Tony Khan promised a big announcement during the February 7th episode of AEW Dynamite. He did just that, as they are taking Big Business to Boston.

Tony Khan’s Big Announcement

During AEW Dynamite this week, Tony Khan appeared to make a big announcement. He revealed an upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite will be a massive night for his company.

Tony Khan revealed that AEW Dynamite is going to Boston on March 13. The night will have a special name, as they will call it Big Business.

“Big Business is going to be one of the most important nights in AEW and a night the entire pro wrestling industry is going to remember.”

As announced by #AEW CEO & GM @TonyKhan, #AEW returns to @TDGarden in Boston, MA on Wednesday, March 13th, with #AEWDynamite: BIG BUSINESS on @TBSNetwork!
Tickets go on sale THIS SATURDAY 2/10 at 10am ET at https://t.co/UN1cNj1kQq! pic.twitter.com/xWmp2CE93a

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 8, 2024

What’s Next

It was previously reported that Boston’s TD Garden arena is set to host AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. This came before Tony Khan announced a date. Ticketmaster already established a page for the general public on-sale, scheduled for Saturday, February 10 at 10 am EST. Additionally, the TD Garden has created a Facebook Event for Dynamite on March 13.

Of course, Mercedes Mone is from Boston. So, her arrival in the company is almost a guarantee for that big night. SE Scoops will have more updates as they are available. 

Boston’s TD Garden arena will host AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. 

AEW has yet to announce this date, but Ticketmaster has already has a page set up for the general public on-sale, scheduled for this Saturday, February 10 at 10am EST. The TD Garden also created a Facebook Event for Dynamite on 3/13.

AEW President Tony Khan is set to make one of his big announcements tonight on Dynamite. This announcement was reportedly set to be made a few weeks ago, but was reportedly delayed for a very good reason.

TD Garden is one of the largest NBA arenas in the country. It has a maximum capacity north of 19,000. 

AEW first ran the arena last summer. According to Wrestletix, 8,945 tickets were distributed for Dynamite: Blood & Guts on July 19, 2023.

Ticket sales have been lukewarm in recent months, so they’ll need a major attraction to make this show a success on short notice. If anything spikes interest with wrestling fans, it’s a debut.

There’s several A-list free agent ready to make an impact, including Kazuchika Okada, Mustafa Ali, Mandy Rose, Ronda Rousey, Alex Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu and more.

Mercedes Mone AEW Debut

There’s also Boston’s own Mercedes Moné. The wrestler, actor and entrepreneur formerly known as Sasha Banks is right up there with the most valuable free agents out there, along with Okada. 

WWE and AEW executives have publicly expressed interest in working with Moné, who enjoys unprecedented leverage in her negotiations (thanks, competition!). We know she’s had talks with both companies.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful and Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast, two of wrestling media’s most reliable insiders, have reported that Moné is AEW-bound.

Based on all of these factors, it does appear that Mercedes Moné’s AEW Debut will take place on the March 13 Dynamite from Boston. 

We’ll have coverage of Tony Khan’s latest big announcement here at SEScoops later tonight.

Oh it feels good when executing a vision.

— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) February 6, 2024

AEW President Tony Khan recently announced on social media that this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite will have an overrun. 

On February 6, AEW CEO Tony Khan took to Twitter/X to hype up the fans for the February 7 edition of AEW Dynamite. In the post, he announced the card and revealed that the show would have an overrun. However, it is not known how long the overrun will be.

The announced card for the February 7 episode of AEW Dynamite is below.

• Tony Khan has a big announcement
• Tornado Tag Team Match for AEW Tag Team Championships: Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c) vs. Sting & Darby Allin
• Winner Receives AEW World Title Match At Revolution: Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page
• Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita
• Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Bryan Danielson) vs. Mascara Dorada, Hechicero, & Volador Jr.
• AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm vs. Red Velvet (Deonna Purrazzo on commentary)

Fans are buzzing as Tony Khan has been slated to make a massive announcement on this week’s AEW Dynamite. Last week, it was revealed that Khan would be making an announcement. Ever since AEW fans have been excited as to what would be the major announcement.

Some of the fans are speculating that it could be confirmation that NJPW star Mercedes Mone has inked a dealwith AEW. Khan is expected to rope in Mercedes Mone after talks with WWE broke down over money. 

Meanwhile, other fans believe that it will be the announcement of new AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. 

We will have to wait and see what Tony Khan has in store for the fans.

WWE has their eyes on the entire pro wrestling world, but they aren’t bringing everyone in who is on the free agent list. Although there were reports that Kamille is going to WWE, it appears that she is closer to becoming All Elite.

AEW May Snipe Kamille From WWE

WWE seems to have missed the opportunity to sign Kamille, who is a notable talent that might be heading to All Elite Wrestling as they aim to enhance their women’s division. This comes as a bit of a surprise, because reports were that she was WWE bound.

Kamille was a regular in the NWA since October 2018. She was expected to join WWE and possibly work in NXT. However, she was spotted backstage at the January 18th Dynamite event, sparking speculation about a potential move to AEW. 

According to PW Insider, the former NWA Women’s Champion is no longer anticipated to join WWE, despite past offers for an NXT deal. Discussions seem to have stalled, and she is reportedly engaged in “deep discussions” with AEW.

Why Kamille May Pick AEW over WWE

A move to AEW for her is seen as a more promising destination for Kamille. Joining AEW could also align with her ambition to pursue acting. It would also give her more freedom on her schedule.

We have no idea how much more Tony Khan is offering someone like Kamille to come in. Mercedes Mone is also rumored to be making her AEW debut very soon, and Khan was able to make that happen after WWE’s talks with the former Sasha Banks hit a financial roadblock.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story. Keep checking back for more updates as they are made available. 

AEW star Saraya recently showed her wrestling prowess outside the ring during a recent NBA game on Tuesday night.

Saraya is certainly one of the most popular stars of AEW. She has shown incredible in-ring prowess over the years. But this time around, she displayed her power outside the ring.

The former Paige made an appearance during an NBA game between Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. In a video clip that has emerged on social media, Saraya could be seen having a fun time slamming The Suns’ mascot, Go the Gorilla.

Go the Gorilla is one of the most famous mascots in the NBA. Making his debut in 1988, he has become one of the most well-known mascots in the league. His wild antics and dance moves are renowned to get the fans excited for the game and to entertain them. He is an essential element of the culture and identity of the Phoenix Suns. Before becoming the official mascot of the Phoenix Suns, he would frequently make guest appearances during games to amuse the audience.

Saraya suplexes Go The Gorilla 

A video clip on Twitter/X saw Saraya on the court during the match alongside the Suns mascot. The Outcasts leader could be seen kicking the mascot before hitting a snap suplex on him. However, the mascot no-sold the move and they hugged it out following the sequence. 

Saraya took out the Suns mascot ? pic.twitter.com/lWDILDdX1O

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) February 7, 2024

Saraya is currently leading The Outcasts having Ruby Soho and Harley Cameron by her side. The British star last competed on the Homecoming edition of AEW Dynamite when she teamed up with Ruby Soho, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue to face Anna Jay, Kris Statlander, Thunder Rosa & Willow Nightingale in a losing effort. 

Cash Wheeler’s gun charge is coming back to haunt him, because the prosecutor has decided to move forward with the legal process.

Cash Wheeler is Facing Charges

Prosecutors in Orange County, Florida are proceeding with criminal charges against AEW star Daniel “Cash” Wheeler, according to PW Insider.

Wheeler was arrested in August 2023 after a warrant for his arrest was issued on July 28, 2023. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm through his attorney with the circuit court of Orange County, Florida on August 3, 2023. Wheeler surrendered himself on August 17, 2023, and was arraigned the following day.

During the arraignment, the prosecution stated that the July 2023 incident leading to Wheeler’s arrest was believed to be a road rage incident, alleging that Wheeler flashed a gun at the other party. Wheeler’s attorney stated during the arraignment that he did not know the other party involved. The term “victims” was used during the proceedings.

More Background About The Case

There had been little progress on the case since the initial arraignment, but on February 1, a decision was made to move forward with the charges. Under Florida law, a conviction for aggravated assault with a firearm could result in up to five years’ imprisonment, five years’ probation, and a $5,000 fine.

A hearing is scheduled for February 20, listed as an arraignment, despite Wheeler having previously been arraigned.

An incident report dated July 27, 2023, was released by Orange County in Florida. Officer M. Bowhay responded to the scene of the aggravated assault with a firearm call and spoke to the victim, Daniel Matta. 

Matta provided a statement alleging that Wheeler pointed a gun at him while driving on Interstate 4. Matta identified Wheeler from a photo lineup with 100% certainty, leading to the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm against Wheeler.

SE Scoops will have more information on this story as additional information is made available. 

A lawsuit by Anthony D. Wilson, who has accused WWE & AEW multiple times of plagiarism, has been officially served against both promotions. 

The lawsuit was previously dismissed in November of last year after neither WWE nor AEW had been served within 90 days of the lawsuit being filed. At the time, it was clarified that the suit was dismissed without prejudice, which meant that Wilson could re-file and attempt to move the case forward if he chose to.

Latest On The WWE/AEW Lawsuit

The lawsuit has now been served upon both wrestling promotions, according to recent court records. AEW has received permission from the court to extend their time to respond and must do so by February 23. WWE has been granted permission to respond by March 7. 

The Lawsuit

In a hand-written suit rife with spelling errors, Wilson claimed that both companies engaged in “plagiarism, market damages, product damages, personal damages, and financial damages.”

Wilson claimed that WWE had “used my creative works without permission, infringing on my wrestling gimmicks, names, slogans and likeness.” He did not give a specific example of an idea that was used by WWE without his blessing.

As for AEW, Wilson alleged that he had talked with Bullet Club members to join him and that the plan of starting a wrestling company was his plan. Wilson again did not provide clarification but stated that the Bullet Club members stole his plans to create AEW. 

Wilson was seeking $250,000,000 in damages as well as control of AEW in addition to a public apology. From WWE, Wilson was seeking stock for his freelance work as well as a WWE board chair. He also sought the ‘return’ of “all ships and plunder.”

Mark Henry is a WWE Hall of Famer, and he’s very proud of his body of work in the ring. Now, it is his son’s turn to get the spotlight, but he’s doing so under the bright lights in Boomer Sooner Country.

Jacob Henry Is A Boomer Sooner

Jacob Henry, son of Mark Henry, has announced his commitment to wrestle for the University of Oklahoma. He boasts an impressive high school athletic background. Prior to his senior season.

Jacob Henry’s High School Career

Jacob Henry attended Austin (Texas) Lake Travis, participating in wrestling, football as well as track and field. During his junior year, he achieved notable shot put throws of 50-7 and 50-6, securing a top-four finish in the Texas 6A 285-pound weight class. In his sophomore and freshman years, he consistently demonstrated strength with shot put throws ranging from 48-10.5 to 49-8.

On the gridiron, Jacob Henry showcased his domination in the 2022 football season at Lake Travis. He concluded the junior season with impressive stats, tallying 46 tackles, 4 tackles for loss (TFL), 2 sacks, and 6 quarterback hurries. In his sophomore year, he recorded 28 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 QB hurries. This solid performance reflects his skill and impact on the wrestling mat.

Jacob Henry has a wrestling record of 50 wins and 6 losses, with 36 pins, 3 tech falls, and 1 major decision. His rank value is 1.04 as of January 31, 2024, and these stats cover the period since February 4, 2023.

AGTG ?? There’s Only One ?? #Boomer #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/J3mOKZNLJF

— Jacob Henry (@TheJacobHenry_) February 4, 2024

Jacob Henry’s connections extend to his father, Mark Henry, a former professional weightlifter and one-time World’s Strongest Man. Mark Henry is still employed with AEW, and he has a gig on Busted Open Radio.

Naturally, this gives Jacob Henry an edge over many. Obviously, Jacob Henry is destined for great things, and he’s doing it in Oklahoma. Jim Ross must be very happy about this announcement.

Response Over the Jacob Henry News

Mark Henry reacted on Twitter/X to say: “I am beyond proud of you Jacob. I know that nobody will work harder than you. Now you can add the University of Oklahoma fanbase as family. First honor God, then the Henry name, now the school that you represent. Hookem! and Go Boomer Sooner!”

He then proceeded to flood his timeline with an Instagram link to his son’s big announcement, replying to a variety of random tweets for the next hour or so. Obviously, the World’s Strongest Man is incredibly proud.

I am beyond proud of you Jacob. I know that nobody will work harder than you. Now you can add the University of Oklahoma fanbase as family. First honor God, then the Henry name, now the school that you represent. Hookem! and Go Boomer Sooner! https://t.co/G2Cll9nXxl

— TheMarkHenry (@TheMarkHenry) February 4, 2024

Big E replied to this announcement to say, “Maaaaaan. Thrilled for you, Jacob! Been so beautiful to watch your ascent.” Jacob has a cheering section that is certain to grow by leaps and bounds very soon.

Maaaaaan. Thrilled for you, Jacob! Been so beautiful to watch your ascent.

— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) February 4, 2024

Swerve Strickland also commented to remark, “Let’s go,” as Matt Cardona also sent his congratulations to Mark Henry’s son over this big announcement.

LET’S GO

— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) February 4, 2024

Chris Jericho’s career is not limited to the pro wrestling ring. He is known for stepping on a stage and rocking out with Fozzy, but he has also landed a few acting gigs in the past. Now, he has another role outside AEW.

Chris Jericho’s New Acting Gig

Deadline reports that Chris Jericho is embarking on a new project, teaming up with The Walking Dead author Jay Bonansinga for the psychological thriller “Self Storage.” The film is based on Bonansinga’s 2016 novel of the same name. Lew Temple is featured as the lead character, John Fitzgerald, but Jericho also has a part in the project in a supporting role.

The movie revolves around a heroin-addicted father and his son accidentally locking themselves inside a self-storage unit. Their survival hinges on a battle with demons, both real and manufactured by drug withdrawal.

Bonansinga is known for directing the short films “City of Men” and “Stash,” will take on the director’s role, working from the script he also wrote. The movie is set to be executive produced by Jericho’s Babyface Assassin Productions, alongside Bonansinga, Jeff Siegel for Delirium Tremens, and Jason Cherubini for Dawn’s Light.

Chris Jericho’s Previous Acting Experience

Jericho has previously starred in productions like “Country Hearts Christmas” and “Terrifier 2.” We also cannot forget how he played a klansman in the “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.”

In addition to his film ventures, the former AEW World Heavyweight Champion is still a full-time wrestler. He is currently scheduled to wrestle Konosuke Takeshita on the upcoming episode of Dynamite.

Allegations Against Chris Jericho

Although the controversy has somewhat faded, due to Vince McMahon’s scandal taking every headline for weeks, Jericho just came out of his own scandal. He was called out for having NDAs signed to keep stories out of the public, and then allegations involving Kylie Rae surfaced. The former AEW star added fuel to the fire by reacting to one tweet concerning those allegations.

Swerve Strickland showed his appreciation to some of the exceptional black wrestlers who helped shape his career on this week’s episode of AEW Collision. 

February is Black History Month, in which the accomplishments of black individuals are recognised, as they have often been overlooked in the past. AEW features some excellent black wrestlers on its roster, including Jay Lethal, The Acclaimed, Marq Quen, Keith Lee, and Lee Moriarty, to name just a few. 

Swerve Strickland on Black History Month

On this week’s episode of AEW Collision, Strickland addressed Black History Month during an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. Strickland referred to some of the black wrestlers who have inspired him and didn’t let his credit be reserved to just one promotion. 

“Black History [Month], the celebration of the achievement of black people in all industries. All avenues, all walks of life, right?  Yeah, I’m noble enough to really show appreciation and recognize all the people who paved the way for me to have the opportunity to stand [in this ring] right here, right now and talk to you [Tony Schiavone.]

“People you may know, such as a Ron Simmons. How about I shout out my friends who made Black history, you know, like a Kofi Kingston? What up Kof! And how about we keep it in house a little bit? We talk about some of the people that’s been one of the best wrestlers on the planet? Holding down a brand, for well over a year now, whoopin’ ass! I’m talking about the Ring of Honor Women’s [World] Champion Athena. What up sis?”

From @TrueKofi to @AthenaPalmer_FG to @swerveconfident. Respect. #AEWCollision #AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/CHS5HNihTG

— TDE Wrestling (@tde_gif) February 4, 2024

Swerve Strickland hasn’t only been inspired by Black wrestlers… 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Sometimes, you just got to “let it go” and that’s what one AEW star decided to do with his hairdo.

Ariya Daivari decided to part ways with his hairline this week and decided to share his shave-off on social media. Davairi showed it all go down on Instagram through a time-lapse video to the music of “Let It Go” from Frozen, but did provide a little caveat to the song choice.

“Welp…BTW, I’ve never seen Frozen. ‘Let It Go’ was the only lyric I knew. This wasn’t meant to be some empowering post lol. S***’s not that big of deal.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C2254oFvJQB

Ariya follows in the footsteps of his older brother Shawn Daivari who too once had a full head of hair before going the “Stone Cold” route. Ariya got a fair share of responses from his pro wrestling comrades with Matt Cardona simply calling him a “quitter” while others like Savio Vega and Brian Cage were a little more supportive.

However, Daivari may have inspired further change as it got recent TNA debutee and fellow 205 Live alum, Mustafa Ali considering the clippers himself responding in the replies with a simple statement.

“Might do the same soon.”

Drew Gulak actually wanted Ariya to go the extra mile and pull a Sean Waltman rib on himself telling him to “Now do the eyebrows.”

Davairi has been with AEW for over two years now and now works as a wrestler, producer and coach for the company. Meanwhile, his brother Shawn serves as a producer for WWE.

The head shaving hasn’t just been solely on the men in pro wrestling. Months ago before getting married, Shotzi also happened to shave her head as well.

Brandi Rhodes has been busy since departing from the pro wrestling world. As wife of Cody Rhodes, she will always be a part of the business, and today she had quite a statement to make.

Brandi Rhodes Makes Bold Statement

The pro wrestling world can be a difficult place to operate at time, and women in the industry have faced certain struggles time and time again. Although not all stories need to be detailed, it is apparent that Brandi Rhodes went through a lot in the pro wrestling business. 

Brandi shared that during her time in wrestling, a few individuals made things unnecessarily difficult for her. However, she expressed having no joy in learning about the karma they have faced. She then used that statement to provide her daughter with an example of what a lie is.

“There were a handful of legit idiots who made my time in wrestling harder than it needed to be. But when I hear of the cold dishes of karma they’ve been served, it gives me absolutely no pleasure.

(This was me giving my daughter an example of what a bold faced lie is).”

There were a handful of legit idiots who made my time in wrestling harder than it needed to be. But when I hear of the cold dishes of karma they've been served, it gives me absolutely no pleasure.

(This was me giving my daughter an example of what a bold faced lie is).

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 2, 2024

Recent Allegations in Pro Wrestling

Although it has not been confirmed who Brandi is talking about in this post, there is a lot of karma getting cashed in throughout the pro wrestling business. Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis were both called out in an earth-shattering lawsuit from Janel Grant, one that caused McMahon to resign from WWE.

Brandi Rhodes’ Career In Pro Wrestling

Brandi Rhodes started her wrestling journey as a WWE ring announcer under the name Eden Stiles. She met Cody Rhodes during that time in her life. However, she departed from WWE in 2016, around the same time that Cody left the company in the middle of his Stardust run.

The pair then took off to tackle a global wrestling journey, showcasing their talents in various promotions, eventually landing in AEW. Cody and Brandi left AEW in 2022, and then the American Nightmare returned to WWE.

Although Brandi has not signed with any pro wrestling company since, she has been busy. She opened up a yoga studio, NakedMind, in Roswell, Georgia.

The pro wrestling world has a few interesting free agents, but Mercedes Mone may have already quietly signed a deal with AEW. It was previously reported that some within the company believe a deal is done. It is all about waiting for the right time to make the big announcement.

Mercedes Mone’s Next Move

Tony Khan has an announcement planned for next week’s AEW Dynamite. Many are under the assumption that he will reveal a big signing, possibly Mone.

Mercedes Mone and WWE were reportedly discussing a deal, but they ran into a financial roadblock. Now, all signs point to the former Sasha Banks debuting for AEW.

Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW actually planned to drop their first tease for Mercedes Mone’s debut this week. That was pushed back due to the Vince McMahon news that dominated the news cycle.

The plan is to make a big deal out of Mercedes Mone debut. At one point the plan was to announce it this past weekend, or at least tease it, but it was moved back. The reason given was not wanting to announce it this week given all the far bigger news that came out and that people wouldn’t be focusing on it at all

What’s Next

AEW has one chance to debut Mercedes Mone, and they want to make it count. She could do a lot of good for Tony Khan’s company, but they need to make sure that everything is considered before making that first big move.

It will be interesting to see how AEW inserts Mone into their women’s division. Currently, Toni Storm and Deonna Purrazzo are engaged in a feud for their Women’s World Title. 

SE Scoops will have more updates on Mercedes Mone’s status with AEW. It appears that she is on her way, but Tony Khan needed to change his plan a bit due to the current circumstances.

WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has alerted both WWE and AEW that former MLW National Openweight Champion Jacob Fatu is a free agent.

Fatu gained massive recognition for his tenure in Major League Wrestling (MLW) and his association with the faction CONTRA Unit. He is a former MLW World Heavyweight Champion. His in-ring style combines power, agility, and high-flying moves and those traits make him a dynamic performer.

Jacob recently made New Japan Pro Wrestling appearance at the Battle in the Valley where he teamed with Fred Rosser and Shota Umino and defeated Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor.)

As his last name suggests, he belongs to the Anoa’i wrestling family, which includes legends such as Yokozuna, Umaga, and The Rock. Recently, Roman Reigns-led The Bloodline stable has been unstoppable and represents the family in WWE. Well, given Jacob’s free-agent status, his next move is still a mystery. Rikishi has now put both WWE and AEW on notice after Jacob Fatu ended his five-year run with MLW.

Rikishi believes Jacob Fatu is “ready”

Taking to Twitter/X, Rikishi has said that Jacob Fatu “has been the baddest talented Indy worker on the scene” and that “Its TIME.” He then raised the question as to whether AEW or WWE would bag the signing of the Samoan superstar. 

JACOB FATU @SAMOANWEREWOLF
If you know then you know .

Has been The baddest talented Indy worker on the scene . Its TIME

Who will sign him @wwe or @aew ??

He’s been READY . The @SamoanDynasty1 ??? #LetTheWolfEAT pic.twitter.com/vh5yuBK631

— RIKISHI FATU (@TheREALRIKISHI) February 2, 2024

Fans and promotions alike have their eyes on Jacob Fatu as a potential future star in major wrestling companies like WWE and AEW with his reputation steadily growing. He possesses the potential to dominate the wrestling world and he remains a compelling figure in the industry.

There is a huge chance that he could make a move to WWE. It is something that he has been vocal about in the past, more specifically about joining The Bloodline could bolster the stable.

We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Jacob Fatu.

AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is doing well after undergoing cancer surgery this week. 

Taking to Twitter, the AEW broadcaster confirmed the news of his surgery, which took place on his right hip, JR said that all went well and thanked everyone for their support. 

Had cancer surgery this morning on my right hip.
All went well.

Thanks for all your love & support! ??

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) February 2, 2024

In the comments, several names from the world of professional wrestling shared their best wishes with the wrestling commentary legend. Former AEW wrestler Joey Janela encouraged JR to “feel better” while Rob Van Dam, who appeared on this week’s Dynamite, shared a hands in prayer emoji. Chris Van Vliet of the popular Insight podcast added that he was wishing Jim a very speedy recovery. 

Ross’ current contract with All Elite Wrestling expires on February 14th. He’s been very open about wanting to re-sign so he can “finish up his career in AEW.”

JR’s Cancer Battle

JR has battled skin cancer multiple times in his life. He first underwent a skin procedure in 2016 and two years later, shared that the cancer had been completely removed from his shoulder. The WWE Hall of Famer was diagnosed with skin cancer again in October 2021. After this diagnosis, Bret Hart, who has battled and beaten cancer himself, was one of the first people to reach out to Ross. On December 29, of that year, he would share the news that he was cancer free.

We here at SE Scoops would like to wish Jim Ross a full and speedy recovery.

Kazuchika Okada’s next move in the pro wrestling world will be a very important one for his career. He has left NJPW, as his contract is now officially over. Now, he has to make a decision about where he is going next, and there are two big options on the table for him.

Kazuchika Okada’s Big Decision Between WWE & AEW

Okada has been on WWE’s radar for a very long time, but AEW also wants him. At this point, it appears that Tony Khan is also offering him a bigger contract.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that the impression is that AEW offered Okada more money than WWE did. It is likely WWE’s opinion at this time that, while their offer may be lower, if the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion wants to join them, then he will.

“The impression I got is AEW has the higher offer, and WWE is going with the idea that if Okada wants to come to WWE, he’ll come to WWE.”

“Basically, it depends on what Okada’s goal is right now in life. If his goal is to have the most worldwide exposure at this point in his career, then WWE’s the place to go. To build up a name, WWE’s the place to go. To make the most money possible, AEW’s the place to go. If it’s to have the best matches possible, AEW’s the place to go. If it’s to have the best schedule, AEW’s the place to go. It’s whatever he wants.

WWE vs AEW for Okada

Okada has a serious choice to make about his future. It was further stated that if his objective is achieving fame, then WWE may be the right way to go. However, if the aim is financial success, then AEW has more money on the table. 

When considering the impact on his body and seeking the easiest option, the decision becomes debatable. In the context of AEW, it involves a more demanding wrestling style with potentially fewer matches, making it a challenging prospect, but uncertainties remain. WWE may want Okada to wrestle more often, but they won’t be requiring epic matches from him each time.

There is also the matter of which company would push him more. The decision-making process for Okada is anticipated to conclude shortly.

“If the thing is where you’re likely gonna be pushed more, generally speaking, if one company offers you more than the other, generally that means that they have a higher opinion of you and will probably push you harder. So if you’re looking for where you’re most likely gonna get the best push, probably AEW.

SE Scoops will have more coverage of Okada’s decision about his pro wrestling future. He will sign with another company, because he is years away from considering retirement at this point. The 36-year-old megastar has a huge decision ahead of him.

AEW President Tony Khan will have something big to share with fans during next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. 

On this week’s episode of Dynamite, it was quietly shared that Khan will make a “big announcement” on the upcoming show. No details were given as to what this announcement will entail. 

Oh! ???? #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/4wcGrdzzAo

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) February 1, 2024

Fans have already been speculating about what Khan’s announcement could be. Some believe it could be confirmation that Mercedes Mone has signed with AEW. Khan is expected to land Mone after talks with WWE broke down over money.  Some fans have suggested it will be the announcement of new AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. Some more cynical fans have suggested the announcement will be that an announcement will be made at AEW Revolution next month, poking fun at Khan’s perchance for announcing plans. 

Tony Khan’s Big Announcements

This won’t be the first time Khan has had an announcement lined up, and it likely won’t be the last. Previous announcements include the reveal of All In in London, as well as the announcement of the date tickets go on sale for this year’s show.

Khan was also on hand to announce the launch of Collision, and the post-suspension return of CM Punk. The AEW Continental Classic was also announced by Khan, as have other important aspects of the product. 

AEW Dynamite – February 7

Khan’s announcement isn’t the only confirmed news for next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The show will also see Chris Jericho face off against Don Callis family member Konosuke Takeshita. 

Sting and Darby Allin will challenge Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. With Sting’s career ending at Revolution on March 5, this could likely be the final championship opportunity for the Icon. The February 7, episode of AEW Dynamite will take place in Phoenix, Arizona. 

News of this announcement comes mere days after a previous announcement by Tony Khan… 

The Undisputed Kingdom’s Wardlow has provided an update after concerns that he suffered an injury during this week’s episode of Dynamite.

Wardlow was accompanied by his faction allies for his match with Komander, and this wasn’t the typical squash match we’ve seen from Mr. Mayhem in the past. 

When Wardlow set Komander up for a powerbomb, however, he staggered and it seemed like his right knee had given in. Wardlow was able to hit the move but still seemed to be in pain. Post-match, he appeared bothered by the knee and was slightly limping while muttering to himself. 

Fkkkkkkk

You can CLEARLY see Wardlow was visibly upset

Hope it’s nothing serious ?? pic.twitter.com/FTcAMtkZA0

— Dorby Allen (@DorbyAllen) February 1, 2024

Wardlow Gives An Update

Taking to Twitter after his match, Wardlow said that while a normal man’s knee would be destroyed by the match, he is anything but normal. Wardlow (who was called Mr. Wardlow by the announcer during Dynamite, added that he remains committed to winning the AEW World Championship, before reiterating that his knee is fine. 

A normal man’s knee would be ruined. I’m no normal man. I’m still coming for the heavyweight title. And there’s nothing and no one that can stop me. Knee is just fine ? #AEWDynamite

— Wardlow (@RealWardlow) February 1, 2024

Wardlow’s Previous Injury

Wardlow was lucky to avoid a serious injury on this week’s Dynamite, but that hasn’t always been the case for the three-time TNT Champion. In January of last year, it was reported that Wardlow had suffered an injury, though specifics were not given. Due to the injury, Wardlow wouldn’t wrestle on AEW programming for over two months before making his return to the ring at Revolution 2023, where he won the TNT Championship from Samoa Joe. His reign would end days later when he lost the title to Powerhouse Hobbs. 

Could Wardlow’s career benefit from a change of scenery when the time is right… 

You never know who will show up at an AEW event, and this week is no exception. AEW Dynamite is in New Orleans this week, and they had a very special guest around.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Is Absolutely All Elite

Gypsy Rose Blanchard continues to show off her interest for pro wrestling. An All In poster was spotted at her house, as seen in a Christmas photo, and now it seems that she is getting to know one top star on Tony Khan’s roster.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is coming to the defense of her hubby Ryan Scott Anderson, calling out all of his detractors for being jealous the two
are:

“having hot sex every night!”
TMZ Reports. #GypsyRose ?? pic.twitter.com/GNIplnYSjP

— popbrains (@popbrains) January 3, 2024

It looks like Gypsy attended AEW Dynamite, and she got a VIP treatment. She posted a photo with Ricky Starks, who had the AEW World Tag Team Title in his hand, as they posed for an Absolute photo-op.

Absolute! pic.twitter.com/RBuRGu5hdz

— Ricky Saints (@starkmanjones) February 1, 2024

Gypsy was released early from prison on December 28th after serving seven years for the second-degree murder charge of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. The Gypsy Rose Blanchard case attracted widespread attention due to the complex and unusual circumstances surrounding her mother’s murder. It resulted in several documentaries and an adaptation of her life story as a Hulu miniseries titled “The Act.”

Other Pro Wrestling Connection With Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Following her parole approval earlier this year, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, she had a very interesting ride on her way to freedom. 

After she served seven years for her involvement in her mother’s killing, Gypsy Rose was retrieved by her new husband. The car he drove was rocked a wrestling-themed Bret Hart license plate bearing the inscription “HITMAN.”

This Hitman connection made headlines, due to the circumstances around her mother’s death. However, pro wrestling cans can’t help but wonder if the connections inside our bubble will continue as Gypsy starts making more public appearances. 

Samoa Joe doesn’t tend to walk away from a fight, but from a high-flyer? Sign him up. During a recent interview with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated, Joe was asked about a notorious spot he’s done in matches since his early days in the ring.

Whenever an opponent climbs the top rope and goes for an aerial assault, he casually walks out of the vicinity of the attack and leaves his foe looking foolish. Joe gave some common sense reasoning as to why he’s implemented such a magical moment in the ring.

“As a small youth in my younger days, if I saw something large or very destructive coming toward me, it was only natural to step aside,” said Joe. “It’s not rocket science.”

Joe says the inspiration behind the fan favorite spot draws from the early days of mankind.

“The cavemen understood this, too,” said Joe. “If you see a rock coming toward you from the top of the hill, move a little to the left.”

While he’s done the “nope” countless times in matches, a recent moment in AEW went viral during a squash match where Joe walked away and the talent was caught mid-air with a “WTF” expression on his face. 

It’s not just enhancement talent who falls prey to Joe’s “walk away.” CM Punk became just another victim of Joe’s casual decision-making during his AEW matches with his long-time rival.

Just two weeks ago, Samoa Joe had his first successful title defense when he choked out Hook in the main event of AEW Dynamite.

Adam Copeland may be at odds with Christian Cage on AEW television, but the former Edge appreciates what his best buddy is doing.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Copeland commented on Cage’s run as an ultimate heel and noted why the current TNT Champion is so good at what he does.

“He does this so well because he wants to be one,” said Copeland. “Somewhere along the way, that’s got lost. Heels became cooler than the babyface. That’s not how it should be. That’s not how he sees it, either. I mean, the man wears a cut-off turtleneck. There’s nothing cool about what he’s doing. 

“He’s fully committed to it. He’s a Bond villain and loving it. It’s fun to be involved with.”

Copeland finally crossed pathes with Cage not just on AEW Dynamite but World’s End where the WWE Hall Of Famer actually defeated Cage for the TNT Championship, but quickly lost it back to Killswitch, who won a battle royal earlier in the evening. The belt went back to Cage who continues his heelish run.

Adam Copeland On AEW Being Different: “I Want More Choices”

When it comes to AEW being an alternative than WWE, Copeland pulled from his own fandom as a kid and getting access to different territories in wrestling.

“I remember growing up and dying to be able to get my hands on NWA tapes. It didn’t air where I lived, where there was WWF. I found International Wrestling from Montreal. I found All Star Wrestling from Vancouver. I found all these other shows, and I loved that. I’d get little snippets of guys I’d only seen in magazines. Then the show Pro Wrestling Plus with Ed Whalen, who was the announcer for Stampede, started, and I finally got to see wrestlers from the NWA and Continental. I just thought, give it all to me.”

All Elite Wrestling superstar Ricky Starks thinks fondly of his highly praised No Disqualification Strap Match with Bryan Danielson at AEW All Out on September 3, 2022. Fans loved the match, and Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer awarded him five stars.  

In an interview with Forbes, Starks gives his perspective on his brutal contest against ‘The American Dragon.’ Admittedly, the AEW Tag Team Champion didn’t expect the overwhelmingly positive reaction he received for his match. 

Forbes’ Blake Oestriecher transcribed the following quotes. 

“It was cool that people reacted the way they did. I was blown away by it because I didn’t expect that type of reaction,” said Starks. He continued,  “It was nice that someone thought highly enough to give it that rating. I thought that was pretty cool.”

While Starks took on Danielson at the event, the company was building towards CM Punk being his challenger. However, the company fired CM Punk due to a backstage incident ahead of the event, and they decided to pivot to Danielson as Stark’s opponent at AEW All Out. 

Starks shared in the interview that he felt unsure of himself ahead of the Danielson match and why his match at AEW All Out was important to him. 

“It was really a very therapeutic type of match for me,” said Starks. He explained, “My confidence had wavered up until that point just a little bit, and that really made me think, alright, this is where things start to pick up. Talk about putting the company on my shoulders and wanting to be the man, and I think I proved it.”

Ricky Starks On Being Praised By Bryan Danielson After Their Match

Although fans praised the match, the biggest compliment came from Danielson. After their match at AEW All Out, ‘The American Dragon’ credited Starks for his efforts and called him a star. The comments meant a lot to the AEW Tag Team Champion, and he was honored that Danielson thought highly of his performance. 

“…The best part about that was the high compliment that Bryan gave me in that press conference afterward,” said Starks. He added, “Him saying that I’m one of his favorite opponents, that really means a lot. The fact that he said that was a badge of honor. Like, I know I belong.”

Although Starks lost the No Disqualification Strap Match, he earned many fans and Danielson’s respect that night. The stars may currently be involved in different storylines, but it’s possible they will face off in the ring again in the future. 

MJF no longer possesses his prized ‘Triple B’ AEW World Championship, but he’s wasting no time building up his resume in Hollywood. Following his work on screen and Executive Producing The Iron Claw, Maxwell Jacob Friedman will be returning to the big screen soon,

Deadline reports the 27-year-old wrestling prodigy will appear in the upcoming comedy film Floaters. The film also stars Jackie Tohn of GLOW, Sarah Podemski of Reservoir Dogs, Steve Guttenberg of Police Academy and former WWE Raw guest host Seth Green.

According to Deadline, the movie “follows struggling musician Nomi (Tohn) who accepts a last-resort job from her overachiever best friend Mara (Podemski): mentoring misfit campers, the “Floaters,” at their childhood Jewish summer camp. As the camp struggles to survive amidst competition with a longtime rival, Nomi, the Floaters, and Mara must overcome their differences to bring the community together and save the camp.”

The film recently finished filming in MJF’s backyard of New York City. 

More about Floaters

Director Rachel Israel spoke about how The Floaters made certain to cast people of the Jewish faith.

“We are very proud to say that The Floaters boasts Jewish actors cast in virtually every role – allowing for an authentic portrayal and celebration of the diversity within modern Jewish communities. The Floaters resists tired cliches often attributed in the media to embrace a rich culture and explore multidimensional Jewish characters.” 

There is no word as to a release date of the film or the specific role MJF will be playing, but the former champ is fresh off a very brief cameo in “The Iron Claw” as notorious faux Von Erich relative, Lance Von Erich.

MJF last appeared on television at December’s World’s End pay-per-view, where he lost the World Championship to Samoa Joe.

Kazuchika Okada is going to be a free agent on Groundhog’s Day, and if one were to go by the 1993 movie with Bill Murray by that very name, one major wrestling company wants to tell “The Rainmaker” “I got you, babe.”

It was revealed on January 30 that Okada’s merchandise on Pro Wrestling Tees had been removed from the website and it led many to wonder what that could mean for the NJPW legend. Considering that PWTees has a strong relationship with AEW, the initial thought may be this is a sign that Okada is WWE bound, however, a new report from PWInsider thinks otherwise.

According to Mike Johnson, Okada evidently has a strong relationship with Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks and due to that, his sources lead him to believe that The Rainmaker will eventually become All Elite.

Okada’s agent happens to be pro wrestling super agent Barry Bloom. Bloom also represents The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page and recent AEW signee Will Ospreay. Ospreay didn’t spend long at all on the free agent market and AEW was quick to ink him to a deal.

While Okada will be a free agent on Tuesday, he still has a major obligation to finish up with NJPW. On February 11, he’ll be facing off against long-time rivl and current NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi has recently stated he wants to become the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion once again and additionally, has big plans for NJPW moving forward. 

In a recent segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer highlighted the possibility of two current AEW roster members making a move to the Stamford-based promotion WWE.

Meltzer identified Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews as the two wrestlers who could potentially transition to WWE. Both Black and Matthews are presently associated with the House of Black faction, alongside Brody King and Julia Hart, within AEW.

The wrestling journalist was talking about the recent cage match between House of Black and Daniel Garcia & FTR on Saturday’s episode of Collision. The fight was originally announced as an Elimination bout but later changed to an Escape the cage match. Meltzer implied that the change was due to the House of Black not wanting to be pinned during the bout:

“[…] Malakai Black never does jobs, and when this was going on and I am watching this, one of the things I was thinking watching this is like, these freaking House of Black guys never do jobs. And here is the other thing. I was thinking what if they win this match and they are just going, like, two of those three guys are going to the WWE.”

Meltzer also remarked that both wrestlers are reluctant to take losses as they aim to maintain the strong image of their characters once they become free agents. He questioned why AEW continues to book them strongly when they are expected to leave for WWE.

“I mean, they are going. As soon as they can go, they are gone. Even though they were treated like shit in the WWE, and they never do jobs here, and they are still going back to the WWE. And my thought is kinda like, why do you keep putting them over when you know they are leaving?”

House of Black Responds

Multiple members of the faction took exception to these comments from Meltzer and reacted on social media. Matthews responded to Meltzer’s remarks with a picture of his AEW stats, stating that Dave lacked research skills.

“For a ‘Reporter,’ he doesn’t know much or do ANY research! Lol,” he commented.

The attached image displayed Matthew’s career stats in AEW, revealing that in 2024, he won one match and lost three. Overall, in his career, he won 25 matches and lost 13. These figures contradict Meltzer’s statement, as Matthews has indeed lost a considerable number of matches, if not the majority:

For a “Reporter” he doesn’t know much of do ANY research! lol pic.twitter.com/ZF9N3LY1AS

— Buddy Matthews (@SNM_Buddy) January 29, 2024

Brody King explained that the format of the match was always going to be Escape The Cage. Will Washington, who works as a coordinator for AEW came to his support confirming the reason for the graphic change:

Funny how someone’s opinion just becomes fact because they’ve been watching wrestling a long time. The format and stipulation of the cage match was always what it was going to be. It’s not our fault the wording on the graphic changed. https://t.co/zGuNP61TxN

— Big Bad Brody King (@Brodyxking) January 29, 2024

I usually don't comment on stuff like this, but before this idea spreads or gets out of hand, the wording change was just for clarity.

It was absolutely escape rules when the first match graphic dropped. https://t.co/3nubqqtQNL

— Will Washington ? (@WillWashington) January 29, 2024

While the wrestling journalist has not responded to these remarks from the AEW stars, this discourse seems to be far from over. Stay tuned for more updates on the situation