Hook may already be the reigning FTW Champion, but the second-generation wrestler feels it is now time to add the AEW World Title to his collection. 

This week’s AEW Collision was the first of the new year and the first episode following last weekend’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view. At that event, Samoa Joe won the AEW World Championship from MJF, ending the latter’s record-breaking reign. After the match, Adam Cole would be revealed as the Devil with Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow as his minions. 

Hook is Coming for Samoa Joe

During this week’s AEW Collision, FTW Champion Hook appeared and pointed out that his win/loss record in the promotion is second to none. Hook added that it’s time for him to go after another championship. Hook went on to say that thanks to ‘personal connections’ he’s had a close eye on the person he has his crosshairs on. Hook ended his promo by making it clear he’s coming for Samoa Joe and his AEW World Championship. 

#FTW Champion HOOK is calling his shot!

Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@730HOOK pic.twitter.com/u3ZViFFHZV

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 7, 2024

Hook in AEW

Hook debuted for AEW in 2020 and wasted no time in aligning himself with his father Taz as part of Team Taz. It wouldn’t be until December of 2021 that Hook made his in-ring debut, besting Fuego Del Sol on an episode of Rampage. 

Hook is a two-time FTW Champion, a title introduced by his father in the original ECW. Hook’s current reign began with his victory over Jack Perry during the AEW All In Zero Hour pre-show. 

Tony Khan is proud of what AEW has been able to do since the company opened their doors. He also knows that there are some big subjects that need to be addressed.

MJF’s Removal From The AEW Roster Page

MJF lost the AEW World Title at Worlds End, and Adam Cole later stated during AEW Dynamite that MJF is never coming back. So far, the Salt of the Earth has not been seen again, but recent developments are quite interesting for his AEW status.

MJF disappeared from the AEW roster as 2024 started. Many fans took notice, and Tony Khan has now addressed a question about what is going on.

While speaking on the Going Ringside podcast, Tony Khan was asked about MJF’s absence from the AEW roster page. TK didn’t provide a definite explanation, but he did suggest that MJF was great for the company.

“I can say that MJF certainly has been a great part of AEW for the first five years. And through those five years, certainly, he’s been one of our great homegrown stars…and he’s somebody we really value and I would love to have MJF in AEW in the future, should the contractual situation allow.”

“Certainly MJF is somebody we would love to have an AEW going forward. And he’s been a great wrestler and a great champion for us.”

Tony Khan Addresses WWE’s Talks With WBD

WWE and Warner Bros Discovery could shake up the pro wrestling world in a huge way if they lock in a deal for RAW. Although NXT is going to The CW and The USA Network is getting SmackDown in October 2024, RAW’s new destination has yet to be revealed.

WBD and WWE are said to be talking about the red brand. Tony Khan addressed the talk of WBD acquiring WWE’s flagship show, as he reiterated how strong AEW’s relationship is with Warner Brothers Discovery.

“It’s part of sports. I think everybody discusses contracts and free agency and things of that nature. I think everybody is aware that everybody is going to be talking to everybody in media this coming year. There will be certainly a lot of opportunities. We’ve had a great history with Warner Brothers Discovery and continue to produce great ratings. We’ll be in a very good position next year.”

CM Punk’s WWE return reportedly brought Warner Brothers Discovery’s interest to a new level. 2024 will definitely see WWE RAW declare a new home, but the big question remains regarding where the longest running weekly episodic television show in history will call their next home.

Adam Copeland wasn’t at this week’s episode of AEW Rampage, but the company did give a nod to the Rated R Superstar’s days before joining WWE. 

Copeland joined AEW at WrestleDream in October 2023 and has been feuding with Christian Cage ever since. The two competed over the TNT Championship during a December episode of Dynamite which saw Cage retain the title. At AEW Worlds End, Copeland won the title, marking his first championship win in nearly 13 years. Unfortunately, his reign would be short-lived as thanks to Killswitch, Cage was able to reclaim the title moments later. 

AEW’s Tribute to Sexton Hardcastle

Before he was known as Edge in WWE, Adam Copeland worked under the infamous name of Sexton Hardcastle on the independent scene in his native Canada. While fans didn’t see Sexton Hardcastle on Rampage, they did see Kennedi Hardcastle compete in a tag-team match. 

While some may have seen this as a mere coincidence, further investigation shows that this was a deliberate reference by AEW. Kennedi Hardcastle’s real name is Kennedi Copeland, and though she shares the same last name as the former World Champion, the two aren’t related. On Twitter, Kennedi confirmed this wasn’t a coincidence and admitted to being a huge fangirl of the WWE Hall of Famer. 

Admittedly I’m a huge fangirl. It’s a good thing he wasn’t there bc I would have lost my shit. ?

— Kennedi Hardcastle (@KennDawgHard) January 6, 2024

AEW Rampage Results: January 5, 2024

Here are the results for the January 5, 2024, edition of AEW Rampage: 

• The Hardys and Mark Briscoe defeated The Butcher, Blade, and Kip Sabian.

• Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale defeated Kennedi Hardcastle and Notorious Mimi

• Hikaru Shida defeated Anna Jay

• Wheeler Yuta (c) defeated Komander (Ring of Honor PURE Championship)

The career of Kota Ibushi may be coming to an end sooner than later judging by a tweet from the Japanese wrestler. 

At the Pro Wrestling NOAH event on January 1, Ibushi was transported to a hospital after injuring his ankles. The Japanese star, who signed with AEW last year, reportedly walked into the match with a broken ankle but still wrestled the 30-minute main event against Naomichi Marufuji. This match understandably made his injury situation worse and itsbeen confirmed that Ibushi will undergo surgery. 

Kota Ibushi Teases Retirement

In a tweet translated from Japanese, Ibushi teased that his days in the ring may be numbered. 

I came here with the goal of being able to do it for 20 years, and I think it’s about time. There are still a lot of things left on my contract, but I want to complete them!

“I try not to talk too darkly or think about the future, but I have to take care of my mother and other things, so I’ll talk about it when the time comes! Don’t miss a match. 

??20???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????1??1?????????

— ?? ?? (@ibushi_kota) January 6, 2024

Is Kota Ibushi’s Career Ending? 

This isn’t the first time that Ibushi has addressed leaving the wrestling ring behind. Last month, Ibushi said that he’d considered retirement after suffering a shoulder injury during the NJPW G1 Climax in 2021. In the interview, Ibushi said that he doesn’t know when he’ll be finished, saying it could be tomorrow, next year, or ten years from now. 

As of this writing, there is no word on when Ibushi will return to the ring. We at SE Scoops are continuing to wish him the best in his recovery. 

Mariah May just made her way to America thanks to AEW inking her to a contract. She had an eventful past couple of months, and today was no different, as she had to escape from a fire.

Mariah May’s Fiery Incident

Mariah May used her X account on January 5th to update her fans and followers following a fire incident in her building. Luckily, she is safe from harm, and nobody else was hurt in the fire.

Mariah said that despite the fire, everyone emerged safely. Adding a touch of humor, May also noted that the responding firefighters were noteworthy nice to look at, so that was a perk.

sad news… the building I live in had a fire good news…

everyone is ok and the firefighters are sexy

sad news… the building I live in had a fire

good news… everyone is ok and the firefighters are sexy

— Mariah May ? (@MariahMayx) January 5, 2024

Mariah May replied to her own post, where she added a bit more information. She is safe and sound, and it seems she also has more four-legged friends after helping some animals escape the blaze. So, she considers that a win.

and I made friends with some animals I carried out

a win is a win

and I made friends with some animals I carried out

a win is a win

— Mariah May ? (@MariahMayx) January 5, 2024

Mariah May in AEW

Mariah May made her way to AEW by way of STARDOM. She was placed alongside Toni Storm as her biggest fan, vying for the Timeless One’s attention in any way. As Mariah May continues her road in All Elite Wrestling, odds are she will gain Toni Storm’s attention eventually.

AEW star Rush recently revealed that he competed through the majority of the AEW Continental Classic tournament while dealing with an injury.

‘El Toro Blanco’ competed in the Gold League of the AEW Continental Classic where he acquired six points by defeating Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal while losing to Jay White, Jon Moxley, and Swerve Strickland.

The tournament certainly took a toll on the wrestlers and it turns out Rush pushed himself to the limits by battling through the injury.

Rush will be on the sidelines 

In a social media post on Thursday, Rush revealed that he suffered a torn hamstring during his second Continental Classic match. He didn’t reveal the degree of his hamstring tear but he vowed to recuperate and make a comeback when he’s ready . He added the he will return hungrier than ever.

“In the #AEWContinentalClassic I tore my hamstring in the second match I had,” Rush wrote. “I will recover and return ready and hungrier than ever for a fight.”

In the #AEWContinentalClassic I tore my hamstring in the second match I had.

I will recover and return ready and hungrier than ever for a fight.#LFI #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/1KczV1DxoU

— RUSH OFICIAL (@rushtoroblanco) January 4, 2024

The bout Rush is talking about was his victory over Mark Briscoe on AEW Dynamite on November 29. Since then, Rush has competed in four matches (three more on Dynamite as a Continental Classic match, and an eight-man showcase tag match at the Worlds End PPV on December 30). It is currently unclear how long Rush will be out of action.

Rush inked a new deal with AEW in July and he’s leading  Los Faccion Ingobernables, having Preston Vance, the former member of the Dark Order, and Rush’s brother Dralistico in the faction.

Meanwhile, at AEW Worlds End pay-per-view in December 2023, Rush teamed with Lethal, White & Brody King to face Briscoe, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia in a losing effort.

We at SEScoops wish Rush a swift recovery.

The Blackpool Combat Club is yet to formally announce a female member, but Marina Shafir may soon be representing the faction overseas.

The BCC came together in March of 2022, with Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson and William Regal as the founding members. Later that year, the group would welcome Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta into the fold.
While Regal has since left AEW for WWE, the British veteran remains in touch with his BCC allies.

Marina Shafir in the Blackpool Combat Club?

At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, Jon Moxley represented the BCC when he competed to be the first NJPW Global Champion. Unfortunately for Moxley, both he and Will Ospreay lost to David Finlay, who brawled with Nic Nemeth after the match. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Moxley spoke about his plans for 2024.

“The Blackpool Combat Club has plans in Japan for 2024 and beyond. I want to comeback with Bryan Danielson, with Claudio Castagnoli, I want to get Wheeler Yuta, our young rookie out here and have him test himself.”

Moxley then addressed the women’s division in New Japan and teased bringing in Shafir as a BCC member.

“Marina Shafir, she wants a shot in Japan. Bring the best women you’ve got because that’s one of the baddest b*tches walking the planet and she’ll come over here representing the Blackpool Combat Club.”

Shafir has proven her toughness in the ring countless times, and teamed with Ronda Rousey during the latter’s appearances outside of WWE last year. Moxley’s BCC ally Bryan Danielson fared no better at Wrestle Kingdom 18. The American Dragon lost to Kazuchika Okada in a rematch from AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door II.

H/T – Fightful

Britt Baker, apart from Brandi Rhodes, was among the first female talents signed by Tony Khan. Transitioning from the indies with limited television presence, Baker rose to prominence as a key figure in AEW’s women’s division. However, her visibility on television has significantly decreased lately.

Britt Baker’s AEW Absence

On November 29th, Britt Baker dropped a post on X which insinuated that she isn’t thrilled about how much she’s been used in 2023 by AEW. 

It’s no secret that Britt Baker received zero promos in 2023, which is a total surprise. She held the microphone down on a weekly basis for promos during the pandemic era. Now, things are much different in AEW.

Britt Baker Speaks On Lack Of Television Time In AEW

Britt Baker spoke with DS Shin on Ring The Belle, where she opened up about her lack of exposure on AEW television in recent memory. She also gave credit to the AEW fan base for their passion.

“I think with our very passionate fans, they’re very vocal with what they want, what they don’t want, what they like, what they don’t like. We listen, I listen. If they are telling me they want [more] or less of something, okay, I hear you loud and clear. A lot of them said, ‘We want less Britt Baker.’ So, if that’s what they want, that’s what they’ll get. Let me take a step back. Here are the rest of the women. Someone else take the ball and run with it, make the women’s division about you, and you be the face of the women’s division. When no one else can do that, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces and do it all over again.”

Britt Baker On Being A Real-Life Wrestling Dentist

Britt Baker is a real-life dentist, which she still keeps a practice. She also went into detail about how weird it was at times as AEW’s resident dentist when she was out in the real world. 

“It’s a weird territory with fans coming into the dental office, something you can’t prepare [for]. They don’t teach me that in dental school how to deal with fans coming into my office. So we’ve had some weird situations. My staff, they’re great with handling it. They really are. But you have to pick and choose those battles. So, I actually don’t take any new patients. It’s all my old patients that I know are tried and true dental patients and not crazy fans in disguise.”

Britt Baker has been backstage in recent memory for AEW’s television tapings. That did not see her get any screen time. Perhaps, Tony Khan is waiting for that right moment. With Deonna Purrazzo’s recent debut for AEW, it seems that there is no shortage of fresh names for Britt Baker to wrestle.

Deonna Purrazzo has become the newest member of the AEW roster and has wasted no time in making her championship aspirations very clear. 

On this week’s Dynamite, Mariah May made her in-ring debut for AEW with a victory over Queen Aminata. After her win, May was disappointed that her debut match had to take place in New Jersey. This jibe brought out the debuting Purrazzo, a New Jersey native who took issue with this insult. 

“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo is here to ruin Mariah May’s debut on #AEWDynamite!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@DeonnaPurrazzo | @MariahMayX pic.twitter.com/MoL2J3G9LU

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 4, 2024

Purrazzo confronted May and made it clear she is coming for her and May’s idol, AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm. 

“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo is ALL ELITE and coming for “Timeless” Toni Storm!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@DeonnaPurrazzo | @MariahMayX | “Timeless” #ToniStorm pic.twitter.com/z6vNTFzDxr

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 4, 2024

In a tweet, AEW President Toni Khan confirmed the arrival of Purrazzo to the roster. 

It's official: @DeonnaPurrazzo is ALL ELITE!

What a great moment for the hometown hero, The Virtuosa TONIGHT on @TBSNetwork on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite! pic.twitter.com/3ALoe6b1OT

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 4, 2024

Support from the Crowd

Purrazzo had a ton of support from her fellow New Jersey residents in the crowd, and one person of note was there as well. IMPACT Wrestling’s Steve Maclin was spotted at the show watching Purrazzo’s debut. Maclin and Purrazzo began dating in 2020 and married in November 2022. 

Deonna wasn’t alone tonight ? pic.twitter.com/r1oegebpgh

— Kimmy (@kimmy_sokol) January 4, 2024

WWE Talks

Purrazzo is a huge get for AEW as there had been speculation that the Virtuosa would end up returning to WWE. Fightful Select reports that Purrazzo and WWE had had talks but obviously did not come to terms. WWE sources indicated that not, if not all of their free-agent discussions had been tabled until the new year started. While Purrazzo won’t be a WWE Superstar, her best friend Chelsea Green was very happy to see her AEW debut. 

DEONNA PURRAZZO ????

— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) January 4, 2024

Deonna Purrazzo reached a huge personal milestone in August of last year. Click here to find out more. 

Adam Copeland wore one of his iconic pieces of ring gear last weekend at AEW Worlds End for his match against Christian Cage.

Copeland has had many memorable feuds throughout his decades-long career. His 2006 rivalry against fellow Hall of Famer Mick Foley stands out as one of his best. It culminated at WrestleMania 22, when the Rated R Superstar survived a Hardcore match against the hardcore legend to extend his WrestleMania record to 5-0. 

Edge kept his WrestleMania 22 gear. All these years later, he decided his match against Christian at Worlds End was the perfect opportunity to wear it one more time.

Edge’s WrestleMania 22 Gear

Copeland recently spoke with Sam Roberts on the Not Sam wrestling podcast and explained that he wanted to wear the WrestleMania 22 gear to signify the level of violence (and fire) he was going to bring to that match.0

He still had the Rated R Superstar camouflage pants, whoever somebody stole the Dickie’s work shirt that went with it when he was at a show in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  He then told a funny story about taking his family to a Walmart in North Carolina looking for a shirt to recreate the one he lost. 

He wound up teaching himself how to hammer double sided rivets into shirts, so he could punch all the holes necessary to have the leather ‘star’ on the shirt that the original had. “It was a process!”

Here’s Adam Copeland’s 2-hour interview with Sam Roberts for NotSam Wrestling:

Adam Copeland entered AEW after allowing his WWE deal to expire. That was quite a shocking moment for fans all over, but he’s embracing this late chapter of his career and intends to make the most of it.

During a recent discussion with Sam Roberts for the Not Sam Wrestling podcast, the Copeland shared candid feelings about wrestling at 50 years old. He still senses the addictive nature of the business and feels capable competing at a high level, but doesn’t want to overstay his welcome.

“Well, it is it is and it is addictive, yeah, there’s no way around it. I’ve tried to explain to people, ‘You got theme music and as soon as a note hits, a crowd erupts. And you get pyro, and do like, you are a puppet master in a way because you’re telling a story live, and you’re getting instant gratification to know whether that story is hitting on all cylinders. If it’s falling flat, whatever it is, that’s super fun, and there’s a lot of little stuff in there in that bottle. Yeah, and that.. that’s… that’s tough to walk away from, when I was forced to.”

After departing WWE, he looked at the AEW roster and saw new challenges and lots of talent he wants to work with. It’s important for veterans to pass along their knowledge to the next generation, but Copeland says some ‘legends’ just don’t know when to walk away. He doesn’t want to be that 60 year old guy who is clinging on to the past.

“I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way at all,  but I just don’t want to be that guy… maybe this is how I know I’m getting older. I’m at the point now where when I saw Dennis Stamp on ‘Beyond The Mat’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s the guy you don’t want to be.’ But now I’m like, there is a certain romance to being that guy who’s just like, ‘Nope, this is my life and this is what I’m doing and I’m fully just I’m accepting it.”

Dennis Stamp was featured in Beyond The Mat, and his part in the documentary was both sad and enlightening for many. Copeland does not want to repeat any of those mistakes that he has seen veterans make as they cling onto the spotlight, even chasing it to disastrous ends.

When will Adam Copeland retire?

Adam Copeland has been given the gift to retire on his terms, so when will that be? He’s trying to stay realistic and sees himself competing for two or three years tops.

“Even though it’s been four or five years back now, it’s not like I got another four or five in front of me. I know I don’t. We’re looking at like a two year window here to be able to get as much done as I can get done, tell as many stories as I can”

Copeland and Christian are still engaged in a feud on television. This is something that Copeland wanted out of his time in AEW, but he also wants to work with other stars that he has not had a chance to share the ring with yet. 

Through it all, Adam Copeland may be approaching an actual in-ring retirement eventually, but he will not lose focus or perspective.

Adam Cole will (hopefully) explain his actions at Worlds End during tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS. 

At AEW Worlds End, MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. In the closing moments of the show, Adam Cole revealed himself as The Devil while Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow were his henchmen. In his first remarks after Worlds End, Cole tweeted that it was a new year and fans were seeing the real him. On Twitter, it was confirmed that Cole will speak on tonight’s show. 

TONIGHT, 1/3@PruCenter Newark
Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite@TBSNetwork | 8pm ET / 7pm CT

At Worlds End, Adam Cole revealed that he’s been the Devil all along.

We’ll hear an explanation from @AdamColePro LIVE on TBS at 8pm ET / 7pm CT,
TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/92K9bljQbK

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 3, 2024

MJF is Missing

One name fans shouldn’t expect to hear from tonight is MJF himself. The former AEW World Champion is reportedly taking time off to heal up from injuries. MJF acquired several injuries throughout his run as champion but reportedly insisted on seeing his reign to the end. MJF’s profile has been removed from AEW’s roster website, seemingly referencing MJF’s contract expiring on January 1. However, it is believed that MJF signed a lengthy new deal with AEW months ago. 

AEW Dynamite – January 3

Tonight’s show will see the triumphant return of Samoa Joe, fresh off his victory at Worlds End. The show will also see the AEW International Championship on the line as record-breaking champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Dante Martin. 

.@lucha_angel1 is back in full force and is looking for an opportunity at #AEW gold!

Order #AEWWorldsEnd LIVE on PPV!
??: https://t.co/TiDZIQm5Hp
?: https://t.co/2USw7IAedK pic.twitter.com/fDUkeNAUUF

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 31, 2023

Mariah May will also make her AEW in-ring debut during tonight’s edition of Dynamite. The British wrestler will face Queen Aminata. Swerve Strickland will take on Daniel Garcia while fans will hear from the two-time and new AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage. 

Andrade and Miro threw down at AEW Worlds End, and the Redeemer won that confrontation. That was also Andrade’s final match in AEW, as he put the former Rusev over on his way out. Now, Andrade has a message for those he is leaving behind in AEW.

Andrade’s Message About His AEW Exit

Andrade El Idolo has officially left AEW and made his sentiments public on X regarding his departure. He did so with a text graphic. In his statement, he relayed appreciation to the company, particularly singling out Tony Khan. 

Andrade also mentioned several individuals by name, including Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Tazz, Tony Shiavone, Aubrey Edwards, Jerry Lynn, Will Hobbs, Hook, Eddie Kingston, Ricky Starks, Orange Cassidy, Thunder Rosa, Jack Perry (Jungle Boy), Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Sonjay Dutt, and many others.

Andrade also addressed sharing the ring with people like Sting, PAC, Darby Allin, Jeff Hardy, Jay Lethal, and more. He had some great experiences in AEW, but now he is going onto the next phase of his life.

“I want to thank you for this time that I belonged to the company @aew and above all to Tony khan I also want to say goodbye to all the talent, security people, cameramen, referees and everyone who works in the company for being part of my time in AEW. Kenny, young bucks, Tazz, Shiavone, Aubrey, Jerry, Hobbs, hook, Kingston, Ricky, Orange, thunder, jack Perry, Austin, Colten, Sonjay and many more that I can name, also how to forget all the Mexicans (todo el relajo) | enjoyed sharing the ring with STING, PAC, Darby, García, Jay and many more. I would have loved to face MOX, Page, Hobbs, Ricky, Dante, Cage, Dustin. Thank you AEW AND Thank you to all the fans for your support always. I wish you the best always!!!”

Thank you so much @AEW @TonyKhan ?????? pic.twitter.com/yAers9cMTH

— “EL IDOLO” ANDRADE (@AndradeElIdolo) January 2, 2024

Andrade’s Future In Pro Wrestling After AEW Exit

Andrade El Idolo is expected to make a return to WWE at this point. His wife, Charlotte Flair, inked a new extension with the company, which is one of the biggest female contracts in pro wrestling history.

WWE did not book Andrade el Idolo to return during the January 1st Day 1 RAW. There are other possible events for him to make that big debut at, especially with Triple H calling the shots.

AEW star Malakai Black recently fired back at a fan, who made bold claims regarding him not competing in singles matches. 

The former NXT Champion has been leading The House of Black stable, which comprises of Brody King and Buddy Matthews since returning from injury in October last year. 

Black had been recuperating with a slight calf tear and knee hyperextension which put him on the sidelines for several months. However, fans have noticed that Malakai Black has not been competing in singles matches for quite some time now which sparked a rumor.

One of the fans on social media claimed that Black has not only refused to lose singles matches but he has prioritized other talent over himself. 

Malakai Black responds

Black couldn’t help but fire back at the fan and called him a “goofb**l” and said that the claim was “bull****” and the former Aleister Black made it clear that he has never refused to lose or put someone over.

“Usually I don’t reply because these laughable takes from goofb*lls like this nerd is why this place is the equivalent of people opening their front doors and screaming their excrement laced opinions into the street, however: bull*****, never happened, isn’t a thing. Happy NY.”

Usually I don’t reply because these laughable takes from goofballs like this nerd is why this place is the equivalent of people opening their front doors and screaming their excrement laced opinions into the street, however: bullshit, never happened, isn’t a thing. Happy ny. https://t.co/5kJ6X3YGjo

— Malakai Black (@malakaiblxck) January 1, 2024

It is well noted that Black hasn’t competed in a singles match in over a year and it is something to think about. There were teases that he and Bryan Danielson would ignite a feud last year. However, AEW went in a different direction when Danielson suffered an injury. 

It is unclear when Malakai Black will return to singles competition as he continues to compete in trios bouts with the other members of House of Black for the time being. In the past he has expressed his frustrations with the lack of singles matches in AEW. Read more below:

Mike Santana and Ortiz joined AEW in 2019, quickly becoming fixtures in the tag team division. Proud n Powerful had a lot of momentum coming into AEW as the former LAX, but that team is no longer a factor. 

Why Mike Santana & Ortiz Split Up

Unfortunately, Mike Santana and Ortiz’s relationship soured, leading to a permanent split. Last year, they made a surprising return but remained at odds. Aligning with the Blackpool Combat Club for the Stadium Stampede match at AEW All In, their partnership was short-lived. 

Despite a feud that ended with Mike Santana winning on the October 25th Rampage, fans were disappointed they didn’t reunite for another run. The two are not going to reunite, from everything we can tell.

The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast recently spoke to Ortiz, where his split with Santana came up. He made it clear that their team’s disbanding was totally Santana’s call.

”Unfortunately, it wasn’t the company’s call to split us (Santana & Ortiz). Me and Santana just couldn’t get it together personally and he was just very adamant about not working with me anymore. So, the company kind of had no choice but to split us up, right? So they’re like, ‘Okay, you’re just not gonna not tag. It doesn’t make any sense. Let’s at least make this make sense why you split.'”

Mike Santana & Ortiz’s Future

Mike Santana has been missing from AEW television since concluding his program with Ortiz. He remains part of AEW and continues to accept independent bookings. 

The future of the former tag team is uncertain, but it appears that if a reunion is in the cards, then they have a lot of personal issues to work through first.

WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk proved to have quite the 2023, which saw the Best in the World become PW Tees number one best-selling wrestler. 

Punk moved more merchandise on PW Tees and Shop AEW than any other wrestler, according to data from PW Tees themselves. Jay Briscoe, who passed away in January, took second place, with shirts being released in his memory. MJF, who lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at Worlds End, took third place. 

You can check out the top 25 selling wrestlers on PW Tees below. 

Happy New Year! Check out the 2023 PWT Top 25 Selling Wrestlers. This includes all merchandise sold on PWTees & ShopAEW. We wish Jay were here to see his photo at the top of this list ??. pic.twitter.com/js1ZoAsMkQ

— Pro Wrestling Tees (@PWTees) January 1, 2024

CM Punk in 2023

Punk’s accolade is even more impressive when you consider that he spent the vast majority of 2023 not appearing on TV. Punk was suspended going into 2023 due to his role in the AEW All Out 2022 backstage brawl with The Elite. Punk was brought back to TV to be the main star of AEW Collision when the show launched in June. 

Just two months after his return, however, Punk was again suspended from AEW, this time for his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In. A week after this incident, Punk would be released from AEW shortly before the All Out show in Chicago. Tony Khan stated that he was fearing for his life during Punk’s outburst backstage at Wembley Stadium. 

With his ties to AEW well and truly burnt, Punk shockingly returned to WWE in November at Survivor Series. The following month, he would compete in his first WWE match in close to a decade, defeating Dominik Mysterio inside Madison Square Garden. 

Sasha Banks’ WWE walkout in May 2022 still stands as her swansong with the company. Although there was some hope that Mercedes Mone would come back to WWE, it appears that homecoming hit a snag.

Mercedes Mone’s WWE Return is Reportedly Nixed

Mercedes Mone and WWE were talking about a return for The Boss. Then, they hit a financial roadblock, as the two sides couldn’t come together when it came to money.

It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone is no longer expected to make a WWE return. The expectation is that she will go somewhere else, and that will be very soon.

AEW Is Expected to Get Mercedes Mone

Now, a new report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select points to the idea that Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut is now the most popular idea for her. 

Those that we’ve spoken to expect her to land in All Elite Wrestling, though nobody could confirm she’s signed on the dotted line. Of late in both WWE and AEW, there have been instances – specifically with Will Ospreay and CM Punk – where the physical contracts were not signed until the day of their appearances with AEW and WWE respectively. One source claimed that they heard AEW and Mercedes were close to agreeing on terms, but said “it’s never official until it’s official.”

Nothing is official until it actually happens, because pro wrestling contracts can come together in a hurry. AEW has lost a few notable names in recent memory, but bring in Mercedes Mone could be a massive boost for their roster.

Recent reports indicated that AEW’s Vice President of Live Events and Touring, Rafael Morffi, was set to leave the promotion after the Worlds End event on December 30. Morffi, one of AEW’s founding executives, was tasked with coordinating AEW live event tours, which included booking venues, local marketing, and other logistics. 

Following his exit from AEW, Morffi is now expected to transition into a senior executive position with the Barclays Center in New York City, where he will be responsible for booking events in entertainment and sports. Morffi will also reportedly be working under the Brooklyn Nets’ owners as well. 

In addition to AEW, Morffi is also known for his previous behind-the-scenes work in TNA Wrestling, WWE, and Tommy’s Dreamer House of Hardcore independent promotion. 

Morffi Confirms His Exit, Sends Departing Message

On December 31, Morffi confirmed his exit on X (formerly Twitter), posting a departing message directed to AEW President Tony Khan, as well AEW talent and staff.

“Thank you @TonyKhan @AEW talent, staff. I’ll forever remember my time at #AEW fondly,” Morffi wrote. “2024 will be the start of a new era in my professional career. Been blessed with a wonderful opportunity. Excited to start this new journey & challenge soon. Happy New Year-stay safe & sound!”

Thank you @TonyKhan @AEW talent, staff. I’ll forever remember my time at #AEW fondly. 2024 will be the start of a new era in my professional career.
Been blessed with a wonderful
opportunity. Excited to start this new
journey & challenge soon. Happy New Year-stay safe & sound!

— Rafael Morffi (@rmorfnyc) December 31, 2023

Multiple AEW stars have since responded to Morffi’s post, many of which expressed their congratulations and gratitude toward the former AEW’s Vice President of Live Events and Touring. 

“Raf! Oh my goodness [crying emoji] we’ll miss you so much and all that you did for us all. Best of luck in this new chapter,” wrote Penelope Ford. “Happy New Year”

“There’s some people that just bring comfort and familiarity when you walk into a room full of people and you were always that for me Raf. Love you Raf, and I’ll miss ya. I still owe ya a whiskey,” wrote Rebel.

“Oh man. Had no idea! Thanks for always being such a legend Raf man, stay in touch,” Kib Sabian wrote.

“Thank you for everything Raf! You will definitely be missed. I can’t thank you enough for how kind you were. Best of luck to you in your next chapter,” wrote Leyla Hirsch.

“Omg you will be missed!! [red heart emoji],” Anna Jay wrote.

Former AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa, Daniel Garcia, Diamante, Jon Silver, and many others also sent their positive regards to Morffi. 

Ric Flair created considerable buzz when he made his AEW debut. Despite his widespread respect in the industry, his stint in the company hasn’t been devoid of controversy.

The Ric Flair AEW Rampage Controversy

One incident that sparked controversy was Ric Flair’s appearance on AEW Rampage, where he made some eyebrow-raising remarks.

A fan account from the AEW Rampage event noted “Flair invited all the women in the audience from ages 18-28 to meet him in his hotel room,” Ric Flair said via The Boulder on Twitter. “No boyfriends or husbands.”

Ric Flair has landed himself in hot water already after an overly long in-ring promo segment on Rampage. (taped last night)

“Flair invited all the women in the audience from ages 18-28 to meet him in his hotel room. No boyfriends or husbands.”

The line is expected to be removed… pic.twitter.com/kQUPWn6wTY

— THE BOULDER ? (@BASINGSEGRAPS) November 30, 2023

Ric Flair’s Apology

The comment triggered a social media uproar, prompting Ric Flair to issue an apology and even express his willingness to step away from AEW.

“I Am So Tired Of Hearing All This Negativity! I Don’t Need To Work, And I Don’t Need The Money. Can’t I Simply Enjoy Being By My Dear Friend Sting’s Side For The Next Few Months,” Ric Flair shared on social media. “Without So Much Hatred? I Know I’m Old, But That Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Enjoy Life! I Have Earned The Right To Do Whatever I Want & I’m Exactly Where I Want To Be! I Appreciate Everything Tony Khan, But I’m More Than Willing To Walk Away If I Am Embarrassing You And Your Company. All I Can Say Is I’m Sorry!”

I Am So Tired Of Hearing All This Negativity! I Don’t Need To Work, And I Don’t Need The Money. Can’t I Simply Enjoy Being By My Dear Friend @Sting’s Side For The Next Few Months Without So Much Hatred? I Know I’m Old, But That Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Enjoy Life! I Have Earned The… pic.twitter.com/GK49HoSeEC

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 30, 2023

Backlash Over Ric Flair’s Reaction

However, not everyone shares the sentiment that Flair should have apologized for his remarks. In a recent interview on FOX News, former WWE Superstar Tyrus offered robust opinions on The Nature Boy.

Tyrus reminded Ric Flair of his legendary status in wrestling, emphasizing that Flair has forgotten more about the business than most will ever know. According to Tyrus, Flair stands among the last greats, and his mere presence can captivate wrestling fans across generations.

‘‘I got a little bit of beef with you and I’m just gonna bring it up with you real quick. You put a post out where you had the temerity that maybe you shouldn’t have walked out there in AEW. Let me remind you of who you are. You have forgotten more wrestling than most of us will ever know. You are one of the last greats, when you come out and walk that isle, that a grandfather can look at his grandson, ‘I saw this guy wrestler and that is why you’re here.‘

Tyrus firmly believes that Ric Flair should never have apologized for his AEW debut, highlighting the thunderous pop he received when he walked down the aisle.

Ric Flair has continued to appear on AEW television, whenever Tony Khan can use him. Those dreams of managing Andrade El Idolo in AEW aren’t going to happen though, because Ric Flair’s son-in-law left AEW, with many under the belief that he is WWE bound. 

Steve New, the lawyer of CM Punk and Ace Steel, believes that Chris Jericho should be bound by an NDA relating to All Out 2022 if he isn’t already. 

Jericho has been very vocal about the infamous backstage brawl that saw Punk and Steel fight the Elite and overshadow the September 2022 pay-per-view. Recently, Jericho claimed that he was not bound by an NDA, teasing that he’d speak publicly about the matter. When New refuted the idea, Jericho gave a fiery comeback on Christmas Day and branded New a “mark” who should shut up. 

Chris Jericho’s Potential NDA

On a recent edition of Nick Hausman’s Rumor and Innuendo podcast, New was asked for his reaction to Jericho’s remarks. New admitted to being surprised and still believes that Jericho should be tied to an NDA preventing him from speaking about the matter. 

“Without revealing too much of the confidentiality to which I am bound, is my understanding that anyone who witnessed the incident at All Out 2022 would have been obligated to sign an NDA. Chris indicated he was a witness, which, to me, implies that he would have been examined by the law firm investigating the incident and required to sign an NDA.”

New added that whether Jericho saw the backstage fight or not, AEW’s confidential policies may prevent him from addressing the matter publicly. 

“Furthermore, I believe that AEW talent is obligated to maintain confidentiality, as it is part of the company’s policies, handbooks, and regulations. Therefore, whether Jericho witnessed a part of the incident or not, he is still bound by the company’s confidentiality policies.”

While Jericho has claimed that he doesn’t have an NDA preventing him from talking about the “disgusting” events of the brawl, he has yet to give any new information about what happened. 

Chris Jericho’s Potential Trouble

Chris Jericho is currently facing allegations of misconduct with Kylie Rae which may have been a factor behind her exit from AEW. The inaugural AEW World Champion faced “NDA” and “Kylie Rae” chants at Worlds End, and a hashtag calling for him to be fired trended during the show. On the post-Worlds End media scrum, Tony Khan (donned in Toni Storm’s hat and sunglasses) says AEW takes allegations like this very seriously. 

MJF teased an impending bidding war in 2024 for his services. Now, it appears that he is off the AEW roster.

MJF’s AEW World Title Loss & Disappearance

At Worlds End, MJF lost of the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe. MJF was banged up, after suffering several injuries leading to the event, but he persevered and had the match anyway.

AEW made a notable move by removing MJF from their official roster page on January 1st, 2024. The Salt of the Earth is currently absent from the roster listing.

MJF After AEW Worlds End

In the aftermath of AEW Worlds End, MJF notably abstained from participating in the media scrum. Tony Khan, when questioned about MJF’s AEW contract, skillfully avoided providing any specific details.

It’s worth mentioning that both within AEW and WWE, there is a belief that MJF may have signed a new contract with AEW upon his return before AEW All Out 2022.

Exclusive Insight On MJF’s AEW Contract Situation 

It was previously reported that MJF is likely to take time off from AEW. A hiatus was expected following Worlds End, because he has several injuries that mounted up on him. Now, it appears he is totally gone from the roster, which is a must different story from a simple hiatus.

I have spoken to people within WWE, who have confirmed with me that there was no talking with MJF about coming in. The lack of discussions led many to believe that he did re-sign with Tony Khan. Now, this recent development of his removal from the official roster page adds a layer of intrigue.

The next ‘Battle of the Belts’ event from All Elite Wrestling could be a matter of weeks away, despite not being confirmed yet by the promotion. 

Battle of the Belts is a one-hour special presented by AEW in which championship matches are the key. The show has also seen titles defended for AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor Wrestling, which Tony Khan acquired in March of 2022. 

While not advertised, the next Battle of the Belts event could be just 12 days away. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful notes that the next Battle of the Belts event is listed on TNT’s schedule for January 13, at 10 PM EST. This is the same day of TNA Hard to Kill, which will be the promotion’s relaunch after years as IMPACT Wrestling. 

AEW Battle of the Belts

The first Battle of the Belts event took place in January of 2022 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since then, a total of eight Battle of the Belts events have taken place. The most recent was in October of 2023 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Despite the name, title changes have been a rarity at AEW’s Battle of the Belts events. Over the two years of events, only two matches have seen a new champion be crowned. At the first Battle of the Belts event, Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes to win the Interim AEW TNT Championship. The second and most recent title change at Battle of the Belts also involved Guevara and saw the Spanish God win the TNT Championship from Scorpio Sky at Battle of the Belts 2 in April 2022. 

Samoa Joe beat MJF at AEW Worlds End, and now he is the AEW World Champion. That will come with an aesthetic change for the title belt itself.

Samoa Joe expressed his clear intention to change the design of the AEW World Title, doing away with the Burberry title and pledging to present a more respectable one. ‘

Recent details have emerged, with Sean Sapp on Fightful Select stating that, while it’s unclear if the title will be entirely new, steps have been taken to make some alterations. He also dropped a photo that could be a massive spoiler for the upcoming title.

Tony Khan, in a recent gesture, presented a custom title to the Clemson Tigers, indicating the possibility of side plate options for the new title. Following Clemson’s victory in the AEW TaxSlayer bowl, Khan customized a world title for them with Clemson side plates. There are, at the very least, side plate options for the upcoming version of the championship, with AEW also having plates produced for Kentucky had they won.

The report mentioned that the new version of the title seen so far displays the AEW logo on a black background. The debut of this title remains to be seen. 

Samoa Joe had notably criticized MJF’s Burberry World Title during the press conference after Worlds End. 

“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.

Adam Copeland had a hard-fought No DQ match at Worlds End in Long Island, and he actually won the AEW TNT Title while he was at it. Sadly for him, that reign was incredibly short-lived, but the Rated R Superstar has the battle wounds to prove he was in a war.

Adam Copeland vs Christian Cage at AEW Worlds End

Adam Copeland made his AEW debut at WrestleDream and the WWE Hall of Famer was off to the races with his old friend, Christian Cage. His feud with former friend Christian Cage reached its peak in a No DQ match at AEW Worlds End. Copeland initially won the title but faced surprising twists that led to its loss. 

Killswitch, who won a battle royal for a #1 contender match previously on the show, came out and presented that contract to Christian, who cashed in like it was a Money in the Bank situation to steal the TNT Title back. Now, Adam Copeland is revealing the aftermath of the intense match.

”It’s not a tumah! Now the work starts on becoming a 2 time TNT Champion.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1h9Hl5O7YI

Adam Copeland’s Future in AEW

Adam Copeland and Christian Cage’s story in AEW doesn’t appear to be over yet. They are apparently going to stretch that feud into 2024, but they also have a lot of unfinished business between E&C. 

The former Edge wants to hold the TNT Title again, and next time he wants it for more than 3 minutes. 

Adam Copeland has suffered bumps and bruises for decades at this point, so that gash on his head isn’t going to keep him down. If anything, the blood in that AEW Worlds End match only added to the drama.

AEW Worlds End captured audiences’ attention for a few reasons. The closing moments of the pay-per-view saw The Devil reveal himself to be Adam Cole. That was a bit of a surprise, especially for MJF.

Adam Cole Is The Devil

Adam Cole has played a heel before, and he’s quite good at it. Now, the former NXT Champion will get to flex that villain muscle once again.

Adam Cole broke his silence after AEW Worlds End. This was not a prophetic statement, or any long address. He simply dropped a photo of himself during that big reveal at Worlds End, along with a succinct caption.

New Year, Real Me. #Hero

New Year, Real Me. #Hero pic.twitter.com/2CcwT0LFEy

— Adam Cole (@AdamColePro) December 31, 2023

Adam Cole’s Future As The Devil In AEW

Adam Cole is still injured, because that surgery situation was a shoot. Still, as the leader of a heel faction, Cole can also get by without taking bumps for a while, which he may need to do so for a long time.

Tony Khan built toward The Devil’s reveal for a very long time. It finally went down at Worlds End. Love it or hate it, Adam Cole will be back on AEW television now, just as MJF starts an expected hiatus from the company.