Road Dogg doesn’t understand CM Punk’s us of “Cult Of Personality” as his entrance theme.
Taking to his podcast, “Oh You Didn’t Know,” Road Dogg discussed Punk’s use of the song by Living Colour for his theme. In Dogg’s opinion, the song doesn’t really match Punk’s personality.
“Buying ‘Cult of Personality’ for CM Punk makes zero sense to me. Yes that was his theme song for a minute, but why?
“[Whatever song they would’ve picked for his return] would’ve been fine, it would’ve been CM Punk’s new song and they could’ve found one in a music library that was close enough to where we can either copy this, rip it off a little bit, change it a little bit and own it, or we can just use that one, pay the library costs.
“I don’t know, I don’t think the’ Cult of Personality’ defines him in my mind or not. I don’t know if I’m just bringing that up because I’m negative about him all the time.”
Road Dogg and CM Punk have certainly had their issues with one another in the past. In a past podcast, the D-X member noted that he once wanted to fight Punk for the lack of respect he would show to veterans such as himself and The New Age Outlaws.
Currently, Punk is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a multi-time World Champion for the promotion. However, he’s currently nursing an injury that has him sidelined from in-ring action.
He was also involved in a backstage altercation with other AEW talents that has caused quite a bit of backstage drama within the promotion. His future with AEW remains in question.
Saraya has revealed why she wasn’t on this week’s episode of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Dynamite.
Some fans were confused as to why AEW’s newest signing wasn’t on this week’s episode of Dynamite. However, Saraya took to Twitter to explain that she wasn’t on the show this week because she had to make a trip home to the U.K.
It should be noted that Saraya’s uncle, Julian, passed away earlier this month. Saraya did note that she’d be back for next week’s episode in Cincinnati.
Sorry!! I’ll be back in next week in Cinci. Had to take a trip home to UK! https://t.co/2n6Tydie5x
The 30-year-old began her professional wrestling career back in 2005. She signed with WWE in 2011 under the ring name “Paige.” In perhaps one of the most memorable main roster debuts in recent memory, Paige debuted on Monday Night RAW the night after WrestleMania 30.
She congratulated then-champion AJ Lee on her successful title defense the night before, but after Lee slapped her, this lead to an impromptu title defense in which Paige actually won. Paige also held the NXT Women’s Title at the time.
(AEW)
Unfortunately, Paige’s career was plagued by injuries throughout her WWE run, as the last few years of her time with the company resulted in no in-ring competition due to her inability to get cleared medically.
However, after her contract with WWE expired earlier this year, Saraya opted to sign with AEW, who has since medically cleared her for in-ring competition.
Posted October 13th, 2022 in AEW, News. Tagged: Saraya.
Jon Moxley is at the top of the wrestling world. While he is financially set and can quit anytime he wants to, the AEW champion isn’t planning on going away anytime soon.
The AEW star recently spoke to Sports Illustrated. He talked about things such as helping younger talents, his battle with alcohol addiction and more.
Speaking about his goals in wrestling, Mox mentioned that he wants to get better with every match he wrestles. Per the 36-year-old, he wants to wrestle into his 50s:
“My goal is to keep getting way better. I want to wrestle into my 50s and become one of those crusty old-man wrestlers. It’s going to be f—ing awesome.”
– Jon Moxley
The former WWE star also commented on his new AEW contract. He claimed that his job is the best in the world and he is lucky to have it. According to Jon Moxley, all he worries about in AEW is wrestling.
Hours before Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan had confirmed Paquette’s ‘All-Elite’ status with a tweet.
Commentary
Before coming to AEW, Paquette worked as an interviewer in WWE, before rising to the ranks of Raw commentator.
Paquette’s arrival at the desk in September 2018 made her the first female full-time WWE commentator but faced criticism from some fans.
In her first appearance on ‘The Sessions’ since her AEW status was confirmed, Paquette was asked if she’d commentate for AEW.
“No. I shouldn’t say no, but I also feel like anyone who just heard you [co-host Emilio Sparks] ask, probably had the same reaction. ‘No thanks, we don’t need that. We don’t want that.’ And that’s always how I felt about it… People had such a negative reaction to it, and it just wasn’t the thing that I wanted it to be.”
While Paquette isn’t interested in the role, she still could not fully rule out the idea of commentating.
“If the opportunity made sense and it was something that everyone was on the same page about, maybe, but I just don’t see that being what I want to do.”
Being All-Elite
Paquette’s AEW arrival comes over two years after leaving WWE, where she worked as Renee Young.
Speaking about signing with AEW, Paquette said that it was more-so her husband [AEW World Champion Jon Moxley] who made the first step.
“For as much as I’d been around a lot, I’d never really talked to Tony about coming into AEW. A lot of it, and this is probably going to sound bad, and I’m sure people are going to take this out of context. Honestly, a lot of it was talking to Jon. Of being like ‘man, I want to get back in the wrestling world. I miss being around it. I miss doing stuff.’ So most of our conversations were internally between Jon and I.
“Him [Moxley] and Tony are obviously very close. They spend tons of time talking about things, so I think it was more so them talking about it. I think a lot of people thought I was done with wrestling to a degree.”
When asked later on, Paquette said that once the discussions about her joining AEW started, it did not take long for a deal to be struck.
“It all happened really fast. It literally happened so fast. Jon and I had been talking about it, and then the next day, my manager is calling me being like ‘oh yeah, they’re reaching out. I’m getting the contract through.'”
Feeling Displaced
Paquette made her on-screen AEW debut this week, but it was hardly the first time she had been at an event.
Being married to Moxley, Paquete is said to have been a regular behind the scenes before signing.
Early into the podcast, she explained how while she enjoyed her time as a guest of AEW, she never felt quite right.
“It was always sort of an odd displaced sort of feeling anytime I went to shows with Jon. Because I’m always used to being at shows, but working and being useful and contributing. So being there for the duration of Jon being at AEW and not doing that… It’s just a different feeling going there as a guest as opposed to now.
Differences with WWE
Paquette is excited to work with AEW, and has done plenty over the past two years, but is well aware that her name was made as part of WWE.
AEW allows their talent more freedom in their work, something that Paquette is very excited for.
“This is going to be a very different situation with AEW. Because my time with WWE was very much ‘here’s the interview, here’s the script. This is what we’re going to do.’ That’s now how AEW operates, so that is exciting for me.
“Now I get to actually interview people, if that makes sense? I mean, I was reading scripts before and I enjoy doing that. But this is different, actually interviewing people about things.”
Not Taking Shots
Paquette is the latest WWE alum to be welcomed with open arms by Tony Khan, who has never shied away from taking digs at WWE.
Much like the company President, AEW talent aren’t opposed to jibes about the competition, something that Paquette wants no part of.
“People become very territorial about WWE vs. AEW and all that. I want nothing to do with any of that. I love so many people at both companies.WWE was so great to me for years. Of course, I could have my gripes about things, but who couldn’t about any job?”
Paquette’s first assignment took place on this week’s AEW Dynamite, interviewing fellow WWE veteran Christian Cage.
Adam Cole’s future with AEW is in serious doubt as he continues to recover from a particularly nasty concussion.
Cole debuted for AEW in September 2021 at that year’s All Out, days after competing for WWE at their NXT TakeOver 36 event.
At AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door in June this year, Cole suffered a concussion during a four-way match for Jay White’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Could be Never
After a short absence from TV, Cole returned on the August 3, episode of AEW Rampage, but confirmed that he was still not medically cleared.
Speaking on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that there’s still no sign of Cole’s return to the ring.
“It’s a concussion, it’s a bad concussion. Real bad concussion. He’ll be back when he’s cleared – it could be tomorrow, and it could be never, you know what I mean?”
Dave Meltzer on Adam Cole’s ongoing concussion issues.
AEW Bay Bay!
Cole’s arrival in AEW at All Out 2021 was a shocking moment, earning the Dynamite award for the Biggest Surprise of the year.
Cole has said that working with new talent, access to his Twitch stream, and being able to spend more time with his girlfriend Britt Baker as reasons for his “fairly easy” decision.
Earlier this year, Cole challenged twice for the AEW World Champion, held at the time by ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, but lost at Revolution and on the April 15, episode of AEW Rampage in a Texas Deathmatch.
At Double or Nothing 2022, Cole defeated Samoa Joe to become the first-ever Men’s Owen Hart Cup winner.
AEW made its Canada debut this week with Dynamite coming live from Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum. The main event of the show saw Orange Cassidy challenging Pac for the All-Atlantic Title.
At one point in the match, Pac tried to use the title to get himself disqualified but Danhausen made a surprise appearance and stopped him.
Pac then retrieved a hammer from under the ring. However, Cassidy prevented him from using it. The Freshly Squeezed delivered a couple of Orange Punches to pick up the victory and win his first championship in the company.
The show went off the air with Orange Cassidy celebrating his title win alongside Danhausen and the Best Friends. Though this wasn’t the end of the night.
What Happened With Orange Cassidy After Dynamite
After the cameras stopped rolling, Cassidy mentioned how he doesn’t like to carry things. He called out for someone to bring his bag and it turned out to be none other than Kris Statlander.
After they put the title in the bag, Cassidy cut a promo thanking the fans. You can check out the new champion’s post-show promo in the video below:
AEW made its long-awaited debut to Toronto, Canada on Wednesday. They featured various Canadians, including the debut of Renee Paquette and the return of Shawn Spears.
Spears returned in a segment after Wardlow and Samoa Joe faced QT Marshall and Nick Comoroto. Wardlow put Marshall in the Powerbomb Symphony twice when he was interrupted by Brian Cage and Prince Nana. He was mad that they stuck their nose in their business with FTR. Cage asked where FTR was and he got his answer when they made their way to the ring.
FTR brought out a mystery opponent for a match on Rampage. Someone from Ontario and the show starts at 10 (as Cash Wheeler counted on his fingers). Dax Harwood said it’s “the pinnacle of professional wrestling” when the number 10 popped up on the screen. The fans were more than happy for the return of “The Chairman”.
Spears tossed Aaron Solo into the ring to set him up for the “Big Rig”.
Spears has been missing from AEW programming since May 25. He lost to Wardlow in a steel cage match. With MJF off television for several months, Spears was also missing from programming.
Former WWE Superstars Samir and Sunil Singh (The Singh Brothers) appeared tonight in All Elite Wrestling as The Bollywoord Boyz. The team appeared during the taping for Dark: Elevation.
Gurvinder & Harvinder Sihra (The Bollywood Boyz) are from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Tonight’s Dynamite and Dark tapings are being held in the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto.
The Singh Brothers were released from WWE on June 25, 2021. They were most known for their time as managers for former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal during their time with the company. Before joining WWE in 2016, the team spent a decade wrestling on the independents.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp was at tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Toronto. During the taping for AEW Dark Elevation, The Bollywood Boyz made their All Elite Wrestling debut in a match against The Ass Boys (Austin & Colten Gunn).
The Bollywood Boyz have been wrestling on the independent scene since there departure from WWE. They captured the Defy Tag Team Championships but lost them to State of Emergency at Defy City of Thorns on August 10th.
AEW Dynamite is set to make its International debut on Wednesday night, as it emanates from Toronto, Ontario Canada for the very first time.
The show features a packed card, with Chris Jericho defending his ROH Championship against Bryan Danielson, Pac defending his AEW All-Atlantic Championship against Orange Cassidy, ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry taking on former friend and partner Luchasaurus, and more.
But fans online are still reticent about the show because they feel that Elite member and former AEW Trios Champion, the Canadian-born Kenny Omega should be a part of the first AEW Dynamite from Canada.
Omega, of course, was one of the wrestlers suspended after a reported backstage brawl between Omega, The Young Bucks, CM Punk, Ace Steele, Ace Steele’s wife, CM Punk’s dog, the AEW company lawyer, and more.
Granted, not all of those names listed were actually throwing hands, but they were in the vicinity that the brawl took place.
The Elite and CM Punk Suspended
It’s been alleged that CM Punk threw the first punch in the brawl. It’s also alleged that Ace Steele, Punk’s friend and a (former?) producer for AEW threw a chair and bit Kenny Omega on the arm.
Most reports seems to indicate that Omega didn’t actually do anything wrong, but he was suspended anyway, at least until any legal ramifications might be cleared up.
Omega still appeared in Japan last month on behalf of AEW for the Tokyo Games Show, but he hasn’t been seen on AEW television since All Out.
Now, a new piece of merchandise may just mean that Omega could be in Canada.
It would be weird to promote The Elite in Canada without a member of The Elite actually appearing in Canada, but stranger things have happened. Maybe this is nothing. Or maybe, just maybe, Kenny Omega could appear on AEW Dynamite.
After some speculation that Renee Paquette was AEW-bound, it’s official. Paquette got the “All Elite” graphic when Tony Khan tweeted the news on Wednesday.
AEW Dynamite is making its live debut in Paquette’s hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada tonight.
WWE recently attempted to bring Paquette back with the shakeup of its announce teams. Paqeutte worked for WWE as Renee Young for eight years. She was a backstage interviewer and the first permanent woman on the RAW commentary team. She was also a co-host on WWE Backstage, which aired on FS1.
Paquette’s post-WWE life
Renee Paquette
After leaving WWE, Paquette launched a podcast, Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette (now called The Sessions with Renee Paquette). She interviews a variety of guests from wrestling, MMA, and more.
In 2021, she released her first cookbook, Messy In The Kitchen: My Guide to Eating Deliciously, Hosting Fabulously and Sipping Copiously. Last June, she and husband, Jon Moxley, welcomed a daughter. Moxley just inked a 5-year contract extension.
Warner Bros. Discovery continues to be happy with the television ratings of AEW.
Since the merger in April, there has been a lot of synergy between AEW and WBD with multiple events having WBD branding and the company sending out press releases touting AEW ratings.
Currently, AEW Dynamite airs every Wednesday night on TBS, while AEW Rampage airs every Friday night on TNT. Four Battle of the Belts specials also air throughout the year.
Warner Bros. Discovery Happy With AEW
While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Kathleen Finch, Warner Bros. Discovery US Networks Group chair and chief content officer, discussed how TNT and TBS can maintain a male audience over time.
“We really play in the sports space. One of the things that we’re doing around sports is creating shoulder programming to hold onto those fans. AEW [All Elite Wrestling] pulls huge numbers, so we are working with the wrestling team to figure out what new kind of content can we build that’s not in a wrestling ring,” she said.
TNT previously aired “Rhodes To The Top,” a reality show starring Cody & Brandi Rhodes before the married couple left All Elite Wrestling earlier this year.
For months, AEW has faced reports of talent being frustrated, with meetings being held to address these issues.
After last month’s All Out Pay Per View, a fight backstage resulted in CM Punk, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks all being removed from programming.
Last week, Andrade El Idolo picked a fight with Sammy Guevara that resulted in the former NXT Champion being sent home.
Smiling Faces
Flair doesn’t work for AEW, but the 16-time World Champion has seen the reports of talent wanting out.
Speaking on his ‘To Be The Man’ podcast, Flair claimed that things aren’t as bad as some people believe.
“It can’t always be perfect. Tony’s got his hands full. I don’t know the thought prospect behind his decisions. But they have enjoyed a lot of success lately.
“a lot of smiling faces.”
Ric Flair on AEW behind the scenes.
“Sofiya of course, my stepdaughter, works for them. She’s having a great time. She does a lot of their social media so she’s pretty much on top of what’s going on there. She sees a lot of smiling faces. Hopefully, everything works out.”
Flair and AEW
Flair left WWE in 2021, reportedly frustrated with the booking for both himself and his daughter Charlotte Flair.
The reported plan was for Flair to join AEW and manage his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo.
El Idolo had at the time, split with his then-manager Chavo Guerrero, who had replaced Vickie Guerrero.
Any plans for Flair in AEW ended after VICE’s Dark Side of the Ring covered the Plane Ride from Hell, where Flair is alleged to have forced flight attendants to touch his genitals.
William Regal may be impressed by what MJF does in AEW, but that doesn’t make the Salt of the Earth a true villain of wrestling.
MJF returned to AEW at the All Out Pay-Per-View, following a three-month hiatus, stemming from scathing comments made against AEW and Tony Khan.
At the event, MJF won the Casino Ladder match as the Joker entrant, earning an AEW World Championship match.
Fake Bad Guy
With his win at All Out, MJF has a championship title match, presumably with current AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
Part of what has made MJF such a successful performer is his heel persona, which William Regal doesn’t buy as he explained on the Gentleman Villain podcast.
“I’ve always seen the potential in him. Not sure I like the way he goes about doing stuff. If you want to be a real bad guy, there are things that you can do and things that you can’t. I used this term on AEW the other week and it’s only a few people know this term. O-D-V, which is an ordinary decent villain.”
Regal explained that to be an ODV means knowing that those non-wrestlers are off limits, a lesson that MJF hasn’t learned.
“Anybody who signs up to be a pro wrestler, you’re fair game for anything my wicked mind wants to do to you. But if they don’t, you leave them alone.”
Roddy Piper
With his heel work, many (including WWE Hall of Famer Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts) have called MJF this generation’s Roddy Piper.
Addressing the comparison, Regal said that MJF couldn’t hang with the legendary talker.
“Roddy Piper would have seen straight through him. He would have gone ‘this is a lad who’s not grown up the same as us.’ He’s not got the same mentality.”
“Roddy Piper would have seen straight through him.”
William Regal.
“You might think you’re a bad guy, you might want to act like a bad guy. But there’s a difference there’s a big difference and very few people know that. A lot of people who got through this job by just acting like a bad guy.”
Tough Enough
Years before arriving in AEW, MJF tried out for the 2015 season of Tough Enough.
Speaking about MJF’s formative years, Regal discussed why the Salt of the Earth never made it in WWE NXT while Regal was in charge.
“He was young. Far too young to get hired [by WWE.] And there was only so many places in NXT. If you’ve got a full roster and somebody young [comes along] you go ‘right now what you need to do is go out and do your thing.’ Make people notice you, which he did.
MJF wouldn’t make it on the show, but his audition tape (suspiciously) remains on WWE’s YouTube channel.
Even though he is only 26 years old, MJF is already one of the top stars of the pro wrestling world. The Salt of The Earth is one of the smartest pro wrestlers of today’s generation so he hardly ever needs to look to anyone else for advice. When he does need a second opinion on something, he turns to none other than Cody Rhodes.
When asked about his current relationship with Cody Rhodes, MJF claimed that they’re ‘best friends.’ Per the 26-year-old, he calls Rhodes every once in a while, when he needs a second opinion on something:
“I’ll still call him when I honestly need… rarely do I need advice – I mean, look at me. But I’ll call him because I respect the shit out of him. I’ll call him to get a second masterful opinion.”
– MJF
MJF and Cody Rhodes had been working together since the very beginning of AEW. The latter took the young star under his wing and they had a long partnership. This partnership ended when the Wrestling Devil caused Rhodes to lose a match against Chris Jericho at Full Gear 2019 and turned on the now WWE star afterward.
Jim Ross isn’t opposed to calling the action of a Football game, but not if it takes away from his responsibilities with AEW.
Ross joined Tony Khan’s promotion in January 2019 and has been a staple of AEW for the company ever since.
Commentary
Ross is considered one of the greatest wrestling commentators to don a headset, but isn’t just interested in the sport.
It’s no secret that JR is an avid football fan, calling a season for the Atlanta Falcons in 1992, and would call another season for the team in 1994.
When asked during the latest Grilling JR whether he wants to return to football commentary, Ross said it would depend.
“If it meant leaving AEW, the answer would be emphatically no. I like what I’m doing. But would it be fun to be in a booth for a game? Sure. I’m a football fan and I’m a broadcaster, so I think it all goes hand in hand. But the bottom line is I have my perfect job right now.”
Rampage
In June this year, JR was moved from being a full-time commentator for AEW Dynamite, to a full-time commentator for AEW Rampage.
While many have seen this as a demotion for the WWE Hall of Famer, Ross doesn’t share this viewpoint.
“I’m excited. I appreciate the things people have been saying about Rampage. We’re trying to build that brand. Friday nights are a daunting night for any TV programming. But we’ve got work, and I thought our last two or three shows on Rampage have been solid as hell.”
MJF returned to All Elite Wrestling at All Out but the wrestling world was talking about the brawl between CM Punk and The Elite following the PPV.
The brawl resulted in AEW President Tony Khan stripping CM Punk of the AEW World Championship and Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks of the Trios Championships. Death Triangle captured the Trios Championships on the Dynamite following All Out and Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions at Dynamite: Grand Slam to become the new champion.
MJF is in line for a title shot and Moxley will put the title on the line against Hangman Page on a special Tuesday night edition of Dynamite on October 18th.
MJF Comments On The Brawl Between CM Punk & The Elite
MJF was recently a guest on Sam Roberts’ Notsam Wrestling show. Sam brought up the backstage incident following AEW All Out and noted how Jon Moxley & MJF seized their opportunity a few days later on Dynamite.
Roberts said that both MJF and Jon were able to get fans to forget about the drama from a moment. MJF quoted CM Punk’s pipebomb promo where he said he’s just a spoke on the wheel and the wheel is going to keep spinning no matter who is in the locker room.
I think it has honestly become less interesting as time has gone on and isn’t that telling, right? Because that is what professional wrestling is.
I’ll use a phrase from a guy that was involved in it (CM Punk), it’s a wheel. And it is going to keep on turning.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, everyone that was involved in this thing is crazy talented. Crazy talented. And whatever happens, whichever way this goes, I wish everyone involved the best of luck.
But like we just discussed, AEW is insane right now and that is not hyperbole. Ratings have been going up, the key demographic has been going up.
Even with this crazy bulls*** nut job hurricane, where you know that the news media is going to be fear-mongering, and like ‘you’re all gonna die!’, we still hit a great demo.
That is the end of the story and I think that it is why it has become a bit of a moot point. It was much more interesting when it went down.
CM Punk is Probably Not Returning to AEW
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Notsam Wrestling and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.
The new deal will see Moxley compete almost exclusively for AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, as the two promotions enjoy a working relationship.
Stabilizing
Moxley’s re-signing is some much-needed good news for Khan, whose company has recently faced a series of scandals.
Injuries, fight backstage and reports of an unhappy roster have been just some of the problems AEW has had to deal with recently.
Speaking on the Grilling JR podcast, Ross spoke of the ‘stabilizing’ effect Moxley’s re-signing will have.
“I think it’s very stabilizing for our roster. He’s our top guy, he’s the champ. So he’s emotionally invested. To sign a five-year deal, at his age, you’re invested. I’m really happy to see that happen.”
Jim Ross.
There’s no word yet on how much Moxley will make per year on his new deal for the company.
Exclusivity
Moxley’s new deal is good news for AEW, but bad news for Game Changer Wrestling.
AEW star Maxwell Jacob Friedman sat down with Sam Roberts for an interview on Notsam Wrestling and admitted that he was not ready to be cheered by the fans.
Maxwell returned at AEW All Out in September after a hiatus that lasted several months. Stokely Hathaway’s The Firm faction helped a man in a devil mask win the Casino Ladder match.
The man was later revealed to be MJF when he showed up following CM Punk’s victory over Jon Moxley to become AEW World Champion. CM Punk’s title reign would be incredibly short-lived, as he was injured in the match and was also suspended following a brawl with The Elite after his rant at the media scrum.
All of these factors led to MJF receiving a hero’s welcome from the crowd on the following Dynamite. Maxwell has since referred to his fans as his “devil worshippers”.
MJF On Not Being Prepared To Be Cheered
During the interview on Notsam Wrestling, Roberts asked if he was amused by fans who cheer Max because they believe they are in on it. MJF revealed that he was initially not prepared for the fans to start cheering him.
I’m going to be completely transparent, I was not prepared for the devil worshippers. Now I’m all for it. Grab your pitchforks daddy let’s go. I’m all for it.
When I came out I had what used to be called a LoD (Legion of Doom) pop, it is now an MJF pop.
My ears were bleeding and we were in Chicago of all places. When I got to the back, it was that moment I went ‘oh, this is new, okay’.
And the way I look at it now is this, I’m a megastar. When my music hits, I’m going to get a guttural reaction from the fans.
Because there’s nothing like me in professional wrestling. If you want to cheer me, cheer me. If you want to boo me, boo me.
It also seems to be dependent on where we are at. For example, we were just in Philadelphia and I saw people trying to get over the guardrail to get at me.
MJF is in line for a title opportunity at a time in place of his choosing. Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against Hangman Page. on Dynamite on a special Tuesday night episode on October 18th.
MJF was a guest on Notsam Wrestling today with Sam Roberts and discussed several topics.
The 26-year-old is line for a shot at the AEW World Championship at a time and place of his choosing. Jon Moxley captured the title at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam by defeating Bryan Danielson in the finals of the Tournament of Champions. Jon will defend the title on a special Tuesday night edition of Dynamite on October 18th.
Speaking on Notsam Wrestling, MJF revealed that he negotiates his own contracts and claimed that it what makes him super rich.
My wrestling deals I have handled my entire career entirely by myself. Which is why I make a stupid amount of money right now at 26 years old.
If I’m being completely honest and transparent, I think it’s definitely fair to say that no one at my age is making the money that I’m making right now in the history of the business.
Like if you back at 26-year-olds, they were not making the amount of money that I’m making right now. Ever, in the history of the business.
Sam Roberts asked if making money was always the most important thing to MJF or if there was a time he just wanted to get better. Maxwell laughed in Sam’s face before giving the following response:
How do you get better when you are already the best? It’s always been about money. It’s not a friend business, right? It’s show business. It’s business. It’s the pro wrestling business. It’s also a sport, don’t get me wrong, but within that sport there is a business.
My goal has always been to make the most amount of money, to then use that to transcend, and enter into the Hollywood sphere.
And then literally leave all my fans in the dust and pretend I never knew they existed in the first place. I don’t even like wrestling.
Here’s the thing, I studied it. I had to in order to be the best. I think through studying it, I grew an appreciation towards profession wrestling.
But once I am done wrestling, you will never see me again. Ever. I am using this sport like a succubus. I am sucking the life out of it, the blood, the money. And then I will be gone.
Maxwell went on to claim that he’s already booked a huge movie that he’s not allowed to announce what it is.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Notsam Wrestling and give a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.
Posted October 10th, 2022 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is one of AEW’s most popular stars today and the devil worshipper’s have gotten behind him since his return at All Out.
The 26-year-old is in line for a shot at the AEW World Championship at a time and place of his choosing. Stokely Hathaway’s The Firm stable helped Maxwell win the Casino Ladder Match at All Out. MJF went on to confront former AEW World Champion CM Punk at the conclusion of the PPV.
My Devil worshippers were out in full force tonight with their pitch forks in hand.
MJF joined Sam Roberts on the Notsam Wrestling show today. Sam asked MJF when he realized that he was actually good. Maxwell claimed that AEW VP of Talent Development Pat Buck became “unnerved” at how good he was while training at Create A Pro Wrestling.
I think Pat Buck was unnerved by how good I was on day one. I think it made him uncomfortable. I really do, because I look back on it now and I think about being run through the drills at Create A Pro Wrestling at 18-years old.
You know, doing all of the moves, learning it day one, and just nailing everything. I’m not saying that to be funny, this isn’t hyperbolic, I literally did everything perfectly. I remember Pat just had a look on his face, it was half disdain, and half shock and awe.
MJF left the building immediately after being stretchered out of the arena and did not remain for the rest of the Double Or Nothing show.
He was seen exiting the venue with AEW Producer Pat Buck.
Sam asked if Pat Buck is a mentor for MJF in AEW now that he’s a producer in the company. The 26-year-old said that Pat was one of the handful of people he respected, along with Brian Myers, FKA WWE star Curt Hawkins. MJF noted that Create A Pro has created the most stars outside of the PC.
Here’s the deal, there is only a handful of people on the planet that I respect, genuinely respect. He’s one of them, as is Brian Myers, AKA Curt Hawkins.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Notsam Wrestling with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.
Posted October 10th, 2022 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
Renee Paquette – a popular and critically acclaimed interviewer and commentator with World Wrestling Entertainment for nearly a decade – is expected to sign with All-Elite Wrestling, according to several sources.
Paquette, who worked as Renee Young for WWE from 2012 to 2020 and was the first woman to announce an entire episode of WWE Raw, “could possibly debut … this week,” according to one source. Dynamite is in Toronto, Paquette’s home town.
AEW has been working to find women to fill some of its TV announcing roles since the company started in 2019. Paquette – who worked with The Score in Canada prior to joining WWE – is a veteran broadcaster with experience conducting interviews, commentating, and hosting pre and post-shows. She would be the company’s biggest announcing signing since Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone. AEW recently signed Saraya Jade Bevis, who is expected to bolster AEW’s women’s division and fill in on announcing duties.
Paquette left WWE in 2020. She began hosting her own podcast, The Sessions, in 2021 and video interviews on her own YouTube channel.
She interviewed several players for the Cincinnati Bengals YouTube channel and website prior to the start of the NFL season. The Bengals announced on Oct. 6 she would begin hosting her own show, Renee All-Dey for the team.
She released a cookbook in May 2021. She co-hosts Throwing Down with Renee and Miesha on Sirius XM with former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miehsa Tate.
Paquette is married to Jon Moxley, AEW World Champion and company mainstay. AEW announced over the weekend it had signed Moxley to a 5-year contract which would include a role as a mentor/coach with the company. Moxley and AEW president Tony Khan were working on a handshake deal prior to the signing. Moxley and Paquette had their first child in June 2021. They live in the Cincinnati area.
Frustrated wrestlers, tired of not receiving adaqueate TV time and prominent booking, shouldn’t bother turning to Eric Bischoff for a shoulder to cry on.
In recent months, there have been reports of talent being unhappy in AEW, with meetings beind held backstage to address concerns.
Last year, Brian Cage’s wife Melissa commented publicly about her husband’s lack of booking in AEW, and her criticism of the company drew him significant heat backstage.
Be Ready
With limited hours, it is impossible for everyone to be featured on AEW programming each week.
Tony Khan has amassed an impressively large roster, which he divides among Dynamite, Rampage, Dark and Dark: Elevation.
Speaking on his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff advised those in AEW to be ready, even when they’re not being used.
“Be ready for your opportunity. Because let’s face it, injuries are a thing. Contract issues are a thing. HR issues are a thing. Just because you’re at the bottom of the card or you’re not getting as much Television time as you think you deserve, keep your nose to the grindstone.
“If you’re getting paid and you’re healthy and you get to spend time with your family, and you have more time to work out, maybe you have some time [to improve.] God forbid, take some classes. Take some improv classes. Learn how to be better as a character on Television. You’re getting paid good money and you’re not on the road 300 days a year.”
Be Grateful
While many wrestlers do try and improve, there is no shortage of talent who have been unhappy with the lack of focus they receive.
AEW’s Miro has liked tweets suggesting he would do better in WWE, while Andrade El Idolo retweeted a recent fan post, complaining that Andrade wasn’t used more when multiple talent missed Dynamite due to Hurricane Ian.
Speaking about those who insist on being negative online, Bischoff had two simple words of advice: be grateful.
“Focus on yourself. I don’t have sympathy for talent who are frustrated. First of all, you made the decision. You made the choice to go work there. And because things aren’t going exactly the way you want them to go, exactly when you want them to go, I don’t think it gives you the right [to complain.] It certainly is not a good look to make as much noise and be as negative an influence as some people are. Man, be grateful! God almighty be grateful.
“I don’t have sympathy for talent who are frustrated.”
Eric Bischoff
“How many people in the world, or this country, would do anything to change places with you? And guess what? They wouldn’t be b*tching about how much TV time they’re not getting. Come on man, be grateful.”
Bischoff added that several wrestlers fall into the trap of an echo-chamber on social media, reading comments from their fans that they should receive better booking.
For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.
Saraya has hit back at claims that AEW is acting “unethically” by clearing her for in-ring competition.
The former WWE Divas Champion was recently cleared to wrestle nearly five years after her last match. On last week’s AEW Dynamite, Saraya got physical for the first time in years, confronting Dr. Britt Baker. Some ‘medical experts’ on social media have accused AEW of negligence and acting without Saraya’s best interests in mind.
On Twitter, one user claimed that Saraya was not cleared by 15 doctors during her time with WWE. They added that Dr. Sampson, AEW’s resident physician, has been accused of “numerous unethical decisions.
The Twitter user, who calls themselves a “reality check” for wrestling, provided no names of doctors nor any of these alleged unethical decisions.
In response, Saraya said that the claim of 15 doctors is “straight up lying for clicks.”
She added that Dr. Sampson says lives, and shared a tweet from Jerry Lawler. It was Dr. Sampson who saved the WWE Hall of Famer’s life in 2012 after he suffered a cardiac event during an episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.
I’ll bite on this because… Bro. You just straight up lying for clicks. Tf. 15 drs?!?! I learn something new about myself everyday on here. Insane. Hahahaha also you’re getting your Drs mixed up because Dr Sampson saves lives. https://t.co/ZiTTo3hHGgpic.twitter.com/8vwhokdJQp
Saraya’s last match took place at the December 26, 2017, WWE Live event inside Madison Square Garden.
During a six-woman tag-team match, Paige took a stiff kick from Sasha Banks which resulted in the match being stopped, the latest in a long list of injuries the former Divas Champion had been dealing with.
On the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 34 in April 2018, Saraya (then Paige) announced her retirement and became the General Manager of SmackDown later that week.
Posted October 10th, 2022 in AEW, News. Tagged: Saraya.
Eric Bischoff is also no stranger to seeing backstage antics in a wrestling company.
He was up close and personal to a lot of politics and drama when he was senior president of WCW from 1994 to September of 1999. On the most recent episode of Bischoff’s 83 Weeks podcast, he was asked if there were any parallels to the backstage drama between AEW and WCW when he was running the company?
“In some ways, of course. You’ve got talent who can be emotional at times. That’s across the board. Some of the biggest names in the industry have been difficult to work with from time to time.”
“Sometimes the emotions can be heightened to the point where they become problematic. It’s happened in WWE, we saw Stone Cold Steve Austin walk out over creative differences. It certainly happened in WCW, I had my own issues with that.”
AEW Backstage
The physical confrontation after AEW All Out that led to the suspensions of CM Punk, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, has upstaged the in-ring product in recent weeks. It brings into question, what’s going on management wise behind the scenes in AEW?
AEW owner and president Tony Khan wears many, if not all the hats in the company. He books the shows on top of making the major executive decisions. Something that former WWE CEO Vince McMahon was often criticized for.
Trying to police a locker room that seemingly has unrest is becoming a larger issue for Khan. When Bischoff was asked if he had any advice for Khan, he said the following.
“Tony has really dug himself in as the end all, be all (of AEW). He’s the CEO, head of creative, whatever six titles he has. I don’t think he has delegated well. I think it would have served Tony much better early on, to set the stage and create the culture.”
“If Tony not only would have surrounded himself but delegated and trusted some of the more senior people around him early on, I think he would’ve quite possibly avoided some of this drama.”
