mind participating in intergender wrestling matches in AEW.
Intergender wrestling matches I’ve caused debate throughout the years between wrestling fans. Some critics may say they don’t like seeing men wrestle women. However, people that support intergender wrestling may point out that it creates equal opportunity and that men and women should be able to work together. It’s a wrestling debate that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer but could depend on a fan’s preference.
Saraya spoke about possibly facing a male wrestler in AEW on the Whoo’s House Podcast. The AEW talent shared that she’s open to having an intergender match but doesn’t think fans would like it.
“I feel like people are really sensitive in this world currently, and it’s really hard to do matches like that without someone being offended by it. I would love to do matches like that.”
– Saraya on Intergender wrestling
Who Would Saraya Face in an Intergender Match?
(AEW)
As Saraya discussed possibly having an intergender match, DJ Whoo Kid asked about challenging Chris Jericho. She added that it is something that she has thought about with her boyfriend, Ronnie Radke.
“…It writes itself. I said even Ronnie even wanted to become part of it, like a storyline to do something against Chris Jericho,” said Saraya. Radke added that he loves Jericho, so it’s unclear if he wants to get physical with Jericho.
Saraya continued, “…He’s such a good bad guy. He plays a very good bad guy and people just love to hate him but I feel like they would have such a good storyline. I would love to wrestle one of the guys. If I have to beat up Chris Jericho, Chris Jericho I’m sure he’d be like ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ He doesn’t care, he’s very selfless worker. He’s a good guy. He’ll wrestle anybody and if he has to let somebody win he’d be like ‘Absolutely.’ There’s never an ego there, he’s always just like ‘Sure.’ He just wants to help people.
After praising Jericho’s selflessness, she joked that if they wrestled, she’d “…beat that sh*t out of him.” It’s unclear if Jericho would be interested in doing an intergender match. Fans may remember Jericho had a rivalry with WWE Hall of Famer Chyna in the 90s. However, Jericho is currently in a feud with Ricky Starks and Action Andretti.
Saraya has put the idea to the public, and it’s up to AEW and Jericho to make it happen.
All Elite Wrestling tag team FTR will take a break from the company as their contracts expire.
After leaving the WWE, the “Top Guys” have worked with AEW since 2020. During their career in AEW, FTR has gained popularity and success by winning the AEW, Ring of Honor, IWGP, and AAA Tag Team Championships. However, FTR’s future with the company is unclear.
FTR’s Dax Harwood spoke openly about the team’s contract situation on the Jan. 12 episode of his podcast. He also received permission from his teammate Cash Wheeler to publicly discuss the team’s status. He said the team has no championship titles, so they have a clean slate for the year.
“… I’ve also got the blessing of Tony Khan to talk about this and make a statement about this. Tony has been nothing but top-notch to me and Dan since day one. There are things we haven’t agreed on, as any boss and any employee, and even any friend. There are times I felt the boat was missed on opportunities for us. There were times that I was super happy with everything we were doing,” said Harwood.
Harwood began to explain why the team’s future with AEW is uncertain. “But, there has come a time where we are on the tail end of our career, okay. I mean, I’m 38 years old. I talked last week about how hard it is for me to play with my daughter and things like that. We are on the tail end of our career now, so I think right now this point in our career is the most important time in our career. I mean that monetarily. I mean that creatively. I mean that personally. It is the most important time of our career. With that being said, we have asked and been granted the next few months off of television so we can sit back, reflect, decide, let our bodies heal and figure out what we are going to do for the next few years, because whatever we decided to do next will be the absolute last thing we do.”
Dax Harwood Talks About His Future and FTR’s Expiring Contract
It’s unclear what Wheeler thinks about the future of FTR or his career. However, Harwood is still determining if he or the team will be active in five years.
“…I don’t see myself after I’m done with whatever we are going to decide next. I don’t see myself in five years going on the independents and wrestling independents. I don’t see myself working in five years a Japan tour or a Mexico tour or traveling around the world and wrestling all over places. That’s why these next few months are the most important few months for us, said Harwood.
He continued, “…By April at least at most we will have an answer, but now again I have to take in my health, I have to take in my family, I have to take in my creativity and I have to take in my personal life all into consideration about what we are going to do next. I know what I want to do, but whatever we do I just want to be respected. We, I feel, I have done something so special in 2022 and most of that is in part to the fans. I think we deserve to continue to build on our legacy for ourselves, but also we owe it to the fans to build on that legacy because they made us this past year.
What’s Next For FTR?
Harwood confirmed that FTR’s contract would expire this April. He also shared that he isn’t sure how long FTR will not be on AEW TV. The company did tease a feud between The Gunn Club and FTR, but it’s uncertain if AEW will drop the storyline until they can confirm FTR will re-sign.
If FTR’s next contract is their last, it’s possible both Harwood and Wheeler could be in their early 40’s. The AEW tag team is in limbo as both men try to figure out what is best for themselves. That could also mean testing free agency in April for the best offers for their careers and personal life.
It appears that All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) Young Bucks were actually offered to be part of Wrestle Kingdom 17 recently.
Sports Illustrated caught up with The Young Bucks this week ahead of yesterday’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The duo, alongside Kenny Omega, ended up re-capturing the AEW World Trios Titles on the program.
During their conversation, the topic of Kenny Omega’s return to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) at Wrestle Kingdom 17 was mentioned.
The duo revealed that they were actually offered to work the show in Omega’s corner for his match with Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship.
“We were actually asked to wrestle and be in Kenny’s corner,” Nick said. “But Matt and I had vacation plans that week. Maybe next year. Who knows?”
(AEW)
Matt added, “We got a fantastic offer. Personally, the timing and the situation didn’t fit for us. I’m sure one day you’ll see us back in a NJPW ring.”
Omega went on to win the match, capturing the IWGP US Title for the second time. He now reigns as the title holder for NJPW, as well as one-third of the Trios Champions in AEW.
The Elite captured the Trios Titles after winning a lengthy Best Of Seven series against Death Triangle.
With rumors running rampant about a WWE sale, Conrad Thompson has chimed in on whether or not he believes AEW’s Tony Khan could put in a winning bid.
Thompson recently took to his podcast with Eric Bischoff, “83 Weeks,” to discuss the ongoing rumors about a potential WWE sale. The longtime professional wrestling podcaster noted he has received calls from multiple people asking if he thinks Khan could purchase WWE.
While Thompson believes that Khan certainly has the ability to purchase WWE, he’s not sure it would make much sense for him to do so.
“I got two phone calls last week from different people who, well, they’re names in the wrestling community,” Conrad Thompson said. “‘Would Tony Khan have the capacity to buy WWE?’ And, I think the answer is, yes, he has the capacity.
“There is no question that he would be able to put together a deal. But, I would just, I would put the odds of that being near zero. Like what would be, I don’t know why Tony Khan would do that. I don’t see the upside of Tony Khan doing that.
“How much of your 11 billion dollars of your net worth — depending on how much of it is even liquid — are you willing to put on WWE? … You’ve got the Jags, you’ve got a football team in England, you’ve got AEW, I don’t know what other businesses they’re in, but do you really, really want to do that?”
Recently, Vince McMahon returned to WWE’s board of directors to reportedly help facilitate a trade. Frontrunners have emerged for the purchasing; with names like Amazon, FOX, and Comcast leading the way.
There was a brief rumor that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund secured and finalized a deal to purchase WWE, however, that report was later proven false as no deal has been completed as of this writing.
Despite this, the Saudi investment fund still remains a very real contender to purchase the professional wrestling juggernaut.
This popular wrestling promotion celebrated its four-year anniversary recently and will soon be teaming with the hit quiz show Jeopardy.
The answer: What is All Elite Wrestling?
That’s at least according to AEW referee Bryce Remsburg, who on Twitter this week, shared a photo from the Jeopardy studio.
In his tweet, Remsburg thanked Ken Jennings, the host of the show for letting him visit his work, and teased a crossover project between AEW and Jeopardy that will be revealed next week.
Thanks to the great @KenJennings for letting me come visit him at work this week.
All Elite Wrestling may still be a young company (celebrating its four-year anniversary this week) but Tony Khan’s brand of wrestling has struck a chord with the mainstream.
Last June, several AEW stars, including Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Christian Cage, Ruby Soho, Powerhouse Hobbs, MJF, and Britt Baker, appeared on Apple TV’s Carpool Karaoke.
Not long after, it was confirmed that AEW’s Orange Cassidy, Kris Statlander, and Chuck Taylor would be part of season two of Netflix’s hit show ‘The Floor is Lava.’
The show sees teams attempt to traverse an obstacle course without falling in the ‘lava’ below.
Wrestlers and Game Shows
This will be the first time AEW teams with Jeopardy, but will hardly be the first example of wrestlers appearing on a quiz show.
In November 2001, stars of the WWF appeared on a celebrity edition of the Weakest Link, which was won by Triple H.
The Game outlasted other stars and his wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley to win for his charity.
A second edition of the show was hosted the following year, with the Big Red Machine Kane (in full Kane attire) defeating Bubba Ray Dudley in the finals.
Clad in street clothes, Adam Cole (baybay) said he had some “good news and some bad news.”
Cole asked if everyone was “ready for story time with Adam Cole, baybay?” He spoke about how thankful he is for his career and life. He revealed that he has been dealing with a “shoulder that was torn to shreds” and consecutive head injuries. He shared that he was seeing doctors multiple times a week. He struggled with headaches and dizziness, especially if he was riding in a car. Cole was struggling with anxiety.
Cole got emotional recounting what he’s been through and said he had bad news. But, it wasn’t for him. It was “for the AEW locker room because Adam Cole is back!” He thought his career was finished, but he “will not stop until I’m the very best.”
Saraya is bringing back up to AEW Dynamite tonight when she teams with Toni Storm to take on Britt Baker and AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter.
This will mark Sarayay’s second match in AEW as she worked her first match since 2017 last November at the Full Gear pay-per-view event against Bakker.
The match has drawn a lot of buzz, with many expecting Mercedes Mone to be involved in some capacity. Originally, Saraya announced that she would have a mystery partner that she would pick, which sparked speculation the former Sasha Banks would be filling that role.
The former WWE star had to wait out her non-compete clause that expired on January 1 before she made her NJPW debut just days later at Wrestle Kingdom 17 when she confronted KAIRI.
The Tease
AEW later announced that Storm would be teaming up with Saraya. There’s been speculation that Mone could show up after the match. Saraya stated during a Twitch live stream today that she has used two tickets she was given b yBaker.
Saraya stated, “Britt did give me two tickets, and they were put to good use, so thank you, Britt!”
We will have to wait and see who Saraya gave her tickets to for tonight’s Dynamite from the Forum in Los Angeles, CA.
Tony Khan says AEW plans to begin running non-televised live events.
All Elite Wrestling does not currently run house shows. This comes with positives and negatives. Many wrestlers find the AEW schedule favorable to WWE’s, because it is far less demanding.
AEW films Dynamite and Rampage on Wednesday nights most weeks, leading to a lighter travel schedule and more free time. On the flip side, the company is not earning revenue from a full-time touring schedule and younger talent is not getting the experience they need to develop as performers.
Beginning to run live events will bring a significant change to AEW’s business model. The initiative brings logistical coordination, as well as new expenses. However, it also comes with increased revenue from ticket and merchandise sales.
AEW Live Events Coming Soon
(AEW)
Khan appeared on the In The Zone podcast earlier this week and says AEW is actively talking about taking their show on the road.
“We have a great live events team,” said Khan. “It’s something we’ve talked a lot about and building out the live event business.”
When Jeff Jarrett signed with AEW in November 2022 and was named the Director of Business Development, the belief was that his function would include getting their house show business up and running.
Khan says the wrestlers and fans want AEW live events, so it’s something that he’s motivated to make happen.
“There is definitely a lot of demand for AEW live events, and now we have this great big strong roster that wants to do these live events, so it’s something we’re going to do.”
– Tony Khan
Jim Ross also recently addressed the topic of AEW live events on his Grilling JR podcast. He stated last month, “I believe, I don’t know this to be a fact but I believe in 2023, that AEW will be in the house show/ live event business to some degree. I just think that it’s an opportunity that can be capitalized upon if AEW is strategic in their planning. I think that’s what Jeff Jarrett is working on.”
H/T to Fightful and Jeremy Lambert for the transcribed quotes
The wrestling world is still processing the return of Vince McMahon to WWE as a member of the Board Of Directors along with Michelle Wilson and George Barrios.
Last July, the wrestling world changed when Vince McMahon announced his retirement and stepped down as WWE CEO amidst the hush money scandal, leading to Triple H taking over WWE creative. Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan were named co-CEOs. Stephanie also took over as Chairwoman.
McMahon officially returned on January 6, 2023, as a member of the board to help with media rights negotiations and a potential sale. WWE has reportedly hired JPMorgan to advise on a potential sale. Many people believe that McMahon will find a way or force his way back into power and take over creative again.
Khan’s Take
While speaking on In The Zone, AEW President Tony Khan was asked if he’s been following the news of Vince’s return to WWE. Khan responded,
“Yeah, absolutely. I’m following it very closely.”
– Tony Khan
Khan was asked what separated AEW and WWE and if there was room for both companies. Khan thinks there is enough room for both promotions but thinks what separates them are the fans of AEW, as they’ve built a loyal fanbase and cited the television ratings.
WWE’s media rights for WWE Raw on USA Network and WWE SmackDown on Fox are set to expire in 2024. They will be gearing up for its next set of negotiations with TV networks later this year for media rights.
Andrade El Idolohasn’t used the way he and fans thought he would be in AEW when he signed with the promotion. He was believed to be on his way out of the company at one point. He has further ignited the fuel by posting a cryptic message.
El Idolo made a name for himself in Mexico before signing with WWE, where he was a top NXT star. However, expectations weren’t met on the main roster due to his booking, so he left the company in March 2021.
El Idolo made his debut in AEW in June 2021. When he first debuted, some fans thought he would have a better run in All Elite than he had in WWE. However, that clearly has not happened.
Andrade is sidelined with an injury, and it’s been heavily reported that he was unhappy in AEW and wants to leave the company despite having years left on his deal.
The Post
On social media, he shared a photo that showed his mask packed in a bag with a goodbye message in the caption.“Bye!!!”
A fan asked Conrad Thompson why Andrade is not following him on Twitter. Andrade saw the post and responded, “someday I will be with you in the podcasts and I will talk about everything….Sueña Interesante!”
If Andrade does leave AEW, it will be interesting to see if he returns to WWE under the new management led by WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H.
Wrestling veteran Konnan doesn’t fancy Mercedes Moné’s chances in AEW if she decides to become ‘All-Elite.’
The former Sasha Banks made her debut last month for New Japan Pro Wrestling, attacking IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI after a successful title defense.
KAIRI will put her title on the line against Moné at NJPW Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California on February 18.
A Couple of Weeks
Despite Moné being contracted to New Japan, there is plenty of speculation that she will soon compete for AEW.
On his Keepin’ it 100 podcast, Konnan shared his doubts about how Moné would fair in AEW.
“I’m just afraid, and all you’ve got to do is look at their past history, that [Moné is] going to be there, be a big deal for a few couple weeks and then they won’t know what to do with her.”
Konnan.
It had been speculated that Moné would be Saraya’s mystery partner for this week’s tag-team match against Dr. Britt Baker and AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter.
Though AEW has announced that Saraya will team with Toni Storm, many believe that Storm will be taken out of the match, giving Moné the spot.
One Woman Roster
Konnan is hardly the only person to have an issue with AEW’s women’s division, as this has been one of Tony Khan’s biggest pitfalls.
After Thunder Rosa had a minute-long backstage segment to explain her injury last August, Khan said he opted not to give her a long in-ring spot (akin to CM Punk’s injury) as he believed it wouldn’t be a ratings draw.
On his podcast, Konnan said that the whole women’s division is Britt, Britt, and Britt,” referring to Baker’s frequent appearances, and called on AEW to “give other girls a chance.”
Legendary wrestling broadcaster Jim Ross has no plans to retire, despite fans who complain online about his work.
JR spoke about this topic and more on the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast focusing on the 1998 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.The Oklahoma native is a polarizing figure these days. He’s one of the most iconic voices in wrestling history, but some believe his best days are behind him. If ever he makes a mistake while calling a match, it quickly becomes a topic of conversation on social media.
Ross says he sees negative feedback about his work every day, including calls for him to retire. With nearly five decades in the business, he’d developed a thick skin.
Retiring on His Terms
Jim Ross was a legend before many of these ‘critics’ were born. He still enjoys what he does and is savoring this chapter of his illustrious career.
“I read about it every day. ‘When is JR Going to quit? When is JR going to get off Wednesday, I gotta get off the air.’ Well, you know, I got no timeline on this thing. I know when my agreement with Tony Khan is up. But does that mean I’m not going to continue? No.”
– Jim Ross
Ross is in charge of his destiny and gets to decide the amount of work and travel he takes on. The older he gets, the more he feels that he does not want to pass up on these valuable opportunities to continue contributing.
In addition to his role as an on-air commentator, Ross also serves as a ‘senior advisor’ for AEW. At some point, the day will come when he hangs up the headset. Even then, he can still contribute in a managerial role.
Daniel Garcia’s departure from this year’s Battle of Los Angeles came about thanks to a request by All Elite Wrestling.
In the first round of the tournament hosted by Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Garcia lost to Titus Alexander, who would lose to Konsuke Takeshita in the second round.
Takeshita would make it to the tournament finals, where he would lose a 27-minute war to ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey.
Request
Given that he is the reigning PWG World Champion, Garcia’s early elimination came as a shock to the fans in attendance.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that AEW did not want Garcia to lose clean, and requested the DQ finish.
While Garcia came up short this year, he won last year’s Battle of Los Angeles, ironically defeating this year’s winner Mike Bailey in the finals.
Night Two
Garcia’s elimination from the tournament allowed him to exit the running without dropping a fall, but also freed him up for night two of the event.
On the second night, Garcia, would make a surprise appearance among the rest of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
That show saw Chris Jericho make his PWG debut, teaming with Garcia, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker and Sammy Guevara to defeat Jonathan Gresham, Evil Uno, SB Kento, Michael Oku, and Kevin Blackwood.
Jericho got the pinfall on Blackwood, and after the match, said he and the JAS had a “f***ing blast.”
The former AEW World Champion added that PWG is the modern-day ECW in that the show has passion and allows indie wrestlers to hone their skills in front of a rabid crowd.
Last Wednesday, Mercedes Monè made her much anticipated debut in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17. She’s been the talk of the wrestling world and the conversation has turned to AEW.
Last month, AEW began hyping up a mystery opponent for Saraya for the January 11 episode of Dynamite. Social media began buzzing that none other than Monè would be her partner. The two have a history and it would make sense for “The Blueprint” to be her partner. Last week, Saraya told Toni Storm that she was her partner.
Matt Hardy on what Mercedes Monè would bring to AEW
On the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy said that Monè “really bet on herself. It’s hard for me not to appreciate that because I’m one of those guys too where I feel like — Vince knew that too — I don’t have to be in WWE. I’m not afraid to step out of Alexandria, a safe zone. I kind of compare Alexandria from the Walking Dead to WWE. If you stay inside and you have these walls, you’re going to have like, a nice life and it’s safe and it’s easy. You can make decent money and it’s good. But, you can go outside those walls and you can survive on your own, but you have to hustle. So, I have huge respect for anyone who is willing to leave WWE and go out and hustle on their own.”
“I think Mercedes is killing it and she’s doing a great job keeping herself relevant, keeping herself in conversations, being a huge talking point in wrestling business and showing up in New Japan and doing what she did. It was a big deal.”
When asked if he could see Monè in AEW, Hardy replied, “without a doubt.” “I could almost see her being a free agent for a while and just doing spots in AEW. I could definitely see that happening. And it wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up showing up this coming up Dynamite as the mystery partner. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. I don’t know, I don’t have that information. But, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
(Note: this episode was recorded prior to Saraya’s announcement of Toni Storm.)
On what Monè would bring to AEW, Hardy declares that “she is a big star. I mean, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts, about it. I mean, she really has put a ton of equity on her name and on her character and on her identity as a pro wrestler. And she’s been able to continue to hold that as she hasn’t been working with WWE. She’s kept herself in the headlines, which is great.”
“Her coming in to AEW would be a big deal. I feel in some ways, it would be very similar to almost like Cody situation in some ways. It’s like a huge jump; left WWE and came to AEW. It would have that feel.”
After becoming the first woman to sign with AEW, Baker would go on to become the first woman to win an AEW match, defeating Nyla Rose, Kylie Rae, and Awesome Kong, in fatal-four-way action at Double or Nothing 2019.
A legitimate concussion suffered at AEW Fight for the Fallen that July sparked a feud between herself and Bea Priestly (now WWE’s Blair Davenport) leading to a match on the Full Gear pre-show which Baker would win.
Turning heel in January 2020, Baker would suffer a leg injury that forced her to miss much of 2020, and would return at All Out to lose to Big Swole that September.
Baker’s breakout performance would come on the March 17, 2021 AEW Dynamite, where she lost to Thunder Rosa in the critically-acclaimed Lights Out match.
Despite the loss, Baker’s momentum was undeniable, and would win the AEW Women’s World Championship at Double or Nothing 2021, and won the inaugural Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament at the following year’s event.
This Wednesday will see Baker team with her ally and current AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter to face Saraya and Toni Storm, in the former Paige’s second match with AEW.
Chris Jericho has now added yet another promotion to his impressive collection by showing up at Pro Wrestling Guerilla’s Battle of Los Angeles.
Alongside the entire roster of the Jericho Appreciation Society, the former World Champion teamed with Sammy Guevara, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Daniel Garcia, who is the reigning PWG World Champion
The Jericho Appreciation Society would face Jonathan Gresham, Evil Uno, SB Kento, Michael Oku, and Kevin Blackwood in a 10-man tag bout.
Jericho’s debut for PWG proved to be a successful one, with the leader of the JAS getting the pinfall on Blackwood after hitting the Judas Effect.
Dave Meltzer’s live notes on the match called it “super entertaining” and that the crowd and wrestlers treated it as a “major match, all action.”
Meltzer added that there was a slow-motion spot for minutes until Jericho started chopping Oku hard, and called Oku and Jericho the highlight of the match.
Jericho gave Blackwood multiple near-falls on him before hitting the Judas Effect.
After the Match
Jericho and his team were victorious, but the former AEW and WWE World Champion had plenty to say after the match.
Saying that they had a “f***ing blast,” Jericho added that PWG is “the modern-day ECW,” noting the passion of the fans and the lack of guard rails.
Jericho added that PWG, like ECW has a great atmosphere that allows indie wrestlers to hone their skills in front of a rabid crowd.
AEW’s Kyle O’Reilly has opened up about his recovery and the post-surgery issues that he’s had to deal with.
O’Reilly, a former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion, in December 2021 as he opted not to resign his contract, and debuted for AEW weeks later.
His arrival in AEW saw O’Reilly reunite with Adam Cole and Bobby Fish, members of NXT’s Undisputed Era, and briefly formed the Undisputed Elite with the Young Bucks.
Surgery
O’Reilly’s most recent match for AEW came in June of last year, where after winning a battle royal, lost to Jon Moxley in a AEW World Championship qualifying match for AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door.
In early September, O’Reilly posted an image to his Instagram story of himself laying in a hospital bed, and hinted that he had undergone neck fusion surgery.
Taking to Instagram this week, O’Reilly spoke about how it is a cliché, but he plans on this new year seeing a new him.
The 35-year-old wrestler added that he has been “dealing with a post-surgical issue” and promised to explain more later.
O’Reilly also spoke about living with diabetes and thanked those who have supported him change his approach to his condition and “hop off the blood sugar roller coaster.”
In an interview with Beyond Type 1 last October, O’Reilly said that this was his first “significant injury” throughout his 17-year wrestling career.
O’Reilly said that he will be using the time to evaluate himself so that he can come back better than ever, and be an overall better athlete.
Neither O’Reilly nor AEW have disclosed when fans can expect him back, but those who have dealt with neck-fusion surgery in the past have missed anywhere from nine months to a year of in-ring time.
O’Reilly’s Undisputed Era ally Bobby Fish left AEW last year and has since joined with Impact Wrestling.
Fans of Xavier Woods’ popular UpUpDownDown YouTube channel will soon get to hear the group’s single ‘Can’t Stop Da Party.’
Da Party consists of Woods, former WWE Superstar and current trainer Tyler Breeze, Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, and AEW’s Adam Cole.
On Twitter, Cole shared an image of the four members and said it is just two more days before the track’s release.
Given that the tweet was released yesterday, that means that ‘Can’t Stop Da Party’ will drop at some point tomorrow.
Fans can find out more information on how to purchase the track by clicking here.
Harley Cameron
Harley Cameron, who has performed with Shotzi and Scarlett, will feature in the track set to be released on Monday.
All four members of Da Party have proven themselves in the ring, and while Woods can hold his own on the trombone, none are known for their singing.
In addition to the foursome, the track will feature Harley Cameron, who is a wrestler/singer.
Cameron worked with Shotzi and Scarlett last October for a cover of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and produced the theme song for The IInspiration in Impact Wrestling.
Da Party
The quartet of Woods, Breeze, Castagnoli, and Cole were highlights of UpUpDownDown for years, but the group’s run was cut short by factors outside of their control.
Breeze was released from WWE in 2021, and Cole would choose not to re-sign with the company shortly after.
In October 2022, members of Da Party teased a reunion and in November, streamed on Twitch for their first time playing together since Cole’s departure.
Jade Cargill is getting rave reviews for her improved ring work.
The reigning TBS Champion is coming up on the two year anniversary of her AEW debut (March 3, 2021). She’s still early in wrestling career, which has led some critics to call her green. Fortunately, Cargill has star power to spare and had joked that she’s “green like money.”
On Friday’s live edition of AEW Rampage, Cargill successfully defended her gold against Skye Blue. Cargill looked impressive – especially this finishing sequence:
Jade Cargill is really improving – she’s been “green like money” but will be the total package sooner than later #TBSpic.twitter.com/5Xq60Npf6d
Ospreay is one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, so an endorsement from him carries a lot of weight. He just wrestled a Match-of-the-Year candidate against Kenny Omega at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. The match was so good that Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer rated it 6.25 stars (on a scale of 1-5).
Ospreay is not the only main event star who has taken notice of Cargill’s development. Last month, Cargill was asked about her dream opponent. She named WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, “because she can go.” Flair replied:
Keep killing it queen. #undefeated
– Charlotte Flair to Jade Cargill
Ex-WWE Writer Freddie Prinze Jr. is also a big fan of Cargill, calling her an incredibly unique performer and likening her to a unicorn who deserves to be booked in a special way.
“Lions and tigers and bears are cool, but a Unicorn, a Minotaur, a Cerberus,” said Prinze. “They’re magic, and they’re treated that way in the stories I read as a kid. And that’s what Jade is, she’s a Unicorn.”
There’s no doubt that Jade Cargill is one of the most promising home-grown stars on the AEW roster. The 48-0 champion has proven that she’s willing to put the work in to improve her skills. If she continues at this pace, she really will be the “total package” in the near future.
Although it was originally believed that AEW reached out to The Young Bucks about negotiating a new contract, the two sides have yet to officially begin the process of doing so.
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the situation on Wednesday’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
According to Meltzer, the deals for both Nick & Matt Jackson are up at the end of 2023. AEW President Tony Khan is looking to “lock them in” to a new deal for multiple years.
Where Things Stand
“AEW contacted them and wants to start the negotiations, but there have been no negotiations as of today, and they are certainly not close to a deal,” Meltzer said on the show.
Alvarez noted that it’d been acknowledged by both sides that they should be negotiating, but that acknowledgment is all that has been done right now.
Meltzer stated it’s similar to when AEW re-signed Chris Jericho to a new deal despite him still having time on his existing deal.
On next week’s episode of Dynamite, The Young Bucks will team with Kenny Omega in the seventh and final match in their series with Death Triangle for the AEW Trios Titles.
