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Bo Dallas’ WWE Contract Unaffected Despite Uncle Howdy’s Sudden Indefinite Absence

Aaron Varble
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Bray Wyatt’s passing didn’t just rob the world of a great man, but so many mind-blowing creative moments also never came to pass. Wyatt was deep into an angle with his real-life brother, Bo Dallas under that Uncle Howdy mask, but even after Wyatt’s passing, Dallas is still with the company.

Bo Dallas’ WWE Status Revealed

When Bray Wyatt faced health problems last year, WWE removed him and his brother Bo Dallas from television. Initially, there was hope for their return together after Wyatt’s recovery. Sadly, this expectation was shattered when Wyatt passed away at 36 due to a heart attack during sleep.

PW Insider Elite has now confirmed that, despite being inactive, Dallas remains an employee of the company. He is still on their payroll, even though he is not booked in a current television storyline.

Bo Dallas had a 13-year run with WWE, ending in an April 2021 release due to budgetary cuts. His last in-ring appearance was in November 2019. Initially, WWE cited a lack of creative plans for his absence.

However, Dallas later revealed a broken neck, leading to his hiatus for recovery. His unexpected return in 2022 as Uncle Howdy surprised many fans.

While unconfirmed, it is reported that internal speculation suggests Wyatt, who had recently returned to WWE at the time, might have influenced Dallas’s re-hiring. Sadly, Howdy and Wyatt never had much time together in the ring.

Who is Bo Dallas?

Bo Dallas’ real name is Taylor Michael Rotunda. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, who wrestled as IRS, and the brother of Windham Rotunda, who we all knew as Bray Wyatt. That family connection continued until the end, as their Uncle Howdy storyline never had a chance to really play out as they envisioned it.

Dallas is still under WWE contract, but it’s unknown whether WWE will ever use the Uncle Howdy character again. I asked a couple of months ago when this rumor first surfaced, and I was told by multiple members of the creative team that, at the time, there is and was no talk of bringing Uncle Howdy back.

WWE Is Taking Care of Bray Wyatt’s Family

WWE has taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family since his passing. JoJo Offerman is receiving 100% of the proceeds from all of his merchandise that they sell. The company made this declaration shortly after news of his passing broke.

Wyatt was also put under a Legends Contract to ensure that the company will continue providing for his family for a very long time to come.

Our thoughts are still with JoJo Offerman, Bray’s children, and his family. He is gone, but his name will live on forever. 

Orange Cassidy: “Jon Moxley Is A Leader For AEW”

Dominic DeAngelo
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Orange Cassidy leads by example and he believes Jon Moxley does too.

In a new interview with Adrian Hernandez, Cassidy commented on how Jon Moxley, a recent rival of his, has earned the respect of his pro wrestling peers and is undoubtedly a leader behind the scenes in AEW.

“Jon Moxley is a leader for AEW. I think a lot of people look to Jon Moxley for leadership. I am too, like Jon Moxley, a person that leads by example and I saw the example that he was setting and I was like, ‘You know what? I want to do that.’ I tried, but no one can be Jon Moxley because there’s no Jon Moxley.”

Orange Cassidy Thanks Jon Moxley

Cassidy continues giving Moxley his flowers, noting that it was the aggressive nature of Mox in the squared circle that unleashed a new Freshly Squeezed identity in the current AEW International Champion.

“I am forever in his debt for him changing and bringing up this version of me that is clearly a better version because I still have this thing (the AEW International Championship belt).”

Orange Cassidy has certainly established himself as a name star for All Elite Wrestling, getting his polarizing “peeled back” persona over with the fans. Cassidy has even earned the admiration from the likes of Kevin Nash, who once noted on his podcast that he loves his character.

On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Cassidy will team up with Dustin Rhodes, Adam Copeland and Preston Vance to face The Gates Of Agony, Lance Archer and Brian Cage in an eight-man tag.

Please credit Adrian Hernandez and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Will Ospreay Confirms He Turned Down WWE Deal To Sign With AEW

Aaron Varble
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Will Ospreay was revealed as AEW’s big signing at Full Gear. That did not mean he could jump straight into AEW’s storylines, because The Aerial Assassin needed to wrap things up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling first. Although he picked AEW, WWE was very much a contender for his services.

Will Ospreay Confirms WWE Offer Was Real

Will Ospreay is set to compete in his final NJPW match on February 11th before making the move to AEW. Despite receiving an offer from WWE, Ospreay has clarified his decision to join AEW.

In an interview with Gamespot, Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE but emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

“I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

Will Ospreay Speaks on Future AEW Matchups

With many available options and potential opponents in AEW, Will Ospreay shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for him as he prepares to engage with a new roster.

While Ospreay has thrived in Japan, the pro wrestling landscape is always changing; this is something he is all too familiar with as the 30-year-old former World Champion helped blaze a trail others area already walking on. 

Ospreay already got this hands dirty in AEW with a match against Chris Jericho, and now he can’t wait to see what awaits him. Obviously, he is looking for a top spot, and he isn’t afraid to share his championship intentions.

“There’s something for me to climb, there’s something for me to build upon. That first match with Chris Jericho, who is one of the biggest wrestling stars in the world, was probably the biggest star in the company at that time. I want to progress from that.”

“I want to see what other bucket [list items] I can tick. I want to go for championships. I want to go for world titles. I want to see what I can actually do because I’ve never been put in these situations. New Japan is a sports-based wrestling product, it isn’t really known for its on-screen personalities. So this is all new for me and I just want to test myself. I want to try my very best to swim in waters I’m not very sure of, so for me, this is all a challenge.”

Will Ospreay Almost Ended Up In America Years Ago

Will Ospreay’s latest deal in the wrestling world represents a significant move, as he finally signed with a North American pro wrestling company. That was not for lack of trying.

Paul Heyman offered Ospreay an EVOLVE contract 7 years ago during a Q&A where he just so happened to be in the front row. That contract was offered on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky, whom Heyman was simply delivering a message for in his own way.

Although Ospreay didn’t end up becoming a regular in EVOLVE, we can only imagine how much different the pro wrestling world would be today if he accepted it. Now, he can apply his trade in North America as an All Elite star.

Check out all of TNA Wrestling’s new championship belts

Aaron Varble
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Scott D’Amore declared during the final moments of Impact Wrestling’s Bound for Glory event that TNA Wrestling is coming back. This was more than just a promise, because D’Amore and crew are delivering with a total re-branding effort.

TNA Wrestling is coming back with Hard to Kill on Saturday, January 13th. Champions at that event will have new title belts as they make their way to the ring.

As part of that rebranding, TNA released a schedule with plans to reveal new championship title belt designs. They’ve now all been revealed and we get to see handy work of belt makers Hellfire Designs.

New X-Division Championship Belt

Chris Sabin is the X-Division Champion, but he has always loved TNA Wrestling. He was more than thrilled to receive a revamped TNA Wrestling X-Division Title from Scott D’Amore.

TNA Wrestling’s new championship belts

New TNA Wrestling Tag Team Championship Belts

Ace Austin and Chris Bey make up ABC, and they are also on top of TNA Wrestling’s tag team division going into Hard to Kill. Austin and Bey were also presented with new TNA Wrestling Tag Team Titles in the lead-up to the big pay-per-view.

New Digital Media Championship Belt

Tommy Dreamer also got a new title belt. His Digital Media Championship got a TNA Wrestling facelift, and Scott D’Amore was more than happy to put that title around Dreamer’s waist, albeit a bit too tightly.

Update: Crazzy Steve won that title from Tommy Dreamer during the TNA Hard to Kill kickoff show.

New TNA World Championship Belt

Alex Shelley was given a new TNA World Championship title. Scott D’Amore was very honored to present this new belt before Hard to Kill.

Update: Moose went on to win the new TNA World Championship in the main event of Hard to Kill.

New TNA Knockouts Championship Belt

The TNA Knockouts Title was revealed, and presented to Trinity Fatu. She was very happy, and honored to receive this new title, as the first to hold it. She will also defend her title against Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill. 

The outcome of Jordynne Grace’s battle with Trinity will be interesting. There are reports that Trinity is expected to make a WWE return, and her Impact Wrestling contract is expiring soon.

Update: Trinity did indeed lose the Knockouts Title to Jordynne Grace. Mercedes Mone and Bayley were also in the crowd watching the match.

New TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles

Scott D’Amore presented MK Ultra with the brand new TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships. This was quite a moment for them, but they would lose those belts later on at Hard to Kill to Decay.

AEW promotes 2 people amid backstage shakeup and departures

Dominic DeAngelo
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AEW has an official Vice President Global Programming & Partnerships. Shane Emerson, who has been with All Elite Wrestling since 2021, announced on his LinkedIn that he was given a new job title.

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Vice President Global Programming & Partnerships at All Elite Wrestling!”

Previously, Emerson was simply listed as the Head of Global Programming & Partnerships, a position he held since September 2021. Before that, Emerson worked for TNA’s parent company, Anthem Sports, in the same type of role for over a decade.

Another name to receive a promotion is Eric Murphy, who also announced via LinkedIn that he is a senior producer with AEW.

Other Internal Changes In AEW

While Emerson sees a new horizon under AEW, a few other long-time employees decided to ride off in the sunset.

Before 2023 closed its doors, QT Marshall asked for his release from the company. Marshall was an imperative part to the growth of AEW and was held in high regard backstage, partly due to his versatility. Marshall wore a lot of hats in AEW including coach, talent relations manager and on-air competitor.

Another name to leave is Dana Massie, who was in charge of AEW merchandise since the company launched. Massie is Matt Jackson’s wife and voluntarily made the decision not to continue with the company as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer.

The final notorioius name of note to exit AEW is Rafael Morffi. Morffi served as Vice President of Live Events/Touring but has decided to take a new job at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Morffi is a New York City native.

Will Matt Riddle Sign With AEW? Ex-Superstar Shares His Current Priorities

Thomas Lowson
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Matt Riddle isn’t opposed to joining All Elite Wrestling when the time is right, but it’s not high on the Original Bro’s post-WWE bucket list. 

Riddle, alongside other wrestlers, was released from the promotion in September, mere days after WWE parted ways with over 100 staff members from their offices in Stamford. Riddle was one of the biggest names released from WWE, a list that includes Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, and others. 

Will Matt Riddle be All-Elite? 

With his non-compete clause a thing of the past, Matt Riddle has been announced for several shows and events. One place fans have yet to see Riddle however is AEW, which is home to many former Superstars. Speaking during a virtual autograph signing, the former U.S. Champion was asked about potentially being All-Elite.

“Yeah, honestly, I feel like a lot of the talent when I got released, were going to try to do that. I wanted to think outside the box and maybe not rush right back into doing TV matches. TV is a lot different than wrestling on ppl or the Indies. There are commercials, they cut times, they change things.”

With Riddle not currently interested in AEW, the King of Bros shared what are his priorities at this time. 

“For me, right now, New Japan, MLW, the Indies, I can display my art and I’m not under such a crunch of time or requirement. I have a lot more freedom. TNA isn’t out of the picture either. There are certain things I wanted to do. I really wanted to work in Japan and I made that a priority.”

Matt Riddle plans on wrestling in Japan, and his wish is about to come true… 

Lee Fitting Replaces Kevin Dunn As WWE Head Of Production

Dominic DeAngelo
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WWE is making sure it’s media and production team is getting new leadership in 2024. The company announced on January 9 that Lee Fitting will now be the new Head Of Media & Production. The company made the announcement via a press release, praising Fitting as a “media industry veteran.”

STAMFORD, Conn., January 9, 2024 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that media industry veteran Lee Fitting has joined the company this week as Head of Media & Production. 

“Lee is a phenomenal leader and executive known for work that generates both critical acclaim and mass appeal,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “Lee will be a tremendous addition to our stellar media and production team and play a key role in helping catapult WWE’s growth.”

Fitting brings more than two decades of production experience to WWE from ESPN, where he oversaw production for tentpole properties including Monday Night Football, College GameDay, the College Football Playoff, and many other properties within the Disney portfolio. 

Distributed in 25 languages across 165 countries, WWE delivers new and live programming to fans 52 weeks a year. Its flagship shows, including Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and NXT; Premium Live Events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble; and award-winning slate of original programs reach more than one billion homes globally.

Fitting steps into a new role as long-time production executive Kevin Dunn leaves his old one.  Dunn served as the head of WWE Production for years, but made his voluntary leave as 2023 came to a close.

TNA Wresting Unveils New World Championship Belt Design

Aaron Varble
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Impact Wrestling is rebranding themselves into TNA Wrestling once again, and that is coming with new title belt designs. Fans have seen a few new title belts already, and now we have the new TNA World Title.

TNA Wrestling Unveils New World Title

Impact Wrestling will be fully TNA Wrestling by this Saturday at the Hard To Kill pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Leading up to the event, the company has been unveiling redesigned championship belts. 

On Wednesday, TNA Wrestling revealed the new design for the World Heavyweight Title. Alex Shelley secured the World Title by defeating Steve Maclin at the Against All Odds special last June. Now, Shelley has a new title belt to carry around.

TNA Wrestling Hard To Kill

Key matches at Hard to Kill will feature World Heavyweight Champion Alex Shelley against Moose. That should be a good match, as Shelley has successfully defended the title against opponents including Brian Myers, Maclin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Josh Alexander, Jonathan Gresham, among others.

Also, at TNA Wrestling Hard to Kill, X-Division Champion Chris Sabin will face El Hijo del Vikingo and Kushida. Knockouts World Champion Trinity will also be defending her title against Jordyn Grace. That should be an interesting Knockouts match, because rumor is that Trinity is returning to WWE very soon.

The company has also hinted at a significant announcement during the event and is actively pursuing the signing of a high-profile star. They have a lot of eyes on them as TNA Wrestling returns, and a few options on the table.

Backlash in WWE As “Outsider” is Hired to Replace Kevin Dunn

Thomas Lowson
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There have been mixed feelings for the person chosen to replace Kevin Dunn as WWE’s Head of Media and Production. 

Dunn left WWE last month, ending his lengthy tenure that began before the first WrestleMania event. Dunn was said to be unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives and preferred his previous hands-on approach to production oversight.

Internal Backlash to Kevin Dunn’s Replacement

With Dunn gone, WWE has brought in Lee Fitting as the new Head of Media and Production. This has earned some backlash from those within WWE, PW Insider reports. Some have expressed discontent with an “outsider” assuming a leadership role. Executive Vice President of Television Chris Kaiser and Lighting/Set Director Jason Robinson are being touted as worthy internal candidates who could have replaced Dunn. There are also concerns that Fitting could bring in external personnel of his own, potentially affecting WWE staff. 

Not everyone is so against WWE’s new Head of Media and Production. Some have adopted a wait-and-see approach to see how Fitting takes to his new role. 

Who is Lee Fitting? 

Fitting joins WWE from ESPN where he spent 25 years overseeing production on shows such as Monday Night Football, College GameDay, and the College Football Playoff. In a statement issued this week, WWE President Nick Khan described Lee as a “tremendous addition to our stellar media and production team and play a key role in helping catapult WWE’s growth.”

WWE was hoping to keep Dunn around for longer than he planned… 

AEW Hires Former WWE Employee As New Chief Operating Officer

Dominic DeAngelo
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Tony Khan’s initiative to shake up All Elite Wrestling’s front office has led to the hiring of a new Chief Operating Officer. Khan has tapped Kosha Irby for the role, according to reporting from Sean Ross Sapp and Dave Meltzer.

Irby previously worked for WWE as the Regional Director of Live Events from 2011 through 2018. He later moved on to work for Clemson University, and previously worked at Professional Bull Riding and the AAF’s Memphis Express.

Kosha Irby joining AEW comes amid a big shakeup within AEW

There has been several changes internally at AEW. QT Marshall and Dana Massie, both long-established employees who were a jack and jill of trades backstage, made their exit from the company while Rafael Morrfi has decided to leave his production position to work in his backyard of Brooklyn, NY for the Barclays Center. Morffi had previous experience in pro wrestling before entering AEW being involve with promotions like TNA Wrestling and MLW

Two current AEW employees happened to find themselves in new positions with the company. Announced via LinkedIn, Shane Emerson was revealed to be the company’s new Vice President of Global Programming and Partnership as he’s been with the company since 2021.

Additionally, another name to get the nod was Eric Muprhy who announced his new role as a senior producer.

Talent also leaving

Not only has AEW lost backstage talent, but on-screen talent too. Andrade El Idolo just left the company. Before that, AEW saw other names leave in 2023. Jade Cargill, Brian Pillman Jr., Sonny Kiss and Brock Anderson are no longer with the promotion after all spent several years important years with the promotion.

“Are you guys paying attention?” – AJ Francis Ready for TNA debut at Hard to Kill

Tyriece Simon
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Former WWE superstar AJ Francis(FKA Top Dolla) has made his presence felt since the company let him go. WWE released him on September 21, 2023, a year after he returned for his second stint. Since he bid farewell to WWE for the second time, he has been exploring his options on the independent scene. 

To fans’ surprise, Francis returned to Game Changer Wrestling on December 21, 2023, and attacked Joey Janela. This helped set up a featured match between the two for GCW Look At Me on January 26. However, Francis isn’t done exploring his options in wrestling.

While attending the 2024 Chees-It Citrus Bowl on January 1, he announced on Twitter that he would be at TNA Hard To Kill on January 13. Francis, alongside DJ Whoo Kid, shared that they will premiere a new music video of their song “WE OUT$IDE” live on the pay view. Although he isn’t involved in a match, Francis doesn’t rule out competing in a TNA ring.

When asked by a fan if he would compete for the company, Francis replied, “If the bag is right.” 

TNA hopes to start their year with a bang, heading toward their upcoming PPV. The company decided last year to rebrand from Impact Wrestling to TNA, which has fans excited for their creative direction. As well as new title designs for their current champions, TNA President Scott D’Amore also teased a big signing will be made by Hard To Kill. 

Francis’s announcement has increased fans’ interest in whether he’ll stick around with TNA. 

What’s Next For AJ Francis? 

Francis is set to appear for GCW and TNA but is still looking to see what deal comes his way. The former WWE superstar is accepting bookings, which he shared on his Twitter account on September 22, 2023. From his standpoint, his impact is being felt online, and he is confident about what he brings to the table for any promotion. 

The following day after announcing his TNA debut, Francis wrote on Twitter:

“I say I’m going to GCW, it does astronomical numbers online for them. I say I’m going to TNA, it does astronomical numbers online for them. Are you guys paying attention?” 

Francis seems to be looking to take advantage of his free-agent status and show that he is still a superstar outside of WWE. If he continues his success, he should be in for a great year as an independent wrestler. 

Omos Unveils the Shift in His Training Journey from Basketball to Pro Wrestling

Bishal Roy
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WWE Superstar Omos recently talked about the changes to his workout regime which he has implemented over the years. 

Standing 7 feet and 3 inches tall, and weighing 416 pounds, Omos remains to be one of the giants in the company. For those who are unaware, he played college basketball, before signing with WWE in January 2019. He is a former RAW Tag Team Champion with AJ Styles and has competed in three WrestleMania events. Well, he has improved over the years and continues to maintain a good shape.

Omos outlines how his pro wrestling workout regime is different from Basketball days

‘The Nigerian Giant’ recently joined in for a conversation with Men’s Health magazine and said that he kept his weight at around 315 pounds for college basketball. However, he reached over 400 pounds while continuing his pro wrestling career. In addition to this, he revealed trains his whole body with dedicated weekly workouts. 

The 29-year-old said that there are particular training difficulties “as a giant,” entailing more concentrated mobility work and the replacement of barbell exercises with machine workouts. To appear his best in the ring, the Nigerian Giant is also committed to expanding the size of his thighs.

Omos claimed that he started working out at the age of 14, concentrating on developing his quickness and agility for basketball. Omos has added more power-building exercises to his wrestling routines, but he still incorporates some of those ideas. He disclosed that his main workout objective was to look nice in the ring.

“In basketball, I always had to cut weight, and for what I do know, I also have to look jacked and look good for what I need to do in the ring,” he said.

Omos last competed at SummerSlam 2023, where he participated in the Slim Jim SummerSlam Battle Royal, which was won by LA Knight. 

Dana White acknowledges the backlash surrounding CM Punk’s UFC pay

Tyriece Simon
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When CM Punk made his UFC debut, MMA fans and fighters were split on him competing for the company. Some have thought he deserved praise for attempting the sport, while others criticized UFC for giving Punk an opportunity. It seems the WWE superstar salary also caused fighters to be outraged. 

The company is currently involved in an antitrust lawsuit, which has led to a deposition from UFC President Dana White to the public. It was also revealed that Punk got paid over $1 million for his debut fight against Mickey Gall at UFC 203 on September 10, 2016. When it was revealed how much Punk was getting paid, it created a backlash from other UFC fighters. 

White acknowledges the backlash

MMA Fighting’s Steven Marrocco was able to look at the document with White’s comments on the issue. The UFC President shared that fighters in the company speak among their peers about what they are making. This leads to fighters being upset with how pay is being distributed. 

One of the examples he brought up was that UFC fighters were unhappy that Punk received over $1 million for his first professional fight. 

Marrocco transcribed the following quote. 

“…We had some guy that was — that was paid a certain amount of money and never — oh, the professional wrestler that we brought in. Not Brock [Lesnar], the other one,” said White. 

When the attorney handling the case replied with Punk’s name, the UFC President confirmed he was referring to him. 

White added, “People went crazy when they saw what he got paid. … Even the women.”

How much did CM Punk make fighting for UFC?

Punk’s base salary for the time he was competing in the UFC was $500 thousand. It made him among the most-paid fighters on the UFC roster at the time.  

However, he received more money for his fight with Gall due to other agreements in his contract. For example, if a pay-per-view he was a part of had over 200,000 buys, he would get an increase in his salary. UFC 203 had over 400,000 buys, which was part of fans’ interest in his fight with Gall. This is one of the ways he crossed over $1 million for his pro debut. 

Although Punk wouldn’t stay with the UFC for too long, he made significant money for his time. Currently, his focus is back on wrestling, as he hopes to win the 2024 WWE Men’s Royal Rumble Match and the main event of WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. 

Ex WWE Superstar Proclaims They Are Not Leaving TNA Wrestling

Aaron Varble
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TNA Wrestling’s rebranding has brought several alterations already, with new title belt designs and much more. There have also been some notable departures from the roster. Contrary to those exits, one familiar face is not leaving.

Dirty Dango Isn’t Leaving TNA Wrestling

Dirty Dango (formerly Fandango from WWE), has opted to remain with TNA Wrestling amid its transition. The shift back to the TNA Wrestling branding coincides with the upcoming TNA Hard To Kill event scheduled for January 13th.

While speaking on the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, Dirty Dango was quite frank about his intentions. He plans to stay with TNA Wrestling as they rebrand themselves into the future. 

I signed a year deal (with IMPACT), January of 2023? I think it was. So about a year ago, I signed a year deal and I just signed another (audio lag) contract which will be up.

I just kind of told myself I’d wrestle until I’m 40 and then I was probably gonna ease up a bit but, like I tell everybody, it’s what I’ve done my whole life. I don’t know how to not be a wrestler and just being at TNA has made me really fall back in love with wrestling. There’s so many great guys, girls there.

Just walking in the locker room there, it felt like a reunion because I’ve known everybody for years and I worked for TNA back in ‘03 so there’s some faces I’ve known for 20 years… The Johnny Swingers and I remember running into Scott D’Amore 20 years ago and great guys like (Alex) Shelley and Rhino, Tommy Dreamer and it’s one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever been in so, sometimes you go into a locker room, you don’t really know anybody and it’s not that much fun and this is one of those locker rooms you love flying out to and kind of catching up with everybody.

Dirty Dango’s WWE Exit

Having initially signed a one-year deal in January 2023, Dirty Dango expressed his commitment to TNA Wrestling and the renewed passion for wrestling, something he credits to his time with TNA Wrestling. He once had a home in WWE for nearly a decade, but that didn’t last forever.

Fandango, who was known as Johnny Curtis prior to entering WWE, made his debut for Vince McMahon’s company as Fandango in 2013. One of the notable moments in his WWE career was his victory over Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 29 in April 2013, which marked his big opening night with the company. 

Fandango’s character was known for his unique dance gimmick, and he often competed in various matches on WWE television and live events. He later teamed up with Tyler Breeze to form Breezango. Their Fashion Files segments were also a fan favorite for a long stint, but sadly, the team was disbanded when WWE released them on June 25, 2021.

Oba Femi Becomes New NXT North American Champion After Cashing-In Breakout Tournament Contract

Bishal Roy
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NXT Breakout Tournament winner Oba Femi stole the spotlight in an epic fashion by becoming the new NXT North American Champion last night.

Last night, fans were left stunned when Femi cashed in his breakout tournament contract on Dragon Lee to secure the gold. 

Femi, who is a former track & field athlete at Alabama, was part of WWE’s NIL program in 2021 and 2022. He officially signed with the company in August 2022 and made his debut in November 2022 on NXT Level Up. The promising talent Oba Femi has been on a metoric rise and recently won the NXT Breakout tournament to earn a shot at any title in NXT. His NXT North American title win came as a major surprise on the latest edition of show.

Oba Femi captures NXT North American title

Dragon Lee couldn’t make it to last week’s NXT due to Visa issues. However, he made his return last night and put his NXT North American Championship on the line. Earlier on the show, Lexis King stepped up to the champ and had him sign a contract for the title match. 

Dragon Lee went on to successfully retain his title. However, in a shocking turn of events, Femi cashed in his Breakout Tournament Contract on Lee. In the final moments of the match, the Nigerian superstar hit his own version of Last Ride powerbomb on Lee to earn the three count, dethroning Lee in the process.

It might come as a surprise that Femi is a champion on WWE’s developmental brand after having just 21 career matches as per Cagematch. The title match marked his sixth match on NXT, where he remains undefeated at 6-0.

It appears that the title victory may be a sign from WWE that they are grooming him to be a huge star in the future.

WWE’s Post-9/11 SmackDown Was Tough But Brought the Roster Closer Than Ever

Thomas Lowson
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Shawn Stasiak was honored to be a part of the first SmackDown after the September 11 attack in 2001, a role he did not take lightly. 

The September 13, 2001, edition of SmackDown was the largest gathering on U.S. soil following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. The show featured several tributes from wrestlers and on-screen personalities as well as a heartfelt rendition of America the Beautiful by then-ring announcer Lilian Garcia to open the show. 

Shawn Stasiak on WWE’s Post-9/11 SmackDown

During the September 13, SmackDown, Stasiak, a comedy goofball on-screen worked with The Rock, whom he had a mini-feud with at the time. Speaking to Sportskeeda this week, Stasiak reflected on the show and being able to be a sense of relief at a dark time in American history. 

“I got to work with The Rock and also I got to play a character role that was, yes the comical relief of the show, maybe I wasn’t crazy about it. But to be part of that special night, to be able to put smiles on faces, to be able to make people laugh for a moment during my segment. I did my job. I did my part. I played my role.”

Stasiak, like many in the States, learned of the attack on that fateful Tuesday morning and watched the tragedy unfold live. With a numb feeling, Stasiak went to a nearby workout center, where he found Vince McMahon. 

“I remember going into the fitness room and seeing Vince McMahon there and I remember him just sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall just staring at the TV monitor uh during the CNN Network. I don’t know what news it was but it was a major news network. He was just sitting there just nodding his head in disgust and saying ‘Those b***rds! Those b***rds and I think that’s how we all felt.”

Being Brought Together

After the attack, businesses and events immediately shut down fearing that another attack was coming. After much deliberation, the decision was made for the show to go on and SmackDown was held in Houston, Texas. In the video, Stasiak recalls this being a tough time but how the tragedy ironically brought the roster closer together. 

 “It was a tough time but at the same time ironically it really brought all of us closer together. Really like one big family to be honest. The people that you were already close with or that you traveled with you became even closer. The ones that maybe you didn’t care for, I mean in this business you don’t have to always like the person you’re doing business with, that happens all the time in this business.

“But it just made you realize [what is really important.] It’s unfortunate that sometimes there has to be a traumatic event or something of that nature to take place for you to just bring things out into what matters and what’s important and I think that just brought us all together closer.”

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

NXT Women’s Title No. 1 Contender Battle Royal ‘With a Twist’ Announced For Next Week

Bishal Roy
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A 20-woman battle royal to determine the No.1 Contender for Lyra Valkyria’s NXT Women’s Championship is set to take place on next week’s edition of NXT. It’s worth mentioning that the match will see a twist.

Lyra Valkyria captured the NXT Women’s Championship after defeating Becky Lynch at Halloween Havoc. Since then she has defended her title against Xia Li and most recently against Blair Davenport at NXT Years Evil. Well, a new challenge is on the horizon for the Irish superstar.

Lyra Valkyria announces the No.1 contender’s battle royal

Last night, Valkyria announced that a battle royal will be held and the twist is that once it is down to the final four competitors, the match will become a fatal four-way match. The winner of that match will become the No.1 contender and will face Valkyria for her title at Vengeance Day on Sunday, February 4.

During the same segment, Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez had a confrontation and eventually attacked Valkyria until Tatum Paxley came to the rescue. As a result, a tag team match pitting Vice and Lopez against Valkyria and Paxley has been also booked for next week.

Meanwhile, The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will continue on next week’s show as a couple of quarterfinal bouts have been scheduled. Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams will face Malik Blade & Edris Enofe in one quarterfinal match, while Chase U’s Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne take on LWO’s Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde in the other. 

Here is the lineup for the next week’s NXT episode:

  • NXT Women’s Championship number one contender’s battle royal
  • Lyra Valkyria & Tatum Paxley vs. Lola Vice & Elektra Lopez
  • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarterfinals: Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams vs. Malik Blade & Edris Enofe
  • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarterfinals: Duke Hudson & Riley Osborne vs. Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde

Madi Wrenkowski Makes Appearance for WWE NXT Ahead of 1/9 Show

Thomas Lowson
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An interesting name appeared for WWE NXT ahead of this week’s episode of the gold brand, one who fans may be seeing much more of going forward. 

The January 9, 2023, episode of WWE NXT saw the gold brand continue forward after last week’s New Year’s Evil episode. In the main event of the show, Dragon Lee retained the NXT North American Championship against Lexis King. Lee had missed the previous week’s episode due to Visa issues. After the match, Oba Femi cashed in his Men’s Breakout Tournament win to dethrone Lee and become the new champion. 

A Notable Name At WWE NXT

Ahead of this week’s show, the NXT Anonymous account shared a video of Jacy Jayne and Thea Hail speaking with Chase U students. One person who was listening closely was Madi Wrenkowski who has been on WWE’s radar for some time. 

Wrenkowski was part of a WWE tryout in September 2023 that included Richard Holliday and “HollyHood” Haley J. While it was reported by other outlets shortly after that she had been signed, it was later clarified that a deal had not been reached at that time. 

Madi Wrenkowski In the Ring

Wrenkowski is a former MPW Tag Team Champion and won the titles with Rache Chanel in May of 2022. Their reign was the longest in the short history of the promotion. Wrenkowski vacated her title last month, which sparked more speculation that she had signed with WWE. 

Wrenkowski was also NWA Women’s Tag Team Champion from February to August of this year and held the titles with Missa Kate. The pair lost the titles at the NWA 75th Anniversary show on August 27, 2023, in St. Louis, MO. She has also appeared on episodes of AEW Dark. 

Investors Interested in Sukeban, Promotion Looking to Sign Free Agents

Thomas Lowson
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The Sukeban wrestling promotion is drawing some serious interest from investors which could lead to a crop of new signings. 

Sukeban was announced in September 2023 and would host its first event that same month. The name itself means “delinquent girl” or “girl boss” and stems from the name Japanese women wrestlers were known as during an era when female wrestling was outlawed in the country. The promotion aims to bring a unique style of Japanese women’s wrestling to the United States. 

Interest in Sukeban

After hosting its second event last month in Miami, Sukeban is drawing some significant interest, PW Insider reports. Sources in Japan have indicated that there are investors in the country who have approached Sukeban management due to the attention it has received from mainstream outlets. The New York Times and Vogue are just some of the outlets that have covered Sukeban. The engagement that Sukeban has received on social media has also not gone unnoticed. 

Sukeban’s unique approach to its production such as costumes, makeup, the Championship Title design and more has drawn attention from outlets, with many big names in the art and fashion world getting involved. The company is being seen as finding ways to “reinvent” the live event experience, with several notable experiences at its inaugural event. Attendees were greeted by a Japanese street fair and free popcorn before the action began.  

Sukeban’s next event will take place in Los Angeles. There have been talks about a return to New York City, where the first event was held. 

New Talent

With the possibility of major investments, sources in Japan have noted that Sukeban is hoping to sign additional talent and is keeping an eye on which talents may become available in the weeks to come. 

Which free agents could Sukeban have their eyes on? We may have an idea… 

AEW Star Hopes For Less Tribalism Amid Tony Khan-Jinder Mahal Conflict

Thomas Lowson
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One All Elite Wrestling star is hoping to see less tribalism among wrestling fans, following the recent furor over the booking of Jinder Mahal. 

On this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, Mahal confronted World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins. After a verbal back-and-forth, the pair brawled. It was later confirmed that a title match would take place between the pair on next week’s episode of the Red brand. 

AEW star Wants Less Tribalism

The booking of Mahal hasn’t gone unnoticed by AEW President Tony Khan, who has had some choice words for the use of the Modern-Day Maharajah. Khan took aim at Mahal, the USA Network, and Eric Bischoff in his latest Twitter outburst. In response, Mahal questioned as to who FTW Champion Hook is in a post that has since been deleted. 

Now, AEW star Dustin Rhodes has weighed into the matter. While not addressing Khan’s comments of the various responses, Rhodes asked for fans to just enjoy wrestling, and to “lighten up on the tribalism.”

WWE commentator Corey Graves would have his own response to the controversy.

Tony Khan’s Twitter

This is hardly the first time that Tony Khan has run his mouth on social media. When AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT went head-to-head last October, Khan took aim at WWE and dubbed Triple H and Shawn Michaels “bald a**holes.” Khan did a lot of talking in the run-up to the head-to-head, so it was pretty embarrassing when NXT comfortably beat Dynamite. While NXT scored one of its highest ratings of all time, AEW Dynamite scored its worst score in close to two years. 

Jinder Mahal Speaks Out After Tony Khan Name Drops Him In Latest Social Media Outburst

Aaron Varble
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Tony Khan saw that the USA Network’s official X account took a jab at him and his love of Cagematch ratings. The situation escalated quickly, and Jinder Mahal became more than aware that his name was brought into the conversation.

Tony Khan’s Unexpected Reply

Tony Khan’s most recent slew of posts on X was documented on SE Scoops. As you are probably aware, the AEW President threw shade at WWE’s booking for Jinder Mahal, as a Superstar who hadn’t won in nearly a year, but he is still getting a WWE World Heavyweight Title shot. 

Tony Khan made an argument in that post that Hook, who has a 28-1 record, is also deserving of a World Title shot.

A double standard: @730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage #AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS

Jinder Mahal Replies To Tony Khan

Jinder Mahal has a huge match against Seth Rollins on January 15th’s episode of WWE RAW. The Modern Day Maharaja saw what Tony Khan posted, but he is not going to let that distract him.

Mahal, instead of getting petty or firing off a vengeful reply, simply acted like he didn’t know who Hook is. He also took the opportunity to plug the upcoming episode of RAW in a now-deleted post. 

Who tf is Hook? WATCH MONDAY NIGHT RAW ON USA NETWORK MONDAY 8PM EST!

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It was not lost on anyone that Jinder also tagged the USA Network account that was responsible for this entire chain of events. As of this writing, the USA Network has not followed-up, but we have to wonder if they will post the Cagematch rating for Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal’s WWE World Heavyweight Title match when the numbers are released. 

Matt Riddle Claims He Was Slated To Win Money In The Bank Match Until Right Before The Show

Aaron Varble
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Matt Riddle was released from WWE in September, and he is now navigating the pro wrestling scene, doing his own thing along the way. He saw a lot in WWE, and it seems that he was also denied some major opportunities.

Matt Riddle’s Big Money in the Bank Claim

During a virtual signing hosted by Signed By Superstars, Riddle candidly discussed various aspects of his career during the two-hour session. He said that the Royal Rumble match win in 2022 was his, until Brock Lensar refused to put him over. He also claimed the Money in the Briefcase was also his for a time, but Vince McMahon picked his new favorite at the time to win instead.

The Original Bro revealed that he was originally scheduled to win the 2022 men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. However, plans took a turn, with Vince McMahon favoring Austin Theory.

“Wanna hear something else cool? I was supposed to win Money in the Bank but Vince (McMahon) really likes Austin Theory and literally hours before, they changed it and Austin was added in and threw me off the ladder. After I took two huge ladder bumps off the RKO and everything else and it’s like… But, I love Austin Theory and I’m happy for him. Keep killing it bro.”‘

Theory was Vince McMahon protégée during that angle that didn’t really get to finalize before Vince McMahon’s retirement. Austin Theory was then stuck with the Money in the Bank briefcase after that, something that hindered him more than anything. Then WWE got the briefcase off him, and he’s been much better off since then.

Riddle may get another chance to compete in a Royal Rumble or Money in the Bank match. No WWE return is off the table at this point, and that’s one thing we all learned after watching CM Punk return at Survivor Series last year. We do know that Riddle claimed that he is not bitter about his WWE release, but that doesn’t give him any shortage of things to say.

Matt Riddle After WWE

The Original Bro is going to be busy, even if he’s not making dates for WWE anymore. At MLW Kings of Colosseum, Matt Riddle made his return to in-ring action for the first time since being released by WWE. This comeback also extends to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he openly challenged World TV Champion and company President Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Tony Khan Targets WWE’s Jinder Mahal In Latest Twitter Tirade

Aaron Varble
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Tony Khan’s X account has 399.7K followers, and every single one of them are well aware that his account could explode at any moment with an unexpected post. The AEW President did not disappoint today.

How it started

This week during WWE Raw, the official USA Network X account replied to former Wrestling Inc owner Raj Giri, who was acknowledging the history between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal. 

The two former WWE Champions participated in a promo battle on the show and are set to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship next week on the January 15th episode of RAW. 

The response included a question about the Cagematch rating, seemingly taking a dig at AEW President Tony Khan, who often highlights the high Cagematch.net scores that AEW pay-per-views, shows, and matches receive.

The USA Network responded to Giri’s post to simply ask: What was the Cagematch rating?” This response blew up within the internet wrestling community, as fans both commended and criticized the account’s zero chill remark.

Tony Khan takes a shot at Jinder Mahal and WWE Booking

On January 9th, Tony Khan logged onto X, where he laid down a post about double standards. AEW has often been lauded as a “challenger brand,” and Khan was not shy about comparing Jinder Mahal’s WWE World Heavyweight Title shot to Hook being a logical challenger for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Title. 

A double standard: @730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage #AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS

… and keeps tweeting

Tony Khan was not finished there. He then directed a reply directly at the USA Network’s post asking about a Cagematch rating. The AEW President pointed out that Jinder Mahal has gone a full year without winning a match, yet he’s getting a big match opportunity.

A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it’s been literally a full year since he won a match. You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often.

Jinder Mahal Reacts

Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal replied to Tony Khan’s tweets about him and shut down in the situation in true ‘Modern Day Maharaja’ fashion.

Khan is familiar with expressing his thoughts and sparking discussions on social media. Last year, the AEW President shared a retweet, discussing how Shawn Michaels and Triple H aimed to convey a message to him through a loaded-up WWE NXT episode when their shows were in direct competition. He then proceeded to throw down a post where he called the WWE higher-ups “bald *ssholes.” 

Eric Bischoff Jumps In the Fray and things get even uglier

Tony Khan and Eric Bischoff directed some fiery tweets at each other in the aftermath of this situation. Bischoff called Khan a clown via emoji, and Tony replied by channeling the great Joan Collins to tell Bischoff he’s a ‘miserable has-been.’

A fan posted on X to say, “Tony forgets that he literally gave Abadon a title shot after being off AEW TV for over a year…. the same exact situation as Jinder.” Eric Bischoff noticed that post on X, and he replied to ask Tony Khan, “Hey Tony Khan is this true or is it a bot?”

Tony Khan then replied to Eric Bischoff, as he backed up his booking of Abadon.

No @EBischoff, not true at all. Abadon returned to AEW + then they won a 4 way match on TNT against other great wrestlers to earn a title shot, which is completely different than someone going a full year losing every match they’re in + getting a title shot without a single win.”

Tony Khan then followed that post up with another which said: “Reading would be your friend, Eric.”

Eric Bischoff promptly responded to Tony Khan, addressing AEW’s leader while referencing a Dave Meltzer quote.

“Oh kid, my reading comprehension skills are wizard like. By the way, that was one of @davemeltzerWON wicked comebacks whenever he’d get called out on his bs. Coincidence or are you really that deep?”

More reactions

Here are some more reactions from the wrestling world at Tony Khan’s latest Twitter activity:

Dragon Lee’s Visa Issues Seem To Be Cleared Up Before 1/9 WWE NXT

Aaron Varble
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WWE’s NXT brand was missing a big piece for their puzzle when Dragon Lee couldn’t make the trip back to the United States after the new year. Some documentation needed to be straightened up that 2024 undoubtably caused, but that situation is apparently okay now.

Spoiler on Dragon Lee’s WWE NXT Return

It was noted on Fightful Select that Corey Brennan has learned that Dragon Lee’s Visa situation has cleared up. He is slated to be on this week’s episode, where he will defend the NXT North American Title.

It would appear Dragon Lee’s visa situation got handled, as he is slated to defend the North American Title against Lexis King in the show’s main event.

Dragon Lee promised to be a fighting NXT North American Champion. After he won the title from Dominik Mysterio, there was also no shortage of celebration. Now, he will get to continue his reign as champion.

Carlito filled in for Dragon Lee at New Year’s Evil. The freshly-returned SmackDown Superstar led his LWO allies to victory over Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. For good measure, Carlito delivered his trademark apple-spit spot to Gulak after the match.

WWE NXT airs at 8:00 PM EST on the USA Network. Dragon Lee is expected to be on this week’s show, if you would like to see the rest of the spoilers that Fightful Select posted, then you may find that below.

WWE NXT Spoilers for 1/9 Episode: 

  • Nikkita Lyons vs. Blair Davenport is scheduled to open.
  • NXT Tag Titles: D’Angelo & Stacks defend against OTM
  • Gigi Dolin vs. Cora Jade
  • Dusty Classic: Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker vs. Gallus
  • Dusty Classic: Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger

AEW Star Rey Fenix Is Working Hard Toward His In-Ring Return

Aaron Varble
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AEW stars are not immune to injury, and this is all too apparent every time someone goes out of action for an extended period of time. Although Rey Fenix has been out of action since October, he is making strides for his return to the ring.

Fenix’s Injury Status

On October 2nd, Fenix dropped a post on Instagram, explaining how he became aware of his current injury. He wanted to be International Champion for AEW, but it just was not in the cards for him. He promised to keep battling in the ring, where he will leave it all, but that injury needed to be addressed.

The international championship has been a big challenge.The night I became champion, I left the arena with the championship in my hands and with an old injury bothering me again. My first defense was painful, it did not allow the pain to stop me and continue until the fight was over, this coming Wednesday will be my second defense and I am doing my best to enter that ring and retain the champion.I will defend this beautiful championship in any situation, a Luchador does not give up, a Luchador will always leave everything in every battle. I am a real Luchador and the man of a thousand lives, nothing and no one is going to stop me. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Fenix’s injury concerns his back, his hip, or possibly both, which poses challenges for the AEW star. He has been through a lot in his career, so the damage he put his body through understandably mounted up on him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:Cx6BheogAbG

Fenix Nearing In-Ring Return For AEW

In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Rey Fenix provided an update on his recovery efforts, acknowledging this injury as one of his most severe. Despite the setback, Fenix remains optimistic about making a return to the squared circle in the near future.

“We are working on the injury. It’s one of the worst, but I’m taking my time. I’m doing a good job with my recovery. I clear everything with the doctors. I’m following the doctor’s line. I’m doing my best and I think I think that soon I will be in the ring doing lucha libre, the thing that makes me so happy.”

Future Possibilities For The Death Triangle in AEW

AEW currently has several wrestlers sidelined due to injuries, and they are all in varying stages of rehabilitation. Despite being out of action, Fenix is putting in the effort to recover and return to the ring.

The Death Triangle, Fenix, Penta, and PAC, haven’t been full in AEW for some time. PAC has also been out of action with an injury, but 2024 may see the former AEW Trios Champions’ full-fledged return.

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