On the October 8, edition of WWE NXT, Randy Orton returned to St. Louis to battle Je’Von Evans, in only Orton’s second-ever match as part of the brand. In the end, the Viper was able to drop the Young OG with an RKO in a high-profile match that was part of NXT’s head-to-head efforts with AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday.
In a WWE NXT Digital Exclusive, Orton shared his excitement to be back in his hometown and was thrilled he had the chance to work with Evans.
“I got to work with an incredible talent tonight, only 20 years old. You know him, he’s bouncy, Je’Von Evans. Dude, I’m very excited to see where he goes in the future. He’s gonna be around for as long as he wants to be.”
Despite their very different in-ring styles, Orton shared that he and Evans have a lot in common when asked for advice for the Young OG.
“I think that he needs to keep doing what he’s doing. But what I noticed first and foremost after meeting him for the first time today, he’s incredibly humble, he has nothing but respect for the business and the guys like me, the old fuddy-duddies that have been here for over 20 years, and you know what, that means a lot.”
Evans may not have won this week, but sharing the ring with a 14-time former WWE World Champion is another feather in the cap of the 20-year-old NXT prodigy. With high-profile matches already under his belt, and now Orton’s endorsement, the future, however long it may be, certainly looks bright for Je’Von Evans.
Kurt Angle has opened up about the passing of his sister Le’Anne Angle.
The Olympic Gold medallist recently had an interview with Danielle McCartan. Among other things, Kurt talked openly about his pill addiction during his time in WWE.
Angle mentioned that at one time he was taking more than 50 pills a day and hiding his addiction from everyone. The incident that made him realize that he had a problem was the sudden passing of his sister Le’Anne, right before his big Iron Man match with Brock Lesnar back in September 2003:
“I remember at one point in time, I was getting ready for the biggest match in my career. It was going to be a one-hour Iron Man match against Brock Lester. I was at a house show—an non-televised show—the night before. I just got done wrestling, my brother, Eric called me. He said, ‘Listen, your sister Le’Anne just died of a heroin overdose.’
Man, that devastated me. I remember I went back to my hotel room, grabbed about 30 pills, threw them in my mouth, chewed them up, and swallowed them. I didn’t want to feel any pain and I passed out. I didn’t wake up until 4:30 in the afternoon the next day.
The WWE was trying to get a hold of me all day long to tell me I didn’t have to show up for TV; I could go home and plan the funeral for my sister. I looked up at the ceiling and said, ‘Le’Anne, what do you want me to do?’ And all I could hear was, ‘Do it for me. Do it for me.’ So, I went and wrestled, and I had the greatest match of my career.”
Kurt Angle would stay with WWE for 3 more years before finally deciding to leave the company and join TNA. While Angle got over his painkiller addiction in TNA, he went deep into alcohol addiction, getting 4 DUIs in a span of 5 years. He finally went to rehab after his 2013 arrest and the wrestling legend has been sober ever since.
The former World Champion was asked how he felt about the passing of his sister while he was dealing with an addiction himself. Angle revealed that he had actually stopped talking to her to try and get her to quit. Looking back at it now, it’s one of the biggest regrets for the former World Champion:
“That’s what hurts the most looking back now I mean I was such a hypocrite. I didn’t have a chance to talk to my sister before she passed away because I had too much pride. I didn’t want her to know I had a drug problem. But I was criticizing her for hers. I said, ‘Listen, I’m not going to talk to you until you get clean.’ Unfortunately, she never got clean, and she passed away. So, I regret that decision.”
Angle was finally asked what he would tell his sister if he got the chance to do it all over again. The former WWE star said that he would have acknowledged his own problems and encouraged Le’Anne to go into rehab with him:
“I’d tell her, listen, Le’Anne, I’m in this with you. We both need to go to rehab together. I would have loved to went to rehab with my sister, knowing that she was going to be with me, and I was going to be with her. I think we could have done it as a team, I think we’d both be clean and alive, today.”
A world championship run may not be in the cards for Claudio Castagnoli at this stage of his career but he is not bogged down by this.
The former WWE star has remained one of the most popular wrestling stars in the sphere for the last decade. With his unparalleled skills in the ring, many veterans have expressed their amazement at the 43-year-old never getting a run at the top.
Many expected things to change when Castagnoli left WWE for AEW in 2022 but with the current depth of the Elite roster, it seems unlikely that Claudio will get a run with the world title anytime soon if at all.
Though he doesn’t seem to take this prospect negatively. During a recent interview with The Takedown, Claudio explained that everyone in wrestling should aspire to be a world champion. He has realized, however, that the single-minded focus on it could be detrimental sometimes:
“Everybody should aspire to be the World Heavyweight Champion. I think I may have realized as I’m getting older, that that single-minded focus can actually be a big detriment to me. Not everybody is the main character. Not everybody can be the hero of the story. So to me, it is how can I make the most impact?”
Claudio later explained that he is grateful to have blessings of names such as Bryan Danielson and Mick Foley who believe he should be a world champion, but he feels that he doesn’t need a belt to be a champion.
Claudio turned on his longtime friend Bryan Danielson at All Out 2024. He has since become part of the new faction led by Mox, alongside Marina Shafir, and PAC.
AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson had plenty to say after this week’s Title Tuesday of AEW Dynamite went off the air in Spokane, Washington.
In the main event of the show, Danielson and Wheeler Yuta defeated Pac and Claudio Castagnoli, continuing Danielson and Yuta’s feud with their former Blackpool Combat Club allies. After the match, Danielson fought Jon Moxley to the back but reemerged to save Yuta from a beatdown by Pac, Castagnoli, and Marina Shafir.
Speaking after AEW Dynamite with Tony Khan by his side, Danielson appreciated the incredible audience in Spokane. Bryan asked the crowd if they like Wheeler Yuta, which earned a huge cheer, as did his question about whether they want to see him beat Moxley at WrestleDream. The loudest cheer was saved for Bryan’s final question as he asked the fans “Do you want to see me kick Jon Moxley’s f***ing head in?!” which earned a ‘YES!’ chant from the audience.
Moxley and Danielson will do battle over the AEW World Championship at WrestleDream this Saturday. Moxley and the BCC (sans Yuta) turned on Danielson at AEW All Out with Moxley attempting to suffocate his former friend with a plastic bag. With the AEW World title (and potential free comic books for fans) on the line, expect Danielson and Moxley to hold nothing back in their efforts to obtain the richest prize in All Elite Wrestling.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from AEW WrestleDream including breaking news and live results from this Saturday’s event in Tacoma, Washington.
Before the Fifth Anniversary edition of AEW Dynamite, Taz announced he’d be stepping away from the commentary booth to undergo total knee replacement surgery, following an ambush in a parking lot. In actuality, this is a procedure Taz has been putting off for some time, but the Human Suplex Machine has at last gone under the knife.
On Twitter, Taz gave fans an update, sharing that the surgery went well but “now the work begins.” The veteran wrestling personality shared his dismay that he wasn’t given room 13, his signature number. Taz also promoted the ‘Title Tuesday’ edition of AEW Dynamite.
Look on my face when I requested room 13 and they missed by 5! ? Surgery went well, now the work begins.
With Taz still out of commission, Jeff Jarrett filled in during this week’s Dynamite, one week after Nigel McGuinness filled in for Taz on the Fifth Anniversary of Dynamite. Dynamite also saw HOOK backstage say he’s tired of chasing whoever attacked his father. Just then, Kip Sabian stumbled into HOOK, quickly denying any involvement before walking off.
Moments later, Christian Cage, accompanied by Nick Wayne and his mother, approached HOOK. Cage remarked that they’re both family men and that he recently lost Killswitch to a serious medical situation and offered HOOK condolences regarding Taz’s injury. As Cage and his entourage walked away, HOOK was left fuming.
A promo with Cage aired last week immediately after HOOK’s, and this, alongside Cage’s history of attacking father figures has left many to point the finger of suspicion at the Canadian. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on this mystery and to learn whether it was Cage who attacked Taz or if somebody else did the dirty deed.
Penelope Ford made her return to AEW programming after a long hiatus during tonight’s Title Tuesday edition of Dynamite from Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington.
A Women’s Championship #1 Contenders match between Britt Baker and Willow Nightingale had been scheduled for this week’s episode of AEW’s flagship show.
When Baker was unable to make the bout due to illness, Tony Khan replaced her with not one but three names including Jamie Hayter, Saraya, and Nyla Rose.
During a spot in the bout, Hayter took a chair from Saraya’s hand and beat the former champion with it. Saraya retreated outside and Hayter followed but Harley Cameron stopped her from using the chair again.
Jamie Hayter sent Cameron crashing into the barricade in response. Penelope Ford then appeared out of nowhere and hit Hayter with a chair. Jamie started chasing Ford to the back, essentially removing herself from the match:
Penelope Ford’s Absence
Penelope Ford has not been seen on AEW programming for some time now. She last wrestled for the company way back in February 2023.
Ford and her husband Kip Sabian opened up about suffering a miscarriage in March of that year. Sabian also made his return to TV very recently.
After Penelope’s interference, Willow Nightingale managed to win the match. She sent Saraya flying through a table with a Death Valley Driver and pinned the former WWE star for the win.
Willow will now be challenging the AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May at the upcoming WrestleDream PPV on October 12.
On the February 21, episode of AEW Dynamite, Van Dam teamed up with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and HOOK to face Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and Brian Cage. His most recent AEW match took place on the April 20 edition of AEW Collision where he won a four-way elimination match against Isiah Kassidy, Lee Johnson, and Komander.
In a recent interview on the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Rob Van Dam confirmed that despite his AEW appearances, he is under a WWE Legends deal. The former WWE & ECW Champion added that this deal will naturally limit his involvement with AEW.
“The first time that I talked to Tony Khan about doing this (working with AEW), a factor was that I still have a WWE Legends deal. So, my use to AEW would be limited as far as they can’t put me on video games, action figures, stuff like that and so, you could say it’s limited on both ends or you could say I got both ends going, best of both worlds or you could just say RVD does whatever he wants.”
Rob Van Dam joins a growing list of wrestling legends, including DDP, Victoria, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura, and Armando Estrada, who have recently signed WWE Legends contracts. Fans are eager to see when the high-flying icon will make his next WWE appearance.
Former World Champion Swerve Strickland is set to make his AEW return very soon.
The Premier Athlete has not been seen on AEW TV since he suffered a gruesome loss at the hands of Hangman Adam Page in their unsanctioned match at All Out.
The company finally confirmed Swerve’s return on this week’s episode of Dynamite. They announced that Strickland will be making an appearance at the upcoming WrestleDream PPV on October 12:
Prior to his loss to Adam Page, Strickland had suffered another major defeat at All In. Bryan Danielson ended his 126-day-long reign as the AEW World Champion and saved his career in the process.
That means the former champion has a long road ahead to build himself up again if he plans on pursuing the world title he lost.
There is also the question of The Hurt Syndicate looming around. MVP expressed the desire to work with Swerve upon his AEW debut a couple of weeks ago.
Shelton Benjamin has also made his debut for the company as MVP’s business partner and the debut of Bobby Lashley is highly anticipated.
With all the new players in town, it’d be interesting to see how Swerve will interact with them and if they’ll prove to be friends or foes for the former NXT star.
Amid growing speculation about his future in pro wrestling, Daniel Garcia has made his return to AEW television.
Garcia was first spotted in the parking lot during this week’s show, where Renee Paquette approached him and asked about his absence, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future. Garcia stated that he would rather explain in the ring in front of the fans.
With his contract set to expire this month, Garcia has yet to re-sign with AEW. WWE has reportedly shown strong interest in bringing him on board. After being written off AEW television, Garcia made his unexpected return during the AEW All In London 2024 pay-per-view event, interfering in the match between MJF and Will Ospreay for the International Title.
During All In London, Garcia shocked the crowd by costing MJF the match. At All Out, he briefly aligned with MJF before turning on him and laying him out. Following this, Garcia was once again taken off television, sparking speculation that AEW might not feature him again until he commits to a new deal.
As of now, neither AEW nor Garcia has publicly commented on his contract status.
Tony D’Angelo shocked the WWE Universe on Tuesday’s episode of WWE NXT by stepping up to challenge Oba Femi for the North American Title. This highly anticipated bout was part of an already stacked card.
Just days after Femi celebrated becoming the longest-reigning North American Champion in WWE history, his reign suddenly ended. Heading into the match, D’Angelo acknowledged his fear of Femi, who had previously defeated him at No Mercy. However, in their rematch, D’Angelo trapped Femi in a pin, securing the victory and ending Femi’s dominant run.
D’Angelo, already a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and Heritage Cup winner, now adds the prestigious North American Title to his accolades.
Femi’s Title Reign
Oba Femi made history by surpassing Wes Lee’s 269-day record as North American Champion. He initially captured the title in January during an episode of NXT, cashing in his NXT Breakout Tournament contract to defeat Dragon Lee. Over the course of his reign, Femi successfully defended the title ten times, defeating notable competitors such as Lee, Ivar, Otis, Dijak, Josh Briggs, Lexis King, and Joe Coffey, among others.
TONY D'ANGELO IS THE NEW NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION!!!!!
Stephanie Vaquer, real name Ana Stephanie Vaquer González, has officially made her arrival in WWE NXT. After leaving CMLL and NJPW, Vaquer chose WWE over interest from AEW. She made her NXT TV debut on Tuesday’s episode during a segment featuring NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. This came just a week after Jade returned from injury to help Perez retain her title against Giulia.
During the segment, Giulia introduced Vaquer as an “old friend,” marking the new recruit’s first official appearance. The scene quickly escalated into a brawl between the heels and the babyfaces, with Vaquer standing tall alongside Perez and Jade to close out the segment.
Stephanie Vaquer first caught WWE’s attention after she dropped the NJPW Strong Women’s Title to Mercedes Moné at Forbidden Door in June. She later participated in a WWE house show loop in Mexico in July, which further solidified her standing as a top prospect.
Despite the hype surrounding her, Vaquer has not competed in a match since then.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T is defending Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s comments at Saturday’s Bad Blood post-show press conference about representation in WWE.
In response to a question about the lack of black wrestlers competing at the event, Triple H stated that he doesn’t see color, nationality, or gender, only talent. WWE aims to tell stories with those talents and provide opportunities for everyone, but he’s not keeping score.
Booker T addressed this issue directly on the latest episode of his Hall of Fame podcast with Brad Gilmore. He acknowledged wrestling’s historical ‘bias’ against black wrestlers, and admitted he’s been involved in “touchy” storylines himself during his in-ring career.. However, he refutes the idea that race is factor in Triple H’s creative process.
“Has there been bias in the wrestling business, in the wrestling company before? Yes, there has. … But do I think it’s race-related or anything like that, or someone being belittled on purpose? I don’t.”
– Booker T
Booker T points out that wrestling has always had more white wrestlers than black wrestlers, which affects representation. He believes talent and storyline relevance should determine who appears on the shows, and questions whether any black wrestlers were involved in significant angles that would warrant their inclusion.
“Then I’m gonna say, okay, what guys are we talking about that we saying that should be on the pay-per-view? Are they in any angles to warrant a reason for being on the pay-per-view? “
– Booker T
Booker T compares the wrestling business to a “merry-go-round.” Sometimes you’re featured, and sometimes you’re not. He reiterates that he does not believe Triple H has any racial bias.
“I don’t think it’s a black and white thing, I don’t think it’s a race thing at this stage of the game. I think if you’re talented enough, if you’re good, cream is gonna rise to the top every time.”
– Booker T
To further demonstrate his point, Booker T said Superstars like Jey Uso, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill have earned theirspots through hard work, not because WWE needed to push a certain number of non-white wrestlers. He believes the most talented performers, regardless of race, will succeed.
3-time Grammy Award-winning rapper Killer Mike had a killer time at WWE Bad Blood over the weekend, and says the bond between pro wrestling and hip-hop runs deep.
Mike was ringside for the action this past weekend, along with other celebrities including Quavo, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, and more. He sat directly next to WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg, and touted the former WWE & WCW Champion as someone who was just “perfect” for wrestling.
I grew up loving rap and wrestling!!! My worlds colliding just makes the inner 12-year-old Michael's life a freaking dream! Got to see @cmpunk tear it down in Hell in a Cell, meet my Uce @WWEusos, the lovely Jade Cargill, chop w/ @metroboomin, Goldberg, and @RealDDP.
Mike spoke to Variety about his experience attending the show, and delved into the deep connection between pro wrestling and Hip-Hop.
He describes them both as forms of theater for working-class people, a comparison we’ve heard before from other longtime fans of both genres. He also reflected on how growing up, kids who weren’t into mainstream sports often gravitated toward wrestling, comic books, or Hip-Hop.
“It’s working-class people’s theater. It gives us an opportunity to get our sh*t off, whether it’s our highest ambitions or lowest of the lows. These characters represent that for us.”
– Killer Mike on the Pro Wrestling & Hip-Hop connection
Mike added that WWE has consistently produced a great product and expressed his lifelong love for wrestling:
“WWE put together some dope product. I’ve enjoyed it my entire life — shout-out to my wrestling heads.”
Killer Mike is recognized as one of several popular rappers who incorporate pro wrestling references into their lyrics alongside artists like Wale, Action Bronson and Westside Gun. His song “Ric Flair” off his 2011 album Pledge uses wrestling imagery to convey a positive message about overcoming life’s obstacles.
He spoke with Peter Rosenberg ahead of WWE Bad Blood and He equated winning a Grammy Award earlier this year to Dusty Rhodes winning his first World Championship.
The National Hockey League (NHL) is the latest professional sports league to team up with WWE for a line of team-specific replica championship belts.
On Tuesday, WWE sent in word that officially licensed NHL Legacy Title Belts are available for all 32 teams ahead of the 2024-2025 season. The WWE legacy title belts feature custom side plates emblazoned with the logo and official markings of each team.
NHL Legacy Title Belts for all 32 teams are available for purchase at WWEShop.
The collection is part of a new multi-year licensing agreement between WWE and the NHL. Back in June, WWE and the NHL launched a WWE 2024 Stanley Cup champions legacy title belt featuring the official markings of the Florida Panthers and showcasing the Stanley Cup.
WWE’s Florida Panthers NHL Stanley Cup Championship Belt
In addition to the NHL, WWE has similar licensing deals with Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
All Elite Wrestling presents a special Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS at from the Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA.
This episode promises major action and will serve as the final build for the highly anticipated WrestleDream pay-per-view, coming up this Saturday.
One of the biggest highlights of the night will be a blockbuster tag team match featuring Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta against PAC & Claudio Castagnoli. Additionally, fans can look forward to a Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match between Britt Baker and Willow Nightingale.
Dynamite will overlap with the second hour of WWE NXT on The CW Network. This marks the first time in a year that AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT will go head-to-head.
Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta vs. PAC & Claudio Castagnoli
Bronson Reed has given Triple H the credit for having a vision for his feud with Braun Strowman that led to the rivalry going viral.
The heavyweight star has established himself as a huge threat to the WWE roster in the past few weeks. His encounters with Braun Strowman have played a crucial part in presenting Reed as a serious competitor after his past mishaps in the company.
The 36-year-old was asked if he anticipated his work with Strowman going viral during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. Reed explained that he didn’t expect it to be such a huge hit but was excited to work with Strowman nonetheless:
“No, I don’t think so. I was excited to be able to work with Braun. I think there was a natural chemistry there, we have maybe touched one time before in the Andre the Giant battle royal last year. And I was like, oh, we could do something there with me and him. But then it’s like, what do you do?
Bronson Reed specifically mentioned giving Tsunami to the Monster Among Men on top of a car. He said that all this was the vision of WWE’s Chief Content officer Triple H:
“Then Hunter obviously had great vision for things, came up with the car angle and everything. And then once we were filming that, it’s in the moment, I was like, Okay, this is gonna be cool. I think people were gonna really respond to this.
And then it ended up being WWE’s most viral moment of the week. I think it got almost 13 million views across social media platforms. So it worked.”
Bronson Reed had the upper hand during most of his feud with Braun Strowman. Though he ended up losing their most recent Last Monster Standing match last week on September 30 due to the returning Seth Rollins.
Reed previously laid out The Architect at the start of his terror run. After his comeback last week, Rollins has now challenged the former NXT star to a match at the time and place of his choosing.
Janel Grant has asked WWE to waive nondisclosure agreements with other former and current employees and talent so that they can potentially come forward with allegations of misconduct under the promotion’s watch. The Associated Press reports that a lawyer for Grant emailed a letter making the request on Monday evening to attorneys representing WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis.
The e-mail, as sent by Grant’s attorney Ann Callis, states that “WWE continues to protect former CEO Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis by silencing survivors of sexual abuse, harassment and workplace violence.” It goes on to state that WWE is unable to move on from its “sordid past” while “victims remain silenced” by these nondisclosure agreements. It adds:
“We urge WWE to quickly and proactively release its current and former employees and contractors from any obligations under any WWE-executed NDA that would prevent them from discussing sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault during their time at WWE without delay. WWE wants people to believe the company has changed—this is its chance to prove it.”
When approached, Curtis Vogal, a spokesperson for McMahon, declined to comment. WWE and Laurinaitis did not immediately return emails seeking comment and contact to Endeavor and TKO Group Holdings were not returned immediately. McMahon has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the relationship he had with Grant was between two consenting individuals.
When approached by Wrestlenomics, McMahon’s team referred to attorney Jessica Rosenberg’s prior statement:
“Ms. Grant’s claims are false, defamatory and entirely without merit. We intend to vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident that he will be vindicated.”
Following Grant’s lawsuit being filed, Ann Callis said that she had been “frankly overwhelmed” by the number of others that have come forward with similar accusations. McMahon is reported to have paid over $12 million to four women in exchange for their silence over his extramarital affairs. Grant alleges that McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship so that she could keep her job and later directed her to have relations with others in WWE, including Laurinaitis.
Grant did not appear in Netflix’s recent Mr. McMahon docuseries, though her claims against the billionaire make up much of the series’ final episode. Callis has said that the six, hour-long episodes only scratch the surface of McMahon’s alleged criminal behavior. This is an ongoing situation and SEScoops will continue to monitor this case for further updates.
AEW WrestleDream 2024 is set to be one of the most exciting PPVs from the company this year, at least on paper. As fans eagerly anticipate the top tier matches, many are also looking forward to the post-show media scrum.
Here, we’ll provide you with all the essential information about how to watch the scrum via live stream ensuring you don’t miss out on any behind-the-scenes insights and reactions.
AEW typically streams their post-show media scrums on their official YouTube channel. Fans can access the live stream for free by visiting the AEW YouTube page
Make sure to subscribe to the channel and enable notifications to receive an alert when the stream goes live.
The post-show media scrum is an opportunity for journalists, reporters, and fans to gain insights into the event and hear directly from the wrestlers and AEW management. Here’s what you can typically expect:
Interviews with Key Performers
Top stars who competed in the event will likely make appearances to discuss their matches and share their thoughts on the outcomes. This is a chance for fans to hear candid reactions from their favorite wrestlers.
Tony Khan’s Presence
AEW President Tony Khan is usually present at these media scrums. He often provides commentary on the event, discusses future plans for the company, and sometimes makes important announcements
AEW WrestleDream 2024 is set to be one of the most exciting PPVs from the company this year, at least on paper. As fans eagerly anticipate the top tier matches, many are also looking forward to the post-show media scrum.
Here, we’ll provide you with all the essential information about the media scrum start times across different regions, ensuring you don’t miss out on any behind-the-scenes insights and wrestler reactions.
The post-show media scrum is a highly anticipated event for wrestling fans, offering unique insights into the night’s proceedings. Here’s what you can typically expect:
Wrestler Appearances
Top AEW talent often make appearances at the media scrum, sharing their thoughts on their matches and the overall event. This provides fans with an opportunity to hear directly from their favorite wrestlers in a more candid setting.
Tony Khan’s Insights
AEW President Tony Khan usually leads the media scrum, offering his perspective on the event’s success and addressing any notable occurrences.
In previous scrums, Khan has discussed topics such as pay-per-view buys, talent health updates, and future plans for the company.
Fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating AEW WrestleDream 2024, one of the most exciting events on the professional wrestling calendar for October. Scheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2024, this premier event promises to deliver an unforgettable night of high-stakes matches and dramatic showdowns.
To ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action, here’s a comprehensive guide to the start times across different regions, along with essential information about the event.
In August 2021, Bronson Reed was released from WWE NXT, mere weeks after holding the brand’s North American Championship. Shortly after his exit, it was reported that Vince McMahon didn’t see him as a main roster talent, and therefore felt he had no reason to keep the Australian around.
16 months, and a massive change in management, later, Reed returned to WWE and has been a force to be reckoned with ever since. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Reed shared that he always had faith that he’d be a WWE Superstar again.
“I had a lot of faith that when I was released that I would end up back in WWE. I didn’t think it would be so soon… I was planning maybe three or four years, maybe I could get a good run in Japan for a couple of years and then be back in WWE.”
Reed’s return saw him align with The Miz and help the A-Lister win a Ladder match with Dexter Lumis, a somewhat odd return for the Australian. On the podcast, Reed admitted that this unconventional return was hardly what he had in mind.
“I think this sort of happens at times. Obviously, I’d been rehired, they want to use me. They don’t really know what to do with me. So they sort of just rush something.”
Despite an auspicious return, Reed has become a major player in recent months, thanks in part to his attack on Seth Rollins that saw him level the Visionary with six Tsunamis.
“I spoke with Hunter right afterwards and he said that’s a moment that will last forever, they can replay that as much as possible. It’s nowhere near as good… but it’s like Stone Cold at King of the Ring doing the 3:16 line, that promo, you instantly remember it, and you instantly remember a switch and his character and where it went from then.”
The duo of Erik and Ivar have not been seen together on WWE TV since September last year but they have finally returned to action.
WWE taped the October 14 episode of Raw in advance this week from St. Louis, Missouri because of an upcoming UK Tour. The show saw the start of a tournament to determine new #1 Contenders for Finn Balor and JD McDonagh’s Tag Team Championships.
The Viking Raiders made their return to the Red Branded Show for the first match of the tournament, defeating Alpha Academy. Notably, the duo reverted back to the War Raiders name upon their return:
The tag team last competed together during the September 15, 2023 episode of SmackDown. They suffered defeat in a Denver Street Fight at the hands of Alpha Academy.
After this match, it was announced that Erik had suffered a foot injury that will keep him out of action for an undisclosed amount of time.
The duo was moved to the Raw brand during the 2024 Drafts. In the absence of Erik, Ivar continued appearing on TV as a singles competitor.
The 40-year-old unfortunately also suffered a spinal injury in April this year. He was written off TV with an attack from Gallus during the May 14, 2024 episode of NXT.
Erik and Ivar notably wrestled in the indies under the name of War Machine before their WWE signing. The War Raiders name was given to them during their NXT debut in early 2018.
The duo was repackaged as The Viking Experience upon their main roster debut in April 2019. They were later renamed to The Viking Raiders after backlash on social media.
Under the watch of Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, WWE’s main roster has undergone several changes, with one of the biggest coming to the PLE cards. Once stacked with matches, most modern-day PLEs now have five matches, in a decision that has divided opinion. While some appreciate these shorter, more concise PLEs, there are those who feel that deserving talent are missing out and are having their biggest matches relegated to TV.
WWE has a variety of reasons for sticking with five matches for Premium Live Events, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports. The shorter card has significantly reduced the costs of these events, as fewer Superstars mean fewer travel costs. Wrestlers not booked for these events now enjoy an extra day off, a rarity to many considering WWE’s weekend house shows, though TKO intends to scale back on WWE live events.
While the five-card shows mean fewer Superstars are traveling, there are still some who attend a PLE even if they’re not competing. WWE has been using backstage segments to get people on the show, which also includes the use of legends, as seen at WWE Bad Blood 2024. WWE has started producing packets for younger wrestlers to let them know the legends in attendance if they want to ask questions or seek advice.
The WWE Universe can expect more changes in January of next year when WWE Raw moves to Netflix as part of a lucrative, decade-long deal. With Triple H being unsure about the duration of Raw on Netflix, fans will have to stay tuned to see what’s to come in the future for WWE and its broadcasts.
WWE taped the October 14 episode of Monday Night Raw from St. Louis, Missouri tonight because of the upcoming UK tour. The show featured the return of a tag team and more. Here are the full results of the episode:
Rhea Ripley Promo: Ripley calls out Raquel Rodriguez for costing her the women’s title at Bad Blood. Ms. Money In The Bank Tifanny Stratton comes out instead and says that she has a message from Nia Jax. Before she could deliver it, however, Liv Morgan and Rodrigez attack them both from behind. A match between the two teams is made official for later in the night.
Tag Team Match:Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill def. Kairi Sane and IYO SKY.
Tag Team Match: A tournament to determine new challengers for the Tag Team Championship begins. The Viking Raiders return to action, reverting back to The War Raiders name. They defeat Alpha Academy.
Cody Rhodes Promo: Gunther interrupts Cody during his promo. Gunther attacked Cody after an exchange but Rhodes was the one standing tall in the end.
Singles Match: R Truth def. The Miz: Karrion Kross and the crew come out to distract Miz, allowing Truth to get the pin. They toss Truth back into the ring for Miz to attack him.
Singles Match: Bron Breakker def. Kofi Kingston
Tag Team Match: Tiffany Stratton & Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez: The match ends in a disqualification when SmackDown’s Nia Jax shows up. She goes after Liv Morgan before Dominik pulls Morgan out of the ring.
WWE reverted back to the two-hour format for Raw this week which will continue till the end of the year. The show will be leaving USA Network for Netflix at the start of next year. You can check out what the company’s planning for the Netflix premiere here.
