Tony Khan continues to cultivate the scorecard for the ongoing AEW Continental Classic.
As WWE Survivor Series set to commence on Saturday evening, the AEW President took to social media to announce a round two fight for the round robin tournament. It will be Shelton Benjamin taking on Kyle Fletcher for the 12/4 episode of AEW Dynamite. Khan hyped the match, noting that Benjamin are the two top names in their “league” going mono-a-mono.
“The current Top 2 in the C2 Blue League will fight 1-on-1: Shelton Benjamin vs Kyle Fletcher. THIS WEDNESDAY!”
This Wednesday, December 4 Fishers, IN, near Indianapolis TBS, 8pm ET/7pm CT Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite
The Continental Classic started up on the pre-Thanksgiving episode of AEW Dynamite as Shelton Benjamin defeated former ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe via a clean pinfall following a powerslam.
As for Fletcher, the adversary of Will Ospreay upended the Beast Mortos on this week’s episode of AEW Collision after nailing the bullheadecd luchador with a brainbuster. The match-up itself provides to be an intriguing one as Benjamin and Fletcher are both top heels in the company, also being involved in their respective heel factions. Benjamin is notoriously apart of The Hurt Syndicate alongside MVP and Bobby Lashley while Fletcher is a member of the revamped Don Callis Family. Fletcher will look to continue the hot hand as he ended up definitively defeating Ospreay earlier this week at AEW Full Gear. Ospreay is aiming to rebound from that loss as on that same episode of Collision, he defeated Juice Robinson in the ‘Gold League’ side of the Classic. Unfortunately, Robinson ended up getting injured in the fight.
AEW will be without one of its standout performers for the foreseeable future, as Juice Robinson sustained an injury during the taping of the November 30th episode of AEW Collision. The incident occurred on November 27th during a Gold League match in the AEW Continental Classic, where Robinson faced off against Will Ospreay. While Ospreay emerged victorious, Robinson suffered an injury that now sidelines him indefinitely.
Further details regarding Robinson’s injury or his potential return timeline have not been disclosed. However, fans spotted him on crutches during WrestleCade weekend, raising concerns about the severity of the issue. This setback comes not long after Robinson’s return to action in May at Double or Nothing, following back surgery to address a previous injury.
Robinson originally debuted for All Elite Wrestling in September 2022 in a hard-fought match against Jon Moxley. He officially signed with the promotion three months later and has been a prominent figure ever since, frequently appearing alongside his Bang Bang Gang stablemates.
We extend our best wishes to Juice Robinson for a speedy and full recovery.
Britt Baker has shared how her perseverance landed her in Cobra Kai after impressing one of the show’s writers with her ‘attitude.’ The former AEW Women’s World Champion appears in the ninth episode of Cobra Kai’s sixth season which landed on Netflix on November 15.
While Baker has only now arrived in the show, getting a role in Cobra Kai has been in the works for the DMD since meeting writer Hayden Schlossberg at the season 4 premiere.
“He recognized me from social media. I kind of joked, but not joking, ‘If you ever need anything, I’m a huge fan and would love to be involved.’”
Schlossberg later contacted Britt, who he feels embodies the “Cobra Kai never-say-die attitude.” While Baker, who plays Russian sensei Oksana, has been working on getting on the show for years, she’s still yet to watch herself on the hit Karate Kid-spinoff.
“I have to be honest, I haven’t even watched it yet. I want to wait for all of it to come out so I can watch it all!”
Baker’s role in Cobra Kai is a huge opportunity for the AEW competitor to extend her star power outside of the squared circle. It remains to be seen if this role will lead to bigger things for the DMD, but years after pitching herself, Baker has at long last found herself in one of the most popular shows currently airing.
Britt Baker has been left reeling from a “rollercoaster” year for the AEW star that has seen major shifts in both her professional and personal lives. 2024 has seen Baker compete just five times for AEW, including at All In: London in Wembley. Baker’s year has been mired with injuries, her suspension due to an incident with MJF, as well as her split with Adam Cole that was confirmed last month.
Speaking to Us Weekly, Baker reflected on her rollercoaster year, and why the term both does and doesn’t convey what she’s been through.
“Rollercoaster is a good word. But I also don’t think it’s appropriate, because with a rollercoaster there’s a start and an end point. I can’t really say where the roller coaster started and I definitely don’t know where it’s going to end.”
While not as active in AEW as she once was, Baker remains a hot-button topic on social media, with plenty of fans and critics alike. The former Women’s World Champion has had to “mentally dig deep” this year, a process hardly helped by comments online.
“Man, is it toxic. It’s brutal. There’s a whole population of people on social media who just want to make you feel bad about yourself. It’s crazy we live in a world where that’s their mission.”
Baker last wrestled for AEW on the November 13, Dynamite where she bested Penelope Ford, and fans await the next major feud for the DMD. Whatever’s to come, Baker is focusing on looking positively to 2025, despite what those online may have to say.
Ricky Starks will make his debut for House of Glory Wrestling next January, amid his ongoing hiatus from AEW programming. Starks will compete at the Watch The Throne show on January 17, where he’ll challenge Mike Santana for the HOG World Championship. Santana has held the gold since December 1, 2023, when he ended the reign of the self-professed ‘Indy God’ Matt Cardona.
? C H I C A G O ?
In an absolute blockbuster main event, HOG World Heavyweight Champion @Santana_Proud will defend his title against the debuting “Absolute” @starkmanjones , Friday, January 17th in Chicago!!!
Starks’ impending arrival in AEW comes amid his hiatus from AEW as the former World Tag Team Champion hasn’t been used on TV since March. Starks has speculations about why he’s not being used but has yet to be told by AEW management why the company is not using him.
Not only is Starks not competing in AEW, but he was recently pulled from a GCW event, and all future events for the promotion. It has been reported that a comment by Effy, Starks’ planned opponent for the night, resulted in Tony Khan cutting Starks from all GCW plans. GCW owner Brett Lauderdale only learned that Starks had been pulled at the same time fans learned of the situation on social media. Instead of Starks, Effy will face Matt Cardona at the Highest In The Room 3 event on December 14.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Ricky Starks, as fans wait to see what’s next for him, and when, if ever, he next competes in an AEW ring.
Christian Cage has reinvented himself while competing in AEW after joining the promotion a few years ago. However, he recently tried to bring back a nickname that he got over and used in WWE for years.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Cage tried to trademark the term ‘Captain Charisma’ and was opposed by WWE.
It’s unclear whether Cage will appeal the filing as of this writing. Some fans could argue that he doesn’t need the name, considering his placement in AEW since joining the rival promotion in 2021 after returning to in-ring action after years of being in retirement.
Cage was hyped as Tony Khan’s Hall of Fame-worthy talent signing at the time. Since then, he has been used in a top position, challenging for the World Heavyweight Title and holding the TNT Title multiple times. He currently holds the right to a World Title shot of his choosing, something he attempted to cash in on at Full Gear last Saturday on AEW World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley only to be stopped.
After opting to sign with AEW over WWE, he filed to regain the trademark rights to the Christian Cage name. Cage was last in action on the November 13th episode of Dynamite when he teamed with Hangman Page to beat Bang Bang Gang (Jay White & Juice Robinson) in a tag team match.
Adam Copeland is eager to make his return to the ring. During a recent interview with Toronto Leafs Nation, the WWE Hall of Famer opened up about his recovery process following his injury at AEW’s Double Or Nothing and provided an update on his comeback timeline.
Reflecting on the incident, Copeland humorously acknowledged the risks of his high-flying style at his age. “My brain forgets I’m 51, but my body quickly reminded me, yeah, you just jumped from 21 feet, assh*le,” he said, referencing the Steel Cage match spot against Malakai Black that caused the injury. “That’s technically three stories. You’re 51, quit it.”
Despite the setback, Copeland revealed that his recovery has gone well and hinted at a return in the near future. “But I feel good,” he assured fans. “I’m ready to get back at it and to get busy again.”
While no official date has been announced, it’s clear the multi-time World Champion is eager to rejoin AEW’s dynamic roster, working with today’s rising stars and enjoying the final years of his active career on his own terms.
Adam Copeland’s AEW journey began with his debut at WrestleDream in October 2023, marking his first promotion change since 1997 and the start of a new chapter under his real name rather than his WWE moniker “Edge.”
His most significant achievement has been capturing the TNT Championship twice, with his first title victory coming through an emotional “I Quit” match against Christian Cage in Toronto. Throughout his reign, he defended the title in memorable matches against opponents like Malakai Black in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match and faced off against wrestling legend Minoru Suzuki on Dynamite.
Beyond his in-ring accomplishments, Copeland has received widespread acclaim for delivering some of his career-best performances in AEW, while also embracing a mentorship role with younger talent. His rivalry with Christian Cage became a highlight of his AEW tenure, drawing strong reviews from longtime fans and pundits.
Eddie Kingston is working hard on his recovery from the multitude of injuries he suffered earlier in the year but the latest reports suggest that he’ll not be back in the ring anytime soon.
The Mad King last competed during the NJPW Strong Resurgence event in May this year. Kingston dropped the NJPW Strong Openweight Title to Gabe Kidd at the show.
PWinsider recently provided an update on Eddie Kingston’s status. They noted that the 42-year-old is ‘furiously pushing himself’ through physical therapy in hopes of getting back into the ring as soon as possible.
Despite his best efforts, however, the former ROH Champion is not expected back anytime soon. His doctors have warned him that he’ll likely not be cleared to compete until June 2025. When the site reached out to him for a comment, Eddie simply said ‘Health insurance is a scam.’
Eddie Kingston is one of the names who was helped by the inception of AEW. Having wrestled for many indie promotions since his debut in 2002, Kingston was contemplating retirement before being signed by AEW in 2020.
His mic skills and fighting spirit have helped make the wrestling star one of the most loved names of the AEW roster since then and there are many who are waiting for his return to the ring.
Fans have gotten their first glimpse of Adam Copeland in the next season of Percy Jackson, amid the AEW wrestler’s ongoing injury. On Instagram, footage was shared of Copeland as Ares, the God of War, explaining his messed-up family history.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians is based off the hit book series by Rick Riordan, who serves as one of the show’s executive producers. Copeland was part of the show’s first season and fans can expect to see the WWE Hall of Famer and former World Champion back. The second season of the show is set for a 2025 release on Disney+ though an exact date isn’t known at this time.
This week, it was reported that Copeland has been medically cleared for physicality, though fans shouldn’t expect him on Dynamite or Collision just yet. It’s reported that Copeland isn’t expected to appear for AEW until filming is completed for the season season of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. Hollywood sources suggest production will wrap in January.
Another Thanksgiving is in the books as people around the United States have shared what they’re grateful for, all while digesting copious amounts of food. For the stars of wrestling, there’s plenty to be thankful for, and some names in the industry took to social media to share how they celebrated.
On X, WWE CCO Pal ‘Triple H’ Levesque gave a rare look at his personal life by sharing a Thanksgiving workout with his daughters.
Lyons may have twerked one too many times, as later in the day, she shared that she wasn’t thankful for the sickness she was dealing with. The Lioness said that someone had gotten her sick at an NXT live event last Friday in Lakeland, Florida.
Braun Strowman enjoyed Thanksgiving, which is more than can be said for the 8 deer he killed and later shared on his Instagram Stories.
NXT Superstar Lexis King was able to celebrate the day with his ‘Queen.’ The second-generation wrestler has been trying to become a better person as of late in the silver brand and avoid his usual heel tactics.
And AEW President Tony Khan celebrated Thanksgiving by sharing how thankful he is that there’s plenty more matches to go in the Continental Classic. The tournament has new rules this year, and its winner will be crowned at AEW Worlds End next month.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I’m thankful that we still have 30 matches left in the AEW Continental Classic!
The tournament continues with great matches this weekend on #AEWCollision! See you then at a special EARLY start time! 4pm ET/3pm CT/2pm MT/1pm PT THIS SATURDAY On TNT!
The LWO took their Thanksgiving celebration to Arizona by delivering over 50,000 meals as part of community outreach. We at SEScoops would like to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving as wrestling fans have plenty to be thankful for.
AEW taped the November 30 episode of Saturday Night Collision alongside this week’s Dynamite from Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The tapings featured a number of Continental Classic matches as well as an appearance from the Death Riders. Below are the complete spoilers:
Singles Match – Mina Shirakawa def. Leila Grey: Shirakawa picked up the victory with the Glamorous Driver.
AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match – Will Ospreay def. Juice Robinson: Ospreay was favoring his left shoulder, selling the Corner Brainbuster from Kyle Fletcher at Full Gear. Will picked up the victory with a Hidden Blade.
6 Men Tag Team Match – Private Party & Mistico def. MxM Collection & Johnny TV: Private Party hit their finisher on Johnny TV for the win.
AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match – Kyle Fletcher def. The Beast Mortos: Mortos countered a superplex from Fletcher into a crucifix bomb and almost got the pin. Fletcher hit a lariat and then brainbuster to get the win in the end.
Tag Team Match: The Outrunners def. Iron Savages: Jacked Jameson cut a promo before the Outrunners picked up a quick win over his clients. FTR came out after the bout to shake hands with the duo of Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum.
Singles Match – Hangman Page def. Wheeler Yuta: Pac and Claudio Castagnoli were shown coming down the stairs into the crowd during the bout. The distraction allowed Yuta to roll Page but he kicked out at two. Hangman finally won the bout with a Dead Eye as Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir joined Pac and Claudio on the stairs. Page continued his attack on Yuta after the bout but the Death Riders just watched. The former AEW champion was about to Pillmanize his opponent when Jay White’s music hit. White forced Page to retreat and then taunted the Death Riders.
AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match – Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. TNT Champion Daniel Garcia: The champion vs champion match ended in a time-limit draw. Okada offered to shake Garica’s hand after but doinked the TNT champion in the face.
Jake Roberts has revealed why he picked snakes as part of his gimmick over a different animal.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet for a new interview. He discussed things such as DDP helping him with his alcohol addiction, his iconic promos, DDT not being used as finishers anymore and more.
Talking about his famous gimmick, Roberts discussed how he’s actually not a fan of snakes and joked that he should have adopted a different creature-based character:
“I don’t like snakes at all. I’m terrified of them. They scare the piss out of me, and you never get used to getting bit. I should have been like Billy the bug, just carry a cockroach around.
You know, if I shoved a cockroach in your ear, that would mess with your head, yeah, yeah, especially your ear. Little cockroach dug in there.”
The WWE legend was then asked why he still chose snakes as part of his character despite hating them. Jake Roberts explained that this phobia which he shares with a lot of fans is the thing that made him a successful heel:
“Because of that, because most people are afraid of snakes. Your parents tell you from the get go, keep away snakes. And that’s ingrained in you.
It’s sort of something that is taught to us from the very beginning, and kids dig it, because mom and dad can’t stand it. You know, it makes mama squirm. I love to see your mother squirm. I still love seeing that.”
Roberts also revealed that he’s received more than 15 snake bites over the course of his career. He discussed how people are told not to move quickly when a snake bites but it’s the natural reaction for anyone. He recalled one such incident where he got bitten by a large reticulated Python who ended up tearing a chunk off his arm.
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts would not be living right now if not for the immense effort from him and others to combat his substance abuse issues. For years, Roberts battled an addiction to alcohol and other substances and would spend 14 weeks in a WWE-endorsed rehab clinic in 2007. Despite this, it wouldn’t be until Page moved in with ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page in 2012 that Roberts was able to turn his life around.
Speaking on the Insight podcast, Roberts was asked if he still struggles with his sobriety and shared that alcohol no longer is able to coax him.
“The smell of alcohol turns my stomach. I can walk through an airport blindfolded and tell you where the bars are at. Because of the smell. That’s my stomach now and I’m glad.”
Roberts’ time with DDP and battle with substance abuse was documented in the documentary The Resurrection of Jake the Snake. When asked how he was able to overcome his demons, Jake made clear it wasn’t a solitary venture.
“A lot of damn work, it took a lot of work. It took a lot of patience and some good friends.
Roberts is just one of several wrestlers helped by DDP, who also aided Scott Hall with his battles with substances. Had Page not stepped in, Roberts would not have been alive for the interview according to the WWE legend.
“Nope. No doubt in my mind. I’d have been dead several years ago. That’s where I was going.”
Roberts is not just surviving, but thriving at the age of 69 as the manager of La Facción Ingobernable. Roberts also serves as an advisor for the community outreach program AEW Together where he uses his experience to help others make the right choices.
AEW will be delivering some festive action next month with a pair of shows from the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom. AEW will kick-off with the December 21, edition of AEW Collision, dubbed ‘Christmas Collision‘. On December 25, AEW will host its ‘Dynamite on 34th Street,’ a fun nod to the beloved film about a girl who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus.
The two shows will mark AEW’s debut in the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, which hosted several ECW events, including the first two One Night Stand pay-per-views from 2005 to 2006. News of the two shows come after AEW filed trademarks for Christmas Collision and Dynamite on 34th Street earlier this month.
At this time, no matches have been confirmed for either show though the posters above promise some of the very top names on the All-Elite roster. It’s also not been confirmed if the Dynamite show will be pre-taped, allowing the roster Christmas Day to spend with families and loved ones. The fact that both shows are being filmed from the Hammerstein Ballroom has led many to believe Dynamite will be filmed on the same day as the live Collision.
2024 has been a huge year for AEW, with the arrival of Mercedes Mone, Kazuchika Okada, and others. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on AEW and its festive shows set to take place next month.
Brody King knocked out more than just his opponent in the main event of the November 27 Dynamite from Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
The House of Black member faced Darby Allin in a Continental Classic gold league match. The bout was the main event of the night and the two stars took each other to the limit with their unique offence.
One such move saw King delivering the cannonball to Allin on a barricade at the hardcam side. The move didn’t go as planned however and Brody apparently ended up hitting some equipment causing both the camera and commentary feed to be taken out for a moment:
The ending of the bout saw Darby delivering a Coffin Drop to the heavyweight star. As he went for a second one, however, King countered. He grabbed the former TNT Champion on his way down and converted it into a sleeper hold.
Brody King then delivered a pile driver to his opponent to pick up a victory and three points in the ongoing Continental Classic tournament. Claudio Castagnoli came out after the bell and he had a stare down with Brody as the show went off air.
This wasn’t the only C2 match that took place tonight. Shelton Benjamin defeated Mark Briscoe in a blue league match to open the show while Claudio took out Ricochet in a gold league match later in the night.
AEW has confirmed that Mariah May will defend the AEW Women’s World Championship against Mina Shirakawa at Winter is Coming 2024. The event will take place on December 11 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, airing live on TBS.
This match comes with added tension after Mina Shirakawa’s recent attack on Mariah May at Full Gear, where Shirakawa ambushed the champion. May now looks to settle the score while retaining her title, but Shirakawa’s calculated aggression positions her as a dangerous challenger.
Raw emotions spill out as Mina Shirakawa explains her betrayal at #AEWFullGear—but the moment turns chaotic when she’s ambushed by #AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May!
As one of AEW’s signature Dynamite specials, Winter is Coming has consistently delivered significant matches, and this year’s championship bout continues that tradition. Further announcements about the event are expected as the date approaches.
AEW is on the road to crown the next Continental Classic winner, but how the next AEW Continental Champion will be crowned has changed. On the November 27 episode of AEW Dynamite, it was confirmed that the winner will be crowned at AEW Worlds End, just like last year’s tournament.
Unlike last year though, the semi-finals will also take place at AEW Worlds End, meaning three Continental Classic matches at the pay-per-view. In addition to this change, the tournament will see the winner of the Gold League will face the runner-up of the Blue League, and the winner of the Blue League will face the runner-up of the Gold League. Last year, it was the winners and runners-up of the same league who faced each other to earn a spot in the finals.
This week’s Dynamite saw the tournament get underway, with Shelton Benjamin defeating Mark Briscoe in the Blue League to earn three points. Claudio Castagnoli and Brody King both earned three points in the Gold League with wins over Ricochet and Darby Allin respectively.
The winner of this year’s AEW Continental Classic will be crowned the Continental Champion, a title currently held by Kazuchika Okada. The Elite member was automatically selected for the tournament, where the odds aren’t in his favor. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from the AEW Continental Classic, as fans are in for some exciting action in this round-robin tournament.
Kamille has finally ended her partnership with Mercedes Mone.
AEW has been teasing increased tensions between the two female stars over the past few weeks. The final straw for their partnership came at Full Gear this past Saturday when Mone chewed her bodyguard out and told her to stay in the back for her TBS title defence against Kris Statlander.
The current champion then came out to gloat about her win over Statlander on the November 27 Dynamite. She proceeded to call out Kamille again saying that she can’t do anything right.
Before The CEO could fire the former NWA women’s champion, however, she snatched the mic from her. Kamille said that Mercedes can’t fire her because she quits:
The former NWA star officially made her AEW debut back in July. She attacked Britt Baker on her debut and formed the alliance with the current TBS Champion.
A lot of fans have been complaining since then that Kamille is miscast in her role as a bodyguard and considering her previous achievements, she deserves to be featured on TV as a singles star.
We’re going to have to see if this is the end of the former champion’s storyline with Mone or if she’ll go after the title held by the wrestling veteran next.
All Elite Wrestling returns to Chicago’s Wintrust Arena tonight on TBS at 8/7c with a stacked card featuring Continental Classic Tournament matches and championship action.
Continental Classic Tournament Matches:
Darby Allin vs. Brody King: A rematch from their bloody feud, with Allin looking to overcome the size disadvantage.
Ricochet vs. Claudio Castagnoli: A clash of speed versus power, with Ricochet seeking to bounce back from his first AEW pinfall defeat at Full Gear.
Mark Briscoe vs. Shelton Benjamin: Briscoe faces a tough test against The Hurt Syndicate’s standard-bearer
ROH World Championship Match: Chris Jericho defends his title against Tomohiro Ishii, looking to prove his doubters wrong.
Queen Aminata vs. Jamie Hayter, with the winner qualifying for the NJPW International Women’s Cup
Fallout from Full Gear: Expect updates on the chaotic world title scene, including Jon Moxley’s next challenger and the involvement of Christian Cage, Jay White, Darby Allin, and Hangman Page.
Ricky Starks has explained why he can’t be happy by just having a job.
The former FTW Champion finds himself in a precarious position with his current employers. AEW has not booked the 34-year-old in a match since March but they reportedly also extended his contract to stop him from entering free agency this year.
A lot of people think that Starks should just be grateful for having a job with the company still but the AEW star doesn’t seem to subscribe to this philosophy.
During a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Ricky Starks talked about his All 2023 match with Bryan Danielson. While discussing the bout, the former champion recalled someone telling him that he should just be grateful for having a job:
“I’ll never forget someone telling me just be grateful that you even have a job. I remember someone being like, just be grateful we have a job. I’ll never forget feeling like, how dare you! Don’t tell me to be grateful for something that I’ve worked very hard for.”
Starks explained that people don’t know how hard he’s worked for the opportunities he’s gotten. Anyone who hasn’t lived his life shouldn’t tell him to be grateful for anything:
“That’s saying I know that you’re hungry for dinner, here’s a half-eaten loaf of bread, actually no, let me take that back. Here’s just the crumbs. F*ck you. Don’t tell me just be grateful for something, you don’t live my life. You don’t understand the things that I have gone through to even just get in this moment. It really set me off.”
The AEW star also talked about his recent hiatus from the company. He said that being kept home during the prime of his career just throws you off. You can check out his remarks on the matter here.
AEW Grand Slam: Australia, the promotion’s first-ever event in the country, will now take place from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Feb 15. In an email shared by ticket provider TICKETEK, the move was made official.
Grand Slam: Australia was announced during All In: London 2024 and was originally set to take place at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for the pay-per-view.
While no official word has been given for the change, reports have come out that ticket sakes for Grand Slam: Australia have underperformed. In September, Dave Meltzer shared on Wrestling Observer Radio that sales were “not good” while Bryan Alvarez said that he’s heard similarly from “everyone” he’s spoken with from Australia.
Suncorp Stadium has a capacity of 52,500, while the Brisbane Entertainment Centre has a much smaller capacity of 13,601. This should make filling the arena a much easier task for AEW and lower the risk of embarrassing photos of throngs of empty seats, which have been shared on social media following multiple AEW TV events.
While AEW moving to the smaller venue is clearly not a step Tony Khan and his allies wanted to make, this is what all involved believe is the right course of action. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on AEW Grand Slam: Australia including breaking news and live results.
Ricky Starks will no longer be making appearances for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), despite a recent setup for future involvement with the promotion.
Starks made a surprise appearance at a GCW event on Saturday, just hours before being backstage at AEW’s Full Gear. During the GCW show, he cut a promo referencing his frustrations with AEW, claiming he had been “frozen out” by the company. He interrupted GCW regular Jimmy Lloyd, who had mentioned Full Gear, and the two exchanged heated words. The segment ended with Starks laying Lloyd out with a DDT after being insulted, setting up a future match.
Starks has not been featured on AEW programming for months, despite repeatedly asserting that he is healthy and ready to wrestle. This led to speculation about his status within the company.
However, on Monday evening, GCW announced that Starks would no longer appear at several upcoming events, including the December 14 show in Los Angeles, an unannounced match on December 28 in Seattle, and another on January 19 at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
The announcement followed an interview Starks did with Chris Van Vliet earlier in the day, where he addressed his absence from AEW television. According to Fightful Select, sources within GCW confirmed that AEW made the decision to pull Starks from these appearances. The decision appears to be tied to recent comments made by GCW’s Effy regarding AEW President Tony Khan’s father, Shad Khan.
While some within AEW speculated that Starks was working his GCW appearance into a storyline, sources have confirmed that this was not the case.
We're told that AEW had taken exception to GCW talent Effy bringing up Shad Khan on a recent podcast, in regards to AEW running Hammerstein ballroom, and Shad effectively paying Tony Khan to stay away. After that, AEW was not interested in having Ricky Starks work GCW.
We have just been informed that Ricky Starks has been pulled from all upcoming GCW appearances including his announced match on 12/14 in Los Angeles, his unannounced match on 12/28 in Seattle and his unannounced match on 1/19 at The Hammerstein Ballroom. pic.twitter.com/MygHHgmWAI
Joe Hendry and Big Boom A.J. of the Costco Guys have shared their mutual respect after both went viral in pro wrestling in 2024. On X, it was shared that the pair had taken the #1 and #3 most-viewed wrestling clips on the platform this year. In response, Hendry pondered how he could top his surprise debut in NXT, which earned 18.7 million viewers, in 2025.
Big Boom A.J. and Big Justice’s debut on AEW Dynamite reached an impressive 10.8 million views and saw the pair appear ahead of A.J.’s match at the Full Gear kick-off show. In response, A.J. was honored to be a part of the list alongside the viral Scottish wrestler.
@joehendry It’s a genuine honor to be a part of this list with you! ? BOOM! ?
A.J.’s victory over QT Marshall marked his first match in years, but may not be his last on a major stage. A.J. has spoken to AEW higher-ups and is open to returning for a future match. Unfortunately for fans eager to see the Costco Guy bring the ‘boom,’ A.J. will first have to recover from a broken foot suffered last Saturday night.
As for Hendry, he remains one to watch, especially with reports that his TNA contract is set to expire in 2025. Hendry has also yet to capture the TNA World Championship, and most recently came up short at Bound for Glorythanks to the efforts of John Layfield. Many fans believe TNA needs to ‘pull the trigger’ on Hendry before it’s too late for all involved.
The former TNT Champion recently had an interview with WrestleBinge. He talked about things such as his dream matches, where he gets inspiration for his character, and more.
When asked about his response to people who constantly criticize AEW for their stories and business decisions, Cassidy discussed how they’re a very young company:
“I could say why do you care? I could say if you want AEW to fail then fine. I don’t know why you have to go on and say it out loud?
We are a very young company. We’ve been around for five years. We’ve just grown exponentially fast and gained traction very early thanks in to the part of Tony Khan.”
We’re Gonna Have Problems Throughout Our Tenure: Orange Cassidy
Orange Cassidy explained that changing their approach is not a one-time thing as people believe. Making adjustments is something they’re going to have to continue doing as long as the company exists:
“We’re going to have to go through adjustments. This isn’t going to be a thing that’s only now problem. We’re gonna have problems throughout our entire tenure. I mean this is just the way it is.
I always feel that the powers that be in AEW are trying to do their best to bring the best product. If that means we got to go somewhere else we’re gonna go somewhere else. This is just part of it. I really hope AEW doesn’t go anywhere.”
The 40-year-old challenged Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title at Full Gear this past Saturday but failed to dethrone him. The ending of the show hinted that Darby Allin was going to be the next challenger for Mox and we’ll have to wait and see where Cassidy fits into the picture now.
