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Willow Nightingale Wins TBS Title At AEW Dynasty, Faces Off With Mercedes Mone

Aaron Varble
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AEW Dynasty was a historic night in Saint Louis, as the company brought their inaugural pay-per-view. The event also saw Willow Nightingale walk away with the TBS Title.

Julia Hart has carried the TBS Title with pride while representing the House of Black. She battled Willow Nightingale at Dynasty, and in the end, a new champion was crowned after delivering a devastating powerbomb.

As Willow celebrated her big victory, Mercedes Mone made her way to the ring, where she stood face-to-face with her. While congratulating Willow on her title win, Mone made her presence very clear.

What’s Next For the TBS Title

Mercedes Mone already called her shot to face whoever is TBS Champion next. This win for Willow will set that match up for the future.

Willow and Mercedes already have unfinished business. The two were battling for the NJPW Strong Women’s Title when Mone suffered an ankle injury that took her out of action for months. Mercedes has made reference to her previous run-ins with Willow already.

With Mercedes Mone stepping up to Willow at Dynasty, the two will likely battle with the TBS Title on the line in the near future.

Logan Paul Thinks Ronda Rousey Is Projecting By Claiming He Gets Preferential Treatment in WWE

Aaron Varble
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Ronda Rousey’s recent remarks against WWE have piqued a lot of interest among WWE fans. Logan Paul heard her remarks about how he received special treatment, and he had to respond. 

Paul mentioned that he aims to handle his response maturely because he appreciates Ronda Rousey and respects her contributions to MMA. He grew up watching her “snap arms” with his brother, Jake Paul. According to Logan, their interactions in person have always been very amicable.

The Maverick then went on to explain that he understands that Ronda Rousey may have experienced a different WWE than he did.

“I feel she’s maybe using me as an example to express her dissatisfaction with how she was treated in WWE, but I can’t speak on that because I don’t know how she was treated. I don’t think she’s a hater. I think she might be unhappy with how her run in the WWE went, but I don’t know anything really about that.” 

“All I know is how I work and the facilities and time that I’ve been given to make my matches as best as possible. I think WWE recognizes that when I put on a good match, which will happen every single time I perform, the outcome and the reaction of the fans is immense. It fills the audience. I think I’ve proven my value, both in and out of the ring, on the mic, wrestling. The impressions that I’m delivering the company are second to none.”

What Ronda Rousey said About Logan Paul

In case you missed it, during an interview on Steve-O’s Wild Ride, Ronda Rousey expressed her wish for more rehearsal time before her matches, similar to the preparation that Logan Paul receives. She acknowledged Paul’s skill on the microphone and his strong performances.

Ronda commended Logan Paul’s microphone skills and expressed frustration over the unequal distribution of rehearsal time, noting Paul receives more as a rising star. She highlighted how proper resources can lead to great performances, as seen with her debut match, which benefited from extensive preparation. 

I wish I was allowed the time to rehearse that he gets. It’s not evenly spread. He’s like their next big star. They are rolling out the red carpet. It goes to show that if you give people the time to rehearse and the resources, you can do amazing things. It’s frustrating that everybody doesn’t get that treatment. My first match with them was incredible because we had six weeks to rehearse, all the best minds in the business coming and putting in their two cents and it was an instant classic.

Raven Returns To In-Ring Action At MLW War Chamber 2

Dominic DeAngelo
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ECW legend Raven found himself in-between the ropes once again and it happened to be a violent battle put on by Major League Wrestling.

MLW continued to air their tapings that took place in St. Petersburg at the end of March and the card that was presented free on YouTube was War Chamber 2. The main fight featured the heel faction of The Calling taking on The Death Fighters, two groups that Raven is very familiar with.

The Calling was created over a year ago by Raven and it showcased Rickey Shane Page and AKIRA along with supporting names like Cannonball and Dr. Cornwallace (aka Doctor Dax). However, the group became fractured and Rickey ultimately backstabbed AKIRA, effectively kicking him out of the group.

However, AKIRA happened to find an ally in Jake Crist and then the rebel group really came together when Raven joined the fold, ready to take on the faction he created. That violent fight happened to air this past Saturday.

Raven Returns To The Ring

The War Chamber 2 match is very much like WarGames, complete with two rings, but instead of a top on the cage, there’s barbed wire around the top.

Raven happened to enter later in the foray and took everyone out via a kendo stick. He then joined forces with Crist to deliver his patented drop toe hold on a steel chair to Cannonball.

The Death Fighters came out victorious as AKIRA caught Rickey Shane Page in a crossface with barbed wire, forcing his former partner to submit.

Post-match, Raven got on the mic and put AKIRA over as the future of pro wrestling.

Don’t expect Raven’s physicality to be a trend, however. This was all but likely a one-off for the veteran. Aside from an appearance in MLW’s Battle Riot in 2023, this was Raven’s first match in nearly five years.

AEW Dynasty: Final Match Card, How To Watch, Start Time

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling returns on pay-per-view for their first Dynasty event tonight. The event will occur at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. AEW has been building towards the card for weeks, and the PPV is set to have 12 matches.

In the main event, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend his title against Swerve Strickland. The challenger earned an opportunity after defeating  Konosuke Takeshita to become the number one contender on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. Strickland enters the matchup motivated to dethrone Joe and become the first black AEW World Champion. However, he won’t have an easy task, as Joe has yet to lose in over six months. 

Elsewhere on the card, Will Ospreay will face Bryan Danielson in a highly anticipated match. Since officially joining the roster at AEW Revolution last month, Ospreay has quickly become a threat in the men’s division. He has won five matchups in the company to join the conversation of being a potential AEW world title contender. That said, Danielson stands in his way and will try to humble the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

Start Time & How To Watch

AEW Dynasty will kick off their event with a pre-show at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT. The pre-show will have three matches and be streamed live on AEW’s YouTube channel for free. 

After the pre-show, the event will move toward pay-per-view at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. AEW fans must pay $49.99 to watch on Bleacher Report, AEW’s YouTube channel, or Triller TV. The PPV portion will consist of nine matches, including the AEW World Championship main event. 

AEW Dynasty

AEW Dynasty Full Match Card

(Match Card Is Subject To Change)

Pre-Show Card:

  • Matt Sydal vs. Trent Beretta
  • Katsuyori Shibata & Orange Cassidy vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
  • (C) Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. (C) Bullet Club Gold (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn & Jay White)-AEW World Trios / ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship Match

PPV Card:

  • (C) Hook vs. Chris Jericho-FTW Championship Match
  • (C) Roderick Strong vs. Kyle O’Reilly-AEW International Championship Match
  • (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. PAC-AEW Continental Championship Match
  • (C) Toni Storm with Luther & Mariah May vs. Thunder Rosa-AEW Women’s World Championship Match
  • Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)-Six Man Tag Team Match
  • The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)-Vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Final Ladder Match
  • (C) Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale with Stokely Hathaway-AEW TBS Championship House Rules Match
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
  • (C) Samoa Joe vs. Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana-AEW World Championship Match

Update on TNA Returns At Saturday’s Rebellion PPV

Aaron Varble
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Sami Callihan returned to TNA Wrestling during Saturday’s Rebellion pay-per-view. This was a surprise, because he had just resurfaced in MLW. He wasn’t the only unannounced return, as ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy and Mike Santana also showed up after several years away.

SEScoops has learned that Sami Callihan will be working with TNA and MLW moving forward. His outta nowhere appearance involved an attack Kon, Jason Hotch, and John Skyler, which helped Jordynne Grace in retaining her TNA Knockouts World Championship against Steph De Lander.

TNA’s Approach

Callihan was one of several stars who returned to TNA at Saturday night’s PPV, along with Mike Santana and Broken Matt Hardy, who clarified after the show that he’s free to work anywhere.

All three stars, Hardy, Santana, and Callihan, have re-appeared on the TNA roster page. 

Back in TNA, but not exclusively

TNA pay-per-views often feature surprises in the way of debuts and returns. Bringing back three established former stars on a non-exclusive basis gives us some insight on what the company is currently looking for. Mike Santana, House of Glory’s reigning champion, has some really interesting match-ups awaiting him in TNA.

All three wrestlers also did a lot to boost their personal stock during their time away from the company. 

Hardy and Santana both spent time in AEW, where they received a spotlight on Tony Khan’s television shows. Whereas, Sami Callihan returned to MLW in January and will still be featured on the company’s programming and PPV’s.

Afa Jr. Reviving WXW Promotion After Legendary Father Steps Down Over Health Concerns

Thomas Lowson
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The WXW promotion will be reborn under the leadership of Afa Anoa’i Jr after his WWE Hall of Fame father closed the promotion down over health issues. 

Afa Jr. made the announcement during an appearance for Battlefield Pro Wrestling. In addition to being the owner of the promotion, Afa added that he will be bringing WXW to cable television in the state of Pennsylvania. 

This news comes two months after it was announced that WXW would be closing. This difficult decision was made as Afa Sr. had been dealing with some serious health issues, including a serious heart condition and mild-moderate vascular dementia with Alzheimer’s among other issues. 

WXW’s ‘final’ event before Afa Jr’s announcement took place on April 13. It is unclear when the first WXW of the promotion’s revival will take place. 

WXW, not to be confused with the German promotion of the same name, was launched in 1996 and has seen a litany of notable names step into the ring, including Batista. The film was also featured in 2008’s The Wrestler in which Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) fights Tommy Rotten (WXW wrestler Tommy Suede.)

With decades of legacy, it’s a good thing that WXW will continue on, even without the involvement of the legendary Wild Samoan. More promotions mean more opportunities for wrestlers in Florida where WXW typically operates. As for Afa Sr., he’s earned himself a retirement from running WXW and will hopefully see his son take the promotion to new heights

MLW War Chamber 2 Results: Matt Riddle Rematches Against Timothy Thatcher

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

If you thought the war was over – think again as War Chamber 2 commences down in St. Petersburg on Saturday night. Who began to get things on a roll but Cesar Duran as he unveils his newest acquisition, Virus. He’s looking to continue to keep Salina de la Renta off her game as she has Star Jr. ready for him to face.

MATCH 1
Virus (with Cesar Duran) vs. Star Jr. (presented Salina de la Renta)

The lucha style was in full effect on this match, but this battle was hard-hitting as Virus and Star Jr. slugged it out. Star floored Virus with a really hard shot, but Virus got some impact back with an extremely impressive avalanche bomb from all the way up top. That could have been curtains for Star Jr.

However, Star Jr secured the victory via submission with a modified leg and arm stretch. Virus had no choice and the ref called for the bell!

WINNER: Star Jr.

We cut to see World Titan Federation who expressed their enthusiasm in facing Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas. Davey Boy Smith Jr and Tom Lawlor have words for their opponents, but can they deliver?

Outside of the arena, there’s Matthew Justice and Bill Alfonso, daddy! The two make a perfect pair and Justice warns CONTRA Unit that he’s ready to continue their war.

MATCH 2
Brett Ryan Gosselin (with MSL) vs. Budd Heavy

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Budd Heavy, but BRG doesn’t wait for any pomp and circumstance for the hometown Heavy as he immediately goes on the attack. BRG hits a massive lariat before hitting a spinning fisherman’s for the 1-2-3.

WINNER: Brett Ryan Gosselin

Post-fight, Gosselin makes clear he’s ready to make an impact in MLW and then takes a couple more shots on Heavy before he and MSL leave.

Salina de la Renta is elated as she’s with her mother and they’re making plans to celebrate about the big victory by Star Jr. tonight.

MATCH 3
MLW World Tag Team Championships
Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas vs. Word Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) (with MSL)

AJ Francis joins commentary as Alex Kane aims early to take the champs to Suplex Island, but it wasn’t Lawlor nor DBS getting suplexed. Kane uses Mr. Thomas to toss into Tom!

WTF does slow the pace and isolate Alex Kane as DBS traps Kane in a modified Indian Deathlock. Mr. Thomas was figuratively and literally a big factor change in the fight as once he got tagged in he became an unstoppable force.

Unfortunately, Francis became a vocal distraction for Kane and the former World Champ took his eye off the prize. MSL slides in a tag belt to Tom and as Mr. Thomas hoists Lawlor up for a powerbomb gets smacked with the gold. Lawlor falls on top of Thomas for the pinfall W.

WINNERS and STILL MLW World Tag Team Champions: Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Tom Lawlor

Post-fight, we see WTF backstage relishing in their win as MSL shows that he happens to hold the new version of the MLW World Heavyweight Title. In comes Satoshi Kojima and Okumura. Kojima lets DBS know in Japanese that they’re coming for those titles in Chicago!

MATCH 4
Sofia Castillo vs. Zayda

The first part of this fight started out with Sofia and Zayda feeling one another out and attempting to wear one another down with fundamentals. However, Zayda underestimated Sofia who catches her in the corner then hits a beauty of a stunner on the ring apron.

Zayda attempts to reset and almost hits her “I’m Prettier” finisher, but Sofia breaks free. Zayda does end up catching her with the move and it’s good for the victory.

WINNER: Zayda

We see AKIRA, Raven, Jake Crist and Jimmy Lloyd. Raven makes it known that he created The Calling and tonight in War Chamber, he’s going to put an end to it. “Quoth the Raven, nevermore.”

MATCH 5
Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle

Arguably the most anticipated match of the evening – this rematch delivered. Thatcher and Riddle put on a chess match of hard hitting technique. Both men put their strength to the test and in turn, challenged one another’s endurance. Thatcher rocked Riddle hard with three straight European uppercuts and Riddle fired back with some unique submission attempts to take Thatcher off his game.

Riddle ends up rocking Thatcher enough by hitting his “Brostone” piledriver for the 1-2-3.

WINNER: Matt Riddle

Post fight, Riddle drops a bombshell that he does indeed plan to hold that MLW World Heavyweight Gold and he plans to punch his ticket by entering this year’s Battle Riot!

While Riddle is on cloud nine, the tone has changed for WTF. CONTRA has decided to set their sights on the Superstars as they one-by-one take out Richard Holliday, Davey Boy Smith Jr and Tom Lawlor!

MATCH 6
MLW World Heavyweight Championship
Bad Dude Tito (presented by Salina de la Renta) vs. Satoshi Kojima (c)

Bad Dude has pulled a page out of Minoru Suzuki’s book as he really brings it to Kojima and it’s clear Tito wants that World Title. Kojima is still fighting through injury, but the champ does look unphased by his ailments.

Tito not only has the size but the speed to get Kojima off his game, giving him very little window to get any offense in. However Kojima threads the needle by catching Bad Dude with a sudden Lariato and gets the 1-2-3!

WINNER and STILL MLW World Heavyweight Champion: Satoshi Kojima

MAIN EVENT
War Chamber II Match
Death Fighters vs. The Calling

Jake Crist is the first entrant into War Chamber which means The Death Fighters has the man advantage for starters! His opponent is someone he’s very familiar with in Sami Callihan. Before the bell rings, the two make it physically clear there’s no love loss between one another. Trash can lids really hammered that point home.

Callihan and Crist find one another outside of the Chamber and it doesn’t take long for Crist to don the crimson mask. The third man out is Akira, but The Calling get a jump on him and he’s down and out. This allows Rickey Shane Page to enter and rub salt in the wound to his former tag partner.

Crist does his best to weather the storm that is Sami and RSP and avoids a trash can lid shot. Thankfully, it’s enough for Jimmy Lloyd to enter to even the odds and he does just that with a steel chair.

Out next is Cannonball as the real estate for the two rings lessens with his presence. A bloody AKIRA finally comes to and gets involved but The Calling thwarts his efforts in a big way. They lay him out on a table and allows Cannonball to come crashing down on him from the top of the cage!

However Tampa Bay explodes when out comes Raven! He lays The Calling out with some stiff kendo stick shots and then pulls a page out of his arsenal by nailing a tandem drop toe hold onto a steel chair to Cannonball!

AKIRA gets to exact some really devastating punishment to the final entrance, Dr. Cornwallace as he throws a cinder block at a trash can, ramming the steel into the big man’s groin! The final fight finally commences but the violence amps up as thumbtacks get introduced. Both Cannonball and Jimmy Lloyd feel the effects of that. Lloyd also crashes through a door bridged across the two rings and Crist ultimately takes everyone out with a huge dive from up top.

The focus then gets on RSP and AKIRA. RSP has the death fighter sandwiched between a table and a door. RSP climbs the ropes and leaps
off to senton on top of AKIRA, but the latter moves and takes advantage! AKIRA nails a Raven Effect DDT and then uses a kendo stick to lock in a crossface on RSP! However, Jimmy Lloyd levels him up with barbed wire and RSP has no choice but to tap!

WINNERS: The Death Fighters

Post-fight, AKIRA gets on the mic and thanks everyone in the arena and at home. He says to believe in Major League Wrestling and trust the AKIRA way. Raven then gets on the mic and tells the fans that AKIRA is the future of pro wrestling!

We cut to see Salina de la Renta walking with her mother as Cesar Duran watches them, swinging the very key that’s at stake for Azteca Lucha in Chicago!

Jim Ross Sees A Benefit To AEW Airing CM Punk All In Footage

Bishal Roy
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Jim Ross suggests that airing the infamous All In: London 2023 backstage footage helped with nothing but the storyline between FTR and The Young Bucks.

During the Grilling JR podcast, the veteran commentator shared his take on the backstage footage. He believes that airing the backstage clip benefits the ongoing feud between FTR and The Young Bucks as both teams are set to collide in a ladder match for the AEW World Tag Team titles at AEW Dynasty on April 21. 

AEW President Tony Khan faced criticism for airing the footage. However, Good Ol’ JR doesn’t have any other interpretation of airing the clip apart from helping “tie together” an important pay-per-view match. Here is what he said:

“The value of showing that footage to me was the fact that you got on with your storytelling [with] FTR and the Bucks. So to me, when that was the direction that was chosen, I was much more comfortable showing that footage. Other than that, I’m not sure what it meant. I’m not sure why we did it, other than the fact that it helped tie together a very crucial and important pay-per-view match. So that’s my thoughts on that deal.” 

The backstage video clip was aired on the April 10 edition of AEW Dynamite and it was only a few days after CM Punk shared his side of the story of what went down that night. Another AEW commentator wasn’t against the idea of revealing the footage.  Tony Khan had explained his decision to air the footage as well.

Tony Khan claims he received praise from TBS

Many critics believe Khan’s idea to air the debatable footage was an attempt to take a shot back at CM Punk, who parted ways with the promotion under controversial circumstances. It is widely believed that Khan’s attempt misfired and further hurt the reputation of AEW. 

However, the AEW head has revealed that he received a green signal from those at TBS to air the video clip and the network officials were “happy” with the April 10 edition of Dynamite which saw a boost in the viewership. 

Wes Lee Injury Update: Making Great Progress But Still Uncertain of “firing on all cylinders”

Bishal Roy
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NXT superstar Wes Lee has provided an update on his recovery and revealed that he’s making great progress.

Lee has been quite active on social media to share updates on his recovery. In the latest update on Twitter/X, the former NXT North American Champion flaunted his spray painting skills and noted that he is on the road to recovery. It is currently uncertain when he will be able to return back in the ring but he remains determined on recuperating. Here is what he wrote on:

“Recovery update: I’m making great progress, still uncertain on when everything will be firing on all cylinders with my body, but the mind is strong.” 

Wes Lee added that he is “having creative waves” and exploring other avenues “to create art” as he continues to recover. 

Wes Lee underwent back surgery

Lee had been dealing with back issue and it ultimately put him out of action. He has been NXT North American Champion in the past and had the opportunity to claim the title yet again in December last year. However, he revealed that he would undergo back surgery which would keep him on the shelf for eight to twelve months. 

Lee was scheduled to challenge Dominik Mysterio for the title at NXT Deadline but he was pulled from the high-stakes match due to last-minute changes. Dragon Lee was announced as the replacement who went on to face Mysterio. 

In January, Lee revealed that he was back on his feet, while last month, he stepped foot in the ring for the first time since surgery. It seems that Wes Lee is recuperating well and could be returning soon to do what he does best.

Matt Riddle Says WWE Creative Originally Laughed At The Idea Of RK Bro

Anutosh Bajpai
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Matt Riddle has revealed that the WWE creative originally laughed at the idea of the RK Bro tag team and it only came to fruition after Randy Orton himself pushed for it.

The Original Bro recently spoke to Johnny I Pro Show for an interview. He discussed things such as his favorite wrestlers growing up, why he hesitated in choosing pro wrestling as a career at first, and more.

The Birth of RK-Bro

Riddle’s team with WWE’s Apex Predator was easily the most entertaining part of his run. He was asked how this pairing originally came about.

The former WWE star revealed that Randy Orton pushed for doing more work with Matt Riddle after they had a singles match during the March 19, 2021 episode of Monday Night Raw:

“Randy was supposed to wrestle Braun Strowman one night and I was supposed to tag with Drew against Mace and T Bar you know when Retribution was still around.

I don’t know what happened but Randy and Braun didn’t end up wrestling and they switched Braun with me. So I got to wrestle Randy instead. After we worked Randy spoke very highly of me. He’s like ‘I want to do something else with him’ and they already had plans that we tag.”

Though the former WWE star also claimed that he got laughed at when he originally pitched the idea of teaming with The Legend Killer:

“Weeks before this I suggested we tag as RK Bro and the writing team just kinda laughed at me. Which most of my ideas they laugh and then like 2 weeks later they’ll be like ‘Hey I think we gotta do this’ and I’m like ‘Sounds awesome.’ I don’t even bring it up to them.”

Matt Riddle first pitched the idea of a tag team to Randy Orton on the same episode of Raw where they locked horns for a singles match. Orton had originally dismissed the idea but he accepted the proposal after losing to Riddle in the bout.

RK Bro saw a lot of success and they had two reigns with the Raw Tag Team Championships in their 13-month-long run together. Their stint came to an abrupt end however as Riddle got released from his contract in September 2023, at a time when Orton was on the shelf rehabbing his back injury.

Xyon Quinn Says The Comeback Will Surpass the Setback After WWE Release, Superstars Respond

Thomas Lowson
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Xyon Quinn is ready for the next chapter of his wrestling career which he is confident will surpass the setback of being released by WWE. 

Quinn was among those cut by WWE in the first wave of talent releases following the launch of the promotion’s new era. Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xia Li were also let go by the company as part of what’s been reported as ‘budget cuts.’

Taking to Instagram, Quinn shared a video of himself recalling his first fight. In the caption, the ex-NXT Superstar made clear that what’s to come will surpass his WWE release. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C6ARubiM3IU

Quinn’s video caught the attention of WWE Superstars. In the comments, WWE staple Natalya said “LFG” (Let’s F***** Go!) while Shotzi encouraged Quinn to “Take the world!” WWE NXT’s Jakaro Jackson shared her support for Quinn’s post-WWE endeavors through a series of emojis while Damon Kemp gave a salute to the former Superstar. 

On Twitter, Natalya had the following to say about Quinn. 

Quinn is eager to show his worth outside of WWE which seems more possible than ever before thanks to the many promotions out there. As Cody Rhodes, Matt Cardona, and others have shown, parting ways with WWE can often be a blessing in disguise and give wrestlers the opportunity to reinvent themselves on their own terms. For Quinn, he will have to wait out a 90-day non-compete clause before he can appear and compete elsewhere. Quinn is the husband of Harley Cameron who makes appearances for AEW and Ring of Honor. 

Cody Rhodes Celebrates Fan’s Marriage Proposal At WWE Live Event in Belfast

Thomas Lowson
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One fan at a recent WWE live event didn’t expect to be proposed to at the show, nor did she expect Cody Rhodes to be there when the question was popped. 

Rhodes has been headlining at WWE’s recent tour of the UK, his first since capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. Belfast, Northern Ireland marked the final night of the tour which went off with a bang. 

In footage shared online, a fan can be seen asking his girlfriend to marry him while Cody watches on and asks if she’ll say yes. The fan being proposed to does indeed say yes much to the delight of her fiance, the fans around them, and the American Nightmare. 

Cody Rhodes’ Live Event Adventures

This is hardly the first time Rhodes has gone the extra mile to make a show special for a fan. Last year, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding.

When competing in Extreme Rules matches at WWE live events, Rhodes has been gifting tables to fans in attendance and has also been giving away his signature weight belt. Cody also recently had a special entrance with a young fan who was dressed like the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion. Rhodes’ antics off of TV continue to endear him with the fans which certainly bodes well for his future in WWE’s new era. 

Matt Hardy Remains A Free Agent Despite TNA Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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Matt Hardy has confirmed that he is still a free agent despite his return to TNA.

The company had been teasing the reveal of a ‘lights out mystery’ over the past few weeks. The secret was finally unveiled at Saturday’s Rebellion PPV event.

Moose defeated Nic Nemeth to retain the TNA World Title in the main event of the show. The lights went out after the bout and Broken Matt Hardy made his surprise return to the promotion. He delivered a Twist of Fate to the World Champion and the PPV ended with Hardy holding the title.

After the PPV event, the wrestling veteran shared an interesting ‘Matt Fact’ graphic reading that he is in no rush to sign a new contract. In response to a fan, Hardy further confirmed that he remains a free agent despite his return:

Matt Hardy Is A Free Agent

Matt Hardy had seemingly been unhappy with his position on the AEW card for a while and he even spoke up about things such as backstage issues hurting the goodwill of the company.

The Attitude Era star made some headlines again when he attended a pre-WrestleMania Raw last month. When the news of his AEW contract expiring came to light, many believed that he was on his way back to the TKO-owned promotion.

The wrestling veteran, however, has since confirmed that he is still in talks with Tony Khan’s promotion in addition to weighing his options elsewhere.

If the latest development is any indication, Matt Hardy seems to be looking for creative satisfaction more than anything else at this juncture of his career.

The TNA appearance seems to be the start of a program. It won’t be a surprise if Hardy stretches his free agency further and we don’t hear news about him finding a new long-term home anytime soon.

You can relive Hardy’s TNA return below:

R-Truth Finally Stopped and Smelled the Roses with WWE WrestleMania 40 Victory

Thomas Lowson
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R-Truth was able to stop and smell the proverbial roses by taking in his Tag Team Championship win alongside The Miz at WrestleMania 40.

Truth and Miz captured the Raw Tag Team Championships in Philadelphia which also marked Truth’s first victory at a WrestleMania. The titles underwent a serious rebranding during the April 15, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

Outside of his many 24/7 Championship reigns, this title run marks Truth’s first taste of championship gold since 2019. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Truth was asked about his win and said he was pleased that he was able to appreciate the moment which is a rarity given his busy profession. 

“We live life so much, we be lifin’ so much we don’t take time to stop and smell the roses… That time I did. And I had my son there, that was a little baby when I first got into the business… and for him to say ‘Dad, man, I’m so proud of you. I haven’t seen you wrestle in so long.’

“It was so many things that were going through my head at that moment. Me and Miz, I mean I’m getting emotional now… Miz has had my back in this business. It was just a moment that was, it was a surreal moment.”

What’s to Come? 

The Awesome Truth’s victory at WrestleMania evidently means a great deal to Truth but the pair are now the target of every tag team on Monday Night Raw. During the April 15, episode, DIY earned a title match by emerging victorious in a triple-threat tag-team match that included the Creed Brothers and the New Day. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

Cody Rhodes Pays Tribute to Seth Rollins As Ex-World Champion Recovers from Knee Surgery

Thomas Lowson
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Fans won’t be seeing Seth Rollins in the ring for some time, but Cody Rhodes was able to pay tribute to his friend and former rival during a recent WWE live event. 

At WWE’s recent event Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rhodes headlined the show with an Undisputed WWE Championship match against Shinsuke Nakamura. For his entrance, Rhodes wore a ring jacket that featured both his logo and Rollins’ logo. Given that Cody hadn’t worn this particular jacket at previous nights of the tour, it appears this was in response to the news that Seth is currently recovering from knee surgery. 

You can check out Cody’s jacket in the video below which also sees the WWE Champion give some lucky young fans a special moment. 

Latest on Seth Rollins

Rollins’ knee surgery was disclosed by his wife Becky Lynch during an episode of RTE One’s The Late, Late Show. This revelation came after it was reported that Rollins would be taking time off following WrestleMania 40, an event that saw Seth in action on both nights. Earlier this year, Rollins suffered an MCL tear and partial meniscus tear during his match with Jinder Mahal but was able to avoid having surgery. 

At this time, there’s no confirmation as to how much time Rollins will miss due to his surgery. Typically, surgeries for MCL tears can take anywhere between six to twelve months to fully heal. After a 316-day reign as Champion though, Rollins has earned himself some time off and we’re wishing him a full and speedy recovery. 

‘Broken’ Matt Hardy Returns to TNA, Confronts World Champion Moose at 4/20 Rebellion

Thomas Lowson
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TNA Rebellion 2024 went off the air with the reveal of the ‘Lights Out’ mystery as ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy made his stunning return to the promotion.

In the days running up to Rebellion, a mysterious video teased that something known as ‘Lights Out’ would be appearing at Rebellion. The video left fans trying to decypher clues to learn of what was behind the eerie video.

In the main event of Rebellion, TNA World Champion Moose retained his title against Nic Nemeth. As Moose celebrated while The System watched from the stage, the screens flickered as fans awaited the arrival of ‘Lights Out.’

Hardy’s signature laugh then aired and when the lights came up, the ‘Broken’ version of Matt was in the ring with Moose and leveled the World Champion with a Twist of Fate. Matt ended the show by holding the TNA World Championship.

In a backstage video, The System was unhappy with Matt’s return and Moose spoke about never having things go right for him in Vegas. The champion is referring to his title victory at Hard to Kill in January in Paradise, Nevada, which saw his post-match celebration interrupted by Nic Nemeth. 

Hardy’s TNA return comes mere days after it was confirmed that he had left All Elite Wrestling following a four-year run with the promotion. It had been rumored that Matt would be returning to WWE, given that he had been teasing involvement with the ongoing QR code mystery, believed to be the return of Uncle Howdy.

Instead, Matt has returned to TNA, the promotion in which he has his greatest singles success. Matt is a two-time former TNA World Champion and seems set on adding a third title to his collection. 

More Returns

Matt wasn’t the only notable name to return to TNA Wrestling at Rebellion 2024. During the show, fellow AEW alum Mike Santana returned to face Steve Maclin. Santana had been with TNA from 2017 to 2019 before he departed to join AEW. 

Sami Callihan also made his TNA return at Rebellion. The former World Champion returned as part of the chaos surrounding the TNA Knockouts World title match. After The Good Hands and Kon interfered on Steph De Lander’s behalf, Callihan and PCO came out to even the odds. Jordynne Grace retained her title soon after. 

Sanga Addresses Lack of Indian Representation In WWE Despite Massive National Fanbase

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstar Sanga has shared his disappointment over the promotion’s lack of Indian representation considering how popular WWE is in the country. 

Sanga, alongside Veer Mahaan, Jinder Mahal, Xia Li, and Xyon Quinn, was released from WWE as part of the first wave of cuts under the promotion’s new era. Sanga had been with WWE since 2018 and left without winning any championship gold in the promotion. 

In a video shared to Twitter, Sanga said that he, Veer, and Mahal are all keeping positive despite what has happened. Sanga then shares his disappointment that WWE wants viewers from India, especially on social media, but when it comes to pushing Indian talent, they won’t do it.

https://twitter.com/Sanga_WWE/status/1781719820314030164

Sanga understands that creative differences happen but pointed out that India has a population of 1.4 billion people who love WWE and want to see national talent on an international stage. That’s why Sanga is so disappointed that WWE rejects pushing Indian talent and said fans can look at the history of the company to see that. 

The ex-Superstar made clear that he’s not specifically talking about himself, but that somebody from India should be up there. He adds that there is no Indian employed by WWE and the company will have to answer to the Indian fanbase one day.

Sanga ends on a positive note, stating that God has given him opportunities before and he will again. He concludes by saying that his fans are positive people and he hopes that remains the case, and he will not let India’s pride be hurt in any way.

Sanga is obviously very proud of his national background and feels strongly about a lack of representation within WWE. Whether his strong words for WWE change things remains to be seen, but if the company does push an Indian Superstar to the top, it likely won’t be Sanga himself. 

Drew McIntyre Injured His Elbow At WrestleMania

Tyriece Simon
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WWE superstar Drew McIntyre hopes to stay on the road despite a recent setback. McIntyre’s was having a very successful year up until WrestleMania. He won the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match on February 24 and later dethroned Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight title at the biggest show of the year.

Then, things took a turn for the worse. The title reign ended after just a matter of minutes when Damian Preist successfully cashed in the Money in the Bank contract and walked out as champion.  We’ve now learned the Scottish Warrior was in serious pain for the short match against the Judgment Day member.

Drew McIntyre “badly hyperextended” his elbow at WrestleMania during his match against Seth Rollins, according to a report by PWInsider. He worked this week’s United Kingdom live events tour, but may need some time off afterwards to heal. 

It’s an ironic setback for McIntyre, who has been trolling CM Punk for his tricep injury and inability to stay healthy. He’s not currently advertised for WWE’s next premium live event, Backlash France. This might end up as a blessing in disguise., as the two people he’s currently feuding with (CM Punk and Seth Rollins) are also unable to wrestle any time soon.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract winding down has been a hot topic of conversation for wrestling fans wondering if he could follow Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone to AEW. 

If WWE can’t re-sign McIntyre, he could be wrestling elsewhere this summer. That said, he’s having one hell of a run with WWE. He’s working a top program against CM Punk that is sure to draw both of them a lot of money when they’re healthy. Most importantly, he is having fun and enjoying himself.

WWE Talent Sympathetic to Jinder Mahal & Xia Li Following Release of Underutilized Stars

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE roster will miss Jinder Mahal and Xia Li and many believe that the two were not given fair opportunities on the main roster. 

Mahal and Li were released from WWE in the first wave of talent cuts in this ‘new era.’ Veer Mahaan, Sanga, and Xyon Quinn were also let go. The talent will have to wait out 90-day non-compete clauses before they can take bookings elsewhere. 

Mahal’s release was something of a surprise given that 2024 started for him with a segment with The Rock and a high-profile feud with then-World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. A handful of talent believe that when it comes to his work with The Rock, Mahal nailed his side of things only for WWE to never follow up with anything substantial for him, PW Insider reports. Perhaps that is why Mahal gave a curt announcement regarding his release, stating that he’d quit WWE. 

Mahal’s early 2024 also saw him ‘feud’ with AEW President Tony Khan, who had some choice words regarding Mahal’s World Heavyweight Championship push. The running joke amongst some WWE talent is that Mahal will be feuding with Khan on AEW Dynamite during this summer. 

For Xia Li, there is a feeling that she suffered because of her stop-start pushes on the main roster. Li, the first Chinese female Superstar, was called up to the main roster in 2021 though arguably didn’t have her first actual storyline until two years later. 

Given how infrequently she had been used, Li’s 2023 feud with Becky Lynch met a cool response from fans as audiences didn’t believe Li would get the better of one of wrestling’s biggest stars. Talent also believe that Li being introduced in the Vince McMahon era did not help her chances either. 

Li and Mahal were said to be extremely well-liked within WWE, as demonstrated by the positive messages from the remaining talent. It’s never easy to lose a job, especially one from the biggest professional wrestling promotion in the world, and now Mahal, Li, and the rest will have to forge the next chapter of their careers outside of WWE.

Cryptic Music Continues To Play Off-Air On WWE SmackDown

Dominic DeAngelo
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The cryptic teases continue in build for what could potentially be a return for Bo Dallas and WWE had two different methods of such on SmackDown.

The one that was on air involved a sudden QR code appearing during Triple H’s entrance, but another tease happened in between commercial breaks. There was a point in the middle of the show where the lights dim and a Billie Holiday-like song began to play.

This prompted fans to light up their phones and it even prompted a Bo Dallas chant afterwards.

What Is The Song That’s Playing?

Although the singer sounds like Billie Holiday, it’s actually a late artist by the name of Marti Amado and the song is called “Nightbird.” The lyrics certainly hearken to Wyatt Family allusions as you can read them below.

The nightbird calls and shadows creep

Into my mind, into my sleep

I do not know if I shall rise

Or open up these weary eyes

The withered trees, how they creak and moan

Beneath the moon, how the demons groan

They come to me and pull me down

Down into the swamp without a sound

I sink again, just like a stone

My body’s cold and I’m all alone

I do not think that I shall rise

Or open up these weary eyes

[Verse 2]

I sink once more, just like a stone

The darkness chills me to the bone

Th? water’s deep, I shall not rise

No more to lift th?se weary eyes

No more to lift these weary eyes

A big tease for a Bo Dallas (and potentially Uncle Howdy return) first sparked at the end of the Bray Wyatt documentary trailer and that’s when speculation began flying as to what could come for the future of the angle.

Recent free agent Matt Hardy began making posts about his past with Bray Wyatt and former Wyatt Family member Erik Rowan actually removed himself from an independent booking due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, Braun Strowman is still apart of WWE.

Bo Dallas was reportedly playing Uncle Howdy back during Bray Wyatt’s return, but fans hadn’t seen the younger Rotunda brother for years since he and Curtis Axel were members of the B-Team.

Someone who is an advocate for a Bo Dallas return under the “Wyatt Universe” is the brothers’ father, WWE Hall Of Famer Mike Rotunda. Speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Rotunda talked about the potential of his sons flourishing with those gimmicks.

“Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family was one of my favorite gimmicks of all time. Both boys, I think they could have gotten a lot more mileage out of Bray Wyatt and the Wyatts, and also with Bo. Bo was the youngest NXT Champion they ever had. He was probably 18 or 19 years old. He caught the business quickly,”

Keep tabs on SEScoops as this storyline develops.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

A-Town Down Under Defend New WWE Tag Titles Against Rey Mysterio After SmackDown, NFL Star Involved

Dominic DeAngelo
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Once SmackDown went off the air, there were not one, but two matches still on tap for the WWE fans in Pittsburgh, PA.

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory were presented with the new WWE Tag Team Championships on Friday night, which gave them the opportunity to not shake Triple H’s hand during the reveal. The champs did happen to stick around for the fatal four way tag match between New Catch Republic, The Street Profits, AOP, and Legado Del Fantasma to see Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins become the number one contenders.

Waller and Theory’s night was not done however as the new champs had to put their new hardware on the line against Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. Popular Pittsburgh Steeler, Cam Heyward happened to be sitting behind commentary and Waller was quick to talk smack on the mic to the big defensive lineman. 

Mysterio then grabbed the stick and made it clear that he and Dragon Lee had a different agenda.

“Let me give you a little update, you don’t want to show [the titles to them] it’s all good. Once we take those titles, we’ll bring them over there to them.”

Waller and Theory continued the smack talk during their first title defense as both jaw-jacked with kids at ringside. Lee and Mysterio almost got the victory when Rey just about hit the 619 but the heel duo got the definitive three count on the WWE Hall of Famer to retain.

A “Steel City Street Fight” Also Takes Place

Even though Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee didn’t come out victorious, fans were still anticipating a “Steel City Street Fight” Between Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross. Kross and Lashley slugged it out but it was “The All Mighty” getting the W when he speared Kross through a table and got the 1-2-3.

Sporting Stars Wayne Rooney & Anthony Joshua Attend WWE Live Event in London’s O2

Thomas Lowson
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The stars were out at a recent WWE live event in the UK as the promotion’s ‘new era’ continues to be a hit with audiences around the world. 

On Friday evening, WWE hosted an event in the O2 Arena in London, England, which served as the host of WWE Money in the Bank 2023. As seen in the photos below, some huge names from the world of sport were in attendance. Soccer legend Wayne Rooney was spotted in the crowd while boxer Anthony Joshua was able to meet Natalya and the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. 

This event in the O2 isn’t Rooney’s first foray into the world of WWE. In 2015, Rooney attended an event in London and was confronted during the show by King Barrett. Undeterred by the former Nexus leader, the Manchester United alum delivered a swift slap to Barrett. 

As for Joshua, he hasn’t competed since his knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in March but has plans to fight again this September. While the Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time World Boxing Champion has yet to step into a WWE ring, Joshua said in 2021 that he wanted to try his hand at pro wrestling. 

The two celebs watched on as Natalya beat Shayna Baszler while Cody Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. If WWE’s recent wave of momentum is anything to go by, the pair had a great show at the O2, and it may not be the last time we see these names and other celebrities at a WWE event. 

Hammerstone Gunning To Be ‘The Face Of TNA’ (Exclusive)

Dominic DeAngelo
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Hammerstone was already the face of one wrestling promotion and the former MLW World Heavyweight Champion looks to continue that trend in TNA.

The recent TNA signee first made his TNA debut without any deal by facing Josh Alexander at Hard To Kill, the company’s first PPV since their jump back to the old TNA letters. Hammerstone came up short in that exchange but got his revenge as TNA Sacrifice as he defeated ‘The Walking Weapon’ and took Alexander’s signature headgear as a “scalp” to pin on his wall. Now the rubber match takes place Saturday at TNA Rebellion. This time, it’s a Last Man Standing match.

I spoke with Hammerstone this week about Rebellion, his goal to be the new face of TNA and so much more. 

Hammerstone says there was no better way to show up in TNA than being thrown right into the deep end. Even in a promo before joining the company, He made clear that he’s a shark that’s on the hunt and was ready to take on all comers as a free agent. The big man didn’t have to wait for long as TNA did end up signing him. When asked if he looks forward to the notion that he could potentially be the face of another wrestling company, Hammer was more than willing to oblige.

“Listen, there’s no time in wrestling where I’ve ever shown up and just wanted to get paid and have a match and go home. Every place I go I want to get to the top. I want to conquer. That’s my goal. That’s my mission statement from day one.”

Hammerstone notes that it will be a tough hill to climb on the TNA roster and that there are a lot of names who have been there longer than he has. However, that won’t deter him from keeping his eyes on the top of that hill.

“I’m not intimidated. You know, I have a feeling if we have this same conversation this time next year, we’ll be talking about myself being the face of TNA.”

Hammerstone had a bit of a warm-up match on the go-home episode of TNA Impact as he took on Little Guido who recently just unveiled a new version of the FBI. Unfortunately for Guido, Hammerstone manhandled the maybe mafiasio.”

TNA Sacrifice airs this Saturday at 8 PM ET on PPV.

Bars, Buses & Breweries Benefit From the Impact of WWE Royal Rumble 2024 PLE

Thomas Lowson
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Officials in St. Petersburg, FL will be hoping to see WWE return as more details have come out about the highly successful Royal Rumble 2024 event. 

The January 27, show saw Cody Rhodes win his second Royal Rumble match and become the fourth man ever to achieve this feat back-to-back. On the women’s side of things, Bayley won the Women’s Royal Rumble match with a record-breaking performance in the bout. 

The show generated $47,047,401 in overall economic impact with $28,337,038 of that coming from direct spending, a new economic impact study has revealed. There was also $2,923,664 million tax dollars generated by the popular Premium Live Event. 

Ferg’s Sports Bar, which is located near Tropicana Field, did seven times its usual business during the day of the Royal Rumble PLE. Fans were indeed ready to enjoy the show with a drink as Green Bench Brewing Company saw a 10-15% increase in custom over a typical Saturday in the city. 

Fans in Florida weren’t just there to drink and watch wrestling. For those able to survive the post-Royal Rumble hangover, the Imagine Museum had a 25 percent increase in attendance the day after the Royal Rumble. The Sun Runner bus had a 95 percent increase in ridership on the day of the Royal Rumble.

The Royal Rumble is always a popular event and that was no exception this year. The event gave fans what they wanted to see to kick off the WrestleMania season and these immense figures make the ongoing success of WWE on all metrics hard to ignore.

Kyle O’Reilly’s Injury Taught Him He’s Better At Being A Father Than A Pro-Wrestler

Thomas Lowson
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0

Kyle O’Reilly’s time away from the ring was tough on the AEW star but helped teach an important lesson about himself as a father. 

O’Reilly returned to AEW programming at the Revolution 2024 event in March. This return came close to two years after he underwent neck fusion surgery for an injury that’d kept him out of action since June 2022. 

Spending over a year away from the ring was understandably difficult for the veteran wrestler, but there has been a silver lining to his hiatus. As he explained to Fightful, his injury led to O’Reilly spending more time at home, which led to him learning more about himself. 

“My daughter, who was six months old when I got hurt, and now I’m going back and she’s over two. I got to spend all that quality time at home with her and playing that stay-at-home dad role. I found that I’m a better dad than I ever was a wrestler.”

In the interview, O’Reilly added that patience was key in his lengthy recovery process, as was staying positive in spite of what had happened to him. The Undisputed Era alum admitted that recovering took longer than first expected as complications prolonged his comeback period. 

It’s great that O’Reilly was able to spend quality time with his daughter as the wrestling business unfortunately often leads to parents being on the road for a long time without seeing their kids. Fatherly instincts aside, O’Reilly will be all business at AEW Dynasty when he challenges for the AEW International Championship. 

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