WWE legend Jim Cornette recently praised Saraya on his podcast following her debut in All Elite Wrestling.

Saraya made her debut last Wednesday at Dynamite: Grand Slam. Toni Storm defended the Interim AEW Women’s Championship in a 4-Way against Serena Deeb, Athena, and Britt Baker. Toni escaped with a victory but the heels attacked her after the match. Saraya made her debut and Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Jamie Hayter retreated upon her arrival.

• 3 Things Saraya Brings To The AEW Women’s Division

Cornette is one of the most vocal critics of All Elite Wrestling but praised the former WWE star on The Jim Cornette Experience. He noted the impressive reaction she got from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“As soon as the word Saraya came up on the screen, the place went ballistic. I don’t even know if they would have cheered if that had happened in a WWE building because none of the WWE fans would have known probably what Paige’s real name was, well maybe the most devoted.

But these fans, they are the smart ones and they knew it was Paige, and boy, the place comes apart and the heels bail out of the ring, and the fans go crazy. Paige walks into the ring, smiles at the people, and that was it.”

Jim then wondered why WWE would let her get away if she has been cleared to wrestle.

Cornette added if she hasn’t been cleared to wrestle, then Tony Khan would have to be a complete lunatic to sign her given the circumstances.

Please credit The Jim Cornette Experience & give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.

Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews of House of Black have been rumored to be on their way out of All Elite Wrestling but apparently, that is not the case.

Malakai spoke at an independent wrestling event recently and said he needed some time to recalibrate. The 37-year-old also recently released a statement that confirmed he requested for his release from All Elite Wrestling.

Buddy Matthews also delivered a promo at an independent wrestling event and echoed a similar sentiment. He stated that he needed to go away for a while and that it wasn’t a goodbye. House of Black member Brody King then sent out a GIF to signify that he was not leaving the company.

Now, Malakai Black is saying that he is taking some time off and will in fact return to All Elite Wrestling in the near future. You can check out his comments and watch the video below.

There has been a great amount of discussion over the last two months about WWE reportedly making overtures to AEW talent who are still under contract, and a new report sheds some light on exactly who these names are.

According to Fightful Select, there were indeed some AEW stars who did receive word that WWE would be interested in bringing them back. The first name that jumps off the page is former AEW Tag Team Champion Swerve Strickland. According to the report, he told the WWE party to contact his attorney. Strickland apparently had no interest in returning to WWE, and the pitch was reportedly for him to return as part of Hit Row.

For what it’s worth, Strickland’s partner Keith Lee has apparently not been contacted by WWE.

On the tag team front, it was previously reported that word was given to FTR that WWE would be interested in bringing them back.

Any Truth to Those Bobby Fish, Adam Cole, and Kyle O’Reilly Rumors?

There has been some chatter that Bobby Fish, prior to exiting AEW, was trying to get Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly to ask for their AEW releases so that the trio could return to WWE. According to Fightful Select, there’s no truth to this rumor. Several AEW sources indicated the rumor was false, and WWE sources stated that they have not been in contact with Fish about a return to the company.

Miro has not asked for his AEW release despite there being some chatter about WWE reaching out to him. These rumors were not substantiated or refuted, with no reporting either way on the matter.

Lastly, at least one AEW official stated they are expecting both Buddy Matthews and Aleister Black to be back with AEW within a couple of months. Black had asked for his AEW release and reportedly told at least one person at WWE that he wished he was back with the company, however AEW never had any intention of releasing him so that he could return to WWE. AEW officials believed that the situation had been “smoothed over” prior to All Out.

Furthermore, Black did an IG Live on Monday night where he noted he has not been released from AEW. He stated that he has been given some time off to deal with some personal things. He said he would be back with AEW soon.

• Candice LeRae Returns to WWE on Raw

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news. Apple – Spotify – YouTube. 

AEW President Tony Khan is looking to capitalize on the moment that his promotion has been on for the last several weeks with this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite. 

On Monday, AEW announced the latest match to be added to the already-loaded episode of Dynamite as Bandido is slated to face current ROH World Champion Champion Chris Jericho in Philadelphia.

Jericho defeated Claudio Castagnoli last week on AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam to win the championship. Bandido lost the World Title to Jonathan Gresham at ROH Supercard of Honor this past April in a match to determine the undisputed champion, as Gresham was previously the Original ROH Champion.

Also announced for the show is AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator Match. If Robinson can win the match, he will earn a future World Title bout. 

Tony Khan Gives an Explanation 

The AEW President responded to a fan on Instagram questioning these matches being booked. 

A fan wrote: “@tonyrkhan this is what we’re talking about…WHY?!!! the match should be good but WHY is he defending against Bandido FOR NO REASON?!!! Why is Juice getting an Eliminator match? Why not a normal regular singles match?”

Khan responded, “Bandido never got a rematch for the title, which is implied in the copy I wrote. Juice has beaten Mox in NJPW, which is explicitly written in the copy I wrote.”

Also confirmed for this show includes Jericho’s Championship Celebration and promo segments with MJF and Saraya (formerly known as Paige).

All Elite Wrestling will be cleaning up some of the language used on programming, according to commentator Jim Ross.

Since launching in 2019, AEW has been rated TV-14 and has tried to differentiate itself from WWE and its PG-rated product.

It has been reported in the past that TNT and TBS have not had an issue with AEW’s choice of colorful language, as the promotion has proven to be a consistent ratings hit.

Cleaning up the Language

TNT and TBS may not have a problem with AEW’s language, but Ross is insisting that changes are coming.

Speaking during a Q&A with AdFreeShows.com, Ross said that some language will be cleaned up.

“We had a string in AEW where there was a lot of controversial language. I think you’ll see less of that.”

Jim Ross on AEW using less coarse language.

Ross gave his own view that using foul language is often a crutch for wrestling promotions who can’t find a better way to engage audiences.

“It’s unnecessary and shows a lack of creativity if you can’t come up with an adjective or adverb that is better than something a little coarse. The times are going to dictate that.”

Jim Ross on why AEW doesn’t need foul language.

The WWE Hall of Famer did not state any specific words which will no longer be used on AEW programming.

No confirmation has been made by Tony Khan at this time regarding whether AEW plans to clean up some of its more colorful language.

Kurt Angle thinks All Elite Wrestling (AEW) might not be as organized of a company as it should be.

The WWE Hall Of Famer was recently interviewed on The Wrassingh Show podcast, and asked his thoughts on the current situation going on within AEW. Angle explained that he thinks things are more like the “Wild Wild West” in AEW.

Specifically, he pointed to giving talents control over their own promos and pre-tapes, suggesting AEW tighten things up similar to how WWE does.

“I just think the company might be a little too loose … it’s more like the Wild West … not as organized as it should be,” Kurt Angle said.

“The wrestlers are making up their own promos, saying their own thing, doing their own thing, and I think there needs to be organization within the company where you have the writers telling the wrestlers what to say and enhancing their characters.”

“Putting the wrestlers in charge of their own promos and pre-tapes … and even their matches, I don’t know if they have agents for the matches, producers for their matches.

“So, I think they need to be overlooked, the talent. That’s what makes WWE so good, why they’re so organized, and why the show is always so tight.” 

There has been a lot of controversy going on backstage in AEW as of late. While a few talents have seemingly had issues with one another backstage, the most notable story, of course, has been CM Punk’s confrontation with The Elite after All Out.

Punk had some harsh comments about the likes of The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and Kenny Omega after the show during his post-event press conference. Shortly after, he was confronted by The Elite in his locker room, which lead to a physical confrontation.

Since, The Elite have been handed suspensions, while Punk is taking time away to nurse an injury, vacating the AEW World Title in the process.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Buddy Matthews is denying recent reports made about his status with All Elite Wrestling.

The House of Black member was trending yesterday after a promo he cut at Saturday’s Fight Life Pro Wrestling event surfaced, where the former NXT cruiserweight champion said he was stepping away from pro-wrestling to figure some things out. Matthews added that the things had been weird since the AEW release of Malakai Black, but that he appreciated the fans support since the group was formed earlier this year.

However, that would not be the end of the story. A report would emerge later in the day revealing that Matthews, like Malakai, was also unhappy with how his run with AEW was going, and that he could potentially be on his way out. It was not specified whether Matthews was trying to get out of his AEW contract, or if the company was attempting to get ride of him since the group’s plans fell through. His stablemate Brody King confirmed on Twitter that he wasn’t planning on leaving AEW anytime soon.

Matthews Has Denied The Reports

This would all spell disaster if not for one thing…Matthews calling all the recent reports lies. He took to Twitter late last night and released a GIF from the all time classic sitcom Seinfeld, which shows Elaine shouting out “Fake, Fake, Fake, Fake.”

To add fuel to the fire the AEW Twitter account shared a happy birthday post for Matthews, who just turned 34.

Stay tuned for more updates on the situation.

The House of Black may have crumbled in All Elite Wrestling but Brody King isn’t going anywhere.

At AEW All Out, House of Black battled Miro, Darby Allin, and Sting in a Trios match. Malakai got a taste of his own medicine in the match as Sting spit the green mist in his eyes. Darby followed it up with the Coffin Drop for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Malakai Black stayed behind on the entrance ramp and waved goodbye to the crowd. He later would speak at an independent wrestling event and state that he needed time to “recalibrate”. Black also released a statement that can be read here.

Buddy Matthews and Brody King battled Sting and Darby Allin at Rampage: Grand Slam this past Friday night. This was apparently Buddy’s send-off from the company as he got green mist in his eyes as well. The Great Muta made a shocking appearance in AEW and helped Sting. Muta spat mist in Buddy’s eyes and Sting hit him with the Scorpion Death Drop for the victory.

Buddy appeared at a Fight Life Pro Wrestling event and confirmed he will be going away for a little while like Malakai Black. He used the word “recalibrate” as well and quoted Malakai saying “this isn’t goodbye, this is see you later.”

The remaining House of Black members currently in All Elite Wrestling are Brodie King and Julia Hart.

Brody took to Twitter and shared the “I’m not leaving!” GIF from The Wolf of Wall Street. The 35-year-old signed with All Elite Wrestling in January 2022.

King battled Jon Moxley for the AEW Interim Championship on the July 6th edition of Dynamite but came up short. It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for Brody in AEW.

Buddy Matthews is the latest prominent name who won’t be competing on AEW programming anymore, as confirmed by the Australian wrestler.

Matthews joined AEW in February 2022 and immediately aligned himself with Malakai Black and Brody King of The House of Black.

Shortly after AEW President Tony Khan made his signing official on social media.

Leaving AEW

During the most recent Fight Life Pro Wrestling event, Matthews cut a promo following his match and confirmed his departure from AEW

“Tonight, I’m going to be the bearer of some unfortunate news. As everyone knows, the House of Black has had some issues lately. As all the members of the house, I’m speaking for them all, we want to thank you all for being members of the house.

“Unfortunately, I, like some of the other members, need to go away for a while. I need to recalibrate. I need to figure out some things. As my brother Malakai once said, this isn’t goodbye, this is see you later.”

Matthews did not make reference to his contract with AEW, or if his hiatus will result in his departure from the promotion.

The Fall of the House of Black

Matthews is the latest prominent name to finish up work with AEW, after Malakai Black announced his departure earlier this month.

Black had his initial requested release refused, but was later granted a “conditional release” by Tony Khan.

Despite reports that Black was seeking a lengthy, possibly permanent break from wrestling, it has since been reported that he has expressed interest in a return to WWE.

It is not known at this time if Matthews is also interested in a return to the promotion, which has seen several returns since Vince McMahon’s retirement.

All Elite Wrestling has some of the most talented wrestlers in the world today, but Ricky Starks has no intention to be a ‘pillar’ of Tony Khan’s promotion.

The concept of AEW having four pillars was first coined by MJF in an interview and references four home-grown AEW talent he believes will be headlining for the promotion one day.

AEW’s four pillars consist of MJF, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara and Jungle Boy.

The promotion has even released a shirt, confirming the four as the ‘pillars’ and future main-eventers of All Elite Wrestling.

I Stand Alone

Ricky Starks wasn’t named by MJF as a pillar of AEW, but that’s okay with the longest-reigning FTW Champion.

When a fan addressed the concept of pillars in AEW, stating that Starks’ name should be on the list, the wrestler said that he stands alone and those terms should be left to wrestlers “enclosed by those definitions.

Headliner

Starks isn’t interested in being a pillar of AEW, and has already been working his way up the promotion’s ranks.

In a separate tweet, the former FTW Champion pointed out that he headlined this week’s AEW Rampage: Grand Slam, after not being booked for the event the prior year.

Starks defeated his former teammate Powerhouse Hobbs in a ‘Lights Out’ match to close out the AEW Rampage: Grand Slam special.

After hitting Hobbs with some lights, Starks finished off his former tag-team partner with a Roshambo to get the pinfall victory.

Darby Allin isn’t phased after getting staples in his head following this week’s AEW Rampage: Grand Slam event.

During the show, Allin teamed with Sting to face the House of Black’s Buddy Matthews and Brody King.

At one point, Allin dropped himself and King off of the stage, which resulted in the former getting his head split wide open.

While Allin was willing to continue, AEW’s medical team advised him to exit the match due to the laceration.

Sting and Allin would win the match, following the interference from Japanese wrestling legend The Great Muta.

Staples

After the match, Allin required five staples in his scalp to close the wound.

On Twitter, the former AEW TNT Champion showed off the injury, but said that the staples had been “worth it.”

Death-Defying

Allin’s recent dive off of the stage is hardly the first time the AEW wrestler has put his body on the line.

In May, Allin faced Jeff Hardy, and hit the latter’s Swanton Bomb off a ladder in the ring, onto Hardy, who was laid across several steel chairs outside of the ring.

Darby’s high-flying antics aren’t reserved to just AEW, as he also performs stunts at various events not associated with wrestling.

Last month, Allin drove a jeep over his house in an insane 96-foot jump, which he called the “sketchiest” stunt he’s done.

Earlier this month, the former AEW TNT Champion performed a backflip on a tricycle after going down a long ramp.

Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, made her shocking debut for All Elite Wrestling at Dynamite: Grand Slam.

The 30-year-old arrived in AEW following the 4-Way match for the AEW Interim Women’s Championship. Toni Storm successfully defended the title against Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Athena. After the match, Britt, Jamie Hayter, and Serena Deeb attacked Toni and Athena in the ring.

Saraya then made her way to the ring to an enormous pop from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. AEW has announced that she will be addressing the crowd this Wednesday on Dynamite.

Booker T Praises Saraya After Her Debut In All Elite Wrestling

Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T spoke about Saraya’s debut in AEW on his Hall of Fame podcast and noted that he predicted that she would return to the ring after WWE opted not to re-sign her.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will battle NJPW star Juice Robinson this Wednesday on Dynamite in a World Title Eliminator match.

If Juice Robinson is able to defeat the champion on Dynamite, he will earn a future title shot, much like a Championship Contender’s match in WWE.

Robinson is one of the only two men that have defeated Jon Moxley in 2022 so far. The other wrestler is former AEW World Champion CM Punk at All Out.

• Juice Robinson & Toni Storm Announce Their Engagement

AEW President Tony Khan announced the match on Twitter and noted that MJF can fight Moxley for the championship any time he chooses.

In addition to MJF, Jon Moxley now has to worry about another wrestler on the AEW roster coming after his title. On Rampage: Grand Slam this past Friday night, Hangman Adam Page took a massive step closer to becoming a two-time AEW World Champion.

Page hit Rush with a Dead Eye on the ring apron to win the Golden Ticket Battle Royal and ensure himself a shot at the title. It was announced that Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against Hangman Adam Page on Dynamite on October 18th. It will be a special Tuesday night edition of AEW Dynamite.

What Has Been Announced For Dynamite (9/28)?

Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, made her shocking debut this past Wednesday at Dynamite: Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. AEW has announced that fans will hear from Saraya on Wednesday night.

Chris Jericho is set to have a celebration with the Jericho Appreciation Society after defeating Claudio Castagnoli to become the new ROH Champion.

World Title Eliminator: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Juice Robinson. Juice will earn a future shot at the AEW World Championship if he can defeat Jon Moxley.

MJF will address the crowd. Maxwell appeared on Dynamite: Grand Slam and interrupted Tony Schiavone’s interview with Wheeler Yuta. Maxwell took several shots at Wheeler and the Blackpool Combat Club. He then brawled with Yuta, shoved Schiavone to the floor, and was helped by W. Morrissey of The Firm.

AEW’s Grand Slam special is now in the rearview mirror, with the promotion’s Grand Slam: Rampage edition taking place last night. The show, which took place from Arthur Ashe Stadium, opened up with the anticipated House of Black (Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Darby Allin & Sting no-DQ matchup, with Julia Hart accompanying the HoB to the ring.

The match was an all-out brawl that saw the daredevil Allin get busted open following an epic crash through a table alongside Brody King. Meanwhile the Stinger was left handcuffed to a chair as Matthews prepared to beat down the legend with his own baseball bat. Right before the attack the lights would go out and the fans in New York would be treated to their biggest surprise of the night, an appearance from Japanese legend, the Great Muta.

Muta came to the ring slowly and looked as if he was about to attack Sting, who he had an intense rivalry with during the early portion of his career. However, Muta instead hit Matthews with a Dragon Screw before spitting his signature green mist in Matthew’s face, which caused him to back up into Julia Hart, who was standing on the apron. Hart was supposed to take the bump and fall through a table, but she seemed to overshoot her jump and instead came crashing onto the pavement.

Hart Is Doing Just Fine

While many fans were worried about Hart’s condition after her fall, they need not worry for long. Both Hart and King took to Twitter to reveal that Hart is not only doing just fine, but that her scary looking hat is also okay.

King writes, “I just want everyone to know that TheJuliaHart’s Hat made it out safely. Thank you for your concerns.” Hart herself would then confirm this news with her own tweet. She writes, “Me and my hat are okay.”

AEW’s resident Icon Sting will be part of The Grea Muta’s final match after a legendary career next January.

During this week’s AEW Rampage: Grand Slam, aiding Sting and Darby Allin in a no-disqualification tag team match against the Houe of Black.

Muta hit the green mist on Buddy Matthews, giving Sting to hit the Scorpion Death Drop for the win.

Post-match, Muta and Sting embraced in the ring.

The Final Match

The Great Muta’s appearance during AEW Rampage: Grand Slam came in the midst of a retirement tour for the Japanese wrestling legend.

After the match, Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that Sting will be heading to Japan to participate in the Great Muta Final Bye-Bye show.

The event will take place on January 22, 2023.

The announcement notes that Sting “has decided to participate in the Yokohama Arena tournament” following Muta’s appearance on Rampage.

Muta and Sting

Muta would feud with Sting during his WCW tenure in 1989, capturing the NWA World Television Championship from the Icon in September that year.

In 1991, the pair rekindled their rivalry at the WCW-NJPW cross-promotion Starrcade event in the Tokyo Dome, where Muta would again defeat Sting.

The following year, the pair would team together in the Tokyo Dome to defeat the Steiner Brothers at WCW/NJPW Supershow II.

After capturing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in August 1992, one of Muta’s first title defenses would come against the Stinger that November.

When appearing for WCW, Muta would often be on the losing end to Sting, coming up short against the WWE Hall of Famer at live events.

AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa was supposed to defend her title against Toni Storm at All Out but had to pull out of the match due to injury. She has not appeared on AEW TV since the Dynamite before the PPV on September 4th. Toni Storm is currently the Interim AEW Women’s Champion.

On Dynamite Grand Slam, Toni defended the title against Britt Baker, Athena, and Serena Deeb in a 4-Way match. Toni emerged victorious but Britt Baker attacked after the match. Jamie Hayter and Serena Deeb joined the D.M.D. in the attack before Falling in Reverse’s Zombified echoed throughout Arthur Ashe stadium.

Britt stood in the ring confused as the blood poured down her face from another busted nose incident. The name “Saraya” flashed on the screen and the crowd popped. Saraya (FKA as Paige in WWE) made her way to the ring to an incredible reaction from AEW fans as the heels retreated. Saraya then hugged Athena and Toni Storm in the ring to end the segment.

Thunder Rosa Praises Saraya After Her Debut

The AEW Women’s Champion was interviewed by Dave LeGreca on Busted Open Radio today and had some kind words to say about Saraya following her debut at Dynamite Grand Slam. She said that she is one of the stars that AEW helped create and she’s excited to have someone the caliber of Saraya to work with.

“I hope she is completely cleared to wrestle. She is going to teach a lot of the girls a lot of cool stuff that otherwise they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do. Wrestling was her bread and butter for a long time and she knows the grind.

Before she got signed, she was in the indies struggling just like everybody else. One of the things that Saraya has is that she has not changed her core. She continues to be the same person that she was before. I’m really interested to get to know her on another level.

I know that fans are very excited to see her because they haven’t seen her wrestle in a while and they are very eager for that. Company-wise and ratings-wise, this is going to be great for ratings and going to be great for the women’s division. You cannot deny that.

I want to come back a way that you guys have never seen me before and having Saraya there, I’m like ‘alright yeah’ there’s even more competition. Yes I’m on top, but when you have bigger sharks in the tank you better start eating because you have to get bigger than the shark that wants to take what you have.

So, it is going to be very interesting. She brings a lot to the women’s division. She brings a brand, something that is needed in the division too. That you cannot deny. I know Tony does a lot of stuff because he wants ratings. We want to be number one. If you start something and you don’t want to be number one, don’t start it.”

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Busted Open Radio with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.

Saraya has responded to a recent report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that she is not cleared to wrestle despite making her AEW debut this past Wednesday on Dynamite. 

The former Paige made her AEW arrival following the fatal four-way match in which Toni Storm defeated Britt Baker, Serena Deeb, and Athena to retain her Interim AEW Women’s Title while saving Storm and Athena from being attacked by Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Rebel.

Saraya is one of Baker’s dream opponents, something the former AEW Women’s Champion has said in a number of previous interviews. It appeared that AEW started a feud between Saraya and Baker once this angle occurred.

Saraya Responds

Meltzer reported that “she had not been cleared as of very recently, which would explain not touching anyone, but [she] would like to be cleared.”

Saraya did not confirm or deny what was reported by Meltzer but did tweet the following: “Ignore the dirt sheet clickbait. See ya Wednesday. #AEWDynamite.”

AEW President Tony Khan also retweeted what Saraya had to say. 

Due to spinal stenosis, Saraya hasn’t wrestled since 2017, which is the reason she hasn’t been given the all-clear. Although they were also informed they couldn’t wrestle because of spinal stenosis, wrestlers like Edge and Sting were able to receive medical clearance years later after retiring. 

Several AEW stars were contacted by WWE or those working with WWE about potential returns to the company.

When these reports came out, former WWE stars were contacted by WWE talent relations, referred the contact to their attorney, and informed AEW management of the contact.

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer previously reported that WWE contacted Malakai Black. Fightful Select reports that they heard from WWE sources that Black indicated to contacts in the company that he wished he was still there.

For now, Black is effectively done with AEW, but with the inability to compete for WWE for an extended period. Several in AEW management initially had the impression that he wanted to go back to WWE, and there were higher-ups in AEW who were of the “if they want to go, let them” mentality.

Malakai Black Wasn’t The Only One Contacted

The report noted that a source within WWE stated they heard that feelers were sent out to Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood of FTR, and Swerve Strickland. 

FTR has a while to go until their AEW contracts run out. They had spent years in the WWE system working with Triple H. Before they left WWE, the company made numerous efforts to re-sign them. 

An AEW source added that “WWE had reached out in August to an AEW name who had been with the company since the start, but that even we’d be surprised to learn they reached out to.”

Bobby Fish tried to get his former stablemates – Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly to leave AEW to return to WWE, according to a report by the Wrestling Observer’s Ryan Frederick. 

Frederick noted on the message board of the website that  Fish was trying to get them to ask for their AEW releases, but they told him. 

The Report

“I posted it in the Bobby Fish thread but I know Fish was trying to get them to Cole and Kyle to ask for their releases to go back to VVWE and they both told him no. It’s possible Cole may have clued Tony [Khan] in. If he did, I doubt he was the only one. I’m sure Swerve was one of them who did so.”

Fish left the promotion last month when his contract expired, and it was not renewed, while Cole and O’Reilly have several years left on their contracts. Both stars are currently sidelined with injuries as Cole has been out of in-ring action since Forbidden Door in late June, when he reportedly suffered a concussion. 

Kyle is out of action after undergoing neck surgery, with his last match taking place on the June 8th Dynamite show. 

Cole, O’Reilly, and Fish had a successful run as The Undisputed Era in WWE NXT before they had a stint as The Undisputed Elite together in AEW.

Saraya’s future in the ring within AEW remains unclear following her shock appearance at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam. 

The former WWE Divas Champion parted ways with the company in July, when WWE opted not to renew her contract.

Saraya has since made it clear that the decision to leave was not her decision.

Career-Ending Injury

Saraya hasn’t competed in any ring since a Boxing Day 2017 WWE Live event where she suffered an injury during a tag-team match.

The match saw Paige, Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose defeat Mickie James, Sasha Banks and Bayley, in a repeat of the previous day’s Raw taping.

In April 2018, Paige confirmed her retirement from in-ring competition and was promoted to SmackDown General Manager shortly after

Medical Update

WWE was hesitant to clear Saraya again due to her neck issues, and that may also be the case.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that it is unclear if Saraya will wrestle in AEW. 

It was pointed out how nobody touched Saraya during her appearance, which implies that she is still not medically cleared. 

It was also reported that while in WWE, not only could the then-Paige not wrestle, but she was also not allowed to be touched or get physical in any capacity.

Saraya was not cleared to wrestle in a very recent evaluation of her, though her condition may have improved since then. 

Outside of AEW

It remains to be seen if Saraya will get physical in AEW, but the former Superstar is getting back in the ring in her native England. 

It has been confirmed that the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion will be a special guest referee at the upcoming Frightmare event for World Association of Wrestling.

Saraya will officiate the match between her brothers Roy Knight and Zak Zodiac on October 15.

World Association of Wrestling is based in Norwich, England, and run by Saraya’s family the Knights.

AEW wrestlers and management have teased going to the UK for a big show. That plan is still in place. 

The show’s location has always been set in stone. AEW President Tony Khan’s family also owns Premier League football (soccer) team Fulham FC, where they play at Craven Cottage stadium in London. The stadium can hold around 25,000 people.

Date for AEW’s UK Debut Show

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the plan is still for AEW to visit the UK and to do a show at Fulham’s Craven Cottage stadium.

Meltzer wrote: “Right now, it still looks like next summer at the earliest for a U.K. debut at Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham.”

The promotion has yet to run shows outside of North America. With WWE’s recent Clash at the Castle show and the event’s success, AEW wants to run the market. 

All Elite Wrestling recently held its second Grand Slam event in New York City at Arthur Ashe Stadium that did a $1 million gate. The promotion will venture outside of the United States when they hold Dynamite and Rampage events from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in October. 

Maxwell Jacob Friedman is making big money as part of his renegotiated contract with All Elite Wrestling. MJF has been with AEW since it was founded in 2019 and was not widely known prior to joining Tony Khan’s promotion. As a result, he wasn’t earning the same level of money that world famous stars like Chris Jericho and John Moxley were able to command.

The 26-year-old from Plainview, Long Island has proven himself to be an exceptional talent whose mic skills put him in an elite class of all-time great talkers such as Roddy Piper and Paul Heyman. He’s one of the hottest acts in all of professional wrestling, but wasn’t making main event caliber money until recently. All the while, he watched Tony Khan open the vault to sign people like CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole to lucrative deals.

MJF recently appeared on The MMA Hour podcast to promote AEW Grand Slam. During his discussion with host Ariel Helwani, MJF revealed that he recently sat down with Tony Khan and they hashed out a revised agreement that he’s very satisfied with.

How Much Does MJF Make?

MJF boasted to Ariel Helwani that he was able to get Khan to give him a huge raise without having to extend the time frame of his current contract. He’s set to become a free agent on January 1, 2024, a date that will kick off the Bidding War of 2024.

He intends to let his contract lapse, enter free agency and then let AEW and WWE duke it out to secure his services. He’s sure to score a blockbuster deal at that time, but won’t have to wait until 2024 to become a millionaire.

MJF is now one of the highest paid stars in AEW and makes seven figures, according to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Observer had this to say about MJF’s new deal with AEW:

Only a few people in the industry make over a million dollars per year and MJF is almost certainly the youngest person on this short list. It is rare for a wrestler to re-negotiate their contract mid-way through its term. However, as MJF will tell you, he’s a generational talent.

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash spoke about the brawl between CM Punk and The Elite at the All Out media scrum on a recent episode of his Kliq This podcast.

Co-host Sean Oliver read a comment from a fan that suggested that CM Punk simply just snapped and that we are all human. Kevin responded by poking fun at CM Punk’s comments at the press conference when he said he was old, tired, and works with children.

“At 42 years old, you know, I mean Phil (CM Punk) is tired. Phil’s tired, he’s beat up.”

Sean noted that Kevin Nash was in the ring when he was 55 and the 63-year-old brought up his promo with Punk on RAW following WWE SummerSlam 2011.

Kevin also laughed at the idea of Pat Buck and Chris Daniels getting suspended because of the altercation. Big Daddy Cool did compliment CM Punk for being a pro during his matches before the All Out brawl and claimed he saw a lot of himself in the disgruntled star.

If you use quotes from this article, please credit the Kliq This podcast and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.

• CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has quickly become one of All Elite Wrestling’s most popular stars and made the media rounds to promote AEW Grand Slam. He stopped by Barstool Sports for an interview on Wrasslin’ and appeared on Barstool’s Answer The Internet.

After his “pipebomb” promo on the Dynamite after Double or Nothing, MJF went missing from AEW television for months. The 26-year-old returned at All Out to win the Casino Ladder match and had a stare-down with former AEW Champion CM Punk. MJF has a guaranteed title match at a time and place of his choosing.

He appeared on Barstool Sports’ Answer The Internet and answered questions on a wide variety of topics.

Which celebrity would MJF most like to see in a sex tape?

“My brain immediately goes to a grotesque place because I can look at any woman naked if I want to now. God invented the internet. So I think I’d want to see someone like gross and fat. I want to see Oprah. That would be rad.“

Would you rather have your porn search history shared with your Twitter followers or your parents?

“Dude, post it on Twitter, I don’t give a sh*t. I don’t talk to my parents. They f***ing suck.“

Should you lock a dog out of the room when you’re having sex?

“So I have a cat, love my cat. The cat’s name is Piper. When it’s go time, when it is time for the fiancé to hop on the maximum ride, love Piper to death but Piper is going out the door. Because it gets loud, it gets sweaty, and it’s not a safe environment for any pet.”

Who is the hottest celebrity you’d have a chance with if they got to know you?

“Sadie Sink. There’s something about Sadie Sink. And maybe it is because I got like a redhead thing, but there is SOMETHING.“

Kevin Clancy (KFC) of Barstool wondered if Sadie would like MJF if she met her and the AEW star joked “Stranger Things have happened”. Sadie Sink plays Max in the massively popular Netflix show Stranger Things.

Please credit Barstool Sports with a H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this video.

You can check out all of MJF’s NSFW responses in the video below.

Toni Storm believes the AEW Women’s Division is primed to ‘change the entire game.’

Although Storm is only the Interim AEW Women’s World Champion, she is invested in the permanent history of the AEW women’s division and wants to see it grow. 

Toni Storm’s Vision

While speaking with TV Insider, Storm talked about the future of the division:

“It’s a story as old as time. Women’s wrestling struggles to get the same amount of time as the guys. We are put in a different position, but I really do believe we are headed in the right direction. We’ve got a locker room full of really hardworking and talented women that I believe are the future. It’s going to change the entire game. I think we’re going to overcome and get more time and see more emphasis on ourselves. But we’re doing the hard work. I’m very confident in this entire division.”

Storm stated that she’s proud to be at the top and will do whatever it takes to push it to where it needs to go. 

“I’m proud of everyone back there. “I’m choosing to be positive. I think, little by little, there will be more emphasis on us in AEW. We just need to keep breaking down that door. I also think consistency is what will get us there.”

Storm successfully retained the Interim AEW Women’s World Championship on Wednesday night at the Dynamite: Grand Slam event in a fatal 4-way match against Athena, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., and Serena Deeb.