WWE Superstar Jade Cargill has proclaimed that she departed AEW on a positive note without any ill feelings.

Cargill became one of the hottest free agents in the industry when she left AEW in September last year. It soon came to light that her contract had expired and she decided to venture out onto a different path. 

The former AEW TBS Champion later penned a multi-year deal with WWE, becoming the first signing of the new regime of TKO Group Holdings and the second high-profile former AEW star to join WWE after Cody Rhodes, who signed in 2022. 

Jade Cargill has revealed that jumping ship to WWE was “all business”. Speaking with Fightful, the former AEW star made it clear that everybody was elated for her future and she left in a professional manner. Cargill said: 

“It’s all business, it’s all business. I left in a very loving, professional manner. I did what I had to do. Everybody was very elated for me, whether they figured something out or not. They were elated for me, they were happy for me. No ill feelings towards in any manner.”

Later in the interview, it was noted to her that many people in AEW will be ready to welcome her if she ever decides to go back to the promotion. The 31-year-old superstar replied that she has friends in both the promotions and she wants them to succeed. She said:

“Yes, it did. At the end of the day, these are my friends. Like, I have friends here, I have friends over there. I just want to see everybody excel and make money. Like, we all want to make money and create a name for ourselves and help out the next generation of wrestlers that want to adopt this sport.”

Jade Cargill’s WrestleMania 40 match 

Though Cargill has been with WWE for several months she has only competed once when she made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. However, her next match is set. Last night, the SmackDown superstar made an appearance on the blue brand and said that she is bringing the storm at WrestleMania 40.

In the main event on SmackDown, Jade Cargill came to the aid of Bianca Belair and Naomi when Damage CTRL assaulted them. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis later made it official that Cargill will team up with Belair and Naomi to take on Damage CTRL (Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) at the ‘Show of Shows’.

DAMAGE CONTROLLED. ?@Jade_Cargill ? @BiancaBelairWWE ? @TheTrinity_Fatu

Not what you were expecting, was it #DamageCTRL? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/qkwacSiwJf

— WWE (@WWE) March 30, 2024

Bryan Danielson is pleased with how AEW has presented Kazuchika Okada thus far, as the Raimaker is coming across as the “star” that he is. 

Okada made his debut as an All-Elite talent on the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite and instantly established himself as a heel by aligning with the Young Bucks. There was no hesitation regarding Okada being a heel which was a creative idea that came from Tony Khan.

Danielson on Okada

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Danielson had high praise for his recent match with the Rainmaker and is excited about what’s next. 

“I loved my match against Okada… I love what I’m doing, and I’m excited about what’s to come.”

Danielson added that Okada is a “great fit” for AEW and has been right at home since aligning with the Young Bucks. The American Dragon chalked this sense of belonging to the efforts of AEW President Tony Khan. 

“That’s the way Tony presents stars in AEW,” said Danielson. “It’s not about starting over in AEW. So he was brought in as a star and introduced as a star.”

Bryan Danielson Vs. Kazuchika Okada

Danielson and Okada have shared the ring four times, with their first encounter being at the inaugural AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door show in June 2023. That match saw Danielson get the win though he also suffered a fractured forearm. 

On the October 25, AEW Dynamite, Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Okada and Orange Cassidy. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, Okada defeated Danielson. The pair would be on the same side of an eight-person tag match the next night.

What’s to Come? 

Danielson is currently embarking on his final year as a full-time active wrestler. On April 5, the American Dragon will compete against CMLL’s Blue Panther. This is a dream match for Danielson who recently called Panther his favorite luchador of all time. 

As for Okada, he will continue to defend the AEW Continental Championship. He is also expected to feud with Kenny Omega as the Rainmaker has replaced Omega in the Elite. With that said, there’s no word on when fans can expect Omega back from his ongoing fight with diverticulitis. 

Bryan Danielson may no longer be a WWE Superstar, but that didn’t stop him from using an old WWE catchphrase of his at a recent event for CMLL. 

At the event, Danielson was part of Team AEW (Bryan, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Matt Sydal) and came up short against Team CMLL (Blue Panther, Ultimo Guerrero, Mistico, & Volador Jr.) During one spot, Danielson and Mistico (aka WWE’s Sin Cara) shared dueling chants reminiscent of Bryan’s time as a Superstar. 

Bryan Danielson and Místico breaking out a SÍ/NO battle. Hahaha.

Danielson really brought back his 2012 gimmick. ?pic.twitter.com/1aYnmJYXep

— Drainmaker ?? ? (@DrainBamager) March 30, 2024

What’s Next? 

After the match, Danielson issued a challenge to Blue Panther for next Friday night’s Arena Mexico show on April 5, which Panther accepted. This has been a match that Danielson has called a dream match in the past. He recently called Pather his favorite luchador of all time. 

https://twitter.com/bryandanielson/status/1773429497074978941

Yes! No!

Bryan began using the Yes chant following his 2011 WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory. Not long after winning the title, Bryan’s ego would grow, causing him to yell “YES!” and celebrate even the smallest of victories in over-the-top fashion. 

After his 18-second World Heavyweight Championship loss to Sheamus at WrestleMania 28, a dejected Bryan changed his tune. Bryan blamed the fans (and AJ Lee) for his loss and in response to the crowd being on board with the yes chant, would chant “NO!” in response. 

Bringing Back the Chant

This isn’t the first time that Bryan has embraced his WWE catchphrases. Following a December 2023 edition of AEW Collision, the crowd chanted “YES” for Bryan, who admitted he’s not allowed to do that anymore. Thinking better of it, Danielson decided to join in with the YES! chant and sarcastically told fans to definitely not record the moment in question. 

AEW pulled in Jay White after he took over NJPW. As leader of Bullet Club Gold, things looked like they were taking an interesting turn as the Bang Bang Scissor Gang broke up in violent fashion. Then White disappeared, but there is a reason for that.

Switchblade Jay White has been absent from recent live appearances on AEW Dynamite or Collision. Visa issues prevent Jay White from working in Canada, but he’s anticipated to return to action once the company resumes U.S. shows.

Jay White’s Absence Explained

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Jay White has been absent from live appearances on AEW Dynamite or Collision in recent weeks. They have featured him in pre-filmed videos alongside Bullet Club Gold. 

The ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions have not appeared live since parting ways with Bang Bang Scissor Gang and attacking Billy Gunn. This situation is blamed on Visa issues, a typical problem with foreign talent as they attempt to navigate red tape.

“Switchblade” Jay White is currently unable to work in Canada due to visa issues. He is expected to return to action once the company resumes running shows in the United States.

What’s Next For Jay White

They are still hyping the feud between Bullet Club Gold against The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. AEW will likely take care of that rivalry once Jay White is able to make his return.

As of this writing, Jay White does not have a match booked for AEW Dynasty on April 21. They have plenty of time before the St. Louis show goes down, so we will have to see how they work him into things.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more, in the pro wrestling world. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

The clock is ticking on Matt Hardy’s future with All Elite Wrestling. He shared that his contract expires at the end of the month and that he has reached an agreement with the company. In giving an update to fans, Hardy revealed that AEW has offered him a new deal. 

The wrestling legend admitted on his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, that he was given a new contract to stay with AEW for quite some time. 

“…There is a little news to go along with my contract negotiations. I have a contract sitting in front of me for a few years, and now I’m looking through it, I’m like deciding what I want to do moving forward,” said Hardy.  

Although Hardy has revealed that he already has an offer to stay, he seems still undecided. One of the wrestling legend’s concerns is that he wants to be utilized to his full potential while he can still compete. 

“…There’s obviously still some options. I got to make sure that I’m aware of the ins and outs of the contract, and I want to make sure everything is up to par as far as like want I want it to be because, once again, as I say pretty often and I know that I only have a couple more years of doing this and I want to make the most out of those years whatever they may be. I want to be optimized in whatever I am doing, so that’s very important to me,” said Hardy. 

More On Matt Hardy Remaining Undecided On Future With AEW

The AEW superstar comments are interesting as the company has decided to feature less on TV over the years. He signed with AEW in 2020 and has been given opportunities to be involved in multiple storylines throughout his tenure. However, he has been seen less on TV over the last year. 

Hardy has remained adamant that he likes working for AEW and shared on the podcast that he is happy he was offered a contract to return. That said, the wrestling legend acknowledged on the podcast that he has several other options. 

“…I’m very happy to, you know, be invited to return to AEW and work for the foreseeable future, but you know, we shall see because right now, I’m just currently weighing out the options. There’s a couple of things out there, and I would say in the next month, I should probably know what my immediate future is going to hold,” said Hardy

It seems fans will have to continue speculating on Hardy’s future until he makes an announcement next month. However, it doesn’t look promising that he has yet reached an agreement with a few days left in March. 

The Rock has a new nickname, thanks to Brian Gewirtz, but it’s not necessarily a brand-new moniker. He is The Final Boss, but that is already a name that Samoa Joe has used in the past. AEW doesn’t want fans to forget about it, either.

AEW is going full-speed ahead in promoting Samoa Joe’s Final Boss t-shirt, despite The Rock using the name. Although nobody has the trademark locked down, there is now a bit of a battle over the nickname.

The Final Boss Battle

Dwayne Johnson has been calling himself The Final Boss for weeks now, and he’s having a great time getting heat in the process. The nickname is not locked down with any trademark within the pro wrestling bubble.

Who's the Final Boss? pic.twitter.com/3Y2oQvc1L3

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 29, 2024

There are a few active trademarks for The Final Boss, but none of them are connected to AEW, WWE or The Rock. A couple of them are related to beer or food products, and another is in the advertising realm. So, The Rock and Samoa Joe can both technically use The Final Boss, because neither of them own it, yet. 

AEW is actively promoting a “Final Boss” shirt for Samoa Joe, which was first released on January 17. They are embracing the term, and they are also making it very clear that Joe had the nickname first.

THE FINAL BOSS. Check out this @samoajoe shirt that’s available for purchase at https://t.co/9hHlXpcSbp!https://t.co/qRrDSBDpG5#shopaew #aew #aewdynamite #aewrampage #aewcollision pic.twitter.com/PM2JjFBfxu

— ShopAEW.com (@ShopAEW) March 29, 2024

What’s Next For The Rock

The Rock is set to team up with Roman Reigns to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. That feud got bloody on the March 25 episode of RAW, as Dwayne Johnson called himself “The Final Boss” the whole time.

The Final Boss name will likely stick around  in WWE until Mania. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to lock that name down with a trademark, as intellectual property is a very important issue in pro wrestling.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we go down the road to WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines! 

The Blackpool Combat Club member Jon Moxley has completely shaved his head and decided to sport a new look before his match in CMLL.

Mox is set for his highly-anticipated return to the ring. ‘The Death Rider’ has been away from in-ring action for the past few weeks. It was at AEW Revolution pay-per-view earlier this month that Mox competed before taking some time away from the squared circle. At the show, he had competed in a tag team match when he teamed up with Claudio Castagnoli against FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood).

Jon Moxley shows off new look 

Ahead of the match in CMLL, Jon Moxley delivered a promo which was posted on the official Twitter/X account of CMLL. In the video clip, the former AEW World Champion can be seen with a bald look. The post was captioned with:

“Jon Moxley has arrived in Mexico City, and I’m in a hell of a mood. I will be in Arena Mexico tomorrow night, and the BCC will bring sweet, sweet violencia!”

You check out the video clip below:

?? JON MOXLEY YA ESTÁ EN MÉXICO
El integrante del BCC que participará en Homenaje a #2LeyendasCMLL ha arribado a nuestro país.

Sigue su participación convirtiéndote en miembro “Leyenda” de nuestro canal: https://t.co/5P6Lo6pqBo ¡Únete ahora! pic.twitter.com/TgNvZGvCNW

— Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) March 28, 2024

Jon Moxley’s match in CMLL 

Jon Moxley will make his return when he teams up with his Blackpool Combat Club members Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli in Mexico. As Wheeler Yuta is injured, he has been replaced by Matt Sydal on their team. They are scheduled to lock horns with the team comprising lucha stars Mistico, Blue Panther, Volador Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero at tonight’s CMLL show in Arena Mexico.

Jon Moxley has a hectic schedule ahead of him. Following this match, he will be headed to Japan where he will join forces with Shota Umino to take on the team of Ren Narita and Jack Perry at NJPW Sakura Genesis pay-per-view on Saturday, April 6.

AEW lost a top player when Kenny Omega went out of action. He was 1/2 of the #1 Contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Titles at the time, and a championship match was set. Suddenly, diverticulitis took one of the best pro wrestlers out of commission. 

Kenny Omega continues to experience significant discomfort due to diverticulitis, and there is a high likelihood that he will need surgery. Although nothing has been 100% confirmed yet, it appears that may need to happen for The Cleaner to return to the ring.

Omega’s Likely Surgery

Although Tony Khan recently said he is optimistic about Kenny Omega’s progress, it appears that the former AEW World Champion is on the verge of surgery.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Kenny Omega is still in a lot of pain from his diverticulitis. That means that, although no decision has been made, surgery is a very likely option for him.

While no decision has been made, it looks more likely than not that Kenny Omega will be getting surgery on his intestines. He’s had his ups and downs but has largely been dealing with a good amount of pain for months now. He said surgery is becoming more and more likely as two different doctors have told him they think it’s the best option.

What’s Next For Kenny Omega

It’s uncertain whether Kenny Omega will undergo surgery, but it’s increasingly likely, especially if he intends to return to wrestling and resume his career. The potential surgery would involve removing the perforated sections of his intestine and colon to improve his condition.

Comparisons are drawn to Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Brock Lesnar, who returned to pro wrestling successfully after facing similar health challenges. It was also noted that Omega’s situation with diverticulitis was particularly severe and life-threatening.

Kenny Omega was “fired” from The Elite in an AEW angle. That was done to keep him off television, but it could also set up a match against Okada whenever the time comes. Hopefully, The Cleaner will make his return sooner than later.

All Elite Wrestling fans have wondered about the status of former world champion MJF with the company. He has been out of action since losing the title to Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End on December 30, 2023. While ‘The Devil’ has been recovering from injuries he suffered throughout last year, fans have speculated if he was still with AEW. A new report has given an update on his current health status. 

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson shared that MJF is still trying to recover from his multiple injuries and has no clear timetable for his return. The report also confirms that his peers in AEW believe he is still with the company and was backstage for AEW Dynamite Big Business on March 13. 

Throughout last year, MJF has given fans the impression that he will be a free agent at the start of 2024. The company added more fuel to the online speculation, with the former AEW World Champion being removed from the roster page on their website. They’ve also taken off his merchandise from the AEW store. However, the impression from most in the company and reports from others is that ‘The Devil’ has made a deal to stay off the free agency market. 

What’s Next For MJF?

It’s unclear what injuries still prevent MJF from having a timetable for his in-ring return. He publicly shared that he had a torn labrum in his left shoulder ahead of his match against Joe at AEW World End. MJF also suffered a hip injury from his match with Jay White at AEW Full Gear on November 18, 2023. 

The company has also not mentioned MJF on TV, so it doesn’t seem they have plans to feature him anytime soon. AEW has an unfinished storyline with the Undisputed Kingdom, which MJF could be involved in when he is ready.

After his match against Joe, The Salt of The Earth was attacked by the Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett). Whenever ‘The Devil’ returns to the ring, he is expected to try to get revenge on the faction. 

There is some buzz that he could return at the upcoming Dynasty PPV but we will have to wait and see if it really happens.

The March 27, episode of AEW Dynamite will not be fondly remembered by Tony Khan, as the event marked some of Dynamite’s worst ratings in years. 

The show saw AEW continue on the road to its first Dynasty pay-per-view that’ll take place next month. AEW Dynasty 2024 will air from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the first AEW pay-per-view in the state. AEW Full Gear 2021 had been scheduled to take place at the Chaifetz Arena before being moved. 

3/27 AEW Dynamite’s Woes

AEW Dynamite scored 747,000 overnight viewers, Wrestlenomics reports, which is the worst number for the show since April 7, 2021. The show started with 939,000 viewers and immediately dropped to 802,000 for quarter two, marking a 15% drop within the first 

Things were even worse in the coveted 18-49 demographic, which scored a 0.23 rating. This is the worst number in the demographic since the June 24, 2020, episode. Dynamite was ranked #3 for the day on cable in the 18-49 demographic, behind the NBA games on ESPN.

What Went Wrong? 

These numbers are especially concerning given the talent that were on the March 25 episode of AEW Dynamite. The show saw Will Ospreay, the Young Bucks, and Swerve Strickland all in action. Mercedes Mone was also on the show in a commentary role, mere weeks removed from her debut at AEW Big Business. 

This show saw quite a drop from the previous week’s episode, which scored 800,000 viewers. AEW has hosted several high-profile episodes of Dynamite in recent weeks. The February 28 episode was the go-home show before AEW Revolution, while the March 6, episode saw Kazuchika Okada debut and join The Elite. 

Chris Jericho ended up making his offer to HOOK and the proposal could be a learning experience for both fighters.

During the 3/27 episode of AEW Dynamite, a backstage segment featured both HOOK and Jericho being interviewed by Renee Paquette. There Jericho reiterated how impressed he was with HOOK’s work in the ring as he and Renee both said that HOOK defeating Jericho last week on Dynamite was the biggest of his career.

Jericho then mentioned in his 33 years of pro wrestling he never managed anybody in his life, but he was so impressed with HOOK’s work in the ring that he’d be willing to give Taz’s son any advice at reaching that next level of super stardom. Jericho even said that he sees a future AEW World Champion in HOOK.

HOOK appreciated Jericho’s offer, but did say he knows who Jericho is, meaning he’s aware of his track record. All that considered, he’d love to take advice from Jericho because he is Chris Jericho. Jericho agreed and the two fist-bumped.

Will the FTW Champion HOOK take Chris Jericho up on his offer?

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@730hook | @IAmJericho pic.twitter.com/FyLGLmv2Ex

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 28, 2024

The FTW Champion did put on quite a showing against Jericho as he basically took ‘Lionheart’ to suplex city before he ultimately secured the win via pinfall, which happened to be HOOK’s first pinfall win in AEW.

Jericho won’t be the first wrestling legend to take HOOK under his wing. Obviously being the son of Taz, HOOK had an early tutelage when it comes to the squared circle, but he also received the experience of teaming with Rob Van Dam in AEW.

Jack Perry, who made his return to wrestling at NJPW Battle in the Valley in January. While his stint with the Japanese wrestling promotion was going well, he was not nowhere to be seen in AEW.

At Battle in the Valley, Perry even took out the AEW contract, and tore it up, sending a message. For those not in the know, CM Punk infamous altercation with Perry led to Perry’s suspension. However, even though the Jungle Boy’s suspension ended, he was still not seen on AEW TV.

But Perry is still active in Japan, and he is in fact set to face Shota Umino at New Japan STRONG’s Windy City Riot event on April 12. Speaking to NJPW1972.com about the matchup, and it is during this interview that he talked about his work with NJPW and leaving AEW behind.

Perry believes that he was the “scapegoat” in the CM Punk-All In incident. He even wears an armband with the word written on it as part of his ring gear and nickname.

“Well, Japan for me is an opportunity, not to start over, but start a new chapter without having to apologize or pretend to be sorry for the actions of other people. It’s a way that I can stay true to myself and continue to grow despite everything that’s gone on.”

The message is as clear as it can be: Perry is done with AEW, and doesn’t care about the promotion anymore.

“Ripping that contract was a declaration. I’m not playing by your rules anymore. If (AEW) are too afraid to have me anymore, if the specter of Jack Perry is too much, they don’t want to deal with the conversations, the ramifications that brings, then that’s fine.”

And Perry wants to prove this by going on a wrestling journey of his own and making a name for himself on his own terms and efforts:

“I don’t need them. I will go by myself across the world, all by myself, without any of my friends, without any of the things I’m used to, anything that’s been my life for the last five years, and I’ll do it on my own, make my own way.”

That being said, he is still not sure which group or promotion he currently represents:

“Some of these things are unclear even to me, but I would say this: Loyalty is a two-way street, and I show loyalty to those who are loyal to me. As of now, certain parties have been very good to me, and I intend to repay that.”

Speaking about his Scapegoat nickname, Perry added that he’s “man enough” to take the blame and is not “shying away” from it:

“I think it’s ingrained in human nature to be afraid of blame, and the disapproval of others. At the end of the day, that’s weakness. That’s a weak mindset, a weak soul. If you know the truth, what good is the opinion of other people? If you know the truth, you have power. I’m not shying away from the blame. If you need me to be the scapegoat because you don’t have the bravery to stand up for your own actions, then that’s fine. I’m man enough to take that blame from all of us and I’m not going to shy away from it.”

Recently, it was reported that Tony Khan was upset with Jack Perry, and in a subsequent interview, Khan praised his achievements in NJPW and asked fans to “stay tuned” about whether Perry will return to AEW or not.

“Well, I think you gotta stay tuned. Absolutely, Jack’s doing great things in New Japan. The New Japan Cup – he’s had a great run. He’s established himself over there. He feels he’s the ‘Scapegoat.’ But he’s doing great things, and he’s wrestling for a great promotion, and it’s been great tracking Jack’s progress in New Japan. And I think he’s done excellent work there.”

The feud between Tony Khan and Eric Bischoff continues and it doesn’t appear to be going away despite one of Bischoff’s podcasts coming to an end.

Eric Bischoff didn’t have one, but two podcasts on AdFreeShows and co-host Jon Alba last night announced that “Strictly Business” would be coming to an end after a successful two-year run. 

AEW President Tony Khan has had a contentious relationship with Bischoff ever since Khan made remarks about former WCW Founder, Ted Turner. Bischoff took exception to that, but also remained outspoken about the on-air AEW product. The two’s relationship has been fractured ever since despite Bischoff making several appearances on AEW television early on.

Once Alba made the announcement, Tony Khan replied, stating:

“Sunsetting this fraud of a business podcast before the next AEW media deal is a wise choice.”

Sunsetting this fraud of a business podcast before the next AEW media deal is a wise choice.#AEWDynamite

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 28, 2024

Eric Bischoff Fires Back At Tony Khan

“Strictly Business” may be ending, but as Jon Alba stated, Eric Bischoff has a lot on his plate when it comes to further work, including his original podcast with Conrad Thompson, “83 Weeks.” Thompson took to social media to provide clarity that “Strictly Business” is going away, but not “83 Weeks.”

“Don’t get it twisted: ’83 Weeks’ with Eric Bischoff is not “sunsetting.” See y’all Monday. After waking up to Twitter this morning, I wonder, as a friend of mine might say, ‘what do you guys wanna talk about?'”

?
Don’t get it twisted: @83Weeks with @EBischoff is not “sunsetting.”

See y’all Monday.

After waking up to Twitter this morning, I wonder, as a friend of mine might say, “what do you guys wanna talk about?”

? ? pic.twitter.com/hNYPIdbRAL

— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) March 28, 2024

Bischoff also had some words for Tony Khan, also including a video of a tarped off Videotron Centre in Quebec City during ROH tapings ahead of AEW Dynamite.

“A money mark with no talent other than spending daddy’s money, going all the way to Canada to draw less than 4k in one of the hottest pro wrestling markets in North America, talking about ‘wise choices’? Strap in. It’s going to be a fun day!”

A money mark with no talent other than spending daddy’s money, going all the way to Canada to draw less than 4k in one of the hottest pro wrestling markets in North America, talking about “wise choices”? Strap in. It’s going to be a fun day! https://t.co/Wr9EWwi01d pic.twitter.com/L1tX2Smszc

— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) March 28, 2024

Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk surprised the fans when he made a special appearance alongside Darby Allin on last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite. ‘Birdman’ used the opportunity to promote his foundation on AEW television.

Darby Allin has managed to effectively combine his love for skateboarding and pro wrestling. His skating background helps him embrace the fast-paced action inside the squared circle. It is no secret that skateboarding has a major influence on Allin and now he has joined forces with Tony Hawk for a noble cause.

Tony Hawk promotes his foundation

In a video clip, Darby Allin revealed that originally, he decided to embark on a climb to Mt.Everest to support Hawk’s foundation, The Skatepark Project. Unfortunately, that plan has to be put on hold due to Allin’s broken foot. Tony Hawk then explained the cause behind the foundation. 

It was formerly known as The Tony Hawk Foundation and helps underserved communities by creating safe and inclusive public skateparks for youngsters. As per Hawk, they have been operating for 20 years and helped to fund almost 900 skateparks.

Pro-Skater Tony Hawk & AEW Star Darby Allin have a special message about The @Skatepark Project.

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@DarbyAllin | @tonyhawk pic.twitter.com/aA61fm1KAo

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 28, 2024

The Legend Of Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk has been an iconic figure in the skateboarding world. He has made immense contributions to the sport and has remarkable achievements. Notably, he became the official National Skateboard Association World Champion for 12 consecutive years. Nicknamed ‘Birdman’, he went on to establish his skateboard company, Birdhouse. 

Now, with his philanthropic efforts, Tony Hawk is helping to build a safe environment for the skateboarding community and continues to inspire skateboarding aspirants around the globe.   

Fans can donate to the noble cause at Skatepark.org

AEW is planning even more pay-per-view events in 2024, and they will have a chance to introduce Dynasty to fans in April. The card is coming together, and they booked another title match this week.

AEW Dynasty will go down in St. Louis on April 21. It will be the first-ever event of its kind, as Tony Khan’s company adds another pay-per-view to their schedule of events.

During AEW Dynamite this week, Willow Nightingale won a four-way match to become the #1 contender for Julia Hart’s TBS Title. Also, in the main event, Swerve Strickland became the #1 contender for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Title. 

New AEW Dynasty Title Matches

Willow Nightingale emerged as the top contender for the TBS Championship after winning a four-way match on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. She did so with Mercedes Mone on the commentary booth, where she provided insight during the contest.

Death Valley Driver on the Apron!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@CallMeKrisStat | @SkyeByee | @AnnaJay___ | @WillowWrestles pic.twitter.com/ULT6s5xgfR

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 28, 2024

Competing against Anna Jay, Skye Blue, and Kris Statlander, Nightingale secured the victory by pinning Anna Jay with a Doctor Bomb. Following her win, it was revealed that Nightingale would face Julia Hart for the title at AEW’s upcoming Dynasty pay-per-view.

https://twitter.com/LopeDMCA/status/1773156266921091365

Swerve Strickland also beat Konosuke Takeshita in the main event of the night, earning a number one contender spot for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship. Following his win, it was promptly announced that Strickland’s title challenge against Samoa Joe will headline AEW Dynasty on April 21 in New Orleans.

AEW Dynasty Plans

As of this writing, Mercedes Mone does not have a match booked for AEW Dynasty. She certainly seemed interested in the conclusion of this #1 contender match for the TBS Title.

AEW Dynasty will be the first-ever event of its kind, and it will go down on April 21 in St Louis. SEScoops will have full coverage of the event as we get closer to the big date.

AEW Dynasty Card (So Far):

• Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Title
• Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
• TBD vs. TBD: Tournament final for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship
• Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale: Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship

Santana and Ortiz were one of AEW’s most popular tag teams, but the two’s friendship became very fractured and their professional relationship ended.

When there were reports of tension between the two, many speculated that it could have been storyline-based, but that wasn’t the case. 

In a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Santana talked about how him and Ortiz grew apart over time.

“We were together for 10 years, I think. When you’re together with someone that long, it’s like a married couple. There’s good, there’s bad, and I think, honestly, for the most part, it was like, I think we just grew apart over time.”

Santana says that the two’s philosophy on tag team wrestling became different and implied that he and Ortiz had different drives when it came to moving forward in the pro wrestling world.

“I’m a go-getter. I like to create opportunities for myself. I’m more than willing to fight for our spot, but also, I’m not going to be the only one.”

When asked if he and Ortiz still had heat with one another, Santana said that he holds no ill will to his former tag team partner and is in a different place in his life than he was during that time.

Santana & Ortiz really first caught fire during their run in TNA and it prompted Tony Khan and AEW to pick the duo up. They soon became a primary aspect to Chris Jericho’s first All Elite faction, The Inner Circle. Despite their popularity, they never did capture the AEW World Tag Titles and actually did turn their real life tension into an on-air storyline. Santana was released by AEW earlier this month.

Credit to Chris Van Vliet and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Mercedes Mone is just starting to make her mark in AEW, but she’s been under contract for a few months already. Tony Khan has also been cutting her some very large checks in the process.

Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but The Man is happy for The CEO’s new deal. She recently commented to say that the important part of the whole thing is that women are getting paid equally to their male counterparts.

Lynch Reacts To Mone’s Big Money Deal

Mercedes Mone’s new deal with AEW is a substantial one. In fact, she shattered the glass ceiling, and it’s now said that she is the highest-paid woman in the pro wrestling business. 

While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Becky Lynch touched on Mercedes Mone’s new AEW contract. She said that the important part is that women are getting paid on a higher level. Mercedes’ new deal is certainly proving that to be the case.

“I think that’s an important part, getting paid equally for the equal work and the equal position we are at right now,” Lynch said. “Women’s evolutions and revolutions are fine and well, but making sure that they equate to contracts and financial reward for these things when we are doing equal work, is hugely important.”

Mercedes Mone and WWE

It was reported that WWE and Mercedes Mone came to a financial roadblock when it came to bringing her in. It was noted that she didn’t want to be paid more than everyone on the women’s roster, but she did want to be paid what top stars are making. 

Mercedes Mone also said that she envisions herself going back to WWE someday. She said that prior to her AEW debut, but she was still under contract. That comment ruffled some feathers within AEW. Tony Khan has since endorsed Mercedes as a possible face of AEW.

Bayley said that she begs Mercedes every chance she gets to make a WWE return. The former Damage CTRL leader was actually at AEW Big Business in Boston along with Naomi and Tamina Snuka to see Mercedes Mone’s big debut first-hand. She later said that seeing Mercedes’ debut was a bittersweet moment.

AEW will have a new PPV host moving forward in 2024 and it will start with their upcoming Dynasty event on April 21 in St. Louis, MO.

Since its inception, Bleacher Report was the PPV home to All Elite Wrestling, but starting with Dynasty, AEW PPVs will now be airing on TrillerTV+. TrillerTV (formerly known as Fite TV) has played host to countless wrestling events including shows from GCW, Major League Wrestling and Starrcast.

Dynasty airing on Triller (FITE) in the US is great news. Bleacher Report can piss off. pic.twitter.com/jJP5NxrHzs

— Jason Solomon ?? (@solomonster) March 26, 2024

It’s been a struggle with AEW on Bleacher Report as some users had experienced technical difficulties and even trouble purchasing the events themselves.

More AEW PPVs In 2024

With AEW Dynasty, Tony Khan has indicated that the PPV will signify a new era for All Elite Wrestling and speaking with the media ahead of AEW Revolution. Khan was asked if he had plans for more PPVs in 2024. In 2023, AEW presented a total of eight PPVs, but now he aims to have around nine or ten.

AEW Dynasty will certainly have some fresh elements once it goes down on April 21. Since Revolution took place, both Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Monet made their official debut for the company. Dynasty already has a major match signed for the event as Will Ospreay will square off against Bryan Danielson in one of the headline fights. While not confirmed, it appears that the company is angling to have Samoa Joe defend his AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, but before Swerve has a chance at getting a shot, he must face Konosuke Takeshita this week on AEW Dynamite.

Jim Ross has another book coming out and it will be available before the summer hits.

The current AEW commentator is joined once again by Paul O’Brien for his third book, Business Is About To Pick Up!, but it is very different from his first two books. 

The WWE Hall of Famer will be recounting 50 different of his most memorable calls over his storied and vast career. A release date for May 7, 2024 is announced by the publisher, Penguin Random House. Full details of the book is below:

Experience 50 years of wrestling history through the iconic voice of Jim Ross.

For wrestling fans, Jim Ross’ voice is the soundtrack of an era. This book is your ringside ticket to wrestling’s most unforgettable moments—from the announcer who made them iconic.

In the last 50 years, professional wrestling has risen up from a collection of regional territories to become a global phenomenon—and Jim Ross has been there for it all. From the grit and glory days of the 1970s with NWA, to the rise of WCW and the heyday of WWF and WWE, to signing on as on-air talent and senior advisor for wrestling’s newest chapter at AEW, Jim Ross has long had the best seat in the house.

Now, in 50 definitive chapters, chronicling 50 iconic calls across 50 unforgettable years, Business Is About to Pick Up! takes you into the ring, and behind the scenes, as only Jim Ross can.

Immerse yourself in sports entertainment’s most dramatic moments, biggest shocks, and history-making firsts—from watershed collisions like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin versus Bret “Hitman” Hart to industry-shaping milestones like the debut of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the rise of John Cena and Dave Bautista as Hollywood A-list stars, and the birth of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Then debate which moments Jim Ross just had to include . . . and what else should’ve made his list.

This book is a celebration of pro wrestling’s past, present, and future—narrated by the Voice of Wrestling himself, who was ringside to call it all.

Jim Ross Signed A New Deal With AEW

Not only does Jim Ross have a new book for fans to look forward to, but the legend will be sticking around with AEW for the following year. JR said on his podcast that his latest negotiations with Tony Khan were the easiest of his career and his new deal is reportedly very lucrative.

Despite this, Ross did make that comment that he has to be open to the possibility that 2024 could be his last year on commentary.

Kosha Irby will work as All Elite Wrestling’s Chief Operating Officer from here on, a statement by the All-Elite promotion has confirmed. 

Irby will oversee strategic planning and execution of Live Events, Marketing, Finances, Human Resources, Licensing, Consumer Products, and other major lines of business, the statement adds. AEW President Tony Khan shared his excitement for Irby to join the AEW fold. 

“Kosha brings decades of experience within the sports, entertainment, and wrestling industries, alongside an incredible work ethic and passion for our brand. As Chief Operating Officer, he will be a phenomenal asset to AEW as we enter the next phase of the company’s ongoing business development and expansion.”

Who is Kosha Irby? 

Irby joins All Elite Wrestling after years as the Chief Marketing Officer for Clemson University’s athletics department. He has also previously held positions with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football and had been President of Professional Bull Riders. 

The most notable role on Irby’s resume before joining AEW was his tenure with WWE. Irby was the Regional Director of Live Events for the promotion, a role he began in August 2011. Irby was with WWE for close to seven years before his exit in June 2018. 

Other WWE to AEW Moves

Kosha Irby isn’t the first notable name from WWE to make his way to All Elite Wrestling. Mike Mansury left WWE in 2020 and joined AEW in 2022 as the company’s Senior VP and Co-Executive Producer. 

This move did not come without some controversy. One of Mansury’s first moves was to cut AEW’s former VP of Post Production Kevin Sullivan (not to be confused with the Taskmaster.) Many in AEW were shocked by the move, with some of the belief that Khan could have prevented Sullivan’s termination. 

Last month, AEW hired Jennifer Pepperman, mere days after her exit from WWE was confirmed. Pepperman had been a Senior Writer & Producer for WWE. Pepperman is said to be close friends with Mercedes Mone and it is believed she is working directly on Mone’s creative direction in AEW. 

Nigel McGuiness has made quite the name for himself as a broadcaster in wrestling, but could the former ROH World Champion be gearing up for an in-ring return? 

It was a Hepatitis B diagnosis that derailed McGuinness’ career in 2011 and led to his retiring from the ring. During an episode of AEW Unrestricted last year, McGuinness explained that WWE had opted not to sign him because of the diagnosis, and he did not wish to return to TNA Wrestling. 

Back in the Ring

Speaking to the Wrestling Weekly with Les Thatcher & Victor Sosa, McGuinness was asked about a potential return to action. The British broadcaster then revealed that he recently felt fine when he got in the ring.

“I can still wrestle today, you know? I got in the ring last week and just felt perfectly okay. Sometimes, people say it’s a lot easier if you choose yourself to quit and I don’t think that it’s the case.”

Returns from Retirement

If McGuinness was to wrestle again, he would not be the first wrestler to come back from retirement. Saraya, Adam Copeland, and Bryan Danielson were all once told their in-ring careers were over but all three now wrestle for AEW. 

Over in WWE, injuries forced Corey Graves to retire from the ring, which resulted in him becoming a commentator. Graves has since been cleared to compete again, though he’s yet to have an official match. 

Plans For a Match? 

McGuinness has said in the past that he would’ve relished the opportunity to face Bryan Danielson at last year’s AEW All In event inside Wembley Stadium. With AEW set to return to the UK this August, it seems more possible than ever that a match could finally happen. 

H/T – POST Wrestling

Arn Anderson knows the bumps and bruises that goes with being a pro wrestler, and is happy that Sting got to finish his wrestling career the way he wanted to.

On the latest episode of ARN, ‘The Enforcer’ was covering WCW in November 1994 where the topic of Sting came up, particularly with how all the emphasis was on Hulk Hogan arriving in the promotion at the time. The question was asked if Sting could have been heated up to that level if he had Eric Bischoff and the machine behind him to which Arn firmly believed could have been the case. 

That eventually led to co-host Paul Bromwell asking Arn’s thoughts on Sting’s retirement at AEW Revolution, something that Anderson hadn’t talked about since it happened. Arn then gave his thoughts about Sting wrapping it up after four decades of wrestling.

“I think it was what he envisioned. He plugged his two kids in which I thought was innovative and he had earned to have the fact that having his night go to exactly like he imagined it. He’s earned that.

“If you’ve given to this business 40 years of your life and went home and had your wife put you back together any number of times. Help you get up off the couch, and help get out of bed and help you step in the shower. All the things that your family does to support you.

“At 40 years, you should be able to picture your retirement in whatever company you’re working for and thank God he was working for AEW because Tony [Khan] pretty much just said, ‘Hey, how do you see it?’ I’m sure. ‘How do you see it, Sting?’ And Sting told him and he went, ‘That’s what we’ll do,’ and I’m very happy for him. I’m glad.”

Anderson unfortunately had to retire from the ring prematurely back in 1998 after suffering a bad neck injury, but despite that, ‘The Enforcer’, along with The Four Horsemen became one of Stinger’s greatest rivals. Arn is set to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this summer in Waterloo, Iowa.

AEW star Wheeler Yuta has been forced to withdraw from a CMLL event as he is currently sidelined.

Yuta was slated to team with his Blackpool Combat Club teammates,  Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, & Claudio Castagnoli to face the team of Mistico, Volador Jr, Blue Panther, & Ultimo Guerrero for the March 29 CMLL show. 

However, the promotion announced that Wheeler Yuta is not medically cleared to compete. Meanwhile, Matt Sydal has been announced as his replacement. 

Official statement on Wheeler Yuta’s withdrawal

CMLL posted the following letter from AEW on Twitter/X:

Dear CMLL;

This letter is to inform you that WHEELER YUTA is not medically cleared for travel or any in ring activities at this time and will not be able to participate in your upcoming event. I have obtained authorization from Wheeler Yuta to share this information to CMLL and all involved. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. If you have any questions that I may be able to answer, please do not hesitate to contact me.

MATT SYDAL EN HOMENAJE A DOS LEYENDAS 2024
Por dictamen médico, el integrante del Blackpool Combat Club -Wheeler YUTA- no podrá participar en la magna función del viernes 29 de marzo en la Arena México. Su lugar será tomado por el espectacular Matt Sydal. pic.twitter.com/M3DeuLuSZu

— Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) March 25, 2024

Wheeler Yuta is part of the Blackpool Combat Club

Yuta was roped in by BCC back in 2022 when he impressed not only the members of the faction, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and Claudio Castagnoli but also then-manager, William Regal.

Being mentored by the seasoned superstars, he has managed to hone his craft. His learnings from his teammates have been on display and it is needless to mention that Wheeler Yuta is thriving.

A few months back, while speaking with the Northeast Times, Yuta revealed what each member of The Blackpool Combat Club has taught him: 

“Claudio, he’s taught me about European uppercuts. He’s also showed me how to take care of my body, my condition, and how to work out in the ring through tag team matches. Moxley, he taught me how to unlock aggression, to turn it up a notch and to win any means necessary.

And Bryan is such an amazing technician. Little techniques you might not pick up on, but in the ring, they really matter. Bryan has showed me technique. And of course his Lordship, (William) Regal, has been immense in wrestling and in life.”

Yuta had last competed on the January 12 (taped on January 10) episode of AEW Rampage when he faced Eddie Kingston for the Continental Crown. It’s curious that an injury has not been disclosed by either AEW or Yuta himself, despite his lengthy absence from action.

We will now have to wait and see when Yuta manages to make his return to the squared circle. 

The April 6, edition of AEW Collision will air at a later time than usual to avoid being decimated by the viewing might of WrestleMania 40.

TNT’s programming schedule reveals that the show will air at 11:30pm EST, much later than the usual 8pm EST slot. This will likely prevent it from going head-to-head with WrestleMania 40: Saturday, which is set to start at 7pm EST. 

Not only that, but the April 6, edition of Collision will be taped in advance. The show will be taped following the April 3, edition of AEW Dynamite. Both shows will take place at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Currently, no matches have been announced for the April 6, edition of AEW Collision. 

A Change from the Norm

This strategy marks a change for AEW Collision. In the past, the show has aired head-to-head with WWE Premium Live Events, including this year’s Royal Rumble that featured AEW alum Cody Rhodes & Jade Cargill. AEW Collision also went head-to-head with  WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 last month. 

AEW Collision

Collision was launched in 2023 and marked CM Punk’s return to AEW programming following his first suspension. Punk was immediately presented as the focal point of the show and was said to have a say in picking talent for the show. After Punk’s firing from AEW in September 2023, this soft brand split was relaxed. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth-annual WrestleMania to take place across two nights. Currently, ten matches have been announced for the show. The event will mark the in-ring return of The Rock, who hasn’t wrestled for WWE since 2016. 

Swerve Strickland sees unlimited value in Drew McIntyre and would like to see the Scotsman make his way to AEW.

Speaking on “Bootleg Kev” Strickland was asked by one of the hosts if he had to chose a WWE talent to jump ship to AEW, who would he pick. Swerve laid out a big case as to why Drew McIntyre would equal major value for All Elite Wrestling.

“Man, I would love to see a Drew McIntyre over here, you know? Contract status, I don’t know. I can’t speak on it, but I’ve heard it’s not fully [finalized].

“I think Drew McIntyre could work anywhere in the world like he’s proven that before like that’s why WWE wanted him back so badly … the transformation he made he can just work anywhere and do anything with anybody. I think he’d be a major fit in AEW.”

Regarding his own WWE tenure, Swerve made clear that it wasn’t that he was not properly utilized, but just not used to his fullest potential. He said that it could have taken a year to several for that to possibly happening, noting that it took The Usos and Roman Reigns to finally get where they are today.

What Is The Contract Status Of Drew McIntyre?

As of now, Drew McIntyre is not under a new deal with WWE despite the fact that he’s going to be in one of the main event matches at WrestleMania 40 against Seth Rollins. Drew did say that he’s just having fun right now, but a new contract is very important to him. He also added that you’ll see him continue to wrestle for a very long time, whether that be as Drew McIntyre or Drew Galloway, noting “that would get everyone’s attention.”

Please credit “Bootleg Kev” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.