Former AEW World Champion CM Punk is currently under suspension for his role in the altercation with The Elite following the All Out media scrum.

CM Punk defeated Jon Moxley in the main event of AEW All Out to become AEW World Champion. It was his 2nd reign with the title without ever making a title defense. MJF returned after the title match to have a stare-down with CM Punk.

Jon Moxley has since captured the title once again by defeating Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions at Dynamite: Grand Slam. CM Punk reportedly suffered a torn triceps during the title match at All Out and was spotted wearing a brace in a recent photo.

Rob Van Dam on CM Punk’s Comments at the All Out Media Scrum

ECW legend and former WWE Superstar Rob Van Dam joined Rene Dupree and Paul London on a recent episode of the Cafe de Rene podcast. Rob discussed Punk’s comments and said that he wants to see what happens next.

Rob Van Dam then claimed that there is a good chance that CM Punk has as big of an ego as anybody else he’s ever interacted with in the wrestling business.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Please credit Cafe de Rene with a H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this article.

Malakai Black reportedly asked for his release from All Elite Wrestling but it was denied.

He cut a promo at an independent wrestling event and followed it up with a statement. Malakai confirmed that he requested his release and stated that he needed some time away to “recalibrate” the past two decades of his life.

Buddy Matthews cut a similar promo at an indie show this past weekend and both stars were rumored to be on their way out of the company. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported that AEW President Tony Khan has opted not to release them from their contracts.

Malakai recently went on Instagram Live and debunked the rumors of his release. The 37-year-old stated that there is no conspiracy to this and he will be back in AEW “soon”.

Jim Cornette on Malakai Black

On a recent edition of Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru, the wrestling legend discussed the confusing events surrounding Malakai Black and All Elite Wrestling. Cornette said it is a little odd that Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews are both cutting similar promos about taking time away in the midst of all the recent rumors.

Cornette wondered why Malakai didn’t just come out and say “here’s the length of my contract and I’m going to honor it” if there was nothing to the story.

Please credit Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru with a H/T to SEScoops if you use any quotes from this article.

Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho believes AEW would have not hit the ground running in the way they did without his involvement.

Following the success of ALL IN, AEW was announced in January 2019, with Jericho, being one of the first names announced.

Later that year, Jericho became the first AEW World Champion and has been a fixture of the promotion ever since.

The Jericho Effect

Jericho joined AEW less than a year after his last WWE match, and after a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the promotion.

Speaking during the latest AEW Unrestricted, Jericho discussed his own influence in the company’s early days.

“I wouldn’t say it [AEW] was built around me but at the risk of sounding egotistical if there was no Chris Jericho, I don’t know if the company would have gotten off the ground as quickly as it did.

“At the time, I was the only national superstar name that was involved. I mean besides Jim Ross but Jim Ross isn’t an on-air talent, he’s a commentator.”

The only Big Star?

Jericho wasn’t the only wrestler confirmed during the January 2019 press conference, as AEW EVPs Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks and then-EVP Cody Rhodes all made appearances.

On the podcast, Jericho explained how while the group are all stars in their own right, they didn’t have the same presence as he did that attracted networks.

“Keep in mind, no-one really knew Cody at that point. He’d been gone for years, and the last time we’d seen him, he was Stardust when he left [WWE.] And as much buzz as Kenny [Omega] and Matt and Nick Jackson had, they were still mostly just regional guys. They were worldwide stars, but when it comes to national TV in the States, they didn’t have any experience with that.

“They were worldwide stars, but when it comes to national TV in the States, they didn’t have any experience with that.”

Chris Jericho on The Elite not bringing the same appeal to networks.

“So there really wasn’t anybody else and I think if Chris Jericho wasn’t involved, it would have been a lot harder to sell to TBS or TNT or those types of people that were involved.

“We needed that big TV [deal] to get off the ground. We needed money, which we had, passion, which we had, television which is very hard to get and a roster of stars that no-one had really seen before, that were ready to go to the next level. But you needed a guy that kinda could open the door.”

AEW Without Chris Jericho?

It’s hard to imagine AEW without Chris Jericho, and for all his claims, the former World Champion believes that the company would have succeeded, with or without him.

“If I’m the bridge to get here, check me out, and then look at all these other guys that we have… Would the company have happened if I wasn’t there? Probably. But I don’t think it would have grown as quickly as it did, or maybe gotten off to such a huge start.

“Would the company have happened if I wasn’t there? Probably. But I don’t think it would have grown as quickly as it did.”

Chris Jericho.

“Everything worked out the way it should, but it happened very quickly, and once again, I think when the company started, it was on my back.”

All Elite Wrestling will present a regular episode of its weekly Rampage series this Friday night on TNT after last week’s special 2-hour “Grand Slam” edition 

These matches were taped Wednesday night after Dynamite from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA, courtesy of Pwinsider.com: 

AEW Rampage Spoilers

• AEW World Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed defeated The Butcher and The Blade and Private Party.
• Jamie Hayter (with Britt Baker and Rebel) def. Willow Nightingale.
• Lee Moriarty (with Stokely Hathaway and W. Morrissey) def. Fuego Del Sol.
• Ryan Nemeth insulted Philadelphia and ECW until FTW Champion HOOK interrupted. HOOK choked him out. The Trustbusters came out and left an envelope for Hook on the stage. HOOK picked up the envelope on his way to the back.
• RUSH defeated John Silver. After the match, Andrade El Idolo attacked Alex Reynolds and Silver. The Dark Order got involved, as did The Butcher and The Blade. Hangman Page ultimately made the save.

AEW is about to kick off several weeks of holding live episodes of Rampage starting next week, including a live Battle of the Belts special next Friday night. 

Saraya had a subtle dig at WWE during her first promo for AEW during last night’s edition of Dynamite.

The two-time former WWE Divas Champion debuted for AEW during last week’s Grand Slam edition of Dynamite, after parting ways from WWE in July.

Saraya left WWE on July 7, when her contract expired and was not renewed by the company, and she has since made it clear it was not her decision to leave.

The Promo

Appearing on this week’s AEW Dynamite, Saraya spoke about the promotion being “my house” and was joined in the ring by AEW’s female babyfaces, led by Interim Women’s World Champion Toni Storm.

When Britt Baker interrupted the segment, entering alongside Jamie Hayter, Rebel, and Penelope Ford, Saraya announced a lumberjack match between Storm and Serena Deeb.

Saraya also took aim at WWE’s former CEO Vince McMahon, saying:

“I talked to Tony [Khan] backstage… It’s so good to have a boss that finally listens to me!“

Saraya.

Storm would retain the Interim AEW Women’s World Championship against Deeb later in the show.

Will She Wrestle?

Saraya has not competed so far in AEW, but there is a belief that she will wrestle for the promotion.

According to a recent report, the amount Saraya is being paid implies that she will be wrestlingin some capacity.

Saraya did not get physical during her debut or this week’s AEW Dynamite but teased a potential program with Britt Baker.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion took shots at Saray’s December 2017 injury, which resulted in her retiring in April 2018.

AEW Dynamite was live from Philadelphia, but was impacted by Hurricane Ian in Florida, as several wrestlers didn’t make it to the show.

According to Fightful Select, Swerve Strickland was scheduled to appear. This is why Keith Lee was by himself in a backstage segment with AEW Tag Team Champions, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. Lee said that his partner wasn’t there because he was “exceptionally disgruntled”, particularly with Gunn cheating to help The Acclaimed win.

ROH Television champion, Samoa Joe, was also scheduled to be on Dynamite. With the show being in Philadelphia and having a focus on Ring of Honor, they had plans for him.

Tony Khan advises AEW talent to stay home due to hurricane

On Monday, Tony Khan sent out both an e-mail and a tweet stating that talent and staff could voluntarily stay home from TV if they were “worried about Hurricane Ian affecting your travel or home or your family life.”

Although his name wasn’t mentioned in the Select report, Jake Hager was absent from the Jericho Appreciation Society’s celebration of Chris Jericho’s “The Ocho” title win.

Rampage was filmed after Dynamite, so it’s possible that it was also affected by wrestlers who didn’t travel to Philadelphia.

• Watch: MJF Sings To The Philadelphia Crowd Before AEW Dynamite

The report did say there will be more to come on who else didn’t travel and how it effected the show.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has taken the professional wrestling world by storm and is in line for a shot at the AEW World Championship.

MJF appeared on this week’s edition of Dynamite for another promo segment with Wheeler Yuta. Maxwell interrupted Wheeler last week, called him mid, and referred to his group as the Blackpool Cuckold Club.

On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Wheeler responded and challenged MJF to a match. Maxwell interrupted and said he will face Wheeler next week. Yuta wanted a fight but Colten and Austin Gunn from The Firm stable came to MJF’s rescue.

MJF sat in the crowd to watch Jon Moxley’s match for the 2nd week in a row. After Jon defeated NJPW star Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator match, MJF was shown smirking in his luxury box in the arena. Wheeler Yuta showed up from behind and attacked before AEW security broke it up. Yuta and MJF will face off next week on Dynamite in Washington D.C.

MJF Sings To The Philadelphia Crowd Before Dynamite

Before Dynamite went on the air, Maxwell sang a song for the Philadelphia crowd in the Liacouras Center. Unfortunately, it was not a song that they wanted to hear as MJF sang the “fight song” for the New York Mets baseball team. The Philadelphia Phillies and the Mets have a longstanding rivalry.

After he was done singing, MJF added that the New York Mets are so much better than the Phillies. He also claimed that The Khan’s Jacksonville Jaguars are going to hand the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season this Sunday. You can check out Maxwell’s rendition of the Mets’ fight song in the video below.

• What Happened With Bandido After AEW Dynamite Went Off The Air?

Miro hasn’t been seen on AEW television in some time and addressed the matter on social media today.

The Bulgarian Brute was last seen in All Elite Wrestling in a six-man tag team match at AEW All Out on September 4th. He teamed with Darby Allin & Sting to face House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, Buddy Matthews).

Miro didn’t play a part in the finish of the match, as Sting spat green mist in Malakai’s eyes and Darby followed it up with a Coffin Drop for the pinfall victory. After the match, Malakai Black bowed to the crowd and many speculated that his time in the company was done.

He released a statement confirming that he requested his release, and then followed it up with a video stating that he will be returning to AEW after some time away. Buddy Matthews announced that he will be taking some off as well to “recalibrate” at an independent wrestling event over the weekend.

• Malakai Black Denies Rumors Of His AEW Release

When it comes to appearing on weekly television, Miro has been rarely featured since Forbidden Door in June. A Twitter user pointed out that Miro has not appeared on an episode of Dynamite in three months.

The 36-year-old responded to the fan and sent a message to the AEW locker room. Miro suggested that he hasn’t been featured on television because “nobody has the balls” to face him.

Miro (Rusev) was released by WWE in April 2020. He made his in-ring debut for All Elite Wrestling several months later on September 9th. Miro debuted in the promotion with blonde hair as “The Best Man” aligned with Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford, but that gimmick was abandoned shortly after.

He is a one-time TNT Champion in AEW and held the title for 140 days in 2021 before dropping it to Sammy Guevara. Miro signed a four-year extension with AEW to keep him with the promotion until 2026. His name started popping up in rumors after he liked a post that hinted that he might be better off in WWE following Jon Moxley’s Word Title Eliminator against Mance Warner.

The main event of this week’s episode of Dynamite saw Chris Jericho defending his newly won ROH world title against Bandido in a singles match.

The masked star offered a handshake to the wrestling veteran before the bout. However, Y2J rejected this code of honor and he flipped the bird instead. The two went on to have a good match which has been praised by fans.

The ending of the bout saw Jericho poking Bandido in the eye. He then pulled Bandido’s mask over his eyes. The high-flying star still almost caught Chris with a roll-up but the former WWE star ultimately retained the title using a Liontamer.

After the match, Chris Jericho claimed that the Ring of Jericho era has begun. He said that he will beat every great champion that has ever held the ROH title.

What Happened With Bandido After Dynamite

Once the cameras stopped rolling, Tony Khan came out. The AEW president raised the hand of Bandido who was on his way back to the locker room.

The former ROH world champion received a huge applause from the crowd. He ended up hugging the AEW owner before finally heading to the back:

Many fans are demanding Khan to sign Bandido to an AEW contract after his performance on Dynamite. The post-show moment between the two suggests that Bandido may actually get an official offer very soon.

• 7 Takeaways From AEW Dynamite (9/28): World Title Eliminator, ROH Title Match, MJF & Saraya Appear

After several months of absence, MJF is back on AEW programming. He is also making media appearances once again and claiming that he is getting paid a lot more money than he did before.

We have an update on the AEW star’s absence and how he spent his time away from the promotion, courtesy of Fightful Select.

MJF himself has been claiming that he didn’t leave his house for three months. According to the site, it’s actually mostly true. The 26-year-old did not have any contact with most people in AEW, including many friends, throughout his hiatus following Double or Nothing.

The AEW talent did shoot some stuff with the crew of Impractical Jokers. He was seen at Disney in the Summer once too, but he stayed away from social media and refrained from going out in public much.

There hasn’t been a confirmation of MJF’s claims about not signing a contract extension. Though he is now in a much more favorable situation financially.

Regardless of his contractual situation, the Devil’s return has had a positive impact on AEW’s TV ratings. He has been involved in some of the highest-rated segments since his comeback.

People within Warner Bros Discovery are said to be happy about MJF’s comeback and they have pointed to him being a rating success for the AEW shows.

• MJF Reveals His Plans for Retirement

Malakai Black was back in the tattoo studio this week getting worked on by Orlando-based artist Eddie Saraiva. The House of Black leader posted a video on Instagram showing off his latest piece, a (still in-progress) dragon adorning the left side of his head.

Malakai Black’s Status

Malakai Black is currently on hiatus from pro wrestling. His most recent match for AEW took place at All Out earlier this month. Shortly after that event, there was a slew of information regarding his health and future with AEW.

Amid the chaotic fallout of the All Out post-show media scrum, it was reported that Black was seeking time off due to personal reasons. He was pulled from appearances due to “health issues” and later confirmed that he requested his release from AEW.

Shortly thereafter, Malakai Black “debunked the rumor” that he is leaving AEW. During a live stream on Instagram, he stated, “I will see you guys in a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months. Like I said, I’m only taking some time off. That’s it. I’m just taking some time off.”

He reiterated that there is no “conspiracy” to his situation, he’s simply taking time off.

“I am fine,” he said.” “I am going to be fine. Everything is fine. You will see me right back with AEW pretty soon. I’m just going to take some time. That is it.”

The Forbidden Door will be opened once again for tonight’s AEW Dynamite, as New Japan Pro Wrestling’s booker Gedo will be around for the show.

On Twitter, Khan shared an image with Gedo as well as reigning AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and confirmed that Gedo will be around for tonight’s Dynamite in Philadelphia.

Khan also thanked fans who will be watching the show tonight on TBS.

Opening the Forbidden Door

Gedo won’t be the only example of the Forbidden Door being opened for tonight’s show.

In addition to New Japan’s booker, Juice Robinson will also be on the show and will take on Jon Moxley.

This will be a championship contenders match, meaning that a win over Moxley in non-title action will guarantee Robinson a future AEW World Championship opportunity.

Robinson is one of two men (the other being CM Punk) to have a victory over the reigning AEW World Champion in 2022.

At NJPW Capital Collision in May, Robinson got a victory over Moxley in four-way action, which included Will Ospreay and then IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite

AEW will be opening the Forbidden Door, but that’s not all in store for the show.

Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho will have a celebration of last week’s victory, but will also have his first title defense against Bandido.

AEW Interim Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will defend her title against Serena Deeb, while Saraya is set to speak for the first time since joining AEW last week.

An appearance by MJF has also been promoted for the show.

Kayla Rossi is used to being compared to WWE Hall of Famer Chyna, but plans to establish herself on her own merits in the ring.

Rossi debuted for AEW earlier this year, initially as the bodyguard of Joey Janela. Since Janela’s departure in late April, she’s appeared as a solo act on AEW Dark. With her impressive physique, there are natural comparisons to Chyna, the muscle-bound female DX member who broke down barriers regarding how women are portrayed in pro wrestling.

Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall for NBC Sports, Rossi was asked if she takes the comments comparing her to the Ninth Wonder of the World as a compliment.

“I mean I do, but then I’m in the back of my head like ‘no, Chyna was like 5′ 10 5′ 11, statuesque and brute force.’ I get it. I look like her I’m built like her, but I’m 5’3 and I’m athletic as hell and I can do other things.”

While Rossi wants to set herself apart from the Ninth Wonder of the World, she had nothing but praise for the late trailblazer.

“I can’t lie. I’ve taken inspiration from her who wouldn’t? She is such a prominent figure in the world of wrestling and did such great things for women in general.”

Body Confidence

Although wrestling has become more accepting of different body types among female talent, Rossi is still considered an outlier to many in the industry.

Speaking about her physique, the 34-year-old wrestler addressed receiving hateful comments on social media, long before she stepped in the ring.

“When I first started bodybuilding it was really tough because you put yourself out there and you see these comments like ‘oh she looks like a man’ or whatever it might be. And it used to bother me at first and it made me super self-conscious. It made me question if I even wanted to do it and if I even wanted to look that way. And then I was like ‘you know what I’m gonna own this’ because you can be strong and badass and beautiful and feminine at the same time.

“It made me question if I even wanted to do it and if I even wanted to look that way.”

– Kayla Rossi on hateful comments shaking her confidence.

“There doesn’t have to be one or the other and I think people get that misconception because I can go up there on tv or I can get on that bodybuilding stage and be powerful and be strong but I’m still a woman and I’m still feminine.”

The Next Chapter

Rossi has had a handful of matches on AEW Dark, but her next big opportunity could come outside of wrestling.

When Fall asked if she’d ever consider a jump to MMA, Rossi said that she’s up for the idea, and has already had training.

MJF is only 26 years old but he is already one of the most famous wrestlers in the industry. Unlike many others, he also knows how long he wants to continue wrestling and then retire to never be seen again.

The AEW star recently had an interview with KFC Radio. Speaking about the people who have problem with his mannerisms, the young star explained that he doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not:

“Now a lot of people have a problem with what I’m saying, which I find hysterical but also I have fans. So I’m the wrestling devil. I call my fans devil worshippers. My devil worshippers, they love me because they know that I’m not throwing bullshit.

Now I can be a happy go lucky guy. [I] could sit down in this chair and be like, ‘Love everybody. Everyone’s important. Teamwork.’ That’s not what I’m about because that’s bullshit. They’re just saying that to save face.”

MJF then explained what he’s truly all about. He mentioned that it’s all about making the most amount of money for him. Once he has done that, he’ll say goodbye to the world of pro wrestling:

“What I’m about is making the most amount of money I can in the shortest period of time with putting in the least amount of work. So I can retire at like 38 and never have to fucking look at anybody.”

Later in the interview MJF also detailed why he doesn’t want the job of Tony Khan or Triple H. He said that he doesn’t want to deal with the stress that comes with it. The Salt of The Earth reiterated that he is making ‘a lot’ of money and he wants to make ‘a lot lot’ of money so he can retire at 38.

You can check out the full interview below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Heath Slater Reveals Initial Reaction To 3MB
• Eric Bischoff On If He Had To Deal With Talents Going Off Script In WCW
• Sheamus Reveals Storyline That Helped Reignite His Passion For Wrestling
• Kevin Owens Names NXT Stars He Would Call If He Needs Backup
• Sheamus On How Many Years Are Left In His Wrestling Career

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

Last week saw AEW host their latest ‘Grand Slam’ special of Dynamite, with five title matches on the show.

The event saw Jon Moxley capture the AEW World Championship, defeating Bryan Danielson for the vacant title and becoming a three-time champion.

Chris Jericho captured the Ring of Honor World Championship from Claudio Castagnoli, while The Acclaimed won the AEW World Tag Team Titles from Swerve in our Glory.

The show also saw Pacretain the AEW All-Atlantic title while Toni Storm held on to the Interim AEW Women’s World Championship.

The “Conundrum”

Despite the stacked show, which also saw the AEW debut of Saraya, the show’s numbers didn’t live up to expectations.

The show garnered an average 1.039 million viewers, down 12% from the previous week’s standard episode of Dynamite, which had 1.175 million viewers.

On his Grilling JR podcast, the AEW commentator struggled to understand the fall in viewership (via Wrestling Inc.)

“It was an interesting thing, how do you explain the fact that AEW does around a million viewers on a big-time hyped show that is loaded with five title matches, how do you justify or explain that? I don’t know the answer to that conundrum, I really don’t.”

“I don’t know the answer to that conundrum.”

Jim Ross on AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam not doing better in terms of viewership.

“You’d think we were providing the audience with what they wanted to see; all of our top programs, all the titles that were significant are getting some exposure. When you don’t have those massive numbers that you were hoping for, it’s hard to explain why that happened.”

AEW President Tony Khan remained positive in his report of the viewership for Grand Slam, pointing out that Dynamite has been over one million viewers for five consecutive weeks.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman, known to wrestling fans as MJF, is one of the hottest stars in professional wrestling today.

He is in line for an AEW World Championship match against Jon Moxley at a time and place of his choosing. Moxley is set to battle NJPW star Juice Robinson on tomorrow’s episode of Dynamite in a World Title Eliminator. If Juice wins, he will also get a shot at the title.

Hangman Adam Page has already earned a shot at the championship on the October 18th edition of Dynamite. It is a special Tuesday night episode of the show and will oppose WWE NXT. Jon Moxley captured the AEW Championship last week by defeating Bryan Danielson in the Tournament of Champions as MJF watched on from the crowd.

MJF On Why He Wants To Be A Free Agent In 2024

MJF spoke with Kevin Clancy of Barstool Sports on KFC Radio this week about a bunch of topics. He revealed what makes him special, which insider wrestler term he finds phony, why he’s the most exciting thing in wrestling since the Attitude Era, and now why he wants to be a free agent in 2024.

MJF also revealed what the most important thing to him in the wrestling business is.

Please credit KFC Radio and give a H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this article.

Matt Jackson, All-Elite Wrestling Executive Vice President and member of the Young Bucks, posted a video story on Instagram on Tuesday promoting the release of the team’s new basketball shoes. It was the first public comment from either member of the Young Bucks since they were suspended following the All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 4.

Jackson was suspended along with several others following a fight in CM Punk’s locker room following Punk’s comments about the EVPs during a press conference. In Tuesday’s Instagram post, Jackson was emotional and reflective about the release of the sneakers and the tag team’s fans over the years.

“Thank you for everything the last 18 years,” Jackson said. “You’ve supported us and been so great for us and I really can’t wait to see you guys soon.”

Matt and Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega, Ace Steel and CM Punk remain suspended while a third-party firm continues to investigate a brawl that occurred after the show.

Jackson made his comment to fans during a video promoting the release of the Diadora Young Bucks basketball shoe by Champs Sports scheduled for Wednsesday, Sept. 28. The Young Bucks have become synonymous with their shoe collection during their last two years, wearing expensive and designer Air Jordans to the ring, even attracting mainstream press attention. Their Dior designed Air Jordans were a small part of a storyline in a feud with Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston in 2021.

Jackson said he and his brother consulted with Denise Cutler, wrestling outfit designer and wife of AEW wrestler Brandon Cutler. The shoes were made by Diadora and are being released through a promotion with Champs Sports.

“I got Denise Cutler on the job,” Jackson said. “I said please Denise, you need to come up with a Young Bucks sneaker. I wore them at the mall for two hours and they got so many looks.”

The Young Bucks wore the sneakers in their trios tag team tournament final match at All Out with Omega.

“Our dream was to make it to the NBA and to have our own basketball sneaker,” Jackson said. “We were too short to make it to the NBA, but our dream of our own sneaker did pan out. I’m super proud of this. You (our fans) have always supported us with all of our crazy projects. This is the one I might be the most excited about. It’s definitely in the top three.”

Jackson said the shoes tend to run ‘big.’ He said he normally wears an 11 or 11.5 size shoe, but wore 10.5 size shoes at the PPV. He recommended fans buy a half-size or full-size smaller than their size in other brands.

A limited number of shoes are available. Jackson said fans who want the shoes should buy them early on Wednesday because of limited quantities.

CM Punk has kept his silence and mostly stayed away from the public eye ever since his All Out media scrum rant and the post-show brawl.

The only update we have gotten about the AEW star has been through various reports. One such update revealed that the former AEW champion had to undergo surgery for a torn triceps.

This report was seemingly confirmed recently when a new photo of the Straight Edge Star surfaced online. In the photo with a fan as seen below, CM Punk is spotted wearing a brace on his left arm:

CM Punk Done With AEW?

There has been lots of rumors about the AEW future of the former WWE star ever since his media scrum comments led to the backstage altercation at All Out.

There are many who believe that Punk is done with the company after this and he won’t be brought back in any capacity. The belief is that AEW is taking their time to sort out any potential legal situations before releasing the 42-year-old.

The wrestling promotion itself, however, has stayed quiet on the matter. There has been no update on how the investigation on the incident is going, so it’s hard to say how the management is planning to handle Punk’s departure.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

MJF returned to AEW at All Out on September 4th following the title match between CM Punk and Jon Moxley.

CM Punk emerged victorious at the PPV and MJF showed up to close the show. Maxwell had won the Casino Ladder match earlier in the night after Stokely Hathaway’s The Firm stable interfered.

MJF walked down to the ring in a devil’s mask and was handed the chip to ensure him a future shot at the AEW World Championship. Jon Moxley captured the title once again by defeating Bryan Danielson at Dynamite: Slam in the finals of the Tournament of Champions. Moxley is set to face NJPW star Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator tomorrow night on Dynamite.

MJF On What Makes Him Special In Wrestling Today

Maxwell was a guest on KFC Radio this week and spoke about his incredible rise to stardom in All Elite Wrestling at just 26 years old. Host Kevin Clancy brought up fans who get caught up in the technical aspect of the matches and said that this isn’t the Olympics. MJF responded with the following:

Please credit KFC Radio with a H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this article.

MJF is one of the most popular wrestlers on the planet and is sitting pretty with a title shot anytime he wants it.

The 26-year-old won the Casino Ladder Match at AEW All Out on September 4th. Stokely Hathaway’s faction “The Firm” interfered in the match and retrieved the chip suspended above the ring.

A man in a devil’s mask made his way to the ring and was handed the chip that signifies a title shot. After CM Punk defeated Jon Moxley to win the title at the PPV, it was revealed that MJF was the masked man. It was MJF’s first appearance since his explosive promo at The Forum in Los Angeles in June.

MJF On Why He Won’t Use The Word “Promo”

Maxwell appeared on KFC Radio recently and discussed several topics. He claimed to be the most exciting wrestler since the Attitude Era and spoke about his meteoric rise to stardom in All Elite Wrestling.

MJF then refused to use the word “promo” in the interview and suggested the term “oratory exhibitionist instead.

Please credit KFC Radio and give a H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this article.

WWE has reached an agreement with Foxtel Group, which is majority-owned by News Corp., for its rights in Australia. 

The WWE Network will be converted into Binge, a Foxtel outlet. Although the companies did not disclose any terms for the new multi-year agreement, Deadline reports a person familiar with the deal said it marks a significant increase over the prior one reached by the parties in 2017. 

WWE’s Latest Expansion

There are 4.5 million subscribers on Foxtel as well as streaming outlets Kayo Sports and Binge. The deal will see Foxtel launch a dedicated, 24/7 WWE channel, which will host all premium live events. 

These events used to cost $30 apiece on pay-per-view but now will be included at no extra charge on Fox8, a pay-TV channel owned by Foxtel.

“With its far-reaching and engaged audience, the Foxtel Group has been a trusted and long-standing partner of WWE for more than 20 years,” said WWE Chairwoman and Co-CEO Stephanie McMahon. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with the Foxtel Group and welcoming Binge as the new streaming home of WWE Network in the region.“

Binge, whose subscription plans start at $10 a month, will begin streaming WWE content in January 2023. 

Maxwell Jacob Friedman, known in All Elite Wrestling as MJF, is one of the most popular stars in all of professional wrestling today.

He has been making the media rounds after winning the Casino Ladder match at AEW All Out. MJF now has a title shot at a time and place of his choosing. MJF watched from the crowd as Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in the main event of Dynamite: Grand Slam to capture the AEW World Championship.

The 26-year-old spoke with Kevin Clancy (KFC) of Barstool Sports on KFC Radio recently. KFC noted that he fell off as a wrestling fan after the Attitude Era but credited MJF for getting him to watch it again.

Please credit KFC Radio with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.

As the month of September comes to an end the pro-wrestling community is still reeling from the events of the AEW ALL OUT media scrum, and the tirade from former two-time world champion CM Punk, who called out the wrestling media for their “mishandling” of the Colt Cabana situation. The Second City Saint also took aim at the AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.

The situation only became worse when a backstage melee occurred between Punk and the Elite, one that got multiple names suspended and threw a wrench into several ongoing storylines that cause Tony Khan to alter his plans once again. At this point an investigation is still going on, with Punk’s status the biggest question mark up in the air. A number of top legends, analysts, and current superstars have weighed in on this monumental moment, and now we can add one more to the list.

Mick Foley Calls Punk’s tirade a disaster for AEW President Tony Khan

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley spoke about the ALL OUT media scrum and the ensuing backstage altercation on the latest edition of his Foley Is Pod program. The Hardcore legend begins by stating the obvious, which is that Punk’s comments at the scrum were counterproductive to his world title win earlier in the evening, and put AEW President Tony Khan in a terrible position.

“I think anything that takes away from the majesty of that moment is counterproductive. By that standard, everything Phil did, Punk did, was disastrous because it put Tony Khan in a bad position. Anything that ends up with, Punk I believe was hurt and would have probably been out. But it put a lot of eyeballs on the product the next night, that’s a given. It was just really unfortunate. You don’t want to see that side of your superstars.”

That’s not all. Foley further elaborated on the situation by comparing Punk’s victory over Jon Moxley to his victory over The Rock, his first world title win in WWE.

“You know, I know when I held that title aloft when I beat [The Rock] for the WWE Title, and I never thought I was a WWE Title guy, so I never based my career on it the way that a lot of people have. But I remember that feeling of just utter joy. I moved pretty good for a big guy when I ran my two or three laps around there and then gave the impromptu promo, Big Daddio did it. I can’t imagine going backstage and being angry or bitter, or taking the joy out of the experience for our fans. So I didn’t see Punk’s promo in its entirety, but it put Tony Khan in a bad position, and there’s a time and a place, maybe, to play with emotions. If you have something substantial that can make people feel strange in their gut, but not after a title win.”

Aside from just the incident Punk was also injured during his matchup with Moxley, which has put him on the shelf once again. At this time it is unknown if he will return when he is all healed up.

CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black will be staying with AEW for the foreseeable future despite previous statements teasing their departures.

After taking a bow at the AEW All Out 2022 Pay Per View, it was reported that Black had asked for his release, which the Dutch wrestler confirmed in a statement.

“I did indeed ask for my release.“

Malakai Black.

Last week, Buddy Matthews spoke at an indie event where he also teased an indefinite break from wrestling.

This led to belief among fans that both men were done with the company, with reports that they were hoping on a return to WWE now with Triple H running creative.

Black has since debunked claims that he has left AEW.

The Doctrine

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that nobody is set to depart AEW following the recent statements from Black and Matthews.

Nobody’s getting released. That’s the doctrine Tony Khan made that very clear I guess in the last couple of days. So now it’s just, he [Malakai Black] is not being released. Buddy Matthews isn’t being released. They may be back sooner than before or whatever but that’s the situation you know.

“You know what the situation is. They were wanting to go and trying to get a way out. I mean which we talked about last night and that was the decision that was made. It’s not to say it’s hard and fast and there would be no way that he [AEW President Tony Khan] will never give anybody a release but I think it’s pretty much the deal.”

Speaking about WWE, Meltzer said this wouldn’t happen in the McMahon-Nick Khan promotion.

“If this happened in the other company [WWE] would those people get releases? The answer is no.”

Dave Meltzer.

WWE has reportedly shown interest in rehiring several former Superstars who have since joined AEW.

Swerve Strickland reportedly referred to WWE to his legal representatives when approached, but is not introduced in a return and Hit Row reunion.

Options

With Black and Matthews seemingly staying with AEW, it remains to be seen when they will return.

Black has said he could be back within a matter of weeks but has given no confirmed timeframe for how long he or Matthews will be gone.

Meltzer sid that Khan could extend the contracts of either man, something seen in the past by WWE.

“Now their option is to sit at home and then he [Khan] can extend the contract if they sit at home, or wrestle. So now they’re going to wrestle. Yeah, kind of a weird thing how that all turned out you know he [Black] waved goodbye and now he’s coming back. You know now he’s gonna blame me [and] you know but that’s what happened. No release.”

For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

This week’s AEW Dynamite could see a much smaller roster than usual thanks to the effects of Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian is currently approaching Florida, and will pass through the Sunshine State this week.

On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan announced that anyone involved in the show who cannot safely make it to Dynamite is allowed to miss the event for their safety.

This week’s Dynamite will take place from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but many AEW wrestlers live in Florida.

Hurricane Ian

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ian is expected to be a category three storm with wind speeds of 120mph or greater.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency and has activated 5,000 National Guard troops to assist with relief efforts.

The White House has also made its own emergency declaration, which will help federal and state officials coordinate disaster relief and assistance.

Meteorologists have warned that flooding is possible today in the Florida peninsula as the hurricane approaches.

AEW Dynamite

This week’s AEW Dynamite will go ahead despite the hurricane, with matches already announced.

New Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho will have his first title defense when he faces former World Champion Bandido.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will face Juice Robinson in a non-title match.

It has also been promoted that MJF will make an appearance on the show, as will Saraya in her first promo on AEW Dynamite.

Saraya debuted for AEW during last week’s Grand Slam special.