The fiancé of Brooks Jensen has turned to the fans for help after the ‘former’ WWE NXT star did not make a recent independent event. 

Taking to Twitter/X, Chloe fought back tears as she spoke about Jensen, using his real name Ben Buchanan. She explained that Jensen was supposed to appear at an independent wrestling event after allegedly parting ways with WWE this week. 

• Brooks Jensen Says He Became A Free Agent On 6/21

Unfortunately, Jensen did not appear at the event and nobody is aware of his location. Chloe shared her concern that her fiancé is drinking alone at some bar and made a passionate plea to the man she loves. 

“Ben, if you’re out there and you’re listening, I just want you to come home. You don’t have to be ashamed. You’re not who employs you.”

What Is Going On? 

Jensen’s alleged disappearance is the latest in a string of concerning actions by the second-generation wrestler. Jensen first began making headlines after he shared his independent booking information on social media, suggesting that he has been let go by WWE. Even some people in WWE were confused by the move as there had not been talks within NXT regarding Brooks being released.

• Brooks Jensen Invades WWE NXT During Ad-Break

More recently, Jensen appeared at an independent event in another tease that he was leaving WWE. On Twitter, one fan shared their surprise that the NXT Superstar was at the show, prompting Jensen to ask if he was ‘working’ people now.

What’s Really Going On?

For all his teasing of leaving WWE and ‘issues’ with NXT management, fans shouldn’t expect to see Jensen part ways with the company anytime soon. Instead, Jensen remains under contract, and these matters are all part of a storyline to help elevate his character. Despite stating that he is a free agent, it is believed that Jensen remains firmly under contract.

Within NXT, the angle has been compared to Grayson Waller’s feud with Shawn Michaels that helped elevate the current-day WWE Tag Team Champion. As for when Jensen will wrestle next, that remains to be seen, but the second-generation Superstar has certainly caught the attention of fans.

Related: Brooks Jensen Teases A Jump To TNA After Security Escorts Him Out Of NXT

Jazzy Yang, the daughter of Jimmy Yang, has followed in her father’s footsteps after making her in-ring debut for Major League Wrestling. 

The younger Yang competed at MLW Anniversary 2024 in a triple-threat match against Miyu Yamashita and Dani Jordan. Jazzy’s father was in attendance for the show and was highlighted during the broadcast.

Full circle: Jimmy Yang is in the house to see his daughter Jazzy Yang make her league debut! #MLW @betonline_ag

?: https://t.co/EKVrhlUh3g pic.twitter.com/WBG4fupQL8

— MLW (@MLW) June 23, 2024

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Unfortunately for Jazzy, her Major League Wrestling debut was not a successful one. The multi-generational wrestler would lose to Yamashita in the penultimate match of the evening. 

It’s fitting that her father was present for Jazzy’s MLW debut as Jimmy Yang has a history of his own with MLW. The former WWE Superstar debuted at MLW’s King of Kings event in December 2002 and competed throughout 2003 for the promotion. He would also compete in the company’s Super J Cup USA but was defeated by Christopher Daniels in the second round. 

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Jazzy Yang

Yang made her professional in-ring debut in July 2021 and teamed with her father to defeat The Revolt (Caleb Konley & Zane Riley.) In addition to Major League Wrestling, Jazzy has also wrestled for the NWA, Game Changer Wrestling, WOW – Women Of Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah. In May of last year, Yang won the Lariato Pro Wrestling Guild’s Women’s Championship at the company’s Slamageddon event. 

Yang regularly details her journey in wrestling and her personal life on social media. In April 2023, she produced a popular series on her account, documenting the life of a wrestler on the day of a show. She currently has over 5,600 followers on the platform

Related: New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

Jazzy Yang, the daughter of Jimmy Yang, has followed in her father’s footsteps after making her in-ring debut for Major League Wrestling. 

The younger Yang competed at MLW Anniversary 2024 in a triple-threat match against Miyu Yamashita and Dani Jordan. Jazzy’s father was in attendance for the show and was highlighted during the broadcast.

Full circle: Jimmy Yang is in the house to see his daughter Jazzy Yang make her league debut! #MLW @betonline_ag

?: https://t.co/EKVrhlUh3g pic.twitter.com/WBG4fupQL8

— MLW (@MLW) June 23, 2024

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Unfortunately for Jazzy, her Major League Wrestling debut was not a successful one. The multi-generational wrestler would lose to Yamashita in the penultimate match of the evening. 

It’s fitting that her father was present for Jazzy’s MLW debut as Jimmy Yang has a history of his own with MLW. The former WWE Superstar debuted at MLW’s King of Kings event in December 2002 and competed throughout 2003 for the promotion. He would also compete in the company’s Super J Cup USA but was defeated by Christopher Daniels in the second round. 

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Jazzy Yang

Yang made her professional in-ring debut in July 2021 and teamed with her father to defeat The Revolt (Caleb Konley & Zane Riley.) In addition to Major League Wrestling, Jazzy has also wrestled for the NWA, Game Changer Wrestling, WOW – Women Of Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah. In May of last year, Yang won the Lariato Pro Wrestling Guild’s Women’s Championship at the company’s Slamageddon event. 

Yang regularly details her journey in wrestling and her personal life on social media. In April 2023, she produced a popular series on her account, documenting the life of a wrestler on the day of a show. She currently has over 5,600 followers on the platform

Related: New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

Injuries are part of wrestling and one can never predict how or when a superstar may be taken off road. It also creates challenges for bookers who sometimes have to adjust plans made months in advance at the last minute. Tony Khan’s AEW has experienced this firsthand recently as several of the company’s biggest stars have been taken out due to injuries.

The latest talent to suffer a setback is Dax Harwood, who revealed that he’ll be out of action because of a lower back issue. The injury woes in AEW have resulted in either planned storylines getting dropped or delayed until a talent returns. 

AEW President Tony Khan recently spoke with Bleachers Report’s Doc-Chris Mueller ahead of AEW x New Japan Pro Wrestling Forbidden Door on June 30. When asked how talent injuries affect his booking, Khan shared that it forces him to make adjustments he may not have planned to make.

Answering in character, the AEW President mentioned how his EVPs The Young Bucks are responsible for putting some of his top talents on the shelf:

“It’s happened so much(talent injuries), and we’ve had to change so many things. You know, The Young Bucks reference this body count, and they’re not altogether wrong. I mean, it’s true. Since they started this reign of terror, I’m not the only person they put out and injured. FTR has injuries going back to their Anarchy In The Arena and their Ladder Match with The Young Bucks, so we have FTR out,” said Khan. 

The AEW official also named Eddie Kingston and Darby Allin who are out due to injury after their run-in with The Young Bucks. He then talked about other superstars like Adam Copeland, who suffered a fractured tibia at Double or Nothing on May 26.

Related: Tony Khan Accused Of Booking AEW Television On The Fly

Tony Khan On Being Grateful Of AEW Roster

Although AEW is missing some of their fan favorites due to injuries, Khan has the luxury of having a deep roster. The talent pool in the company helps give the AEW President options to make adjustments when needed in his booking. 

In the interview, he expressed gratitude for the superstars competing in AEW. 

“…It’s been great having such a deep roster and so many awesome stars because, you know, we’ve had some fan favorites hurt, but still, we have so many popular stars on this roster who stepped up, and I think that’s why I’m so proud of the wrestlers in AEW,” said Khan. 

He also added that he believes AEW is where the best talents wrestle and is looking forward to having his entire roster in full health. For now, Khan looks forward to having the best in AEW taking on talent from NJPW and CMLL at the upcoming PPV event. 

Related: MJF: ‘Re-Signing Was An Easy Decision, I Believe in AEW & Tony Khan Pays A Lot’

Josh Barnett would love to have WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg compete at a Bloodsport event, as well as some notable names from current wrestling. 

Barnett and Game Changer Wrestling host Bloodsport events, which feature worked-shoot matches in which winners are determined by submission, knockout or referee stoppage. The ring has no ropes or turnbuckles and events have been taking place since April 2018.

Names for Bloodsport

Sitting down with Tokyo Sports, Barnett was asked who he’d like to feature at upcoming Bloodsport events. Barnett, who also competes at Bloodsport events, made clear that he has his sights set pretty high. 

“First of all, Katsuyori Shibata. Then Bill Goldberg. I would also like to see Shayna Baszler in the Japanese tournament, and I would also like to see New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Voltin Oleg.”

Shayna Baszler was part of Bloodsport X this past April thanks to a deal that allowed WWE talent to compete at the event. The two-time former NXT Women’s Champion bested TNA’s Masha Slamovich with the match ending via referee stoppage.  

Neither Shibata nor Oleg have competed for Bloodsport yet. While Barnett has said he plans to hold regular Bloodsport tournaments in Japan, there is no word on whether this will happen. Bloodsport hosted its first event in Japan on June 22, 2024, from the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

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The biggest outlier on Barnett’s wishlist is Bill Goldberg. The former WWE Universal Champion hasn’t competed since 2022 and his contract with the promotion expired that same year. Despite efforts for one final match, Goldberg has yet to have said send-off and is currently not pursuing one last in-ring battle. 

Related: Josh Barnett Has Spoken To CM Punk & Other WWE & AEW Talent About Wrestling For Bloodsport

Jamie Kellner, who served for years as the Head of Turner Broadcasting and played a key role in the end of WCW, has passed away at the age of 77. 

Kellner passed away on June 21 with news of his death first being shared by Variety. In a statement, producer Greg Berlanti spoke about what Kellner meant to him and countless others who worked with him throughout his career. 

“Kellner was a titan and a visionary in our industry and yet he will be remembered by anyone lucky enough to work for him as an executive or as a showrunner as a warm, funny, charismatic, creative and kind mentor, friend, husband and Dad.”

To wrestling fans, Kellner is known as the man who ultimately decided to cancel WCW when he took over the Head of Turner Broadcast, succeeding Ted Turner in 2000. It was Kellner’s decision to cancel the TV contracts of WCW programming as the promotion was losing a fortune in its final years. 

The final episode of WCW Monday Nitro came on March 26, 2001 and saw the reveal that Shane McMahon had purchased the company. This would be a lead-in to that year’s Invasion angle which saw WCW and ECW attempt to ‘destroy’ the WWF. 

Jamie Kellner Outside Wrestling

Away from WCW, Kellner is credited for launching projects for FOX and The WB. Kellner was in charge when hit shows premiered on The WB including Married… With Children, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Simpsons. Kellner also launched FOX Kids during his time at the network. 

We at SE Scoops would like to share our sincere condolences to those who knew Kellner at this sad time. 

Related: Brian Gewirtz On Why ‘Who Killed WCW’ Will Tell The Real Story, Talks The Rock’s Involvement

More has come to light about the situation regarding Kayla Braxton as the WWE broadcaster’s tenure with the company prepares to come to an end. 

Earlier this month, Braxton removed references to WWE from her social media usernames, leading to speculation that her time with the company was ending. This week, Braxton confirmed as much by revealing that an upcoming event in Madison Square Garden will be her last show for WWE. 

• Kayla Braxton Leaving WWE: Thanks Triple H, Nick Khan, Michael Cole

Latest On Kayla Braxton

Braxton is still with WWE, Fightful Select reports, and she is working under a verbal agreement with the company. That is because her official deal with the promotion has already expired but the two sides didn’t want to end things just yet. 

Braxton, real name Kayla Becker, and WWE have been in discussions, but it is unclear what came of them. Given that Braxton has publicly confirmed her impending exit, it is apparent that these talks have not resulted in a new deal. 

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What’s to Come? 

Braxton has not disclosed any specifics about what’s next, instead stating that she is ready to pursue her next “chapter.” Given her success in WWE, many assume that AEW will be making a play for her but if so, that’ll only be when the time is right. AEW was made aware of her contract situation weeks ago, it’s unclear if that was due to direct communication between Braxton/ an agent, or AEW.  Tony Khan has made clear several times in the past that he aims to avoid negotiating with under-contract talent. 

Braxton signed with WWE in 2016 and honed her skills in various roles across Raw, SmackDown, and WWE NXT. While her time with the company is ending, fans can expect to see the talented broadcaster resurface in entertainment down the line. 

Related: Kayla Braxton Blasts Gay Ex-WWE Employee who Mocked her Coming Out

All Elite Wrestling superstar Darby Allin is taking some time off after a rough few months. His last match was teaming in a loss with FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) and Bryan Danielson against The Elite (Jack Perry, Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) at AEW Double Or Nothing on May 26. Since the brutal Anarchy In the Arena Match, Allin has not been on TV. A new report has shared an update on his absence. 

Fightful Select has reported that AEW has given Allin time off to heal from his injuries, including a broken nose. It’s unclear when he may return, but the company is ensuring the AEW superstar has enough time to recover. 

Just unbelievable behavior from the EVPs.

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!
?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@youngbucks | @darbyallin pic.twitter.com/DDR0Q7eysY

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

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Darby Allin’s Eventful Year

The first half of 2024 has been a very eventful time for the former TNT Champion. He started the year off strong alongside Sting, as they quickly became title contenders in the tag team division. The fan-favorite duo eventually became champions and successfully defended themselves against The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas) at AEW Revolution on March 3. Although he found success early in the year, injuries took a toll on Allin’s body. 

In the brutal tag team match against The Young Bucks, Allin had a spot where he launched himself off a ladder from inside the ring to the ringside on a pane of glass. The dangerous move resulted in Allin’s back being cut up and needing stitches. After relinquishing the titles due to Sting’s retirement, Allin would then take some time off with hopes of climbing Mount Everest. 

Related: Darby Allin Is Training Sting’s Son To Wrestle

Darby Allin’s Injuries Continue To Take Its Toll

AEW put him against Jay White for a loss on the March 13 episode of AEW Dynamite to take him off TV. Unfortunately, Allin suffered a broken foot in the matchup that caused the daredevil performer to be inactive and ruined his hopes of traveling up Mount Everest. Allin’s injuries woes continued the following month when he was hit by a bus, resulting in a broken nose. 

Allin returned to action earlier than expected to compete at AEW Double Or Nothing, as a replacement for the injured Eddie Kingston. In the match, fans noticed he was wearing a face mask and had not recovered fully from his injuries. That said, it didn’t prevent him from dangerous moments, including being Superkicked in the face while suspended above the ring by The Young Bucks.  

The proper time away from wrestling is necessary for Allin to recover from his issues. Hopefully, he can be at full strength soon and plot revenge on The Elite for his last defeat at AEW Double or Nothing. 

Related: Darby Allin Won’t Hold Back With “Crazy Violent” Film Directorial Debut

Jeff Jarrett’s career may be laden with wrestling world championships, but none of those victories can compare to competing in the Owen Cup. 

This year’s Owen Hart Foundation Men’s tournament and the winner will advance to a World Championship match at AEW All In: London 2024. Of the eight participants, none of them had a more personal connection to Owen than Jarrett. The pair teamed together in the WWF and had held tag gold mere months before Hart’s passing. 

• Brackets For Owen Hart Foundation Cup Men’s & Women’s Tournaments

Jeff Jarrett on the Owen Hart Cup

On this week’s AEW Collision, an emotional Jarrett spoke candidly about being in the Owen Hart Cup. Fighting back tears, Jarrett recalled being asked to participate and what Owen means to him a quarter-century later. 

“When I was asked initially about being in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament, all the emotion came back. It’s hard for me to imagine, it’s been 25 years, but there’s so many things about Owen that I remember like it was yesterday. In the late 90s we would become tag team champions and I look back on those days as the favorite days of my career.”

Jarrett also spoke about making a promise to himself during the Raw is Owen tribute show to make sure Owen’s kids know their father was a great man. Double-J concluded by making clear just how much being in the tournament means to him.

“I’m a 12-time former World Heavyweight Champion. I’m a two-time Hall of Famer. The Owen means more to me than anything I’ve ever done. Earlier this year, Toby Keith passed away, another good buddy of mine. And he had that song ‘Ain’t as good as I once was but I’m good once as I ever was.’ To get the opportunity to win three matches and stand in the middle ring in Owen’s hometown of Calgary, I’m absolutely going to do it.”

“The Last Outlaw” Jeff Jarrett shares how important entering the Owen Hart Foundation Cup means to him.

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@RealJeffJarrett | @Owen_Foundation pic.twitter.com/BlwekHOA1h

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 23, 2024

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What’s Next? 

Jarrett’s opening match in the tournament will see him face a wild-card entrant who will not be revealed until match time. If successful, Jarrett’s second match will be against the winner of the Rey Fenix Vs. Jay White opening match. 

The finals of both the Men’s and Women’s tournament matches will take place on the July 10, edition of Dynamite. So far, Pac has advanced in the Men’s brackets while Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale have advanced in the Women’s tournament. 

Related: Jeff Jarrett Discusses How He Dealt With Owen Hart’s Passing, WWE Continuing PPV

WWE broadcaster Kayla Braxton has announced she’s leaving the company soon. to pursue the next chapter of her career. In a message she released on Saturday, Braxton  revealed her final date for the company will take place at posted a message on social media on Saturday addressing her future, telling her fans she’ll be officially ending her career next week. 

Braxton joined WWE in 2016 and has been involved in various roles, including backstage interviewer and kickoff show panelist. Her final date will be Friday, June 28 when SmackDown returns to Madison Square Garden.

She credited several influential figures for guiding her career, including the one and only, Paul Heyman. “During my years with WWE, I was able to master the art of the back-stage interview. I hope I was able to turn minutes into moments for you who watched week to week and maybe even ushered in a new fan base,” she wrote. “My banter with Paul Heyman became the stuff of legend, and I am so thankful for all he has done to elevate my career. I gained a wealth of knowledge from the Wise man and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kayla Becker (@kaylabraxtonwwe)

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Braxton says Michael Cole brought her in to be a ring announcer in NXT, but she was quickly traveling round the world and taking on bigger roles with greater responsibilities. Now living in Los Angeles, she’s been offered new opportunities and is excited to reveal her future plans soon. She thanked Triple H, Nick Khan and WWE for allowing her to be a trusted voice on television for all of these years. She also thanked the WWE Universe for welcoming her into their lives.

SEScoops wishes Kayla Braxton (Kayla Becker) a big congratulations on an incredible run with WWE. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Jacob Fatu shocked the fans with his debut on last night’s SmackDown as he was revealed as the latest addition to The Bloodline. Now, reports suggest that there was a delay in his debut. 

The 6-feet plus powerhouse who is the son of Sam Fatu (The Tonga Kid) made an impactful debut last night and has created a buzz among the fans. Fightful Select has reported that Fatu has been signed to WWE for months. It has also come to light that he was around WrestleMania weekend and backstage at WrestleMania 40. The outlet has reported the potential reason behind his delay in debut. 

‘The Samoan Werewolf’ never competed outside of the United States. The MLW sources implied that it was due to Fatu’s past criminal record. At 18, Fatu was apprehended for robbery and eventually, he drew inspiration from The Usos to become a wrestler by witnessing them on TV in jail. His past seemingly affected his career and prevented him from accepting bookings outside the United States. 

WWE has been hosting several international PLEs and television tapings in the Spring and summer which could have posed a challenge for the former MLW World Champion. This might have caused the delay in his debut. However, WWE still has some more international PLEs lined up. Next month’s Money In The Bank will take place in Canada followed by Bash In Berlin in Germany in August and Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia in November. It is to be seen how WWE deals with the situation.

• WrestleMania Changes & Locations, More International PLEs

Meanwhile, it is also reported that his past was the primary reason he had not been hired earlier. But, under WWE’s newest regime under Triple H, the officials have long been interested in Fatu. As per the reports, Jacob Fatu has made “immediate good impressions within WWE”, and had a very respectful approach to everyone backstage.

Solo Sikoa previously recruited Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and with Jacob Fatu’s addition, The Bloodline is looking unstoppable. Amid Roman Reigns’ absence, ‘The Enforcer’ is establishing his dominance on the blue brand and it will be interesting to see what else he has in store.

Related: Solo Sikoa And The New Bloodline Are The Key To Getting Cody Rhodes Back On Track As WWE Champion

AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone got up close and personal with NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, ahead of their match this month. 

At CMLL’s Fantisticamania event in Arena Mexico, Mone arrived with her title and confronted Vaquer who was already in the ring. Mone gave credit to Vaquer, saying “You are not the same Stephanie I faced one year ago at New Japan Resurgence.” Vaquer had some choice words for Mone, which resulted in the TBS Champion slapping her opponent and the pair having a brief brawl that was broken up. 

Amid the chaos, Mone posed with both championship titles before retreating to the entranceway. Vaquer posed with her title in the ring and earned a loud ovation from the crowd. She was also seen clutching her jaw, a sign of the impact of Mone’s slap.

FULL segment of Mercedes Moné confronting Stephanie Vaquer in Arena Mexico.????#ViernesEspectacularCMLL #CMLL
pic.twitter.com/eyebFiWzee

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) June 22, 2024

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What’s Next? 

Mone and Vaquer will collide at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door on June 30 from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The match will see both the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on the line in an exciting ‘Winner Takes All’ match. This will be the first Forbidden Door match for either woman. 

Many are predicting that Mone will leave the event with both titles. Not only is the consensus that it is too soon for her to lose the TBS Championship, but the NJPW Strong Women’s Title was reportedly made with her in mind. Mone was set to become the inaugural champion until an injury mid-match led to an audible being called and Willow Nightingale winning the gold instead. 

Related: AEW TBS Champ Mercedes Mone Shines As Boston Celtics Win NBA Playoffs Finals

AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone got up close and personal with NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, ahead of their match this month. 

At CMLL’s Fantisticamania event in Arena Mexico, Mone arrived with her title and confronted Vaquer who was already in the ring. Mone gave credit to Vaquer, saying “You are not the same Stephanie I faced one year ago at New Japan Resurgence.” Vaquer had some choice words for Mone, which resulted in the TBS Champion slapping her opponent and the pair having a brief brawl that was broken up. 

Amid the chaos, Mone posed with both championship titles before retreating to the entranceway. Vaquer posed with her title in the ring and earned a loud ovation from the crowd. She was also seen clutching her jaw, a sign of the impact of Mone’s slap.

FULL segment of Mercedes Moné confronting Stephanie Vaquer in Arena Mexico.????#ViernesEspectacularCMLL #CMLL
pic.twitter.com/eyebFiWzee

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) June 22, 2024

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What’s Next? 

Mone and Vaquer will collide at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door on June 30 from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The match will see both the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on the line in an exciting ‘Winner Takes All’ match. This will be the first Forbidden Door match for either woman. 

Many are predicting that Mone will leave the event with both titles. Not only is the consensus that it is too soon for her to lose the TBS Championship, but the NJPW Strong Women’s Title was reportedly made with her in mind. Mone was set to become the inaugural champion until an injury mid-match led to an audible being called and Willow Nightingale winning the gold instead. 

Related: AEW TBS Champ Mercedes Mone Shines As Boston Celtics Win NBA Playoffs Finals

AEW made company history this past week and not in the way they wanted to. The 6/19 episode of AEW Dynamite received the lowest viewership and key demographic in the show’s entire existence on Wednesdays. 

Despite being less than two weeks away from Forbidden Door, Dynamite only garnered an average audience of 502,000, which is a 26.3% drop from last week, and the key 18-49 demographic only roped in a 0.16, over a 30% decrease from the previous week.

Those numbers are dreadful for Dynamite, but a report from Fightful has both AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery giving their reasons.

• Tony Khan On Shane McMahon’s AEW Interest: ‘I’ve Never Met Or Spoke With Him’

Sean Ross Sapp heard from AEW sources that a reason for such a drop-off was due to the absence of The Big Bang Theory lead-in. Instead of riding off the successful syndicated sitcom per usual, TBS aired Black Panther instead, affecting the usual built-in lead-in numbers. Therefore, the “tune-in” number was actually greater than the lead-in. That, however, didn’t stop their AEW sources from being shocked by the number.

When it comes the Warner Bros. Discovery perspective, the Fightful source played down the drop.

“Just a very odd week in general, and a confluence of stuff Juneteenth holiday in the middle of the week (when does a mid-week holiday ever happen in late spring/summer months?!). Competition with Olympic trials and college baseball all World Series in prime time. Amazing weather in much of the country (especially up here in the northeast), so lots more people out and about. Wouldn’t really put much into one week’s number, although I know the wrestling community likes to go nuclear with these kinds of one-offs.”

A different source from WBD claimed that the drop wouldn’t affect a potential new deal between AEW and the network.

Related: Jim Ross Wishes CM Punk Was Still In AEW

Multiple Raw stars were in action after this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown from Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois went off air.

The first dark match of the night featured The OC taking on Street Profits. After this, Braun Strowman competed in a singles match against Ludwig Kaiser and defeated the Imperium star.

The third and final dark match of the show saw Awesome Truth defending the World Tag Team Championships against Judgement Day’s JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio.

The end of this bout saw The Miz saving R Truth from a double suplex by their opponents. The champs then busted out the moves taught to them by John Cena and they won the match with a double Attitude Adjustment:

What Happened On SmackDown

The build for the upcoming Money In The Bank PPV continued on SmackDown this week. Chelsea Green, Carmelo Hayes and Andrade all qualified for their respective ladder matches during the episode.

We also saw the surprise appearance of Drew McIntyre after he announced that he was quitting the company on Raw this past Monday. McIntyre took out Punk in a brutal fashion, presumably extending his time on the shelf.

The main event of the show saw the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes taking on Solo Sikoa in a singles match. This segment ended with an unexpected debut. You can check out more about it here.

Related: Pat McAfee Clears Up Idea That Wyatt Sicks Attacked Him During His 6/20 Show

MJF’s decision to re-sign with All Elite Wrestling was an easy one for the former World Champion, as he has great faith in the work Tony Khan has done. 

Following a six-month absence, MJF returned to AEW programming at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view in a confrontation with Adam Cole. MJF also made clear that he will remain with AEW with a ‘Bet On It’ tattoo. The ‘Scumbag’ had spent years teasing a ‘bidding war’ between AEW and WWE over his services, though it appears that MJF’s talk of negotiations was indeed all talk. 

• MJF Re-Signs With AEW, Source: ‘Zero Talks’ with WWE

MJF Sticking With AEW

While there’s no shortage of fans who would have loved to have seen MJF in WWE, it wasn’t meant to be. Speaking this week to FOX, MJF shared why exactly he made the decision to stick with All Elite Wrestling. 

“It was a very easy decision for me, mainly because Tony Khan is paying me an exorbitant amount of money. But outside of that, I believe in AEW and it’s where the best wrestle.”

What’s Next for MJF? 

With his issues with Adam Cole seemingly over, MJF has moved into a program with RUSH. On the latest AEW Dynamite, MJF beat Rush and was confronted by Brian Cage after the match. Cage revealed CMLL’s Hechicero and a match against MJF is set AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. The show will take place next Sunday, June 30, from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. 

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

Despite the scary visual left by The Wyatt Sicks this past Monday, Chad Gable is alive and will actually compete this Monday on WWE RAW.

Despite his X account being hacked by the newly formed faction, WWE RAW General Manager Adam Pearce took to WWE’s account to share the news that a lifeless Chad Gable may have given everyone a fright, but the Alpha Academy leader is good to go this week on RAW. Not only that, but he’ll be in a high-profile fight. Despite Pearce making this announcement free from his own account, Wyatt Sicks still was able to mess with Adam’s good news announcement.

“Several of our social accounts were hacked and now that they’re firmly back under our control we can get back to business. To that end, Chad Gable, everyone saw the heinous attack last week. Despite that attack, and despite being severely shaken up, Chad Gable is medically cleared and will compete this Monday in a triple threat qualifying match for The Money In The Bank ladder match against Braun Strowman and Big Bronson Reed.”

? BREAKING NEWS ?#WWERaw General Manager @ScrapDaddyAP just announced @WWEGable is cleared for action Monday. pic.twitter.com/VcgmIKWDF1

— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024

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Pearce actually went on to commend Gable for showing guts and competing this Monday, but if the clip was any indication, Uncle Howdy has more in store for the red brand.

Before being “murdered,” Gable had a very busy Monday as he lost to Braun Strowman and seemingly lost all his underlings of Alpha Academy as the power-hungry wrestler pushed Otis, Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri to their limits. However, with Gable being a primary victim of The Wyatt Sicks, it’ll be intriguing to see if he can manipulate his way back into Otis’ good graces.

Despite the scary visual left by The Wyatt Sicks this past Monday, Chad Gable is alive and will actually compete this Monday on WWE RAW.

Despite his X account being hacked by the newly formed faction, WWE RAW General Manager Adam Pearce took to WWE’s account to share the news that a lifeless Chad Gable may have given everyone a fright, but the Alpha Academy leader is good to go this week on RAW. Not only that, but he’ll be in a high-profile fight. Despite Pearce making this announcement free from his own account, Wyatt Sicks still was able to mess with Adam’s good news announcement.

“Several of our social accounts were hacked and now that they’re firmly back under our control we can get back to business. To that end, Chad Gable, everyone saw the heinous attack last week. Despite that attack, and despite being severely shaken up, Chad Gable is medically cleared and will compete this Monday in a triple threat qualifying match for The Money In The Bank ladder match against Braun Strowman and Big Bronson Reed.”

? BREAKING NEWS ?#WWERaw General Manager @ScrapDaddyAP just announced @WWEGable is cleared for action Monday. pic.twitter.com/VcgmIKWDF1

— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024

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Pearce actually went on to commend Gable for showing guts and competing this Monday, but if the clip was any indication, Uncle Howdy has more in store for the red brand.

Before being “murdered,” Gable had a very busy Monday as he lost to Braun Strowman and seemingly lost all his underlings of Alpha Academy as the power-hungry wrestler pushed Otis, Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri to their limits. However, with Gable being a primary victim of The Wyatt Sicks, it’ll be intriguing to see if he can manipulate his way back into Otis’ good graces.

Jacob Fatu shocked all of WWE to close out SmackDown. The Samoan Werewolf showed up to save Solo Sikoa and left his mark as a new member of The Bloodline.

Solo was in a tight spot as his main event match with Cody Rhodes was all a ploy for him, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa to attack ‘The American Nightmare.’ 

The numbers game came into play against Rhodes, before yet again Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ran in to save the WWE Undisputed Champion. The trio had Solo Sikoa attempted to beg all three men off but his feigned fear dissapated into a smile as Fatu came in to unleash. Fatu took Orton and Owens out before targeting Rhodes. Rhodes was briefly able to fend Fatu off, clotheslining him out of the ring, but Fatu bested Cody enough to lay him out on the commentary table. Fatu went to the top rope and leapt off with an amazing splash, taking Cody out.

• Report: Current Plans For Cody Rhodes At WWE SummerSlam 2024

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Fatu, known as ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ outside of WWE, was referred to as a “werewolf” on commentary to Corey Graves and it’s been reported that he signed with the company over WrestleMania 40 weekend.

Jacob Fatu has been a force outside of WWE, making most of his pro wrestling hay under the Major League Wrestling banner. Fatu was a dominate monster heel World Champion for the promotion,  but became a big-time babyface before making his exit after being taken out by his old faction, CONTRA.

There has been some changes afoot amongst The Bloodline as WWE has trademarked certain names and even before going out to fight Rhodes, Solo said to Paul Heyman that Roman Reigns isn’t coming back.

Related: New WWE Trademark Hints At Another Massive Change to The Bloodline

Jim Ross knows CM Punk adds value to pro wrestling and misses his presence in AEW. CM Punk left on unsavory terms with All Elite Wrestling as he was fired following his scuffle with Jack Perry backstage at AEW All Out, but Punk’s absence has been felt by his former company, especially colleagues who appreciate his insight.

Speaking on the latest “Grilling JR,” Ross mentioned how he still texts with Punk, who is proactive in seeing how ‘The Boomer Sooner’ has been doing. Ross said how thankful he was to have Punk in AEW, but a clash of identities came to be a factor. 

“I miss CM Punk. I thought he contributed greatly to the AEW roster when he was with us. To be perfectly candid, I wish he was still with us. It, personality wise, just did not work out and that’s unfortunate.”

• Could CM Punk Appear in TNA Wrestling? Ace Steel Won’t Rule It Out…

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Ross and Punk have both been off television with their own respective ailments as Punk has been recovering from a torn triceps and Ross has been recovering from an unexpected visit to the emergency room. Ross was experiencing shortness of breath but did mention how he’s been feeling better. 

As for Punk, he’s set to make his Windy City return tonight in Chicago on SmackDown after he screwed Drew McIntyre over at Clash At The Castle in Scotland last weekend. Drew and CM Punk have been battling verbally ever since Punk suffered his triceps injury in the final moments of the men’s Royal Rumble match.

H/t to Cultaholic for the transcritpion.

Related: ICP’s Violent J Buries CM Punk In Brutal Fashion Over Colt Cabana Beef

CM Punk started WWE SmackDown in Chicago, taking shots at Drew McIntyre. He commented on how easy it was to make McIntyre quit on RAW this week. However, his good time in Chicago was cut short.

Drew McIntyre returned to WWE television just days after saying, “screw this company, I quit,” and walking out. He was unhappy with Punk’s interference in his World Heavyweight Championship match at Clash at the Castle. 

Things were going well for CM Punk to start the show. The Chicago crowd showered him with love as they strongly denied that he ever embarrassed them. 

"Did I embarrass Chicago?"

We definitely see where you're going with this, @CMPunk… ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/e6mY21YScJ

— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024

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Later in the show, Drew McIntyre attacked CM Punk backstage to interrupt a segment with Team #DIY. Punk was left bloody and injured. McIntyre carried Punk out into the audience, where fans who love Punk watched in shock.

Drew McIntyre just knocked out @CMPunk!

In his own hometown too… ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/vIbr8Xme5e

— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024

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WWE officials, including Adam Pearce, came out to reprimand McIntyre for the attack. The Chicago fans booed McIntyre intensely. McIntyre seemed pleased with himself, having ruined Punk’s big night in his home city, just as Punk had done to McIntyre in Scotland.

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CM Punk & Drew McIntyre Feud

The feud between Punk and McIntyre is heating up. Punk’s injuries suggest a showdown with McIntyre in the ring is imminent.

Drew McIntyre has been throwing shots at CM Punk ever since he was injured. Even before that, he wanted a piece of the former AEW World Heavyweight Champion. Punk was stretchered off after the attack from McIntyre, but he’s made recoveries in the past.

Related: Drew McIntyre Trolls CM Punk During WWE Headquarters Visit