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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.

Katsuyori Shibata Plans to End His Wrestling Career in AEW

Thomas Lowson
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Katsuyori Shibata doesn’t know when his wrestling career will come to an end but intends to spend the rest of his career in AEW. 

Shibata officially became All-Elite last month but has been competing for the promotion since 2022. Merely getting to this point is a huge feat for Shibata, who suffered a subdural hematoma in 2017 after a bout with Kazuchika Okada. At the time, it was thought that Shibata’s career had ended, but he would make a return to the ring at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 in early 2022. 

Katsuyori Shibata Wants to End His Career in AEW

Speaking to Tokyo Sports, Shibata commented on his health and his tenure with AEW thus far, compared to his run with New Japan. 

“I can’t work as an affiliated fighter. I guess that (New Japan’s decision) is not wrong. But if there is no place for me, then there is no reason for me to be here. I’ve regained a lot of my senses after competing in AEW, and I feel like I want to finish my career here.”

Shibata was also asked about his health. 

“I’ve been checked by a doctor, and I’ve given him a medical certificate. If I don’t clear it, I can’t compete.”

Shibata’s most recent match took place on the November 25, episode of AEW Rampage, where he lost the ROH Pure Championship to Wheeler Yuta. He has also challenged for the AEW International Championship and the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. 

Matt Riddle Reveals Creative Plan To Dismantle RK-Bro Team In WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE released Matt Riddle from his contract in September, and while that was a surprise, many fans are now wondering what could have been. RK-Bro won’t get another run, but there were apparently plans to end their team anyway. 

The Rise of RK-Bro in WWE

Randy Orton and Matt Riddle formed an unconventional tag team in 2021. Although Orton tried, Riddle was persistent, and it created some television gold for WWE.

Originally slated to be a very short angle, RK-Bro caught fire. Soon, fans all over were cheering for the team as they carried on their weekly soap opera storyline. 

Initially, The Viper and The Original Bro had a dysfunctional dynamic, but their chemistry evolved into a cohesive tag teams. After winning the RAW Tag Team Titles, they had a nice run as champions before losing a title unification match to The Usos, and then Orton took off for 18 months.

Original Plan For RK-Bro’s Breakup

During an appearance on Signed by Superstars, Matt Riddle was asked about WWE’s plans for him and Randy Orton before his release. While being cautious not to divulge too much information, given the possibility of a WWE return, the King of Bros did reveal that there were plans for a storyline involving a heel turn for one of the two members of the RK-Bro team.

”Plan was — well we were hoping it… I don’t wanna really say how, because if I do return and then we do the story — yeah, I would say eventually all teams eventually turn on each other. I don’t wanna give the spoiler of who was gonna turn on who.”

Riddle did not specify who would be turning heel in that scenario. Orton went out of action with a back injury, one that required back fusion surgery; and that injury for the Apex Predator ended the RK-Bro team. So, a heel turn was never needed.

Exclusive Insight into RK-Bro’s Reunion Plans

After Matt Riddle was released, I reached out to inquire about RK-Bro, because I was curious. I was told by members of the creative team that there was never any plan to reunite RK-Bro.

There was never any talk of getting Matt Riddle back together with Randy Orton after The Viper’s return. Of course, Riddle was fired in September, two months prior to Orton’s Survivor Series return, where he snapped that 18-month hiatus from in-ring competition. 

Cody Rhodes: CM Punk’s Great & The Rock Electrifies, But I’m Not Flinching

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes won’t let the recent returns of CM Punk and The Rock deter him from finishing the story and becoming a WWE World Champion. 

Since returning to WWE, Rhodes has made it clear he plans on winning the title that his father never officially held. At the 2023 Royal Rumble event, Rhodes won the Men’s Rumble match, earning a shot at Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. At WrestleMania 39, Rhodes would fail to ‘finish the story’ in a shocking loss that left those in the industry in awe. 

Cody Rhodes Isn’t Flinching

Up until a few weeks back, it seemed a certainty that Rhodes would win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble and finally dethrone Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Unfortunately for the American Nightmare, the return of CM Punk at Survivor Series as well as the return of The Rock on the Day 1 Raw has left his future less clear. 

Though his long-awaited win over Roman Reigns appears to be slipping away, Cody Rhodes remains defiant that he can stand up to any WWE Superstar put in front of him. The American Nightmare made that clear when speaking with SI. 

“The Rock is The Great One–he’s still electrifying. CM Punk is one of the greatest stars in the history of wrestling. I know what I’m up against. Look at the roster–it’s loaded with stars. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m not flinching. I’m not rooting against anyone else, I’m just working to make it happen.”

No matter what comes next for Cody Rhodes, expect the American Nightmare to be his always-generous self… 

LA Knight Took Pay Cut To Make WWE Return & Was Miserable Under Vince McMahon’s Creative Vision

Aaron Varble
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LA Knight is riding a huge wave of momentum at 41-years-old. He is anything but a flash in the pan, although WWE was originally cautious about dropping a lot of merchandise for him due to that concern. Now, he can look back and see what he had to go through, and he has quite a story to tell.

LA Knight’s Road To WWE

LA Knight inked a developmental contract with WWE back in 2013, but his time there didn’t pan out, as he was released in August 2014. Naturally, this turn of events didn’t bring him any joy, but it didn’t kill his determination to make it to the top of the pro wrestling world.

Knight gained popularity as Eli Drake in Impact Wrestling, establishing himself as a major star due to his impressive promo skills and in-ring abilities. He later went to the NWA, where that Namer of Dummies character went with him. These factors paved the way for his eventual return to WWE a few years later.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet of Insight, LA Knight disclosed that upon his return to WWE, he accepted a pay cut. This was a decision he was fully aware of. He willingly took the cut, confident that he could bet on himself to eventually earn more money.

”So finally, when I did make the jump over there, there was a little bit of not necessarily negotiation, but it was just kind of like, I knew I was going to have to take a pay cut coming in. But I was willing to take the pay cut on the bet that I could turn it into much more. Because I had hit the ceiling basically in IMPACT. And I had an awesome time (in) NWA for that little bit that we were able to do before the pandemic hit.”

LA Knight Was Miserable Working With Vince McMahon’s Creative

After making his way from NXT to the WWE main roster, Vince McMahon changed LA Knight’s name to Max Dupri. That creative shift did not result in much success.

The former Eli Drake went on to open up about how this time as a male modeling agent made his miserable with creative. That was Vince McMahon’s vision, and he was calling the shots.

“(Vince McMahon) had a vision for this thing that put such a microscope on it and I didn’t know what the hell it was… and it just wasn’t going well. I was very unhappy, and I’m sure he probably was, and then at some point it was just like all of a sudden I’m not on TV, and I’m like, well, I’m pretty sure I’m fired. I’m pretty sure this whole ride is over.”

What’s Next For LA Knight in WWE?

LA Knight has a much different position in WWE now. He is 1/4 of the Undisputed Universal Title match at the Royal Rumble on January 27th. He will battle with AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and Triple H with the biggest title on SmackDown on the line. That match at Tropicana Field may turn out to be a massive notch in his belt, as LA Knight has gone through a lot to get him to this point. 

Shelton Benjamin’s First Post-WWE Booking Revealed

Thomas Lowson
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Shelton Benjamin is coming to Pro Wrestling REVOLVER’s upcoming event in March, in his first booking since his release from WWE. 

The Gold Standard was among those released in September 2023, in the first wave of cuts following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Benjamin’s most recent tenure with WWE kicked off in 2016 though he wouldn’t compete until the following year. During this run, Benjamin held the Raw Tag Team Championships (with Cedric Alexander) and the 24/7 Championship. 

Benjamin’s Post-WWE Booking

Shelton Benjamin will be a part of the REVOLVER ‘Ready or Not’ event on March 16, the promotion has confirmed. Fans will have the chance to meet the former Superstar before the show. 

Wrestling REVOLVER: Ready or Not

Fans will be able to watch Benjamin’s match, and the rest of the show, on Triller TV+ (formerly Fite TV). The show will take place at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa. Benjamin isn’t the only former Superstar fans can expect for the show, as ‘Indy God’ Matt Cardona has also been announced. Other names announced for the event include Sami Callihan, Masha Slamovich, Jake Crist, The Rascalz, SGC, Killer Kelly, and Steve Maclin.

TNA Wrestling World Champion Alex Shelley has also been announced, as has Paul Walter Hauser of Netflix’s Cobra Kai. At this time, only one match has been announced, a dream match between ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey and Marina Shafir. 

Shelton Benjamin is ready to take the wrestling world by storm, but he isn’t the only notable free agent in wrestling at the moment… 

Matt Riddle Says Brock Lesnar Refused To Let Him Win WWE Royal Rumble

Aaron Varble
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Matt Riddle was released from WWE in September last year, and he is already filling up his 2024 with dates. He will not have a match against Brock Lesnar, but that also wasn’t going to happen while he was with WWE, either.

Matt Riddle & Brock Lesnar’s Story

The history between Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar has been a popular narrative for pro wrestling fans, but the match never took place. The two had a backstage confrontation during the 2020 Royal Rumble, which garnered notable attention. 

In that Royal Rumble backstage encounter, Brock Lesnar let Matt Riddle know that he had no interest in facing him. Although they eventually briefly worked together, Riddle didn’t get the marquee match he wanted. Now, The King of Bros has alleged that Lesnar intentionally sandbagged his chances of winning the Royal Rumble match.

During an interview on Signed by Superstars, Matt Riddle alleged that he was initially told he would win the 2022 Royal Rumble, but then he claimed that Brock Lesnar refused to cooperate and insisted on winning the match himself.

“I believe — you know, it’s sports-entertainment — that I was told at one point, yeah, I was gonna win the (Royal) Rumble and everything else, and then what was it? Bobby Lashley beat Brock Lesnar because somebody came in and hit him with the belt or what have you. Then Brock came in, didn’t wanna do business with everybody, said he was winning, and then he won, and then none of the producers… nobody stood up to him, and they let him do it. I didn’t either, I didn’t either. I’m like, f*ck man, I’m just here.”

Matt Riddle is very firm on the idea that Brock Lesnar harbored animosity towards him. This belief has spurred discussions among fans, especially considering the Royal Rumble incident. 

The anticipation leading up to the 2022 Royal Rumble suggested that Matt Riddle had significant momentum, leading many fans to believe it could be his moment to finally break into the main event picture with a WrestleMania main event match. That was not in the cards for the Original Bro.

Matt Riddle’s WWE Release

Matt Riddle’s release from WWE was marked by a series of internal issues, culminating in an incident at JFK Airport while returning from WWE’s final live event in India. He had a lot of internal infractions before that. 

Despite prior support from management, Matt Riddle exhausted his chances as they found themselves unable to stand behind him any longer. The Original Bro had recently rejoined the company after an extended hiatus for rehab.

After jumping back into the indies, Matt Riddle is already securing numerous dates. His upcoming first-time-ever match against RVD in March and his anticipated return to MLW are all promising prospects. Matt Riddle won’t be hard to find after his WWE tenure is over, even if Brock Lesnar wants to track him down.

WWE Warned LA Knight That He May Be Just a Flavor Of the Month

Thomas Lowson
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LA Knight has become one of WWE’s most popular Superstars competing today, despite some thinking at first he’d just be the flavor of the month. 

2023 saw a dramatic rise in popularity for the former Max Dupri, who kicked off the year the Pitch Black match at the Royal Rumble event. Throughout the year, Knight’s popularity continued to grow as fans continued to rally behind the veteran. At WWE Crown Jewel, Knight challenged Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns but failed to dethrone the Tribal Chief.

Flavor of the Month

LA Knight is one of WWE’s top stars right now, but not everybody had high hopes for the megastar. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet of Insight, Knight recalled WWE higher-ups being hesitant to go all in on him. 

“There was skepticism at first. Is this really a thing? Is this just going to be a flash in the pan? Is this going to be a flavor of the month? And that’s a thing we had talked about and was even talked about with me. ‘Well, we don’t want to give it to you too soon because then they might get over it.’ Look, fine. If that’s the case and I’m not good enough to carry that, cool, let’s go with that.

“I understand the idea of wanting to protect me at some point as well. But I have the belief in myself that I could pivot and move and adapt to whatever the situation is. You don’t want to give it to him too soon but if try and not give it to him at all, come on man. I feel like I’m better than that. And I don’t mean that in a boisterous way, but I’m confident in what I do. I’m confident in my skills. And at the same time, I want to be able to fail. Because when I fail, I get back up.”

When Van Vliet rejected the notion that Knight has failed, the megastar corrected him and shared how crazy the past year has been. 

“I’ve failed a million times but this year has been crazy… Apparently, I’ve been married twice this year as well. [Chris says Congratulations] Thank you, even though I’m not married.”

An Overnight Success? 

While Knight’s rise in WWE has been dramatic, this chapter is just the latest in his lengthy career. On the show, Knight explained how his success was both an overnight sensation as wel as something that was a long time coming. 

“It was but it wasn’t. It was 20 years, but then it was an overnight success. It was 20 years to get the overnight success basically because all of a sudden you’ve got– anywhere I’ve been any other company, had a fraction of the audience we have now. So to any of the uninitiated, most of them are seeing me for the first time. So in a certain way, it is an overnight success to the broader audience.”

La Knight will challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble, as will Randy Orton and AJ Styles. Roman Reigns is understandly not happy about this… 

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

The Undertaker Shares Hilarious First Reaction to Mick Foley as Dude Love

Thomas Lowson
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The Undertaker may have faced giants, kings, and even himself, but nothing could have prepared him for the enigmatic Dude Love persona. 

The oldest of Mick Foley’s iconic characters, the WWE Hall of Famer first crafted Dude Love while still in his youth. The fun-loving character was brought to the WWF years later after Foley had competed around the world as the ultra-violent Cactus Jack and the tortured soul known as Mankind. 

The Undertaker Reacts to Dude Love

On a recent episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker spoke about the Dude Love persona. The Phenom recalled seeing Dude Love for the first time and questioning how he’d ever sold for Mick. 

“I remember when he started doing Dude Love. He passed me in the hall and he could tell by the look on my face…I’ve sold more for him than anybody ever. We’ve been through hell and back together. Then here he is…Dude Love and all this tie-dyed stuff.

“He was getting into character and he was walking down the hall. Then he’d seen me and then he’d seen the look on my face. I’ll never forget him just dropping his head and walking by [like] ‘I’m sorry.’ It’s like, ‘I can’t believe I sold for you.'”

Mick Foley & The Undertaker

The Undertaker and Dude Love never faced off, but Mick Foley shared the ring several times with The Undertaker. The pair’s most iconic match came in Pittsburgh at the 1998 King of the Ring event, where the pair battled in, and on top of Hell in a Cell. 

Latest on Giovanni Vinci After Injury On Day 1 Episode of WWE Raw

Thomas Lowson
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Fans won’t be seeing Giovanni Vinci in the ring for some time after the Imperium member suffered an injury during last week’s episode of Raw. 

During the Day 1 episode of WWE Raw, Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser faced the tag-team experts Jey Uso and Kofi Kingston. The match came to a sudden conclusion when Kingston dropkicked Vinci and his head caught the back of the mat on the way down. After a consultation, medical officials at ringside determined that Vinci couldn’t compete. The match ended without a winner being determined. 

Update on Giovanni Vinci

During this week’s Raw, it was announced that Vinci would be out for “a number of weeks” due to the situation that unfolded on last week’s Raw. WWE has still not publicly disclosed details about the issue with Vinci. On Twitter, the Italian Superstar told fans “Sto bene. Grazie mille” which means “I’m fine, thanks a lot.”

A Feud Brewing?

On this week’s Raw, Ludwig Kaiser showed a new level of aggression in his singles match with Kofi Kingston. The match ended with a double count-out as Kaiser was attacking Kingston on the outside of the ring and would not stop to break the ref’s ten-count. 

On social media, WWE shared footage of Kingston being taken backstage after the match. It was noted that Kingston is being evaluated by medical staff but an update on his condition is not public knowledge at this time. 

Ludwig Kaiser was recently the victim of a sweet-treat incident at a WWE live event… 

Grayson Waller is “Fearing for His Life” Thanks to Madman Punching People in WWE

Thomas Lowson
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WWE SmackDown Superstar Grayson Waller is ‘fearing for his life’ due to a string of attacks, but it’s not CM Punk who’s to blame. 

In a video shared on Twitter, Waller spoke about his issues with Kevin Owens. The prizefighter made a surprise appearance on last week’s WWE NXT and attacked Waller during his match with Trick Williams. 

“2024 hasn’t really started off the way that I was hoping for. Last Tuesday, I go to NXT because Ilja Dragunov is too scared to fight Trick Williams, and I save the show. You’re welcome, Shawn Michaels. But what thanks do I get? I get assaulted, punched in the face by Kevin Owens for no reason at all.”

Waller then spoke about being at SmackDown in Vancouver, where he saw U.S. Champion Logan Paul suffer a similar fate. 

“I got cuts inside my lip, my jaw is sore. What do I see while I’m watching the show? Kevin Owens punches Logan Paul, the United States Champion, in the face for no reason at all. Me and Theory had enough. We go and check on Logan backstage. Because you know what? We’re starting to fear for our lives backstage. There’s a madman running around punching people.”

Waller’s comment about fearing for his life is an obvious nod to CM Punk’s release from AEW in September of last year. Addressing an AEW Collision crowd in Chicago after Punk’s release, Tony Khan claimed he was left fearing for his life during the Punk-Jack Perry altercation at AEW All In. 

This isn’t the first time that Grayson Waller has poked fun at CM Punk’s exit from AEW… 

H/T – WrestleZone

AEW’s Swerve Strickland Lands Role In Upcoming Slasher Movie

Thomas Lowson
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The star power of Swerve Strickland is only continuing to grow with the AEW wrestler landing a role in an upcoming slasher movie. 

Strickland will star in ‘Stiletto‘, a new film from Samuel Gonzalez Jr. which will see Gigi Gustin (Night of the Missing) star and produce. Other names attached to the film include Charlotte McKinney (Fantasy Island), Colleen Camp (Amsterdam, American Hustle), Pancho Moler (3 from Hell), Tyler Abron (Fear), and Stephen Blackehart (Guardians of the Galaxy)

A plot summary for the film reads as follows: 

“A year after the grisly murder of a local exotic dancer, the victim’s sister, Lyric [Gustin], searches for the serial killer responsible as he stalks and kills his favorite dancers on the night of the anniversary.”

It is unclear what role Strickland will have in the film. He is being represented by Fourth Wall Management and this will be his feature film debut. 

What’s Next for Swerve Strickland? 

While Strickland has yet to hold singles gold in AEW, many feel his time will come, possibly this year. Last month, Strickland declared that he will be AEW’s first African American World Champion, a goal he plans on achieving in 2024. Whatever Strickland’s future holds, it seemingly won’t include Keith Lee. The former allies were set to face off at Worlds End before Lee was pulled from the show due to a persistent injury. Speaking after the event, Strickland said he was done waiting for the Limitless One. 

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