Archive for the ‘AEW’ Category

Hit the Pavement: AEW Stars Endorse Viral Asphalt Playground Video

Pro wrestling fans are no strangers to witnessing wild videos appear on their timeline. We’ve seen backyard wrestling before, as it was the genesis for some people’s fandom, but playground wrestling is on another level.

A video went viral showing playground wrestling in New York City. This video was incredibly hard, and it is also stirred some fond memories with a lot of people. That being said, it was new to many as they saw it pop up on their feeds.

https://twitter.com/BvDpro/status/1784264029327794219

AEW Stars React

The AEW locker room keeps their pulse on the heart of what’s trending on social media. When Ortiz saw the crazy playground wrestling display, he shared a bit about his own history on Twitter/X. Seeing a video like this brought back fond memories for him.,

“We did this every Saturday rain or shine for years.Kept me out the streets../ Developed friendships I still have to this day.where I developed my love for pro wrestling. Now a decade later it’s catching traction all over social media.we would of killed for this attention back then!”

Will Ospreay is now lighting up the AEW roster after making his way from Japan. He has seen what the pro wrestling world has to offer, and he responded to say the playground wrestling video is fire.

Playground wrestling legend King Tek also chimed in. He had nothing but great memories to share, and one of them included the art of taking a powerbomb in a very unconventional setting.

Unconventional Pro Wrestling Viral Videos

Pro wrestling is very much engrained in popular culture, so you never know when it will pop up in a viral video. We’re getting a lot more gender reveals based around pro wrestling matches. Logan Paul and Nina Agdal just revealed the gender of the upcoming addition to their family with a match.

You also never know when a pro wrestling fan will throw a match into their wedding reception. We’ve also seen fans use pro wrestling themes, like The Bloodline, in their actual ceremony as they make their way to the altar.

Fans have seen wrestling matches break out in public while they were in town for big events. These may be organized in a manner of speaking, but it certainly has a violent avant-garde vibe.

Professional wrestling is a physically demanding sport, performed by trained professionals in controlled environments. Wrestling on asphalt playgrounds increases the risk of injuries in massive fashion. That being said, always prioritize safety and don’t try this at home, or at your local school/park.

Posted April 28th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Tony Khan To Autograph & Sell Neck Brace With Proceeds Going to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

AEW President Tony Khan is still reeling from the attack by Jack Perry & The Elite but will put his situation to good use by raising money for charity. 

Khan was attacked by Perry on the April 24, edition of AEW Dynamite, the first show of its kind for Perry since August of 2023. After ambushing Khan, Perry was approached by The Elite who also attacked their boss. After the attack, Khan was tended to by medical officials while AEW talent and his father Shad Khan showed their concern. 

Khan Auctioning Neck Brace

During the NFL Draft, Khan, who works as part of the team behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, appeared in a neck brace, selling the impact of the attack on Dynamite. During an appearance on the NFL Network, Rich Eisen revealed that Khan is planning on auctioning the neck brace for a good cause. 

“Tony Khan has texted. He heard me [say] ‘Hey, when you’re done with the brace, would you like to sign it and donate the proceeds to St. Jude’s Research Hospital?’ He said ‘When I’ve recovered from that spike piledriver when on AEW Dynamite’ is that a good ready for you Tony? ‘I will absolutely sign this neck brace and sell it and donate it to St. Jude’s to support Run Rich Run.'”

Run Rich Run is a charitable campaign hosted by Eisen to support St. Jude’s Research Hospital in the fight against childhood diseases. Over its 20 years, the campaign has raised over $7 million. Khan’s offer is an incredibly generous one and we’re sure wrestling fans will be willing to pay big for this one-of-a-kind piece of AEW memorabilia.

More on Tony Khan

Here are some recent articles featuring Tony Khan as the AEW President heals up from his attack on Dynamite: 

Posted April 28th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

WBD “Really Happy” With 4/24 AEW Dynamite Despite Significant Viewership Drop

The ratings slump for the April 24, episode of Dynamite was not a concern for AEW’s broadcast partners at Warner Bros. Discovery who were happy with the show. 

The show saw 683,000 homes tune in for the post-Dynasty edition of Dynamite, a 10% decrease from the previous week. This is the lowest average audience an episode of AEW Dynamite has earned since the January 6, 2021 episode of the show, excluding episodes that were pre-empted. 

Despite this concerning drop, WBD sources were “really happy” with the show’s performance, PW Insider reports. A source in WBD noted that AEW had significant competition on the night due to the NBA and NHL Playoffs. Despite this competition, AEW was still sixth for the evening on basic cable. 

Three of the shows that hit AEW hard on April 24 were made up of NBA coverage on TNT which is considered in the “family” by WBD. When excluding those shows, only ESPN’s coverage of the NHL scored higher in the 18-49 demo for the evening. The source also acknowledged audio issues from TBS’ end of things that impacted the show. 

AEW Dynamite may have seen a serious drop, but there were plenty of factors outside of the promotion’s control for this. The test now will be whether AEW can recover those fans in the coming weeks. Tony Khan’s inaugural promotion has seen a drop in viewers compared to previous years, and the AEW President, who’ll be working remotely following Jack Perry’s attack, will need to explore his options to win back fans.

Posted April 28th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Former WWE NXT Wrestlers Debut On 4/27 Episode of AEW Collision

The April 27, edition of AEW Collision saw not one but three names from WWE NXT make their debuts for the All-Elite promotion. 

The first episode following the inaugural AEW Dynasty event, Collision saw the Grizzled Young Veterans in action. Their arrival on the show wasn’t a surprise given that it’d been announced had been announced days earlier. The team of Zack Gibson and James Drake put up quite the effort against The Acclaimed but ultimately lost to the former AEW World Tag Team Champions. 

In a post-match interview, the Grizzled Young Veterans were frustrated about their defeat and blamed ‘Daddy Ass’ Billy Gunn for their setback. 

Gibson and Drake joined WWE in 2018 and would become the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions. They were later moved to WWE NXT and joined Joe Gacy’s Schism but chose to leave WWE when their contracts expired in September 2023. 

The Grizzled Young Veterans weren’t the only NXT alum on the show. Martin Stone also made his AEW debut on Collision in a losing effort to RUSH. In addition to being Stone’s debut, this was RUSH’s first match back after not competing since AEW Worlds End in December 2023. 

In WWE NXT, Stone competed as Danny Butch and held the NXT Tag Team Championships with Oney Lorcan. He was released from the gold brand in January 2022 as part of cuts that saw many names close to Triple H be let go. 

Posted April 28th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Darby Allin Hit By A Bus in New York City, Still Makes It To Broadway Show

Darby Allin was able to enjoy a Broadway show with artist Raymond Pettibon, but only after the AEW pillar was hit by a bus in New York City first.

On Instagram, Allin shared news of his unfortunate vehicular collision and said he was trying to cross the street in the Big Apple when he was struck. Allin also showed some photos of himself at the play with Pattibon as well as a bloodied selfie from after the bus hit him. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6SnFF6OAnu

This is hardly the only health issue that Allin is dealing with at the moment. During a match with Jay White on the ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin suffered a broken foot that has kept the former TNT & World Tag Team Champion on the shelf ever since. This injury has led to Allin postponing his attempt to climb Mount Everest. 

In case a broken foot wasn’t bad enough, Allin is also dealing with a broken nose. The AEW star recently shared a photo on his Instagram Stories of his nose heavily bandaged up. 

Darby Allin didn’t let a little traffic mishap ruin his night

With these injuries, there’s no word on when Darby Allin will be able to wrestle for AEW again. Hopefully, the risk-taking wrestler will spend this time wisely and give himself ample opportunity to heal before taking on his next death-defying stunt either in or out of the ring. 

More on Darby Allin:

Here are some recent articles featuring Darby Allin and what the pillar of All Elite Wrestling has been up to amid his ongoing hiatus from the Squared Circle:

Posted April 28th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Rey Fenix Is Better Than Ever After Return on 4/27 Episode of AEW Collision

Rey Fenix has made his long-awaited return to in-ring competition, after spending more than six months of his wrestling career on the shelf. 

Fenix made his return on the April 27, episode of AEW Collision with a victory over The Beast Mortos (previously known as Black Taurus.) Commentators observed that Fenix’s win was more about survival than outright domination.

This match was Fenix’s first match since the October 10, 2023, episode of AEW Dynamite where he lost the AEW International Championship to Orange Cassidy. Fenix’s injury happened at the inaugural AEW WrestleDream event days earlier and he was pulled from that match early into the contest. 

Rey Fenix Speaks

Fenix’s return is huge for fans of the masked wrestler who plans to prove that he’s not just back is better than he’s ever been. In a post-match promo backstage, Fenix reflected on his victory over The Beast Mortos

“I am so happy to feel so excited for any opponent. Tonight, I faced a real opponent. Stronger, but no better than me. No better than the Mexican. I come back better than ever because I am the man of 1,000 lives! Rey Fenix.”

Fenix has been with AEW since the start and in addition to being a former International Champion is a former World Tag Team and Trios Champion. Hopefully, Fenx will have a long, prosperous run free from injuries now that he’s back in the ring. 

More on Rey Fenix

Here are some recent articles about Rey Fenix now that the former AEW International Champion is back on TV. 

Posted April 27th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

MJF Underwent Shoulder Surgery, Delaying AEW In-Ring Return (Update)

Maxwell Jacob Friedman will not be returning to the ring for AEW any time soon. Longtime SEScoops correspondent Jason Solomon of the Solomonster Sounds Off broke the news that MJF’s physical rehabilitation was not getting him back to 100% and as a result, he underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder. 

On Sunday, Friedman appeared at the C2E2 comic expo in Chicago sporting a brace on his elbow and looking nowhere close to lacing up his boots again. 

MJF Speaks about his injuries

MJF was wrestling through a lot of physical problems toward the end of his World Title run. He was very banged up and needed time off television. In his absence, AEW removed him from their roster page, but he remains under contract.

Back in December MJF spoke with The Solomonster at the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island, New York. This was right before his AEW World Title defense against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End. He detailed the various injuries he was powering through, but this shoulder injury is going to keep him out of the ring longer than originally hoped for.

MJF & Adam Cole

Injuries greatly affected MJF and Adam Cole’s main event 2023 storyline. Friedman lost the On December 30, 2023, MJF defended his AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at the AEW World’s End pay-per-view event at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. MJF dropped his title during that match, and he hasn’t wrestled since. He suffered multiple injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

MJF and Adam Cole at AEW All In: London, August 27, 2023

Adam Cole, who was revealed as The Devil, had to stop touring with the company. His ankle injury from AEW Grand Slam was not healing as he wanted it to, because the travel was getting in the way of his recovery. The Devil storyline, and the Undisputed Kingdom faction, had to pump the brakes big time after that.

Posted April 27th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Kenny Omega Admits He’s ‘Pretty Jealous’ Of Roman Reigns

Kenny Omega isn’t afraid to acknowledge Roman Reigns. 

‘The Cleaner’ is a man who happily gives his thoughts on pro wrestling during his livestreams on Twitch and this week one fan in the chat was hating on what Roman Reigns does in WWE. Omega pushed back at that notion, appreciating what ‘The Head Of The Table’ brings to the one true sport.

“I really think he’s incredible. I don’t think he’s boring either. I actually would say I’m pretty jealous because Roman Reigns is presented the exact same way that I would love to be presented. He’s presented as the man who’s the champion to have big matches on PPV where you’re really cheering for him or you’re cheering for someone else. That’s professional wrestling. He’s getting to do what I did in New Japan so I can’t be a hater on that. I’m a fan.”

WWE fans haven’t seen Roman Reigns since he dropped the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes night two at WrestleMania 40 and Omega has been on his own extended hiatus due to a diverticulitis diagnosis. 

However, wrestling fans will at least get to see Kenny Omega return to television next Wednesday on AEW Dynamite as the show will hail from his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It will be interesting to see how Omega is utilized as he was “fired” from his EVP position by The Young Bucks and a ripple was added into the storyline with them also attacked AEW President Tony Khan.

Posted April 27th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

Nikki Garcia Responds To Toni Storm’s Non-PG Candle Comment After AEW Dynasty

Toni Storm keeps her Timeless character going, even during press conferences. This led to her bringing up Nikki Garcia in a very unflattering manner, but now the WWE Hall of Famer is answering back.

During the AEW Dynasty press conference, Toni Storm fired off a line about the former Nikki Bella as she said, “Nicole Garcia thought about joining AEW when she saw Mercedes did. You know why she didn’t? Because then she saw me and realized, she can’t hold a p*ssy scented candle to what I do.”

“P*ssy scented candle, what does that even means?” Nikki Garcia asked during the Nikki and Brie Show. Brie then said that she received phone calls asking if it was a pro wrestling term — it is not. Niki went on to explain her confusion about Storm’s comment.

“Listen, I love Toni Storm, and she’s doing this character now and i’ts great. I loved her in NXT. No I wasn’t bothered by it. I laughed. I was like, ‘p*ssy scented candle?!’ Then I’m trying to figure it out. Like, was it a diss? Maybe we should bring her on the podcast and ask her.”

Tony Khan Almost Got A Call From Nikki Bella

Nikki Garcia previously stated that she thought about calling Tony Khan after seeing Mercedes Mone debut with the company. She explained that her son, Matteo, needs her at home more than she wants to be on the road with AEW.

“When I saw Mercedes [Mone] debut and cut her promo, that line stuck with me, ‘Here, we’re going to make the evolution worldwide.’ I was like, ‘They do.’ It goes into many leagues, is what she means, it doesn’t have to be at one place. It can be at all these places where all these women are wrestling at. I go, ‘Brie, I think I can do it for a year. I can do it here to here and go every week.'”

“Then, I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like, ‘This is it. I’m going to call Tony Khan. I’m your girl. I will commit.’ Then, I was like, ‘I can’t do that to my son right now. He needs me,'”

Nikki Bella retired from the ring in 2018 due to neck and spine issues, but she returned to compete in the Royal Rumble in 2022. The Bella Twins officially exited WWE in 2023 when their contracts ended. 

Choosing to explore independent ventures, they still have a weekly podcast and Nikki is co-host of the USA Network’s Barmageddon.

Posted April 27th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

Tony Khan Says “WWE Is The Harvey Weinstein Of Pro Wrestling” — “AEW Is The Pepsi”

AEW has not been shy about taking shots at WWE whenever they can. During a recent appearance to promote the NFL Draft, Tony Khan took another chance to shade the competition.

Tony Khan appeared on the NFL Network to discuss the Jacksonville Jaguars’ next move in the NFL Draft. While on the show, the fact that he was wearing a neck brace took center stage.

While explaining how the Young Bucks assaulted him, Khan was sure to plug AEW’s shows on TBS and TNT as much as he could. Then the conversation steered toward his company’s biggest competition as Khan made a controversial comparison.

“There has not been a challenger brand that has gained market share like this in many, many, many years. We’re like the Pepsi of pro wrestling, and we’re against a really evil Juggernaut. WWE is our competitor, that’s who we’re facing. AEW is like the Pepsi of pro wrestling and WWE is like the Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling, and I’m very proud of what we do down here.”

When Khan dropped his Weinstein line, the hosts of the show laughed and stopped him from going further. He said that fans will have to tune into AEW’s television shows if they want an update on his neck injury.

The fact that he called AEW the “Pepsi of professional wrestling” was an obvious dig at CM Punk. His Pepsi tattoo is a huge part of his image, which even brought Danhausen to refer to him as “Pepsi Man.”

Tony Khan’s Previous Controversies 

Tony Khan has taken many shots at WWE over the years, from the company’s production to their booking. Digs at Vince McMahon’s company eventually became a trademark for All Elite Wrestling.

The allegations against Vince McMahon have also not been ruled out of play when it comes to Tony Khan. He has used McMahon’s current lawsuit situation as fodder to fire at WWE in the past.

Being The Elite was full of jokes about WWE as well, and Tony Khan has taken many opportunities to defend his company from critics like Eric Bischoff. Khan also rubbed it in when Bischoff cancelled his “Strictly Business” podcast to add more fuel to the fire.

Posted April 26th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Top Draft Pick Wishes Tony Khan A ‘Speedy Recovery’ Following AEW Attack

It appears the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted themselves a babyface in the NFL Draft as he hopes his new boss Tony Khan can power through his “neck injury.”

Khan was the recepient of a Meltzer Driver courtesy of The Young Bucks on Wednesday night’s Dynamite as the AEW President became apart of the storyline regarding the company return of Jack Perry.

Wrestling fans were wondering if Tony Khan was planning to sell the injury during the NFL Draft, something he’s annually involved with and TK pulled a page out of Bobby Heenan’s book by wearing a neck brace in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ war room.

With the 23rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected wide receiver Brian Thomas from Louisiana State University and when he did get picked, the focus was on the Jags’ war room, one that had Tony Khan, Shad Khan and Jaguars’ head coach Doug Pederson.

Pundits from Rich Eisen and Pat McAfee happened to comment on Khan being “injured” as they playfully joked about the angle that took place on Wednesday night and sure enough, the new draft pick was not free from getting involved in the storyline.

CBS Sports filled Thomas in on what happened to Khan on Wednesday and the freshly drafted football player made sure to send his new boss some well wishes.

“Hope you’re good. Hope you shake back from your injury. Speedy recovery.”

The angle involving Khan has gotten its fair share of criticism and positive reaction. One panelist parodying Mel Kiper Jr. on The Pat McAfee Show noted that Khan need to stick to his guns with the injury as TK was still moving his neck back and forth in the war room.

Posted April 26th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Pat McAfee & Bill Belichick React To Tony Khan Selling His Neck Injury At NFL Draft

The NFL Draft may be the true forbidden door of pro wrestling as Pat McAfee actually chimed in about Tony Khan and the notorious AEW storyline that took place this week.

The color commentator for WWE RAW had his own panel at the NFL Draft in Detroit, one that featured his Pat McAfee Show co-horts and not to mention, arguably the greatest head coach of all time Bill Belichick.

Belichick was on-hand when the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the 23rd overall pick. McAfee noted how Thomas will be a key piece for quarterback Trevor Lawrence who throughout his three-year career has gotten injured from time to time on the NFL gridiron. That’s when McAfee caught sight of Khan in a neckbrace, clearly selling the attack on him by The Young Bucks during AEW Dynamite. McAfee played along, but did mention that the Jaguars head coach, had to be curious about Khan’s ailment.

“Last thing we need is him to look like Tony Khan who took a Meltzer Driver, just the other night, Wednesday night, he took a Meltzer Driver I do believe, guy’s got a broken neck and he’s battling through so he can pick up Brian Thomas Jr. and that [Shad Khan] mustache is never not gonna be sweet and [head coach] Doug Pederson is three seats away going, ‘What the f*** is going on?'”

That last line got a laugh out of Bill Belicheck.

“Mad Mel” Of Pat McAfee Show Wants Tony Khan To “Stick With The Gimmick”

One man on the Pat McAfee Show panel who did call Khan out on the angle was “draft analyst” “Mad Mel.”  “Mel,” a potty-mouth parody of legendary draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. commented on Khan not going the whole nine yards with the supposed injury.

“I understand keeping up with the gimmick. Someone should tell Tony Khan, ‘Hey, if you have a neckbrace on, don’t f***ing move around like nothing’s wrong. You stick with the gimmick and look straight ahead like your neck’s broken, okay?’ What are we doing here?”

Rich Eisen on the NFL Network also playfully put the angle over, hoping TK stays safe in his recovery.

Posted April 26th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Grizzled Young Veterans Set For AEW In-Ring Debut

AEW will soon see the debut of two more former WWE NXT Superstars. The Grizzled Young Veterans are very prepared for their first match in Tony Khan’s company.

The Grizzled Young Veterans’ AEW debut will take place on this week’s Collision (4/27). The company made this announcement via a video on social media.

The former NXT Superstars are in the land of All Elite to make a statement. They also said The Acclaimed have been on their radar for “a few years now,” and they will collide this Saturday. Gibson and Drake promised to teach Max Caster and Anthony Bowens a lesson.

Grizzled Young Veterans’ WWE Exit & Return To Indies

There was a time when Grizzled Young Veterans had some steam in WWE. They made their mark by winning the NXT UK Tag Team Championship Tournament in 2019 and went on to become the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions. The two were then brought to Orlando’s version of NXT, but things didn’t pan out for them.

After a run in NXT UK as Grizzled Young Veterans, the two entered NXT, but were written off television. James Drake and Zack Gibson were eventually unveiled with Joe Gacy’s in his Schism faction, adopting the ring names Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler as The Dyad.

They were unhappy with the creative direction that WWE was taking them toward. After their departure, they have made this very clear in an interview with Metro.

“In a nutshell, this is one of the big driving forces as to why we wanted to leave and get out because without going into too much, we just weren’t particularly happy with how things were going,” said Gibson. “It all felt a bit boring. And ultimately, you know, this is our job, but it’s also it’s our hobby, and it’s our life. So we want to be enjoying what we’re doing.”

“Our decision to move on wasn’t necessarily like, ‘We don’t like that company anymore!’ It’s not a big middle finger to the company, the company is doing great business, it’s just we felt that as a product, we weren’t doing the best business,” Gibson explained.

The Grizzled Young Veterans have been making the rounds since exiting WWE. They re-appeared in DPW, spreading their message that they are not a cookie cutter tag team enhanced by sports entertainment’s creative influence. During the event, they answered an open challenge set by DPW’s tag team champions, The Workhorsemen.

They have also launched ‘Burning Heart Pro Wrestling‘ which has been “created by wrestlers, for wrestlers and fans.” The promotion’s first event will take place on June 21, at the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, England.

James Drake and Zack Gibson could do big things in AEW. SEScoops will keep an eye on this story to see if Tony Khan locks them down with contracts.

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: .

Jack Perry’s Draft Stock Rose Following Tony Khan’s Attack

Chicken salad. That’s what Tony Khan and AEW did on this week’s Dynamite by maximizing whatever you can after airing the ALL IN footage. And depending on how they continue to handle it, there could be more to come in the form of Jack Perry..

The greater contingency of fans (especially on social media) will be quick to make WCW 2000 comparisons once more or say TK is riding down the Russo electric rail of irrelevancy, but that final segment of Khan being beat down was more Paul Heyman than Russo. Instead of focusing on the weakness that was the footage, the spotlight was shined on a strength from an unexpected source, usurping product’s perceived misfire weeks back.

Was Khan’s selling questionable? Yes. Was wearing low-rise socks on a night where you were getting piledriven a bad choice? Absolutely, but what AEW did is address “the other guy” in the room at Wembley in Tony Khan.

Good or bad (leaning more towards bad), the decision to air the footage has already been made and AEW had to wear that albatross like a necklace, but Tony remained adament that he didn’t feel that way. When asked about the criticism of airing the footage, Khan stated on the pre-Dynasty media call that ratings would be the true fan reaction to what we got weeks ago courtesy of a security camera. 

The ratings did pop that week with Khan saying TBS was pleased, but numbers crashed back down to earth the week after. Khan’s company was still left wading in the standing water of it’s “nowhere near a fight” footage. Then Dynasty had the Scapegoat Tarzan swing in after spending months away from AEW. Even if Perry was previously a Jungle Boy, his reemergence into the product alone would not drain the swamp from stagnancy.

I previously wrote that Khan can be the leader AEW needs by getting out of his own way. On Wednesday, he ripped the Band-Aid off, with the Neosporin being three big letters that he and the whole country are quite familiar with.

Even more than CM Punk and Perry, Khan was the most talked about person after airing that footage. He’s addressed it several times in interviews since then, but on Wednesday Khan took another risk by bringing that Charlie Brown storm cloud right out to Daily’s Place and making himself part of the storyline. 

Like Lucy, The Young Bucks and Perry held the football, and unlike Charlie Brown, TK (albeit awkwardly) kicked it through the uprights by leaning to his strengths: his NFL ties. Roger Goodell and gang were the unexpected deux ex machina in this situation as Khan not only had his father saunter out to close the show, but got the NFL buzzing about the angle too, right before the NFL Draft kicks off this weekend. It will be even better if TK sells the attack to the gills with a neck brace and a bottle of Pepto by his side while he sits by the phone.

Perception be damned, Khan coming out doesn’t seem to be a Vince McMahon or Dixie Carter move in getting himself over. Unlike the other two, Khan didn’t utter a word during the segment, but just displayed his eagerness and excitement to reinstate Perry. He was the focus of the segment, but moving forward, I’m willing to bet that the whole story will not be. He was just a way to get to where they’re headed.

Will ripping the Band-Aid off bring AEW back into a 2019 rhythm that fans got so enamored with? Of course not. That’s something that will require consistency and focus, something that AEW has never excelled at on a weekly basis, but they arguably got themselves back in the game with some outside help.

Now Tony Khan and his product is on the clock. Happy Draft Day.

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

Swerve Strickland Advertised For AEW Collision

Fans got to see Swerve Strickland in action on AEW Dynamite, but we didn’t happen to hear any words from the new World Heavyweight Champion. That will change this Saturday on Collision.

Following Wednesday’s episode, AEW announced that Strickland will be interviewed on Saturday, getting his first thoughts after becoming the champion.

“The NEW #AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland kicks off #AEW Collision with his FIRST Live Interview since #AEWDynasty, THIS Saturday, IMMEDIATELY following NBA coverage on TNT!”

While we didn’t hear Strickland talk on Dynamite, we did hear from a different World Champion utter some words. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley delivered a promo before his main event fight against Powerhouse Hobbs. Moxley ended up defeating Hobbs via technical submission. Hobbs passed out in a rear-naked choke hold and the finish ended up being a segue-way for the polarizing closing segment between Tony Khan and Jack Perry.

A big reason for Swerve not speaking is because Saturday AEW will have it’s biggest lead-in with the NBA Playoffs as there will be no Inside The NBA post-game show.

As far as Swerve is concerned, his match led off the show. While his newly won World Title wasn’t on the line, he did compete in an Eliminator Match with the challenger being Kyle Fletcher. Strickland and Fletcher went back and forth, but Swerve ended up getting the emphatic win with a running flip kick to the back of the head. 

While Swerve will react to his Dynasty win on Saturday, next week it’s being advertised that his opponent for AEW Double Or Nothing will be revealed. We’ve already got two title matches for the PPV. Willow Nightingale will defend her TBS Championship against Mercedes Mone and Will Ospreay will face Roderick Strong for the International Championship.

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Chris Jericho to Star in Action-Horror Film ‘Dark Match’ Set in 1980s Pro Wrestling

AEW’s Chris Jericho is preparing to lead a new action horror film set in the colorful and chaotic world of professional wrestling in the 1980s. 

‘Dark Match‘ will tell the story of a small-time wrestling company that accepts a well-paying gig in a remote town only to learn the town falls under a cult leader, Variety reports. Soon enough, the wrestlers and crew are in a very real fight for their lives. In addition to Jericho, the film will star Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead) and Ayisha Issa (Transplant.)

 Lowell Dean (Wolfcop) is attached as writer and director. Dark Match will launch later this year with a festival premiere set to be announced, Blue Finch Films, the project’s distribution outfit, will begin sales at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. 

Dark Match will mark the latest big-screen role for Jericho. Jericho’s first foray into horror came in 2009’s Albino Farm and he would also be a part of 2022’s horror-comedy KillRoy Was Here. That same year, Jericho played ‘Burke’ in Terrifier 2 and will reprise the role in the sequel set to premiere later this year. 

Wrestlers On the Big Screen

Here are some recent articles regarding some of wrestling’s top stars and the silver-screen plans in the works: 

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Kenny Omega’s AEW Return Confirmed

Kenny Omega will be back in AEW and it’s going to happen in seven days time.

This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite hailed from All Elite Wrestling’s backyard of Jacksonville, FL. However, next week the show will take place in Kenny Omega’s backyard of Winnipeg, Manitoba. During the Swerve Strickland eliminator match against Kyle Fletcher, AEW revealed that Omega will be in attendance next week. 

Fans haven’t seen Omega since late 2023 as the former AEW World Champion has been out of action due to diverticulitis, something that Omega has cited as that was life-threatening.

Lingering Storylines For Kenny Omega

Omega has a lot to address since he made his AEW exit. When we last saw Kenny he was tag partners with Chris Jericho who is now currently a heel and the FTW Champion. Additionally, Omega will always have a long-standing rivalry with Will Ospreay who is now right in the thick of being a full-time member of the AEW roster. Not only that, but Ospreay just became the number one contender for the International Championship. He’ll be facing Roderick Strong at Double or Nothing in Las Vegas.

However, the big matter of note will be Omega’s status with The Elite. After losing to Sting and Darby Allin at AEW Revolution, The Young Bucks suspended Hangman Page and effectively fired Kenny Omega from his position as EVP. Omega reacted in-time to the news by “meme”-ing himself, but now we’ll likely receive his reaction in person next week. 

We may also get an actual update regarding Omega’s health and perhaps a timetable for when we could see him return to in-ring action.

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

NFL Lists Tony Khan Status For The Draft As ‘Questionable’ Following AEW Dynamite Attack

Tony Khan’s status for the NFL Draft this weekend could be in doubt following the beatdown he took courtesy of Jack Perry and The Young Bucks and the National Football League took note.

Khan was the victim of an ambush on AEW Dynamite as the AEW President seemed to be all about reinstating Jack Perry back into the company, but the former Jungle Boy had other plans. He punched his boss in the gut and then The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada came down to further put Khan down. 

The Bucks delivered a Meltzer Driver to Khan and left him laying in the middle of the ring, causing not just  the locker room to come out, but Shad Khan to make an appearance as well.

Grant Gordon of NFL.com caught wind of the angle and happened to write about the occurence on the NFL website, throwing Khan’s NFL Draft status into question.

Tony Khan’s status for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2024 NFL Draft obligations could be questionable.

Khan, the Jags’ chief football strategy officer and the founder, owner and booker of All Elite Wrestling, took a punch to the gut and a “Meltzerdriver” piledriver Wednesday night live on AEW Dynamite from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

Shad Khan, Tony’s father and the owner of the Jaguars, took to the ring to check on his son in the aftermath of the drama.

During the build for AEW Dynasty, Khan did make clear that he was going to be involved with the Jaguars’ draft process this week so it will be interesting to see if Khan sells the attack, albeit by not being present or wearing a neckbrace for the weekend.

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Chris Jericho Thanks Terry Funk, Renames The FTW Title

Get ready for a whole new learning experience courtesy of Chris Jericho.

The pro wrestling legend defeated HOOK for the FTW Championship at AEW Dynasty on Sunday and had some words of wisdom for the live crowd in Jacksonville, FL on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

All with a somewhat patronizing tongue, Jericho took to the ring to thank the fans for the love and support following his victory and spoke about the controversial meaning behind the letters “FTW.” Instead of the title standing for “F*** The World” he wants FTW to mean “For The World” because the championship now for all the fans.

Jericho then brought up the name of the late legendary Terry Funk and recounted when Funk told him it was time for him to start teaching the next generation of how to carry on the legacy of the pro wrestling business. He then thanked Terry Funk and thanked everyone in attendance.

Suddenly, out came former AEW World Tag Team Champion in Big Bill. What first felt like it was going to be a tense confrontation, Bill actually said that he’d love to learn under the learning tree of Chris Jericho. Chris noted that he respected the talent of Big Bill and told him that he’d very much consider that, but would like to see Bill prove it. Bill assured Jericho that he would do just that.

It’s serendipitous that Jericho did conjure up the name of Terry Funk. Back in 2019, Jericho was asked about being the modern-day version of Funk, who was notorious for always re-inventing himself later on in his career which helped to put ECW on the map.

“My mission has always been to reinvent and evolve. It’s David Bowie. It’s been one of my inspirations since I was 25 years old, when you realize that you have this guy that’s a genius and who constantly changes what he’s doing, what he looks like to keep the fans guessing.”

Chris Jericho Will Have A Challenger Next Week

Jericho will have a tough contender to go up against next week in his hometown of Winnipeg. Later during Dynamite, Katsuyori Shibata ending up revealing that he’ll face Jericho next week for that “For The World” Championship gold.

Posted April 25th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , , .

Jack Perry & The Elite Attack Tony Khan in Shocking Conclusion to 4/24 AEW Dynamite

Jack Perry is once again on AEW programming, and bringing back the ‘Scapegoat’ may be a decision AEW President Tony Khan lives to regret. 

Perry made his return to the airwaves during AEW Dynasty. The former FTW Champion interfered in the AEW World Tag Team Championship ladder match and would cost FTR the match to the Young Bucks. This marked Perry’s first AEW on-screen appearance (in person) since AEW All In in August of 2023. 

On the April 24, edition of Dynamite, Perry was spotted arriving at the show with the Elite, furthering the idea that there was some sort of alliance between the two sides. Later on, it was revealed that Perry and Khan would come face-to-face in the ring. 

During this segment, Perry admitted that he and Khan hadn’t seen eye to eye, but they agreed that they wanted the best for AEW and the future. Having said that, Perry offered a truce to bury the hatchet with the AEW CEO and asked to reinstate him.

Khan agreed but the moment they shook hands, Perry attacked the AEW President. The Elite, consisting of the Bucks and Kazuchika Okada then came to the ring. While it appeared they wanted to stop Perry from inflicting further damage, they also joined in on the attack on Khan. 

AEW Dynamite went off the air with the Elite and Perry standing tall while officials and Khan’s father Shahid checked on the injured AEW President. This segment was quite the change for Khan, who unlike Vince McMahon and other higher-ups in WWE, had for the most part avoided being involved with AEW’s on-screen angles. 

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming weeks, especially with Kenny Omega’s return to AEW TV set for next week’s Dynamite. No doubt the EVP will have plenty to say about the Bucks, Okada, and Perry after what transpired this week. 

Posted April 24th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Winnipeg Venue Claims Kenny Omega’s AEW Return Will Happen at 5/1 Dynamite

Fans attending the May 1, episode of AEW Dynamite are in for a treat as they’ll get to see the return of none other than Kenny Omega. 

On Twitter, the Canada Life Centre confirmed the news that Omega will be at the upcoming show in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It’s fitting that Omega will be at AEW’s upcoming event in the Great White North given that he is from Winnipeg. 

Omega has been out of action since late 2023 with diverticulitis. The condition affects the large intestine and causes abdominal pain, which is why Omega mistook his situation for a hernia at first. It can be caused by diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system.

The big question for Omega is whether he’ll undergo surgery to deal with his diverticulitis. Doing so will extend how long he is out of action and he has already been out for months. On the plus side, going under the knife will decrease the risk of this issue happening again. Ultimately, Omega will have to weigh up what he thinks is in his best interest both in terms of his health and on a professional level. 

This isn’t the first time that Omega has been advertised for an event in his native Canada during his absence from AEW. While Omega was advertised for an event in March 2024, Tony Khan made clear that fans shouldn’t have expected him at the show. Sure enough, AEW’s recent tapings in Canada came and went without the AEW EVP. 

More on Kenny Omega

Here are some recent articles about Kenny Omega and what the former AEW World Champion has had to say during his break from the ring: 

Posted April 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Kevin Nash ‘Absolutely’ Wants AEW To Succeed

Kevin Nash has never been one to pull punches and the two-time WWE Hall Of Famer hasn’t pumped the breaks on expressing his thoughts regarding the modern squared circle.

Speaking on the latest episode of “Kliq This,” Nash assessed the 4/15 episode of WWE RAW and the 4/17 episode of AEW Dynamite. Nash was critical of both shows and gave his forthright thoughts on Tony Khan deciding to air the CM Punk footage almost three weeks ago, noting that it’s Khan’s choice to do what he pleases, but he does say the AEW product can be difficult to watch.

“You know, it’s his ball. He can kick it. He wants to go kick it over onto the f***ing freeway, then kick it on the freeway. I’ve got no skin in that game, but it’s just a very hard show to watch. It’s very hard to get involved. It just feels so fragmented.” 

Kevin Nash Wants AEW To Flourish In Pro Wrestling

Nash went on to review both shows, adding that he made an observation on social media about AEW, and then went on to give reasons why he wants the company to become a bigger and bettter product.

“In all honesty, man, I absolutely want AEW to succeed.” 

“Number one, I’ve got friends that work there, you know, in production and in all different aspects, not just guys that are there in front of the camera. And I think they’re being a viable option is huge for the longevity of the business.”

Please credit Kliq This and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Posted April 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Chris Jericho Calls Swerve Strickland “The Right Guy For The Job”

Swerve Strickland is not only an AEW first, but he also joins an “elite” club that includes Chris Jericho.

During AEW Dynasty on Sunday, Strickland defeated Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship, making him the first African-American World Champion in the company’s history and it certainly marked for a celebatory occassion.

Footage was taken of Swerve having dinner with his AEW co-horts following his historic win and Chris Jericho took some time to honor Strickland, noting that he saw Swerve’s star power right off the bat of entering AEW. Not only that, but Jericho made note  of the creative efforts that Swerve makes in and out of the wrestling ring. He then made clear that Strickland is the right man to currently hold the gold, something that only eight people have done since the inception of All Elite Wrestling.

“We don’t change the titles to the World Title very often unless it’s the absolue right guy. He is the right guy for the job, he’s got the cool X-factor and if I was the big wig in AEW (like I am), I would put you on every other fucking talk show, I’d promote you in every single way because you have what we need which is the ability to cross over in the mainstream and I’m super proud of you, man. I knew you had it since day one.”

Jericho happened to be the first-ever AEW World Champion and is in the thick of a feud with HOOK after defeating Taz’s son for the FTW Championship at Dynasty.

Please h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

Posted April 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Swerve Strickland To Put #1 Contendership On The Line At 4/24 Dynamite

Swerve Strickland isn’t getting much of a breather after winning the AEW World Championship as the new champ will be in action this Wednesday.

Tuesday evening AEW President Tony Khan announced that Strickland will be going up against Kyle Fletcher in an AEW World Title Eliminator match on this week’s Dynamite.

“Will AEW’s home venue be Swerve’s House when ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher challenges the NEW AEW World Champion in an Eliminator TOMORROW?”

Fletcher is the current ROH TV Champion and the big youngster will have a shot to showcase his skills in yet another high-profile match. Previously, Fletcher faced fellow Don Callis Family member Will Ospreay all the way back at the beginning of March. Ospreay came out on top in that bout, but Fletcher has been building quite a match resume as a member of the AEW roster.

AEW is fresh off its Dynasty PPV this past Sunday where it was Swerve Strickland taking on Samoa Joe for that very World Title Fletcher hopes to challenge for. The fight between Joe and Strickland was intense as it had to take Swerve two top rope double stomps to secure the 1-2-3 against Joe.

What Else Is On Tap For 4/24 AEW Dynamite

Tony Khan is looking to get an audience with the fallout from Dynasty as the headline match will have Jon Moxley putting his freshly won IWGP World Title on the line against Don Callis Family member Powerhouse Hobbs.

Also on tap is an advertised segment between The Best Friends and Anna Jay will face Mina Shirakawa.

Posted April 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Paige VanZant Gone From AEW Despite Still Being Listed On Company’s Roster

The AEW career of Paige VanZant is well and truly over despite her profile still being listed on the promotion’s website. 

VanZant was a high-profile arrival in AEW when she debuted for the promotion in 2021, but it has been a long time since fans last saw the MMA fighter. As Dave Meltzer disclosed on Wrestling Observer Radio, her time with AEW has ended despite her presence on the active roster website. 

“No [she’s not with AEW.] Even though she’s still on the roster she’s not with AEW anymore.”

When asked why VanZant left, Meltzer explained that the fighter decided that wrestling was not for her. 

“She decided she didn’t want to be a wrestler. If she wanted to be a wrestler she’d still be there.”

VanZant’s one and only match for All Elite Wrestling came at Double or Nothing 2022. At the event, she, Ethan Page, and Scorpio Sky defeated Tay Melo (Tay Conti at the time), Sammy Guevara, and Frankie Kazarian. 

Wrestling & MMA Crossover

While wrestling wasn’t in the cards for Paige VanZant, several names from the world of MMA and UFC have had successful, lengthy careers in the squared circle. 

Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey would both headline WWE WrestleMania after establishing their dominance in the Octagon first (though in Brock’s case, he’d headline WrestleMania before and after UFC.) 

While her AEW run may have been brief, VanZant left an impact during her run and fans will be eager to see where she appears next, whether it be in or out of professional wrestling. 

Posted April 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

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