Archive for the ‘AEW’ Category

Tony Khan Explains Why AEW Keeps Running Larger Arenas

Tony Khan recently talked about the reason why AEW keeps running larger venues.

The arenas where AEW Dynamite shows are held have a capacity far exceeding the attendance they typically draw. Dynamite typically garners around 3,000-4,000 attendees, with 4,000 being on the higher end. However, the arenas hosting these shows can accommodate up to 10,000 or more spectators.

In the case of the February 21 AEW Dynamite episode held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, attendance was notably low, with fewer than 3,300 tickets sold. This occurred despite the venue’s capacity to hold over 10,000 spectators, as reported by WrestleTix.

Addressing this in an interview with YouTube channel GV Wire, AEW president Tony Khan revealed why the promotion does this, and it all comes down to marketing.

“It depends on the market and the time. A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages. They have a lot of sale contacts and really good marketing resources.”

Khan was asked if there is a disadvantage to not using the entire arena for AEW shows, he replied that using a bigger arena is better to reach certain customers.

“It depends. They have a better chance of outreaching to certain customers than other venues.”

AEW’s annual event with NJPW, known as the Forbidden Door, is reportedly scheduled to be held at New York City’s Arthur Ashe Stadium. This would be the company’s third stadium event, despite facing challenges with attendance. However, AEW shows strong performance in terms of pay-per-view sales.

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

Daily Drop (2/24): John Cena Has Eye On WWE WrestleMania, MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrate Anniversary

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 24. The Elimination Chamber started off the day with a very early, and exciting, event. Now, we have a lot to unpack.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 42

WWE

– I was able to exclusively report that John Cena is trying to do something for WrestleMania 40. At this time, nothing is confirmed.

– Also, Sylvester Stallone and WWE couldn’t work things out. I was told this is “old news,” because they nixed those plans last month due to a scheduling conflict.

– On another note, I was also told that Jade Cargill was never booked for the Elimination Chamber match in the first place. No plans changed for her, and there is nothing wrong with her in the company. Booking her in the Chamber match would have done her no favors, because she wasn’t booked to win. WWE is taking their time and taking care of Cargill.

– Tammy Lynn Sytch has a brand-new mugshot, and you can check that out here.

– Bruce Prichard was back working at Raw on 2/19. He is a Vince McMahon ally, and he received some flack from Ronda Rousey for being McMahon’s “avatar” in the past.

– Rhea Ripley was very impressed by WWE 2K24 throwing in a throwback version of herself in the new game. WWE 2K24 drops on March 7th, and the hype is real.

– Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to a one-on-one match during an explosive Grayson Waller Effect segment at Elimination Chamber.

– Seth Rollins also announced that he will be medically cleared from his MCL injury in just a few days. So, he may wrestle on the road to WrestleMania.

– Becky Lynch and Drew McIntyre won the 2024 Elimination Chamber matches in Perth, Australia. They will now go onto WrestleMania 40 to battle for the WWE Women’s World Title and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, respectively. 

AEW

– Saraya announced during AEW Rampage that her brother, Zak Knight, is now All Elite.

– Malakai Black is set to compete in his initial AEW singles match since June 2022 on February 24th at AEW Collision.

– Sting is scheduled to make his last appearance on AEW Dynamite on February 28th.

– MJF and Alicia Atout celebrated their one-year anniversary as a couple. He famously called her “T*ts McGee from Whore Island” in the past, so they’ve known each other for a very long time. SEScoops is wishing them both the best.

– Tony Khan explained why AEW keeps running larger venues with smaller crowds showing up. He kind of skirted the question by replying, “A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages. They have a lot of sale contacts and really good marketing resources.”

AEW Collision Card for Saturday, February 24

  • Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
  • No DQ: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Sammy Guevara (Don Callis Family & Chris Jericho banned from the building)
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty
  • Malakai Black vs. Bryan Keith
  • Serena Deeb in action
  • Thunder Rosa in action
  • The Bang Bang Scissor Gang’s Jay White, Billy Gunn & Austin Gunn in trios action

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 24th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

Saraya Announces New AEW Signing During Rampage

AEW star Saraya recently made an important announcement during this week’s AEW Rampage. She revealed that her brother Zak Knight has signed with AEW.

Saraya had been endorsing her brother to wrestle in AEW last year. Ahead of the December 20 episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan gave Knight his opportunity. He went on to make his in-ring debut for ROH in a match that aired on the December 28 Ring of Honor TV episode last year. He also wrestled for the company twice in January, with matches airing on the January 11 show, and the January 25 episode.

Now, he is officially a part of the AEW roster as per Saraya.

Saraya announces signing of Zak Knight

During Friday’s AEW Rampage, the former AEW Women’s World Champion introduced her brother, who is an independent wrestling veteran Zak Knight and stated that he has inked a deal with Tony Khan’s company.

In a backstage promo with Harley Cameron & Renee Paquette, Saraya presented Knight and said that they come from wrestling royalty in the United Kingdom. She stated that she had planned to set Ruby Soho up with her brother before Soho paired up with Angelo Parker. However, Knight did not speak in the promo segment.

On a related note, the movie “Fighting with My Family,” was based on Saraya’s life in pro wrestling. The movie was released in 2019. Also, the 2012 documentary “The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family,” followed Saraya’s career and journey to WWE while also showing her brother Zak failed to make it to the same level. 

We will have to wait and see what’s in store for Zak Knight, now that he has joined AEW.

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

AEW’s MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrating Milestone In Their Relationship

Former AEW World Champion MJF and Alicia Atout are celebrating after hitting the one-year mark in their relationship. 

Taking to Twitter, Atout made it clear that there is nobody else she’d rather have by her side. Atout also made it clear that she loves MJF, even if her descriptors for the AEW wrestler were hardly complimentary. 

MJF & Alicia Atout

Atout and MJF met during their respective runs in Major League Wrestling, where Atout worked as a backstage interviewer. The pair would also interact on Atout’s A Music Block Yeah (AMBY) vlog when MJF was active on the independent circuit.

While the pair are celebrating one year of their relationship, much of that time has been kept out of the public eye. It was only when the pair were spotted at a baseball game together in late 2023 that rumors circulated of a relationship. In November 2023, the couple went public with their relationship. 

Past Relationships

MJF had previously been engaged to artist Naomi Rosenblum. During a fiery promo segment in early 2023 with Bryan Danielson, MJF said that his fiancé dumped him since he wanted to have kids with her. It was later confirmed that the breakup was legitimate and not an angle for the feud with Danielson. 

Atout was previously in a relationship with Richard Holliday. She managed Holliday during their time in MLW. It would appear that Atout and Holliday ended their relationship at some point in 2023. 

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

Daily Drop (2/23): WWE Sees John Cena, Hangman Page’s Injury Situation Exposed

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 23 will see two pre-taped shows tonight for wrestling fans. AEW Rampage and WWE SmackDown were both filmed ahead of time. Of course, Rampage is usually taped, but SmackDown is in the can because the roster is in Australia for Elimination Chamber.

Coming up on February 24, Elimination Chamber kicks off bright and early at 5:00 am for fans on the East Coast, as the event takes place in Perth, Australia.

WWE

– Austin Theory got some attention for an interview he did in Australia. Theory got pretty angry and threatened a reporter because they disrespected pro wrestling.

– Hulk Hogan’s son, Nick, is not over his DUI case yet. He has a court date set now.

– John Cena and Charlotte Flair were spotted at the WWE Performance Center. Charlotte posted a photo of them together, while claiming that the photo was taken on Feb 22.

– Bobby Roode admitted that he will never wrestle full-time again. At this point, he is a WWE producer. I am told he is thriving in that position.

– A new report from WrestleVotes claims that WWE is eyeing a WrestleMania collaboration with Sylvester Stallone.

– It turns out that Brock Lesnar was not 100% removed from WWE 2K24. He won’t be a regular playable character, but he’s still in the game files.

– You can check out the full spoiler post for tonight’s SmackDown here, since it was pre-taped last week.

Full WWE SmackDown Card:

  • Bron Breakker WWE SmackDown Debut
  • The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
  • Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne vs. ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh
  • LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre

AEW

– Apparently, AEW is kayfabing injuries now. Fightful Select reported that whole Hangman Page injury scare was a work.

– For the record, Jerry Lynn, who is a producer for the company, was not happy about Hangman’s kayfabe injury leaking.

– AEW had to change their plan for Sting on Dynamite this week due to his father’s passing.

– There was a bit of chaos backstage at AEW Dynamite this week, because they had to change several plans, including one for Jeff Hardy.

– AEW’s Forbidden Door event is coming to Arthur Ashe Stadium this year.

Full AEW Rampage Card:

  • The Young Bucks vs two local talents
  • Mariah May vs Anna Jay
  • Roderick Strong vs Jake Hager
  • Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti vs Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander & Bryan Keith and Matt Sydal & Private Party

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

‘Hangman’ Page May Still Miss AEW Revolution Despite Dynamite ‘Injury’ Being a Work

AEW’s ‘Hangman’ Adam Page may still miss next week’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view despite his ‘injury’ on this week’s edition of Dynamite not being legitimate. 

Page could be seen clutching his foot after escaping Samoa Joe’s Muscle Buster finisher during the six-man tag-team match that headlined this week’s show. At ringside, Page was seen telling the medical crew “it’s bad” and was seen limping after the match. 

Still Missing AEW Revolution

Despite fears of a broken ankle, it’s since been reported that Page’s situation on Dynamite was not a real injury. Instead, the former AEW World Champion was simply showing excellent selling skills.

In an update on the situation, Bryan Alvarez said the following on Wrestling Observer Live. 

“The reason that he worked the ankle injury is because he has something going on in his personal life and he may not be able to work the pay-per-view. If he can’t work the pay-per-view then this is the cover story as to why he can’t work the pay-per-view.”

At this time, there is no confirmation as to what this personal issue is that could keep Page from the show. Alvarez added that people very close to Hangman didn’t know what was going on as of the morning after the ‘injury.’

What’s Next? 

Hangman Page is scheduled to challenge AEW World Champion Samoa Joe at AEW Revolution 2024, in a match that will also include Swerve Strickland. The show will take place on March 3, and mark Sting’s final wrestling match. The Icon and Darby Allin will defend their titles against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. 

H/T – No DQ

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

AEW Producer Not Happy About Hangman Page Fake Injury Report

Adam Page has faced several injuries during his career, so fans were worried about his status this week after AEW Dynamite. While it seemed he sustained an injury on Dynamite this week, it was later disclosed to be all part of the show. 

Hangman Page’s Kayfabe Injury

During this week’s AEW Dynamite main event, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Brian Cage faced FTW Champion HOOK, “Hangman” Adam Page, and RVD. Fans were quick to notice a moment where Adam Page appeared to twist his ankle as he got out of Samoa Joe’s Muscle Buster. Post-show footage captured Page limping backstage, and Hangman said his foot was, “bad.”

Dave Meltzer initially reported Page’s ankle injury. Then, Fightful Select corrected this as it was stated that Adam Page was simply playing his part for the audience.

Jeremy Lynn expressed his frustration on Twitter regarding a report debunking Adam Page’s injury. Lynn emphasized his disappointment, suggesting it would have been better kept as a secret until next week.

”This shouldn’t even be announced. God forbid we have a cliff hanger for next week.”

What’s Next

We will have to see how AEW uses this storyline. Since Jerry Lynn said that fans should have waited until next week, odds are Tony Khan has some kind of follow up in the pipeline. Only time will tell if this leak about Page will change AEW’s creative direction.

SEScoops will keep a close eye on this story for further updates.

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , , .

AEW Forbidden Door 2024 Headed For NYC’s Arthur Ashe Stadium

All Elite Wrestling is looking to make a statement this year as they look to host three stadium shows. Andrew Zarian reported on February 9 that the company planned to add another stadium show to its 2024 live event schedule.

 In a new report from Zarian, AEW could potentially hold two events at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York. 

On Twitter, Zarian revealed that AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling will collaborate for another Forbidden Door show. However, the event will occur at Arthur Ashe Stadium in June instead of in an arena. 

It’s worth noting that AEW has not officially announced the location and date for AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door. That said, the event has occurred in June for the last two years, so it seems possible. AEW has also tried to host shows in bigger venues over the previous year, and it is not surprising that they would try to add a third stadium event to their schedule. 

AEW To Host Two Events At Arthur Ashe Stadium?

The announcement to have AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door at Arthur Ashe Stadium is surprising as they have held AEW Grand Slam at the venue for three years. However, the annual September event could be moved to a different location this year. 

Zarian had shared information on AEW Grand Slam on Twitter but deleted the post, citing that it was “…Too soon to announce the location.” 

An hour later, he confirmed plans were being changed and didn’t share where AEW Grand Slam would be held. 

AEW Live Attendance Struggles 

The decision to have potentially three stadium events is ambitious, as the company struggles with live attendance. On February 21, AEW held their weekly live episode, AEW Dynamite, at the BOK Center in Tusla, Oklahoma. WrestleTix reported on Twitter the show had a low attendance, with less than 3,300 tickets in a venue that can hold over 10,000. 

Although the AEW may struggle in attendance weekly, they have been able to do well for their pay-per-views. On March 3, the company will host AEW Revolution at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina. WrestleTix shared on Twitter recently that close to 17,000 tickets have been sold in a venue that can hold over 20,000 in attendance.

AEW also has AEW All In at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on August 25, which is doing well. WrestleTix noted on Twitter, February 17 that 39,190 tickets had been distributed, and the company had yet to announce a match. 

The decision to have AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door could be lucrative based on their PPV trends. However, it is unclear if potentially two Arthur Ashe Stadium shows guarantee the same success. 

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Worked Fans With Hangman Page Ankle Injury Drama

AEW Dynamite was an interesting show this week. There was a bit of chaos surrounding changes that needed to be made to the show Then former AEW World Champion Adam “Hangman” Page suffered an injury during a multi-man tag team match later on. Now, we have some new information about that story.

https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1760513335630422314

Hangman Page’s Current Situation

During the conclusion of the February 21 episode of AEW Dynamite, Hangman Page caused concern among fans when he appeared to be injured. He landed on his feet as he got out of a Muscle Buster from Samoa Joe.

Page did not return to the match, and he appeared to be in a lot of pain. RVD later took a choke and lost the match, as the AEW World Champion won the match for his team.

After holding his ankle and signaling for the cameras to refrain from filming him, Hangman was assisted backstage while visibly limping. 

However, Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that this was part of a scripted angle, and Hangman was uninjured once he reached the backstage area.

We’re told this could be worked into the show now, but upon returning to the backstage area, Page was completely fine. One talent used a phrase that has often been used in situations like this “yeah, he’s okay. He’s just good at his job.”

What’s Next

We will have to see how AEW uses this injury angle in their storyline. They just brought Jennifer Pepperman in as their new VP of Content, and she was with WWE as a Senior Writer for years. 

As of now, AEW has not released an official update regarding Hangman Page’s status. SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of this story.

https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1760579959016345713

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

WWE Expected Jen Pepperman to Join AEW Given Friendship with Mercedes Mone

Jennifer Pepperman’s arrival in AEW may have come as a surprise to many, but not to her former employers at WWE. 

Pepperman’s status with AEW was confirmed earlier this week, in a quick turnaround for the former WWE Senior Writer. She parted ways with WWE less than a week ago. It was said that Pepperman, who joined WWE in 2017, left voluntarily and her departure was not a release. Pepperman was the longest-tenured female member of the creative team with WWE.

Not a Surprise

Those in WWE expected Pepperman to join AEW when she left, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Pepperman is known to be close with Mercedes Mone, who is expected to join AEW at the upcoming Big Business edition of Dynamite in Boston, MA. 

SE Scoops’ Aaron Varble previously reported that Pepperman’s exit from WWE was unexpected but that many in the company had the feeling she had work already lined up. 

Responsibilities in AEW

Pepperman has been announced as AEW’s new Vice President of Content Development. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter however, it is suggested that she could also serve as a “personal writer” for Mone when she debuts for the promotion. 

Meltzer compared this to Brian Gewirtz who is the personal writer for The Rock. Gewirtz spent years with WWE and worked on The Rock’s promos before joining the Brahma Bull’s Seven Bucks Productions movie studio. When The Rock has appeared for WWE in the years since making it big in Hollywood, Gewirtz has served as his personal writer. 

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , , .

Backstage Chaos: AEW Changed Plan For Jeff Hardy & More on Dynamite This Week

AEW put on a Dynamite in Oklahoma this week, and they delivered the best show they could. That being said, it also came with a fair amount of changes along the way.

AEW Changes Plan

AEW had to change their plan for Sting on Dynamite this week due to his father’s passing. That is not all, because Jeff Hardy also couldn’t be on the show.

Sammy Guevara faced Jeff Hardy in a singles match during the recent AEW Rampage tapings. Unfortunately, the match caused concern about Hardy possibly suffering a concussion, as Guevara’s knee collided with Hardy’s face during a Shooting Star Press that went wrong. In the end, Hardy suffered a broken nose, which was not a concussion, but it still wasn’t great news.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned that Jeff Hardy was expected to have a significant role on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, but those plans were ultimately canceled.

”Jeff Hardy was actually supposed to be on the show, and in a key role. One of the reasons why so little was announced was because they didn’t know if Sting would be able to come. The Jeff Hardy and Trent Beretta was supposed to be a singles match against Orange Cassidy. I don’t know why, but it had been built it. Not announced, because they announced that Trent was injured, but they didn’t announce it.”

“They were waiting until, basically, today, and that’s when they put Mike Bennett in that spot. I was told it was very chaotic backstage. I was told that the reason why they didn’t announce anything was because they didn’t know if they could do what they wanted to do, and they didn’t want to false advertise.”

More on AEW’s Changing Plan

AEW had to pivot in a big way this week, and there were a couple of things that didn’t go according to plan. Hangman Page also suffered an apparent injury, as he said his foot was badly hurt.

AEW has one more Dynamite after this before AEW Revolution on March 3rd. Only time will tell what AEW does 

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

AEW Changed Plan For Sting On Dynamite After His Father’s Passing

Sting means a lot to pro wrestling fans, and they are all ready for the road for his big retirement match at AEW Revolution. Sadly, his father passed away this week, which took priority over his commitments to Tony Khan’s company this week.

Sting’s Plans Changed

During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Sting and Darby Allin appeared via video to address The Young Bucks’ attack on Sting’s sons in a previous episode. The WWE Hall of Famer was not actually in the building this week, but there was a very good reason for his absence due to his father’s passing.

Ric Flair was spotted backstage with The Young Bucks, suggesting a potential betrayal of Sting at AEW Revolution. In the end, Sting was not on the show, but that was not the original plan.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed AEW’s intentions for Sting on Dynamite. There was a plan for The Icon to be on the show, but they had to change those plans when his father passed away. 

“Originally, Sting and Darby were going to be on the show doing something, whatever they were gonna do. That needed to be taken off, because they had shot all that at Sting’s house in the Dallas area, I think.”

Christian Cage Controversy

It was also noted that Christian Cage and Daniel Garcia’s segment right after that may have needed an alteration, but it carried on anyway. Christian went into one of his “dead dad” promos on Garcia, and he even dropped an address in the process that is a legit cemetery. Meltzer noted that this segment may have been in poor taste, considering the fact that they had just announced that Sting’s father passed away this week.

Many fans also chimed in on Twitter/X to share the sentiment that the Christian Cage segment could have been saved until next week.

https://twitter.com/EttenGregory/status/1760509179045769548

What’s Next

Sting has been a part of the AEW family for over three years and currently plays a significant role in one of AEW’s major storylines. His recent appearance on Dynamite, however, didn’t go as planned. They were able to figure out how to progress his storyline despite his absence. 

AEW Revolution will still see Darby Allin and Sting team up against The Young Bucks in Sting’s final match. We will have to see how the company continues to build toward that match.

Our thoughts go out to Sting’s family during this time as they go through this terrible loss. 

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

‘Hangman’ Page Suffered Suspected Broken Ankle During AEW Dynamite Main Event

Former AEW World Champion ‘Hangman’ Adam Page suffered a suspected broken ankle during this week’s episode of Dynamite. 

In the main event of the show, Page teamed with Rob Van Dam and FTW Champion Hook to face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage. The match saw the heels emerge on top with Joe choking out Van Dam for the win. 

‘Hangman’ Page Injured

During the match, Joe attempted a Muscle Buster on Page who was able to escape the finishing move. Unfortunately, the Cowboy landed awkwardly when getting free of the AEW World Champion. Page promptly rolled out of the ring and grasped his ankle and didn’t play a role in the rest of the match. Page could be seen telling people “it’s bad” and was visibly frustrated after the match. 

Latest on Adam Page

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed Page’s situation. Alvarez said that the injury will have to be looked at and suggested it could be a broken ankle. Meltzer stated that a broken ankle injury is what he’s “heard.”

Broken Ankle

A broken ankle can take months to recover from as we’ve seen from several wrestlers in recent years. Mercedes Mone suffered a suspected broken ankle last May and the Bo$$ has been out of action since then. Earlier this year, Kota Ibushi was hospitalized with a double ankle injury and he too has not wrestled since. 

This Was All A Work

Fightful Select later reported that Hangman Page was fine when he got backstage. He worked the injury, and he received credit from one locker room source for just being “good at his job.” 

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

Daily Drop (2/22): WWE Loses Creative Mind To AEW, John Cena Addresses Steroids & Vince McMahon Allegations

Welcome to a new feature we’re running here at SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top news and rumors in wrestling. TNA Wrestling has their February 22 show tonight, but AEW and WWE fans have the night off from shows. That doesn’t mean there is any lack of news.

Elimination Chamber starts at 5:00 am for fans in the East Coast on Feb 24, as the event goes down in Perth, Australia. Here is a rundown of the start times.

WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Start Times
  • WrestleMania Countdown: 46 days away

WWE

– I was told that there was actually never a creative plan for Jey Uso to win the IC Title from GUNTHER. They way it went down with GUNTHER retaining on the road to WrestleMania is always what was supposed to happen. Also, WWE has settled on an opponent for GUNTHER at WrestleMania. I specially asked if Sami Zayn is taking on the Ring General, and was told, “no spoilers” in response.

– WWE announced a new event for WrestleMania week. “Evening with a Legend” will feature Booker T and tickets are available for sale now.

– It was confirmed that Ken Shamrock is coming back to a WWE 2K game. He will be a playable legend for the new release. 

– Randy Orton was asked about Vince McMahon’s allegations while speaking to SI. He was quite candid about how heartbreaking the whole thing is. 

– John Cena also had something to say about Vince’s allegations. He also made it clear that he will always love McMahon.

– Also, while appearing on the Howard Stern Show, John Cena addressed any accusations about steroid use throughout his career. He stands by the story that he is clean.

– Scott Hall’s daughter dropped a pretty epic unseen video. This included Triple H and Kevin Nash, and at the time company lines separated them. During that period, Hall & Nash were with WCW, while Triple H remained with WWE.

AEW

– Wardlow fired off a pretty good shot at CM Punk this week on Dynamite. He took credit for physically breaking Punk down, and we all know he’s currently out of action with an injury.

– Tony Khan clapped back at O’Shea Jackson Jr’s comments about AEW. 

– AEW’s Ric Flair has a biopic coming out. The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions is going to produce it as well, so that could be a must-see project.

– AEW picked up recently departed WWE Senior Writer Jennifer Pepperman as their new VP of Content Development. It was a surprise when she left WWE. Her background in soap operas also saw her win Emmy Awards. I previously reported that the internal feeling within WWE was that Pepperman already had a job waiting for her when she departed from WWE.

– Ric Flair showed up on AEW Dynamite this week as the company continues to build hype for Sting’s last match at Revolution. 

– AEW added to their Revolution pay-per-view, as Daniel Garcia stepped up to challenge Christian Cage for the TNT Title.

– Adam “Hangman”  Page hurt his foot during AEW Dynamite this week. He commented on it after the show. It is apparently a bad situation. 

TNA & NWA

– Billy Corgan announced an exclusive streaming deal with The CW, making NWA programs available for free on The CW app. This partnership aims to broaden NWA’s audience and showcase its authenticity. Additionally, a new unscripted series about Corgan’s life will debut on The CW. 

You can check out the updated lineup for Thursday’s episode of TNA Impact below:

  • The System (Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards & Moose) vs. Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Chris Sabin vs. Jason Hotch
  • Steve Maclin vs. Trent Seven
  • Simon Gotch in action
  • Ash By Elegance in action

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW, WWE.

Watch: Hangman Page Confirms Foot Injury “Is Bad” In Post AEW Dynamite (2/21) Footage

Former AEW World Champion Hangman Page sustained an injury during the headlining match of last night’s AEW Dynamite. 

The main event of the show saw a 6-man tag match in which Page, Rob Van Dam, and Hook faced Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Brian Cage in a losing effort. In the final moments of the match, Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch on the pro wrestling legend RVD, which forced him to fade and suffer the defeat for his team.

However, an unfortunate moment unfolded for Hangman Page, who suffered an injury while taking a move from the AEW World Champion. When Joe attempted to hit his finisher Muscle Buster, Page managed to counter but landed awkwardly on the mat. It seems that the awkward landing caused the injury as Hangman promptly rolled out of the ring and grasped his ankle. On a related note, AEW star Adam Cole is also sidelined with an ankle injury.

This was the last action Hangman Page took part in. After the match concluded, the cameraman tried to get the lens on him ringside, but he made them go away saying: “Stop, don’t shoot me.” 

As per @Space_Cabbie who was at the show, Hangman was visibly angry and punched the floor, and kept saying “it’s bad…my foot”.

https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1760579959016345713

The feud between Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland remains to be one of the hottest ongoing feuds in AEW. The duo have been entailed in a feud for almost six months and it’s only getting hotter. 

Page’s injury raises concern as he is scheduled to compete against Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe in a three-way bout for the AEW World Championship at AEW Revolution pay-per-view. It will take place on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.

Keep an eye on SEScoops for the latest updates on the situation.

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Will Ospreay Set To Make An Appearance On Next Week’s AEW Dynamite

Last night on AEW Dynamite, it was announced that Will Ospreay is officially arriving as an AEW star next week. 

Will Ospreay was revealed as AEW’s marquee signing at Full Gear. WWE was in the race for his services but it was AEW that bagged the signing. Despite receiving an offer from WWE, Ospreay recently clarified his decision to join AEW. 

Ospreay thrived in Japan having several accolades. He had been one of NJPW’s finest stars and he is a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

He has competed inside the AEW ring several times during AEW’s working relationship with NJPW. He even defeated Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door 2023 and Chris Jericho at AEW All In: London. 

However, he concluded his commitments with NJPW before joining AEW and his last appearance in the Japanese promotion took place at NJPW New Beginning in Osaka on February 11 where he competed in a 10-man steel cage match

Will Ospreay coming to AEW Dynamite next week

During the February 21 e of edition of AEW Dynamite, the it was announced that ‘The Aerial Assassin’ will make an appearance on the February 28 episode of the show in Huntsville, Alabama. 

Ospreay will face Don Callis Family’s Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution and it will be Ospreay’s first as a full-time wrestler of the AEW roster. This will also mark his first match for the promotion after competing in a six-man tag team match at last October’s WrestleDream pay-per-view.

AEW Revolution pay-per-view is set to take place on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. 

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

AEW Hires Recently Departed WWE Senior Writer Jennifer Pepperman

Jennifer Pepperman was not out of the pro wrestling realm for long.

Pepperman just made her exit from WWE not even a week ago and now Soap Opera Network has discovered that Tony Khan has signed her to a new deal with AEW.

Pepperman was the longest-tenured female member of the creative team with WWE, being with the company since 2017 as she earned the role of Senior Writer. However, Pepperman’s recent exit was voluntary and not an internal choice. Now she will be announced as AEW’s new Vice President of Content Development.

The latest AEW hire also has “outside wrestling” creative cred, as she’s a three-time Emmy winner.

Tony Khan issued a statement, expressing his excitement for adding Pepperman into the mix.

“Adding Jennifer Pepperman’s brilliant mind to the AEW team opens the door for exciting new ideas and will help us build upon the incredible stories currently developing on the road to AEW Revolution across our three weekly shows on TBS and TNT, and the effects of Jennifer’s arrival in AEW will be felt for many years in the future. We’re thrilled to welcome her today, and I look forward to her creativity and collaboration with our team across the board in what will be AEW’s biggest year yet, and beyond.”

In the past, Khan has mentioned that he’s had a lot of talents involved in the creative process of developing the shows, but the addition of Pepperman marks the first official hire for a creative role with AEW.

SEScoops‘ own Aaron Varble reported on Feb 15th that the general belief within WWE was that Jennifer Pepperman already had a job lined up for her. We will have more updates as they are made available. 

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Tony Khan Calls This One Of The “Most Hectic” Weeks In AEW History

Tony Khan says AEW has weathered several storms this week and claims it hasn’t been this wild since the pandemic era.

Khan had some thoughts before Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite took place and only had two primary matches listed ahead of of the show with two other matches featuring Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo not having respective opponents. 

That may have been an early indicator of Khan’s laments about the week who posted the following on X before Dynamite blew up on Wednesday.

“Tonight’s #AEWDynamite, NEXT on TBS, will be presented with up to 5 minutes overrun! This has been one of the most hectic weeks for injuries + unexpected unavailability that I can recall in AEW, especially since the pandemic era. Tonight will be a wild night on TBS Network!”

Dynamite this week takes place in Tulsa, OK, but there is no word as to who Khan is referring to regarding injuries and unavailability. 

The two main matches listed for the program ahead of time was the headline trios match between Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage going against Hangman Page, HOOK and Rob Van Dam. The other match listed was Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli going up against FTR which opened up the show.

Toni Khan and Deonna Purrazzo were listed on the Dynamite graphic for singles matches, but were both listed as “in action” rather than an actual opponent.

Khan and AEW are no strangers to injuries affecting their match cards. Names like Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole and CM Punk getting hurt have drastically changed major matches in the past.

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Ric Flair Biopic Coming From The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions

Ric Flair has two WWE Hall of Fame rings for a reason. His landmark career broke boundaries and records for years. Now, fans should prepare themselves for a cinematic retelling of his life story. 

Upcoming Ric Flair Movie

The Wrap reports that the project will be produced by The Rock, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia, partnering with Misher Films’ Kevin Misher. Misher and Seven Bucks Productions had previously worked together on “Fighting With My Family,” a movie based on the life of Saraya, also known as WWE’s Paige.

The yet-to-be-named Ric Flair biopic will see The Nature Boy’s story told in a new way on the silver screen. While hyping this upcoming project, Dwayne Johnson said, “As a kid who grew up in professional wrestling, I idolized, ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. He was a hero to me.” He went on to really expand on The Nature Boy’s career

“He was a hero to me. And once I broke into the wrestling business and began to spill my own sweat and blood – my reverence for Ric turned to respect. Because I realized just how rare and impossible it is to disrupt the wrestling business, culture and truly change the game – and that’s exactly what Ric Flair did. This project is personal, and we can’t wait to tell his unbelievable story. As always, thank you for the house, Ric.”

What’s Next For Ric Flair

Ric Flair is known for his decades-long career, as he holds the record for being a 16-time World Champion. Now that he’s with AEW, Flair remains a captivating figure, no matter what he is doing on Tony Khan’s show.

Flair’s autobiography “To Be The Man…” is still a great read. He also co-wrote “Second Nature,” a second autobiography with his daughter, Charlotte Flair. Only time will tell what stories this new film picks to focus on, because Flair’s career could fill a docuseries by itself. 

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

Tony Khan Responds To O’Shea Jackson Jr’s Comments By Inviting Him to Discover the Diversity of Wrestling

AEW doesn’t have the same buzz that they did a few years ago, and that has resulted in a few heated discussions online. Tony Khan has often been known to throw fuel on the fire, which is an interesting look as company President. Now, he is replying to another recent controversy that was sparked by a Straight Outta Compton star.

AEW Fans Get O’Shea Jackson Jr’s Attention

O’Shea Jackson Jr has been speaking his mind on Twitter/X, and fans have also responded with a lot of aggression. He also spoke to Chris Van Vliet about his opinion on pro wrestling, and that stirred up a bit of backlash.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, O’Shea Jackson Jr. expressed his frustration, noting that while he understands some fans may be deeply entrenched in certain wrestling companies, but he feels there’s a lack of inclusivity for those who may not be as familiar. He emphasized the importance of informative storytelling within wrestling programming, similar to how UFC provides background on fighters before matches. O’Shea then highlighted the need for wrestling shows to engage viewers with compelling narratives, rather than solely relying on commentators to provide information while wrestlers make their entrances.

Ice Cube’s son also suggested that without this level of engagement, it’s easy for newcomers to pro wrestling to feel alienated, especially when met with backlash for asking questions. Ultimately, he stressed the importance of captivating storytelling to draw in a broader audience.

Tony Khan Responds

Tony Khan saw what O’Shea Jackson Jr. had to say, and he responded in kind. While taking to Twitter/X, Khan said that hopes that Jackson will check out wrestling in “wider circles” soon.

@OsheaJacksonJr You might enjoy checking out new experiences + entire worlds of international graps out there, I think learning about them is fun. All wrestling is awesome; I hope you enjoy whatever you like, + maybe someday you’ll be interested in wider circles!

What’s Next

Tony Khan received some negative feedback from fans after he posted that reply to O’Shea Jackson Jr. It will be interesting to see what is said next, but Jackson doesn’t seem willing to back down from his stance on the discussion.

Pro wrestling fans are very passionate about their favorite company, whether it is WWE, AEW, TNA, NJPW or anywhere else. It can also be a tough fandom to crack, because there is so much someone needs to know in order to really understand everything that is going on. Either way, the important part is that fans enjoy themselves and have fun.

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Daily Drop (2/21): WWE Descends On Perth, Shotzi Injury Fallout, Cash Wheeler Gun Charge

Welcome to a new feature we’re running here at SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top news and rumors in wrestling. It’s Wednesday, February 21, 2024 and we’ve got AEW Dynamite tonight from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Preview below).

The big item on our radar is Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event from Perth, Australia. 

Here are the special Elimination Chamber 2024 start times:

WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Start Times
  • WrestleMania Countdown: 45 days away

WWE

– Carlito turns 25 years old today. He was born February 21, 1979.

– We’ve added exclusive interviews with Bianca Belair and Omos to the SEScoops YouTube channel. These interviews were conducted at the WWE 2K24 media event that was held over Royal Rumble weekend.

– I exclusively reported WWE’s current booking plan for Omos. Now, fans will have to wait to see him on television again.

– Here’s footage of WWE talent arriving in Perth, Australia for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event:

– Shotzi Blackheart headed for surgery for a torn ACL. She will be back for a while, and WWE aired the episode of NXT where she was injured last night. She announced on Instagram that she’ll be out for around 9 months.

– The Rock is back wearing those ‘$500 shirts’ that he made famous during the Attitude Era. We wanted to know how much they’d cost in 2024. calculated the value of The Rock’s $500 shirts in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation. 

– Vanilla Ice (yes, THAT Vanilla Ice) bought Eddie Guerrero’s low rider car. He also got it for a steal.

– Natalya posted this incredible throwback photo on social media looking back at the first time she met Becky Lynch 20 years ago.

AEW News

– Here’s what’s on tap for tonight ‘s AEW Dynamite from Tulsa, Oklahoma:

  • Samoa Joe & Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage vs. Hook & “Hangman” Adam Page & RVD – Trios match
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. FTR
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm in singles match
  • Deonna Purrazzo in singles action

– Cash Wheeler’s gun charge is coming back to haunt him. Now, he will go to court and the charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.

– Jim Ross said that his broken hip is responding well to treatment. We’ll have to see how long it takes him to make a return to AEW television. 

Upcoming Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Jim Ross On His Recovery: ‘Broken Hip Responding Well’

AEW veteran commentator Jim Ross recently shared positive updates on his health.

Ross has been facing health issues recently but he has now disclosed that he’s making good progress in his recovery. ‘Good Ol’ JR has combated skin cancer multiple times. He first underwent a skin procedure in 2016 and after a couple of years he revealed that the cancer had been completely removed from his shoulder.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the WWE Hall of Famer was diagnosed with skin cancer again in October 2021. On December 29, of that year, he yet again shared a good news that he was cancer-free.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Jim Ross confirmed the news of his surgery on his right hip which was said to have gone well and he expressed gratitude to his fans for their support.

Jim Ross provides an update on his recovery

Recently, taking to his Twitter/X account, Jim Ross revealed that it was his first day out of the rehab facility and said he is improving daily. He went on to disclose that he was using a cane. However, his recovery is going well. He wrote:

“First full day on Jax Beach and out of the rehab facility! Using a cane for now. Improving daily. Broken hip responding well. Excited for my future with @AEW!” Ross tweeted.

Ross has been with AEW since 2019, after his controversial firing from WWE. He has lent his iconic voice to several memorable AEW matches. However, a concern remains for him as he is yet to pen a contract extension with the promotion. JR is willing to stay with AEW for a long time to come but he recently spoke about contract renewal being pending.

We at SEScoops wish Jim Ross a full and speedy recovery.

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW.

AEW Star Cash Wheeler Faces Trial for Alleged Firearm Assault

Cash Wheeler is facing the consequences of his gun charge as the prosecutor moves forward with legal proceedings. Now, he is headed to court as prosecutors have opted to pursue the case.

Cash Wheeler Going To Trial

Daniel Wheeler, also known as Cash Wheeler, faces one count of aggravated assault with a firearm following his arrest in 2023. A warrant for his arrest was issued on July 28, the day after the incident occurred on July 27. 

The FTR member already asserted his innocence through his attorney during his initial court appearance on August 3. All firearms belonging to Wheeler were mandated to be surrendered to the local sheriff’s department until the resolution of the case.

During a road rage incident, Wheeler purportedly brandished a firearm. His attorney emphasized that the altercation was not of a domestic nature and that Wheeler was not acquainted with the individuals involved. The charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.

According to court documents obtained by PW Insider, Wheeler was absent from his arraignment today. The trial is scheduled to commence on May 20th, with pre-trial proceedings set for May 7th, where Wheeler has been directed to attend.

What Happened During This Incident

On July 27, 2023, Orange County in Florida issued an incident report. Officer M. Bowhay arrived at the scene of an aggravated assault involving a firearm and interviewed the victim, Daniel Matta.

Matta claimed that Wheeler aimed a gun at him while both were driving on Interstate 4. After positively identifying Wheeler from a photo lineup, Matta’s statement resulted in the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm against Wheeler.

SEScoops is sending out our best for Cash Wheeler at this time. Hopefully, he can get this matter taken care of.

Posted February 20th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Rob Van Dam On Wrestling Samoa Joe 14 Years After Their First Meeting

It’s been almost a decade-and-a-half since Rob Van Dam first grappled up with Samoa Joe in TNA and now the roles are somewhat reversed this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.

RVD first wrestled Samoa Joe on the July 8, 2010 episode of TNA Impact. Back then, Van Dam was the World Heavyweight Champion of the promotion and he took on Samoa Joe in a non-title match main event. 

RVD came out victorious after he pulled a “Bret Hart to Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII” 1-2-3 when Joe had him in the Kokina Clutch, but Van Dam used the turnbuckle to flip over and pin the then “Samoan Suplex Machine.”

RVD on Working with Samoa Joe in 2010

On his latest “1 Of A Kind With RVD” podcast, Van Dam commented on that previous bout.

“Samoa Joe is awesome by the way, you know, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago to me having that match. So when you put the year in like that it makes sense, then it’s like, ‘Wow, okay.’ So I guess 14 years ago, that’s a pretty big chunk of time. You only get so many 14 [year] blocks of time in your life.”

Now this Wednesday RVD will tag up once again with HOOK and the wild card, Hangman Page as they take on Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage. However, this time, it’s Joe who’s the World Champion in this full-circle situation.

Does Van Dam Have His Eyes On AEW Gold?

RVD later makes note that he isn’t one to shy away from making firsts in pro wrestling and getting hold of the AEW “Big Platinum” isn’t something he’s ruling out of the cards forthcoming.

“So if I go after the AEW Championship, say I collect that f***ing gold and add that and become the only wrestler to have held the WWE, TNA, ECW and AEW Championship. I mean, I do s*** like that. I’m always finding new ways to stand out and be one of a kind. Imagine if that happened, how inspired people would be in general to think they grew up watching me decades ago. And then here at 53, they’re seeing me, perspectively, maybe having the best matches or the best year of my career.”

An AEW World Title match could certainly fit the bill for Rob Van Dam forthcoming as Mr. Monday Night is scheduled for Saturday night when AEW Collison takes place on 4/20.

Tune into “1 Of A Kind With RVD” every Monday at 4:20 PM ET at RVDTV.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Posted February 20th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Kenny Omega On How Wrestling Can Draw New Fans, Similarities to Gaming

All Elite Wrestling superstar Kenny Omega wants to bring more non-wrestling fans into the profession. He has been involved in the wrestling business for over 20 years, allowing him to understand how to build a fanbase. The former AEW World Champion believes that giving your program time and care is one of the key factors in bringing in a new audience to your company. 

In an interview with Gamespot’s Dave Jewitt, Omega shared his thoughts on the video game Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and how it can relate to wrestling. He believes wrestling shouldn’t be afraid to be creative and have fun like the video game. Omega’s philosophy is that wrestling fans will appreciate it and can bring a new audience to the profession.

“As a wrestler in 2024, you always think of new ways. How are we going to bring new fans in? How can we get a new fanbase,” said Omega. 

The former AEW World Champion explained that he believes wrestling should try to appeal to different people, whether it be age or culture. 

“…We want anyone to appreciate what we do as an art form, as a form of entertainment. Much like the Like A Dragon universe, it can be whatever you want it to be as long as you give it a proper introduction, explain it, and have fun with it,” said Omega. 

He added, “…That’s sort of my take on wrestling and clearly that sort of like the take on this game where if you put time and care into everything that you do, you’ll get the appreciation back. People will have fun with it.”

Update On Kenny Omega 

Omega is currently out of action as he looks to recover from diverticulitis. He had initially thought that it was a hernia until he went to the hospital on December 15, 2023. The AEW superstar revealed on Twitter after his diagnosis that he would be out of action for an indefinite amount of time.

 AEW President Tony Khan shared in a recent interview with Sports Grid that Omega is doing better than before. However, he is still far from making a return and hopes he makes a full recovery. 

It’s expected Omega will take his time to heal before he steps back into a ring. Although it’s unfortunate that ‘The Best Bout Machine’ could be out for most of the year, it should be encouraging that he looks in good shape and spirits during his interview. 

Posted February 20th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

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