Archive for the ‘AEW’ Category

New look Young Bucks return to confront Sting, Brodie Lee Honored at Dynamite Homecoming

Wednesday was a big night for AEW. They celebrated five years as a company at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Daily’s Place was AEW’s home during the pandemic era of wrestling. 

Dynamite was filled with AEW Originals. The show kicked off with a former member of The Elite, Hangman Adam Page. What’s a homecoming show without an actual homecoming? 

In the main event, Sting and Darby Allin defeated Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita. Following their win, Tony Schiavone asked Sting who his final match would be against. Before he could answer, the familiar sound of the Young Bucks music hit. 

Sporting mustaches and long jackets, the Bucks made stood on the stage and stared down “The Icon” and Allin. Allin seemed to welcome the challenge, motioning them to come down to the ring.  

Since Full Gear, Brandon Cutler has been posting on social media on behalf of the Jacksons. Immediately following Dynamite, he posted that the return of the Young Bucks has increased backstage morale tremendously. 

Sting’s Final Match

Nothing has been signed as of press time, but the events that transpired on Dynamite indicate that Sting’s final match will be a tag contest, teaming with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks. 

Whoever is standing across the ring from him that evening, it’s going to be a memorial occasion. AEW Revolution will takes place from the historic Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday, March 3, 2024.

Brodie Lee Honored

The AEW Dynamite Homecoming was also a celebration of the late, great Mr. Brodie Lee. Lee’s time in AEW was brief, but made a lasting impression. Many fans associate the venue with Lee. All of his AEW matches took place there, save for the tapings at the Nightmare Factory early on during the pandemic.

To honor Lee’s memory, his two handpicked wrestlers, Preston Vance (“10”) and Anna Jay (“99”) each competed in an 8-person match. They picked up the wins for their respective teams. 

Vance wore the ring jacket that Lee gifted him along with an armband with his mentor’s name. Jay wore a Lee shirt. Adam Copeland was part of the team that faced Vance’s. He donned a Jon Huber Toronto Maple Leafs themed shirt and hat. 

Posted January 11th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , , .

AEW Drowns Out Fans During Chris Jericho’s Dynamite Segment

AEW had a unique approach to their production when Chris Jericho made an appearance during the latest episode of AEW Dynamite. 

The January 10, 2023, edition of Dynamite saw the first appearance of new AEW World Champion Samoa Joe following his victory at Worlds End. Joe was confronted by Swerve Strickland and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page before HOOK got in the face of the champ. A title match between Joe and Hook will take place next week.  

Chris Jericho at AEW Dynamite

During the show, Sammy Guevara earned a victory over Ricky Starks, but was attacked by Starks and Big Bill after the match. Chris Jericho would come out to make the save, though his music would play throughout the entire segment. 

While Jericho’s theme is popular, using Judas throughout an entire segment is a new move by AEW’s production team. On Twitter, many suspected that this done to drown out boos from the crowd for Jericho, or keep fans ready to chant at the former World Champion distracted with singing his theme. 

You can check out some of the reactions by fans below. 

https://twitter.com/Gastodon/status/1745279367100424554https://twitter.com/KyleFourReal/status/1745270409610621278

Chris Jericho Allegations

It makes sense that AEW would want to drown out fans at AEW Dynamite, given the allegations against Jericho. AEW’s first World Champion allegedly acted inappropriately with Kylie Rae in 2019, which some have claimed led to Rae’s prompt exit from AEW that year. Jericho faced loud “Kylie Rae” and “NDA” chants at AEW Worlds End. Following the show, Tony Khan said that AEW took allegations very seriously but would not speak specifically about Jericho’s situation. 

Chris Jericho recently had some choice words for Stephen New, the lawyer of CM Punk & Ace Steel connected to Brawl Out… 

Posted January 11th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

Is Adam Cole Actually The Devil? One WWE Hall of Famer Doesn’t Think So…

Is Adam Cole actually the Devil, or is the ‘reveal’ fans saw at AEW Worlds End just the latest chapter in a story yet to be revealed? 

At the final pay-per-view of 2023, MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. In the closing moments of the show, the Devil’s henchmen were revealed to be Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow. The four men beat down MJF before Cole produced the Devil’s mask, seemingly confirming that he was the one behind the mask. 

Is Adam Cole the Devil? 

Since Worlds End, AEW has leaned in heavily to the idea that Cole is the Devil, and has even produced a new t-shirt featuring Cole and the iconic mask. On Busted Open Radio, however, Bully Ray shared his doubts that the former NXT Champion is the mastermind. 

“Adam Cole has never worn the Devil’s mask. He’s held it up, but he’s never worn it. If he’s the Devil, why has he never worn the Devil’s mask? This kind of goes back to my theory folks, of I think there’s another layer to this. And they’re going to stretch it out.

“Who that person is? I can’t tell you definitively. If I had to bet a dollar, I’d say it could be MJF. and know you’ve heard me say that before. Or maybe it’s somebody else? But I don’t think we’ve seen the final chapter of the Devil story. Specifically, because I’ve never seen Adam Cole in the mask. Does anybody else feel the same way that I do about the Devil? Do you think there’s another layer to this? We’ve gotta see, we’ve gotta see.”

Bully Praises AEW Dynamite Match

Adam Cole didn’t compete on this week’s Dynamite due to his injury, but his friend Roderick Strong was in action. While Strong was victorious against Bryan Keith, Bully Ray was impressed by the efforts of Keith. 

“The Roderick Strong segment, the Roderick Strong match. Do you know who I want to give some props to tonight? Bryan Keith. Now you might be saying to yourself ‘Uncle Bully, who the hell is Bryan Keith?’ Bryan Keith is the guy that Roderick Strong wrestled tonight and I thought that Bryan Keith did a pretty good job… I got some Bad News Brown vibes from Bryan Keith.”

What did Adam Cole and others in wrestling have to say after AEW Worlds End… 

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

Posted January 11th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , , .

Jeff Hardy Keeps Posting Possible Frustrations With The Hardys Booking In AEW

The Hardy Boys are a part of the AEW roster, but they did not get booked for the company’s January 10th Dynamite Homecoming episode. That fact was not lost on Jeff Hardy.

Jeff Hardy’s Interesting Instagram Post

Jeff Hardy dropped a post on Instagram right before AEW Dynamite went live. While promoting the lineup for the company’s January 10th episode, Hardy also made it very clear that his team will not be on Dynamite.

The Charismatic Enigma then made a little quip about how fans can find him in the Rampage Dimension instead.  Update: Jeff Hardy went to take down his post.

We,”TheHardys”will not be appearing on this live show called #AEWDynamite. We, “TheHardys”are stuck in the dimension of,”AEWRampage”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C18Jyn6r9KP

Possible Issues Brewing With The Hardy Boys In AEW

This is the first we’ve heard that would give us any indication that the Hardy Boys aren’t happy with their spot in AEW. All things considered, they are featured and get to wrestle on television. 

Then again, Jeff and Matt have made no secret about how they want another Tag Team Title run before they retire, and matches on Rampage may not be the right path to get them there.

It is also worth noting that, according to reports we’ve seen so far from Daily’s Place, The Hardy Boys were also not booked for AEW Rampage this week. They did announce a few matches already, and you may find them below.

AEW Rampage Card for January 12, 2024

  • Eddie Kingston (C) vs Wheeler Yuta – Continental Crown Championship 
  • Hikaru Shida vs Queen Aminata 
  • Swerve Strickland vs Matt Sydal

Update: Jeff Hardy Is At It Again

Jeff Hardy shared the AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts card on January 12th, along with an intriguing caption. This seemed to be another tongue-in-cheek post.

In the caption, he clarified that the Hardy brothers exclusively work Dynamite shows, providing insight into their absence from tonight’s lineup. 

Don’t miss #AEWCollision http://tonight.It’s gonna be another amazing Saturday night of pro wrestling like it always is. We,the Hardys only work 1 show a week…….because we’re the Hardys. We prefer #AEWDynamite. The dimension of #AEWCollision was designed for punks.

https://twitter.com/JEFFHARDYBRAND/status/1746263723193344410

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , , , .

Samoa Joe Debuts New Look For AEW World Title During 1/10 Dynamite Homecoming Episode

MJF lost the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at Worlds End, and that put the end to his impressive run as champion. Since Our Scumbag is taking a much-deserved hiatus, and his name is actually gone from the official AEW roster, Samoa Joe is carrying on as his own type of World Champion.

Samoa Joe Debuts New AEW World Title

Samoa Joe debuted his new AEW World Title on Dynamite this week. The setting for this moment was special, as Daily’s Place was host for Tony Khan’s flagship show once again.

Daily’s Place played home for AEW during the pandemic, and the crowd was hot for the night’s event. Samoa Joe’s promo stuck with the crowd, and they were all behind Joe as World Champion. 

Then Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland came out to join the promo party. This all culminated with Hook making his presence felt, as he reiterated a challenge he laid down during AEW Collision last week.

The new AEW World Title appears much like the leaked photo we reported on a while ago. The strap is black, and they have new side plates that can be customized. Joe has a nice new side plate to go with his title run.

Samoa Joe Hated MJF’s Burberry AEW World Title

In case you were unaware, this big change for the AEW World Title was totally expected. Samoa Joe ripped on MJF’s Burberry Title Belt during the AEW Worlds End press conference.

Joe did not appreciate MJF’s Burberry flair for the AEW World Title, either, as he called it “Knock-off Gucci.”

“Oh, this is going in the garbage, don’t worry about that. This trash right here. This little knockoff Gucci stuff that he got going on, it’s going away. We got the good belt, the right belt, something that’s designed well. I spoke with Tony Khan intensely about it, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

Samoa Joe will defend that new AEW World Title against Hook for his first opponent. That match will take place on the January 17th episode of AEW Dynamite.

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

“What good did it do? Nothing” – WWE Hall Of Famer Critical Of Tony Khan’s Handling Of Social Media

Tony Khan didn’t put the phone down on Tuesday. The AEW President addressed criticism once more on X and it has fans and wrestlers alike talking, including WWE Hall Of Famers.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray believed that Tony Khan reacting the way he did didn’t do him or AEW any favors when it comes to further arrows being slung his way.

“What good did it do? Nothing. Zero. You are allowing people to get to you. You are showing the world that social media is bothering you because he had to have read this HOOK outrage somewhere.”

Co-host Dave LaGreca mentioned that Tony Khan could have had a work-around response by just crediting HOOK for his resume in the ring rather than bring outside parties into the equation. Bully Ray agreed with that approach.

“If a million people tweeted at you and you felt the absolute necessity to pick up your phone and engage, that’s exactly what I would have said back.”

Instead, Khan decided to bring Jinder Mahal’s name into the mix and it opened up a floodgate of reactions, including igniting another X argument with former WCW President Eric Bischoff where Khan even shared a GIF stating that Bischoff was a “miserable has-been.” Bischoff in turn, joked about Khan’s wild hairstyle.

Khan has notoriously called out his critics on social media and some of his past targets included Shawn Michaels, Triple and Vince McMahon. He even took a jab at former WCW star Disco Inferno, which prompted his K100 co-host Konnan to implore Khan to be accepting of constructive criticism.

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

Orange Cassidy: “Jon Moxley Is A Leader For AEW”

Orange Cassidy leads by example and he believes Jon Moxley does too.

In a new interview with Adrian Hernandez, Cassidy commented on how Jon Moxley, a recent rival of his, has earned the respect of his pro wrestling peers and is undoubtedly a leader behind the scenes in AEW.

“Jon Moxley is a leader for AEW. I think a lot of people look to Jon Moxley for leadership. I am too, like Jon Moxley, a person that leads by example and I saw the example that he was setting and I was like, ‘You know what? I want to do that.’ I tried, but no one can be Jon Moxley because there’s no Jon Moxley.”

Orange Cassidy Thanks Jon Moxley

Cassidy continues giving Moxley his flowers, noting that it was the aggressive nature of Mox in the squared circle that unleashed a new Freshly Squeezed identity in the current AEW International Champion.

“I am forever in his debt for him changing and bringing up this version of me that is clearly a better version because I still have this thing (the AEW International Championship belt).”

Orange Cassidy has certainly established himself as a name star for All Elite Wrestling, getting his polarizing “peeled back” persona over with the fans. Cassidy has even earned the admiration from the likes of Kevin Nash, who once noted on his podcast that he loves his character.

On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Cassidy will team up with Dustin Rhodes, Adam Copeland and Preston Vance to face The Gates Of Agony, Lance Archer and Brian Cage in an eight-man tag.

Please credit Adrian Hernandez and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

Will Ospreay Confirms He Turned Down WWE Deal To Sign With AEW

Will Ospreay was revealed as AEW’s big signing at Full Gear. That did not mean he could jump straight into AEW’s storylines, because The Aerial Assassin needed to wrap things up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling first. Although he picked AEW, WWE was very much a contender for his services.

Will Ospreay Confirms WWE Offer Was Real

Will Ospreay is set to compete in his final NJPW match on February 11th before making the move to AEW. Despite receiving an offer from WWE, Ospreay has clarified his decision to join AEW.

In an interview with Gamespot, Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE but emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

“I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

Will Ospreay Speaks on Future AEW Matchups

With many available options and potential opponents in AEW, Will Ospreay shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for him as he prepares to engage with a new roster.

While Ospreay has thrived in Japan, the pro wrestling landscape is always changing; this is something he is all too familiar with as the 30-year-old former World Champion helped blaze a trail others area already walking on. 

Ospreay already got this hands dirty in AEW with a match against Chris Jericho, and now he can’t wait to see what awaits him. Obviously, he is looking for a top spot, and he isn’t afraid to share his championship intentions.

“There’s something for me to climb, there’s something for me to build upon. That first match with Chris Jericho, who is one of the biggest wrestling stars in the world, was probably the biggest star in the company at that time. I want to progress from that.”

“I want to see what other bucket [list items] I can tick. I want to go for championships. I want to go for world titles. I want to see what I can actually do because I’ve never been put in these situations. New Japan is a sports-based wrestling product, it isn’t really known for its on-screen personalities. So this is all new for me and I just want to test myself. I want to try my very best to swim in waters I’m not very sure of, so for me, this is all a challenge.”

Will Ospreay Almost Ended Up In America Years Ago

Will Ospreay’s latest deal in the wrestling world represents a significant move, as he finally signed with a North American pro wrestling company. That was not for lack of trying.

Paul Heyman offered Ospreay an EVOLVE contract 7 years ago during a Q&A where he just so happened to be in the front row. That contract was offered on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky, whom Heyman was simply delivering a message for in his own way.

Although Ospreay didn’t end up becoming a regular in EVOLVE, we can only imagine how much different the pro wrestling world would be today if he accepted it. Now, he can apply his trade in North America as an All Elite star.

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News, WWE. Tagged: .

AEW promotes 2 people amid backstage shakeup and departures

AEW has an official Vice President Global Programming & Partnerships. Shane Emerson, who has been with All Elite Wrestling since 2021, announced on his LinkedIn that he was given a new job title.

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Vice President Global Programming & Partnerships at All Elite Wrestling!”

Previously, Emerson was simply listed as the Head of Global Programming & Partnerships, a position he held since September 2021. Before that, Emerson worked for TNA’s parent company, Anthem Sports, in the same type of role for over a decade.

Another name to receive a promotion is Eric Murphy, who also announced via LinkedIn that he is a senior producer with AEW.

Other Internal Changes In AEW

While Emerson sees a new horizon under AEW, a few other long-time employees decided to ride off in the sunset.

Before 2023 closed its doors, QT Marshall asked for his release from the company. Marshall was an imperative part to the growth of AEW and was held in high regard backstage, partly due to his versatility. Marshall wore a lot of hats in AEW including coach, talent relations manager and on-air competitor.

Another name to leave is Dana Massie, who was in charge of AEW merchandise since the company launched. Massie is Matt Jackson’s wife and voluntarily made the decision not to continue with the company as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer.

The final notorioius name of note to exit AEW is Rafael Morffi. Morffi served as Vice President of Live Events/Touring but has decided to take a new job at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Morffi is a New York City native.

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

Will Matt Riddle Sign With AEW? Ex-Superstar Shares His Current Priorities

Matt Riddle isn’t opposed to joining All Elite Wrestling when the time is right, but it’s not high on the Original Bro’s post-WWE bucket list. 

Riddle, alongside other wrestlers, was released from the promotion in September, mere days after WWE parted ways with over 100 staff members from their offices in Stamford. Riddle was one of the biggest names released from WWE, a list that includes Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, and others. 

Will Matt Riddle be All-Elite? 

With his non-compete clause a thing of the past, Matt Riddle has been announced for several shows and events. One place fans have yet to see Riddle however is AEW, which is home to many former Superstars. Speaking during a virtual autograph signing, the former U.S. Champion was asked about potentially being All-Elite.

“Yeah, honestly, I feel like a lot of the talent when I got released, were going to try to do that. I wanted to think outside the box and maybe not rush right back into doing TV matches. TV is a lot different than wrestling on ppl or the Indies. There are commercials, they cut times, they change things.”

With Riddle not currently interested in AEW, the King of Bros shared what are his priorities at this time. 

“For me, right now, New Japan, MLW, the Indies, I can display my art and I’m not under such a crunch of time or requirement. I have a lot more freedom. TNA isn’t out of the picture either. There are certain things I wanted to do. I really wanted to work in Japan and I made that a priority.”

Matt Riddle plans on wrestling in Japan, and his wish is about to come true… 

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

AEW Hires Former WWE Employee As New Chief Operating Officer

Tony Khan’s initiative to shake up All Elite Wrestling’s front office has led to the hiring of a new Chief Operating Officer. Khan has tapped Kosha Irby for the role, according to reporting from Sean Ross Sapp and Dave Meltzer.

Irby previously worked for WWE as the Regional Director of Live Events from 2011 through 2018. He later moved on to work for Clemson University, and previously worked at Professional Bull Riding and the AAF’s Memphis Express.

Kosha Irby joining AEW comes amid a big shakeup within AEW

There has been several changes internally at AEW. QT Marshall and Dana Massie, both long-established employees who were a jack and jill of trades backstage, made their exit from the company while Rafael Morrfi has decided to leave his production position to work in his backyard of Brooklyn, NY for the Barclays Center. Morffi had previous experience in pro wrestling before entering AEW being involve with promotions like TNA Wrestling and MLW

Two current AEW employees happened to find themselves in new positions with the company. Announced via LinkedIn, Shane Emerson was revealed to be the company’s new Vice President of Global Programming and Partnership as he’s been with the company since 2021.

Additionally, another name to get the nod was Eric Muprhy who announced his new role as a senior producer.

Talent also leaving

Not only has AEW lost backstage talent, but on-screen talent too. Andrade El Idolo just left the company. Before that, AEW saw other names leave in 2023. Jade Cargill, Brian Pillman Jr., Sonny Kiss and Brock Anderson are no longer with the promotion after all spent several years important years with the promotion.

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News.

AEW Star Hopes For Less Tribalism Amid Tony Khan-Jinder Mahal Conflict

One All Elite Wrestling star is hoping to see less tribalism among wrestling fans, following the recent furor over the booking of Jinder Mahal. 

On this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, Mahal confronted World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins. After a verbal back-and-forth, the pair brawled. It was later confirmed that a title match would take place between the pair on next week’s episode of the Red brand. 

AEW star Wants Less Tribalism

The booking of Mahal hasn’t gone unnoticed by AEW President Tony Khan, who has had some choice words for the use of the Modern-Day Maharajah. Khan took aim at Mahal, the USA Network, and Eric Bischoff in his latest Twitter outburst. In response, Mahal questioned as to who FTW Champion Hook is in a post that has since been deleted. 

Now, AEW star Dustin Rhodes has weighed into the matter. While not addressing Khan’s comments of the various responses, Rhodes asked for fans to just enjoy wrestling, and to “lighten up on the tribalism.”

WWE commentator Corey Graves would have his own response to the controversy.

Tony Khan’s Twitter

This is hardly the first time that Tony Khan has run his mouth on social media. When AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT went head-to-head last October, Khan took aim at WWE and dubbed Triple H and Shawn Michaels “bald a**holes.” Khan did a lot of talking in the run-up to the head-to-head, so it was pretty embarrassing when NXT comfortably beat Dynamite. While NXT scored one of its highest ratings of all time, AEW Dynamite scored its worst score in close to two years. 

Posted January 10th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , , .

Jinder Mahal Speaks Out After Tony Khan Name Drops Him In Latest Social Media Outburst

Tony Khan saw that the USA Network’s official X account took a jab at him and his love of Cagematch ratings. The situation escalated quickly, and Jinder Mahal became more than aware that his name was brought into the conversation.

Tony Khan’s Unexpected Reply

Tony Khan’s most recent slew of posts on X was documented on SE Scoops. As you are probably aware, the AEW President threw shade at WWE’s booking for Jinder Mahal, as a Superstar who hadn’t won in nearly a year, but he is still getting a WWE World Heavyweight Title shot. 

Tony Khan made an argument in that post that Hook, who has a 28-1 record, is also deserving of a World Title shot.

A double standard: @730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage #AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS

Jinder Mahal Replies To Tony Khan

Jinder Mahal has a huge match against Seth Rollins on January 15th’s episode of WWE RAW. The Modern Day Maharaja saw what Tony Khan posted, but he is not going to let that distract him.

Mahal, instead of getting petty or firing off a vengeful reply, simply acted like he didn’t know who Hook is. He also took the opportunity to plug the upcoming episode of RAW in a now-deleted post. 

Who tf is Hook? WATCH MONDAY NIGHT RAW ON USA NETWORK MONDAY 8PM EST!

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It was not lost on anyone that Jinder also tagged the USA Network account that was responsible for this entire chain of events. As of this writing, the USA Network has not followed-up, but we have to wonder if they will post the Cagematch rating for Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal’s WWE World Heavyweight Title match when the numbers are released. 

Posted January 9th, 2024 in AEW, News, WWE. Tagged: , , .

Tony Khan Targets WWE’s Jinder Mahal In Latest Twitter Tirade

Tony Khan’s X account has 399.7K followers, and every single one of them are well aware that his account could explode at any moment with an unexpected post. The AEW President did not disappoint today.

How it started

This week during WWE Raw, the official USA Network X account replied to former Wrestling Inc owner Raj Giri, who was acknowledging the history between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal. 

The two former WWE Champions participated in a promo battle on the show and are set to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship next week on the January 15th episode of RAW. 

The response included a question about the Cagematch rating, seemingly taking a dig at AEW President Tony Khan, who often highlights the high Cagematch.net scores that AEW pay-per-views, shows, and matches receive.

The USA Network responded to Giri’s post to simply ask: What was the Cagematch rating?” This response blew up within the internet wrestling community, as fans both commended and criticized the account’s zero chill remark.

Tony Khan takes a shot at Jinder Mahal and WWE Booking

On January 9th, Tony Khan logged onto X, where he laid down a post about double standards. AEW has often been lauded as a “challenger brand,” and Khan was not shy about comparing Jinder Mahal’s WWE World Heavyweight Title shot to Hook being a logical challenger for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Title. 

A double standard: @730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage #AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS

… and keeps tweeting

Tony Khan was not finished there. He then directed a reply directly at the USA Network’s post asking about a Cagematch rating. The AEW President pointed out that Jinder Mahal has gone a full year without winning a match, yet he’s getting a big match opportunity.

A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it’s been literally a full year since he won a match. You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often.

Jinder Mahal Reacts

Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal replied to Tony Khan’s tweets about him and shut down in the situation in true ‘Modern Day Maharaja’ fashion.

Khan is familiar with expressing his thoughts and sparking discussions on social media. Last year, the AEW President shared a retweet, discussing how Shawn Michaels and Triple H aimed to convey a message to him through a loaded-up WWE NXT episode when their shows were in direct competition. He then proceeded to throw down a post where he called the WWE higher-ups “bald *ssholes.” 

Eric Bischoff Jumps In the Fray and things get even uglier

Tony Khan and Eric Bischoff directed some fiery tweets at each other in the aftermath of this situation. Bischoff called Khan a clown via emoji, and Tony replied by channeling the great Joan Collins to tell Bischoff he’s a ‘miserable has-been.’

A fan posted on X to say, “Tony forgets that he literally gave Abadon a title shot after being off AEW TV for over a year…. the same exact situation as Jinder.” Eric Bischoff noticed that post on X, and he replied to ask Tony Khan, “Hey Tony Khan is this true or is it a bot?”

Tony Khan then replied to Eric Bischoff, as he backed up his booking of Abadon.

No @EBischoff, not true at all. Abadon returned to AEW + then they won a 4 way match on TNT against other great wrestlers to earn a title shot, which is completely different than someone going a full year losing every match they’re in + getting a title shot without a single win.”

Tony Khan then followed that post up with another which said: “Reading would be your friend, Eric.”

Eric Bischoff promptly responded to Tony Khan, addressing AEW’s leader while referencing a Dave Meltzer quote.

“Oh kid, my reading comprehension skills are wizard like. By the way, that was one of @davemeltzerWON wicked comebacks whenever he’d get called out on his bs. Coincidence or are you really that deep?”

More reactions

Here are some more reactions from the wrestling world at Tony Khan’s latest Twitter activity:

Posted January 9th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

AEW Star Rey Fenix Is Working Hard Toward His In-Ring Return

AEW stars are not immune to injury, and this is all too apparent every time someone goes out of action for an extended period of time. Although Rey Fenix has been out of action since October, he is making strides for his return to the ring.

Fenix’s Injury Status

On October 2nd, Fenix dropped a post on Instagram, explaining how he became aware of his current injury. He wanted to be International Champion for AEW, but it just was not in the cards for him. He promised to keep battling in the ring, where he will leave it all, but that injury needed to be addressed.

The international championship has been a big challenge.The night I became champion, I left the arena with the championship in my hands and with an old injury bothering me again. My first defense was painful, it did not allow the pain to stop me and continue until the fight was over, this coming Wednesday will be my second defense and I am doing my best to enter that ring and retain the champion.I will defend this beautiful championship in any situation, a Luchador does not give up, a Luchador will always leave everything in every battle. I am a real Luchador and the man of a thousand lives, nothing and no one is going to stop me. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Fenix’s injury concerns his back, his hip, or possibly both, which poses challenges for the AEW star. He has been through a lot in his career, so the damage he put his body through understandably mounted up on him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:Cx6BheogAbG

Fenix Nearing In-Ring Return For AEW

In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Rey Fenix provided an update on his recovery efforts, acknowledging this injury as one of his most severe. Despite the setback, Fenix remains optimistic about making a return to the squared circle in the near future.

“We are working on the injury. It’s one of the worst, but I’m taking my time. I’m doing a good job with my recovery. I clear everything with the doctors. I’m following the doctor’s line. I’m doing my best and I think I think that soon I will be in the ring doing lucha libre, the thing that makes me so happy.”

Future Possibilities For The Death Triangle in AEW

AEW currently has several wrestlers sidelined due to injuries, and they are all in varying stages of rehabilitation. Despite being out of action, Fenix is putting in the effort to recover and return to the ring.

The Death Triangle, Fenix, Penta, and PAC, haven’t been full in AEW for some time. PAC has also been out of action with an injury, but 2024 may see the former AEW Trios Champions’ full-fledged return.

Posted January 9th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

Katsuyori Shibata Plans to End His Wrestling Career in AEW

Katsuyori Shibata doesn’t know when his wrestling career will come to an end but intends to spend the rest of his career in AEW. 

Shibata officially became All-Elite last month but has been competing for the promotion since 2022. Merely getting to this point is a huge feat for Shibata, who suffered a subdural hematoma in 2017 after a bout with Kazuchika Okada. At the time, it was thought that Shibata’s career had ended, but he would make a return to the ring at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 in early 2022. 

Katsuyori Shibata Wants to End His Career in AEW

Speaking to Tokyo Sports, Shibata commented on his health and his tenure with AEW thus far, compared to his run with New Japan. 

“I can’t work as an affiliated fighter. I guess that (New Japan’s decision) is not wrong. But if there is no place for me, then there is no reason for me to be here. I’ve regained a lot of my senses after competing in AEW, and I feel like I want to finish my career here.”

Shibata was also asked about his health. 

“I’ve been checked by a doctor, and I’ve given him a medical certificate. If I don’t clear it, I can’t compete.”

Shibata’s most recent match took place on the November 25, episode of AEW Rampage, where he lost the ROH Pure Championship to Wheeler Yuta. He has also challenged for the AEW International Championship and the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. 

Posted January 9th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

AEW’s Swerve Strickland Lands Role In Upcoming Slasher Movie

The star power of Swerve Strickland is only continuing to grow with the AEW wrestler landing a role in an upcoming slasher movie. 

Strickland will star in ‘Stiletto‘, a new film from Samuel Gonzalez Jr. which will see Gigi Gustin (Night of the Missing) star and produce. Other names attached to the film include Charlotte McKinney (Fantasy Island), Colleen Camp (Amsterdam, American Hustle), Pancho Moler (3 from Hell), Tyler Abron (Fear), and Stephen Blackehart (Guardians of the Galaxy)

A plot summary for the film reads as follows: 

“A year after the grisly murder of a local exotic dancer, the victim’s sister, Lyric [Gustin], searches for the serial killer responsible as he stalks and kills his favorite dancers on the night of the anniversary.”

It is unclear what role Strickland will have in the film. He is being represented by Fourth Wall Management and this will be his feature film debut. 

What’s Next for Swerve Strickland? 

While Strickland has yet to hold singles gold in AEW, many feel his time will come, possibly this year. Last month, Strickland declared that he will be AEW’s first African American World Champion, a goal he plans on achieving in 2024. Whatever Strickland’s future holds, it seemingly won’t include Keith Lee. The former allies were set to face off at Worlds End before Lee was pulled from the show due to a persistent injury. Speaking after the event, Strickland said he was done waiting for the Limitless One. 

Posted January 9th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

‘In An Ideal World’ Eric Bischoff Would Love Sting to Retire Against Ric Flair

Eric Bischoff knows Sting deserves a million dollar type send-off and in a universe where the stars aligned, he thinks The Icon would have the ultimate final match dance partner in Ric Flair.

Speaking on the latest episode of 83 Weeks, the former WCW President was joined by special guest co-host Matt Mitchell for an “Ask Eric Anything” episode and was asked about how would he handle Sting’s retirement match. Would he have him do a singles bout or team up in tag action to lighten the load? Bischoff gives a sound reason as to why he wouldn’t have him to a tag match.

“It’s faster paced, usually less emotion as a result of the pace and the fact that your attention is spread out.”

Bischoff then makes the case as to why he’d love to see Flair do his ‘Nature Boy strut’ across the ring from his longtime rival.

“In an ideal world (and it’s not an ideal world, trust me, I know that), but in an ideal world I would love for it to be Ric Flair. And I know I’m gonna get blistered, ‘Ah, Ric, he’s too old, blah, blah, blah.’ Bull****. Now Ric may not be interested in going out there and physically being in that position because again, he was almost dead a couple years ago so and 74 freaking years old so it’s kind of understandable that he’s not going to want to go out there and bounce around, but if he could, if he could go out there it would be the coolest thing in the world to see Ric Flair and Sting.”

bischoff flair sting 1

Bischoff understands that Flair vs. Sting in 2024 isn’t really possible, but hopes Sting gets a proper sendoff and delivers one more classic match.

“Whoever it is, I would want it to be meaningful from a storyline point of view, and I would want that person to want nothing more in his life than to make Sting look like a million bucks because he deserves that.”

Sting’s final battle will take place at the very PPV he made his AEW debut at three years ago, AEW Revolution.

Posted January 8th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , , .

Mercedes Mone’s AEW Arrival Is Expected Soon

Mercedes Mone is anticipated to make her debut on AEW television in the near future, according to sources within the company. The big question is when that debut will take place.

Mercedes Mone May Become All Elite

Dave Meltzer emphasized that the certainty of her appearance is contingent on the formalization of a signed contract. AEW has been known to have stars sign contracts just before their debut, so there is no word on whether anything official has been signed. 

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that there were no indications or teases during the last night’s show regarding Mercedes Mone’s potential appearance in Jacksonville. Despite this, AEW is reportedly expecting her to start her television journey soon. 

On last night’s show there were no teases for Mercedes Mone or for her appearing Wednesday in Jacksonville. What I know is that AEW does expect her to start on TV soon, but as noted, until it happens and the contract itself is signed, I wouldn’t consider anything 100 percent.

One would think there would be some sort of a tease of a surprise if she was to appear, since that’s been the case with most major signings. But Sting’s original debut in Jacksonville came out of nowhere.

Mercedes Mone’s Expected AEW Arrival

Dave Meltzer previously noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that, “WWE and AEW have clearly both been talking with her. Obviously this has gone on with AEW for months, if not a year, and she’s never signed yet. There was a lot of talk within wrestling of her on this week’s Dynamite, which she wasn’t on.”

He continued to say, “We do know that the expectation is she will be in AEW fairly soon, but until a contract signing is confirmed, anything can happen.”

AEW Dynamite will air their Homecoming episode from Daily’s Place on Wednesday, January 10th. That very well may be the first time we see Mercedes Mone grace an AEW ring, but AEW hasn’t dropped any blatant teases to confirm those theories yet.

There were talks between Mercedes Mone and WWE, but they reportedly hit a financial roadblock. Bayley still begs Mercedes to make a return at every chance she can, but it appears that the former Sasha Banks may sign with AEW after all. 

Posted January 8th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

Ethan Page Believes Cody Rhodes Paid Him Out Of His Own Pocket For All In Match

Cody Rhodes left his position as a top star and EVP for AEW, and he helped build that company in many ways. He also had a big hand in All In, the event which many agree spawned AEW’s creation. It turns out that he also paid for some of that out of his own pocket.

How Ethan Page Ended up on All In Card

Ethan Page played a role in the inaugural All In event back in 2018. The goal of All In was to demonstrate that an independent show could successfully sell 10,000 tickets, and the event’s triumph marked the birth of AEW. After being started by a $10 bet by Dave Meltzer, The Elite took on that challenge in a big way.

According to Ethan Page, he believes that Cody Rhodes personally invested to ensure his participation in this groundbreaking event.

The Bragman Breakdown podcast recently spoke to Ethan Page where he opened up about how he believes he was paid, because it came from Cody Rhodes’ own PayPal account. 

“Ultimately, my payment came from his name to my PayPal, so I’m pretty sure I was hand-selected by my friend to get this opportunity. The Bragman Breakdown” podcast. “He also put me in the media scrum… he was definitely looking out. I’ll always deliver on my end to make sure whoever puts their neck out for me is not doing it in a way that is going to get them in trouble. He definitely put his foot forward for me.”

How Ethan Page Ended up in AEW

Despite his involvement in All In, Cody Rhodes didn’t promptly secure a deal for Page with AEW. The former Impact Wrestling star only joined the promotion in 2021, a couple of years after its establishment. Nevertheless, Page doesn’t harbor any resentment towards Rhodes for the delayed signing, as he understands the reasons behind the decision.

Before joining AEW, Ethan Page had discussions with WWE. While acknowledging that Cody Rhodes reached out to him during this period, Page chose not to exploit their friendship to secure a deal with the company. Instead, he opted to sign a contract with AEW after parting ways with Impact Wrestling.

“Ironically, when I was signing with AEW, he told me that he wouldn’t [sign me] because he didn’t want me to be a friend hire, and that’s how I started my career. So I actually respected that. He’s always had my back, and I appreciate him putting me in that because it was such a huge spotlight.”

AEW did not own the rights to the All In show, because ROH helped produce the event. Later on, Tony Khan stated that attaining the rights to the All In event was a big selling point for him buying ROH.

Cody Rhodes may be raking up records and merchandise sales in WWE, as he tries to finish his story. Ethan Page is still in AEW, but he will never forget about everything the American Nightmare did for him.

Posted January 8th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

Brian Cage Shows Off Insane Bruising After Rough Spot On AEW Dynamite

Brian Cage was a stand-out performer wherever he went before arriving in AEW. He has made fans stand in awe as they watched the big man pull off moves nobody his size could do. Despite his incredible abilities, The Machine is still a man.

Brian Cage’s Latest Bad Bump

Brian Cage is not immune to injuries. Recently, Cage shared evidence of substantial bruises he took during an intense moment in his AEW Dynamite match last week. 

During the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Brian Cage participated in a fatal four-way match, facing off against Trent Beretta, Bryan Keith, and El Hijo de Vikingo. The was set to determine the next contender for the AEW International Championship. 

In the end, Trent Beretta emerged victorious, cementing his match against Orange Cassidy for his title. 

While taking to Instagram, Brian Cage posted a video showcasing the severe bruises he obtained during the match. These bruises were the result of a particularly intense spot where he was thrown onto his arm from the top rope. 

”Welllllll, I may or may not have gotten a “boo boo” last Wednesday night on Dynamite…..but I’m not a man, I’m a machine! And the show must go on. #takencareofbusiness #machine #cantstopwontstop #cantbereasonedwith #itsnotballet”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C11DeELL7cj

Brian Cage’s Future in AEW

Brian Cage committed to long-term contracts with both AEW and ROH before any speculation arose about his potential departure from AEW. Since then, he has seen a notable increase in his booking within the company.

Tony Khan knows what kind of talent he has on his roster, but The Machine may need a bit of rest to heal up from this latest batch of bruises.

Posted January 8th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

“Please Be Careful!” Kota Ibushi Warns Fans of “Scam” Clinic Operating in Tokyo

AEW’s Kota Ibushi has hit out at a clinic in the Asakusabashi district of Tokyo, Japan, which he claims is little more than a scam. 

In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ibushi speaks about being presented with a strange powder during a procedure. Ibushi added that the ‘scam’ is charging people 200,000 yen per visit, equivalent to $1384 USD. 

“As for the details of the C5 clinic scam that I mentioned before, it starts with an IV drip, but when it doesn’t work midway through, they bring a strange powder (marijuana) without permission, so isn’t this a problem for the police? This is a fraudulent clinic that operates in Asakusabashi and all over the country. Please be careful as it will take about 200,000 yen per time.”

You can see Ibushi’s deleted post below. 

ibushi tweet ses 1

Kota Ibushi’s Injury

Fans won’t be seeing Kota Ibushi in the ring for some time after suffering an injury during a recent match for Pro Wrestling NOAH.  Ibushi was seen clutching his foot after a moonsault, and reportedly walked into the match with an injury. Ibushi was rushed to hospital after the match. NOAH would later give an update on Ibushi, who suffered a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury. The Japanese wrestler has confirmed that he will have surgery to deal with this situation. There is no word on when he can be expected back in the ring. 

SEScoops wishes Kota Ibushi a speedy recovery.

Posted January 8th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

Matt Hardy Blasts “Pathetic” Fans Creating Narrative That Jeff Isn’t A Good Wrestler

AEW’s Matt Hardy has hit back at ‘haters’ who have taken aim at his brother Jeff following a mistake on the most recent episode of Rampage. 

The January 5, edition of AEW Rampage saw the Hardyz team with Mark Briscoe for the first time in their careers. The trio of tag-team specialists proved to be quite the group as they defeated Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade. 

Jeff’s Mistake & Matt Reacts

During the match, Jeff attempted to jump off his brother’s back but slipped in an awkward moment. Many fans leapt onto this mistake on social media and have attempted to make it into a big deal. Not every fan has acted this way, however, and one sarcastically commented that the world was going to end because Jeff made a mistake. Replying to this tweet, Matt pointed out that mistakes are bound to happen. The veteran also had some choice words about those trying to create a ‘narrative.’

Speaking about a Whisper in the Wind spot from Jeff’s return to AEW that was ‘botched’, Matt claimed that this was supposed to be messed up to show some ring-rust on his brother’s behalf. Matt also made it clear he’s extremely proud of what his brother has been doing. 

Jeff joined AEW in 2022 following his controversial release from WWE the previous year. In June of 2022, Hardy was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The case against Hardy was later dropped due to unreliable breath test results and he returned to programming in April 2023.

Posted January 8th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

PAC Expected Back Soon In AEW After Missing Months Of Action

AEW star PAC is set to make his return soon after close to half a year out of action with an injury. 

During a virtual signing for Highspots, Penta El Zero Miedo recently stated that PAC will be back in AEW soon. During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that the British wrestler is indeed expected to return in the not-too-distant future. 

“He’s back soon, I know that.”

PAC’s most recent match took place on the July 26, episode of AEW Dynamite, where he faced Gravity. In August, it was announced that PAC had suffered an injury, though it was unclear what sort of injury he was facing. This has been the latest setback for PAC, who was out of action from March to July of last year. That hiatus was because he needed to get a nose injury fixed. 

PAC in AEW

After his tenure with WWE as Neville ended in 2018, PAC joined AEW on January 8, 2019, one week after the promotion was announced. At AEW’s inaugural rally, PAC confronted ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, setting up a match for Double or Nothing. That match wouldn’t take place however as it was scrapped due to “creative differences.” 

In June 2022, PAC became the first AEW All-Atlantic Champion, which is today known as the AEW International Championship. He is also part of Death Triangle with Rey Fenix and Penta. He is a former AEW World Trios Champion and the first AEW star to be a double champion. 

Posted January 7th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

Mariah May Affected by Fire, Interesting Name at Collision, Kurt Angle Cameo & More

New AEW Trademark Filing

The fans of AEW will have a chance to ‘Get the Feeling’ thanks to a new trademark filing by the promotion. This week, AEW filed a trademark for the phrase for its use on merchandise, as well as at professional wrestling events. At this time, there’s no word on what ‘Get the Feeling’ will mean for the on-screen product. 

Interesting Name at AEW Collision

The January 6, 2024, edition of AEW Collision featured some top names, including Adam Copeland, Ric Flair, and Sting, but a different WWE Hall of Famer remained backstage. PW Insider reports that former NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA was backstage at the Collision taping in Charlotte, NC. 

Kurt Angle’s AEW Cameo

Kurt Angle has made it clear he’s a WWE guy, but that didn’t stop the Olympian from making a cameo for AEW this week. On Twitter, Stokely Hathaway shared a Cameo featuring Angle, in which he claims that Hathaway is a changed man to Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander. It seems Kurt didn’t stop recording when he should have, as the video ends with Angle asking Stokely where’s his money. 

Mariah May Home Affected By Fire

Mariah May looked to set the wrestling world on fire during her AEW in-ring debut this week before the debuting Deonna Purrazzo interrupted. On Twitter, May shared that the place she lives suffered a fire. Fortunately, everyone is okay and the hunky firefighters proved to be a silver lining for the British wrestler. 

Posted January 7th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

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