Adam Copeland wore one of his iconic pieces of ring gear last weekend at AEW Worlds End for his match against Christian Cage.
Copeland has had many memorable feuds throughout his decades-long career. His 2006 rivalry against fellow Hall of Famer Mick Foley stands out as one of his best. It culminated at WrestleMania 22, when the Rated R Superstar survived a Hardcore match against the hardcore legend to extend his WrestleMania record to 5-0.
Edge kept his WrestleMania 22 gear. All these years later, he decided his match against Christian at Worlds End was the perfect opportunity to wear it one more time.
Edge’s WrestleMania 22 Gear
Copeland recently spoke with Sam Roberts on the Not Sam wrestling podcast and explained that he wanted to wear the WrestleMania 22 gear to signify the level of violence (and fire) he was going to bring to that match.0
He still had the Rated R Superstar camouflage pants, whoever somebody stole the Dickie’s work shirt that went with it when he was at a show in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He then told a funny story about taking his family to a Walmart in North Carolina looking for a shirt to recreate the one he lost.
He wound up teaching himself how to hammer double sided rivets into shirts, so he could punch all the holes necessary to have the leather ‘star’ on the shirt that the original had. “It was a process!”
Here’s Adam Copeland’s 2-hour interview with Sam Roberts for NotSam Wrestling:
The Viking Raiders have been absent from WWE television lately. Erik, one half of the imposing team, is dealing with health issues. He is out of action due to a neck injury, but he’s trying hard to repair the damage.
Erik Rowan’s Neck Injury
Erik’s last pro wrestling match occurred on the September 14th episode of WWE Main Event. Although initially slated for the September 18th episode of WWE RAW, he couldn’t take part in that event due to injury.
Erik recently underwent C6/C7 neck fusion surgery and is currently in the process of recovery. To aid in his rehabilitation, Erik and his partner Valhalla went to get stem cell therapy at the Ways2Well clinic in Austin, Texas.
In a recent update, Erik spoke about the toll that over 20 years in professional wrestling has taken on his body. He may be on the injured list right now, but the Viking Raider seems confident that he will return.
During the discussion, Erik highlighted the importance of the source of stem cells used in their therapy. He also expressed relief in discovering that the stem cells were sourced from amniotic donor stem cells, harvested from scheduled C-section procedures without causing harm.
“It was actually the first question I asked – what was the source of the stem cells that are used in treatments in Ways2Well? And I was very relieved to learn it was all amniotic donor stem cells. So, it’s all from a scheduled C-section from a mother’s tissue. It’s amniotic, there’s no harm done in the harvesting, which was super important to us.”
Erik’s Personal Relationship With The Viking Raiders
Ivar, Erik, and Valhalla form the WWE’s Viking Raiders faction. The Viking Raiders were known as War Machine prior to entering WWE, so they have years of time together.
The team will have to take a breather while Erik recovers, but Triple H has made good use of Ivar in the meantime, spotlighting him on several occasions.
Erik and Valhalla, formerly known as Sarah Logan, were married in December 2018 after being together for years. Their family expanded with the arrival of their son, Raymond Cash Rowe, in February 2021.
The exact timeline for Erik’s return to the wrestling ring remains unclear as he progresses through his recovery.
Why Stem Cell Therapy Is Controversial
Stem cell therapy has been a topic of debate due to ethical concerns related to the source of stem cells. The use of embryonic stem cells, derived from embryos, sparked moral and ethical discussions because of the destruction of human embryos involved in their extraction. That led to strict regulations and limitations on the use of embryonic stem cells in different regions worldwide.
Stem cell therapy holds potential for medical advancements and treating various conditions. The ability of stem cells to differentiate into different cell types makes them valuable for regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy has seen documented success in treating diseases such as leukemia, spinal cord injuries, and specific types of cancer.
While the debate around stem cell therapy centers around the need to consider ethical concerns while recognizing its potential to transform medical treatments, Erik of the Viking Raiders can attest to the fact that stem cell therapy is effective.
New Japan Pro Wrestling has experienced significant changes in recent weeks, all of which were set in motion well in advance. The company has now officially introduced the Global Heavyweight Title and Junior Tag Team Titles ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 18.
NJPW’s New Leadership
The recent shift in leadership was a big one, with Hiroshi Tanahashi appointed as the new President of NJPW. This decision was made during a meeting of NJPW’s board of directors and shareholders on December 23rd, 2023.
Tanahashi’s presidency implies even more changes. They are getting started with some revamped title belt designs.
Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, and David Finlay are set to compete against each other to determine the first IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2024, replacing the now-defunct IWGP United States/United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship.
At the official Wrestle Kingdom 18 press conference, the company unveiled the Global Heavyweight Championship, set to be defended soon.
Then, later on, The Bullet Club War Dogs, Drilla Moloney, and Clark Connors secured the IWGP Junior Tag Team Titles on July 4th at Independence Day against Catch 2/2. Since then, Connors and Moloney have been focused on making a big name for themselves in NJPW, one that they intend on amplifying.
The team introduced new versions of the IWGP Junior Tag Team Titles at a press conference before Wrestle Kingdom. They also took some time to cut a heel promo on the entire Junior Tag Team Division, including anyone who held those old titles.
The spirit of Hulkamania is set to be celebrated by WWE, but it’s uncertain whether Hulk Hogan will be making a televised appearance.
Hogan captured the WWF Championship for the first time on January 23, 1984, which is widely recognized as the day that ‘Hulkamania’ was born. Hogan would capture the title from The Iron Sheik, who proved to be a transitional champion after dethroning seven-year champion Bob Backlund. The Iron Sheik won the title due to Vince McMahon wanting the gold on Hogan but didn’t want the Hulkster to dethrone his fellow babyface.
A Celebration of Hulkamania
Wrestle Votes reports that WWE is planning quite the celebration to mark 40 years of Hulkamania’s birth. New pieces of merchandise and collectibles about Hogan’s win are in store. The report adds that an appearance by Hogan isn’t out of the question, but is not being planned as of right now. Hogan’s most recent appearance for WWE came as part of the Raw is XXX episode in January 2023.
Hulk Hogan: Superhero and Sinner
Hogan is considered by many to be one of, if not the single most influential professional wrestler the industry has ever seen. Hogan’s clean-cut babyface would enamor fans for years during the appropriately named Hulkamania Era, while his transformation into Hollywood Hogan and formation of the NWO would usher in the era of ‘cool heels.’
The Hulkster is also considered one of wrestling’s most controversial names. In 2015, Hogan was fired from WWE after racist comments he’d made years earlier came to light. Hogan was also removed from WWE’s Hall of Fame but was reappointed and welcomed back into the company in 2018. While WWE has forgiven Hogan (and given him a second HOF induction) fans have been less accepting of the Hulkster, who has often faced claims of politicking at the expense of other wrestlers. Hogan’s controversies are set to be covered in a new series coming to VICE TV.
Hulk Hogan recently shared how difficult it has been for his body after having so many surgeries. Click here to find out more.
Adam Copeland entered AEW after allowing his WWE deal to expire. That was quite a shocking moment for fans all over, but he’s embracing this late chapter of his career and intends to make the most of it.
During a recent discussion with Sam Roberts for the Not Sam Wrestling podcast, the Copeland shared candid feelings about wrestling at 50 years old. He still senses the addictive nature of the business and feels capable competing at a high level, but doesn’t want to overstay his welcome.
“Well, it is it is and it is addictive, yeah, there’s no way around it. I’ve tried to explain to people, ‘You got theme music and as soon as a note hits, a crowd erupts. And you get pyro, and do like, you are a puppet master in a way because you’re telling a story live, and you’re getting instant gratification to know whether that story is hitting on all cylinders. If it’s falling flat, whatever it is, that’s super fun, and there’s a lot of little stuff in there in that bottle. Yeah, and that.. that’s… that’s tough to walk away from, when I was forced to.”
After departing WWE, he looked at the AEW roster and saw new challenges and lots of talent he wants to work with. It’s important for veterans to pass along their knowledge to the next generation, but Copeland says some ‘legends’ just don’t know when to walk away. He doesn’t want to be that 60 year old guy who is clinging on to the past.
“I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way at all, but I just don’t want to be that guy… maybe this is how I know I’m getting older. I’m at the point now where when I saw Dennis Stamp on ‘Beyond The Mat’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s the guy you don’t want to be.’ But now I’m like, there is a certain romance to being that guy who’s just like, ‘Nope, this is my life and this is what I’m doing and I’m fully just I’m accepting it.”
Dennis Stamp was featured in Beyond The Mat, and his part in the documentary was both sad and enlightening for many. Copeland does not want to repeat any of those mistakes that he has seen veterans make as they cling onto the spotlight, even chasing it to disastrous ends.
When will Adam Copeland retire?
Adam Copeland has been given the gift to retire on his terms, so when will that be? He’s trying to stay realistic and sees himself competing for two or three years tops.
“Even though it’s been four or five years back now, it’s not like I got another four or five in front of me. I know I don’t. We’re looking at like a two year window here to be able to get as much done as I can get done, tell as many stories as I can”
Copeland and Christian are still engaged in a feud on television. This is something that Copeland wanted out of his time in AEW, but he also wants to work with other stars that he has not had a chance to share the ring with yet.
Through it all, Adam Copeland may be approaching an actual in-ring retirement eventually, but he will not lose focus or perspective.
It may have been years since Zac Efron donned the basketball jersey of Troy Bolton, but his time with High School Musical would help him prep for The Iron Claw.
The A24 biopic delves into the lives, careers, and many tragedies of the Von Erich family. Efron plays Kevin Von Erich alongside Jeremy Allen White (Kerry) and Harris Dickinson (David). Several wrestlers appear in the film including MJF (as Lance Von Erich), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Ed ‘The Sheik’ Farhat), and Ryan Nemeth (Gino Hernandez).
Zac Efron on Dancing & Wrestling
Speaking to W Magazine, Efron spoke about how his background in dance, such as those seen in High School Musical, helped prepare him for the world of professional wrestling.
“Dancing and wrestling are surprisingly similar. There’s a choreographed element to both, and the more you do it, the better you get. Also, just the sense of moving with a partner: Sometimes you lead, and sometimes you’re holding on to the other guy. The learning curve for wrestling is you just go for it. For stuff like climbing up on the ropes and jumping off, you’ve just got to nut up and go for it. There’s no real practicing.”
Efron admitted to not being a wrestling fan growing up but chalked this up to him and his brother being banned from watching the sport. In the interview, Efron added that people often sing songs from High School Musical to mess with him, and The Iron Claw proved to be no exception.
“We had a scene where we show up to a party where Stanley, I think, is singing a song. He performed it live, and then they just continued to move on to another song, and it was something from High School Musical. I had to stay in character while that was going on, and everybody else was just losing it.”
Could Zac Efron one day step into the ring for real at an event for AEW? Don’t count it out! Click here to find out more.
Wrestling factions can go through a lot of changes in their lifetimes. Groups and and remove members, often violently.
WWE Hall of Famer Edge (Adam Copeland) and Damian Priest launched The Judgment Day as a duo, but it did not stay like that for long. Today’s incarnation is one of the most dominant forces in WWE, but the group looks quite different from what Copeland originally had in mind.
Judgment Day grew to be one of the biggest draws in WWE. With Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, the group is featured heavily on WWE television. Although they never took a turn into the supernatural realm as was originally rumored for the stable, they certainly took on a new life of their own.
While speaking to Sam Roberts on the Not Sam Wrestling podcast, Copeland spoke about the original concept for the Judgment Day.
Original Plan For WWE’s Judgment Day Stable
The Rated R Superstar says the Judgment Day came about when he was approached about starting up a ‘New Brood,’ the Attitude Era’s gothic trio of Edge, Christian and Gangrel. The Brood helped put Edge and Christian on the map when they first arrived on the scene in WWE, so maybe Copeland could do something similar for one of WWE’s rising stars.
“Well, you know, with the initial inception of the Judgement Day, I really I wanted it to be these underutilized talents that I thought could be far more than what they were being utilized for. Rhea Ripley is a star and Damian Priest is a star and Finn Balor’s a star.
So initially, it was brought to me like, ‘Hey, we want to kind of start a New Brood,’ or something that feels somewhat like that. I’m like, ‘Who would it be?’ I was like, ‘Ripley and Priest.’ ‘Well, we want it go be four.’ So, it’s like.. Balor! Okay, well, then it was like, ‘We want somebody really huge.’ I was like, okay.. all right.. and then I got a text two weeks later. ‘How about Balor?’ I’m like, ‘Yep! amazing idea.’ [Laughing]”
Edge was kicked out of Judgment Day when Finn Balor made his way to the stable. After that, the Rated R Superstar and his former stable went their separate ways.
As Judgment Day remains a stable on WWE programming, they still have Edge to thank. They might not publicly thank the man who helped start the faction, because he is with AEW now, but they know where the genesis of that sable came from.
One name fans shouldn’t expect to hear from tonight is MJF himself. The former AEW World Champion is reportedly taking time off to heal up from injuries. MJF acquired several injuries throughout his run as champion but reportedly insisted on seeing his reign to the end. MJF’s profile has been removed from AEW’s roster website, seemingly referencing MJF’s contract expiring on January 1. However, it is believed that MJF signed a lengthy new deal with AEW months ago.
AEW Dynamite – January 3
Tonight’s show will see the triumphant return of Samoa Joe, fresh off his victory at Worlds End. The show will also see the AEW International Championship on the line as record-breaking champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Dante Martin.
.@lucha_angel1 is back in full force and is looking for an opportunity at #AEW gold!
Mariah May will also make her AEW in-ring debut during tonight’s edition of Dynamite. The British wrestler will face Queen Aminata. Swerve Strickland will take on Daniel Garcia while fans will hear from the two-time and new AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage.
Appearing at the Wrestle Kingdom 18 press conference, Danielson spoke about his previous showdown with Okada and the effect his broken arm had on his life.
“That led to me not being able to carry my son, it led to a tag match where he broke my orbital bone, led me to not being able to drive my kids to school and now to here. So am I angry, yes. Am I hungry for revenge, yes.”
Danielson then made his threat to Okada ahead of their much-anticipated match tomorrow.
“I’ve said I was going to break Okada’s arm for two reasons. I want revenge. But I also want to see if breaking his arm will break him, or make him better. And after I break his arm, I’ll kick his f**king head in.”
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 will take place on January 4, from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The show will feature talent from NJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and AEW. Wrestle Kingdom 18 will also be the first event to feature Hiroshi Tanahashi as the new president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
WWE has spent a long time planting the seeds of the much-rumored showdown between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Rock.
The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show, which at first appeared to be Jinder Mahal. The Modern-Day Maharaja ran down the United States before the return of The Rock who laid out Mahal with a Spinebuster and his People’s Elbow.
WWE Teasing The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns
It wasn’t just Mahal who The Rock had his eyes on during the Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw. During his promo, the Great One also asked the fans if they’d like to see him as Head of the Table, alluding to taking the spot held by Roman Reigns. Reigns had quite the reaction to his cousin’s threat on social media.
The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns has been a dream match for fans for years and it is something that WWE has been working on for just as long. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Reigns being christened ‘The Tribal Chief’ in 2020 was setting up a showdown with the Brahma Bull.
“That whole thing, ‘The Head of the Table’ and all that, and ‘Tribal Chief,’ was all done originally to build up the Roman Reigns-Rock match.”
Charlie Dempsey’s attempts to bring the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Title to the No Quarter Catch Crew were in vain at the promotion’s recent event.
Last month, it was announced that Dempsey would be competing for AJPW, in a rare instance of WWE allowing one of their stars in another promotion. In a video, William Regal (Dempsey’s father) spoke about his own career in Japan before announcing that Dempsey would be working the AJPW show. This also proved to be Regal’s first public acknowledgment of the WWE NXT Superstar as his son.
Charlie Dempsey Competes in All Japan
On December 31, Katsuhiko Nakajima defeated Kento Miyahara to retain the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship and set up the title defense against Dempsey. Heading into their title match, Dempsey held a victory over the champion, having bested Nakajima in a previous tag-team match.
At the January 3, show, the champion and challenger held nothing back in their efforts to leave with the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Title. Dempsey was called the ‘Ace of NXT’ by the ring announcer. You can check out highlights of the match below.
After Dempsey exited the ring, Nakajima was approached by Shotaro Ashino, who has been out since May 2023 with a fractured left forearm. Before his injury, Ashino had won the Champion Carnival tournament, earning himself a shot at the Triple Crown. He made his return to the ring on December 31.
Back in the United States, things didn’t go any better for Dempsey’s allies in the No Quarter Catch Crew. Click here to find out more.
Dragon Lee was unable to make it to this week’s WWE NXT, but the reigning North American Champion lived up to his promise of a huge surprise.
This week’s show was NXT’s ‘New Year’s Evil’ episode and marked the first edition of the gold brand of 2024. The show was scheduled to see NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defend against Trick Williams, who earned a title shot by winning the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline. Due to the kayfabe injury ’caused’ by Ridge Holland, Dragunov was pulled from the show. Williams would retain his spot as Number One Contender with a win over Grayson Waller.
Carlito on WWE NXT
Another match that was changed was the six-man tag pitting the LWO against the No Quarter Catch Crew. Dragon Lee was supposed to be in the match but was not in the U.S. at the time. On Twitter before the show, Lee explained how Visa issues were keeping him in Mexico, but promised a surprise for the match.
Feliz año nuevo! Sad news to kick off the year, but due to visa issues I am unable to leave Mexico right now. Por eso, I will miss @WWENXT New Years Evil… But the LWO has a big surprise for the NQCC and the NXT Universe tomorrow night.
That surprise turned out to be Carlito, who led his LWO allies to victory over Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. For good measure, Carlito delivered his trademark apple-spit to Gulak after the match.
Carlito wasn’t the only notable name to appear on this week’s episode of WWE NXT. During the aforementioned match between Trick Williams and Grayson Waller, Kevin Owens appeared to attack his SmackDown rival. The two have been at odds for some time, with Owens taking issue with both the Australian and his ally Austin Theory.
WWE 2K23 may feature some of the top names past and present to work for the promotion, but it also features IMPACT/TNA’s own Jordynne Grace.
WWE 2K23 is the tenth game in the 2K series and was released in March of 2023. The game was released for PS4, PS5, Windows, and the Xbox series of consoles. The game was released to generally positive reviews and it is the highest-rated pro wrestling game on Metacritic since WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006.
Jordynne Grace in WWE 2K23
WWE 2K23 marked the video game debut of Ivy Nile, who was part of the ‘Race to NXT’ pack of downloadable content. This pack included Trick Williams, Wendy Choo, Tony D’Angelo, and WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race. Nile has a 74 ranking in the game.
While Nile is part of WWE 2K23, the promotion did not use her when crafting her moveset for the game. When a fan on Twitter said Nile could be the daughter of Scott Steiner and Jordynne Grace, the latter revealed that she was brought in to do motion capture for WWE 2K23. Grace also had a positive view on Nile, describing her as “dope.”
I actually did motion capture for her stuff in the 2K game. She’s dope https://t.co/Jdw4LigFQJ
Ivy Nile made her debut for WWE in 2020 at an NXT live event in Ocala, Florida. She has competed on WWE NXT and WWE NXT UK and has challenged for the NXT Women’s Championship and NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships. On this week’s Day 1 edition of Raw, she unsuccessfully challenged WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
Brooke Hogan is no stranger to the limelight, as she was a star on Hogan Knows Best, and many fans remember her from TNA Wrestling. In recent memory, it appears that she has elected to do things a bit more privately.
Brooke Hogan’s Secret Wedding
Brooke Hogan, daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, reportedly got married last year in a private ceremony, but her ceremony took place a while ago, and it was a very private engagement.
According to TMZ Sports, Brooke Hogan got married to former NHL defenseman Steven Oleksy on June 8th, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. The ceremony involved only the bride and groom, with another event later in the month with Oleksy’s family in Michigan.
We have not seen any photos from this super secret wedding, nor do we know who was on the guest list.
Who Is Brooke Hogan’s Husband, Steven Oleksy?
Steven Oleksy played 62 NHL regular-season games with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins from 2012 to 2017. During this time, Oleksy recorded three goals and 16 assists for 19 points, along with a solid plus-15 rating.
Originally from Chesterfield, Michigan, Oleksy went undrafted after playing collegiately at Lake Superior State University but worked his way up through the minors, making his NHL debut after stints in the ECHL, IHL, and AHL.
Even though he hasn’t played in an NHL game since 2017, Oleksy extended his professional career for an additional five seasons, competing in the AHL, ECHL, and an Austrian league.
Nick Hogan Update
In other news, Brooke Hogan’s brother, Nick Hogan, is dealing with his own life-changing circumstances. He was arrested for DUI in early December 2023, a problem he has yet to take care of yet.
Police body camera footage of Nick Hogan’s DUI arrest showed Hulk Hogan showing up as well. He needed the assistance of a cane to walk, and he was not in a situation he enjoyed at all. We can only imagine that Brooke Hogan’s wedding had a much better atmosphere.
According to Fightful Select, that Fatu’s deal with TNA is set to expire very soon and that sources within WWE have said that they feel confident they could re-sign the former Naomi.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 2, 2024
Not only that, but others believe that the company expected it to happen. One source from WWE actually said the following:
“Something huge would have to happen for her to not end up back in WWE sooner than later, but this is a crazy free agent period.”
Trinity has undoubtedly established herself outside of WWE as she made the move to IMPACT and it didn’t take her long to become the Knockouts Champion.
She’s to face Jordynne Grace at Hard To Kill, the official PPV showcasing the TNA rebrand.
Reverberations From Trinity’s WWE Walkout
Fatu would have plenty incentive to return to WWE considering her husband Jimmy Uso is still with the company, but there is an interesting aspect to all this. Fatu notoriously walked out of WWE back in May of 2022 with Mercedes Mone and from how it seems, Mone is expected to join AEW in what is absolutely a “crazy free agent period” for pro wrestling.
Andrade and Miro threw down at AEW Worlds End, and the Redeemer won that confrontation. That was also Andrade’s final match in AEW, as he put the former Rusev over on his way out. Now, Andrade has a message for those he is leaving behind in AEW.
Andrade’s Message About His AEW Exit
Andrade El Idolo has officially left AEW and made his sentiments public on X regarding his departure. He did so with a text graphic. In his statement, he relayed appreciation to the company, particularly singling out Tony Khan.
Andrade also mentioned several individuals by name, including Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Tazz, Tony Shiavone, Aubrey Edwards, Jerry Lynn, Will Hobbs, Hook, Eddie Kingston, Ricky Starks, Orange Cassidy, Thunder Rosa, Jack Perry (Jungle Boy), Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Sonjay Dutt, and many others.
Andrade also addressed sharing the ring with people like Sting, PAC, Darby Allin, Jeff Hardy, Jay Lethal, and more. He had some great experiences in AEW, but now he is going onto the next phase of his life.
“I want to thank you for this time that I belonged to the company @aew and above all to Tony khan I also want to say goodbye to all the talent, security people, cameramen, referees and everyone who works in the company for being part of my time in AEW. Kenny, young bucks, Tazz, Shiavone, Aubrey, Jerry, Hobbs, hook, Kingston, Ricky, Orange, thunder, jack Perry, Austin, Colten, Sonjay and many more that I can name, also how to forget all the Mexicans (todo el relajo) | enjoyed sharing the ring with STING, PAC, Darby, García, Jay and many more. I would have loved to face MOX, Page, Hobbs, Ricky, Dante, Cage, Dustin. Thank you AEW AND Thank you to all the fans for your support always. I wish you the best always!!!”
Andrade El Idolo is expected to make a return to WWE at this point. His wife, Charlotte Flair, inked a new extension with the company, which is one of the biggest female contracts in pro wrestling history.
WWE did not book Andrade el Idolo to return during the January 1st Day 1 RAW. There are other possible events for him to make that big debut at, especially with Triple H calling the shots.
A former NXT and IMPACT Wrestling star is scheduled for a court appearance on January 3 following a DUI charge she received back in May 2023.
Kimber Lee, real name Kimberly Frankele, will be appearing in court due to a DUI and Resisting an Office with Violence and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. Frankele pled not guilty to all charges back in July and she waived her right to a speedy trial.
Lee, 33, reportedly was described to have “blood shot watery eyes, and she slurred as she spoke,” when Officer Roberts pulled her over. According to Roberts, Lee kept “Forgetting why and asked me several times when (sic) I was messing with her.” She also was very difficult with handing over her driver’s license, tried to leave the premises, which ultimately led to Lee striking Roberts after he tried to handcuff her.
Roberts decribed the incident as follows:
“[Kimber Lee] began kicking me in the chest and in my face, busting my lip and the gums in my mouth. At one point, the subject grabbed the cell phone and after I removed it from her hands and after I removed it from her hands, again I tried to place the restraints on her, and she my left hand twice hard enough to break my skin a (sic) bleed from it.”
MLW is returning to Florida, a state where it all began for the promotion over two decades ago.
Major League Wrestling will be ringing in spring with one of their primary PLEs, War Chamber and the event will take place at Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL.
MLW made the announcement on Tuesday, giving fans plenty of time to purchase tickets in advance as the sale begins Friday, January 5.
The Coliseum certainly has its ties to the legacy of MLW as the venue last hosted the promotion all the way back in August 2003.
On the MLW website, the company gave further information on the history behind the Coliseum, noting that it’s been around since 1924.
Since the pandemic, MLW has greatly made Philadelpha its unofficial residence as they’ve hosted several of their live events at the 2300 Arena, originally the ECW Arena, on the corner of Swanson & Ritner.
However, the company has begun to venture out once more, most notably hitting an old haunt, The Melrose Ballroom in Queens, NY. MLW CEO Court Bauer and his crew also have added Chicago back on its list, making their return to Cicero Stadium in the Windy City.
2024 should be an intriguing year for Major League Wrestling as it just lost one of its primary stars in Alex Hammerstone to free agency. In the same turn, there have been some high-profile returns for the company. Matt Riddle, Tom Lawlor, Richard Holliday, Salina de la Renta and the promotion’s first-ever World Champion, Satoshi Kojima have all resurfaced as of recent.
AEW star Malakai Black recently fired back at a fan, who made bold claims regarding him not competing in singles matches.
The former NXT Champion has been leading The House of Black stable, which comprises of Brody King and Buddy Matthews since returning from injury in October last year.
Black had been recuperating with a slight calf tear and knee hyperextension which put him on the sidelines for several months. However, fans have noticed that Malakai Black has not been competing in singles matches for quite some time now which sparked a rumor.
One of the fans on social media claimed that Black has not only refused to lose singles matches but he has prioritized other talent over himself.
Malakai Black responds
Black couldn’t help but fire back at the fan and called him a “goofb**l” and said that the claim was “bull****” and the former Aleister Black made it clear that he has never refused to lose or put someone over.
“Usually I don’t reply because these laughable takes from goofb*lls like this nerd is why this place is the equivalent of people opening their front doors and screaming their excrement laced opinions into the street, however: bull*****, never happened, isn’t a thing. Happy NY.”
Usually I don’t reply because these laughable takes from goofballs like this nerd is why this place is the equivalent of people opening their front doors and screaming their excrement laced opinions into the street, however: bullshit, never happened, isn’t a thing. Happy ny. https://t.co/5kJ6X3YGjo
It is well noted that Black hasn’t competed in a singles match in over a year and it is something to think about. There were teases that he and Bryan Danielson would ignite a feud last year. However, AEW went in a different direction when Danielson suffered an injury.
It is unclear when Malakai Black will return to singles competition as he continues to compete in trios bouts with the other members of House of Black for the time being. In the past he has expressed his frustrations with the lack of singles matches in AEW. Read more below:
Triple H is now the man spearheading WWE’s creative direction, as he breaks barriers and records with the company Vince McMahon brought to power. The Game is a student of pro wrestling, but he wasn’t always under WWE’s roof. Once he was in WWE, Triple H stayed, but it took getting fired from WCW to get him there.
Why Triple H Was Fired From WCW
While speaking to Inside The Ropes, Eric Bischoff was questioned about letting so many people go like Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and Triple H. He had all of them in WCW prior to their historic WWE runs, but Bischoff fired them all for different reasons.
Eric Bischoff commented on Triple H’s early career in WCW, noting that while he was good, it was challenging to foresee him becoming a star in 1993. Bischoff also acknowledged Triple H’s marriage to the boss’s daughter, emphasizing that he was a dedicated student of the game, a great performer, but not on the level of superstars like The Rock or Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Although Eric Bischoff recognized Triple H as a reliable utility player who worked hard, studied wrestling, and maintained consistency, leading to his eventual breakthrough; that wasn’t enough to keep Terra Ryzing in World Championship Wrestling.
“Triple H. He was just starting out. He was good. But there’s nobody that’s going to be honest about it that could go back and look at Triple H in 1993 and go ‘Oh, he’s gonna be a star.’ He married the boss’s daughter. It is what it is folks. This isn’t gonna do me any good. I think Paul Levesque, Triple H, he’s a student. He really is a student of the game. He is a great performer. But he’s never been a Rock.”
“He’s never been an Austin. He’s never been a Cena. He’s been a great utility player at a certain level. He’s been around forever but he’s never been a superstar. In 1993 I don’t believe anybody that’s really being honest can say ‘Yeah, when I saw him in 1993, I knew he was going to be a big star.’ He just worked hard. He studied. He did the right things.”
“He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t do drugs. He just studies professional wrestling. He worked his way up to a point where he was able to break through because he was so consistent. He was so good and so consistent, but he was never great.”
Eric Bsichoff’s Role in the Monday Night Wars
The Monday Night Wars was a competition between WWE and WCW, primarily led by Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff, respectively. WWE’s Monday Night Raw and WCW’s Monday Nitro went head-to-head, battling for television ratings. Ted Turner, the owner of WCW, provided financial backing and support for Bischoff’s strategies, aiming to dethrone McMahon’s WWE.
Eric Bischoff, the mastermind behind WCW’s surge, implemented the strategy of giving away spoilers and live results to entice viewers to watch his show instead of WWE’s. This led to 83 weeks of domination for WCW, even though WWE was working hard to cultivate new stars on their own show, some that Eric Bischoff had fired along the way.
Vince McMahon responded by introducing edgier content, including the infamous Attitude Era, which featured stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley’s Mankind character, and Triple H.
The Monday Night Wars eventually came to an end when Vince McMahon bought his competition. Eric Bischoff had a deal worked up to purchase WCW before that, but it did not come with any television deal attached.
WWE, on the other hand, went on to book their Invasion storyline with whatever WCW talent they could bring in who weren’t under huge contracts with Ted Turner to sit at home and collect paychecks.
Thinking of the Rock/Cody Mania situation and am reminded of that Conan O'Brien joke when he lost the Tonight Show. "To the kids out there watching: You can do anything you want in life…unless Jay Leno wants to do it too."
I was sitting at home, minding my own business, watching the University of Michigan continue to prove the universe does not arc toward justice, when a friend sent a text.
I’ve known Shawn Stidham for 20 years. He’s the best radio host in the history of wrestling. Stidham and Rhode Island’s Rod Siciliano were kind enough to let a stuttering Midwest kid with a slow yarning draw on their radio shows during the Monday Night Wars.
He’s covered local sports for years on the radio, acted on stage and in film and somehow managed one-on-one interviews with all of the 1996 Chicago Bulls prior to the beginning of their second three-peat.
I’m not sure if he’s interviewed The Rock, but he’s interviewed nearly everyone else. His long-running show The Wrestling Guys was on a 50,000 watt radio station and was the first wrestling radio show to have a booth at a WrestleMania. Much of what you hear on podcasts – whether from the sites, wrestlers, Conrad, Chris Jericho or Steve Austin – that format and the way to do it were put in place by The Wrestling Guys years before.
So I had great interest in what Stidham shared with me concerning the career woes and wrong turns by Dwayne Johnson the last few years in film.
Treating media studios like wrestling bookers and campaigning for roles like you’re competing for a main event slot brought a crushing halt to his once sterling reputation and helped nail the door shut on a franchise.
This is why Johnson needs World Wrestling Entertainment more than it needs him at the moment. It’s why he’s cashing in that card for the Head of the Table match, with Roman Reigns. (I can only imagine such a match with Jon Moxley and Atsushi Onita.)
Dwayne needs to get his groove back
Johnson bumped egos with Vin Diesel while working on the Fast and Furious franchise. According to an article in Fortune in March, Johnson’s demands of the DC Studios while playing Black Adam were major factor in the DCU films not panning out.
Johnson, it seemed, didn’t want to match up with Shazam (played by Zachary Levi) but a opponent – Superman, played by Henry Cavill, who appeared in a post-credit cameo in the Black Adam movie.
“Johnson’s plan of becoming the apex of the DC universe backfired in a matter of months when both he and the past decade’s Superman, Henry Cavill, were unceremoniously sacked last December by DC Studios.”
From Fortune: “Dwayne tries to sell himself as bigger than the movie,” a Hollywood executive told TheWrap under anonymity. “Instead of making a movie, he wants to extend his brand make a brand centered on himself.”
Johnson’s ex-wife, Dany Garcia, represented Cavill as well as her ex-husband. Cavill fired her earlier this year. DC fired Johnson and Cavill.
Johnson’s flailing goodwill took another beating during his ill-advised social media campaign to garner donations for victims of the wildfires in Hawaii. Standing alongside Oprah in numerous ads and commercials, the two urged people to donate to help wildfire victims – which is a good thing. Except millionaires and billionaires asking people to donate money has a dynamic lack of self-awareness.
So Johnson is back on WWE, after showing up in Colorado a few months ago for Smackdown and then the Colorado State at Colorado game so he could market the hell out of his Project Rock Under Armour gear.
Johnson has 11 projects in various stages of production, according to the Internet Movie Database – most are sequels to previous Johnson flicks (one is a Santa Claus movie). He needs to rebuild his base, he needs people to buy tickets and that starts with WWE.
Johnson returned to Raw on Monday, taking out Jinder Mahal after Paul Levesque promised a former WWE champion to appear. Johnson then dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he wanted Roman Reigns, echoing thoughts he put together during his last WWE appearance. This is a booking Johnson has teased for 10 years, and now he’s cashing in. But it’s not in the best interest of the company.
WWE’s current success was built on its current roster and new talent. Cody Rhodes is the anti-Rock if there was one. He left WWE on his own accord, not for Hollywood, but for the indies. He joined the Bullet Club. He wrestled in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as the Grandson of a Plummer. He made the damn list. He became ROH champ, he got the Money Shakes, half a decade later he was Executive Vice President of a pro wrestling company broadcasting for the same company as his dad.
When Rhodes lost in the WrestleMania main event last spring, fans nearly rioted online. Everyone wants the story to end, but the good ratings and gates WWE are currently enjoying are built around a Cody Rhodes WWE title reign that hasn’t happened yet.
He’s the company’s first true babyface since at least John Cena, maybe Steve Austin, if you look further back.
It took years for WWE to get over new babyfaces after having part-timers squash them repeatedly during one-off matches and feeding them to Reigns during the Reign of Error. It finally paid off with the Bloodline storyline, but it took years and it ran much of the top talent out of the company.
Johnson’s marketing problems are his own and he’ll always think he’s bigger than WWE – and he probably is. Yeah, he’ll bring in gates and he’ll bring in sales. He’ll be a big boost for Mania – like it needs it. But there’s other problems ahead, and WWE should remember its own myth making.
Hulk Hogan, who had Hulkamania running wild in the American Wrestling Association in 1983, was poised as the next champion. He wrestled Nick Bockwinkel in a series of matches, usually having decisions reversed after fans thought he won the title. By the end of the year, Hogan (who had already won his first world title in New Japan) couldn’t get the title.
The reasons – or perceived reasons – Verne Gagne didn’t see Hogan as a viable champ because he was lacking as a wrestler. Bockwinkel and other traditional world champions had true wrestling kudos and ability and could protect the title. Hogan didn’t have any amateur background and he wasn’t known as a tough guy. Despite what the fans were saying with their money, the story goes, Gagne stayed old school and stayed with the old school wrestler while Hulkamania and Hollywood walked out the door.
The truth is a little different than the myth, but not much. Gagne stayed in his lane and wasn’t thinking ahead. The WWF grabbed most of AWA’s top talent in one of the most predatory raids of any wrestling company. Hogan was among them, who let without notice and quickly went to work helping Vince McMahon Jr. start knocking AWA television off local stations in place of the WWF.
Johnson is not the future of the company and he isn’t the present. He’s going to bring ratings and gates, but how long that holds will remain a mystery.
WWE is now at an interesting crossroads. Rhodes is the guy in the company. It’s not Reigns and it’s not CM Punk. But Hollywood is now the old and Rhodes represents the new. The heir apparent is the grandson of a plummer who plied his way to the top by going his own path.
WWE kicked off 2024 with a huge episode of RAW, and fans did not know what to expect. They received two action-packed title matches, and The Rock’s return. Those within the company also had a meeting prior to the whole event starting in San Diego.
WWE’s Meeting Before Day 1 RAW
PW Insider reported that Paul Levesque and Nick Khan held a talent meeting before the January 1st episode of WWE RAW. This was said to be a positive meeting with good vibes.
We haven’t heard much yet other than it was a short, positive meeting.
It was further reported that, “One source relayed it was a ‘great meeting’ that focused on rallying the troops. It was just much a ‘rah rah’ meeting to thank them for everything they’ve done and will do for the company.”
WWE is heading into a new year, and they had a blockbuster 2023 behind them. The company is also going to see some shifting internally, because long-time WWE Executive Producer Kevin Dunn is no longer a part of the picture.
Kevin Dunn concluded his three-decade tenure with the company, steadfast in his decision not to conform to imposed directives, so he is retiring instead. Kevin Dunn remained committed to his hands-on approach to overseeing production, even though there was reportedly a push for him to stay.
The Rock’s return to WWE television this week sparked a lot of conversation. Fans all over are now discussing the possibility of The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. John Cena also took notice.
The Rock’s Surprise WWE Return
During the January 1st episode of WWE RAW, The Rock made an unexpected appearance, taking the opportunity to address Jinder Mahal to shut down his anti-American promo.
The Rock got some “Day One Douche Bag” chants going for Jinder Mahal, and then the segment was kicked up a notch.
In an attempt to ambush The Rock, Jinder Mahal jumped Dwayne Johnson in the ring. However, The Rock acted fast, responding with a series of punches, his signature spinebuster, and ultimately delivering his People’s Elbow.
The Rock then picked up the microphone and engaged with the San Diego crowd, asking them whether he should sit at the “head of the table” when he goes out to dinner after the show.
John Cena Reacts To The Rock vs Roman Reigns Hype
That dig at Roman Reigns was apparent, and they even called attention to it after the next commercial break. It appears that John Cena saw that go down as well, and he responded on Instagram.
Although John Cena never uses captions on Instagram, he certainly didn’t need to in this instance. The Greatest of All Time dropped a graphic of The Rock and Roman Reigns, adding to the hype of this perspective match.
Exclusive Insight On Roman Reigns vs The Rock at WrestleMania
Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns was the match at WrestleMania 40. At this time, the WWE creative team is totally in the dark regarding the possibility of that match changing. I personally spoke to members of the creative team this morning about this very subject.
This is all happening in real time, but The Rock 100% has the pull in WWE to claim that match if he wants it. This will be a very interesting road to WrestleMania.
When someone loses their job, that is often a hard pill to swallow. Let alone during the holidays. However, after McKenzie Mitchell was released from WWE not long after Thanksgiving, she took it in stride. The now-former NXT interviewer began hitting the ground running, preparing for what’s on the horizon. It’s that strong work ethic that fueled her success within pro wrestling, starting right out of college with TNA Impact Wrestling and into the deep waters of WWE.
WWE Release
“It’s been quite a rollercoaster as you would expect when someone gets released,” Mitchell said. “For me, it was not expected. I didn’t expect it was going to happen, but I was able to take the news and what happened and move forward. It was unfortunate that it happened during the holidays but also a blessing as well because I was able to spend time with my family and friends, my husband, and my kids. All of that. It has been nice to decompress. 2023 has been a really hard year for us in every facet of life, so I’m able to take these last two weeks and hit the restart button before we hit 2024.”
Mitchell felt an overwhelming response as the pro wrestling world heard the news. Co-workers, staff, executives, and fans from all over the globe reached out. Among the colleagues was one certain veteran and a “Man.”
Receiving Support
“I did have Terry Taylor reach out to me, which was nice,” she said. “He stuck out because he is so respected in the business. So that was really important and awesome he reached out and gave me a personal phone call. Becky Lynch texted me a really nice message. She is so well-respected, obviously, as a top competitor in the women’s division and the world. It was awesome to hear her kind words. It meant so much.”
Perhaps the news didn’t sink in until that first Tuesday broadcast when her husband and WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph went to work. For Mitchell, it was an adjustment not to join him.
Reality Sinking In
“I’ll be very honest. For four years, we worked together. You just get into the routine of things,” she said. On Tuesdays, we would go to television together. I would go into makeup, and he would start to talk to Booker T and prepare his notes for the night. So the first couple of weeks were really weird. I was like, ‘Okay, see you later. I’m going to do this at home.’ Or, ‘I’m going to take the dogs on a walk.’ And then he was going into TV. It has an emotional impact on you a little bit. It was very sad for the first couple of weeks just because you get into a routine of things. I have so many friends and my husband in NXT and WWE and wrestling.
“So my love for wrestling doesn’t go away because I get fired or released. I’m able to still watch. I’m kind of taking a break for a little bit. I will say that. The last couple of weeks I didn’t watch as I was spending time with family. I did watch the week after I got released. I don’t know why. I was just like, ‘I feel like I still have a part in the show.” I wanted to support them in general. Now after the release and taking that time, I’m just giving myself a break a little bit.”
Even before her release, Mitchell was expanding on other interests and passions. It’s that entrepreneurial spirit that led to the launching of Headline by MM in June. Her family has been rooted in the jewelry business for 75 years, making it the perfect creative outlet to keep them connected. “It has been wild to see the success so far. All the love and support I’ve felt from people who have worn my stuff,” Mitchell said. “Natalya loves to wear Headline. I will say that. I’ll see an order come through and will be from Nattie. I’m like, ‘Nattie, why don’t you message me? I would have sent you this stuff.’ She is a businesswoman herself, so she knows the hustle and grind. I’m excited to see where it’s going in 2024.”
What’s Next?
On the wrestling side, Mitchell has already begun hitting the convention circuit and adding dates. She even began taking Cameo requests. Even while in school, the University of Mississippi grad knew how powerful social media and marketing can be. She also takes inspiration from those within the industry.
“First and foremost I will say Matt Cardona has done it flawlessly,” Mitchell added. “He is my best friend’s husband. Chelsea Green is my best friend. Matt is so business-savvy. Not only when it comes to wrestling and who he is as a performer, but when it comes to his podcast, shows, and all the things he is involved in. He has flawlessly taken the independent scene by storm. I look to him for advice. I’ll text him and say, “What do you think about this?” He is one I reached out to.
“I have also been able to ask my husband. Social media is so different now. It’s such a catalyst and way to promote yourself and connect to people all over the world. It has been that way, but I think since COVID it has taken a different approach. You’re able to speak for yourself. Just put up a camera and say, ‘Hey, let’s film this. Let’s go live.’ That has been really cool. I think social media is a different way to navigate the world now, but it’s also new and exciting given I’m situation I’m in right now.”
Mitchell is overall proud of her evolution, following in the footsteps of so many who have come before. She feels it’s a good time to be an interviewer with more freedom and bandwidth to express who an individual is as a personality rather than just hold a microphone. The broadcaster felt it’s that authenticity that shines through and connects to the audience. She felt nothing from support from her fellow announcers over the years.
“We’re all in the same position,” Mitchell said. “If someone is struggling with something it’s, ‘How can I help you?’ When I was learning ring announcing, people thought when I was at Impact that I just kind of knew how to do it. I knew quite a bit of things. How to host, interviews, but I never picked up the skill of doing ring announcing. So when I was transitioning to doing WWE live events more often, that was a skill I had to figure out. Byron Saxton is someone that is very underrated. He has so many skills and facets and things he can do. He is one I love to learn from.”
Her Time with TNA & WWE
Mitchell’s intro into the business was trial by fire when she joined TNA Impact Wrestling in 2016. It’s while their the TV personality built her foundation and ever-lasting bonds that continue today.
“I think people still don’t know that I didn’t watch a day of wrestling in my life before I got the job,” she said. “I spent time learning on the spot. Learning as we went along. Who these people were. Who are these superstars? Where did they come from? What is their background? Who are they as humans? I put my head down and got to learn and put the work in during my time with Impact. I’m thankful for that opportunity to start at Impact where it was a little more forgiving than WWE sometimes. We had some taped shows, so I was able to learn as we went through.
“Then with WWE, you’re live, so if you mess up, you mess up on the fly. But that was a really unique experience. That when the red light goes on can you do it or not. I loved my time at Impact because of the camaraderie from the talent, executives, and everyone involved that we got established. Then it was cool down the road when I got to see Bobby Lashley, Cameron Grimes, LA Knight, Chelsea Green, Allie. We all are still a family and hang out and talk to each other. I’m t thankful for that experience from day one.”
On if we’d see her in TNA again or another promotion, she is open to opportunities. Adding,“I can’t reveal all my cards. I’ve had some fun auditions that are outside of wrestling. That’s all I’ll say… There is one project I’ve been very passionate about that I’d pitched for four years.
It never got followed through with. I never did it. So, I’m stating that in January, which will be independent on my own. I’m looking forward to that. That will involve wrestling.
“Tap into the celebrity more and outside media into entertainment as well. I think with wrestling it’s hard once you’re in you’re in. You’re sucked into it. It’s like what next?…But it’s okay to say you don’t know sometimes and take a moment and breathe and ask yourself, “Where do you want to go? What’s my new direction?’”
Mitchell takes pride in her time with WWE. From NXT to even stepping in on the main roster like SmackDown a time or two, she was up for any challenge.
“I’d say some of my highlights were hosting the kickoff shows for NXT. That was 30 minutes or an hour where it’s just genuine real conversation. We got to do more things on the fly. That was a moment of, ‘We trust you and this is your show and make it your own and see what you can do.’ That was for me a breakthrough moment. It was a different McKenzie you saw. What’s NeXT will always be very special to me with Alicia Taylor. We had Triple H on the show, which was really cool. When we asked for him to be on the show, I didn’t expect him to come on our little grungy-type show that was in the back of the Performance Center because we didn’t want to make it feel too staged.
“When he said let’s do it. It was awesome. We had Finn Balor, Johnny Gargano, and the list goes on. That was really a learning curve in my experience with WWE too because I was able to take those real moments and just respond by doing interviews. Rather than on television, you get a timed amount for a segment or different interview. This allowed us to have fun.”
Mitchell names Wes Lee among her favorite interview interactions. They’ll always share the high-five.
Mike Santana and Ortiz joined AEW in 2019, quickly becoming fixtures in the tag team division. Proud n Powerful had a lot of momentum coming into AEW as the former LAX, but that team is no longer a factor.
Why Mike Santana & Ortiz Split Up
Unfortunately, Mike Santana and Ortiz’s relationship soured, leading to a permanent split. Last year, they made a surprising return but remained at odds. Aligning with the Blackpool Combat Club for the Stadium Stampede match at AEW All In, their partnership was short-lived.
Despite a feud that ended with Mike Santana winning on the October 25th Rampage, fans were disappointed they didn’t reunite for another run. The two are not going to reunite, from everything we can tell.
The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast recently spoke to Ortiz, where his split with Santana came up. He made it clear that their team’s disbanding was totally Santana’s call.
”Unfortunately, it wasn’t the company’s call to split us (Santana & Ortiz). Me and Santana just couldn’t get it together personally and he was just very adamant about not working with me anymore. So, the company kind of had no choice but to split us up, right? So they’re like, ‘Okay, you’re just not gonna not tag. It doesn’t make any sense. Let’s at least make this make sense why you split.'”
Mike Santana & Ortiz’s Future
Mike Santana has been missing from AEW television since concluding his program with Ortiz. He remains part of AEW and continues to accept independent bookings.
The future of the former tag team is uncertain, but it appears that if a reunion is in the cards, then they have a lot of personal issues to work through first.
