Wrestling legend Kevin Nash believes former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley is in a different class than everyone else in All Elite Wrestling.
The nWo founder spoke about AEW on the latest episode of his Kliq Thispodcast. Nash acknowledged he’s gotten heat for not watching AEW, but was able to watch last week’s AEW Dynamite due to a shift in his schedule.
Nash didn’t hold back while reviewing each match and segment of the show along with co-host Sean Oliver. He took issue with several creative decisions, but one segment in particular left him wanting more.
Jon Moxley brings realism to AEW
According to Nash, Jon Moxley’s pre-recorded backstage promo was the best part of the entire show. He’s seen it all throughout his legendary career and knows talent when he sees it. AEW has a lot of talented wrestlers, but Nash says Moxley is the only one who comes across like it’s real.
“There was a promo he cut a couple weeks ago where he was bloody and he was talking s*** about all the different, uh, belts that are out there and ‘he lost and he didn’t get one tonight.’ And it’s just like..
Moxley gets it. I think Moxley’s the only one that gets it on that show and he owns it. He comes across f******, like, real.”
Nash mentioned how bummed he was that that particular segment was the only thing Moxley was in the entire night. Elsewhere on the show, Nash appreciated the presentation of AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, but felt that HOOK came across as minor league due to the way he was dressed.
Moxley has been with AEW since the beginning and has stepped up for the company countless times throughout tumultuous times.
WWE lost Mercedes Mone and Trinity when they walked out of the company in May 2022. Since then, Naomi made her return to WWE during the 2024 Royal Rumble after a successful stint in TNA. Sasha Banks, on the other hand, has not returned. Now, the latest update casts even more doubt that will happen.
There have been many developments for Mone over the past few months. Her NJPW contract expired, and she was free to discuss her future with another company, and that included WWE.
Although Mone and WWE were talking about her return, they seem to have hit a roadblock. Now, it is no longer anticipated that fans will see her WWE comeback, because another company is expected to snag her.
To provide an update on the situation, PW Insider has reported that Mercedes Mone will be back working in pro wrestling by March and “not for WWE.” This may disappoint some WWE fans, but at least she will be seen soon enough.
Although it was not explicitly stated, the current thought is that Mercedes Mone is going to end up in AEW. That debut has obviously not happened yet. AEW Revolution will take place on March 3rd in the Greensboro Coliseum. The event will see Sting’s final match, but it may also include Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company if this report lines up.
What’s Next For Mercedes Mone
Mercedes Mone just registered trademarks for, what could be, a clothing line. She has other options in the entertainment industry, as her acting career could see more credits than the Mandalorian down the line.
Bayley may believe that her story with Mercedes Mone will live on forever, but the former Sasha Banks is not making a return to WWE at this point. It will be interesting to see if her road brings her back to the company, but that isn’t happening this time around.
We’re six weeks away from AEW’s first pay-per-view of the year. Revolution will be the home of Sting’s final match. Matches have steadily been added to the show.
Since the Undisputed Kingdom were revealed as The Devil and The Devil’s Masked Men, they’ve made it clear that they’re on the hunt for gold. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett have a head start with the ROH Tag Team Championships. Roderick Strong has his sights set on the International Championship.
Last week following Cassidy’s match, Strong let Cassidy know that he wanted to wrestle him for the title. The champ was ready to go right then and there, but in true heel fashion, Strong wanted to wait. Weeks. He named the time and place: Revolution.
The Undisputed Kingdom left the ring before getting an answer. During a backstage segment, Renee Paquette asked Cassidy what his reaction was. He replied, “my reaction is…okay. I will wrestle you, Roddy for my International Championship at Revolution on March 3.”
The #AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy has a message for Roderick Strong.
Orange Cassidy hasn’t defended his title on a pay-per-view since Full Gear. Since his match with Strong is six weeks away, he wants to continue defending his title. In his segment with Paquette that he asked Tony to “get some of my friends, some of my enemies, some like, friends and enemies. Put them together in a match on Rampage and then the winner of that will wrestle me on Collision on Saturday for my International Championship.”
Kip Sabian, The Butcher, Komander, and Vikingo will face off this Friday for a shot at Cassidy’s title on Saturday.
AEW fans are all too familiar with the idea of wrestler injuries at this point. Although there was hope that Fenix may be returning soon, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The famous luchador still has some recovery time before he can make a full return to the ring.
Fenix’s Injury
Concerns about Rey Fenix surfaced after WrestleDream, where he had a brief appearance in the AEW World Tag Team Fatal-Four Way Number One Contender Match and was taken backstage during the event. Fenix later took to Twitter, mentioning he was grappling with an “old injury” but had initially intended to defend the AEW International Championship.
Despite holding the title at the time, he worked two matches, including losing the championship to Orange Cassidy on October 10th. Since then, he has not participated in any matches and was withdrawn from an independent show scheduled for January 5.
However, according to Dave Meltzer’s latest report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, despite Fenix appearing on television with Penta recently, he is significantly battered and not anticipated to make a quick return.
Even though Rey Fenix was on television with Penta last week, he’s pretty banged up and not expected back that soon
AEW has a list of injured talent that seems to be growing every week. We will have to see when Fenix can make it back to the ring, where he may have a Death Triangle reunion waiting for him if Tony Khan can make things work.
AEW is well aware of the free agent market right now, and Tony Khan intends to remain a player for big contracts. It appears that All Elite Wrestling is very close to locking down two deals that could be incredibly important for the company’s future.
AEW’s Reported New Signings
In terms of Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that there is a belief that both will start with AEW soon. Mone is anticipated to have a substantial debut, with an announcement expected shortly. Despite negotiating with WWE, her return to AEW was anticipated for several months, even predating her appearance at Wembley, where she had to appear while seated due to her still-recovering ankle injury. However, until the contract is finalized, nothing is definite due to significant differences in financial terms.
As for Okada, the latest information indicates that he has not yet made a final decision. Speculation among various individuals ranges from hopefulness to a degree of confidence regarding his potential arrival. If Okada were to sign, the probable start would align with the Greensboro show, with his final New Japan date set for February 24th. In the event of a WWE signing, it could potentially be postponed until WrestleMania.
Regarding Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone, the belief from this side is that both will be starting soon. Mone was doing acting work, but there is talk her debut will be played up extremely big and that announcement could be soon. She has been back training to return to the ring.
What’s Next
It’s noteworthy that Tony Khan has expressed particular enthusiasm for 2024, anticipating new signings and returns in the coming months, including MJF, Adam Cole, Kenny Omega, Bandido, Rey Fenix, Pac, and Britt Baker. As of this writing, MJF is still believed by many within the business to be under AEW contract.
Tony Khan has some big plans for 2024, and he is very excited about the possibilities. They’ve brought big names into AEW before, but signing Okada and the former Sasha Banks to deals would be a great way to start this year in the Land of All Elite.
AEW superstar Darby Allin recently revealed that he isn’t listening to pro wrestling legend Ric Flair’s advice.
Allin has a reputation for involving himself in high-risk spots in his matches. He has captivated the fans with his dangerous stunts that thrill the fans. However, suffering career-threatening injuries look inevitable. He has suffered injuries from time to time but that isn’t stopping him anytime soon.
Pro wrestling takes a toll on the physical health of the performers and it is no secret. Veterans of the business have dealt with complications at the latter stage of life and WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who has experienced the same, shared a piece of advice for Allin.
Darby Allin won’t listen to Ric Flair
During a recent interview with Rock 106.1, Darby Allin revealed that though he appreciates Ric Flair’s advice to slow down he won’t listen to him. Allin says that he feels good physically and doesn’t see himself stopping. He said:
“Ric Flair, a couple weeks ago, he came up to me and is like, ‘Darby, you need to slow down.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ ‘You’re crazier than Mick Foley.’ I’m like, ‘Getting advice from Ric Flair?’ What’s funny is, people don’t know how great I feel physically. I feel amazing, like nothing hurts.“
“DDP also, he’s like, ‘We have to put you in a lab. They have to test you out and see what’s going on because you’re not human.’ I feel amazing. I won’t stop doing it. Sorry for anybody trying to give me advice, all the people out there telling me to slow down. I can’t and I won’t.”
Darby Allin and his tag team partner ‘The Icon’ Sting have their sights set on the AEW Tag Team Championships. On the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, the duo challenged the champs Big Bill and Ricky Starks, who eventually accepted the challenge.
Despite not being seen on AEW television for a long time, the company has re-signed one of it’s stars during the COVID-19 era.
Anthony Ogogo revealed on the latest episode of AEW Restricted that he has signed a new deal with All Elite Wrestling and believes that Tony Khan has a lot of confidence in him as a star.
“There’s working there (on the independents) and there’s working AEW. So I’m in a weird situation now where I think there’s a lot of potential around me and Tony Khan has signed me and he’s re-signed me. So he obviously sees something in me and I have this aura which people haven’t got because they haven’t done what I’ve done in real life.”
Ogogo did make an appearance in his home country at AEW All In in London, but in a segment with Paul Wight and Grado. The former rival of Cody Rhodes questioned the prospect of working on the independents to get more experience, but also believes he’s ready for the main stage.
“I don’t wanna be patient… I don’t wanna be patient anymore. I wanna show my worth. I just wanna show what I can do… If I didn’t think I could deliver, I wouldn’t be saying this. But I know what I can do, I know what I have. I just wanna contribute.”
The former boxer admitted that his initial run in AEW hasn’t met his expectations, but realizes he has to put in the work.
“All I can do is work hard and give it my all and when the call comes, hopefully the call will come, to show up and turn up and that’s what I’m doing.”
Please credit AEW Unrestricted and h/t to Andrew Thompson of POST Wrestling for the transcription.
We’re closing in on Sting’s final match and his opponent(s) are still technically up in the air. On the Homecoming episode of Dynamite, the Young Bucks returned and seemingly challenged Sting and Darby Allin for AEW Revolution. The match has yet to made official.
In the meantime, Allin and Sting have some important business to take care of. On Dynamite, Allin told a story of how he flew to Texas when Sting signed with AEW. He wrestled Sting in his own ring that he has in his garage. Within minutes, he told the veteran he still had it. After winning 27 matches together, Allin confirms that “The Icon” still has it.
Allin pointed out that the rankings are back and thus they are the number one contenders for the tag team titles. Allin asked Sting if he wanted to end his career as tag team champions. Sting replied that he was “all in!” (as an AEW ALL IN graphic was on the screen behind him).
Later in the night, Ricky Starks and Big Bill accepted their challenge. Starks pointed out that it was fitting that he would be facing them since Sting’s first match back was against himself and another partner (Brian Cage). “It’s very fitting that now, me and the best partner I have will be the end of you. You are not making it to Revolution, my man.”
After hearing what Sting & Darby Allin had to say. The #AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill have their reply.
“I was told that one of the things with Kenny’s deal was that they had to pump him full of antibiotics. Apparently, the antibiotics are working. So he may still need surgery but the last report that I got, which was 20 minutes ago, was that things were looking up and that he was doing a lot better and hopefully going to make a full recovery.”
Diverticulitis: The Facts
Diverticulitis affects the large intestine and causes abdominal pain, which is why Omega mistook his situation for a hernia at first. It can be caused by diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system.
Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon have both suffered from diverticulitis in the past. Lesnar’s situation would result in surgery and UFC fights being postponed. He would go under the knife in November 2009 and would return to action in July 2010.
We here at SE Scoops are continuing to wish Omega a full and speedy recovery.
Aside from his friend turned enemy in Christian Cage, Adam Copeland has his toughest competition forthcoming this week on AEW Dynamite in Minoru Suzuki.
In light of the first-ever battle between two long-established veterans, Copeland took a moment to comment on the fight. AEW shared a clip of the former TNT Champion lamenting for his eagerness to step into the ring with a legend of NJPW.
“Minoru Suzuki vs. ‘The Rated R Superstar.’ Man, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. We are gonna beat the hell out of each other – two grizzly gnarled evil bastards beating eachother up and I can’t wait.
“Suzuki I know what you’re going to bring, I hope you know what I’m going to bring. I’m gonna sum this match up in three words for all of you. Grit your teeth.”
Minoru Suzuki has squared up against several top stars in AEW including Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston and current AEW World Champion Samoa Joe. Back at Forbidden Door, Suzuki also stood across the ring from a different WWE Hall of Famer in Sting as he teamed up with Jericho and Sammy Guevara to battle The Icon, Darby Allin and Tetsuya Naito in trios action.
AEW Dynamite this week sure has a stacked card on Wednesday. Not only do fans get Copeland vs. Suzuki, but will get to see Swerve Strickland vs. Jeff Hardy and Hangman Page take on Penta El Zero Miedo in singles action. Additionally, the aforementioned Sting and Darby Allin will be in attendance
AEW is bringing back their weekly ranking system, something that some fans really missed. Now, fans who love stats will have something else to comb through every week. It seems that the disappearance of that ranking system was to blame on CM Punk.
Why AEW Nixed Their Ranking System The First Time
In the early years of AEW, a ranking system was employed to determine upcoming championship matches in each division. However, it disappeared in the final months of 2022.
CM Punk had significant backstage influence over certain aspects of AEW while he was with the company. This included things going away, and one of those things was the AEW rankings, which vanished during his tenure with the company.
During the Bryan & Vinny Show, Bryan Alvarez reported that he was told it was Punk’s idea was to eliminate the rankings. He apparently had a discussion with Tony Khan about them, and then they were gone
“These f*cking rankings. Do you know whose idea it was to get rid of the rankings? I was told it was CM Punk. He talked Tony into getting rid of the rankings.”
CM Punk also got to pick his roster for AEW Collision. He had say-so in which talent AEW brought in for the show as well, and he could ban talent from the company’s Saturday night show as well. This is why the Collision roster was loaded with his friends, a practice that remained until his AEW release.
After CM Punk’s AEW Release
Following a discipline committee, consisting of Bryan Danielson and two attorneys, AEW terminated Punk due to a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023. This decision came after Punk’s All Out brawl with The Elite the previous year and various backstage issues. It did not take Punk long until he returned to WWE after his AEW release.
AEW star Kenny Omega is yet to have surgery and a concerning report has emerged regarding his health.
‘The Cleaner’ is currently out of action for an indefinite period after he was diagnosed with diverticulitis following his match with Ethan Page. The former AEW World Champion was hospitalized immediately after the match. Omega was set to team up with Chris Jericho at AEW Worlds End but that match had to be scrapped off due to Omega’s absence.
We had reported that Omega has a long road ahead for recovery. Now, it has come to light that his condition is bad enough that surgery could be risky at the time and a decision of the surgery is yet to be made.
Update on Kenny Omega
Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that the current plan is to monitor Omega’s condition for seven weeks before deciding on surgery. Meltzer has highlighted that during this period, Omega will receive no treatment, and after seven weeks, a decision will be made depending on his progress on recovery.
Meltzer stated:
“It’s going to be nothing for seven weeks and then in seven weeks, they are going to see how everything goes and, at that point, he’ll either need surgery or he… I don’t know how he won’t need surgery, but if he can heal.
Normally, you would have already done the surgery right away but his condition and everything was so bad that they could not risk the surgery at the time and now they are kind of just… it’s going to be in seven weeks he’ll either have the surgery or he won’t and then at that point we’ll see. He’s in a tough situation, I feel very bad for him. Until that happens, it’s a painful situation.”
It is certainly a tough time for Omega, given his future is up in the air. Fans are hopeful that he’ll recover and get back inside the ring soon.
Kazuchika Okada was one of the biggest names in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, but his time with the company is ending. He is not retiring, so Okada will find another pro wrestling home. That brings up a couple obvious choices, but nothing is in stone yet.
Kazuchika Okada leaving NJPW
Okada will depart NJPW when his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling concludes later this month, with potential moves to either WWE or AEW in early 2024.
WWE has shown interest in Okada for some time, but he has never made his way there from NJPW. There is currently a perception that Okada was significantly underpaid during his tenure as a top star in New Japan Pro Wrestling, especially in comparison to potential earnings in the United States, whether with WWE or AEW.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer brought up Okada’s current situation. At this time, he is still weighing his options, because he has a huge decision to make.
“He’s gonna go to whoever makes the best offer. I’ve heard from people and talked to people who know him very well, who have talked to him in the last day or two. And he has not decided. It’s not like a secret. He just hasn’t decided yet. I know people in AEW who think they’ve got him.”
“I know people in AEW who hope they’ve got him but don’t think they’ve got him. I know people in WWE who hope they’re gonna get him and who believe that..one person mentioned…..he wants the legacy, and it’s kinda like they’re like, ‘Well, maybe we can pay him less, but you can have your WrestleMania moment”. And again, what his goal is in his life, for some people that means more and either way he’s gonna make great money.”
Both WWE and AEW presented proposals for Okada, and it was rumored that AEW had put forth a more compelling initial offer. Although no agreement has been finalized, both companies believe that they have a shot at securing the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion’s services.
While a portion of professional wrestling fans may be extremely tribal, those in AEW are happy to see its main competition, WWE, succeed.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has proven to be the biggest competition to WWE since the demise of WCW in 2001. When AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT competed in the Wednesday Night Wars, AEW’s flagship show would win the majority of battles over ratings. When the two shows went head-to-head last October, however, NXT earned a comfortable, decisive victory over Dynamite.
AEW Are Happy for WWE
The topic of tribalism has been a hot-button issue since the launch of AEW, with Tony Khan’s recent outburst about Raw’s booking making headlines. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, however, Daniel Garcia made it clear why AEW’s roster hopes to see WWE do well and vice versa.
“The fans are so AEW or WWE, they think the talent is like that as well. They think we hate each other and we don’t interact with each other. When it comes down to it, having both companies is great for all of us. It gets us all more money, it makes the product better. The competition is great.
“We’re very grateful for WWE succeeding and I’m sure people at WWE, the talent, is very grateful for AEW being successful. All talent, for the most part, I think everyone gets along and interacts with each other.”
Garcia competed on this week’s AEW Collision, where he defeated Buddy Matthews. He was attacked by the House of Black after the match.
One AEW star has called for less hostility among fans of AEW and WWE…
The UFC may be allied with WWE as part of TKO Group Holdings, but it was AEW’s Adam Copeland whose theme was used at a recent event.
At last night’s UFC 297 event, Chris Curtis walked into his fight with Alterbridge’s Metalingus playing. Copeland has used the theme since a 2004 heel turn as Edge in WWE and has been able to keep using the theme as part of AEW following his debut at WrestleDream.
Curtis competed against Marc-André Barriault in a middleweight-division fight. After going the distance in three rounds, Curtis was awarded the victory by decision. Curtis’ wrestling fandom can’t be denied, as during a weigh-in, he hit a pose that fans of a certain Apex Predator may find very familiar.
Pro-Wrestling Themes in UFC
Copeland’s theme isn’t the first wrestling tune to make its way to the world of UFC. Colby Covington has often used ‘Medal’, the theme synonymous with Kurt Angle in WWE, though the song was also used by Sgt. Slaughter and The Patriot.
At UFC 276, Israel Adesanya went one further, using an entrance based on The Undertaker. In addition to using the Phenom’s theme song, Adesanya wore an Undertaker-themed hat and solemnly walked to the cage with an urn. At that same event, Jessica Rose-Clark would walk to the cage for her fight to the theme of one of The Undertaker’s greatest rivals: Shawn Michaels.
Australia’s Jake Matthews didn’t bring a sledgehammer or water bottle to his fight at UFC 243 in 2019, but did walk out to Triple H’s ‘The Game’ theme. This tribute earned a reaction from the man himself, who described the entrance as “badass” in a tweet.
When the UFC returned to Calgary, Alberta in July 2018, it was fitting that Ion Cutelaba walked out to Bret Hart’s WWE theme. After winning over the fans with his Bret Hart shades, the Moldovan fighter would win in the cage.
For more information about UFC 297, click here to check out all the latest news, courtesy of MMANews.com
Bang Bang Scissor Gang will go down in the history books alongside the handful of supergroups that the pro wrestling world has witnessed.
The recently formed group of The Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) had assaulted Jay White and The Acclaimed in the weeks leading up to the reveal of Adam Cole’s identity as The Devil at AEW Worlds End. This certainly gave a reason to The Acclaimed and Bullet Club Gold to unite and form a supergroup.
While the two factions haven’t been on the same page in the past, they are united now and gave fans a reason to cheer about last night on AEW Collision.
Bullet Club Gold and The Acclaimed unite to form The Bang Bang Scissor Gang
On last night’s edition of AEW Collision, the newly crowned Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Champions, Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn had a segment to celebrate their victory over the Mogul Embassy on January 17’s AEW Dynamite where they became the new champs.
Soon, AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed (“Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn, Anthony Bowens, and Max Caster) interrupted them. It has been teased for weeks that they will unite to form a supergroup, The Bang Bang Gang. The Acclaimed had been pursuing them to and this time around, they would not leave the ring until they got their answer.
This led to The St Louis crowd chanting “Bang Bang Scissor Gang.” Colten and Austin Gunn were ready to shake hands with The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn but Jay White stopped them.
The Bullet Club Gold then had a little chat before turning around and do the ‘scissoring gesture,’ thus officially forming the Bang Bang Scissor Gang.
Check out the video clip of the segment below:
The new faction has reunited Billy Gunn with his sons, Austin and Colten Gunn. They were previously known as Gunn Club.
We will now have to wait and see how this storyline pans out.
AEW promised to present a different kind of pro wrestling when they opened their doors in 2019. One of the more innovative concepts, the rankings system, went away eventually. Now, it is coming back.
The AEW Rankings System Returning
The AEW rankings system used to come out every week, but then they stopped the practice. It became repetitive, and many fans started ignoring it, as did AEW with their storylines.
Tony Khan sent out a notice on Twitter/X that the AEW rankings system is returning. He was very excited about this announcement, and plans to make it a great 2024 for AEW.
The Rankings are coming back to AEW going forward, starting this month! @AEW is having a very exciting January, and this is only the beginning of an amazing 2024 for AEW and our fans. Thank you all watching Saturday Night #AEWCollision right now on @TNTdrama !
The Rankings are coming back to AEW going forward, starting this month!@AEW is having a very exciting January, and this is only the beginning of an amazing 2024 for AEW and our fans. Thank you all watching Saturday Night #AEWCollision right now on @TNTdrama!
The AEW ranking system may have gone away, but they still keep track of records. Those numbers can be seen on any star’s name plate as they make their way to the ring.
Since records go year-to-year in AEW, the start of 2024 can mark the return of that ranking system. They may have started at the end of January, but it’s better late than never.
Now, with Tony Khan bringing back the AEW ranking system, a new year can start with a return to that old practice. We will have to see how they utilize it this time around to make it a bigger part of AEW programming.
AEW has brought in some of the best free agents that they can since their doors opened. The fact that Kamille was backstage at Dynamite this week certainly made a lot of people look her way.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that Kamille was just around AEW Dynamite to visit friends. She lives in the area, as Dynamite took place at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Fightful confirmed that even though she was originally just around visiting friends, as she’s local to the area. However, that she did speak with several people of influence at the show.
Kamille’s Current Contract Status
It was also noted that, as of January 19th, Kamille has not signed with any company yet. It was reported that overtures were made over the past couple of weeks to bring Kamille to WWE. However, that didn’t keep her from being backstage at AEW Dynamite on January 17.
Kamille reportedly had a six-month option with NWA that could have extended into the first half of the year. Nevertheless, she chose not to exercise that option.
What’s Next For Kamille?
Kamille’s future is uncertain, but she is a top free agent in the pro wrestling landscape. Wherever she goes next, it is bound to draw headlines.
The former NWA women’s champion is reportedly set to join WWE. The 31-year-old has been a free agent since January 1st, but that might not be the case for very long.
AEW superstar Darby Allin recently talked about almost suffering a broken neck at AEW Dynamite ‘Homecoming’ edition at Daily’s Place.
Allin has made a name for himself with his breathtaking spots in his matches. He has captivated the fans with his high-risk maneuvers that thrill the fans. However, with it comes a line between a memorable moment and a career-threatening injury. He has managed to escape neck injury, which has put several stars on the shelf for good.
The January 10th episode of AEW Dynamite saw a Texas Tornado Match in the main event, featuring Sting & Darby Allin against Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs. The babyface pair secured the win but at the expense of some nasty bumps.
A spot during that match saw Takeshita and Cage throw Allin across the ring by his hands and feet. The former TNT Champion hit the mat on the other side of the ring, catching his head under the bottom rope.
Darby Allin comments on his risk moves
Speaking on KSDK to promote AEW in St. Louis, Darby Allin recalled the incident and noted that AEW stars try to deliver the unexpected every week. He further revealed that he almost broke his neck due to the horrific spot.
“The thing with AEW is, you can expect the unexpected. I mean that, I’m not just trying to sell anything. Every week, there is crazy shenanigans going on. Last week, I almost broke my neck. This week, we have so much crazy stuff. Literally, it’s something different every week. We don’t play it safe. I was in town, I saw this arch, and I kind of want to jump off of it.”
Allin is a risk-taker and he looks far from stopping himself from showcasing his daredevillry whether it’s inside or outside the squared circle.
If one were going by the live crowd reaction, Joe was tremendously over to start the fight, but two-thirds into the battle, Joe and HOOK got the audience completely over on the challenger’s side.
Speaking on an episode of “My World,” Jarrett talked about how it takes a rare talent to be able to do that for their opponents. Joe did just as much during his undefeated streak in TNA.
“My default answer was, ‘Joe can win and still help get guys over.’ That’s an art. That was taught to me in many different ways from my dad and Jerry Lawler, but it is so true, and if you can’t really do that, I don’t think you can really get to the next level. It’s easy to win and get yourself over. It’s even more difficult to win and get your opponent over, but Joe could do it.”
How TNA Ended Joe’s Undefeated Streak In TNA
Jarrett admitted there was no end in sight for Samoa Joe to lose to anyone in TNA, but then Kurt Angle came along and signed with the company.
“…then that quick conversation to Orlando from Dave Hawk, who is Kurt’s manager, and said, ‘Hey man. I think you’ve got a shot if you want to have Kurt come on board ‘ and how all that came together, and then the Kurt and Joe trilogy.”
Please credit My World and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
AEW veteran commentator Jim Ross has disclosed that he is yet to ink a contract extension with the promotion.
Good Ol’ JR is certainly willing to stay with AEW for a long time to come and that is only possible if he pens a fresh deal.
Ross has been a part of AEW since 2019, which is years after his controversial firing from WWE. He has been a familiar voice in the world of pro wrestling and has called the action for AEW shows regularly.
Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross said that he’s happy the way the contract situation is developing and he’d love to announce his contract extension to the fans before February 14.
“It seems to be that it just makes sense that the original two guys that called the very first Sting-Flair match if they were available and could still carry their share of their water, would be a good opportunity,” Ross said.
“I mentioned it to Tony Khan. He loved the idea. My problem is not that. My problem is my contract is up February 14th, which I’ve mentioned ad nauseam…that event is in March. So we gotta take care of some business and I’m sure that we will. I feel good about where I’m headed with Tony and AEW. I’d love to have something to announce before the 14th, if possible.”
Ross has stated that the contract talks are still in the same place and believes that it would be apt if he and Tony Schiavone call Sting’s last match. He said:
“We’re still at the same place right,” Ross said about his contract talks. “I gotta get there contractually to be able to pull that off. I’m not using it as a leverage ploy. It just seemed like it makes sense.
I think the best booking is booking this logically and having JR and Schiavone call the match to me seems logical. So we’ll see how it all works out. It’s going to work out the way it’s supposed to be and we’ll see how it goes from there, but I’m happy with the way things are moving along.”
Recently, during the main event of AEW Dynamite ‘Homecoming’, Jim Ross made his return to the commentary booth and joined the regular team of Tony Schiavone and Excalibur. They went on to call the match which featured the team of Sting and Darby Allin facing Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs.
AEW has inked deals with a number of talented wrestlers over the last twelve months, and many of them kept their personas, or simply built onto a pre-existing idea of their character. One star is set to see a gimmick change, but the extent of that alteration is uncertain.
AEW Signs New Star
Tony Khan has successfully secured a new deal for someone who will now be working for both All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. Black Taurus, who has experience in AAA, Impact Wrestling, and so many more destinations, has previously competed under the AEW and ROH banners. Now locked into a contract.
In the past month, Taurus engaged in three title matches against El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship, two of which occurred within the AEW/ROH events.
Taurus has also made appearances for TNA Wrestling since 2019. However, with this new contract development, he is now making a transition.
AEW Star’s Gimmick Has To Change
As reported by Luchablog, who is a reliable source for luchador news, Taurus and Tony Khan have reached an agreement for his services. It’s worth noting that due to AAA’s ownership of the ‘Black Taurus’ name, the wrestler will need to undergo a character and name change to avoid potential legal complications.
This precautionary step is particularly crucial, given AAA’s previous legal dispute over the Luchasaurus mask, which was eventually settled. The report indicates that Taurus is ready for these alterations to his character.
It is unclear how much Khan will have to tweak Black Taurus’ presentation, but he can’t keep that gimmick he’s been using since 2018.
today I wrote about lots of CMLL announcements, the FantasticaMania tour, and the end of Black Taurus (but not the guy under the mask) https://t.co/7WUK007qRB
Chris Jericho has revealed that Sammy Guevara has sustained an injury that is likely to keep him on the shelf.
Guevara has been missing out on in-ring due to multiple injuries in the recent past. Last year, he suffered a concussion during WrestleDream pay-per-view event. During a trios tag match, Guevara joined forces with Konosuke Takeshita and Will Ospreay to face off Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi. This battle culminated with Guevara pinning Chris Jericho.
Sammy Guevara injured
The former TNT Champion has yet again suffered an injury on last week’s AEW Battle of the Belts IX. Ricky Starks and Big Bill put their AEW World Tag Team Championship on the line against Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara in a Street Fight.
In the final moments of the match, Guevara dived off a lighting rig onto Starks. However, Powerhouse Hobbs pulled Starks out of the way to make the save and Guevara crashed onto the floor as Starks pinned him for the win. It seems that it was at this moment, ‘The Spanish God’ sustained an injury. Here’s what Chris Jericho said:
Sammy Guevara has high-flying moves in his arsenal but they are quite risky to execute. A slight mistake could lead to injuries. Though he attempted a risky move this past week, Guevara had previously stated that he would be more cautious with his high-flying spots in the ring now that he and Tay Melo are parents.
“It’s pretty cool for sure and now it’s got me thinking differently just in wrestling. Because I’m used to doing all the ‘I’m Crazy ‘ stuff but now I’m like, yeah, I guess I can’t be that crazy anymore… I don’t know if we’re going to dial it back but I think we’ll be more selective with how and when we do the crazy stuff.”
The details of the injury are yet to be disclosed but fans are hoping that it won’t keep him away from the squared circle much longer.
We at SEScoops wish Sammy Guevara a speedy recovery.
The Young Bucks didn’t hold back in their comments on this week’s Dynamite, which some believe was about a certain Chicago-Made punk.
During last week’s Dynamite, the Bucks returned to programming following a hiatus and had a staredown with Darby Allin and Sting. While not confirmed, it is believed the Bucks will face Allin and the Icon at AEW Revolution 2024. The March pay-per-view will mark three years since Sting’s wrestling debut for AEW and will see the WWE Hall of Famer’s last match.
“We did lose our way, it was like the culture shifted and toxicity creeped into the locker rooms, and the perception of the company, it was just different. I think I know why. We started to lean on yesterday’s self-serving, superficial, cancerous superstars.”
Renee Paquette has a sit down interview with the Young Bucks on #AEW Dynamite.
Many fans have seen this comment as a nod to CM Punk, who the Bucks would butt heads with in AEW. The Bucks and Punk would be on opposite sides during the infamous AEW All Out 2022 brawl that would see all three men (and others) suspended.
I love how CM Punk and the Young Bucks had this big feuds, and in the fallout, CM Punk became a huge babyface in WWE while the Young Bucks are heels in their own company of AEW. Hilarious. #AEWDynamitepic.twitter.com/CUTk1zl7wh
The Young Bucks have to call CM Punk a cancer indirectly in promos, it's the only interesting thing they can possibly say since they suck at promos. I think it's hilarious. #AEWDynamitepic.twitter.com/NCIAJ4HXcg
In the main event of this week’s Dynamite, Joe defended his gold against HOOK. Thanks to a sponsorship from the new Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game (in which Joe voices King Shark), the match aired commercial-free.
Joe dominated early on, and would put HOOK through the announce table, though the second-generation wrestler responded by flipping off the champ. This earned HOOK a powerbomb onto the apron, though he was able to make it back to the ring.
No matter how hard Samoa Joe throws HOOK around, he just keeps coming back!
HOOK mounted a comeback and was able to kick out of a Muscle Buster at one, to the surprise of Joe and the crowd. In the end, the Coquina Clutch sealed the win for the champion, but Joe looked shocked at how much it took to put HOOK away.
After the Match
Despite his defeat, HOOK refused to stay down and trash-talked Joe after the match. This earned the FTW Champion another beatdown. Before more damage could be done, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and Swerve Strickland arrived on the scene and Joe walked away. Both Page and Strickland have made it clear they intend to challenge Joe for the AEW World Championship when the time is right.
#AEW World Champion Samoa Joe smelled the blood in the water, but “Hangman” Adam Page makes the save!
