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CM Punk & Jey Uso Top WWE Merchandise Sales For May 2024

Aaron Varble
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In May 2024, WWE Shop saw notable sales in their apparel category, and we have a full list of top-selling products.

Wrestlenomics reports that CM Punk emerged as a top seller for May 2024, showing his strong connection with fans, even though his injury hiatus. Jey Uso followed closely, which shouldn’t be a huge surprise considering the incredible reception his Yeet entrance has received in recent memory.

Cody Rhodes, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock also featured in the sales rankings, showcasing the appeal of both current and legendary figures in wrestling. Other superstars such as Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Rey Mysterio, and Liv Morgan also made the top ten list, reflecting a range of interests among the WWE fan base.

Best-Selling Items

When it comes to individual items, the “Men’s Black Jey Uso Yeet T-Shirt” led the pack, staying in the top 10 for 22 days throughout the month. This was followed by the “Men’s Black Return of CM Punk T-Shirt,” which also enjoyed significant daily sales.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s merchandise, particularly the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin & Booker T Rivals T-Shirt and the classic “Stone Cold” Steve Austin 3:16 T-Shirt, remained fan favorites. CM Punk’s “Best In The World” ringer T-shirt and The Rock’s “Final Boss” T-shirt also saw strong sales.

It’s also notable that Liv Morgan topped WWE’s sales charts after her King & Queen of the Ring Women’s World Title win, which landed her the #10 spot for the entire month.

Top-Selling WWE Merchandise for May 2024

Top Superstars:

  • CM Punk
  • Jey Uso
  • Cody Rhodes
  • Stone Cold Steve Austin
  • The Rock
  • Randy Orton
  • Roman Reigns
  • Bray Wyatt
  • Rey Mysterio/Mysterios
  • Liv Morgan

Insights and Trends

The data from May 2024 reveals a few key trends. The continued sales of CM Punk’s merchandise underline his lasting impact and popularity. Jey Uso’s rise in the rankings reflects his growing influence and appeal within the WWE universe.

The presence of both legendary figures like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, alongside current superstars such as Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, indicates a broad spectrum of fan interests spanning different eras of WWE.

Overall, WWE Shop’s apparel sales for May 2024 highlight the dynamic nature of wrestling fandom and the continued popularity of both past and present WWE superstars.

Best-Selling Items:

  • Men’s Black Jey Uso Yeet T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s Black Return of CM Punk T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s Black “Stone Cold” Steve Austin & Booker T Rivals T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s White/Black CM Punk Best In The World Ringer T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s White Jey Uso Yeet T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s Black The Rock Final Boss T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Youth White Jey Uso Yeet T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s Black “Stone Cold” Steve Austin 3:16 T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s Black Cody Rhodes Smelting Logo Sleeveless Hoodie T-Shirt (Shop)
  • Men’s Black Roman Reigns Family Above All T-Shirt (Shop)

Will Ospreay, Swerve & DVD’s Top AEW Merchandise For May 2024

Aaron Varble
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In May 2024, ShopAEW saw strong sales across various categories, with Double or Nothing capping off the month to give them a new boost of momentum. The month’s top merchandise sellers reflects who is on top in the fans’ eyes. 

Wrestlenomics reports that AEW branded merchandise led the way with the highest number of items in the top ten daily rankings. Will Ospreay followed, showing significant sales. 

Top-Selling AEW Merchandise for May 2024

Top Superstars:

  • AEW
  • Will Ospreay
  • ROH
  • Swerve Strickland
  • Adam Copeland
  • Kenny Omega
  • Young Bucks
  • Mercedes Moné
  • Toni Storm
  • Jack Perry

In terms of individual items, two Blu-ray disc releases top the list. The AEW WrestleDream October 1, 2023 Blu-ray Disc stayed in the top ten for 19 days. The AEW ALL IN LONDON August 27, 2023 Blu-ray 2-Disc Set performed well, remaining in the top ten for 18 days. 

Will Ospreay’s “The Feeling” also saw consistent sales, along with the pre-order for the ROH Final Battle 2023 DVD 2-Disc Set. The ROH Final Battle 2022 DVD 2-Disc Set maintained a strong presence in the rankings.

Best-Selling Items:

  • AEW WrestleDream October 1, 2023 Blu-ray Disc
  • AEW ALL IN LONDON August 27, 2023 Blu-ray 2-Disc Set
  • Will Ospreay – The Feeling
  • Pre-Order: ROH Final Battle 2023 DVD 2-Disc Set
  • ROH Final Battle 2022 DVD 2-Disc Set
  • Limited Edition – Kenny Omega Vs King – Tekken 8 Series
  • Pre-Order: Matthew & Nicholas Jackson AEW Micro Brawler Tag Team 2-Pack
  • 2023 AEW Trading Cards (Blaster)
  • Nyla Rose – HER (All Royalties Will Go To Freedom Oklahoma’s 501c3)
  • Orange Cassidy Beaded Bracelet 3-Pack

Mance Warner Wins GCW World Championship At Cage Of Survival 3

Thomas Lowson
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The GCW World Heavyweight Championship is now in the hands of Mance Warner after capturing the title at the recent GCW Cage Of Survival 3 event. 

In the show’s main event, a Gauntlet of Survival match saw several wrestlers briefly hold the title including Nick Gage, Jimmy Lloyd, and Cole Radric. Like in a WWE Championship Scramble, it was whoever held the title at the end of the match’s time limit who would officially become the GCW World Champion. 

https://twitter.com/GIFSkullX/status/1797416664209727588

When all was said and done, Joey Janela was the GCW World Heavyweight Champion but things weren’t over just yet. After the match, Mance Warner cashed in Do Or Die title shot, which guaranteed him a World Championship opportunity at a time of his choosing. With Warner completely fresh, he made quick work of Janela to win the GCW World Title. 

On Twitter, Steph De Lander, an ally of Game Changer Wrestling General Manager, shared a photo with her fiancee Warner. 

The title had been vacated by Game Changer Wrestling’s General Manager Matt Cardona. The Indy God, who is also a former GCW World Champion, stripped Blake Christian of the title in May of this year. Cardona made the decision after Christian opted to compete in New Japan’s Best of Super Juniors event instead of the Tournament of Survival show on June 1. Now, the title and the responsibility of being champion falls on Warner but with the manner in which he won the title, expect plenty of challengers for the new GCW World Champion. 

Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda In “Good Talks” With AEW’s Will Ospreay

Thomas Lowson
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Fans could be seeing much more of Will Ospreay in Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda as the two sides are said to be currently in positive talks. 

SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Ospreay, as well as TNA Wrestling’s Jordynne Grace, donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs. 

Ospreay has spoken in the past about wanting to compete for Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda and that could soon be the case. Responding to an article about the reigning AEW International Champion, the official SGW Uganda Twitter account confirmed that their promotion and Will Ospreay had been in talks. 

What’s Next? 

It’s possible that Ospreay will challenge for the newly-instated SGW Uganda Championship which was introduced earlier this year. The first-ever champion is Anoa who won the title in the finals of a tournament that saw him beat Tate Mayfairs

Back in the United States, Ospreay has his sights set on capturing more gold in All Elite Wrestling. On the most recent edition of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay won a Casino Gauntlet Match to earn an AEW World Championship match at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. Ospreay has held the AEW International Title since Double or Nothing and barring a last-minute title change, he will challenge Swerve Strickland later this month in 

Top 10 Most Effective Brand Advertisers For WWE & AEW Television

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestling is going through a booming period, and let’s take a look at some of the biggest players in their advertising game.

EDO, a TV advertising analytics company, has profiled WWE and AEW, giving strong marks to both. Wrestling remains a major draw for TV advertisers due to its large, engaged audience.

WWE’s Monday Night Raw, the longest-running weekly episodic program, will move to Netflix in January 2025. This transition signifies a major shift in the platform for WWE’s flagship show. Meanwhile, AEW has established itself as a strong competitor in the wrestling world. Its Dynamite show frequently tops cable ratings on Wednesday nights, demonstrating its popularity among viewers.

WWE’s rise is thanks to Endeavor merging the company with the UFC and Vince McMahon departed from the company, leaving things to Triple H and Nick Khan’s vision. That momentum has been noticed all over.

AEW’s ad effectiveness has seen notable growth, particularly on its Rampage program. Brands such as Bud Light and Crest have experienced increased engagement through their advertising on AEW shows.

WWE’s programs, including Raw and SmackDown, also show significant ad engagement. Top advertisers like Credible and Purple have reported impressive results from their campaigns on these shows. Advertisers benefit from the high engagement rates of these programs, making them effective platforms for brand promotion.

Top 10 AEW Advertisers

Here are the top 10 most effective advertisers on AEW programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024:

  • Innovation Refunds (+284% more effective than the average AEW advertiser)
  • Just for Men (+201%)
  • Pampers (+195%)
  • Ferrero Rocher (+182%)
  • Bud Light (+169%)
  • Crest (+108%)
  • Miller Lite (+102%)
  • Schwarzkopf (+97%)
  • Applebee’s (+93%)
  • Diet Coke (+93%)

Top 10 WWE Advertisers

The top 10 most effective advertisers on WWE programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024, include:

  • Credible (+2,978% more effective than the average WWE advertiser)
  • Purple (+490%)
  • Dawn (+224%)
  • Depend (+215%)
  • Hot Pockets (+200%)
  • NyQuil (+194%)
  • Mattel (+190%)
  • Puffs (+180%)
  • Miller Lite (+177%)
  • Mr. Clean (+177%)

Elijah Says Seth Rollins Sniped His Idea For Monday Night Messiah Character

Aaron Varble
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Seth Rollins’ Monday Night Messiah character dominated WWE television for a good run, but the idea was allegedly jacked from another Superstar.

Elias, who was released from WWE last year, claims the company stole one of his ideas. He shared with Metro.co.uk that he was always brainstorming to evolve his character. One idea he was enthusiastic about was the “Monday Night Messiah.”

“There was a character that I really thought could have been incredible myself, it was the Monday Night Messiah. And if you realize, Seth Rollins and AOP ended up – for lack of better terms, they just gave it to those guys.”

“I had a real vision of me being the Pied Piper of Monday Night Raw and controlling people, with kind of a cult-like leader. The biblical themes and things like that, I always love that Messiah stuff,” he added.

No Hard Feelings

The former WWE Superstar, who was best known for his musical Drifter persona, insists there is no ill will towards Seth Rollins, though he feels he had a great vision for the character.

Elijah mentioned that his pitch was just one of many he submitted to the creative team until his last day, noting that it’s common for such ideas to be given to wrestlers who are more prominent.

Elias explained that higher-paid wrestlers or those in the spotlight often receive more resources and attention. He emphasized that this was not a criticism of Seth Rollins, whom he acknowledged as an incredible talent, but rather an observation of how the system operates and the inherent risks in sharing creative ideas.

Seth Rollins found great success with the “Monday Night Messiah” persona, which eventually evolved into his “The Visionary” character.

TNA Loses Another Important Executive

Staff
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TNA is experiencing significant staff changes, with the multiple key figures departing the company.

Lou D’Angeli, remembered as “Sign Guy Dudley” in ECW, and later a marketing director in WWE, has left TNA Wrestling. He served as the Vice President of Marketing for Anthem Entertainment. According to PWInsider, his departure was mutually agreed upon after a meeting with Anthem executives last week.

RD Evans, a member of the creative team, and David Sahadi, head of production, also exited the company recently. These changes come after Scott D’Amore was let go in February.

The wave of departures at TNA suggests a major internal restructuring or a shift in company strategy. This could impact several aspects of TNA’s business in the short term, including creative direction, production quality and ability to attract and retain talent.

The trend seems ominous and interestingly comes at a time when TNA is starting to work with WWE again. Following TNA champion Jordynne Grace’s recent crossover to NXT, there have been several other wrestlers from each company talking about working together.

TNA Wrestling has been through it all since launching in May 2002. They are a survivor brand that will always find a way to keep bringing fans their unique brand of wrestling, but it’s been a rocky year to say the least after things started off so promising with the return to the ‘TNA’ name back in January.

Updated Look At Marigold Wrestling’s United National & World Championships

Thomas Lowson
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Fans of Marigold Wrestling have received an updated look at the company’s championships with more titles on their way. 

Marigold, the brainchild of STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa, was confirmed in April 2024 after speculation that Ogawa was looking to make a new company. It was allegations that Ogawa was ‘poaching’ talent from STARDOM that led to his termination from parent company Bushiroad.

This week, fans got a better look at the Marigold Championships than what had previously been offered. These new photos reveal an updated design that features blue accents to the World Championship and blue, green, and orange accents to the United National Championship. It has been reported that more titles are in the works, including planned Marigold Tag Team Championships. 

The latest look at the Marigold Championships. 

These titles are the latest creations from Belts By Dan, who has made several championships across professional wrestling. Creations of Dan’s include the AEW TNT Championship, the AEW Women’s World Championship, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

The Future of Marigold

After hosting its inaugural Fields Forever event in May, Marigold’s next show will be the Summer Destiny event on July 13. The show will stream on on Wrestle Universe. Marigold has announced Giulia Vs. Sareee for the show, despite Giulia suffering a wrist injury during the Fields Forever show that has put plans for her on pause. 

Marigold’s future could also see involvement from WWE as Rossy Ogawa hopes to create strong ties with the world’s most successful wrestling promotion. Giulia is expected to make a handful of appearances for Marigold after she officially joins WWE later this year. Marigold is hopeful that WWE Superstars IYO SKY and Kairi Sane (both of whom have worked with Ogawa in the past) will be available for upcoming events with WWE’s blessing. 

Dana White: ‘WWE Is Good At What They Do But Relationship with UFC is Very Separate’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE has proven to be very successful in the world of wrestling, but the TKO entity has done very little with the UFC according to Dana White. 

Speaking at the post-show press conference for UFC 302, White was asked about working with WWE under TKO. The UFC President admitted that little has actually been done with WWE despite the merger. 

“It’s very separate. I haven’t worked with them at all. I do what I do, and they do what they do. They’re using some of the people from my team to help them in different areas, business-wise, but as far as putting on live events, I mean, WWE is very good at what they do. And we’re very good at what we do. And yeah, that’s about as far as it goes.”

TKO Group Holdings was launched in September 2023 with the merger of WWE and UFC. It had been confirmed back in April 2023 that Endeavor would be acquiring WWE as part of a $9 billion deal. Endeavor (known as WME/IMG at the time) acquired UFC back in 2016 for around $4 billion.

WWE & UFC Together

While White has stated that collaboration between the two sides has been minimal, that doesn’t mean WWE and UFC have done nothing together. The two companies recently merged their live events teams, a decision that has led to some layoffs in WWE. In a matter of days, WWE and UFC will arrive at KFC Yum! Center Arena in Louisville, Kentucky to host back-to-back shows. WWE SmackDown will take place on June 7, while UFC’s next event will be on June 8. 

WWE Superstars can often be spotted at UFC events in another example of cross-promotion branding. WWE NXT Battleground will be held at the UFC Apex on June 9, the first time any WWE event has been held at the venue. During UFC 302, WWE’s Rezar threw out the challenge to fight some UFC heavyweights so fans may be seeing the former Tag Team Champion in the Octagon soon enough. 

Toni Storm Makes Surprise STARDOM Appearance To Challenge Mina Shirakawa At Forbidden Door

Bishal Roy
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AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm recently issued a challenge to STARDOM wrestler Mina Shirakawa.

Storm made an appearance during the June 2 STARDOM event through a video as she challenged the Japanese wrestler for the upcoming AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view later this month. Toni Storm was featured with, “STARDOM legend” Mariah May. She said that she had her eyes on Mina, who has made appearances in AEW in the past. She said:

“Hello, STARDOM, this is your AEW Women’s World Champion and STARDOM legend ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm and this is my trusty protege and STARDOM legend, Ms. Mariah May. Mina-san, I see you’ve been at AEW when I’ve not been around but I’ve been watching you. Oh, I’ve been watching you.”

Toni Storm said that wanted to square off against Mina Shirakawa and she wouldn’t have to knock or ring the doorbell as she has kept the forbidden door open. 

“You do not need to knock, you do not need to ring the doorbell, because I have opened the forbidden door and I want you. Don’t worry, any friend of Mariah’s is a friend of mine. I just want to see what kind of woman you really are.”

While Toni issued the challenge, Mariah didn’t seem to be impressed. Toni’s protege Mariah May has been closely linked with Mina and teamed up with her. They have even shared a kiss on AEW. The match hasn’t been made official yet but the relationship between Mariah and Mina might come into play during the match.   

Toni Storm and Mariah May made STARDOM appearance in April

In April, Storm showed up at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena (better known as ECW Arena). During that appearance, she had given her flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. That night, she also had eyes on Mina Shirakawa and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”

Toni Storm is coming off a title defense against Serena Deeb at AEW Double Or Nothing. She is likely to face Mina Shirakawa at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden which is set to take place on June 30 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

Thomas Lowson
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Fans at Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI event saw the introduction of the promotion’s brand-new World Championship title design. 

Before the show’s World Heavyweight Championship match, the new title design was introduced. This design features a gold, black, and silver center plate with the MLW logo over the world. The title also includes silver and gold side plates. The previous design had been in operation since April of 2018 when MLW returned following a 15-year hiatus. 

The MLW World Heavyweight Championship has been held since February by Satoshi Kojima. The 53-year-old Japanese star is currently in his second reign as champion and won the title from Alex Kane at SuperFight. At Battle Riot VI, Kojima retained the gold against former champion ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor. 

The new title is the latest creation from Belts By Dan, who has made several championships across professional wrestling. Creations of Dan’s include the AEW TNT Championship, the AEW Women’s World Championship, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

While Kojima is proud to hold the re-designed MLW World Heavyweight Championship, his reign is in serious jeopardy. MLW Battle Riot VI also saw Matt Riddle win the titular 40-man Battle Riot match. With this win, the former WWE United States Champion has earned an MLW World Title match for any time of his choosing. If WWE’s Money in the Bank contract has shown anything, then this stipulation puts Kojima at a distinct disadvantage. 

MJF Shows Off Remarkable Physical Transformation

Aaron Varble
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Pro wrestlers rely on their bodies to make a living, and keeping in peak shape is a priority for a majority of them. MJF recently showed off his physical transformation, and it’s quite impressive. 

MJF has worked hard to reach the top of the pro wrestling world. His impressive physique is the result of his dedication, but he didn’t achieve it alone.

He recently posted a before-and-after photo on Instagram, showcasing his progress. In the post, he credited Adam Pfau, a personal fitness coach, for helping him achieve his current look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C7p6g5Euioz

Double or Nothing Return & Nixed Plans

MJF returned to AEW at Double or Nothing, ending his hiatus since losing the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at Worlds End. During his return, he also revealed a new tattoo, signifying that he re-signed with AEW and bet on himself.

Although MJF missed the Dynamite episode following Double or Nothing, he is set to appear on next week’s show. Fans are eager to see what the former AEW World Champion will say and who he will face next.

Adam Cole’s injury forced AEW to alter plans for him and MJF. A match was planned for 2023 but did not happen. While the timing of their face-off remains unclear, Cole’s involvement in MJF’s return segment is promising.

Mark Henry & Teddy Long Appear At MLW Battle Riot VI

Aaron Varble
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MLW Battle Riot VI featured a surprise appearance by wrestling legends Mark Henry and Teddy Long.

The two WWE Hall of Famers surprised fans as they oversaw the Ritual Combat match between Alex Kane and AJ Francis, seated beside the victor’s throne. Their appearances were not promoted for the show, but there are also a few surprises for MLW fans on the show.

Recently, Long appeared on WWE television during the 2024 draft as he took part in announcing a round of picks for the SmackDown brand. Mark Henry’s contract with AEW expired in May.

Other Possible MLW Surprises

Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select reported that WWE Superstar Xavier Woods and former TNA producer David Sahadi were backstage.

The Battle Riot match included notable names like Paul Walter Hauser, Violent J, and Chris Danger. Additional surprises were anticipated during the show, so keep checking back for more updates.

MLW Changing Pay-Per-View System

During Battle Riot, Major League Wrestling announced that its pay-per-view events will move to YouTube for MLW Members. This change marks the end of MLW’s partnership with Triller TV, which began airing MLW events in May 2023.

Upcoming MLW pay-per-views include:

  • MLW Blood And Thunder on July 29 in Tampa, FL
  • MLW Summer of the Beasts on August 29 in New York City, NY
  • MLW Fightland on September 14 in Atlanta, GA

You can find our full results for the MLW Battle Riot event here. There was certainly a lot to unpack when the show was over. 

Swerve Strickland Flexes His New AEW World Championship Grill

Aaron Varble
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Swerve Strickland is enjoying his time as AEW World Champion and recently showed off a new grill.

Formerly known as Swerve Scott in WWE, he was released during the pandemic. By the time Triple H wanted him back, Swerve was already under contract with AEW and couldn’t enter talks. Tony Khan has taken good care of Strickland, and he is now sitting on top of the Land of All Elite.

Swerve’s hard work has paid off, leading to his reign as AEW World Champion. He’s living it up and has plenty to be proud of.

https://twitter.com/puroresuflow/status/1796941947052970101

Strickland’s Next Title Defense

Swerve Strickland will defend the AEW World Title against Roderick Strong on the June 5th episode of AEW Dynamite.

The bout came together on the June 1st episode of AEW Collision, with Strong saying he was supposed to be the last man in the Casino Gauntlet on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. Strong suggested to Tony Khan that he should face Swerve for the championship on Dynamite. Tony Khan agreed that it was a good idea, giving him the title match.

Roderick Strong has a message for Swerve Strickland, which he shared in a viral video after the June 1 AEW Collision broadcast.

“SWERVE! Listen, I don’t care what you do when you drive. I care what you do in that ring. When I’m looking back through the history books, I’m 2-0 against you. So, you may be the AEW World Champion for now, but come Wednesday in Colorado, I will be your new AEW World Champion.”

After defeating Lio Rush on June 1, 2024, AEW Collision, Strong appealed to Tony Khan for a match for the AEW World Title on the June 5 episode of AEW Dynamite. Now, Strong has the chance to win the most prestigious prize he has yet to challenge for in his AEW career. Obviously, Swerve Strickland is not ready to give up his title just yet.

Chris Jericho Replaced On AEW Rampage Commentary Team

Aaron Varble
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Chris Jericho has taken on many roles in AEW. He is a former World Champion, Wizard, and currently the Learning Tree. However, he is stepping down from his commentary duties. 

AEW has named Jericho’s replacement: Matt Menard, Jericho’s former Jericho Appreciation Society teammate, will take over commentary on AEW Rampage.

Author and podcast host Pat Laprade announced the news via X on Saturday. Menard has experience in commentary, having worked on AEW Dark and Dark Elevation. This led to occasional Rampage appearances when Jericho was unavailable.

On Friday’s Rampage, Jericho revealed his decision to leave commentary. He wants to focus more on appearing on Dynamite and Collision. Jericho will still carry on in his Learning Tree gimmick alongside Big Bill and Bryan Keith. 

Matt Menard’s Commentary Experience

Menard, previously known as Matt Lee in WWE’s NXT brand, signed with AEW in August 2021 with his partner Angelo Parker. They joined forces with Daniel Garcia and eventually became part of Jericho’s faction. Together, they competed in the first-ever Anarchy in the Arena match and a Blood & Guts match in 2022.

Since the faction dissolved, Menard has wrestled infrequently, with just six matches this year. His last match was a win over Mike Bennett in Ring of Honor in early May. Parker has been off following his recent marriage to Ruby Soho. Now, Menard has a spot on television every week, and he gets to stay out of action in the process. 

Swerve Strickland Next AEW World Title Defense Announced

Bishal Roy
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Swerve Strickland is set to put his AEW World Championship on the line against Roderick Strong on this week’s AEW Dynamite.

Strong dropped the AEW International Championship against Will Ospreay at last weekend’s AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view. It seems that the Undisputed Kingdom member has his sights set ton the AEW World title.

He picked up a win over Lio Rush on last night’s AEW Collision. He asked Tony Khan for a shot at Swerve’s title so that he becomes the one to defend the title at the upcoming AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door on June 30. Khan felt it was a good idea and agreed to his proposal to book the match for Dynamite. 

The upcoming edition of Dynamite will emanate from Blue Arena in Loveland, Colorado. The show will feature the return of MJF to the show after he made surprise appearance at Double Or Nothing. Meanwhile, Saraya is also scheduled to face Mariah May

Swerve Strickland captured the AEW World title after defeating Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty last month. He made his first title defense at a pay-per-view against Christian Cage at Double Or Nothing. Following the match, Swerve celebrated with the fans in the front row as well as boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

Swerve Strickland already has another title defense lined up

During the May 29 edition of AEW Dynamite, a Casino Gauntlet match took place to determine Strickland’s challenger at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view on Sunday, June 30. The match was ultimately won by Will Ospreay, who is all set to challenge Strickland at the show. This will mark the third annual of the crossover event featuring AEW and NJPW stars. 

Well, Swerve Strickland also feels that this is the right time to have a WWE-AEW crossover. Read more below:

WWE Raw Preview: Liv Morgan Appearance, Rey Mysterio Vs. Damian Priest

Thomas Lowson
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The road to WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland will continue forward with the June 3, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Scotland will take place on June 15, from the OVO Hydro venue in Glasgow. With less than two weeks to go until the historic event, the Superstars of Monday Night Raw have plenty to do ahead of the event. 

Liv Morgan To Appear

Merely seven days after her win over Becky Lynch as well as THAT kiss with Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan will be appearing on Monday Night Raw. What will the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion have to say now that Lynch is gone and after locking lips with ‘Dirty’ Dom? 

The New Day Vs. AOP

Karrion Kross has set his sights on Xavier Woods in recent weeks and has even offered Woods a role with the Final Testament. Instead of accepting, Woods and Kofi Kingston will take on AOP (Akam and Rezar) in a tag-team match on the upcoming show. 

Sheamus Vs. Ludwig Kaiser

The feud between these two European Superstars has already gotten very physical and fans can expect much more of that on tonight’s Raw. The four-time WWE World Champion will meet the right-hand man of Imperium in a match we imagine King of the Ring GUNTHER will be watching very closely. 

Damian Priest Vs. Rey Mysterio

It was last week that Damian Priest attacked Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee after Rey’s match with Carlito. Now, the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Hall of Famer will do battle. With a title match with Drew McIntyre looming and the internal issues in the Judgment Day, will Priest be able to keep his mind on the task when he faces WWE’s Ultimate Underdog? 

Matt Riddle Wins Battle Riot VI, Earns MLW World Heavyweight Title Match

Thomas Lowson
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Matt Riddle has a guaranteed MLW World Title match at a time of his choosing after winning the sixth-annual MLW Battle Riot match. 

The 40-man match came down to Riddle, Sami Callihan, Davey Boy Smith Jr, and Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher would eliminate Smith but in the process accidentally eliminated himself. Riddle then eliminated Calihan to clinch the victory.

Chris Danger, Paul Walter Hauser, Violent J, and Ernest “The Cat” Miller were among the notable names in the match at the sold-out show. Scotty Riggs and Minoru Suzuki were among the surprise entries. ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlorpulled a Mick Foley at Royal Rumble 1998 by entering the match three times. Lawlor entered once as himself before returning as ‘The Masked Assassin’ before a comeback as ‘Arachnidman.’

What’s to Come? 

Riddle will now receive an MLW World Heavyweight Title match at the time of his choosing. Ironically, Riddle had (according to himself) been scheduled to win the WWE Money in the Bank contract in 2022 which would have given him a similar opportunity. The briefcase instead went to Austin Theory that year. 

Satoshi Kojima is the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion. During the MLW Battle Riot pay-per-view, the new MLW World Heavyweight Championship was revealed and Kojima retained the title against Tom Lawlor in the latter’s first of two matches on the night. 

Full MLW Battle Riot Results: Big Surprises, Paul Walter Hauser Eliminates Tom Lawlor, Alex Kane vs. AJ Francis

Dominic DeAngelo
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This recap was originally written by SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo on MLW.com.

Atlanta is more than ready to riot as the historic Center Stage is sold out for Battle Riot VI. We first see Salina de la Renta enter the building after a brief interview with David Marquez and she arrived just in time for the World Featherweight Title fight to kick off the festivities!

MATCH 1
MLW World Featherweight Championship
Delmi Exo vs. Janai Kai (c)

This match was Kai’s toughest to date as a rejuvenated Delmi showed that she was studying tape of the champion Kick Demon and CONTRA’s latest member. Delmi actually had the champ dead to rights but Salina de la Renta came out to confront Cesar Duran who was at ringside and attempted to spray him in the face. Duran ducked and it caught Delmi in the face instead. Kai took advantage and dropped Delmi with a harsh boot for the 1-2-3.

WINNER and STILL MLW World Featherweight Champion: Janai Kai

Backstage we see David Marquez sitting with Emmy-award winning actor Paul Walter Hauser who made media waves in May announcing that he was entering the Battle Riot. Hauser is all types of ready and even has the “classic” WCW costume of Arachnaman for good luck. Ernest The Cat Miller, Jimmy Yang and ICP’s Violent J all come to introduce themselves to Hauser and as he’s rubbing elbows, a hand slips in and steals Hauser’s good luck charm!

MATCH 2
Ritual Combat Match
AJ Francis vs. Alex Kane

The rules for a “Ritual Combat” match are simple: sit on the throne for ten seconds untouched and you are the rightful “King” of BOMAYE. The elders are introduced and needless to say the two names are legendary: it’s Teddy Long and Mark Henry!

The fight begins and Francis is quite dominant, putting his ruthlessness and strength to good use. Kane encounters some close calls when it comes to the ten count, but the former World Champion musters up the energy to stop it on numerous occassions. That’s even after being body slammed on an open chair and powerbombed off the apron! Even Mark Henry makes it known that he’s not all too enthused with AJ’s actions

Francis goes to finish Kane by setting up a table but it’s Kane who puts AJ through through it with a superplex! Kane walks up the entryway, sits on the throne, and AJ can’t answer the ten count!

WINNER and KING of BOMAYE: Alex Kane

Post-fight, both Henry and Long make it clear that Kane earned his throne the right way.

We see Mads Krugger and he promises that the new crusader in CONTRA Unit will shake the league at its foundation.

It’s World Title fight time. And we get to catch the first glimpse of the new World Championship!

MAIN EVENT #1
MLW World Heavyweight Championship
Tom Lawlor (with MSL) vs. Satoshi Kojima (c) (with Okumura)

Tom Lawlor literally came loaded for this match as the official pull out all sorts of foreign objects out of Lawlor’s gear. Due to that, he ruled that MSL must leave the arena within 10 seconds or he’d forever be banned from MLW! MSL fell on his way out and we’re off to the races.

Even without the weapons, Lawlor showed exactly why he was a former MLW World Champion as he had Kojima’s number greatly in this match, wearing the champ down with submission holds and hard strikes. However, Lawlor eventually got caught by a Lariato! One didn’t keep him down, but two did and Kojima fights through pain to retain once more!

WINNER and STILL MLW World Heavyweight Champion: Satoshi Kojima

Before we get to the Riot match, Salina aimed to seek out her revenge on Cesar Duran. She had some help pinning him down with Bad Dude Tito and it seemed like she had Duran dead to rights. However, Duran began singing Salina a familiar lullaby that clearly had the Bruja shaken. It was one her mother sang. Duran stood up and presented her footage on the big screen and we see photographs of a young Salina, then older photos of her mother – with a young Cesar Duran. Duran reveals that his happens to be Salina’s “papa” and de la Renta is a broken mess! Duran laughs manically as this throws a clear wedge in the ongoing power struggle between the two!

MAIN EVENT #2
Battle Riot VI

The first two entrants to this fight happen to be fitting. Entrant #1 is your World Middleweight Champion Mistico while entrant two is MLW original Jimmy Yang!

What a Riot this was as we had surprise appearances from the likes of CW Anderson and Scotty Riggs, and Tom Lawlor tried to enter on three different occassions as himself, The legendary Masked Assassin, and using Paul Walter Hauser’s Arachna-Man costume!

Speaking of Hauser really shined in the Riot. He actually eliminated Lawlor nearly upon entry and lasted a very good while until Sami Callihan took him out! Another newbie to the ring, YouTube sensation Chris Danger also showed up, actually hitting Violent J with a stunner and eliminating him!

However perhaps the biggest surprise of the Riot was the newest CONTRA member. Mads Krugger wasn’t lying when he said his newest soldier was earth-shattering as it was MINORU SUZUKI. No one was safe in the ring with Minoru running rampant. Suzuki even helped to eliminate last year’s winner, Alex Kane. After that, there’s only five remain as Riddle is ganged up on.Suzuki is a big threat but it’s Riddle who knees him out!

The final four ended up being Davey Boy Smith Jr., Timothy Thatcher, Matt Riddle and Sami Callihan. Riddle has to fight on the apron against Callihan and Smith and Thatcher joins on the apron to help him! Thatcher pulls Davey off but both men hit the floor are eliminated. Riddle ultimately ends up putting Sami down seconds later and he’s your Riot winner!

WINNER: Matt Riddle

Drew Gulak To Appear For Beyond Wrestling In First Post-WWE Booking

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Drew Gulak will mark his return to the ring as part of an event for Beyond Wrestling in July of this year. 

Gulak will be a part of the Americanrana 24: Where Eagles Dare show that will fittingly take place on July 4. The show will take place at the White Eagle in Worcester. The doors will open at 6:30 pm a special 7 pm ET bell time. 

Beyond Wrestling’s Americanrana 24: Where Eagles Dare will mark Gulak’s first wrestling event following his release from WWE earlier this year. During an appearance with NewsNation, Ronda Rousey alleged that Gulak had pulled on the drawstring of her pants which made her uncomfortable. Gulak claimed that while an incident like this did happen, it was an accident and he apologized to Rousey at the time. 

Gulak was quickly pulled from WWE NXT programming and his name was removed from the titantron for the No Quarter Catch Crew. It was later said on TV that the faction had paid the D’Angelo Family to ‘take care’ of a former member of the group and avoided mentioning Gulak by name. This led many to speculate that Gulak’s days with WWE would be numbered and it was later confirmed that he was no longer with the company. 

The circumstances surrounding Gulak’s release would also prove to be controversial. When Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was asked whether Rousey’s claims had factored into Gulak being released, WWE’s CCO refuted the idea that Gulak had been released and said that his contract had expired. Levesque also questioned the credibility of sources who had reported about Gulak though those sources were later sent an apology. 

Logan Paul Responds to LA Knight’s Challenge

Nick Lombardi
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On the May 31st edition of Friday Night SmackDown, The Mega Star, LA Knight wasted little time clarifying his next goal in WWE, and he doesn’t seem willing to accept no for an answer. 

Knight entered SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis’ office at the beginning of the evening and directly asked him where the WWE United States Champion Logan Paul was. Later, WWE backstage reporter Kayla Braxton caught up with LA Knight, asking him what he and the GM spoke about. The former TNA World Champion made it clear he was coming for the gold around Logan Paul’s waist. 

“You wanna know what we were talkin’ about? … Here’s the answer I can give you, there wasn’t much to tell ya. Nick didn’t have much for me. The only answer he had for me was that Logan Paul isn’t here this week…

…[Well] I’m here, I’m in Albany, I’m here at SmackDown – YEAH! – and what that means is if I’m not gonna get the answer I want, than I’ll make the answer I want. So what I’m telling you right now, Logan Paul – I want that United States Championship!”

While the reigning United States Champion was not at SmackDown this week in Albany, The Maverick did find time to record a response to LA Knight’s Challenge. In a 20-second clip posted on social media, Logan Paul laughed and mocked Knight’s challenge. Dismissing him and making it clear that he doesn’t care what he wants.

“You want what I have huh? *Laughts* That’s funny brother, here’s the thing, I don’t give a damn what you want. I don’t care, I’m chillin’ and I’m livin’ my life – as the champ. Went on a date with my honey tonight, she’s pregnant. I got a whole life ahead of me, but that life doesn’t involve you! *laughs*” 

Not even a few minutes later, The Mega Star would respond with his own social media post. Sharing a photo of the two men standing face-to-face with a short message saying, “Whenever you’re ready, Champ.”  

While the two have never competed in a one-on-one match, they have crossed paths with each other multiple times before. Both men competed in the 2023 Men’s Money In The Bank Match in London, England, and the 2024 Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia. 

The WWE Universe has been clamoring to see LA Knight have championship success on the main roster. While always close, Knight is always just out of reach of the brass ring. Could the 41-year-old finally get his big win and be the man to end Logan Paul’s over 200-day reign? We will have to wait and see!

“A Massacre Is Coming” – WWE Website Hacked With Cryptic Message

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans have gotten used to the QR Code teases at this point, when even Michael Cole referring to them as “those damn QR Codes,” and now whoever is behind this has taken over WWE’s official website.

Uncle Howdy’s influence is spreading across WWE. His presence has been felt in 2K24, TV shows with QR codes, and the company’s Twitch stream. Recently, WWE.com was hacked, displaying a message that seems connected to the enigmatic figure.

The message tells a story about value, explaining that value isn’t tied to utilization. Even if something is crumpled and ignored, it retains its worth. This concept extends to people, who often feel devalued due to others’ ignorance. The message admits to having once allowed others’ expectations to determine self-worth but emphasizes that understanding one’s true purpose can lead to liberation from such negativity.

It conveys that the writer, identifying with everyone and no one, found freedom by rejecting others’ preconceived ideas and lies. This realization allowed them to help others see the truth. The message ends with a call for redemption, stating that the past must be destroyed, and warning that a “massacre is coming.”

Impending Teases & QR Code Fun

During WWE SmackDown this week, a QR code went to a link on WWE’s website, which included video links to a variety of different messages from Uncle Howdy, most of which have already appeared throughout his takeover of WWE programming on various platforms.

The first tease of this new faction appeared during the closing moments of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary. The idea being shared at the time was that Wyatt’s creative legacy may live on, as someone else carries the torch.

Something is coming, and it’s only a matter of time before it happens. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are expected to join the new faction linked to Uncle Howdy, forming a new iteration of the Wyatt Family.

Swerve Strickland: ‘If Ever There Was A Time For WWE-AEW Crossover, It’s Now’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE and AEW may be the most direct competition of one another, but that doesn’t mean that a crossover between the companies isn’t possible. 

Since AEW launched in 2019, both companies have taken aim at each other both on and off TV. While AEW Dynamite won the Wednesday Night Wars, it was WWE NXT that won the October 2023 ‘Tuesday Night War’ against AEW’s weekly flagship show. 

Swerve Strickland On WWE-AEW Crossover

Reigning AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland knows what it’s like to work in both companies, though his WWE tenure ended long before the current regime. Speaking to The Bootleg Kev podcast, Strickland was asked about a potential crossover between WWE and AEW. 

“If there’s ever a time it could happen, now is more likely than it’s ever been. I don’t think either person [Tony Khan and Triple H] is opposed… I don’t think there’s ever been a time that’s more likely than now.”

It’s not hard to see why Strickland feels like a team-up is more likely than ever before. In recent years, WWE has become more open to working with other promotions, as seen with TNA’s Jordynne Grace’s appearance on the May 28, WWE NXT. Grace will face NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground. 

Could the two huge companies work together? 

WWE And AEW

Though a crossover event has yet to happen, WWE and AEW have worked together in the past. Billy Gunn was allowed to appear at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2019 despite being part of AEW at the time. The future ‘Daddy Ass’ was inducted as part of D-Generation X. 

In 2022, multiple AEW stars appeared on Raw to wish John Cena congratulations on the 20th anniversary of his WWE debut. Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight were among those who sent their best to John, with this sign of cohesion showing just how much respect Cena carries across pro wrestling. 

Mark Henry Impressed With AJ Styles’ Fake Retirement Segment On SmackDown

Bishal Roy
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WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry has showered praise on AJ Styles for his fake retirement segment on SmackDown.

Style’s segment was similar to Mark Henry’s iconic ‘Retirement’ segment. Back in 2013, ‘The World’s Strongest Man,’ wearing a salmon pink suit, teased his retirement. He even gave a passionate speech and tearfully bid adieu to the fans. He pretended that he had his last battle. 

However, then-WWE Champion John Cena approached to hug him but Henry laid him out with the World’s Strongest Slam, creating one of the most iconic moments in Henry’s career. AJ Styles pulled off the same trick and it worked wonders for him. 

Taking to his X account, Mark Henry praised AJ Styles for taking a page out of his book. He wrote:

”…..well done AJ @BustedOpenRadio @WWE”

AJ Styles has his sights set on Cody Rhodes

AJ Styles was denied a second title shot against Cody Rhodes and he decided to take things in his hands. On last night’s SmackDown, ‘The Phenomenal One’ teased his retirement and addressed the fans. He called out Cody Rhodes to the ring and they shared an emotional moment. However, fans were stunned when Styles launched a brutal attack on ‘The American Nightmare.’ The former WWE Champion proceeded to hit Styles Clash on Rhodes from ring steps to the floor to end the show. 

‘The Phenomenal One’ had been attempting to claim the Undisputed WWE Champion for a long time. He failed to capture the title when Roman Reigns was the champ. He had another shot at the title when he challenged Cody Rhodes at last month’s Backlash: France. However, he once again endured a defeat. That match marked the first time they battled. It seems that AJ Styles is not yet backing down from getting another title shot. 

JoJo Offerman Feels Bray Wyatt ‘Visited’ Her: “I see you Windham”

Bishal Roy
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Late WWE star Bray Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) is no longer with us but JoJo Offerman is still trying to feel the former’s presence in her life.

Bray Wyatt was engaged to JoJo Offerman before he tragically passed away at the age of 36 on August 24 last year. The couple has two kids. Taking to her Instagram story section, JoJo posted an emotional note, revealing that a moth visited her and landed on her glass and then on her hand before flying away. She believes that it was a sign from Wyatt and he was greeting her. Her caption read: 

“This beautiful moth visited me tonight while having a glass of wine and watching the kiddos play. It landed on only my glass despite other glasses being around and this same moth proceeded to land on my hand and sit there a moment before flying away. I see you Windham. I know it was you saying hello. I love you forever.”

Wyatt was dealing with health issues prior to his passing away. He was pulled from the WWE shows earlier that same year. He was involved in a feud with Bobby Lashley and a match between the two at WrestleMania 39 was in the pipeline. It is needless to mention that Wyatt has been one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time and his tragic death sent shockwaves through the industry. 

Bray Wyatt’s legacy is immortal

Peacock released a documentary titled: ‘Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal’ which premiered on April 1. The documentary captured his remarkable career and was narrated by WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker (Mark Callaway). Recently, WWE star Braun Strowman also stated that he feels Bray Wyatt’s presence.

Wyatt had one of the most creative minds in the pro wrestling business. His creation of Uncle Howdy, played by his brother Bo Dallas has kept the fans anticipated. WWE is currently building the return of Uncle Howdy with a series of mystery QR codes. Even AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has said that he wishes to have a creative mind as deep as ‘The Eater of The Worlds.’

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