AEW President Tony Khan sat down with Going Ringside With The Local Station this week to discuss a variety of topics related to AEW. When asked about reports of the promotion reaching a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, Khan confirmed with absolute certainty that AEW will remain on TBS and TNT for the foreseeable future.
“It’s an exciting time for AEW, we’re coming into the future. But I can tell you that 100% AEW is moving forward with TBS and TNT. They’ve been great partners and you can count on us.”
On The Support of His Father
While Khan works alongside his father Shad with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it wasn’t until this year that the elder Khan appeared for AEW. While Tony wishes his father’s debut had come under better circumstances than his ambush by The Elite, the younger Khan said his father has always supported the promotion and it “means the world [to me] that he’s so bought into AEW.”
On Mercedes Mone
After appearing in the crowd at AEW All In: London 2023, Mercedes Mone officially joined AEW in March of this year at the Big Business: Dynamite. As TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, Mone has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, one that Khan is pleased to be working with.
“I think she’s one of the greatest pro wrestlers in the entire world. She’s a huge, huge star, a huge signing for AEW… She’s just at the top of her profession right now.”
On The Retirement of Sting
At AEW Revolution 2024, Sting competed in his final wrestling match; teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks in an emotional send-off. Khan was unsurprisingly thrilled with how Sting’s last match went and called it one of the greatest moments of AEW’s entire five-year history.
Tommaso Ciampa is more excited for Motor City Machine Guns to join WWE than the fans.
The wrestling veteran recently had an interview with the Battleground podcast. He talked about things such as moving up to the main roster from NXT, how Triple H books the shows, improving the tag division, and more.
During the discussion, Ciampa was also asked about the reports of the legendary tag team having signed with WWE and the potential of facing them. The DIY member mentioned how people always compare their team with the duo of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. It would be really cool for him to finally get in the ring with them:
“We took some…I mean, they’ve influenced tag team wrestling for two decades now. We’ve taken stuff from them, concepts from them and ideas from them. I’ve actually never wrestled either one of them, in singles or tag, my entire career. So it would be really cool to have that happen on the WWE stage for the first time.
Tommaso Ciampa revealed that Johnny Gargano has a pretty good relationship with Shelley. He explained that having a number of hot tag teams can really elevate the WWE tag division and help them take things to the next level:
“We see the same rumors that y’all see and shoot man, if we can get the tag division to a point where we got four, five, six different top acts going at once, that’s when you’re in it. The more competition, the merrier. I welcome that.”
The former NXT Champion also said that having more competition forces everyone to elevate their game. He noted how the crowds would love their style and claimed that he probably wants the rumors to come true more than some of the fans.
Motor City Machine Guns became free agents in April this year after their TNA deal expired. It was initially believed that the duo would join AEW but things have changed since then. In the last few months the legendary tag team has teased signing with a promotion which will stop them from taking indie bookings.
Former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe is set to appear in the upcoming video game Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the latest entry in the long-running Yakuza franchise. This was revealed during the September 2024 RGG Summit, hosted by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega.
The game, which focuses on series favorite Goro Majima battling pirates, has already generated excitement among fans. Some sharp-eyed viewers noticed Samoa Joe in the game’s trailer, where he appears as one of the villains. His involvement in the game adds to the anticipation surrounding its release.
The trailer showcases fast-paced action and pirate-themed battles, with the protagonist Goro Majima washing up on Rich Island in Hawaii. After engaging in combat with pirates, Majima eventually becomes captain of his own ship.
Samoa Joe in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawai
The plot will revolve around key characters Madlantis and Queen Michelle, introducing a new setting and storyline within the Yakuza universe.
Samoa Joe is in good company as a pro wrestler appearing in this gaming franchise. The Great Muta, Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito have appeared in prior installments. Joe has a history of voice acting in video games, most notably portraying King Shark in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
His most recent AEW match took place in July 2024, when he faced Chris Jericho in a Stampede Street Fight on AEW Dynamite. Outside of wrestling, Joe has been part of the production for the upcoming season of Twisted Metal, where he’ll reprise his role as Sweet Tooth.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025, and will be available on all major gaming consoles and PC.
Miro’s time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) appears to be nearing an end, capping off a largely underwhelming run. The Bulgarian powerhouse joined AEW in September 2020, amid significant fanfare. Tony Khan’s upstart company had earned its reputation as chance for disgruntled WWE talent to reboot their careers with and enjoy greater creative freedom.
Four years later, and with much of that tenure spent off television, Fightful Select reports that Miro has officially requested his release from AEW. Creative differences were a significant issue in recent years.
A Promising Start That Fizzled Out
Miro went ‘All Elite’ in during the first year of AEW Dynamite, where he was introduced as Kip Sabian’s “Best Man.” He eventually dropped his ‘gamer bro’ image for a more serious persona, and was reborn as The Redeemer. He was a dominant TNT Champion for 140 days, until he was dethroned by Sammy Guevara. Unfortunately, the loss had a devastating affect on Miro’s career trajectory.
Contract Extension Amid Absence
While Miro’s original AEW deal was set to expire in the spring of 2022, he signed a four-year extension around that time, which could have kept him on board for two more years. Per Fightful, Miro is on a lucritive seven-figure contract, despite only competing in 11 matches since since December 2021 (and none this year).
Though Miro was sidelined by an injury, reports suggest he has been healthy for quite some time. Miro spoke with AEW officials earlier this year about getting a match with Jon Moxley, but that never materialized. Some saw the Casino Gauntlet match at All In: London 2024 as a chance to get Miro back in the mix on a big stage, but instead fellow WWE alum Ricochet was the big surprise there.
A Disappointing AEW Tenure
Miro’s time in AEW was a bust, despite wrestling fans’ excitement to see how far he’d go in a fresh environment. Miro did have some good matches and fun moments over the past few years (see below), but we’re optimistic the best is yet to come.
In January 2025, John Cena will be a part of WWE Raw’s move to Netflix and kick off his in-ring retirement tour. The WWE icon will make appearances at the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania 41, and SummerSlam, and is expected to face some of the very top names currently on the promotion’s roster.
One name fans could see sharing the ring with Big Match John is Logan Paul. Wrestle Votes Radio reports that there has been discussions about a match within WWE between the two. WWE’s creative team, led by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, is said to be high on the potential big-money match and both Cena and Paul have shown interest in working with each other.
This isn’t the first time that the idea of John Cena Vs. Logan Paul has come up. In November 2022, Paul told listeners of his ImPaulsive podcast that he wanted a match with the WWE icon at the following year’s WrestleMania 39.
“I think me vs. John Cena would break the internet. I texted Triple H right away, ‘do you want to break the internet again?’ That’s a dream matchup.”
Instead, Cena faced then-U.S. Champion Austin Theory during the opener of Night One. Paul’s match would fall on his birthday and see The Maverick lost to Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins.
John Cena’s Retirement Tour
As one of the biggest names in wrestling history, it’s hardly a surprise that several wrestlers have put themselves forward for Cena’s farewell tour. CM Punk hopes to team with John before the latter calls it a career while The Miz is hoping to get one last match with Cena after previously headlining WrestleMania 27 in 2011.
Whatever WWE has planned, fans can expect quite the sendoff for one of the most significant wrestlers to ever step foot in the ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on John Cena and his final year in the ring.
The September 17, edition of WWE NXT saw a special appearance by CM Punk who was part of a segment with Giulia and Roxanne Perez. Later on, it was confirmed that Punk will be the guest referee of the NXT Championship match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams when WWE NXT premieres on The CW on October 1.
The arrival of the Best in the World was welcomed by the crowd in Orlando and judging by the ratings, also by those watching at home. This week’s show saw an average viewership of 677,000, up eight percent from the previous week’s 628,000, Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider reports. This week also marked the highest-viewed NXT of the past ten weeks, with the show only being bested by the June 18, show.
While this is a success for WWE NXT in 2024, the show has seen a decline year-on-year. In 2023, this week’s NXT drew 824,000, while two years ago this week the show was at 688,000.
CM Punk at WWE NXT
Punk made quite the impact at WWE NXT and his time at the show didn’t stop once the cameras stopped rolling. On social media, it was shared that Punk stayed behind after the taping to ensure fans got a chance to meet him and get an autograph.
What’s to Come?
CM Punk’s return to WWE NXT will come on the October 1, premiere on The CW, fittingly in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. The next week, WWE NXT will travel to Missouri where Randy Orton will take on the Young OG Je’Von Evans. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on WWE NXT ahead of the gold brand’s move to The CW.
Tony Khan has compared the difference between 2024 All In and All Out to a classic movie franchise.
The two AEW PPVs were held only two weeks apart but there was a stark difference in the feeling coming out of the two shows. Bryan Danielson was one of the featured stars for both these events but things changed completely for him in the few days between the shows.
The AEW President recently appeared on Busted Open Radio to talk about the upcoming Grand Slam special on September 25 as well as the company’s most recent PPVs. He mentioned how Bryan made his first appearance for the promotion three years ago at All Out and claimed that Danielson has completely changed his company.
Discussing the difference between this year’s All In and All Out, Tony Khan mentioned how Bryan Danielson went from living one of the greatest moments of his life to one of the worst:
“To talk about Bryan Danielson for a moment and the three-year anniversary—and like I said—to go from All In, which was one of the greatest moments of my life, to go to All Out, which was, I think, the juxtaposition…to say that for Bryan, I think All In was one of the great moments of his life, and then All Out probably one of the worst.”
Khan compared the difference between the endings of the two shows to first two Star Wars movies, while also claiming that they go well together:
“I mean, you know, [for] Star Wars people, it’s New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. Um, but they were very different things, but they were both amazing, and they go so well together.
All In and All Out stand as two of our greatest pay-per-views, and I’m very excited going into WrestleDream about what’s happening in AEW. The future of the AEW World Championship is yet to be determined, but at Grand Slam, the future of AEW is at stake, and so much is on the line.”
The American Dragon picked up one of the biggest victories of his career at All In from Wembley Stadium. He won the AEW title for the first time and celebrated with his family and friends to end the show.
On the other hand, Bryan got betrayed by Jon Moxley and the other BCC teammates at All Out and he had to be carried out of the arena after a brutal beatdown.
The AEW World Champion has not been seen on TV ever since. Though Nigel McGuinness has challenged him to a match at next Wednesday’s Dynamite.
On WWE programming, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis lay down the law as the General Managers of WWE Raw and SmackDown respectively. Before either man became an authority figure, they enjoyed successful careers in the ring, and could a match between the pair take place inside a WWE ring?
On Twitter, Pearce spoke about a possible match with Aldis, calling it “a question I always get.” After much build-up, Pearce was about to give the ‘short answer’ to the question about a match with Aldis, only for the video to end before he could give a yes or a no.
In response, Aldis gave a more definitive answer than his Monday night counterpart and spoke about their respective careers outside WWE. While the Brit didn’t confirm that a match with Pearce would happen, Aldis did give the always-ominous “time will tell.
After much deliberation I have decided to respond to this post by my Raw counterpart.
We both enjoyed a decorated tenure in our careers before WWE; there is no doubt you & I respect the legacy and tradition of our industry. So you're asking if I would step in the ring with… https://t.co/n0AOEehSB6pic.twitter.com/tq9t89059N
Should a match take place, between the two GMs, WWE would need an impartial body to officiate the contest. On Twitter, Chelsea Green, who has had issues with ‘Sir Nicholas the Nasty’ and ‘Peahead Pearce,’ put her name forward as a guest referee.
On Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast last month, Pearce said that he doubts either himself or Nick Aldis intends to take the spotlight from a full-time talent to have a match. This December will mark ten years since Pearce’s last professional match and the five-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion appears content with leaving his boots behind.
Aldis debuted in WWE in October 2023 and hasn’t wrestled for the promotion so far. Earlier this year, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion who held the title for over 1,000 days said that “anything is possible” when it comes to a match in WWE. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the two GMs and a potential match down the line.
WWE Hall of Famer JBL has been in headlines recently after making wrestling appearances at the most unexpected places.
The wrestling veteran originally signed with the company previously owned by Vince McMahon back in 1995 and he has been a part of WWE roster ever since. Prior to this year, he hadn’t made an outside wrestling appearance for almost 29 years.
So his latest adventures got people curious about the status of the former WWE champion. Mike Johnson of PWInsider recently provided an update on the situation and noted that Bradshaw remains under a Legends deal:
“He is under a WWE Legends deal and can work any independents he wants, but can’t use the Bradshaw name as that’s WWE’s intellectual property.”
JBL broke his streak with WWE last month when he accompanied Nic Nemeth for his match at the Triplemanía XXXII: Mexico City event on August 17.
The 57-year-old has made appearances for companies such as TNA, GCW, and even MLW since then, despite the latter having a rough history with WWE. He has been introduced as John Layfield, as both the JBL and Bradshaw names belong to the Endeavor-owned promotion.
The former US Champion seems to be targeting specific indie names during his appearances, suggesting that his actions would lead to the formation of a faction or some sort of group in the coming times.
Though since he is still under a WWE deal, the scope of it will be limited to indie promotions and there doesn’t seem to be a chance of the wrestling legend making an AEW appearance anytime soon.
Fans of All Elite Wrestling can look forward to a very bright future for the promotion, according to AEW President Tony Khan. Sitting down with Dave LaGreca of Busted Open Radio this week, Khan shared an analogy of just how bright the future is for his first wrestling company.
“I didn’t bring my sunglasses to the Sirius studio today, but the future is so bright, I need them.”
“I have not done any of the leaking. With all due respect to the fine people at the Puck establishment and the Puck people, I didn’t talk to them. I know they have been reporting things that are very interesting.”
As the largest wrestling promotion in the world, WWE is home to some of the most talented competitors from across the globe. In 2014, Kevin Owens joined WWE’s ranks after a highly successful run on the independents, and now more has come to light about his current status with the promotion.
Owens has been approached by WWE regarding a new contract, Fightful Select reports, but he has not signed a new deal as of yet. His contract with WWE will reportedly expire at the end of this year.
Should Owens opt to leave WWE, he likely would not be out of work for long. AEW is said to have “major interest” in the former Universal Champion and WrestleMania headliner and has been interested in him for a long time. Unsurprisingly, AEW is expected to make Owens an offer if he reaches free agency.
WWE’s Re-Signings
Although Owens has yet to ink a new deal with WWE, the company has locked down several major names in 2024 so far. In April, Drew McIntyre re-signed with WWE after months of rumor and speculation that he could be leaving for another promotion. For his troubles, the Scottish Warrior was gifted a sword by TKO’s Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
More recently, Randy Orton confirmed reports that he has re-signed with WWE with a deal that should keep him around until 2029. While Orton could have seen his previous deal frozen due to his time away due to his back injury, WWE reportedly felt it was fairer to let Orton negotiate a new deal given how much the handling of contracts has changed.
Since leaving WWE in 2010, Dave Bautista has become a leading name in Hollywood with work in blockbuster franchises like James Bond and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This month, Bautista’s newest project, The Killer’s Game hit cinemas and fans have now caught their first glimpse at the former WWE Champion’s next big role.
Bautista will be part of In The Lost Lands, Deadline reports, a film that will be based on a short story by George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones). Sorceress Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter) is sent to the Lost Lands in search of a magical power. Alys and her guide Boyce (Bautista) must outwit and overcome both man and demons along the way.
The film will be directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who has previously worked with Jovovich on the popular Resident Evil film series. The film will exclusively release in theaters next year. In addition to being an actor in the film, Bautista is also listed as one of the film’s producers in a new step in the career of the Animal. Bautista has previously spoken of wanting to direct and being a producer on In The Lost Lands is certainly a step in the right direction towards that goal.
The Animal is among the most successful names in pro wrestling to turn to the world of acting. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the acting pursuits of the future WWE Hall of Famer.
Gable will be following in the footsteps of fellow top heel on RAW in Drew McIntyre who happened to be a global ambassador for the 2023 Special Olympics. Drew also was an ambassador during the 2021 Special Olympics while WWE was in Las Vegas for SummerSlam. Another person Gable is mirroring in more ways than one is Kurt Angle who just recently appeared at the Special Olympics softball games which took place in Pittsburgh.
Chad Gable has had a banner year for his career in 2024. Gable started off as a big time babyface when he was feuding with GUNTHER before he ultimately turned on Sami Zayn and began demeaning Otis, Maxxine Dupri and Tozawa of the Alpha Academy.
He later received some comeuppance for his transgressions courtesy of the Wyatt Sicks who left him a bloody mess backstage. This caused Gable to feud with the mysterious faction and it prompted him to form American Made, aligning himself with The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile. The new group definitively lost that feud, but just this past Monday on Raw expressed an intent to move on from a battle with Bo Dallas’ new group.
Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fénix, the Lucha Bros, have signed multi-year WWE contracts, as first reported by Cory Hays. They’re expected to join the main roster soon.
Penta and Fénix are AEW originals, having been with the company since its inception in 2019. Over the years, they participated in some of the greatest matches in AEW history, both as a tag team and in singles competition. Together, they held the AEW World Tag Team Championships, the AEW World Trios Championships (alongside PAC as Death Triangle), and Fénix held the AEW International Championship.
Recent reports suggested that Pentagon and Fenix’s AEW contracts were nearing expiration. The wrestlers subsequently filed applications to trademark their ring names, a sign they were exploring opportunities beyond AEW.
This latest departure from All Elite Wrestling will undoubtedly shake up the tag division and creates a slew of fresh match-ups. The jump is a significant shift in their careers, as WWE’s global reach will bring their talents to the industry’s largest platform.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for further updates on the Lucha Bros’ transition to WWE, as well as information on other AEW contracts set to expire by the end of the year.
The Lucha Bros’ Best AEW Matches
Rey Fénix and Penta El Zero Miedo delivered numerous memorable matches during their time in AEW, showcasing their exceptional in-ring skills. Here are four of our favorites:
The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers (Double or Nothing 2019)
The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers (All Out 2021)
The Lucha Brothers vs. FTR (Full Gear 2021)
Death Triangle vs. The Elite (Escalera De La Muerte, January 11, 2023)
Janel Grant attorney Ann Callis and Kendra Barkof Lamy, managing director of SMDK representation, held a press conference on Thursday, a day after Grant’s team announced the group would be joining her team during her lawsuit against WWE.
Callis and Grant answered questions about the upcoming Netflix documentary, Mr. McMahon, which is scheduled to debut on the streamer on Sept. 25.
Grant’s team, in a statement to SEScoops, said Netflix approached Grant for an interview but said she wouldn’t be taking part.
“Janel Grant is a human being, a victim and a survivor,” Callis said. “She’s not a WWE storyline.”
Grant’s civil case is currently paused in federal court at the request of federal investigators. McMahon is also under investigation by a federal grand jury for rape, sex assault and other crimes, according a reporter earlier this year from the Wall Street Journal.
Callis addressed the upcoming McMahon documentary several times, saying she hoped the producers would shine a light on McMahon’s behavior over the years. She noted McMahon had settled with four women for around $12 million over the past few years.
The Daily Beast shared a report in 2018 from an incident involving McMahon at a Boca Raton tanning salon in 2006, where he was accused of groping and sexually assaulting a young female employee at the business before she ran to a Papa John’s pizza store in the same shopping center and asked workers to call police. Police said there was probable cause to charge McMahon, but the case was dropped by prosecutors based on their not being “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Callis and Lamy said they wanted Grant’s case expedited, but didn’t get into details how. When asked if they wanted the federal investigation to move quicker, Callis said they wanted the civil case to be on track and they wanted federal investigators to “be right” and take their time.
Callis said no one with Grant’s team, or Grant, have seen the McMahon documentary.
I am on the press conference call for Janel Grant’s team.
Last week, SmackDown returned to the USA Network after five years on FOX with a star-studded show featuring top names of today as well as Hall of Famers. With Raw set to depart USA for Netflix in a matter of months and NXT’s imminent move to The CW, SmackDown will soon be the only WWE show on the network and could see a major change.
SmackDown will become a three-hour show when Raw moves to Netflix in January 2025, with the first three-hour show coming on January 3, Wrestle Votes reports. This will ensure that the USA Network has a three-hour weekly wrestling show, a role Monday Night Raw has filled since the brand’s 1,000th episode in July 2012.
This news comes one week after Dave Meltzer reported that WWE would have “an easier path to move Smackdown to three hours if they wanted to” now that the brand was back on the USA Network. Last week’s show saw its own share of changes, including a new logo and theme song provided by Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS.
FTR is considered one of the most talented tag teams wrestling today and has held gold in WWE, AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and beyond. In 2023, the group faced a real-life obstacle, one that nearly spelled the end for the team of Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood.
Speaking to Renee Paquette on AEW Close Up, Harwood revealed that Wheeler was ready to retire from wrestling after the arrest, as he didn’t want Harwood to get caught up in his arrest. Thankfully, Harwood was able to pull his friend away from the proverbial edge.
“He said, ‘I think I’m going to retire because I don’t want to subject you to any of this stuff that I’m going through’… . ‘I’m just going to retire. You don’t have to worry because your contract is with you. I’m going to leave wrestling.’ I had to talk him into not retiring.”
The case against Wheeler was dropped in May 2024 mere days before the AEW wrestler was due to stand trial. He has fortunately been able to avoid any more legal trouble since then and continues to cement his place as part of one of AEW’s greatest tag teams.
In the latest edition of her Moné Mag, Mercedes said it was a mistake for her to tease the idea of collaborating with Stallion during a recent interview. The CEO insinuated that WWE must have caught wind of her plans to work with Megan and swooped in to prevent the popular artist fromcolluding with their competition.
“It could all be a coincidence, of course. But then, they don’t call me the blueprint for nothing.
In hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut about it, but all you can do is live and learn.”
If WWE’s decision to work with Stallion did stem to nullify a potential Stallion-AEW partnership, then Moné is “flattered and honored” to still carry such influence in the promotion she left two years ago. While plans ultimately did not come to pass between herself and Stallion, the TBS Champion is happy to see Megan succeed.
“I’m still happy for her. She’s a great person and talent who will get exposure to the vast wrestling audience.”
As for Moné, she is coming off a successful title defense at AEW All Out against Hikaru Shida. Moné has promised “a lot more brewing” in her future, but whatever she has in store it won’t involve Megan Thee Stallion.
In January 2025, WWE Raw will move to Netflix in a blockbuster ten-year deal estimated to be worth $5 billion. Within a matter of months, WWE Superstars will be regulars on Netflix, but one Superstar is already making waves on the streaming giant.
On Instagram, Alexa Bliss revealed that she voiced Maki Ueda for the English dub of The Queen of Villians. Bliss was appreciative to Timmy Red, the director of the English voice cast and fans will even get to hear Bliss’ singing voice in the new Netflix series.
The Queen of Villains tells the story of professional female wrestler Dump Matsumoto, who achieved fame in the 1980s. After failing to make it as a babyface, Matsumoto transformed her wrestling persona into a vile heel that riled up Japan for years during her heyday.
Bliss voices Maki Ueda, a trailblazer in Joshi wrestling who is known for her tag team with Jackie Sato as Beauty Pair. Ueda was the first woman in All Japan Wrestling to hold the WWWA World Singles Championship, the WWWA Tag Team Championship, and the Hawaiian-Pacific/All-Pacific titles.
Latest On Alexa Bliss
Bliss has been absent from WWE since the 2023 Royal Rumble PLE where she failed to dethrone then-Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. That same year, she and her husband Ryan Cabrera welcomed their daughter Hendrix into the world. In July, Bliss was seen training for an in-ring return as fans continue to await the return of the goddess.
Ken Shamrock has yet to be a WWE Hall of Famer, but “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” is now WWE legend on paper. An Chris Van Vliet interview with Shamrock just released this week and the former WWE Intercontinental Champion was asked if he was currently under a legends deal with the company and he confirmed that he was. Before that, he mentioned how he always remained in a relationship with the company.
“I’ve had a relationship with them forever, even since when I went away. We did a Legend’s contract and so I’ve always been apart of them. It’s one of those things where I think I spent enough time there and did enough there where I feel like I’m apart of that family forever.”
During his WWE tenure, Shamrock was an intrical part in the notorious “double turn” between Steve Austin and Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. He’d later be the first big feud of The Rock’s WWE career as a babyface Shamrock battled with the Nation of Domination.
Why Isn’t Ken Shamrock In The WWE Hall Of Fame?
Shamrock doesn’t dwell on not being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, though he would appreciate the recognition. He’s grateful for the career he’s had, and feels his body of work speaks for itself.
“Yeah! you know that’s a great question and I get asked that a lot, which I guess is a good thing, right?
“When people ask that, it’s not really something I think about a lot.”
Watch Ken Shamrock’s full discussion with Chris Van Vliet:
Here are some more highlights of what Shamrock said about:
His Infamous Chair Shot from The Rock: He famously asked The Rock to hit him square in the forehead with a chair during their iconic match, as he believed the forehead was the safest place to take the blow. This has become a notable moment in his career.
The People’s Elbow: Shamrock recalls being the first to take The Rock’s People’s Elbow, joking that The Rock took too long to execute the move when he was still refining it.
Vader Incident: Shamrock unintentionally broke Vader’s nose during a match but received praise from both Vader and Bret Hart for his performance.
The Montreal Screwjob: He expressed discomfort over the controversy due to his close relationship with Bret Hart, who had mentored him in wrestling.
Working with Chyna: Shamrock declined to participate in matches with Chyna, citing his personal belief in not hitting women, which he felt would confuse his children.
Brawl For All: Shamrock turned down the opportunity to compete in WWE’s Brawl For All, not wanting to jeopardize the trust he had built in the locker room by fighting his colleagues for real.
AEW star Chris Jericho wants retribution on Orange Cassidy and The Conglomeration.
Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy have been involved in a feud for weeks. During the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, the pair collided in a singles match. In the final moments of the match, Cassidy took a stack of quarters from Jericho and hit the Orange Punch to secure the win. This marks Orange Cassidy’s first clash against Chris Jericho in four years and he has once again won the match.
In an AEW digital exclusive, Chris Jericho sent a stern warning to Orange Cassidy and called him a ‘cheater.’ The veteran star also made it clear that his feud with The Conglomeration is far from over. He said:
“You should be filming me. Filming Orange Cassidy, that cheater, after he beat me on Dynamite with a stack of rolled quarters in his hand. What is your problem with change, Orange? Now we know what you’re all about. So the Learning Tree has a lesson for you. The next time I see you or any of those dopey Conglomeration members that you call buddies, friends, pals, I’m gonna take this all out on the three of you with ‘The Redwood’ and ‘The Bad Apple.’ This is not the end of The Learning Tree versus The Conglomeration. Thanks, Orange, for being a low-life cheater. Shame on you. I should tell your orange mother what you did.”
The Conglomeration, which was formed a few months back, has become one of the most popular factions in the promotion. The faction consists of Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, Tomohiro Ishii, and Willow Nightingale.
By the looks of it, the feud doesn’t seem to end anytime soon.
Paul Heyman has created a lot of memorable moments for pro wrestling fans, but he has yet to live out his favorite one yet. However, that’s with good reason.
Whether he was in ECW’s land of the extreme or embedded in the ever-changing universe of WWE, Heyman has left his indelible mark on the squared circle. The 2024 WWE Hall Of Famer loosened his tie a bit to have a Fanatics Fanfest interview with Jazzy. He had a little fun heckling the young interviewer but ultimately gave her some insightful advice. When she asked Heyman if he’s had a favorite moment yet in WWE, Paul E. opened up about how he stays motivated.
“I haven’t lived it yet. Every moment I’ve been in WWE has been my favorite which means the next moment I have, that will become my favorite. If you don’t strive for that next moment to be your favorite then you’re lowering your own expectations and your own ambition and I won’t do that. I always strive for tomorrow to better than today and for the day after tomorrow to be better than tomorrow.”
What likely wasn’t a favorite moment of Heyman’s was when the new Bloodline attacked him and ultimately powerbombed him through the commentator’s table. Heyman hasn’t been seen on television since, but still remains an active mind backstage during tapings. Rob Van Dam noted that Heyman was actually behind-the-scenes at the SmackDown premiere on USA Network. However, it is a possibility we could see Paul get back in the on-air mix as Roman Reigns begins his feud with Solo Sikoa.
Former Hurt Business member MVP has confirmed that the faction that also comprised of Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and Cedric Alexander, is no more.
The former Hurt Business faction has had a remarkable run in WWE and the members won several championships. However, it appears that they won’t be going by that name anymore. MVP recently made it clear in the comment section of one of his Instagram posts that The Hurt Business is ‘Dead.’
He replied to one of the fans claiming that Hurt Business is still in business. The former WWE United States Champion said while the name is ‘dead,’ the business continues to live on. MVP let him know, “The Hurt Business is dead. BUT, our BUSINESS lives on.”
The Hurt Syndicate
Bobby Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin could be back together. However, that could be outside WWE. It is being speculated that they will now go by ‘The Hurt Syndicate’, judging by a trademark filing last month.
A trademark filing was made for the term The Hurt Syndicate for use in pro wrestling and entertainment services. Totally Harmless Concept LLC filed to trademark “The Hurt Syndicate” a few weeks ago. it comes following the filing for trademarks on other MVP-related phrases and names.
As the only promotion to truly compete with WWE in the late 20th century, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) remains a crucial and beloved part of pro wrestling history. Some of the biggest names in the sport passed through WCW, the promotion that officially began under that name in 1988, initially owned by Ted Turner.
We’ve already highlighted WCW’s legendary wrestlers like Ric Flair, Sting, Hulk Hogan, and Booker T, but what about the matches? Below, we dive into the iconic matches that defined WCW and still resonate with fans and critics today.
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk – Great American Bash 1989
Ric Flair and Terry Funk are two titans of wrestling, and their 1989 feud gave us some of the best matches in WCW history. At the Great American Bash, Flair defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Funk in a hard-hitting battle that showcased Flair’s versatility as a babyface. Though Flair is often more associated with his heel work, this match stands as one of his finest in-ring performances, solidifying 1989 as perhaps the greatest year of his career.
Sting’s Squadron vs. Dangerous Alliance (WarGames) – WrestleWar 1992
WarGames matches in WCW were often hit-or-miss, but the 1992 showdown between Sting’s Squadron and the Dangerous Alliance was an undeniable hit. Featuring a stacked roster—Sting, Steve Austin (before he was Stone Cold), Ricky Steamboat, Rick Rude, and more—this match is remembered as one of the greatest WarGames bouts ever. It’s an explosive two-ring, steel cage brawl that perfectly captures the intensity and spectacle WCW brought to the table.
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk – Clash of the Champions IX (I Quit Match)
Returning to Flair and Funk, their epic 1989 feud culminated in an “I Quit” match at Clash of the Champions IX. This was no ordinary TV event; WCW’s Clash shows delivered pay-per-view quality action for free, and this match was no exception. The intensity and emotion on display brought a fitting conclusion to one of wrestling’s greatest rivalries, proving that Flair and Funk’s chemistry could elevate any card to legendary status.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio – Halloween Havoc 1997
The Cruiserweight division consistently stole the show in WCW, and the mask vs. title match between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio at Halloween Havoc 1997 was a masterclass in high-flying, fast-paced wrestling. Guerrero spent much of the match trying to unmask Mysterio, but Mysterio’s quickness and innovation kept him one step ahead. The match ended with Mysterio reversing a hurricanrana into a pin, securing his victory and cementing this bout as one of the greatest Cruiserweight matches of all time.
Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair – Clash of the Champions VI (2-out-of-3 Falls)
One of the greatest trilogies in wrestling history is undoubtedly Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat in 1989. Their 2-out-of-3 falls match at Clash of the Champions VI showcased the endurance and technical brilliance of both men. Running nearly an hour, this bout was an epic for its time, offering free TV audiences a match worthy of any pay-per-view. Though often regarded as the “worst” of their trilogy, it’s still an all-time great, illustrating how high the bar was set by these two legends.
Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair – WrestleWar 1989
The third and final match of Flair and Steamboat’s 1989 trilogy took place at WrestleWar, where Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Though it wasn’t their best outing, it was still a stunning example of in-ring storytelling. The aftermath was equally memorable, as Terry Funk attacked Flair after the match, setting the stage for another iconic feud. WrestleWar 1989 is a standout in WCW history, bringing a close to one of wrestling’s most celebrated rivalries.
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat – Chi-Town Rumble 1989
The first match in the Flair-Steamboat trilogy at Chi-Town Rumble is considered by many to be the pinnacle of professional wrestling. If we were ranking the greatest matches in the history of the sport, this one could easily top the list. The pacing, the in-ring storytelling, and the pure athleticism on display were revolutionary. What makes this match even more impressive is that much of it was called on the fly, showcasing the incredible chemistry and skill of both men. Chi-Town Rumble remains a must-watch for any wrestling fan.
These matches represent the peak of WCW, a promotion that pushed the boundaries of professional wrestling during its heyday. From high-flying Cruiserweight action to grueling heavyweight rivalries, WCW’s legacy is cemented in these unforgettable moments.
The Rock has opened up about the passing of his father.
The Great One has always been honest about the difficult relationship he had with his dad. The late great Rocky Johnson had to go through many hardships in his life from a very young age. It was reflected in the life of The Great One in the form of tough love from his father.
When asked about his father’s passing in 2020 and if he was prepared for it, The Rock explained that he wasn’t. He opened up about how they had an argument only weeks before, and the former WWE Champion got emotional discussing how he never even got the chance to say goodbye to his dad:
“No, I wasn’t prepared for it because my dad died suddenly—just like that. An embolism travelled up and ended his life. It happened suddenly; I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. And here’s the thing, and brother this is just…it’s life.
A month before he died, we got into the biggest fight we have ever gotten into. We never had a chance to reconcile that. It was brutal, it was during Christmas time as well. So Christmas was just tainted. I felt like shit, he felt like shit, my mom was involved and admittedly I was angry. Three weeks went by, we didn’t reconcile. He died, and that was it.
You asked me if I was prepared. No one’s ever prepared for that—even if, God forbid, you have a loved one who is transitioning out. You can prepare as best you can for their transition, or in my case, they say goodbye just like that, without saying goodbye. So, I never had a chance to say goodbye and never had the chance to right that thing that I wish I did. So that was tough one.”
The Rock also discussed what the untimely passing of his father taught him. He mentioned how we are always told that anything can happen anytime but you don’t realize the true meaning of it until you experience it firsthand:
“The lesson, though I realized is – we hear this all the time: You never know what’s around the corner. Hug your loved ones, hug your little ones. I do a lot of work with Make-A-Wish, and every time I do, it’s so important. When you leave those meetings with Make-A-Wish, you see these kids who are so strong, you see the parents who are being so strong too. You go home and hug your kids tighter—that’s just what you do.
We hear it all the time: Hug your kids, take care of [and] hug your loved ones. You never know what’s around the corner. But until you go through something like that, that’s when those words really hit home. And I realized that man, I wish I had a shot just to hug my dad one more time or say, maybe he’s listening now, hug and say ‘It’s all right; we’re good.’ I never had a chance to do that.”
Rocky Johnson had a lengthy wrestling career spanning almost three decades. He started wrestling in 1964 and won championships in many NWA territories as well as in WWF. He passed away on January 15, 2020, at the age of 75.
