Due to the crew being given time off to spend Christmas with their families, next week’s episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown from Chicago was filmed after the December 16 show.
WWE SmackDown Spoilers
Here are the spoilers for next week (December 23), courtesy of F4Wonline.com:
Raquel Rodriguez won a gauntlet match to become the number one contender for the SmackDown Women’s title. Xia Li beat Emma and Tegan Nox. Raquel defeated Li, Liv Morgan, and Sonya Deville to win the match. Shayna Baszler came out as a surprise entrant, only to be defeated by Rodriguez.
Bray Wyatt came out and said that LA Knight owes him an apology. Wyatt ends up attacking the cameraman.
Rey Mysterio defeated Angel of Los Lotharios as Karrion Kross and Scarlett were watching in the crowd.
The Bloodline came out for a promo. Solo Sikoa vs. Sheamus was booked for the December 30 show in Tampa. During the promo, Sami Zayn said that Kevin Owens was like a black cloud that is still following him.
The Usos defeated Hit Row to retain the WWE Undisputed Tag Team titles.
Braun Strowman and Ricochet defeated Imperium in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Presents were everywhere and were used as weapons. The New Day was dressed as nutcrackers. Ricochet, at one point, was hurt as he was bleeding. He recovered and won the match for his team.
Sasha Banks’ time with WWE has come to an end, but the former Women’s Champion may not be gone for good.
This week, it was reported that Banks reached an agreement in June to leave WWE, on the basis that she would not do anything wrestling-related for the rest of the year.
Banks will be a free agent come January 1, and has reportedly signed a lucrative per-appearance deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Return to WWE
Banks’ first appearance for New Japan will come at the Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on January 4.
During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that some in WWE are confident she will be back.
“There’s no reason at all that she can’t go back to WWE if she wants to. That door is not shut at all. People in WWE think she’ll be back, but who knows when? whereas with Mandy, she might. She might not, who knows? There’s a lot of questions because of the content, whether they would want her back with the sponsors.”
Dave Meltzer.
Mandy Rose’s departure from WWE was also confirmed this week, after the promotion learned of the content shared on her fan website.
Money
For now, Sasha Banks is out of WWE, a decision that comes down to money.
On his show, Meltzer explained how despite being a “given” at one time that she would be returning to WWE, the two sides were never close to a financial agreement
“It wasn’t close on money, but there were points when it was a given that she would be back. It was a question of when not even if. Their feeling from the WWE side is that she was asking too high of a price. From her side [she was not asking too high of a price.] That was the thing. She had how much she thought she was worth. And they were not close.
“She’s making a lot of money per date, and she’s got a lot of things she can do. Between the acting and things like that. She can market herself in many different ways. She has a better long-term than Mandy Rose, in the sense that she’s a really outstanding wrestler, and can go to Japan and wrestle. She’s in a good spot with the partial schedule.”
While it is unconfirmed how much Banks will be earning, it is believed she will earn more per appearance in Japan than with WWE.
Banks will reportedly be the highest-paid name under a contract with Bushiroad, the parent company of NJPW and STARDOM.
WWE Hall of Famer ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan has shown that he can still handle himself, even without his trust 2×4, now well into his 60s.
Duggan is best known for his time in WWE as a patriotic star of the Hogan era, but would later work for WCW.
In 2011, the winner of the very first Royal Rumble match was inducted into the WWE Hall of Famer alongside names including the Road Warriors and Shawn Michaels.
Home Invasion
Speaking to Wrestling Inc this week, Duggan explained that his South Carolina home was broken into on December 8, at around 6:45 pm local time.
A man in his mid-20s entered through the front door, but the wrestling legend tackled him to the ground.
Duggan later grabbed his .44 caliber pistol and held the intruder at gunpoint until the police arrived.
Jim and his wife Debra described the introducer as “hysterically frightened” and had claimed that people from a nearby home were coming after him to kill him.
According to Duggan, the intruder was fleeing individuals related to a burglary in a different home, leading him to seek refuge.
The man pounded on multiple doors without being answered before entering the Duggan household.
After the Invasion
Despite this scary incident, Duggan said he would not be pressing charges when presented with the opportunity.
Duggan did inform Kershaw’s County Sherriff’s department about the incident that he had apprehended the intruder.
Speaking at the time, the WWE Hall of Famer was grateful things did not escalate, saying “thank God we didn’t shoot him.”
“Immediately, day after retirement, I’d like to be doing movies. I’ve been lucky enough to have some opportunities within WWE. I was in Chucky season two and I got killed by Chucky, which was a dream and amazing. It was so cool. I never get starstruck over anyone, but when I saw Chucky, I was so starstruck.”
Liv Morgan.
Morgan also revealed that she recently filmed a role for ‘The Kill Room’ a Uma Thurman and Samuel L Jackson project that has yet to be released.
Other Plans
Morgan is hoping to do more in the world of acting, but that’s not all she has planned.
In the interview, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion added that she also plans on expanding her soap business.
Like many wrestlers, Morgan said that getting into real estate is an option that is “always in the back of my mind.”
Former WWE Superstar Mandy Rose was one of the four pillars of the NXT brand, according to Grayson Waller.
Rose was released this week from her WWE NXT contract after the promotion learned of the content she has been sharing with subscribers on her website.
Her departure from WWE comes just one day after losing the NXT Women’s Championship to Roxanne Perez, ending Rose’s reign at 413 days.
Pillar
After returning to NXT in the summer of 2021, Rose would become one of the brand’s most popular stars and one of the most dominant champions.
Speaking during the latest episode of WWE After the Bell, Grayson Waller was asked about the four pillars of NXT, and namedropped the former Superstar.
“I’m 100% one of those four pillars. I think it’s me, Carmelo [Hayes], Mandy [Rose], and right on the end is Bron Breakker and it’s a little bit shaky, it’s barely standing up but if that pillar breaks, the other three are just as strong.”
Grayson Waller.
Based on how Waller spoke during the show, it is likely that this interview was recorded prior to Rose’s firing.
Grayson Waller
Waller has become a mainstay in WWE NXT, but has yet to hold gold in the promotion.
Speaking about his career so far, the Australian Superstar explained his slow rise, saying others needed a push from the get-go, more than him.
“I think from day one I was[ready for the top spot,] but I just hadn’t [been] given the platform or the opportunity yet. I think other people were given that straight away because they needed it and I took that opportunity.”
Grayson Waller.
Waller, the winner of the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge, has a guaranteed title match with NXT Champion Bron Breakker.
Ricochet battled Gunther tonight for the Intercontinental Championship tonight on WWE SmackDown. He gave it everything he had and was able to kick out of a big Powerbomb from The Ring General during the match.
However, Gunther proved to be too much for Ricochet and put the challenger away with a Powerslam to retain the Intercontinental Championship. After the match, Imperium surrounded Ricochet and were about to attack when Braun Strowman’s music hit.
The Monster of All Monsters charged down the entrance ramp and Imperium retreated. Strowman posed with Ricochet as SmackDown moved on to another segment.
WWE’s official Twitter uploaded an exclusive video to show that Ricochet received a standing ovation after losing his shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Ricochet earned the title shot by winning the SmackDown World Cup tournament.
Braun Strowman on Carrying on the Tradition of Giants in Wrestling
Braun Strowman was a part of the SmackDown World Cup Tournament but Gunther made sure to interfere in his semifinal match against Ricochet. Imperium’s interference wound up costing Strowman the match against Ricochet and The Ring General is clearly trying to avoid Braun at all costs. Perhaps Gunther is afraid of Strowman because he is one of the last remaining giants in wrestling.
Strowman recently spoke with CBS Sports and said that he is carrying on the fading tradition of giants in the world of professional wrestling.
Andre the Giant is sports entertainment. He is the reason why this industry is what it is. It’s world-renowned as a global entity. When you talk about WWE, you cannot mention this company without saying Andre the Giant.
So from him to the Big Show to Kane to Undertaker to Mark Henry to all these other giant men that have come and gone in this business, I’m one of the very last few of a dying breed of these dinosaurs, as I like to call it. So in my mind, I’m carrying on a tradition and a legacy that is fading.
When 2022 first started, everything was looking up for All Elite Wrestling. CM Punk was involved in an epic rivalry against MJF, free agents were swarming to the promotion, and it appeared that the company was well on its way to becoming must-watch television every week.
10 Best AEW Moments of 2022
Lack of accountability, direction, and leadership has exposed all of AEW’s flaws this year, and hopefully, 2022 will be the company’s reference point as to what not to do moving forward.
Here are the 10 biggest mistakes made by All Elite Wrestling in 2022:
#10. The Unfortunate Debut of Satnam Singh
Samoa Joe captured the ROH TV Championship on the April 13th edition of Dynamite. Joe defeated Minoru Suzuki in a physical match in the main event to capture the title. After the match, Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal appeared on the entrance ramp with a present. They opened it and revealed Jay Lethal’s middle finger.
The lights then went out and Satnam Singh made his debut. The giant beat Joe down but his arrival did not generate the reaction AEW was hoping for. Chants of “who are you?!” echoed throughout the arena and AEW fans immediately rejected Satnam. He has become more of a background figure in the faction, as Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett appear to be entering a feud with AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed.
#9. Too Many Titles/ Interim Champions
One of the biggest gripes wrestling fans currently have with All Elite Wrestling is the absurd amount of titles in the promotion. Even with the surplus of championships, outside titles like the Regina Di Wave title are randomly defended within the promotion.
AEW set a precedent with CM Punk with Interim Champions that completely undermined Toni Storm’s title reign. The interim label made her seem like a temporary champion for the entire reign and hopefully, she will get another one to rectify that in the future.
The All-Atlantic Championship was the breaking point for many fans. Orange Cassidy has done his best to make the title relevant on Rampage but it still feels like an unnecessary title, as many think of the TNT Championship as the secondary title in the company.
#8. Lack of Transparency Regarding AEW Fight Forever
AEW Fight Forever was advertised to be released in 2022 all year until it became obvious that the video game wasn’t ready to be on shelves.
Fight Forever’s release date was pushed back until February 2023 in November, but there was just a very loud silence surrounding the game for months until finally a trailer was recently posted. Time will tell if the game delivers when it is released, but it is hard to feel confident that it will at the moment.
#7. Too Many Factions
Factions are great in wrestling. The leader of the group is usually a charismatic performer that helps elevate the talent around him. The Jericho Appreciation Society might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s little doubt that Chris has the ability to lead his own group and help other talents.
However, throwing talent together and slapping a name on them doesn’t mean anything. What has Private Party gotten out of being a part of the Hardy Family Office? Is Cole Karter getting more of a reaction now that he is in The Factory with QT Marshall?
The factions have to be interesting themselves for it to equate to fan interest. Otherwise, it is just a collection of wrestlers interacting with each other in segments nobody cares about.
#6. Too Much Ring of Honor
AEW President Tony Khan purchased Ring of Honor in March of this year. Nine months later, there is no TV deal for the promotion and he’s asking fans to sign up for Honor Club for ten bucks a month.
Even with that subscription, fans would still have to shell out $40 for the PPV as it will not appear on Honor Club until 90 days after it airs live. Chris Jericho became the ROH Champion by defeating Claudio Castagnoli and his reign came to an on December 10th at Final Battle.
From the outside looking in, it sure looks like he was made the ROH Champion to try and orchestrate a TV deal for the brand and it didn’t work out. Hopefully, there are big things in the promotion in the future, but there was far too much ROH involvement on Dynamite for asking fans to subscribe to Honor Club to be the end goal.
#5. The William Regal Situation
William Regal played a massive part in MJF becoming AEW World Champion and then left the company. It was a bizarre series of events and left many fans wondering why Regal played such a prominent part in the storyline when management knew he was on his way out.
Tony Khan did the right thing in letting Regal return to WWE after the regime change. It was just bizarre that he became the most prominent he had been as a television character on AEW TV as he was on the way out of the company.
#4. Lack of Focus on the Women’s Division
The women’s division in AEW is very talented but it just hasn’t clicked yet. Toni Storm was a big signing for All Elite Wrestling but her title reign was underwhelming. Jade Cargill is undefeated as TBS Champion but the promotion has struggled to find viable opponents or interesting feuds for her.
Jade’s feud against Nyla Rose for Full Gear was quite forgettable. The match at the PPV was fine, but the build to get us there was not. The talent is there, it remains to be seen if the creative writing will be in 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRaYATCXcJ0
#3. Lack of Focus on Rampage
AEW Rampage became the most missable wrestling show on television this year. Rarely did anything of note happen in AEW on Friday nights during 2022. The show often features main events with wrestlers that are on the main event level and has a pacing issue.
There’s no time for anything to breathe on Rampage and there often is far too much crammed into an episode. It appears that AEW President Tony Khan has a renewed focus on Rampage following its recent record-low ratings and it will be interesting to see if AEW is relevant on Friday nights next year.
#2. Letting Cody Rhodes Leave
The American Nightmare returned to WWE as former CEO Vince McMahon’s selection for Seth Rollins’ opponent at WrestleMania 38. Cody Rhodes got an incredible reaction upon his return to WWE and became even more popular as the weeks went on. His promos connected with the WWE Universe and he seems destined to become champion one day.
Cody’s run in All Elite Wrestling had a bizarre ending. He took himself out of AEW World Championship contention by saying he would never get another title shot while he was in management if he lost to Chris Jericho at Full Gear 2019. Cody lost after MJF threw in the towel for him and hit Rhodes with a low blow after the match.
Rhodes then found himself disconnect from the AEW audience, sometimes booed relentlessly during his promos. A change of scenery was likely what Cody needed, but his presence is still missed in AEW. There aren’t too many that can cut a promo like The American Nightmare and consistently deliver in the ring at the same time.
#1. Lack of Leadership
There have been too many instances of AEW talent burying each other, burying their boss, brawling, and just general dysfunction this year in the company. CM Punk’s rant following AEW All Out was egregious, but it was also allowed to get to that point. There were stories about issues backstage for months but nothing was resolved. Talented wrestlers like Miro and Andrade have become disgruntled and were poorly used in the promotion from the day they signed.
It is a difficult task to manage all of the egos in the locker room but it has to be done by somebody. If everyone is just looking out for themselves in AEW, they will become the alternative to Impact rather than WWE in the years ahead.
AEW Rampage aired from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. Jon Moxley battled Sammy Guevara tonight. Britt Baker was in action against Skye Blue and an 8-man tag team match was this week’s main event.
Rampage Results
Jon Moxley def. Sammy Guevara
Britt Baker def. Skye Blue
Wardlow def. Exodus Prime
Best Friends, Orange Cassidy, and Dustin Rhodes def. The Butcher, The Blade, Kip Sabian, and Trent Seven
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Jon Moxley Picked Up A Win & Brawled With Hangman Page
Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley faced Jericho Appreciation Society’s Sammy Guevara tonight on AEW Rampage. The former AEW World Champion controlled the match early and beat Guevara down. Moxley hit a Cutter but Sammy battled back.
Guevara connected with some chops to Jon’s chest and then knocked him to the canvas with a Dropkick. Sammy controlled the next few minutes and slammed Jon on the ring apron as Rampage went to a commercial break.
When Rampage returned, Moxley was busted open as always. Sammy had ripped his earring out during the commercial and started stomping on the ear. Guevara sets up for the GTH but Moxley escaped.
Sammy got Moxley in the Boston Crab but Jon battled his way out of the submission hold. Moxley connected with a Stomp and went for the cover but Sammy kicked out at two. The action spilled outside the ring and Sammy connected with a Swanton through a table.
Back in the ring, Guevara went for a Crossbody but Moxley blocked it. Jon connected with a Piledriver and applied the Bulldog Choke but Guevara was able to break free. Moxley went for the Deathrider but Guevara countered with a DDT of his own. Sammy followed it up with another Swanton off the top rope but Moxley wouldn’t stay down. Guevara connected with a Spanish Fly off the top turnbuckle but Moxley still was able to lock in the Bulldog Choke. Guevara passed out and Moxley called Hangman Adam Page out after the match.
Hangman and Moxley brawled on the entrance ramp and back into the ring. Hangman Page set up for the Buckshot Lariat but accidentally hit a security guard instead. The brawl continued until the two former AEW World Champions were separated.
An enraged #HangmanPage charges directly at @JonMoxley and takes out everyone in his path!
FTR came to the ring for a promo tonight on Rampage. They lost the ROH Tag Team Championships to The Briscoes this past Saturday at ROH Final Battle in a Dog Collar Match. Dax Harwood claimed he had a “broken ass bone” and claimed FTR let the fans down by losing the belts. Dax and Cash thanked the fans for making 2022 the best year of their careers and vowed to kick the Gunn Club’s ass next Wednesday at Dynamite: Holiday Bash.
8 Best Moments from ROH Final Battle 2022
"There's been a couple of kids with Daddy issues trying to get our attention, I promise you if anyone's gonna kill our legacy, it's sure as HELL not going to be a couple of dumbAss Boys" #FTR@DaxFTR@CashWheelerFTR have plans to take care of #TheGunns!
Britt Baker battled Skye Blue tonight on AEW Rampage. Blue controlled the action early and connected with a boot to the face for a near fall. Baker responded with a Slingblade and then the Stomp for the quick pinfall victory.
After the match, Britt got Skye in the Lockjaw but Hikaru Shida made the save with a kendo stick. Shida hit Rebel with the kendo stick and delivered a shot to Britt Baker as well. Jamie Hayter got into the ring and the two had a staredown. Jamie will defend the AEW Women’s Championship against Hikaru Shida at Dynamite: Holiday Bash next weke.
Former #AEW Women's World Champion @shidahikaru has seen enough and goes directly for the Champ @jmehytr!
Preston Vance, formerly known as 10 in Dark Order, explained why he betrayed the group tonight in a backstage interview with Jim Ross. He said Brodie Lee was the one who picked him to be in the group and the rest of the members are not on his level. Preston added he’s sick of -1 (Brodie Lee Jr.) and doesn’t want to take orders from people he is better than anymore.
Former TNT Champion Wardlow squared off against Exodus Prime on this week’s edition of Rampage. Wardlow hit four Powerbombs for the easy pinfall victory. After the match, Wardlow called out Samoa Joe. The King of Television ROH TV & TNT Champion Samoa Joe answered and mocked the Texas crowd. Joe announced that he will defend the TNT Championship against Wardlow on the December 28th episode of AEW Dynamite.
The 4th Powerbomb equals victory for @RealWardlow and he wants a few words with the King of Television, @SamoaJoe!
Best Friends, Orange Cassidy & Dustin Rhodes Picked Up A Win
Best Friends (Trent, Chuck Taylor), All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy, and Dustin Rhodes faced The Butch, The Blade, Trent Seven, and Kip Sabian in the main event of this week’s episode of AEW Rampage. As always, Mark Henry interviewed the competitors before the main event.
Trent Seven and Trent Beretta started off the action and went back and forth. Orange Cassidy tagged in and set up for a Suicide Dive but Penelope Ford and The Bunny got into the way. The Butcher and The Blade capitalized on the distraction as Rampage went to the final break of the night.
When Rampage returned, Dustin Rhodes tagged in and beat Trent Seven down. Best Friends sent Butcher and Blade to the outside and shared a hug with Orange Cassidy before they leaped onto Butcher and Blade outside the ring. The referee ejected Bunny and Ford during the match as Kip Sabian hit Danhausen with a low blow ringside.
Back in the ring, Dustin tagged in again and connected with a Destroyer on Kip. Orange Cassidy hit Sabian with his lazy kicks before Rhodes followed it up with Shattered Dreams. Cassidy hit Seven with the Orange Punch and Dustin hit him with a Bulldog for the pinfall victory.
A big Roman Reigns match has been announced for the December 30th edition of WWE SmackDown.
On the final episode of SmackDown of the year, Roman Reigns will be teaming up with a member of The Bloodline. During tonight’s edition of SmackDown, Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso had a conversation backstage. Jimmy wondered what Reigns had planned for Sami Zayn’s “big night” tonight. Reigns said he wanted to talk to WWE Official Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman called him into The Tribal Chief’s locker room.
Roman Reigns said he wanted to team up with Sami Zayn against Kevin Owens and a partner of his choosing. Paul Heyman suggested December 30th as the date for the match. John Cena will also be returning on the final edition of SmackDown of the year in Tampa Bay, Florida.
At the end of WWE SmackDown, The Bloodline came to the ring in what was supposed to be a big night for Sami Zayn. However, John Cena interrupted on the jumbotron and announced he will be Kevin Owens’ tag team partner against Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn on December 30th.
Sami Zayn Leads The Bloodline to Victory at WWE Survivor Series WarGames
Sami Zayn has spend the past several months trying to prove his worth to The Bloodline and he finally did so at WWE Survivor Series WarGames last month.
On the SmackDown before the premium live event, Jey Uso overheard Kevin Owens talking to Sami Zayn outside The Bloodline’s locker room. Owens suggested that Sami betray The Bloodline before they do so to him. Sami then lied to Jey about the conversation taking place, but admitted everything to The Tribal Chief when he talked to him at Survivor Series.
At the end of the WarGames match, Sami hit Kevin Owens with a low blow and followed it up with a Helluva Kick. The Honorary Uce then stepped aside and allowed Jey Uso to hit KO with a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. Roman and Jey shared a hug with Sami after The Bloodline’s victory at the premium live event.
Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn Emotional Moment ? After Survivor Series 2022 Men's Wargames Match. ? pic.twitter.com/BPEMw4rWRZ
A masked WWE Superstar interfered in the Women’s Tag Team Championship match tonight on SmackDown.
Damage CTRL defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Tegan Nox and Liv Morgan to begin this week’s episode of SmackDown. Tegan Nox recently returned to the promotion after she was released last November.
Liv Morgan has gone a bit crazy since losing to Ronda Rousey at Extreme Rules and attempted to confront Damage CTRL by herself. Tegan Nox made the save and it led to tonight’s Women’s Tag Team Championship match.
Bayley was ringside for the match and watched on as Dakota and IYO controlled the action early. Tegan and Liv Morgan began to battle back and Bayley attempted to interfere. Nox sent The Role Model flying over the barricade but a masked superstar attacked her.
Damage CTRL capitalized on the attack and IYO connected with a Moonsault on Nox for the pinfall victory. IYO SKY and Dakota Kai are still the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
After the Women’s Tag Team Championship match, the masked superstar was caught by WWE security and brought backstage.
WWE official Adam Pearce then unmasked the attacker and revealed that it was Xia Li. Xia has not been since on SmackDown since she called Emma weak after she lost her return match against Ronda Rousey.
Xia Li debuted for WWE in 2017 in the Mae Young Classic. She was called up to the main roster last December but hasn’t been featured much on SmackDown.
John Cena is slated to return to WWE television on the December 30 edition of SmackDown.
According to Fightful Select, there’s been talk of seeing him before then. Per the report, “there have been discussions within WWE and even plans to integrate Cena into upcoming episodes of SmackDown even before he arrives.”
Some of the talks included having a “video presence” of some sort, but the extent of that wasn’t known. That was one of the several things that were teased to hype up Smackdown this week.
The report added that the Cena appearance will be promoted heavily over the next two weeks and that they wanted to make the December 30 show a “must-watch.”
His Last Appearance
During Cena’s return on Raw for his 20th Anniversary celebration over the summer, he did not set up his match with Theory at SummerSlam, which had been speculated about because they had been publicly teasing a match.
Instead, nothing was announced regarding his WWE future, as Cena stated he wasn’t sure when he would wrestle again.
Shortly before WWE confirmed Cena would be appearing on this episode of SmackDown, it was reported that Cena was expected to work WrestleMania 39 although an opponent wasn’t mentioned.
Griff Garrison is on the mend after undergoing the knife.
The AEW star announced on Friday evening that he had surgery by tweeting that he “had to go under the knife,” but added that he’d be back in no time. The post also featured a picture of himself in a hospital bed. As of this writing, it’s unclear what the surgery was for and how long he’ll be out of action.
Garrison’s Last Match
Garrison has not wrestled since the AEW Dark taping in October, where he and Brian Pillman lost to QT Marshall and Cole Karter.
Garrison entered the pro wrestling business in 2016 after graduating from the Fire Star Pro Wrestling Academy in Greensboro, NC.
In 2020, Garrison started making appearances for AEW as he made his promotional debut on the June 10th edition of Dark, where he lost to Jimmy Havoc in a singles match.
Garrison was paired up with Brian Pillman Jr. in AEW, where they have found success as a tag team known as The Varsity Blonds. Both Pillman and Garrison were on tiered deals before
The tag team lost the rights to the “Varsity” name to Josh Woods and Tony Nese in October. As a result, they’re now simply The Blonds.
WWE SmackDown airs live tonight from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Roman Reigns returned and there were two title matches on tonight’s show.
WWE SmackDown Results
Damage CTRL def. Liv Morgan & Tegan Nox to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships
Gunther def. Ricochet to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Hit Row def. Legado Del Fantasma, Viking Raiders in a Triple Threat Tag Team match
Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode of SmacDown:
Xia Li Helped Damage CTRL Retain
Damage CTRL (IYO SKY and Dakota Kai) defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox to begin the show. Bayley was ringside for the match. Liv hit IYO with a Dropkick and taunted Dakota Kai. Liv grabbed a kendo stick from under the ring and started chasing Dakota around.
Tegan broke it up and tried to remind Liv that they can’t win the titles via DQ. Morgan and Nox sent Damage CTRL out of the ring. Tegan hit a Crossbody off the top turnbuckle as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Liv hit Dakota with a Dropkick and went after Iyo on the ring apron. Dakota caught Liv with a running kick and Iyo followed it up with a Powerbomb. Tegan broke up the cover but Kai hit her with a Pele Kick. Morgan hit Iyo with a DDT and Nox followed it up with a Shining Wizard but Kai broke up the cover at two.
Liv Morgan hit an awesome Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the ring apron but turned around into a Dropkick from IYO SKY. Nox hit a SKY with a Senton but IYO responded with a headbutt to knock Tegan out of the ring. Bayley attempted to interfere but Nox sent her over the barricade. A masked person hit Nox and Iyo followed it up with a Moonsault for the pinfall victory. It was revealed in a WWE Digital Exclusive that the masked person was Xia Li.
Sami Zayn said he needs a couple of minutes to get ready for the big night tonight. Jey Uso said to Jimmy that Roman Reigns will be making Sami a full-blown Uce tonight. Jimmy didn’t seem so sure and wondered if Jey had even talked to Roman yet. Jey avoided the question and simply said tonight is going to be good.
Jey Uso believes Roman Reigns is going to make Sami Zayn is full-fledged Uce tonight, but Jimmy isn’t so sure. Regardless, it’s going to be a “big night” for Sami #Smackdown
LA Knight came to the ring and called out Bray Wyatt. Knight said Bray is a former WWE Champion his recent return is one of the most talked about ever. LA mocked Wyatt for doing nothing since his return and challenged him to come to the ring so he can stomp him out.
Bray Wyatt made his way to the entrance ramp and said he was sick of LA Knight. He added that he is sick of this game they keep playing and once again denied that he attacked him. Wyatt added that they both know how this story ends. LA attacked Bray and stomped him down to the canvas in the corner of the ring.
Uncle Howdy appeared on the screen and said “little pig, what have you done? You want to see something really scary?” and disappeared from the screen. Knight kicked Wyatt again and noises started playing. Uncle Howdy appeared on the entrance ramp and laughed as LA Knight retreated to end the segment.
Gunther defended the Intercontinental Championship against Ricochet tonight on SmackDown. The Ring General went for a Clothesline to start off the match but Ricochet was able to dodge it. Gunther took Ricochet down and unloaded several punches. The champ went for a submission hold but Ricochet escaped to the ropes.
The Ring General went for a chop but Ricochet dodged it. Ricochet applied a Headlock but Gunther quickly escaped. Ricochet stayed on the attack and beat the champ down against the turnbuckle as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Ricochet was in control and hit a Shooting Star Press off the top rope but couldn’t keep Gunther down for three. The Ring General battled back and hit a Powerbomb but somehow Ricochet kicked out at two. Gunther followed it up with a Powersla for the pinfall victory and retained the Intercontinental Championship.
After the match, Imperium surrounded Ricochet and set up for an attack but Braun Strowman made the save. Braun raised Ricochet’s hand and fired up the crowd.
Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn Tag Team Match Announced for Dec. 30th
Jimmy Uso talked to Roman Reigns backstage and said if he doesn’t want to make Sami an Uso tonight he understands because of his past with Kevin Owens. Jimmy added that Sami is his dog though but he loves the family. Roman then told Paul Heyman to bring him WWE Official Adam Pearce as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Roman said he wanted to team up with Sami Zayn against Kevin Owens on a partner of his choosing. Heyman suggested December 30th as the date for the match. Solo Sikoa got in Pearce’s face and he exited the room.
Hit Row, Viking Raiders, and Legado Del Fantasma battled in a Triple Threat tag team match. Cruz Del Toro and hit Top Dolla with a flip off the top rope for a near fall. Erik hit Del Toro with a German Suplex and everyone brawled out of the ring.
Top Dolla botched a dive over the top rope in embarrassing fashion, but Hit Row somehow still emerged with a pinfall victory. It was announced The Usos will defend against Hit Row next week. Top Dolla appeared to be in pain after the botch, and next week’s episode of SmackDown is being taped later tonight so it will be interesting to see if he wrestles later.
Emma, Raquel Rodriguez, Tegan Nox, Sonya Deville, and Xia Li will compete in a Gauntlet Match next week. The winner will earn a shot at Ronda Rousey’s SmackDown Women’s Championship. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler attacked Raquel in the trainers room this week.
John Cena Will Be Kevin Owens’ Partner on the Final SmackDown of the Year
The Bloodline made their way to the ring at the end of this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Roman Reigns asked the crowd to acknowledge him before bragging about The Bloodline dominating WarGames.
Reigns said tonight was going to be a good night for Sami Zayn but they have a Kevin Owens problem. John Cena interrupted on the jumboton and said he got a text from Kevin Owens tonight and will be his partner on the final edition of SmackDown on December 30th. Cena announced that he will be Owens’ partner on the final SmackDown of the year.
Triple H is gearing up for his first WWE WrestleMania in charge of creative after Vince McMahon decided to retire due to the hush money scandal.
Since taking over creative, fans believe WWE has changed for the better. WrestleMania 39 will be a two-night show, set to take place on April 1st and 2nd at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that the company has already started discussing multiple ideas for top talent.
Where Things Stand
Graphic Credit: Business Wire
Meltzer wrote, “regarding stories that the WrestleMania card is finalized, we are told that there are multiple ideas for Mania cards in discussion and every top act has multiple different things under discussion right now.”
As previously reported, WWE has locked in plans for Brock Lesnar. WWE is hoping to have The Rock, Steve Austin, and John Cena wrestle at the show.
The speculation is that if WWE can’t get The Rock to come back to do a match with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns then Cody Rhodes may fill that rople. There’s also been talk of having Reigns wrestle on both nights of the show against both stars on different nights.
It is December 16th, do you know what that means? It is Brodie Lee’s birthday.
The former TNT Champion passed away in December 2020 at just 41 years old. His wife, Amanda Huber, works on the promotion’s Community Outreach program. His son, Brodie Lee Jr., portrays -1 in Dark Order. Today would have been Brodie’s 43rd birthday.
Happy birthday baby.
We miss you more than I can say. Every. Single. Day.
You’d be so proud of who Brodie and Nolan have become. You’d be so proud of who I’ve become.
I’d give anything for us to have one more day with you.
Brodie Lee was known as Luke Harper in WWE during his time with the promotion. He was a part of The Wyatt Family, as well as the tag team The Bludgeon Brothers with Erick Rowan. Former Wyatt Family member Braun Strowman took to Twitter to send a happy birthday wish and noted that everyone misses him.
“It’s Friday!!!!!! You know what that means. Happy birthday brother. We miss you.”
It’s Friday!!!!!! You know what that means. Happy birthday brother. We miss you. pic.twitter.com/4gfjIhLCu8
WWE had a live event in Rochester, New York earlier this month and Seth Rollins honored Brodie in his hometown.
He passed away a couple of years ago around this time and this is the first time I have been here with a microphone in my hand in this city to tell him how much I miss him and how much I love him.
I just wanted to say tonight was for him, every time we are in Rochester, in my heart, that means we’re here for him. It’s Saturday, and you know what that means, so do your damn thing and sing my song.
Brodie Lee’s final match was on October 7th, 2020. He dropped the TNT Championship to Cody Rhodes in a Dog Collar match. AEW celebrated the life of The Exalted One on the December 30, 2020 edition of Dynamite from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.
What are some of your favorite moments of Brodie Lee/Luke Harper’s professional wrestling career? Let us know in the comments section below.
Chris Jericho has his next movie project lined up as he is set to lead cast in a wrestling-themed horror movie, “Dark Match.”
Deadline reported today that Jericho will star with Ayisha Issa (Transplant), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Eklund (Wynonna Earp) and Jonathan Cherry (Goon) in the movie.
The Dept. 9 Studios film, which recently wrapped in Edmonton, Canada, is written and directed by Lowell Dean (Wolfcop) and is produced by John MacDonald who also serves as one of the executive producers along with Jericho. Don Depoe and Michael Feehan, who are also Dept.9 producers, are joined by Rhonda Baker (The Grudge) and Michael Peterson.
The Synopsis
(via AEW)
The movie sees a small-time wrestling company accept a high-paying gig in a backwoods town, only to discover when they arrive that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match.
Jericho previously starred in Terrifier 2 which was released in October that saw him portray a nurse. It became a hit at the box office, grossing $11.5 million.
The ROH Final Battle event was headlined by Jericho defending the ROH World Title against Claudio Castagnoli which saw Jericho drop the championship back to Claudio.
Chris Jericho is arguably AEW’s top act and the biggest name on the roster since the start of the promotion in 2019.
TBS is also well aware of that value as Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Tony Khan had always planned Jericho vs. Claudio Castagnoli would close out the ROH Final Battle event on December 10. However, Khan did receive a little pushback.
Jericho dropped the ROH World Title to Claudio at Final Battle. Per the report, “[TBS SVP] Sam Linsky and TBS actually were at first against Jericho, as one of the top guys in AEW, appearing on this PPV show.”
Agreement
(AEW)
There was a point where Jericho was scheduled to lose the ROH World Title in the fatal 4-way bout at Full Gear in November to Claudio. However, they ultimately changed it when everyone got on the same page.
The stakes were high for Castagnoli at Final Battle as his future in the Blackpool Combat Club was on the line. The stipulation stated that if Castagnoli would have lost his Final Battle fight, he would have had to join The Jericho Appreciation Society.
Jericho started off his reign by defeating Castagnoli before he defended it against several names, including Dalton Castle, Bandido, and Colt Cabana.
Ring of Honor presented its third and final pay-per-view event of 2022 with Final Battle last weekend. It closed up the first year under Tony Khan’s ownership and creative vision for the brand.
The early estimates are in for ROH Final Battle. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, the show drew over 25,000 pay-per-view buys (19,000 streaming and 6,400 cable) based on first-week estimates, which are “always low in the end by five to 10 percent.”
The other pay-per-view events for ROH this year were ROH Supercard of Honor in April, with 23,000 buys, and ROH Death Before Dishonor in July, with 37,000 buys.
Other Metrics
This edition was the biggest PPV number, and the highest attended ROH Final Battle in company history.
The show reportedly drew 2,700 fans, with 2,500 paid at the College Park Center.
The show featured a loaded lineup, including the highly praised double dog collar match for the ROH World Tag Team Titles between The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) against FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) that saw FTR drop the titles.
It was headlined by Chris Jericho defending the ROH World Title against Claudio Castagnoli. Jericho dropped the championship back to Claudio.
Matt Cardona has successfully rebuilt himself after his WWE release in 2020. He is one of the stars that has helped fill the gap in the independent circuit left by people like The Elite and others after they signed exclusive contracts. His advice for anyone wanting to replicate the success is very simple – to get good at the basics and let things breathe.
The former WWE star recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet. Talking about his advice for young talent on the indies, Cardona mentioned how it’s important to have moments in your match that can go viral. At the same time, you need to get good with the basics and know how to tell a story in a match. The former IC Champion then revealed what he learned during his time in WWE that has helped him get over in the indies:
“Slow the fuck down. Seriously. You gotta imagine, this is what I tell guys too. Let’s say you do a move and you’re both selling and it seems like you’re selling for eternity but in TV land, the commentators are telling the story, the cameras are going from one facial expression to the other guy. So relax a little bit. [It] doesn’t have to be like move, move, move, move, move, move move. There’s a time and a place to go balls to the walls, but you also gotta let the people digest what they just saw.”
‘People Have Given Up On Impact’: Matt Cardona
Matt Cardona also talked about his time with Impact Wrestling and said that he doesn’t know what his future with the company is. The former Digital Media champion put over the promotion for their storylines and roster but agreed with the criticism that their product is hard to find:
“I think it’s great. I think that the roster is awesome. I think that [the] actual show if people watch it, it’s an awesome show, where things make sense in the storylines. They actually have a beginning, middle and end. I just think a lot of people have given up on impact and they don’t want to give it another chance and it’s a shame because it’s a great, great product. It’s another problem, it’s fucking impossible to find it. Like I’m on the goddamn show. I can’t watch it.”
You can check out Matt Cardona’s full interview below:
Wrestling fans can expect All Elite Wrestling’s flagship shows to have a new look and feel in the very near future.
In recent months, Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW President Tony Khan decided it’s time to change the overall look and presentation of Dynamite and Rampage. Those changes will be rolled out at some point in January, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
AEW’s recent hiring of Michael Mansury is a big part of this initiative. Mansury previously worked as WWE’s VP of Global Television Production and will serve as Tony Khan’s new Senior Vice President and Co-Executive Producer.
Mansury is considered a “tremendous asset” who is universally well-liked. He worked for WWE from 2009 through 2020. At one time, he was being groomed to be Kevin Dunn’s successor. Many felt he’d replace Dunn whenever Vince McMahon stepped away from WWE, but Mansury didn’t wait that long.
One WWE source told the Observer, Mansury rose ‘too quickly’ through the ranks, which led Dunn to feel threatened and ‘covertly’ make his life very difficult.
AEW’s New Look and Feel
What will this “new look and feel” entail? AEW’s television productions involve many elements, including the the set and staging, lighting, graphics and video packages, music, camera angles, audio, and more.
Dynamite has undergone subtle changes since premiering in October 2019, but it sounds like we’ll be seeing the most significant shakeup to date in just a matter of weeks.
AEW recently brought in Renee Paquette, who has enhanced the broadcast team and by extension, the presentation of the shows.
With AEW’s next round of TV deals approaching, it makes sense for the company to freshen things up now in hopes of being in a better position during negotiations.
Dax Harwood says 2022 was the greatest year of his life and it was capped off by a match he calls his masterpiece.
FTR is widely regarded as one of the greatest tag teams in the world and they’ve held the gold to prove it. Some would argue that All Elite Wrestling could have featured them more prominently this year, but Harwood and Wheeler’s excellence is undeniable. Their tag team record currently stands at 7-3-1 for the year and they’re 6-0 in trios matches.
As the year winds down, Harwood took a chance to look back at the highs and lows of the past twelve months and ponder what the future holds for pro wrestling’s Top Guys. It wasn’t an easy year, but that’s part of what made it so rewarding for him.
2022 and Looking Ahead to 2023
On Friday, December 16, Dax Harwood posted a touching message on social media reflecting on how proud he is of FTR’s work this year and their latest classic against the Briscoe Brothers last weekend at ROH Final Battle.
“Artists have the one piece they’re the most proud of, and that’s their Masterpiece,” said Harwood. “This was my Masterpiece. Watching it, honest to God, I’ve laughed, I’ve cringed, and I’ve cried. Over every other match I’ve had, this is the one I’m the most proud of.”
– Dax Harwood
2022 brought a wide range of emotions, including anger, frustration, joy and pain. He doesn’t know what next year will bring, but he’s grateful for the fans who have supported FTR through it all. He gives his word that he’ll do everything in his power to make sure fans are as entertained as ever.
Chris Jericho is setting the record straight on how much money he made during his high-profile run with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
When Jericho left WWE in 2017, wrestling fans didn’t think much of it at the time. He came and went from WWE several times over the years, a practice that helped keep him fresh and always left fans wanting more. Nobody expected what would happen later that year, when Jericho popped up in NJPW for a feud with Kenny Omega. They did huge business together and NJPW is still profiting off that run to this day from subscribers to their NJPW World streaming service. Jericho was paid handsomely and rightfully so.
NJPW’s gamble to bring in an expensive star from WWE paid off. The promotion will soon attempt to catch lightning in a bottle once again. Sasha Banks is expected to attend Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4 and work a series of dates for NJPW.
How Much Did Chris Jericho Make in Japan?
Earlier this week, Dave Meltzer reported that Sasha Banks will be the highest-paid performer in the history of NJPW. She’ll be earning more than she did in WWE (on a per-show basis) – allegedly more than Chris Jericho was paid. Meltzer pegged this figure at $100,000 per match. Jericho caught wind of this claim and says it’s not true.
The inaugural AEW World Champion says this notion is “completely wrong” and he didn’t make a flat rate per appearance. Instead, his pay was determined based on the success of the shows he wrestled on.
“I never had a flat per appearance deal, I was paid according to the event.”
– Chris Jericho
He added that he made more per NJPW event than he did for most of his WrestleMania matches, which is quite a statement.
Jericho is known to be a savvy businessman and proved this once again by negotiating a great deal for himself in Japan. Certain Hollywood stars negotiate a percentage of box office receipts as part of their compensation for appearing in movies. Jericho took the same route, knowing his popularity would drive fans to spend money on his NJPW matches.
For the record, the money I reportedly made during my run with @njpw1972 from 2018-2020 online currently is completely wrong. I never had a flat per appearance deal, I was paid according to the event. And I made more per event than I did for MOST of my Wrestlemania matches.
Sasha Banks and WWE were nowhere close to reaching a deal as the promotion no longer see potential in her, the Wrestling Observer Newletter reports.
This month, it was reported that Banks will appear for New Japan’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on January 4.
The former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion hasn’t appeared for WWE since walking out of the May 16, Raw over a creative dispute.
Negotiations
For months, it was believed that Banks and WWE would reach an agreement that would facilitate her return to the promotion.
The Observer reports that the two sides were not close on money and that the only deal reached in the summer was for her to leave.
Banks did return to the negotiating table after Vince McMahon’s retirement in July, and despite belief of a “done deal” at the time, the two remained far apart on money.
Horsewomen
It is unclear how much exactly Banks was seeking from WWE, but the Observer writes that it was a number close to the levels of Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.
WWE at the time did not see Banks as somebody who would be on top for the next five years, and instead, believe that she has already peaked as a wrestler.
The company acknowledged that if they did bring her back, there would be a ‘honeymoon’ period of fan support for her, but believed that would not be long-lasting.
It is believed within WWE that Banks could make a fine singles or tag champion, but she is far from a name WWE can build a women’s division around.
Dave Meltzer writes that New Japan cannot afford to pay anywhere close to her WWE deal, but that she will earn more per appearance than for WWE.
Mandy Rose was released from WWE this week, and the promotion reportedly did not give her a chance to make things right.
Rose was released on Wednesday, 24 hours after dropping the NXT Women’s Championship to Roxanne Perez on this week’s episode of WWE NXT.
The Toxic Attraction member was cut over NSFW content she had shared on her personal website with subscribers.
Mandy Rose
Rose’s departure came as a shock to fans given how popular she had proven to be as NXT Women’s Champion for the past year.
The former Superstar was fired without being given the option to take the stuff down and tone down her site, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports.
Those in the company felt that had no other choice than to fire her because she was an active performer on the roster, and unlike the Saraya situation, these photos had been posted willingly.
The Observer reports that during one stream, Rose threatened to end the stream if she was not tipped $400 for her performance.
Rose is gone from WWE, and many both in and out of the company believe this is the wrong decision.
While nobody has directly mentioned her, WWE talent have been sharing posts of support, in a rare example of going against management.
Cora Jade posted a heart after news of Rose’s departure was announced, while her Toxic Attraction partners Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne shared images of broken hearts.
Those in WWE are concerned that Vince McMahon’s return could “cripple the entire company” if it goes ahead.
This week, it was reported that McMahon is planning a comeback, believing that he was given bad advice to retire in July of this year.
McMahon believes that the allegations of misconduct leveled against him in June would have blown over if he had stayed in his roles as CEO and Chairman.
Cripple the Company
McMahon’s potential return to WWE has been met with universal disdain, both from fans and those within the company.
The opinion within WWE is that the promotion has been doing very well under the current regime of Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that one longtime Vince supporter is against the idea, fearing that McMahon could “upend the entire Board.”
That same source said that removing the entire Board would likely lead to class action shareholder lawsuits that would “cripple the entire company.”
McMahon Power
Vince McMahon may have retired in July, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have some power.
McMahon owns 37.6% of all WWE stock (as of this past summer) but because his stock is determined differently, this gives him 80% of the voting power.
One source in WWE noted that McMahon stands to make a fortune in stock sales if he allows TV negotiations to go smoothly, which isn’t as likely with rumors of his possible return to the company.
