All Elite Wrestling may have had its share of problems backstage, but their relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery is stronger than ever. The media giant operates both TBS, the home of AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights, and TNT the home of AEW Rampage on Fridays.
A new documentary show is in the works that focus on the behind-the-scenes lives of AEW stars, according to a report by Fightful. AEW talent and staff were informed this past week about the project. Talent have been informed that participation in the docuseries is voluntary and that they have the option not to be involved.
Filming is set to start in November at the Baltimore AEW Dynamite and run six weeks through the AEW tapings in Garland, Texas on December 14.
Producers
Fightful’s report added that Tony Khan will serve as Executive Producer of the documentary show, with Sam Berns, Executive Producer of Shed Media helping out.
The show will be in association with both Warner Media and Shed Media, who according to their website, provide “unscripted and alternative television.”
Sources who spoke to Fightful said the plan is for the documentary series to begin airing next year.
AEW Behind the Scenes
While a documentary series like this is a first for AEW, it will hardly be the first time fans see the inner workings of the company.
Thanks to ‘Being the Elite’ audiences have seen several behind-the-scenes skits featuring their favorite AEW wrestlers.
The show is on hiatus for the time being, due to the Elite (Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks) being suspended from AEW due to the ongoing investigation into the All Out backstage fight.
Prior to their exit, Cody and Brandi Rhodes also gave a behind-the-scenes look at AEW with their show ‘Rhodes to the Top.’
Toni Storm knows she won’t be the true queenpin of All Elite Wrestling until her Interim title is unified with Thunder Rosa’s AEW Women’s World Championship.
Storm won the ‘placeholder’ belt at September’s All Out pay-per-view when she defeated Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter and Hikaru Shida in a Fatal 4-way match. She’s been a fighting champion ever since, but she believes it’s “nonsense” that Thunder Rosa is still recognized as the real champion.
Storm has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy the injury that’s put Rosa out of action indefinitely. Rosa has defended herself, claiming she could barely walk and denying she has backstage heat with other women on the roster.
During a new interview with Chris Mueller for Bleacher Report, she’s now bemoaning the fact that she’s only an interim champion. Storm didn’t mince words when asked what’s next for her.
“I guess my first thing would be to beat Thunder Rosa and stop this interim nonsense,” said Storm. “That’s kind of what’s been bothering me. I think that’s been bothering a lot of people because she’s still calling herself the AEW women’s world champion and I’m the one here every week doing the work.”
– Toni Storm
Just Focus on Being the Best
We don’t have any indication that Rosa is gearing up for an in-ring return, so Storm will have to focus on what she can control, for now. Right now, she’s focused on being a strong champion, working hard and giving her all.
“I guess it’s about being a good champion, being a strong champion,” she said. “That’s what I’m up against every day. I’m working harder than I ever had in my entire career. The time is now. I look at every week as just an opportunity to prove myself. I love giving it my all and who knows where we go from here? But all I know is I’m gonna continue to work hard.”
Head over to Bleacher Report for more from this interview, including Toni Storm’s opinion on Saraya joining AEW.
Interim Titles in Wrestling
Storm is not the only AEW star to be saddled with a ‘less-than’ Interim championship. Jon Moxley was an Interim champion prior to steamrolling CM Punk to unify that championship earlier this summer.
Interim titles are commonplace in the UFC, when champions are injured for prolonged periods of time. There’s an argument to be made that a champion should have to forfeit their belt if they cannot defend it. Either way, it’s less-than-ideal when a new champion did not defeat the prior champion.
“I just can’t see anything in the wrestling business that he has a hand in that’s not going to be successful. And I’m obviously biased and partial to the man, but I would go to war for him seven days a week.”
Since being appointed Head of Talent, Triple H has brought several prominent stars back, including Johnny Gargano, Karrion Kross, Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt.
Former AEW World Champion went on a rant during the media scrum after All Out that the wrestling world is still talking about.
After his rant, CM Punk brawled with The Elite and everyone was subsequently stripped of their titles (AEW World Championship & Trios Championships) and have not been seen on AEW TV since the PPV on September 4th.
Jon Moxley once again captured the AEW World Championship by defeating Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions at Dynamite: Grand Slam. Moxley is set to defend the title next week on a special Tuesday night edition of Dynamite.
Rob Van Dam recently joined Kenny McIntosh for an Inside the Ropes live show and discussed the former AEW World Champion. RVD hilariously compared CM Punk to a stripper during the conversation.
Anyway, CM Punk probably has as big of an ego as anybody I can think of that I met in the business. I’m not saying that necessarily in a bad way.
Depends on how you take it, but I think that he believes that he really is the best, you know, the best in the world.
I learned years ago, that strippers can be fun to date, as long as they can leave the gimmick at work and not bring it home and be normal at home.
Rob added that the guys that make it to the top of the wrestling industry often times have the biggest egos but are also the ones he finds crazy.
If you’re able to come back in the dressing room and still be that guy in the ring, that say they really believe you’re the best in the world, and you’re ready to prove it or whatever, then you know, the business looks at someone like that as like ‘Dude, you’re believing your own hype.’
There’s nobody on their own that is moving the industry, it’s everybody together. So being around him just feeling his energy, I feel like he believes that.
Hey, these guys make it to the top the guys who believe in themselves the most the guys who do the promos that convince you they really think they’re the best. They are the ones who make it to the top.
They’re also the ones that I can’t stand because I think they’re f*cking crazy.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman has become one of the biggest stars in All Elite Wrestling and is in line for a shot at the AEW World Championship.
MJF cut a backstage promo on this week’s Dynamite and revealed that he doesn’t like himself either, but he has to be the bad guy. Stokely Hathaway interrupted and MJF threatened to fire The Firm as his stable on retainer.
The 26-year-old vowed to capture the AEW World Championship. Jon Moxley is set to defend the title against former champion Hangman Adam Page on a special Tuesday night edition of Dynamite on the 18th.
Jim Cornette Explains What Sets MJF Apart
Legendary manager and promoter Jim Cornette discussed MJF on episode 265 of Jim Cornette’s Drive Thru. A fan compared MJF to Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1997 and Cornette disagreed. Jim pointed out that Austin may have been a heel at the time, he wasn’t a smart a** that insulted people all the time.
That was completely different than MJF, who is pretty thoroughly in every aspect a heel, unlikeable, untrustworthy, will use other people to fight his battles, will jump somebody from behind, take advantage of someone, will back off from a face-to-face confrontation.
He will verbally annihilate somebody when the opportunity is there but then show fear and or trepidation if they’re in front of him.
The reason why everybody is cheering MJF now has nothing to do with the reasons they started cheering Steve Austin then.
Cornette said that fans are smarter to the business nowadays and can appreciate MJF’s performance. Jim added that there is currently a lack of entertaining wrestlers and MJF fills that void for many fans.
He’s the only one working anymore. He makes you want to see s*** and then takes it away from you until the last minute. He doesn’t just bump for the sake of bumping for everybody.
Because he knows that first he has to piss the people off so they will want to see him have his comeuppance.
So he’s got a mind, he’s got a mouth, and he’s got a physique that he knows how to use in the ring.
He’s ahead of 90% of the other people in the business and he’s more entertaining than almost all of them.
Cornette noted that Death Matches used to be popular in the territory days because they were unusual but now they are commonplace. Jim claimed that MJF is one of the only wrestlers today that knows how to cut a promo and work in the ring.
It’s all the same except for guys like MJF. The reason why all that other s*** used to get over in the territory days (Death Match) is that it was different and unusual.
Everybody else was wrestlers that knew how to talk and work. Now he’s one of the only ones of those left. MJF’s out there running a business, so they like him.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.
WWE star Finn Balor has given high praise to Chris Jericho.
After signing with WWE in 2014, Balor has crossed paths with a who’s who of the industry’s best wrestlers, such as John Cena, Roman Reigns, and even several wrestlers who are AEW stars. Chris Jericho received high praise from the former WWE Universal Champion.
Finn Balor Praises Chris Jericho
While speaking with Josh Martinez of the Superstar Crossover podcast, Balor discussed Jericho’s legacy in the pro wrestling business after a pre-recorded prompt from the current ROH World Heavyweight Champion.
“Chris Jericho is not only an AEW legend, not only a WWE legend, or a Japanese wrestling legend. He’s a legend of this business. He’s an incredible performer. He’s been able to adapt and change his character to suit multiple generations, and I feel like he is a treasure of this industry.”
Balor and Jericho previously faced each other in WWE and share a similar pro wrestling journey with experience working in Japan.
Jericho recently successfully retained the title against Bryan Danielson on the October 12 edition of AEW Dynamite. On the flip side, Balor is coming off a win over Edge in an I Quit Match at Extreme Rules on October 8.
The AEW All Out media scrum is one of the most talked about press conferences in the history of the wrestling business.
CM Punk ripped Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and The Young Bucks. The former AEW World Heavyweight Champion was involved in a backstage brawl with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. Ace Steel was also part of the brawl.
No Timetable
A third-party investigation into the brawl was started and is still going on. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there is still no timetable for the investigation to be concluded.
Meltzer stated that none of the five (Punk, Young Bucks, Steel, and Omega) have heard anything from AEW but are continuing to get paid.
At least one person (not one of the five) who was there had not been interviewed, and there may be others. It was said that most are frustrated because they want to be back working at this point. Punk may be the exception to that belief since he can’t work for a long time due to getting surgery.
Meltzer continued by noting that none of the five stars are allowed to speak, but several of them want to discuss the incident.
“Any rumors of anyone being fired, anyone being told they aren’t coming back, or anything like that are incorrect as of midweek at least. None have been given any impression of a timetable.”
Saraya is opening up about injuries forcing her into retirement in her mid 20’s, feeling “completely useless” when WWE wouldn’t use her for three years and refusing to give the company a cut of the revenue from her lucrative Twitch channel.
She discussed these topics and more on the latest episode of Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast. Saraya signed a WWE contract in September 2011 when she was just 19 years old. She accomplished a lot during her time in NXT and WWE, but was forced to retire in 2018 due to serious injuries to her neck.
Jericho asked how it felt to know her in-ring career was cut short at such a young age.
“Awful,” she said. “The only thing is that I was in a better mindset, because if it was a couple years before, I would have spiraled 100%, but at that point, I was just like, ‘You know what, I can’t hit rock bottom again, I can only continue and try to do other things.’
But then, I got to be GM and I loved it, but that kind of got cut short as well, and I never really understood why, because it was a great gig. I feel like everyone liked it, I never got anything negative from it, it was just shocking.
Road Dogg called me the day before I was supposed to fly out, and then he was just like, ‘So, we’re probably not going to do the GM thing anymore, so you won’t have to come to work tomorrow.’ Then, he decided that I was going to come and do a goodbye speech as GM, which I thought was really sweet. So, I end up flying in, doing that first segment of the show and flying back and then I was sitting on my ass for years. Still under contract, doing absolutely nothing.”
Feeling Useless When WWE Wouldn’t Let Her Work
“I ended up sitting in my house for like 3 or 4 years. That’s the most depressing thing. You just feel like you’re completely useless.”
– Saraya
Saraya was devastated when WWE relieved her as General Manager. The role gave her something to do on camera outside of the ring. When that fell through, she wanted to contribute in other ways. She pitched many ideas, including being a brand ambassador or a manager, but the company gave her the runaround.
“I remember contacting them and being like, ‘If you want me to do media, I can do that, if you want me to do this, I can do that, if you want me to do managerial work, I think Ronda needed a mouthpiece at the time, I was constantly pitching these different ideas. I was like, ‘I can do these things, I’m available, just let me know.’ But I ended up sitting in my house for like 3 or 4 years. That’s the most depressing thing. You just feel like you’re completely useless and then you can’t go and do anything else, because you’re under a contract where, even though you’re an independent contractor, you still need permission to do stuff, and then it would get turned down.”
Twitch
Absolutely not. You can get Vince to call me if you want, but I’m not giving you my Twitch, there’s no f*cking way.
– Saraya
Saraya was not content just sitting at home and doing nothing. WWE wasn’t giving her anything to do, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. She joined the Twitch streaming platform. Saraya’s Twitch account took off and she made a lot of money interacting with her fans online from the comfort of her home.
That sounds like a great setup, until she got a call from Vince McMahon’s assistant who said WWE wants a cut of her Twitch earnings.
“It used to really get to me a lot, I never used to be vocal about it until they tried to take my Twitch away. I was just like, ‘There’s absolutely no way you’re going to take my Twitch away from me.’ Vince’s assistant at the time called me, he only did one phone call, and he was just like, ‘Well, you need to give us a percentage of this.’ If I had spoken to Vince, he would have been way more chill about it, I believe, but his assistant just had a fucking stick up his ass.”
I was frustrated. I was like, no way. Not only did I break my neck for you guys twice, for this company, but you don’t let me do anything. So I’m not earning this extra money that I would get if I was on the road doing media and all that kind of stuff. So I was like, this is what I’m doing. It’s keeping me sane. In the end, I just said, ‘Absolutely not. You can get Vince to call me if you want, but I’m not giving you my Twitch, there’s no f*cking way. ‘
Listen to Saraya’s appearance on the Talk is Jericho podcast:
Saraya made her AEW debut during the September 21 episode of Dynamite and received a hero’s welcome. Though her arrival in the company wasn’t free of controversy. A lot of people questioned her decision to leave WWE behind despite them keeping her employed after her injury. The first promo she cut after joining the company also attracted negative reaction.
The newest AEW star addressed all this during her appearance on Talk Is Jericho. She first explained that it was WWE that let her go. According to her, fans should be happy that she found another place to continue her career:
“They call us traitors and stuff like that. But I’m like, ‘Well, they didn’t renew my contract. I don’t know what to tell you.’ It’s not as if I just left the company.
We left on good terms and it is what it is. But, I feel like people should be happy that there’s other companies out there that are just as big and getting bigger.” said Saraya, “There’s so many different places that all your favorites could potentially go and build a career. You’re not having to just focus on one company anymore. I just feel like that’s wonderful.”
‘You Guys Need To Chill’ : Saraya
Saraya then addressed her controversial promo from the September 28 Dynamite. The former champion had claimed during the show that it was good to finally have a boss that listened to her. This remark attracted negative fan reaction with people accusing her of not being grateful for the opportunities in WWE. Speaking about the promo and the fallout, the wrestling veteran explained that it was about how the creative process in WWE often led to frustration:
“Then they were mad at me because I said a boss that listens to me about the division. Because Hunter listened to me, he always did. He was always wonderful. That’s why I liked working with him in NXT. He’s the one that helped me when I first got to the main roster, but it can get a little frustrating at times being there as you know.” said Saraya, “You feel like you’re throwing ideas and stuff like that and seeing what sticks and then you end up just sitting in catering or you end up sitting at home. That’s the thing that became really frustrating.
Whereas I threw an idea at Tony, and straightaway he was like ‘Let’s give it a try. They can either like it or hate it, but we’ll give it a try.’ I really appreciate that. So I said that in a promo like, ‘Alright, A boss that listens to me.’ [It was like], Oh it’s the worst thing I ever said. It’s like I literally came over to their house and set their family on fire. It was like the worst thing ever. I was like, ‘Oh my god! you guys need to chill, it’s not that deep.’”
Saraya is the latest wrestling star to jump ships from WWE to AEW. While the new WWE regime under Triple H did try to bring her back into the company, she ultimately made the decision to join the rival promotion. According to the female star, there were two AEW stars who convinced her to join the organization.
The former Divas Champion recently appeared on Talk Is Jericho. Discussing how her AEW deal came together, Saraya revealed that it was the duo of Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley that convinced her for the move:
“People ask all the time, they’re like, so how did that come about and stuff like that. I was like, you know what? It’s a mixture between Jericho and Mox. They were like calling me about it. They were so awesome. They said you’re just gonna be happy.”
‘I Was Really Excited To Try Something New’: Saraya
Saraya later explained the reasoning behind her call to join Tony Khan’s promotion instead of going back to WWE. According to the former champion, she is really excited to try something new at this point in her career:
“It was like a mixture. I was like, ‘What do I do? Do I do WWE? Or do I go to AEW?’ And I was like ‘I just feel like I’m at the stage in my life where I’ve done so much with WWE and I’m thankful for that. But AEW is this company where there’s so much behind the scenes that people don’t see.’ I feel like there’s like this camaraderie, if that’s the right word. It is so relaxed back there too.
I was just really excited to try something so new and then like with a division that’s completely new too. As much as I love the girls, like I saw Charlotte literally minutes before I got here and I was like, ‘I miss you ladies,’ but I’m so excited to be in such a fresh [environment].”
Stu Grayson may have parted ways with All Elite Wrestling, but that didn’t stop him from making an appearance this week.
This week’s AEW Rampage, which will air tonight, was filmed after this week’s AEW Dynamite in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
According to sources who attended the taping, Grayson appeared during a backstage segment and earned a loud response from the fans at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Stu Grayson in AEW
Grayson spent the entirety of his AEW career as part of the Dark Order, teaming regularly with Evil Uno.
The pair made their debuts for AEW at the promotion’s first pay-per-view Double or Nothing in May 2019.
In July 2020, Uno and Grayson had their one opportunity at the AEW World Tag Team Championships, losing to then-champs Kenny Omega and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.
Stu Grayson may be best known for his time in AEW, but he has competed outside the promotion.
He has also wrestled for Pro Wrestling Guerilla, where he is a one-time World Tag Team Champion (with Uno.)
Grayson has also competed for Chikara, where he incorporated his love of video games into his character, using video game cartridges inserted into a slot on his tights to determine his wrestling style.
Since leaving AEW, Grayson has had just one match, teaming with Uno to unsuccessfully challenge HOG Tag Team Champions the Briscoes last month.
The behind-the-scene tensions in AEW have been a major topic of discussion recently. Every time it seems like things have settled down, a new report of heat between stars or a new altercation comes out, leading to more speculation. Though according to Chris Jericho, despite all this, the positivity within the company is off the charts.
Y2J recently had an interview with Comicbook.com. He first commented on the reports of him stepping up as a locker room leader in the past few months. Jericho explained that AEW has only been around for three years and the company has growing pains. This is why people like him, Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley have to come forward.
Commenting on the reports of the backstage environment of the promotion, Chris Jericho claimed that there is always going to be little dips and dots in any locker room:
“The funny thing is, everyone’s got an opinion when they’re online and the social media and all that stuff. We know what’s really happening and we know, sure there’re things you got to fix, but the positivity in our company is off the charts and the optimism of where we’re going over the next few years is also off the charts.”
Chris Jericho then stirred the conversation toward AEW’s third-year anniversary. He explained that it’s huge because when they started the company, they weren’t sure about having even a single anniversary. Per the former AEW champion, they are now taking care of the issues and focusing on the positives, which are 98% to two.
Hardy names various wrestlers who he thinks are the best he’s worked with in his career. He lists wrestlers like Eddie Guerrero, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, and Edge & Christian.
He shared who thinks are the best “with the newer style of wrestling.” “Three guys that I have to give shoutouts to because they truly do have great minds for what they do and they’re very polarizing, but Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. I’ve loved my experiences with them as well. It’s funny, you know, people sleep on the Young Bucks, but they really do know their shit. I mean, they can work an old school-style match if they needed to. They’re very well-versed in everything. They are extremely smart in how they put together their shit. They’re great.”
Matt Hardy would like to work with these AEW wrestlers
(AEW)
When asked who we wants to work with in AEW that he hasn’t worked with yet, Hardy immediately replied, “Kenny Omega”. For younger talent, he wants to work with MJF. He revealed that it was discussed at one point during the Pandemic Era.
Although they worked together some in WWE, the current AEW World Champion, Jon Moxley, is someone who would love to work with now and have a “one-on-one match with.”
After getting to work with “All Ego” Ethan Page a little bit, Hardy can see the similarities that host Jon Alba pointed out, such as his “wrestling acumen”.
Road Dogg doesn’t understand CM Punk’s us of “Cult Of Personality” as his entrance theme.
Taking to his podcast, “Oh You Didn’t Know,” Road Dogg discussed Punk’s use of the song by Living Colour for his theme. In Dogg’s opinion, the song doesn’t really match Punk’s personality.
“Buying ‘Cult of Personality’ for CM Punk makes zero sense to me. Yes that was his theme song for a minute, but why?
“[Whatever song they would’ve picked for his return] would’ve been fine, it would’ve been CM Punk’s new song and they could’ve found one in a music library that was close enough to where we can either copy this, rip it off a little bit, change it a little bit and own it, or we can just use that one, pay the library costs.
“I don’t know, I don’t think the’ Cult of Personality’ defines him in my mind or not. I don’t know if I’m just bringing that up because I’m negative about him all the time.”
Road Dogg and CM Punk have certainly had their issues with one another in the past. In a past podcast, the D-X member noted that he once wanted to fight Punk for the lack of respect he would show to veterans such as himself and The New Age Outlaws.
Currently, Punk is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a multi-time World Champion for the promotion. However, he’s currently nursing an injury that has him sidelined from in-ring action.
He was also involved in a backstage altercation with other AEW talents that has caused quite a bit of backstage drama within the promotion. His future with AEW remains in question.
Saraya has revealed why she wasn’t on this week’s episode of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Dynamite.
Some fans were confused as to why AEW’s newest signing wasn’t on this week’s episode of Dynamite. However, Saraya took to Twitter to explain that she wasn’t on the show this week because she had to make a trip home to the U.K.
It should be noted that Saraya’s uncle, Julian, passed away earlier this month. Saraya did note that she’d be back for next week’s episode in Cincinnati.
Sorry!! I’ll be back in next week in Cinci. Had to take a trip home to UK! https://t.co/2n6Tydie5x
The 30-year-old began her professional wrestling career back in 2005. She signed with WWE in 2011 under the ring name “Paige.” In perhaps one of the most memorable main roster debuts in recent memory, Paige debuted on Monday Night RAW the night after WrestleMania 30.
She congratulated then-champion AJ Lee on her successful title defense the night before, but after Lee slapped her, this lead to an impromptu title defense in which Paige actually won. Paige also held the NXT Women’s Title at the time.
(AEW)
Unfortunately, Paige’s career was plagued by injuries throughout her WWE run, as the last few years of her time with the company resulted in no in-ring competition due to her inability to get cleared medically.
However, after her contract with WWE expired earlier this year, Saraya opted to sign with AEW, who has since medically cleared her for in-ring competition.
Jon Moxley is at the top of the wrestling world. While he is financially set and can quit anytime he wants to, the AEW champion isn’t planning on going away anytime soon.
The AEW star recently spoke to Sports Illustrated. He talked about things such as helping younger talents, his battle with alcohol addiction and more.
Speaking about his goals in wrestling, Mox mentioned that he wants to get better with every match he wrestles. Per the 36-year-old, he wants to wrestle into his 50s:
“My goal is to keep getting way better. I want to wrestle into my 50s and become one of those crusty old-man wrestlers. It’s going to be f—ing awesome.”
– Jon Moxley
The former WWE star also commented on his new AEW contract. He claimed that his job is the best in the world and he is lucky to have it. According to Jon Moxley, all he worries about in AEW is wrestling.
Hours before Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan had confirmed Paquette’s ‘All-Elite’ status with a tweet.
Commentary
Before coming to AEW, Paquette worked as an interviewer in WWE, before rising to the ranks of Raw commentator.
Paquette’s arrival at the desk in September 2018 made her the first female full-time WWE commentator but faced criticism from some fans.
In her first appearance on ‘The Sessions’ since her AEW status was confirmed, Paquette was asked if she’d commentate for AEW.
“No. I shouldn’t say no, but I also feel like anyone who just heard you [co-host Emilio Sparks] ask, probably had the same reaction. ‘No thanks, we don’t need that. We don’t want that.’ And that’s always how I felt about it… People had such a negative reaction to it, and it just wasn’t the thing that I wanted it to be.”
While Paquette isn’t interested in the role, she still could not fully rule out the idea of commentating.
“If the opportunity made sense and it was something that everyone was on the same page about, maybe, but I just don’t see that being what I want to do.”
Being All-Elite
Paquette’s AEW arrival comes over two years after leaving WWE, where she worked as Renee Young.
Speaking about signing with AEW, Paquette said that it was more-so her husband [AEW World Champion Jon Moxley] who made the first step.
“For as much as I’d been around a lot, I’d never really talked to Tony about coming into AEW. A lot of it, and this is probably going to sound bad, and I’m sure people are going to take this out of context. Honestly, a lot of it was talking to Jon. Of being like ‘man, I want to get back in the wrestling world. I miss being around it. I miss doing stuff.’ So most of our conversations were internally between Jon and I.
“Him [Moxley] and Tony are obviously very close. They spend tons of time talking about things, so I think it was more so them talking about it. I think a lot of people thought I was done with wrestling to a degree.”
When asked later on, Paquette said that once the discussions about her joining AEW started, it did not take long for a deal to be struck.
“It all happened really fast. It literally happened so fast. Jon and I had been talking about it, and then the next day, my manager is calling me being like ‘oh yeah, they’re reaching out. I’m getting the contract through.’”
Feeling Displaced
Paquette made her on-screen AEW debut this week, but it was hardly the first time she had been at an event.
Being married to Moxley, Paquete is said to have been a regular behind the scenes before signing.
Early into the podcast, she explained how while she enjoyed her time as a guest of AEW, she never felt quite right.
“It was always sort of an odd displaced sort of feeling anytime I went to shows with Jon. Because I’m always used to being at shows, but working and being useful and contributing. So being there for the duration of Jon being at AEW and not doing that… It’s just a different feeling going there as a guest as opposed to now.
Differences with WWE
Paquette is excited to work with AEW, and has done plenty over the past two years, but is well aware that her name was made as part of WWE.
AEW allows their talent more freedom in their work, something that Paquette is very excited for.
“This is going to be a very different situation with AEW. Because my time with WWE was very much ‘here’s the interview, here’s the script. This is what we’re going to do.’ That’s now how AEW operates, so that is exciting for me.
“Now I get to actually interview people, if that makes sense? I mean, I was reading scripts before and I enjoy doing that. But this is different, actually interviewing people about things.”
Not Taking Shots
Paquette is the latest WWE alum to be welcomed with open arms by Tony Khan, who has never shied away from taking digs at WWE.
Much like the company President, AEW talent aren’t opposed to jibes about the competition, something that Paquette wants no part of.
“People become very territorial about WWE vs. AEW and all that. I want nothing to do with any of that. I love so many people at both companies.WWE was so great to me for years. Of course, I could have my gripes about things, but who couldn’t about any job?”
Paquette’s first assignment took place on this week’s AEW Dynamite, interviewing fellow WWE veteran Christian Cage.
Adam Cole’s future with AEW is in serious doubt as he continues to recover from a particularly nasty concussion.
Cole debuted for AEW in September 2021 at that year’s All Out, days after competing for WWE at their NXT TakeOver 36 event.
At AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door in June this year, Cole suffered a concussion during a four-way match for Jay White’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Could be Never
After a short absence from TV, Cole returned on the August 3, episode of AEW Rampage, but confirmed that he was still not medically cleared.
Speaking on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that there’s still no sign of Cole’s return to the ring.
“It’s a concussion, it’s a bad concussion. Real bad concussion. He’ll be back when he’s cleared – it could be tomorrow, and it could be never, you know what I mean?”
Dave Meltzer on Adam Cole’s ongoing concussion issues.
AEW Bay Bay!
Cole’s arrival in AEW at All Out 2021 was a shocking moment, earning the Dynamite award for the Biggest Surprise of the year.
Cole has said that working with new talent, access to his Twitch stream, and being able to spend more time with his girlfriend Britt Baker as reasons for his “fairly easy” decision.
Earlier this year, Cole challenged twice for the AEW World Champion, held at the time by ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, but lost at Revolution and on the April 15, episode of AEW Rampage in a Texas Deathmatch.
At Double or Nothing 2022, Cole defeated Samoa Joe to become the first-ever Men’s Owen Hart Cup winner.
AEW made its Canada debut this week with Dynamite coming live from Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum. The main event of the show saw Orange Cassidy challenging Pac for the All-Atlantic Title.
At one point in the match, Pac tried to use the title to get himself disqualified but Danhausen made a surprise appearance and stopped him.
Pac then retrieved a hammer from under the ring. However, Cassidy prevented him from using it. The Freshly Squeezed delivered a couple of Orange Punches to pick up the victory and win his first championship in the company.
The show went off the air with Orange Cassidy celebrating his title win alongside Danhausen and the Best Friends. Though this wasn’t the end of the night.
What Happened With Orange Cassidy After Dynamite
After the cameras stopped rolling, Cassidy mentioned how he doesn’t like to carry things. He called out for someone to bring his bag and it turned out to be none other than Kris Statlander.
After they put the title in the bag, Cassidy cut a promo thanking the fans. You can check out the new champion’s post-show promo in the video below:
AEW made its long-awaited debut to Toronto, Canada on Wednesday. They featured various Canadians, including the debut of Renee Paquette and the return of Shawn Spears.
Spears returned in a segment after Wardlow and Samoa Joe faced QT Marshall and Nick Comoroto. Wardlow put Marshall in the Powerbomb Symphony twice when he was interrupted by Brian Cage and Prince Nana. He was mad that they stuck their nose in their business with FTR. Cage asked where FTR was and he got his answer when they made their way to the ring.
FTR brought out a mystery opponent for a match on Rampage. Someone from Ontario and the show starts at 10 (as Cash Wheeler counted on his fingers). Dax Harwood said it’s “the pinnacle of professional wrestling” when the number 10 popped up on the screen. The fans were more than happy for the return of “The Chairman”.
Spears tossed Aaron Solo into the ring to set him up for the “Big Rig”.
Spears has been missing from AEW programming since May 25. He lost to Wardlow in a steel cage match. With MJF off television for several months, Spears was also missing from programming.
Former WWE Superstars Samir and Sunil Singh (The Singh Brothers) appeared tonight in All Elite Wrestling as The Bollywoord Boyz. The team appeared during the taping for Dark: Elevation.
Gurvinder & Harvinder Sihra (The Bollywood Boyz) are from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Tonight’s Dynamite and Dark tapings are being held in the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto.
The Singh Brothers were released from WWE on June 25, 2021. They were most known for their time as managers for former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal during their time with the company. Before joining WWE in 2016, the team spent a decade wrestling on the independents.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp was at tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Toronto. During the taping for AEW Dark Elevation, The Bollywood Boyz made their All Elite Wrestling debut in a match against The Ass Boys (Austin & Colten Gunn).
The Bollywood Boyz have been wrestling on the independent scene since there departure from WWE. They captured the Defy Tag Team Championships but lost them to State of Emergency at Defy City of Thorns on August 10th.
AEW Dynamite is set to make its International debut on Wednesday night, as it emanates from Toronto, Ontario Canada for the very first time.
The show features a packed card, with Chris Jericho defending his ROH Championship against Bryan Danielson, Pac defending his AEW All-Atlantic Championship against Orange Cassidy, ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry taking on former friend and partner Luchasaurus, and more.
But fans online are still reticent about the show because they feel that Elite member and former AEW Trios Champion, the Canadian-born Kenny Omega should be a part of the first AEW Dynamite from Canada.
Omega, of course, was one of the wrestlers suspended after a reported backstage brawl between Omega, The Young Bucks, CM Punk, Ace Steele, Ace Steele’s wife, CM Punk’s dog, the AEW company lawyer, and more.
Granted, not all of those names listed were actually throwing hands, but they were in the vicinity that the brawl took place.
The Elite and CM Punk Suspended
It’s been alleged that CM Punk threw the first punch in the brawl. It’s also alleged that Ace Steele, Punk’s friend and a (former?) producer for AEW threw a chair and bit Kenny Omega on the arm.
Most reports seems to indicate that Omega didn’t actually do anything wrong, but he was suspended anyway, at least until any legal ramifications might be cleared up.
Omega still appeared in Japan last month on behalf of AEW for the Tokyo Games Show, but he hasn’t been seen on AEW television since All Out.
Now, a new piece of merchandise may just mean that Omega could be in Canada.
It would be weird to promote The Elite in Canada without a member of The Elite actually appearing in Canada, but stranger things have happened. Maybe this is nothing. Or maybe, just maybe, Kenny Omega could appear on AEW Dynamite.
After some speculation that Renee Paquette was AEW-bound, it’s official. Paquette got the “All Elite” graphic when Tony Khan tweeted the news on Wednesday.
AEW Dynamite is making its live debut in Paquette’s hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada tonight.
WWE recently attempted to bring Paquette back with the shakeup of its announce teams. Paqeutte worked for WWE as Renee Young for eight years. She was a backstage interviewer and the first permanent woman on the RAW commentary team. She was also a co-host on WWE Backstage, which aired on FS1.
Paquette’s post-WWE life
Renee Paquette
After leaving WWE, Paquette launched a podcast, Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette (now called The Sessions with Renee Paquette). She interviews a variety of guests from wrestling, MMA, and more.
In 2021, she released her first cookbook, Messy In The Kitchen: My Guide to Eating Deliciously, Hosting Fabulously and Sipping Copiously. Last June, she and husband, Jon Moxley, welcomed a daughter. Moxley just inked a 5-year contract extension.
