Posts Tagged ‘MJF’

Swerve Strickland Says MJF Will Have To Earn The Right To Challenge For AEW Title

Swerve Strickland knows MJF challenging him for the World Title is a real possibility but according to him, the returning star has a lot of work to do before he gets a shot at the title.

The Salt of The Earth made his triumphant return at tonight’s Double or Nothing PPV and confronted Adam Cole. After taking out Cole, MJF confirmed that he will not be leaving AEW anytime soon.

Swerve took part in the post-Double or Nothing media scrum after successfully defending the AEW title against Christian Cage at the PPV. He was asked about the possibility of the Devil challenging for his title, and Strickland said that it’s a real possibility:

“It’s a possibility, and that’s the beauty of this whole company: everything’s possible. I know he has probably some unfinished business with what Undisputed Kingdom did to him and Adam Cole, he probably wants to finish up some things. But it just goes to show you, I’m not one of the ones you can just walk over and come at any time, any place, anywhere when you see fit. While you were gone, I was building. And while I was building, I was making this place a fortress.”

You’ve Got Work To Do: Swerve Strickland

Swerve Strickland said that he is not against MJF challenging for the title at a future date. According to the current champion, however, our favorite scumbag will have to prove himself worthy of a title shot first:

“So you can come in. And I’m not even saying you can’t even challenge for the World Championship. But you got work to do, just like I had work to do. You’ve got work to do. Show me something, because this ain’t the same All Elite Wrestling from where you left.”

The AEW star said that the company has changed a lot since MJF lost the AEW title at the World’s End PPV in December last year. It’s up to the former champion to figure out where he fits in this new picture of the promotion.

You can check out the full Double or Nothing media scrum below:

Posted May 27th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

How Did MJF’s Return At AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Come About?

MJF has made his return to AEW programming and big things are in store for the All-Elite promotion’s resident ‘Scumbag.’

The former AEW World Champion shocked fans at the May 26, event to confront his former tag-team partner Adam Cole. MJF then stated that there would be no more friendships for him in wrestling and that he’s not leaving AEW. 

MJF’s Big Return

MJF’s return to AEW had been in the works for some time, Fightful Select reports, with AEW Double or Nothing earmarked as the target date. Preparations had been made in advance to ensure his comeback was executed perfectly. 

Fans will have been surprised to see MJF appear at Double or Nothing given that he had been wearing a brace as of late. This turned out to be a ruse by the former AEW World Champion who did NOT undergo shoulder surgery as some had believed. while MJF did suffer an injury in the run-up to AEW Worlds End, it did not require surgery and the brace was worn to mislead fans about his condition and potential return. 

AEW composer Mikey Ruckus prepared several new themes for MJF, including the orchestral version featured in his promo and a piano version. Significant creative plans are in place for MJF to be involved in a top-tier feud now he’s back. 

Big plans are in place for the returning MJF. 

Nixed Plans

The injury suffered by Adam Cole forced AEW to alter plans fo the pair. At one time a match was planned to take place between the two in 2023 but that obviously didn’t happen. It’s unclear when the former ROH World Tag Team Champions will face off but the fact that Cole got physical during MJF’s return segment is a good sign. 

Posted May 26th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

MJF Returns At AEW Double or Nothing To Make Contract Status Clear With New Tattoo

AEW Double or Nothing began with a strong start. Following an International Title match, a surprising segment took place.

Will Ospreay won the AEW International Title, but Adam Cole interrupted his celebration with a promo, calling himself The Devil. The lights flickered, and a video played on the big screen.

The video showed what appeared to be MJF’s home, followed by a photo of Cole and MJF, former ROH Tag Team Champions, ripped apart to separate them.

Then MJF’s music hit, and he entered the MGM Grand Arena to a big reaction. He confronted Cole in the ring, and as the crowd chanted “You F*cked Up,” MJF kicked Cole.

MJF then cut a promo, declaring that his actions are driven by hate and that no one is safe. Fans chanted “He’s Our Scumbag!” as MJF stated there would be no more friendship activities from him.

He finished by saying he’s done apologizing and that “nobody is more complete in this sport than me.” The crowd responded with chants of “Holy Sh*t” during his promo.

Then MJF made his contract status very clear by showing off a new “bet on yourself” tattoo with the AEW logo on his ankle. This was followed by The Salt of the Earth quoting Jordan Belfort as he said, “When it comes to MJF and AEW, you can call me the Wolf of Wrestling, because I’m not f*cking leaving!”

This tattoo, while it is new for AEW fans, did not look like fresh ink. MJF likely got the tattoo during his time off from the company. It has also been the thought for quite some time that MJF actually inked a new AEW agreement in the middle of 2023. 

MJF flew to Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, likely to avoid being seen at the Vegas airport. With Phoenix just a few hours from Las Vegas, this suggests a strong possibility of his return tonight at Double or Nothing.

Phoenix is about 4.5 hours from Las Vegas, a manageable drive for a pro wrestler. Wrestle Votes reported that AEW Double or Nothing could feature a major surprise early in the event.

Posted May 26th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , , .

MJF May Make Las Vegas Trip For AEW Double or Nothing

Fans have patiently been waiting for the return of former AEW Champion MJF for the past few months and latest developments suggest that tonight could finally be the night for his comeback.

According to PW Insider, MJF flew to Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday. With Phoenix just a few hours from Las Vegas, it’s possible AEW flew him there to avoid being seen at the Vegas airport. This suggests a strong possibility of his return tonight at Double or Nothing.

Phoenix is about 4 1/2 hours from Las Vegas, which isn’t that long of a drive, especially for a pro wrestler. 

Wrestle Votes also reported that they have heard that AEW Double or Nothing could see a very big surprise early on in the event.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select also reported that ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta is in Las Vegas for AEW Double or Nothing. Yuta has been out of action since January 10, following his match against Eddie Kingston at an AEW Rampage taping. Britt Baker has not been seen in Las Vegas, but Juice Robinson is in Las Vegas.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has not been seen since he lost the World Championship to Samoa Joe at the Worlds End pay-per-view in December 2023. The former World Champion has been on hiatus, dealing with multiple injuries he sustained leading into the match. MJF chose to drop the title instead of vacating it.

Shortly after Worlds End, it was reported that MJF would require shoulder surgery and could be out for up to a year. However, a new update suggests that The Devil may be returning much sooner than expected. His presence in Phoenix only further hints at a possible surprise appearance at Double or Nothing.

Fans might also see former WWE Superstar Gangrel at the event. He withdrew from an indie show in Germany he was booked for this weekend, and Adam Copeland’s current storyline has been full of hints pointing towards a Brood reunion. 

Final Double or Nothing Match Card

SE Scoops will provide ongoing coverage of AEW Double or Nothing. The event starts at 8:00 PM EST, with a Zero-Hour kickoff show at 6:30 PM EST.

Check out the final complete card below and stay tuned for live updates and highlights.

  • Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazzo: Singles match (Zero-Hour Match)
  • The Acclaimed (Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn) vs. Cage of Agony (Brian Cage and Gates of Agony (Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun)): Trios match (Zero-Hour Match)
  • Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black: Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the AEW TNT Championship
  • Roderick Strong (c) (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) vs. Will Ospreay: Singles match for the AEW International Championship
  • Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy: Singles match
  • Bang Bang Gang (Jay White and The Gunns (Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn)) (c) vs. Death Triangle (Pac, Rey Fénix, and Penta El Zero Miedo) (with Alex Abrahantes): Trios match for the Unified World Trios Championship
  • Chris Jericho (c) (with Big Bill) vs. Hook vs. Katsuyori Shibata: Three-way FTW Rules match for the FTW Championship
  • Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita (with Don Callis): IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator match (If Takeshita wins, he will receive a future IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match)
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb: Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
  • Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné: Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship
  • The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, and The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson)) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood)): Anarchy in the Arena match
  • Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne): Singles match

Posted May 26th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

MJF’s AEW Return Could Happen Sooner Than Expected

Maxwell Jacob Friedman could be nearing a return. This comes during a time when the roster could certainly use his star power. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful discussions have taken place about MJF making an on-screen return to All Elite Wrestling. Even if he’s not yet medically cleared to wrestle, Friedman’s command of the microphone make him a must-see attraction anytime he’s on television. 

You can never have too much star power on television and MJF would be a welcome addition as AEW heads into the summer season. Some changes to MJF’s presentation were reportedly discussed  AEW sources expect him back by Forbidden Door from Long Island. 

MJF

MJF has been out of action since December 30, when his record-breaking AEW World Title reign ended at World’s End. MJF’s last match saw him lose the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at the December 30, 2023 event. 

Prior to his hiatus, he had been working with many injuries but was determined to finish his reign. Changes were already made to his creative due to Adam Cole’s injury.

MJF is still under AEW contract, and he will be for quite some time. It’s unclear if Maxwell’s last contract extension replaced his former deal, which would have expired on December 31, 2023. Either way, MJF is among the highest earners in AEW.

Posted May 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Arn Anderson Warns Wrestlers Like MJF To Protect Their Bodies: “You’ve Only Got One”

Arn Anderson’s advice to young talents like MJF is to focus more on building moments instead of doing more moves. The wrestling veteran recently had an interview with WrestleBinge for Sportskeeda and spoke about topics including Cody Rhodes meteoric rise to the top of WWE.

During the interview, Arn was asked why he thinks today’s matches are not as memorable compared to the matches of the past. The AEW star explained that back in the day they used to build a match around just one big moment:

“You know why? Because we built a match around one big thing usually that would occur during a match. Today’s mentality is do a bunch of just spectacular, which it is, athletically unbelievable things and string them all together. The problem with that is, to the naked eye there I just saw six unbelievable things, but I don’t remember what was third, second, fourth because it’s just too much. In the old days we had to make everything mean something because you had to do that every single day, sometimes for 365 days a year.”

You can watch the full interview with Arn Anderson here:

‘You’ve Got Only One Body’

Later in the discussion, the Four Horseman original was asked for his thoughts on Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF). Anderson first said that the former AEW Champion has unlimited potential. He then advised MJF and others to protect their bodies in the ring.

“I think MJF is unlimited in what he can achieve in this business as long as…You gotta take less chances in this business than a lot of these guys take and I’ve seen him do things. Were they spectacular? Yes. Were they athletic? Yes. Were they incredible? Yes. But did they particularly need it? and I’m using him as an example but it’s kind of across board. You just don’t beat your body up, you only got one, to the point that before you know it, you’ve had a brilliant five-year career.”

Many wrestlers have spoken about having a “bump card,” a term used to describe the finite number of bumps a wrestler can take throughout their careers. You take a bump, you ‘punch’ the card. If you don’t take care of your body, your bump card will fill up and your career can be cut short.

MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at the Worlds End PPV in December 2023. He was supposed to start a feud with Adam Cole who cost him the title after the show but the Salt of The Earth had to take time off due to a shoulder injury.

The former champion reportedly underwent a surgery and currently there is no timetable for his return. He spoke with Jason Solomon for SEScoops just before Worlds End and detailed the injuries he was working through at the time.

Posted May 21st, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Daily Drop (4/29): Drew McIntyre Out With Injury, MJF Spotted In Arm Sling After Surgery

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Monday, April 29. We only have one more day until May, and Spring is already heating up in the pro wrestling world.

Before we get going, WWE will hold the second night of the 2024 Draft tonight on RAW. We already saw some big names drafted during SmackDown, and the company will take care of the rest of the roster tonight. How many NXT call-ups will we have? How many free agents will WWE have going around the brands this year? We will have all of those answers tonight after the 2024 WWE Draft is over!

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

WWE RAW Card for 4/29:

  • Night two of the 2024 WWE Draft
  • United States Champion Logan Paul appears
  • Jey Uso, Andrade & Ricochet vs. Damian Priest, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh

Drew McIntyre’s Injury Status: Although he just signed a new contract with WWE, The Scottish Warrior is still recovering from a hyperextended elbow sustained at WrestleMania 40. The Scottish Warrior has been pulled from shows for now.

Don’t Mail The Big Man: Bronson Reed logged onto Twitter and made it very clear that he does not want fans mailing things directly to his home. It is an invasion of privacy the way he sees things, and he was quite nice about it in his post.

Cody Rhodes’ Backlash Gear: Cody Rhodes is set to defend his title for the first time at Backlash against AJ Styles. This will be a special event for the American Nightmare, as he defends his title in France. To hype fans up for his big match, he posted a little teaser for his upcoming gear.

AEW:

DAZN Drops AEW: In a shocking announcement, This is not a good sign for AEW’s future pay-per-view events. DAZN has officially confirmed that their partnership with AEW has ended, just one year after it was initially announced. The decision to discontinue AEW content came into effect on December 31, 2023, following a series of broadcasts that did not meet expected viewership levels. Only a few events managed to achieve the target numbers, such as All In 2023, the initial weeks of AEW Collision, and certain episodes of AEW programming.

Julia Hart Injured: Julia Hart is sidelined again due to an injury, continuing her recent series of health setbacks. Despite her return to the ring, Hart’s injury flared up before AEW Dynasty, leading her to drop the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale. The specifics of Hart’s injury are still unclear, but initial signs indicate she might need surgery. Hart is not scheduled for upcoming AEW television appearances.

MJF In Sling: The former AEW World Champion reportedly underwent should surgery, and he was recently spotted in a sling. During Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, the Salt of the Earth recorded a dig at Brock Lesnar’s alleged affinity for urine related videos while rocking an arm sling with the fan everyone knows as Brock Lesnar Guy.

AEW Collision Viewership: The April 27th edition of AEW Collision brought in an average overnight viewership of 499,000, including 193,000 viewers in the 18 to 49 demographic. This marks an increase from the previous episode, which had 461,000 viewers and a 0.13 rating in the same demographic.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Posted April 29th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , .

Daily Drop (4/28): Carmelo Hayes Predicted First Round Draft Pick, AEW Roster Sees Multiple Injury Setbacks

Welcome to our Daily Drop for Sunday, April 28. There is always something going on in the pro wrestling world, and today is no exception.

Before we get going, Drew McIntyre finally inked a new WWE contract. This is the first round of big contracts to come due since TKO took over the operation, and it is interesting to see how they are waiting until the final moments to lock down these deals.

WWE:

Logan Paul Gender Reveal: Since Logan Paul grew up on the internet, and he created a ton of trends in the process, he got in on one popular activity for expecting parents who are also pro wrestling fans. The WWE United States Champion had a gender reveal wrestling match for all to see. Spoiler: It’s a girl!

Dolph Wins Gold: Nic Nemeth, who performed as Dolph Ziggler in WWE for years, picked up gold in AAA. He is now the company’s Mega Champion.

WWE Rivals: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Booker T’s epic rivalry will be the focus of tonight’s episode of WWE Rivals on A&E. The show starts at 8:00 PM EST.

Melo Don’t Miss: Carmelo Hayes quote re-posted an old tweet from 2021. That old tweet said he would be a first-round draft pick. His updated post said that it took long enough. Melo was picked #2 in the first round by SmackDown in the 2024 WWE Draft, only coming in behind Bianca Belair.

AEW:

MJF’s Surgery: MJF will be out of action for even longer now, as he had shoulder surgery. At this time, there is no return planned for him.

Darby Allin’s Latest Injury: Allin may be out of action with an injured foot, but now he has even more problems. He was hit by a bus in New York City. He seems to be okay, all things considered, but this will not help speed along his in-ring return.

Grizzled Young Vets Aren’t Happy: The Acclaimed beat Grizzled Young Veterans in the former NXT tag team’s first AEW match. James Drake and Zack Gibson are not happy about how that match on Collision turned out, and they let everyone know this with a furious promo.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Posted April 28th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , , , .

MJF Underwent Shoulder Surgery, Delaying AEW In-Ring Return (Update)

Maxwell Jacob Friedman will not be returning to the ring for AEW any time soon. Longtime SEScoops correspondent Jason Solomon of the Solomonster Sounds Off broke the news that MJF’s physical rehabilitation was not getting him back to 100% and as a result, he underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder. 

On Sunday, Friedman appeared at the C2E2 comic expo in Chicago sporting a brace on his elbow and looking nowhere close to lacing up his boots again. 

MJF Speaks about his injuries

MJF was wrestling through a lot of physical problems toward the end of his World Title run. He was very banged up and needed time off television. In his absence, AEW removed him from their roster page, but he remains under contract.

Back in December MJF spoke with The Solomonster at the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island, New York. This was right before his AEW World Title defense against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End. He detailed the various injuries he was powering through, but this shoulder injury is going to keep him out of the ring longer than originally hoped for.

MJF & Adam Cole

Injuries greatly affected MJF and Adam Cole’s main event 2023 storyline. Friedman lost the On December 30, 2023, MJF defended his AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at the AEW World’s End pay-per-view event at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. MJF dropped his title during that match, and he hasn’t wrestled since. He suffered multiple injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

MJF and Adam Cole at AEW All In: London, August 27, 2023

Adam Cole, who was revealed as The Devil, had to stop touring with the company. His ankle injury from AEW Grand Slam was not healing as he wanted it to, because the travel was getting in the way of his recovery. The Devil storyline, and the Undisputed Kingdom faction, had to pump the brakes big time after that.

Posted April 27th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Daily Drop (4/17): WWE Snubs Former NXT Women’s Champions, MJF’s Current AEW Status

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Wednesday, April 17, 2024. WWE brought a packed episode of WWE NXT last night, as they continue telling their stories past WrestleMania 40 weekend.

Before we get going, Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes threw down in a cage match at the end of NXT this week. After the show, they had a pretty special moment for fans in the NXT Arena.

WWE:

– NXT Spring Breakin: WWE added a few top matches to the Spring Breakin special event. You can check out the updated card here.

– Rey Mysterio Speaks: SEScoops has an exclusive interview up with Rey Mysterio, where he spoke about his daughter reuniting with CM Punk.

– Foley’s Concussion: Mick Foley said that he had a “wake up call” when he had his last concussion while training. That being said, he has positive news to share.

– Giulia in WWE: Giulia is still heading to WWE, and they already have some plans for her. We compiled an article with some reported spoilers for you here.

– Mandy Rose Snub: Tatum Paxley cut a great promo on WWE NXT this week, where she revealed her love of the NXT Women’s Title. She named off all of the most recent champions, but she did not mention Mandy Rose at all. She also did not bring up how Sasha Banks carried the title.

– Drew Gulak’s Disappearance: They finally addressed Gulak vanishing from NXT after Ronda Rousey accused him of grabbing the string on her sweatpants.

– Roman’s New Project: Roman Reigns may be taking a hiatus from WWE, but he was spotted filming something new with Kiki Palmer.

AEW:

– Tony Khan Defends Himself: Khan stated that airing the CM Punk and Jack Perry fight footage was the best decision. He said it made a lot of sense.

– MJF’s Status: Although he is out of action with an injury, MJF recently had a meeting with AEW higher-ups. He’s not gone from the company, despite his removal from their online roster.

– Copeland on Retirement: Speaking to Brandon Walker on Mostly Sports, Copeland spoke highly of the acting experience he was able to gain while he was out of the pro wrestling world. He said, “I’ve lived a lot more life. As strange as that sounds, it actually does add to your utility belt out there. As a performer, any kind of performer, they have to dip into a place to pull the character off. It’s the same with wrestling. That, more than anything, is what I’ve noticed coming back. Some of the skillset I got in the acting I did during those nine years off, I did over 100 episodes of television when I was retired.”

– CM Punk Chants: Footage has emerged from the crowd during AEW Dynamite last week, where you could hear “F*ck CM Punk” chants. It doesn’t seem like this was a chant that was participated in by a ton of people.

AEW Dynamite Card (4/17):

  • Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. House Of Black (Julia Hart & Brody King)
  • Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • Chris Jericho will lead a meeting with HOOK and Taz
  • Jon Moxley returns to AEW Dynamite as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
  • We’ll hear from Mercedes Moné

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted April 17th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , , .

MJF Injury Update, Recent Meeting With AEW, When He Could Return

Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has been out of the public eye since December 2023. He went into his high-stakes battle against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End facing multiple injuries, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He lost his prized ‘BBB’ AEW World title and is still not ready to get back in the ring over four months later.

MJF Update: The 28-year-old wrestling prodigy recently met with AEW officials to discuss his return. PWInsider reports that MJF traveled to Boston last month for a gathering that took place after Big Business on March 13. He’s not been seen backstage at any AEW shows this year.

We recently got confirmation on the AEW PPV Schedule for 2024, including the dates, cities and venues. It’s interesting to note that after next month’s Double or Nothing PPV from Las Vegas, AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door heads to MJF’s backyard of Long Island, NY on June 30.

Uncertain Future

Amid his absence, fans have speculated about his future in AEW. MJF has been vocal about his contract expiry in 2024. The eagle-eyed fans have been wondering if he became a free agent during his time off.

Additionally. AEW fueled the speculation as they removed the former AEW World Champion from their official roster page. Furthermore, his merchandise was also taken off. While his future remains up in the air, it is believed that he is still under a contract with the promotion. 

Check out our December 2023 interview with MJF hosted by The Solomonster:

WWE

WWE has kept MJF on their radar for quite some time and recently several AEW stars such as Andrade, Jade Cargill, and Shawn Spears have also jumped ship to WWE. This keeps the possibility intact of WWE splurging a huge deal to bag MJF’s signing.

As of now, there is no timetable for MJF’s return as he recuperates the injuries that have plagued him over the past few months.

Posted April 16th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Daily Drop (4/9): WWE Draft Returning, Cody Rhodes Gives Flowers To MJF

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, April 9. Last night was the RAW after WrestleMania 40, and Jey Uso is the new #1 contender for Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Title.

Before we get going, there was a very ominous glitch during the RAW after WrestleMania. The live crowd also heard a strange clip from a song that they didn’t know, as the lights were cut out for a bit. Something is certainly brewing, and you can get all the info we have so far in our report.

You can find what happened after RAW this week here, as the company wrapped up WrestleMania week. Check out our complete WrestleMania 40 Saturday coverage by visiting our WrestleMania 40 hub.

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

– Damien Priest’s Cash-In: I asked around about Priest’s cash-in at WrestleMania 40. This was not a last-minute booking, because the company has been planning this for six months. 

– Time Off: Seth Rollins is expected to take some time off. His knee needs to heal up a bit.

– WWE Draft Confirmed: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW.

–Cody and Bray Connection: It turns out that the mask Cody Rhodes wore at WrestleMania 40 has a connection to Bray Wyatt, because he used the same man, Jason Baker, to construct his mask.

–Mick Foley Cancels: Foley has officially called off his last match, so he will never wrestle again at this point.

–Samantha Irvin: WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin received some huge props from legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer after her WrestleMania performance.

– John Cena Returns: Cena returned for a spot during the RAW after WrestleMania 40. He helped Awesome Truth beat Judgment Day, but Cena isn’t expected to be back for any longer run at this time. He did express a desire for Hollywood to “pump the brakes” so he can make a WWE return for one more run.

– TKO Buying Vince’s Shares: TKO is buying a ton of stock from Vince McMahon. He will still have millions in the company, but his ownership percentage is down to under 5% now.

WWE NXT Card (4/9):

  • NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Wolfdogs vs. Nathan Frazer & Axiom
  • Appearance by Je’Von Evans
  • Appearance by Natalya

AEW:

– MJF Gets Flowers: Cody Rhodes said he’s proud of MJF, as he praised him in a big way.

– Mark Henry Controversy: The World’s Strongest Man caused a bit of controversy when he said that Kairi Sane showed disrespect for the business at WrestleMania 40.

AEW Dynamite Card This Week (4/10):

  • TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
  • AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
  • Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
  • Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
  • Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
  • Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted April 9th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , , , , .

Cody Rhodes: ‘MJF’s My Boy! He’s Got A Huge Future Ahead’

Cody Rhodes is excited to see what’s to come in the future for MJF and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion sees big things ahead for the ‘Scumbag.’

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes’ interview was interrupted by a crowd chant for MJF. Acknowledging the moment, Rhodes put over the former AEW World Champion. 

“His ex-girlfriend painted that picture of me getting busted open by The Rock. Yeah, and The Rock bought it.

“You got to stand by your guy, though. You know what I’m saying? You stand by your boy. MJF is my boy. Shout out to MJF. Wonderful kid. Huge, huge, huge future.”

Rhodes and MJF are no strangers. In AEW, MJF acted as a protege of Rhodes before betraying the American Nightmare during Cody’s sole AEW World Championship opportunity. The pair would later feud with MJF coming out on top at AEW Revolution 2020. 

What’s to Come? 

On the post-WrestleMania Raw, Rhodes basked in his victory at the Premium Live Event before being interrupted by The Rock. The Final Boss admitted that he’s going away for a while but will be coming for Rhodes when he returns. He also handed Rhodes something and warned him not to break his heart again. 

As for MJF, he continues to be out of action and was last seen in the ring at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. While MJF was recently seen backstage at AEW Dynamite, there’s still no confirmation as to when fans can see him. Whenever he appears next, it’ll be for AEW as it was reported last year that MJF had signed a new contract with AEW despite teasing leaving for WWE.

Posted April 9th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

MJF Tells The Rock To Back Off After Offering To Buy Cody Rhodes Painting From His Ex

The Rock is making waves all over the pro wrestling world. He’s even doing enough that it can drive someone like MJF, who’s been mostly silent during his hiatus, out of his social media dormancy. 

WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock and Roman Reigns team up to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. In the build to that big match, Dwayne Johnson made The American Nightmare bleed, and that moment inspired some art.

MJF’s ex is a very talented artist, and she drew the attention of The Rock. Now, MJF is speaking up about the situation, and he’s not ecstatic about the idea of The Great One hitting up his ex on social media, especially after The Rock jacked his idea to whip Cody Rhodes. 

The Rock and MJF cross paths

The Rock is back, and he’s the ultimate heel as well. It appears that he might also be after MJF’s ex-girlfriend. This led to an experience on Twitter/X that we didn’t see coming.

MJF’s ex-fiancée, Naomi Rosenblum, is a pretty impressive artist. Her paintings have gone viral a few times, and a recent photo caught The Rock’s attention. She did a new work of art in the likeness of The Rock holding Cody Rhodes’ bloody face to the camera.

Rhodes and MJF’s history is well-known, so fans certainly noticed this interesting connection between The Rock and the former AEW World Champion.

The Rock replied to Rosenblum, complimented her artistic abilities and offered to purchase it as a gift for a ‘special’ mom he knows.

MJF Tells The Rock to Back Off

MJF wasted no time in replying to this tweet from the People’s Champion. He accused The Rock of stealing his “glorious idea” to whip Cody Rhodes with a belt He respects final Boss, but asked for him to back off. 

Friedman is currently in a relationship with wrestling personality Alicia Atout. They recently celebrated one year together.

MJF is no longer listed as a member of the AEW roster on the company website, but he’s still under contract. Friedman was working through multiple injuries prior to losing the  AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End in December 2023.

Posted April 3rd, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Daily Drop (3/29): Hulk Hogan’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Plan, MJF Spotted Backstage At AEW Dynamite

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, March 29. It’s going to be a big day for pro wrestling, because fans have WWE SmackDown tonight, and we are one step closer to WrestleMania 40.

Before we get going, Vince McMahon is at it again with unloading TKO stock. He sold a ton more after their recent price surge, so he’s still cashing out.

Let’s get right into it and not waste any more time!

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 8

WWE:

– Donate Your Brain: Dijak has confirmed that his brain will go to CTE research when he passes away.

– Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 40 Weekend: WWE confirmed that Hulk Hogan will be at WWE World, the first-ever Fanatics fan event. He will do a meet & greet and sign autographs. As of this writing, we have not heard about any role for him during that actual Mania event.

– Represent The Bloodline: WWE dropped a new Roman Reigns Bloodline hoodie, and it’s very family oriented. You can click here to see what they have to offer.

– Meek Mill x WrestleMania 40: Triple H keeps teasing that Meek Mill will be at WrestleMania 40. We’ll have to see what he does in his city.

– Gimmick Infringement Claims: Tiffany Stratton was recently called out for stealing her gimmick and moves.

– Breaking The Streak: The Undertaker recently admitted that Bray Wyatt should have broken his undefeated WrestleMania streak.

– WWE NXT at UFC Apex: The NXT Deadline event is reportedly moving to the UFC Apex venue.

WWE SmackDown Match Card (3/29):

  • WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Street Profits vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
  • WrestleMania XL Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: New Catch Republic vs. Legado Del Fantasma
  • Jade Cargill First Official Appearance As A SmackDown Superstar
  • Bianca Belair vs. Dakota Kai
  • Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. Pretty Deadly

AEW:

– MJF Was Spotted: Although he didn’t appear on-screen, MJF was around at a recent Dynamite to meet with officials. He is still under contract with the company.

– AEW Viewership: The viewership for AEW Dynamite was very low this week. You can click here for a breakdown.

– Jericho x Hook: Chris Jericho finally made an offer to Hook that he may not be able to refuse.

– Scapegoat Update: Jack Perry has said that he doesn’t need AEW anymore. We will have to see if and when he ever returned to Tony Khan’s company.

– Bischoff vs Khan: Eric Bischoff wasn’t too pleased about how Tony Khan reacted when he found out the Strictly Business podcast is ending.

AEW Rampage Card (3/29):

  • Dustin Rhodes vs. The Butcher
  • Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rose
  • Mariah May vs. Nikita
  • Roderick Strong vs. Matt Menard
  • The Best Friends attempt to save Menard from Undisputed Kingdom
  • Young Bucks blindside The Best Friends

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Posted March 29th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , .

MJF Seen Backstage At Recent AEW Event Amid Injury Absence

All Elite Wrestling fans have wondered about the status of former world champion MJF with the company. He has been out of action since losing the title to Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End on December 30, 2023. While ‘The Devil’ has been recovering from injuries he suffered throughout last year, fans have speculated if he was still with AEW. A new report has given an update on his current health status. 

MJF making his entrance

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson shared that MJF is still trying to recover from his multiple injuries and has no clear timetable for his return. The report also confirms that his peers in AEW believe he is still with the company and was backstage for AEW Dynamite Big Business on March 13. 

Throughout last year, MJF has given fans the impression that he will be a free agent at the start of 2024. The company added more fuel to the online speculation, with the former AEW World Champion being removed from the roster page on their website. They’ve also taken off his merchandise from the AEW store. However, the impression from most in the company and reports from others is that ‘The Devil’ has made a deal to stay off the free agency market. 

What’s Next For MJF?

It’s unclear what injuries still prevent MJF from having a timetable for his in-ring return. He publicly shared that he had a torn labrum in his left shoulder ahead of his match against Joe at AEW World End. MJF also suffered a hip injury from his match with Jay White at AEW Full Gear on November 18, 2023. 

The company has also not mentioned MJF on TV, so it doesn’t seem they have plans to feature him anytime soon. AEW has an unfinished storyline with the Undisputed Kingdom, which MJF could be involved in when he is ready.

After his match against Joe, The Salt of The Earth was attacked by the Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett). Whenever ‘The Devil’ returns to the ring, he is expected to try to get revenge on the faction. 

There is some buzz that he could return at the upcoming Dynasty PPV but we will have to wait and see if it really happens.

Posted March 29th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

Daily Drop (3/23): Roman Reigns Shades CM Punk, AEW Rampage Hits Viewership High

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Saturday, March 23. Last night’s SmackDown was an eventual episode, and there’s a lot to get into.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 14

WWE:

– Breakout Talents: Axiom and Nathan Frazer are impressing WWE NXT officials in a big way.

– WrestleMania Surprises: With only 2 weeks until WrestleMania 40, the company is talking about bringing in stars like The Undertaker, John Cena, and Steve Austin.

– WWE Shop Is Lighting It Up: They just released a new Roman Reigns “Family Above All” hoodie on the WWE Shop! So, click here to see what they have to offer on the road to WrestleMania!

– Jade Cargill is SmackDown: WWE ran a promo for Jade Cargill last night on SmackDown, where she proclaimed her allegiance to the blue brand. She will appear on next week’s show for the 3/29 episode.

– Roman x Punk: Roman Reigns had a bit of a comment about CM Punk, and it drew some attention. He said, among other things, that “I’m not like CM Punk, where I got to the top of the mountain, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s not what I expect, so I’m gonna bitch about it.'”

– Slammys Return: The Slammy Awards will continue this year. WWE announced the company will bring back their awards show this year on April 7, the same day as WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The ceremony will be hosted by Big E and Cathy Kelley.

– Vince McMahon Netflix Doc: The six-part Netflix docuseries is still happening, and that was confirmed. Bill Simmons and his team will need to edit some to change direction, but the project is still moving forward.

AEW:

– Mercedes’ Big Money: It was said by Swerve Strickland in a recent interview that Mercedes Mone deserves all the money she is getting from this AEW contract.

– Kenny Omega Update: Tony Khan stated he is optimistic about Omega’s return from diverticulitis, but there is no return timetable at this time.

– MJF Removed: Fans brought attention to the fact that MJF was removed from the official AEW shop, and their roster page. He was actually removed from the roster page on January 1.

– Cope Open Return: Adam Copeland confirmed that the Cope Open will return on the March 30 episode of AEW Collision. That will see him defend the AEW TNT Title in an open challenge.

– The CEO of Charity: Mercedes Mone bought a very lucky fan a brand-new television. She did this so he could watch AEW, and it was very appreciative of her generosity.

– Rampage High: AEW Rampage hit a high with their episode this week, which aired directly after AEW Dynamite’s 801k average viewership. This week’s AEW Rampage scored 541,000 viewers and a .27 in the 18 to 49 demographic. That was the highest number for the show since the April 22, 2022, episode of the show.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Posted March 23rd, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , , , .

MJF Pulls Out of Major Fan Convention Amid AEW Absence

MJF hasn’t been seen on AEW television in a while. As fans wait for his return to television, it seems that some fans who were expecting to see him in Lexington, Kentucky were a bit bummed out by having the former AEW World Champion pull out of an appearance.

It seems that MJF pulled out of a major fan event for the Lexington Toy & Comic Con recently. AEW was able to come up with a substitution with Swerve Strickland.

MJF’s Missed Event

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that MJF opted out of another comic con appearance this week, marking a notable absence from the event lineup. In response, Swerve Strickland stepped in to fill the vacancy at the upcoming Lexington Toy & Comic Con in Lexington this weekend.

It was not noted if MJF gave any reason for him pulling out of the event. Fans will get a chance to meet Swerve instead, so it’s a good trade. Still, some fans were probably a bit upset that The Salt of the Earth pulled out.

MJF’s Last Match

On December 30, 2023, at All Elite Wrestling’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view event held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, USA, MJF faced off against Samoa Joe in a high-stakes battle for the AEW World Title. In a match lasting 17 minutes and 52 seconds, Samoa Joe emerged victorious, clinching the championship title.

Adam Cole also revealed himself as The Devil, and that put a huge nail in the coffin for his partnership with the former NXT Champion.

This outcome marked a significant shift in the AEW landscape, with MJF conceding the title to Samoa Joe in a memorable showdown. That was also MJF’s last match to date. Only time will tell when he will re-emerge.

SEScoops will have more information on MJF’s status if new details are made available. Keep checking back for more on the stories that you need from the pro wrestling world.

Posted March 9th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

John Cena Suggested That MJF Play For A Different Team During Viral Meeting

MJF is one of AEW’s pillars, and Tony Khan certainly doesn’t want to lose him. That being said, there is a whole pro wrestling world who would be very interested to see if the Salt of the Earth could excel in another environment. 

When John Cena and MJF were caught having a little chat at The Iron Claw premiere, fans didn’t know what to think. It turns out that Cena was suggesting to MJF that he join a different team in the future.

Cena Tells All

John Cena and MJF made headlines when they had a chance to meet at The Iron Claw premiere. The two had a bit of a conversation, and everyone was wondering what was said. Now, we have a much better idea.

While speaking to Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Cena revealed that during their encounter, Cena found MJF to be remarkably courteous and professional, contrary to any initial assumptions he might have had. He expressed regret for any misconceptions and commended MJF for his professionalism. Despite the potential for theatrics at the movie premiere, MJF conducted himself admirably.

John Cena went on to say that he had a couple interactions with MJF that night. First off, he apologized to him for not knowing how professional he would be. Then Cena made a comment to MJF about trying to get him to play for a different team down the line.

“Sports entertainment is a finicky business, and again, there’s a lot of chances to make moments. This is one of their top performers for AEW and I don’t know if I’m going to be the target of a moment. I’m just going to support my friend in a movie. He couldn’t have been nicer. He couldn’t have been more cordial. We met each other and I got pulled away to take some pictures and then we were about to go do everything else before I even got to you, and I was like, ‘Hold on. Give me two minutes.’ I shook his hand. I said, ‘Man, I’m so sorry. Excuse my ignorance, I didn’t know what to expect from you today. You are a class act. I can’t believe you’re as professional as you are. That’s just my ignorance. I’m sorry I had that judgment. I want to thank you for being so special. Thanks for making my night.’ Then we got back and I was able to talk to him more and I kind of was like, ‘Maybe we can get you to play for the right team one day’, and all that. There’s no denying the fact that he’s doing good work and I don’t think that I should ignore that. Honestly, I was floored by his professionalism. Where it would have been an easy target at a wrestling movie premiere to have yourself a moment, and we did have a moment, and it was one that the internet paid attention to. It was one where I was hoping that this person that I met, I could once bet on like, ‘Man, oh, we just get you over here. That’d be awesome’ but it was great. It was great to meet a professional, classy, driven young man.”

MJF’s Contract Situation

MJF’s contract situation is a very interesting one. Many believe that he inked a new deal with AEW in 2022 prior to his return from hiatus. Others are not so sure, because he claims that no contract was signed.

I asked people throughout WWE about the possibility of MJF signing. The overall belief is that he is still under a contact with Tony Khan, and that is not going to change any time soon.

We will have to see what the future holds. Right now, MJF is enjoying a break from AEW television, after a long run as World Champion. His body is healing, but you never know what he will decide to do so he can get everyone talking about him again.

Posted March 5th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

AEW’s New Trademark May Have Spoiled A New Pay-Per-View And The Return of a Huge Star

A trademark filing by All Elite Wrestling may have revealed the promotion’s next pay-per-view which would join the company’s growing list of annual events. 

AEW has filed a trademark for the term ‘AEW Dynasty.’ The filing cites the following uses: 

“AEW: DYNASTY trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing multimedia program featuring wrestling distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling.”

A New Pay-Per-View? 

According to Fightful Select, the trademark is connected to a pay-per-view/special show, which is potentially slated for April. AEW has yet to host a pay-per-view in April but holds Revolution in March and Double or Nothing in May. 

A Returning Star? 

The AEW Dynasty name has raised some eyebrows, with some believing it could mark the return of a former AEW World Champion. Outside of AEW, MJF was part of The Dynasty, which included himself, Alexander Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, and others. Holliday, who overcame cancer last year, was backstage at a July 2023 edition of AEW Collision. 

AEW’s Growing Schedule

When AEW launched, it did so with four annual events: Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, and Full Gear. Since then, the company has doubled that number with the introduction of AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door, All In, WrestleDream, and Worlds End. 

Posted February 29th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: , .

Daily Drop (2/24): John Cena Has Eye On WWE WrestleMania, MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrate Anniversary

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling. February 24. The Elimination Chamber started off the day with a very early, and exciting, event. Now, we have a lot to unpack.

Days until WrestleMania XL: 42

WWE

– I was able to exclusively report that John Cena is trying to do something for WrestleMania 40. At this time, nothing is confirmed.

– Also, Sylvester Stallone and WWE couldn’t work things out. I was told this is “old news,” because they nixed those plans last month due to a scheduling conflict.

– On another note, I was also told that Jade Cargill was never booked for the Elimination Chamber match in the first place. No plans changed for her, and there is nothing wrong with her in the company. Booking her in the Chamber match would have done her no favors, because she wasn’t booked to win. WWE is taking their time and taking care of Cargill.

– Tammy Lynn Sytch has a brand-new mugshot, and you can check that out here.

– Bruce Prichard was back working at Raw on 2/19. He is a Vince McMahon ally, and he received some flack from Ronda Rousey for being McMahon’s “avatar” in the past.

– Rhea Ripley was very impressed by WWE 2K24 throwing in a throwback version of herself in the new game. WWE 2K24 drops on March 7th, and the hype is real.

– Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to a one-on-one match during an explosive Grayson Waller Effect segment at Elimination Chamber.

– Seth Rollins also announced that he will be medically cleared from his MCL injury in just a few days. So, he may wrestle on the road to WrestleMania.

– Becky Lynch and Drew McIntyre won the 2024 Elimination Chamber matches in Perth, Australia. They will now go onto WrestleMania 40 to battle for the WWE Women’s World Title and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, respectively. 

AEW

– Saraya announced during AEW Rampage that her brother, Zak Knight, is now All Elite.

– Malakai Black is set to compete in his initial AEW singles match since June 2022 on February 24th at AEW Collision.

– Sting is scheduled to make his last appearance on AEW Dynamite on February 28th.

– MJF and Alicia Atout celebrated their one-year anniversary as a couple. He famously called her “T*ts McGee from Whore Island” in the past, so they’ve known each other for a very long time. SEScoops is wishing them both the best.

– Tony Khan explained why AEW keeps running larger venues with smaller crowds showing up. He kind of skirted the question by replying, “A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages. They have a lot of sale contacts and really good marketing resources.”

AEW Collision Card for Saturday, February 24

  • Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
  • No DQ: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Sammy Guevara (Don Callis Family & Chris Jericho banned from the building)
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty
  • Malakai Black vs. Bryan Keith
  • Serena Deeb in action
  • Thunder Rosa in action
  • The Bang Bang Scissor Gang’s Jay White, Billy Gunn & Austin Gunn in trios action

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 24th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

AEW’s MJF & Alicia Atout Celebrating Milestone In Their Relationship

Former AEW World Champion MJF and Alicia Atout are celebrating after hitting the one-year mark in their relationship. 

Taking to Twitter, Atout made it clear that there is nobody else she’d rather have by her side. Atout also made it clear that she loves MJF, even if her descriptors for the AEW wrestler were hardly complimentary. 

MJF & Alicia Atout

Atout and MJF met during their respective runs in Major League Wrestling, where Atout worked as a backstage interviewer. The pair would also interact on Atout’s A Music Block Yeah (AMBY) vlog when MJF was active on the independent circuit.

While the pair are celebrating one year of their relationship, much of that time has been kept out of the public eye. It was only when the pair were spotted at a baseball game together in late 2023 that rumors circulated of a relationship. In November 2023, the couple went public with their relationship. 

Past Relationships

MJF had previously been engaged to artist Naomi Rosenblum. During a fiery promo segment in early 2023 with Bryan Danielson, MJF said that his fiancé dumped him since he wanted to have kids with her. It was later confirmed that the breakup was legitimate and not an angle for the feud with Danielson. 

Atout was previously in a relationship with Richard Holliday. She managed Holliday during their time in MLW. It would appear that Atout and Holliday ended their relationship at some point in 2023. 

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: .

MJF Appearing In Jewish Summer Camp Comedy ‘Floaters’

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

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

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

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

More about Floaters

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

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

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

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

Posted January 31st, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: .

Bret Hart Wants Grandchild to Wrestle, TNA Hard to Kill Proposal, MJF’s Rumble Odds

Bret Hart’s Question for his Grandchild

Bret Hart is unquestionably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and the Hitman has high-expectations for his new grandchild. In a wholesome video shared online, Hart can be seen holding his new grandchild and asking how their ‘tie-ups’ are. 

TNA Hard to Kill Proposal

TNA Hard to Kill was a historic night for the promotion, with Nic Nemeth debuting in the closing moments of the show to confront Moose. Ash By Elegance also made her debut during the show. Before Hard to Kill went on the air though, one member of the ring crew won big when he popped the question to his partner, who was thrilled to say yes. 

https://twitter.com/JoelPearl/status/1746682871929246018

MJF in the Royal Rumble? 

For some time, MJF teased that he would be leaving AEW when his contract expired on January 1, 2024, and that he’d be joining WWE, Despite reports that MJF signed a new deal with AEW last year, Bet Online have listed MJF as a potential winner of the Royal Rumble, giving him +1000 odds. The current favorite to win the match (according to Bet Online) is CM Punk with +150 odds, followed by GUNTHER (+300) and Cody Rhodes (+400)

Ash By Elegance’s Sponsorship

Ash By Elegance (fka Dana Brooke) made her TNA debut at the recent Hard to Kill event. On Instagram, the elegant wrestler shared that she has partnered up with Draft Kings for UFC 297 and urged fans to use a special promo code to get bonus bets for the Draft Kings app. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C2H-bT0LFwk

Posted January 15th, 2024 in News. Tagged: , , , .

Tony Khan Speaks On MJF’s AEW Roster Removal & WWE’s Reported Talks With WBD

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.

Posted January 6th, 2024 in AEW, News. Tagged: , .

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »