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AEW’s Next Battle of the Belts Special Could Be Happening Very Soon

Thomas Lowson
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The next ‘Battle of the Belts’ event from All Elite Wrestling could be a matter of weeks away, despite not being confirmed yet by the promotion. 

Battle of the Belts is a one-hour special presented by AEW in which championship matches are the key. The show has also seen titles defended for AEW’s sister promotion Ring of Honor Wrestling, which Tony Khan acquired in March of 2022. 

While not advertised, the next Battle of the Belts event could be just 12 days away. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful notes that the next Battle of the Belts event is listed on TNT’s schedule for January 13, at 10 PM EST. This is the same day of TNA Hard to Kill, which will be the promotion’s relaunch after years as IMPACT Wrestling. 

AEW Battle of the Belts

The first Battle of the Belts event took place in January of 2022 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since then, a total of eight Battle of the Belts events have taken place. The most recent was in October of 2023 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Despite the name, title changes have been a rarity at AEW’s Battle of the Belts events. Over the two years of events, only two matches have seen a new champion be crowned. At the first Battle of the Belts event, Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes to win the Interim AEW TNT Championship. The second and most recent title change at Battle of the Belts also involved Guevara and saw the Spanish God win the TNT Championship from Scorpio Sky at Battle of the Belts 2 in April 2022. 

Rhett Titus Selling Wrestling Memorabilia After Disability Insurance Company Doesn’t Pay

Thomas Lowson
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A difficult situation has led to former Ring of Honor Wrestling talent Rhett Titus selling some of his gear to help pay for some necessary costs. 

On Twitter, Titus explained that despite being approved for maternity leave months ago, his insurance company has not paid his wife. This has led to his wife rushing back to work after having a C-section. Titus revealed that he will be selling a lot of his wrestling memorabilia from his time as a fan and as a wrestler. 

In the comments, Titus shared some vintage wrestling shirts, including the first-ever shirt released by Ring of Honor. Titus also shared a crew shirt for last year’s AEW All In event, which was never made available for purchase. Titus also had some other rare shirts as well as pieces of his own merchandise available for purchase. 

Rhett Titus in the Ring

Titus is best known for his tenure in Ring of Honor which began in 2006. Titus is a former ROH World Television Champion and won the title from Dalton Castle at Final Battle 2021. He is also a former two-time ROH World Tag Team Champion and won the now-defunct Top of the Class Trophy once. In 2020 he won a Year-End award for Faction of the Year with The Foundation. 

Titus has also competed for several other promotions, including Jersey Championship Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, Force One Pro Wrestling, and MCW Pro Wrestling, where he is a former MCW Heavyweight Champion. In 2012, he broke the top 100 wrestlers in the world in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s annual PWI 500 ranking, by coming in at #98. 

Rhett Titus appeared on an episode of AEW Collision in an unlikely role. Click here to find out more. 

Latest On Kevin Dunn’s WWE Exit: Pitch to Stay, When He’s Leaving & More

Thomas Lowson
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Longtime WWE Executive Kevin Dunn is leaving of his own accord, despite what some may believe about the situation. 

Last week, it was reported that Dunn would be stepping down from his role as WWE’s Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution. His departure marks the end of three decades of working with the promotion. Dunn was unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives and preferred his previous hands-on approach to production oversight. 

Latest on Kevin Dunn’s Departure

Kevin Dunn wasn’t the most well-liked person in WWE, so much so that when Vince McMahon retired in July of 2022, many predicted that Dunn would be fired. This speculation was quashed by Triple H himself, who named Dunn as a major part in WWE’s plans post-McMahon. Despite what some may believe, Dunn was not fired by WWE, according to a report from PW Insider. Instead, he is choosing to retire, and made it clear to WWE higher-ups he was finishing during the Christmas week. 

There was a push for Dunn to stay on through the Royal Rumble and possibly finish with WrestleMania 40 in April 2024. Instead, Dunn preferred a clean cut and he is done with WWE “effectively immediately.” The report emphasized how massive a deal for Dunn to be leaving, no matter if people liked him or not. 

Why People Dislike Kevin Dunn

Though he always seemed to have Vince McMahon on his side, Dunn was hardly popular within WWE or with the company’s fans. Many take issue with Dunn’s use of quick camera cuts that make the action hard to follow as well as some of his attitudes towards wrestlers. Dunn reportedly was against pushing Becky Lynch because of her Irish accent and believed that she’d never be able to cut a good promo. In his book MOX, Jon Moxley writes about Dunn’s influence. 

“In a place like WWE, that one comment, one little seed planted by a guy in Kevin Dunn’s position can be extremely detrimental to someone’s future there. That’s a lot of power, and power breeds ego. Connecticut … old, rich boys’ club ego. I’ve heard all kinds of stories about that guy messing with people’s careers. Suffice to say that dude is a fu**bag.”

Dunn was also said to be against pushing Billie Kay as he did not find her funny. It is also reported that he was against pushing any women he did not find personally attractive.  

PHOTO: Spoiler On New AEW World Title Design

Aaron Varble
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Samoa Joe beat MJF at AEW Worlds End, and now he is the AEW World Champion. That will come with an aesthetic change for the title belt itself.

Samoa Joe expressed his clear intention to change the design of the AEW World Title, doing away with the Burberry title and pledging to present a more respectable one. ‘

Recent details have emerged, with Sean Sapp on Fightful Select stating that, while it’s unclear if the title will be entirely new, steps have been taken to make some alterations. He also dropped a photo that could be a massive spoiler for the upcoming title.

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Tony Khan, in a recent gesture, presented a custom title to the Clemson Tigers, indicating the possibility of side plate options for the new title. Following Clemson’s victory in the AEW TaxSlayer bowl, Khan customized a world title for them with Clemson side plates. There are, at the very least, side plate options for the upcoming version of the championship, with AEW also having plates produced for Kentucky had they won.

The report mentioned that the new version of the title seen so far displays the AEW logo on a black background. The debut of this title remains to be seen. 

Samoa Joe had notably criticized MJF’s Burberry World Title during the press conference after Worlds End. 

“Oh, this is going in the garbage, don’t worry about that. This trash right here. This little knockoff Gucci stuff that he got going on, it’s going away. We got the good belt, the right belt, something that’s designed well. I spoke with Tony Khan intensely about it, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

2023 Pro Wrestling Year In Review

Tyriece Simon
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2023 was a wild year in the world of professional wrestling. The McMahon Family not being majority owners of WWE and CM Punk back in a WWE ring are the only examples needed to illustrate that point properly.

Really, the wildness goes deeper than that. AEW added a third show to their slate of programming in AEW Collision, Sting announced his retirement, The Rock returned to Smackdown, and Impact Wrestling announced a name change back to TNA.

What happened in the ring during 2023 has also been notable. Seth Rollins became a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, MJF turned babyface, Gunther became the longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion in company history, Rhea Ripley dethroned Charlotte Flair to win the world championship, Roman Reigns added to his legacy and historic run with the WWE Universal Championship, and so much more.

What was the best of 2023 in pro wrestling? We got you covered. SEScoops correspondents Tyriece Simon, Samantha Schipman, Ella Jay and Bishal Roy discussed some of this year’s best, but with a twist. Instead of naming definitive winners, we’re presenting various viewpoints for each category from our expert panel. Let’s get into it:

Most Improved Wrestler Of The Year

Tyriece: Dominik Mysterio. It’s been great to see the transformation Dominik Mysterio had in WWE over the year. He went from tagging with his father, Rey Mysterio, to becoming a singles star that garners natural reactions from fans. His in-ring style has improved as well, having great matches with the likes of Dragon Lee, Sami Zayn, and his father. From where he was last year to now, he’s shown incredible growth as a character and a performer.

Bishal: Dominik Mysterio. ‘Dirty Dom’ has put in hard work and he is only getting better. Dominik Mysterio has had over 100 Matches for WWE this year across all brands which includes Raw, NXT, WWE PPVs, and NXT PPVs. He has put on some great matches against the likes of Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Wes Lee, Trick Williams, and many others. He also recently captured the NXT North American Champion. Plus, The Judgement Day have also got stronger better since Dom Dom joined. He has the potential to become the next big heel in the upcoming years.

Sam: Julia Hart – Julia Hart has come into her own since joining the House of Black. For many, she is the leader. Hart is undefeated in 2023 and became the third TBS Championship ever.

Ella: Tiffany Stratton. While she may only have two years of in-ring experience under her belt, Tiffany Stratton has already worked her way to the tippy top of WWE NXT. In addition to earning her very first championship this year, Stratton also received the opportunity to sharpen her skillset in an enticing feud against veteran performer, Becky Lynch, which led to a memorable Extreme Rules match at NXT No Mercy. Paired with her high-flying move set and budding self-confidence, Stratton seems destined to continue on this upward trajectory.

Breakout Wrestler Of The Year

Sam: El Hijo Del Vikingo – Vikingo began competing in the U.S. in late 2022 and burst on to a national scene this year. The AAA Mega Champion has competed in AAA, AEW, ROH, GCW, DEFY. among others. He regularly stands out in his matches and has mind-blowing aerial moves.

Ella: LA Knight. After shedding his identity as Max Dupri, LA Knight emerged into his true form, becoming one of WWE’s most popular talents – both in audience reaction and merchandise sales. Though he has yet to win a championship on WWE’s main roster, Knight earned some notable victories this year, including a tag team win (alongside John Cena) at WWE Fastlane. Knight also holds the honor of winning the first-ever Slim Jim Battle Royal at SummerSlam. Now, the rising star finds himself in line to be the potential next challenger to Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. And to that, I say: YEAH!

Bishal: Jey Uso. 2023 has been the year of Jey Uso. Given his rise to the top of, it has been an important year for him as a singles Star. He has risen above The Usos and he has got the fans behind his back. He started the year as tag team champions with brother Jimmy and they main-evented WrestleMania 39 in the best tag team match of the year. Jey Uso went on to have a remarkable match at Money in the Bank against Roman Reigns. After that he was on Raw as a Singles star and he has just grown in singles competition throughout the year. Heading into 2024 he will be feuding against his brother Jimmy Uso leading into next year’s WrestleMania 40 which could be yet another happening year for him.

Tyriece: Trinity. Some fans questioned what Trinity was going to be able to do without the WWE. She decided to go to Impact Wrestling and has been having a career resurgence. Her arrival in the company added more intrigue from wrestling fans and she’s been able to show her range as a wrestler. Heading into 2024 under TNA Wrestling, Trinity is looking to continue to be one of the company’s biggest stars.

Tag Team Of The Year

Ella: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn started the year as opponents of sorts, but upon Zayn’s breakaway from The Bloodline, the former tag team partners were finally reunited. Owens and Zayn’s highlight moment came in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 39, where they dethroned The Usos to become the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Following their massive title win, Owens and Zayn successfully defended the titles against the likes of Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, Imperium, Pretty Deadly, and The Judgment Day.

Tyriece Simon: Miracle Generation (Dustin Waller & Kylon King) – While they may not be on the radar for some wrestling fans, Miracle Generation have had a great year as a tag team on the independent wrestling scene. They’ve held the IWTV Independent Wrestling Tag Team Championship since February 26 and have successfully defended the title 23 times. While Miracle Generation may not have been the most popular team, their activity this year stands above many teams and fans should keep their eye on them in 2024.

Bishal: The Judgment Day. The current Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships belong to the Judgement Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest. They have become such a formidable force of the red brand and their title run has been nothing but impressive. While they had some differences in the past, they overcame them and ever since had each other’s backs as a ‘family.’ That’s what matters the most.

Sam: Aussie Open. Although their run has put on hold twice due to injuries to Mark Davis, when healthy, Aussie Open is one of the best tag teams in the world. They started the year holding both the NJPW STRONG and IWGP Tag Team Championships simultaneously. They briefly held the ROH Tag Team titles when they unceremoniously dropped them to Better Than You Bay Bay at All In.

Rivalry Of The Year

Bishal: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline. If you ask me, it has been a cinema-like storyline. The iconic rivalry will go down as one of the best in recent times and had the fans invested for months in the build-up. The rivalry has been full of a rollercoaster ride of emotions, brewing tension, and animosity. Zayn ultimately deciding to take down The Bloodline and joining hands with Kevin Owens will remain as a memorable moment in the coming times.

Sam: Christian Cage vs. Fatherless Wrestlers. Christian Cage is on the run of his career, which is saying something for someone who has been
wrestling for nearly 3 decades. As TNT Champion, he has terrorized wrestlers who have lost their fathers. The leader of The Patriarchy has taken Nick Wayne under his wing and renewed a feud with long-time (and fatherless) tag team partner, Adam Copeland.

Tyriece: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline. One of the elements that made The Bloodline storyline feel like “cinema” was their feud with Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. It spanned from the Owens match with Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble on January 28 until Owens and Zayn defeated Reigns and Sikoa at WWE Night Of Champions 2023 on May 25. The feud showcased months of great moments and matches that will be remembered.

Ella: Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page – The rivalry between “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland showcased an enthralling mix of drama, psychology (in-ring and character-wise), and of course, a vibrant display of physicality. While some critics believe this feud to be too graphic, specifically in regards to their Texas Death Match at AEW Full Gear, there’s no denying that this feud kept viewers deeply immersed in the storyline that unfolded before them. This was also the story that arguably catapulted Strickland to the next level, as he not only defeated a former AEW World Champion, but someone who is also one of the company’s founding players.

Promotion/Booker Of The Year

Tyriece: WWE & Triple H. WWE were in some interesting times to the start the year, as Vince McMahon returned as the Chairman and the company would later merge with the UFC. That said, throughout the year WWE has done a great job elevating talent and creating new stars on the main roster and NXT. They’ve also delivered great moments on both TV and their premium live events. When it comes to being consistent in producing great content, WWE has shown why they are currently number one in wrestling.

Bishal: WWE & Triple H. It has to be him. Why not? Having The Bloodline continue to dominate and not only Roman Reigns, made the other members of the faction top stars individually. He got Gunther to make history with the WWE Intercontinental Championship, booked LA Knight like a hero, and finished off the year by doing the unthinkable in bringing in CM Punk. – Bishal Roy

Sam: Pro Wrestling Revolver & Sami Callihan. Sami Callihan’s Revolver promotion has had incredible shows all year long. They have a good balance of independent talents with signed talent from AEW and IMPACT. The inaugural Women’s Grand Prix tournament showcased 8 top women and had an all women’s broadcast team.

Ella: Shawn Michaels & NXT. As WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, Shawn Michaels is tasked with spearheading WWE’s developmental territory of NXT. And while this brand may be developmental, it’s certainly managed to stand out. In addition to the compelling action surrounding the NXT Championship scene, Michaels has also established a meaningfulness to the mid-card, tag team, and women’s divisions as well. Every story feels like it matters, even if a championship isn’t involved. Michaels has also provided great care to NXT’s women’s division specifically – a division that is frequently overlooked or underserved in other promotions.

Male Wrestler Of The Year

Bishal: Gunther. ‘The Ring General’ has had a fantastic year and the historic Intercontinental Championship reign for 550+ days is unparalleled. When it comes to in-ring performances, he put on some incredible matches, especially the title defense against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 39 and the epic rivalry with Chad Gable.

Tyriece: MJF. The AEW World Champion has had an incredible year, holding the title from the start of the year to the end. While being a central part of AEW TV and storylines, he’s also had great matches with Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole and Kenny Omega. While there may be other possible candidates, I think MJF’s body of work this year has earned him this honor.

Ella Jay: Cody Rhodes. While he may not have “finished the story” this year, Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE surely proved to be quite a success. After kicking off 2023 with a victory in the Men’s Royal Rumble, Rhodes boasted notable wins against the likes of Brock Lesnar, Solo Sikoa, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio; he also found himself on the winning team in a brutal Men’s WarGames match. In addition to this impressive resume in singles competition, Rhodes also explored the tag team scene this year, earning himself a brief run with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships alongside Jey Uso. With over 100 matches wrestled this year, Rhodes not only exits this year as my male wrestler of the year, but also as WWE’s ironman. Yeet.

Samantha: Mike Bailey. Ever since Bailey returned to the U.S. in 2022, he has been making up for lost time. Speedball has wrestled more than 150 matches this year alone, with 10 of them coming WrestleMania weekend. Even with all of those matches, they always give 110% and always deliver fantastic matches.

Female Wrestler Of The Year

Ella: Athena. Since adopting a more aggressive attitude at the tail-end of 2022, Athena has risen to become the arguable face of Ring of Honor. In addition to being the longest reigning ROH World Women’s Champion, Athena earned her way into the main event of not one, but two ROH pay-per-views this year – an achievement that is solely held by her. Amidst her ascent, Athena scored victories over the likes of Mercedes Martinez, Willow Nightingale, Allysin Kay, Angelina Love, and most recently, Billie Starkz – who challenged Athena for the title in the headlining contest at ROH Final Battle.

Bishal: Rhea Ripley. As she says, “‘Mami’ is always on top,” Rhea Ripley has continued to remain on top of the women’s division and remained a formidable opponent for the other female superstars in WWE. Since avenging her WrestleMania defeat against Charlotte Flair, she has been unstoppable and I believe she will finish the year on a high note.

Tyriece: Rhea Ripley – WWE gave Rhea Ripley the opportunity to be one of their biggest stars and she has not dropped the ball. She started the year winning the Royal Rumble and went on to defeat Charlotte Flair in a great match for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 39 on April 1. She’s held the title since then defeating the likes of Natalya, Raquel Rodriguez, and Zoey Stark throughout the year. She became a force in the company and looks to continue to be one of their biggest stars for the next few years.

Sam: Athena. No one comes close to what Athena has done in wrestling in 2023. For me, she is the best wrestler, regardless of gender. She is 44-0 in ROH-sanctioned matches. “The Fallen Goddess” made history by being the first Black woman to main event Dark, Rampage, and ROH TV. She is the first woman to main event an ROH pay-per-view and she did it twice.

Match Of The Year

Tyriece: Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn (Elimination Chamber 2023). I absolutely love this match. From the story heading into the match to the action, Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn had everything you want in a wrestling match. Even though everyone kind of knew the result of the match beforehand, Zayn and Reigns did a great job making fans believe that a title change could’ve happened. It was a special match and one that still holds up months later.

Bishal: Kenny Omega Vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17). It was one of those unpredictable matches where the superstars pushed each other from bell to bell. The highly-cohesive talent pulled off some insane spots that kept the fans at the ed
ge of their seats. The storyline culminated in an impressive manner as Omega captured the title to attain revenge on Ospreay.

Sam: Athena vs. Willow Nightingale (ROH Death Before Dishonor). Athena and Nightingale made history as the first women to main event an ROH pay-per-view. This match was a love letter to independent women’s wrestling. The crowd was firmly and loudly behind each woman. Athena’s win solidified her reign as champion and to be the dominant force she’s become.

Ella: Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak (NXT Battleground). As indicated by the stipulation, this match between Ilja Dragunov and Dijak proved to be an intense 16-minute battle filled with brutal physicality, a wide range of weaponry, and a true test of will. In the end, Dragunov (who is perhaps a glutton for punishment) emerged victorious after sending Dijak face-first into a steel chair, via his H-Bomb finisher.

Adam Copeland Shows Off Busted Face Thanks To Brutal AEW Worlds End Match

Aaron Varble
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Adam Copeland had a hard-fought No DQ match at Worlds End in Long Island, and he actually won the AEW TNT Title while he was at it. Sadly for him, that reign was incredibly short-lived, but the Rated R Superstar has the battle wounds to prove he was in a war.

Adam Copeland vs Christian Cage at AEW Worlds End

Adam Copeland made his AEW debut at WrestleDream and the WWE Hall of Famer was off to the races with his old friend, Christian Cage. His feud with former friend Christian Cage reached its peak in a No DQ match at AEW Worlds End. Copeland initially won the title but faced surprising twists that led to its loss. 

Killswitch, who won a battle royal for a #1 contender match previously on the show, came out and presented that contract to Christian, who cashed in like it was a Money in the Bank situation to steal the TNT Title back. Now, Adam Copeland is revealing the aftermath of the intense match.

”It’s not a tumah! Now the work starts on becoming a 2 time TNT Champion.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1h9Hl5O7YI

Adam Copeland’s Future in AEW

Adam Copeland and Christian Cage’s story in AEW doesn’t appear to be over yet. They are apparently going to stretch that feud into 2024, but they also have a lot of unfinished business between E&C. 

The former Edge wants to hold the TNT Title again, and next time he wants it for more than 3 minutes. 

Adam Copeland has suffered bumps and bruises for decades at this point, so that gash on his head isn’t going to keep him down. If anything, the blood in that AEW Worlds End match only added to the drama.

Bianca Belair Tells All About Secret Afflictions She Battled Before WrestleMania 39

Aaron Varble
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Belair had a remarkable journey in WWE, and fans don’t even know everything she went through. While fans were excited to see the EST of WWE perform at WrestleMania 39, she was battling a lot.

Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania 39 Story

Bianca Belair was RAW Women’s Champion at WrestleMania 39 as she faced Asuka. Despite a stellar performance and a successful title defense, Belair was going through a lot behind the scenes.

The EST of WWE not only defended her title but also navigated a rigorous schedule filled with media obligations as the champion. This demanding routine, coupled with consistent title defenses, created a ton of pressure for Belair.

In a conversation with Brad Gilmore on The Collection, Bianca Belair was honest when discussing her condition leading up to WrestleMania 39. She admitted feeling physically sick and run down during the event, but she pressed on to perform at the Showcase of the Immortals.

“It was the most rewarding, but exhausting time of my career. Everyone wants to be champion, but a lot of people don’t realize the schedule that comes with that, the pressure that comes with that, the reputation that comes with that.”

“Every time you step out, you want to put on a champion performance. It’s multiple segments on the show, you’re on every single show, every single live event, you’re doing media between the weeks. Everyone else is going home after Raw and SmackDown, you’re going to New York or California to do media, to do press, to do opportunities.”

“I got to do a lot of amazing things and took the title to so many places when I was champion. From NBA games, NFL games, Kentucky Derby, Kevin Hart, Wild N Out, College Gameday, I did so many amazing things, but I was never home. It also comes with the pressure.”

“I’m someone who is a perfectionist. When it comes to WrestleMania, I put everything into it. I was so sick that WrestleMania. Physically, I was run down and so sick. It’s a lot of pressure that comes with it, but it’s the most rewarding, but exhausting time of the year. You’ll see how exhausting that journey is, but rewarding and trying to balance everything.”

Bianca Belair’s Future in WWE

Bianca Belair is currently back on the road with WWE after taking a short, and much-deserved, break. She has the Royal Rumble on her mind. So, the EST of WWE can battle for another opportunity to perform on the Grandest Stage of the All at WrestleMania 40.

Bianca Belair and her husband, Montez Ford, also have a new reality television show coming up on Hulu. “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez,” will debut in February 2024.

Above her success in WWE, Bianca Belair also has a massive amount of support from her fans. All of that only adds to her reasons to keep going.

WWE Superstars Share Their New Year’s Resolutions for 2024

Thomas Lowson
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2024 is drawing near and with it, so does the possibility for a fresh start for the Superstars of WWE. 

Last year proved to be a year of massive change for WWE, with the biggest being the acquisition of WWE by Endeavor and the launch of TKO Group Holdings. 2023 also saw returns, releases, heel turns and a certain Tribal Chief continuing his dominant reign as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. 

So what’s next? Well here are some of the New Year’s Resolutions from the Superstars of WWE. 

Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair lost the WWE Women’s Championship to IYOY SKY at SummerSlam, mere moments after capturing the gold at the same event. On last week’s SmackDown, Belair admitted she doesn’t usually make resolutions, but vowed to recapture the title and remain undefeated at WrestleMania. 

Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits

On the show, Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits resolved that they will have “more” in 2024. Lashley added that the new year will not just be good for his faction, but it’ll be “All Mighty.”

Grayson Waller & Austin Theory

Grayson Waller & Austin Theory have impressed those backstage as a tag-team. On SmackDown, the pair said that winning singles and tag titles are their goals for 2024. Theory added that he wants to win the Royal Rumble while Waller plans on headlining WrestleMania. 

Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio has a simple resolution for 2024: to get Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar. 

Trish Stratus

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has shared her big plans for the New Year. After competing in 10 matches in 2023, the seven-time Women’s Champion plans to be back in the ring once again in 2024. 

Trick Williams Almost Ended Up In The XFL Before WWE Recruited Him

Aaron Varble
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Trick Williams is known for his explosive offense in the ring, and he has fans all over chanting “WHOOP THAT TRICK”at him. He emerged  in the WWE landscape from a football background, adding to a long list of Superstars who entered through the gridiron. 

During a conversation with Brad Gilmore, Trick Williams clarified that the XFL was indeed an option for him. He had a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he didn’t make it. Then his agent arranged an XFL tryout. 

This was the XFL during Vince McMahon’s second re-birth of the league, prior to the pandemic. So, when WWE saw the kind of skills Trick Williams brought to the table, things changed for his life. 

“I wasn’t into wrestling. I was into football. After college, I had a mini camp tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles, but I got cut. From there, I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I wanted to play football. I had an agent at the time who wanted me to tryout for the XFL. The XFL was owned by Vince McMahon. I filled out this questionnaire for the XFL, and the next day WWE reached out to me.”

WWE Superstars’ Connection to Football

Transitioning from football to pro wrestling is a common journey, with figures like The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Baron Corbin making their way to WWE from the football world. Trick Williams, too, had football as a potential path, and interestingly, it almost led him to the XFL.

The Rock resurrected the XFL after Vince McMahon’s attempt to revive the defunct league faced setbacks. McMahon’s XFL reboot was thwarted by the pandemic, but The Rock took up the mantle shortly after. Williams, however, tried out for McMahon’s version of the XFL reboot, although it didn’t steer him toward a football career.

Trick Williams’ Future in WWE 

Trick Williams is gearing up for the challenge against Ilja Dragunov at NXT New Year’s Evil on January 2nd. That is a huge opportunity for Trick Williams, as he has worked hard for over a year to make it to this point in his WWE career, even if his original path was in the football world.

UFL: Dwayne Johnson’s XFL Merges with USFL to Create United Football League

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson hopes to usher in a new era of football following the merger of the XFL and the USFL. 

Johnson acquired the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the world of professional football was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest season kicked off in February of this year. 

The United Football League

It was recently reported that Dwayne Johnson had a huge announcement about the XFL and the Brahma Bull has delivered. Johnson, alongside business partner Dany Garcia, appeared on FOX’s NFL pre-game show. The former WWE Champion acknowledged Jimmy Johnson to kick things off, as he was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring Of Honor last night this week. 

Johnson and Garcia then announced the merger of the XFL and the USFL to form the UFL. Johnson spoke about joining the leagues together to improve football and give a better product for both the fans and players. Johnson hopes that by combining leagues they can cement the future of spring football after it stopped and started over the previous decades. Johnson added that he always wanted to play in the NFL but said he’d be the 54th man when the rosters are cut at 53. 

The UFL will air on FOX and ESPN. The first game will take place on March 30, and see the champions of the XFL and USFL face each other in the opener. The merger and launch of the UFL shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise for fans. In September, it was announced that the XFL and USFL were looking to merge. 

Adam Cole’s First Remarks After Revealing Himself As The Devil At AEW Worlds End

Aaron Varble
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AEW Worlds End captured audiences’ attention for a few reasons. The closing moments of the pay-per-view saw The Devil reveal himself to be Adam Cole. That was a bit of a surprise, especially for MJF.

Adam Cole Is The Devil

Adam Cole has played a heel before, and he’s quite good at it. Now, the former NXT Champion will get to flex that villain muscle once again.

Adam Cole broke his silence after AEW Worlds End. This was not a prophetic statement, or any long address. He simply dropped a photo of himself during that big reveal at Worlds End, along with a succinct caption.

New Year, Real Me. #Hero

Adam Cole’s Future As The Devil In AEW

Adam Cole is still injured, because that surgery situation was a shoot. Still, as the leader of a heel faction, Cole can also get by without taking bumps for a while, which he may need to do so for a long time.

Tony Khan built toward The Devil’s reveal for a very long time. It finally went down at Worlds End. Love it or hate it, Adam Cole will be back on AEW television now, just as MJF starts an expected hiatus from the company.

Thunder Rosa Has Heartfelt Message For Andrade El Idolo Upon His AEW Exit

Aaron Varble
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Andrade is making headlines today, as it is reported that his AEW days are done. He could have a big surprise return to WWE coming for him, but some in AEW will miss him.

Thunder Rosa’s Message For Andrade El Idolo

Thunder Rosa hasn’t been on AEW television over the past year, as she was out of action with an injury. She was still a voice on the company’s Spanish language commentary team. After just making her return to in-ring action, Thunder Rosa is now losing someone she will truly miss in AEW.

In her caption, translated from Spanish, Thunder Rosa included a touching message for Andrade El Idolo. She will miss having him around AEW, as he is one of the most real people she’s ever met.

You are one of the most real people I have ever met. I am proud of you my friend and for always doing what is best for you. You are a role model! I hope to see you soon and much, much success buddy and I’m going to miss you

Andrade El Idolo’s AEW Exit

As we previously reported, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there’s an expectation within WWE that Andrade might make a return to the company. With a champion’s return hyped for the January 1st Day 1 RAW, anything is possible. 

People close to Andrade El Idolo indicate that a return to WWE is a possibility, but he remains open to staying if Tony Khan puts forward a more enticing offer than WWE. Some have voiced concerns about AEW not fully utilizing Andrade, who hasn’t secured any championships in the promotion. 

Andrade is also interested in collaborating with New Japan Pro Wrestling if the opportunity arises. While he would have liked to participate in the FantasticaMania show in February, scheduling conflicts prevent him from doing so.

It was later reported by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select that Andrade El Idolo wrapped up his time with AEW at Worlds End, as he lost to Miro. His exit was reportedly not a pleasant one. Tony Khan also confirmed Andrade’s exit during the press conference following the pay-per-view, but he provided an open door for his eventual return.

Tenille Dashwood (WWE’s Emma) Uncertain About Her Pro Wrestling Future

Aaron Varble
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WWE released several main roster Superstars in September, and although a few of them are getting out there and taking dates, one isn’t certain they will ever wrestle again.

Emma After Her WWE Release

Tenille Dashwood’s 90-day non-compete clause concluded with the rest of those releases. That was definitely not an event she mapped out for herself on any 2023 vision board. 

2023 was a tough year for some, full of change and transition. As Tenille Dashwood looks back at what happened over the past twelve months, so has a lot to think about.

Now adopting the name Tenille Dashwood once again, she contemplated her future in pro wrestling, as she reflected on this year.

“2023 was filled with highs and lows. The man of my dreams proposed to me, and I lost my dream job at the company where we first met. While I’m not sure if I’ll ever wrestle again… I am sure that I’ll turn this into a positive. No restrictions, no putting things on the back burner. Time to follow my heart.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1fczvePI2W

Emma’s Career In WWE

Emma has navigated an interesting wrestling career since coming over to the United States from Australia. Years ago, she was once fired from WWE after a shoplifting incident, which was a total misunderstanding in the end, but she was brought back in a hurry. Then she was released for a much longer period of time in 2017.

Following her initial WWE tenure, she ventured into other companies like ROH and Impact Wrestling before making a WWE return in 2022. However, her second stint was brief, as she faced another release in September. 

Tenille Dashwood and Madcap Moss met while they were in WWE. Then, they shared a WWE release date in September as they both received messages that their contracts were terminated. 

Giulia Still Has “Things to Do in Japan” Amid Interest from WWE

Thomas Lowson
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NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia could be a WWE Superstar soon, but the Japanese star is keeping coy about her future.

For months, there have been rumors that Giulia could one day end up in WWE. In November, it was reported that Giulia would be attending a personal tryout at the Performance Center in Orlando, though the trip was eventually canceled. Despite this, WWE was said to have a “massive” amount of interest in the Japanese wrestler. 

Giulia on Possibly Joining WWE

While speculation grows about Giulia joining WWE, the 29-year-old wrestler isn’t ready to publicly make the move just yet. In an interview with Tokyo Sports, the reigning NJPW Strong Women’s Champion was asked about the reports.

“This is the first time I’ve been asked this directly in an interview (reports of WWE having interest in her). What can I say… Giulia has grown up (laughs). But, I still have things to do in Japan.”

What’s Next? 

Signing Giulia is a priority for WWE’s Head of Talent Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. The Game is said to be bothered by the notion Japanese talent can’t succeed in WWE and hopes the arrival of Giulia can change that perception. While Giulia would be quite the addition to the AEW roster, the All-Elite promotion has never made a serious play for her, and she has had no conversations with representatives. At this time, it appears her only notable options are WWE or staying in Japan. 

One WWE Superstar already has her eye on facing Giulia in the ring. Click here to find out more. 

AJ Lee Drops In-Ring Training Video With CM Punk Amid Hope Of WWE Return

Aaron Varble
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WWE saw the return of CM Punk at Survivor Series, and it didn’t take long for fans to wish they could see AJ Lee next. Although we have heard no definite momentum about her in-ring return, she is definitely teasing something.

AJ Lee on Heels

AJ Mendez landed a role on Heels. That part was perfect for her, because she got to play a female pro wrestler, despite her in-ring career grinding to a halt a year after her husband left WWE.

AJ Lee Drops Training Video

To add even more intrigue to the situation, the former Divas Champion dropped a video of her training in the ring with CM Punk. This is not recent footage, but it does show how hard she trained to get ready for that Heels role.

AJ Lee also dropped a photo on her Instagram story where she showed off her signature Chuck Taylor wrestling boots. She also picked lyrics to a classic Simon & Garfunkel song. This got a lot of fans going, assuming she is hinting at an in-ring return.

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Why AJ Lee Left WWE

AJ Lee left WWE in 2015 after several years with the company. Following her last match at WrestleMania 31, AJ Lee announced her retirement from professional wrestling. AJ Lee and Saraya (then known as Paige) beat the Bella Twins in tag team action on the grandest stage of them all.

AJ Lee actually wrestled once more as AJ Lee, Naomi & Paige defeated Natalya & The Bella Twins in a 13-minute match during the March 30th WWE Monday Night RAW. Then, she bid WWE farewell, but she also went out with a win.

AJ Lee’s decision to leave WWE was a personal one, and she expressed a desire to focus on other endeavors outside the wrestling industry. Her departure marked the end of an impactful career in WWE, where she had achieved success as a multiple-time Divas Champion, and now fans can only imagine what 2024 has in store.

Julia Hart Doesn’t Care About Internet’s Opinion: ‘They Can Think Whatever They Want’

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Everybody has an opinion on the internet and Julia Hart cares about none of them.

The 22-year-old has been one of the break-out stars of AEW in 2023. She picked up a number of impressive victories in the last few months. The female star is ending the year as a champion after defeating Kris Statlander and Skye Blue for the TBS title in a triple-threat match at Full Gear and becoming the youngest champion in AEW history.

She picked up another victory while successfully defending her title against Abadon at the Worlds End PPV. In the post-show press conference, Hart was asked about handling criticism online. The young star claimed that the only opinions that matter are hers and her boss Tony Khan’s:

“When it comes to the internet, it’s different because at the end of the day, the only person’s opinion that matters is Tony and myself. So whatever, the internet’s always going to have an opinion on you. It’s going to be negative, it’s going to be positive.” said Julia Hart,

She continued: “They can think whatever they want because I also remember being a fan and I thought I knew everything as well. A fan doesn’t know everything. What I do know, Tony is my boss and if he says I do good job, I believe him. If I tell myself I do a good job, that’s all that matters. The fans, they can say whatever they want.”

Worlds End was only the third title defence for Julia Hart in her title reign and 2024 will bring even more challenges for her. You can check out the full media scrum featuring the AEW star below:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Mercedes Mone’s Deal For WWE Return Hits Financial Roadblock

Aaron Varble
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Sasha Banks walked out of WWE in May 2022, and she has done her own thing for over a year since then. Although a return to WWE was in the cards for Mercedes Mone, it appears that money is now an issue.

WWE and Mercedes Mone’s Current Status

Charlotte Flair just inked a new deal with WWE, said to be the highest female contract extension in company history. It appears that Mercedes Mone wants WWE to back up the Brinks truck to her home as well.

Talks between WWE and Mercedes Mone have stopped, as we previously reported. That isn’t to say that her return to the company is impossible, but they need to come to a deal.

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that Mercedes Mone and WWE were far apart on money. That obstacle stopped their deal from moving forward. It is also important to note that it’s not over until it’s over.

“She was absolutely talking with WWE. From what I was told, they were far apart on money. There was one person in WWE who said, “until she shows up and signs a contract, just remember what happened with Punk.” I was told that this afternoon, “just remember what happened with Punk.” I was told that by multiple people that they were far apart on money.”

CM Punk’s WWE Deal Could Be A Blueprint For Mercedes Mone’s Return

CM Punk and WWE worked out a deal for his return to the company, long after everyone had already reported that there were no talks. Many assumed that it was too late for WWE to work anything out with CM Punk for a Survivor Series return, but it happened as he inked his new deal on the day before that November 25th event in Chicago’s Allstate Arena.

After recent trademark filings from Mercedes Mone, some have speculated that she may open a fashion line. It seems to be her decision at this point, because options are on the table for her.

Mercedes Mone’s situation could be very similar to CM Punk’s because her deal isn’t inked yet, either. You never know if WWE can work something out with her, but she may need another few zeros added to her downside guarantee. 

The Rock Promoting Big NFL Announcement As XFL Rumors Pick Up

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

The Rock is teasing a big NFL announcement on the last day of 2023.

The Fox Sports NFL Twitter account recently teased a big news coming our way. Interestingly they tagged XFL in the photo they posted, followed by The Rock promoting the announcement:

A consortium led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson purchased the XFL brand from Vince McMahon back in August 2020, with intentions to once again relaunch the football league.

This came after a relaunch attempt by Mr McMahon himself failed due to the COVID-19 pandemic halting the 2020 season after only five weeks of play.

The league under The Rock’s ownership returned to play in February 2023. They announced a merger with USFL earlier this year, aiming to play a combined season next year.

Now the latest tease suggests that things may be changing once again and we may see XFL and NFL joining hands in some form before the 2024 season.

The Great One is also rumored to make his return to WWE for the WrestleMania 40 build-up. He made a lone appearance back in September taking out Austin Theory in a segment.

His return may take place as soon as this Monday’s Day 1 special of Raw for which Triple H has been teasing the return of a former WWE champion.

Swerve Strickland Is Done Waiting For Keith Lee After Worlds End

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Swerve Strickland is not waiting for anybody going into 2024 and if Keith Lee wants to have a match with him, then he’s gonna have to work hard for it.

The two former tag team partners were supposed to finally face each other in a singles match at the Worlds End PPV. Hours before the show, however, it was revealed that Lee was not cleared by doctors. This resulted in a last-minute change in the match card, and Dustin Rhodes stepped up to face Strickland in a match instead.

The Limitless One’s injury was addressed at the Worlds End press conference. In response to a question, company president Tony Khan confirmed that Lee wanted to wrestle at the show and detailed why he wasn’t allowed to do so:

“Keith absolutely did want to wrestle. There is a process there and it involves a doctor examining the wrestler every time before they go out and wrestle but also keeping in touch with him during the week. Keith mentioned he got injured in his match at Final Battle. He had a great match with Shane Taylor hard hitting match in Dallas at Final Battle. Then after that, Keith had gotten back in the ring and had a great match with Brian Cage. Did a great number on Collision. 

Keith, today when he went in to see the doctor, his injury had gotten worse during the week and really it was worse than it was after the Shane Taylor match and it was worse than it was after the Brian cage match. The swelling had gone up and with the swelling being what it was the doctor didn’t feel comfortable clearing Keith. So it’s a tough call. But the doctor did what he thought was right and I respect the medical team’s decision.”

On the question of this long-anticipated match taking place sometimes later, Swerve Strickland said that he is done waiting. He explained that if Keith really wants to get a shot at him now, he’ll have to do something to earn it:

“It’s quite unfortunate. I’m done waiting though. I don’t wait on anybody. For me. I’ve been waiting for a while now. Now I have my sights set on something else, and that’s championship gold. So either Keith’s gonna have to work harder than ever in 2024 to reach me at that point or reach to the championship or do something, but I’m not waiting on anybody. If the match happens, he’s gonna have to work hard to get to me at this point.”

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

CM Punk’s Story Won’t End With Headlining WrestleMania: “That’s Me Just Getting Started!”

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk headlining WrestleMania won’t mark the finish of his story, but rather just the beginning, according to the WWE Raw Superstar. 

Punk is one of two men confirmed for next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, with the other being Cody Rhodes. Both men are considered favorites to win the Men’s Rumble match. The show will mark ten years since Punk’s final match at a WWE PLE which came as part of the 2014 Royal Rumble Match. 

CM Punk is Just Getting Started

At the December 30, WWE live event in Inglewood, California, CM Punk defeated Dominik Mysterio in a rematch from their Boxing Day collision. Punk once again received a massive ovation from the fans in attendance, who joined in with his signature ‘It’s Clobbering Time!’ catchphrase.

Speaking to the fans after the match, Punk addressed Rhea Ripley not being in Dominik’s corner before turning his attention toward the Men’s Rumble match. 

“Like all of you, I’m disappointed that Rhea Ripley wasn’t here tonight. I was looking forward to hoisting her and bodyslamming her to cause California to break down the San Andreas fault and fall into the ocean. Maybe next time. Give yourselves a round of applause you beautiful, beautiful, people. You packed this place, days after Christmas. You spent your hard-earned money and your valuable time to spend time with us and I appreciate that.

“At the end of the month in January, I go to the Royal Rumble and damnit, if there was a sign hanging in this building I’d point at it right now. But I’ll point at my heart [Punk does so] because that’s where all of you reside until I walk into the Rumble and I walk out the winner! That’s me, finishing what I started and it’s not over then because then I’m going to go on to main event WrestleMania. And that’s not the finish of my story, sorry Cody, that’s me just getting started!”

A Hall of Fame Surprise

Punk received a ton of support from the fans, as well as behind the scenes. Backstage, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi was very pleased to see Punk at the event. In a video shared on social media, Rikishi can be seen welcoming Punk ‘home.’

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

Adam Copeland Paid Tribute to Iconic WrestleMania Match at AEW Worlds End

Thomas Lowson
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Adam Copeland’s days as a WWE Superstar may be a thing of the past, but the Rated R Superstar paid tribute to one of his iconic WrestleMania matches last night. 

Since joining AEW at WrestleDream, Copeland has been feuding with his former friend and ex-tag team partner Christian Cage. The two faced off for the TNT title in Montreal earlier this month on an episode of Dynamite in a match that Cage would win. 

Copeland’s WrestleMania 22 Tribute

At AEW Worlds End, Copeland once again challenged for the AEW TNT Championship, this time in a No Disqualifications match. Throughout the match, Copeland paid tribute to his epic Hardcore match at WrestleMania 22 in 2006, which saw the then-Edge defeat Mick Foley. Copeland wore the same attire at Worlds End that he wore for the match with Foley, right down to his vest. 

Later in the match, Copeland used a flaming table, just as he had at WrestleMania 22 nearly two decades earlier. Rather than spearing someone through the table though like he did in Chicago, Copeland powerbombed Nick Wayne onto the table at Worlds End. 

https://twitter.com/AIRGold_/status/1741304743354376211

Copeland was able to dethrone Christian Cage as TNT Champion and finished his former friend with Cage’s own Killswitch finisher. This marked Copeland’s first championship win since 2011 but was also his shortest reign. Post-match, he was attacked by Killswitch (the wrestler, not the move.) Killswitch had earned a shot at the TNT Championship by winning a battle royal on the Zero-Hour pre-show. Killswitch surrendered his title opportunity to Cage, who promptly won the title back from Copeland. 

Tony Khan Confirms Andrade El Idolo’s AEW Departure

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Tony Khan has confirmed that Andrade El Idolo’s AEW contract is expiring at the end of the year and he will not be renewing his deal with the company.

The AEW President took part in the media scrum after the World’s End PPV. Among other things, he talked about this being the 5 year anniversary of AEW and how it means that some contracts are bound to expire. Khan gave a shout-out to QT Marshall who is one of the day one talents leaving the promotion at the end of the year. He then confirmed that Andrade’s AEW deal is coming to an end as well:

“Somebody who has not been with us the entire five years, but they’ve been with us about half the time. They’ve been outstanding and somebody I really respect and I don’t expect to see necessarily, as it stands right now renewing the contract but somebody that I have a great amount of respect for and would be parting on good terms and was tremendous, was here and did wrestle tonight is Andrade El Idolo.

Andrade El Idolo’s contract is up at the end of the year. We’ve had great talks. I have a tonne of respect for Andrade El Idolo. He’s been a huge performer in the Continental Classic week after week I talked about this great run Collision’s been on, Andrade El Idolo has been a huge part of it. Also has wrestled on the other shows and the Blue League of the Continental Classic.

Tony Khan claimed that they would have given a prominent position to Andrade if he had decided to stay with the company. He then praised him for the World’s End match with Miro, saying that he will be leaving on a high note:

“He’s outstanding. I wanted to keep him involved at the top. If we had been able to reach an agreement, certainly he would be somebody we would slot in, in a prominent position. I think we did everything we could to show Andrade El Idolo we really do value him.

I think this last run he’s had in recent months has been tremendous. If this is going to be the way he’s gonna leave AEW, talk about leaving on a high note because he had a great match with Miro tonight.”

Andrade has long been rumored to be on his way back to WWE. A contract expiration means he will be free to make an appearance for any company he likes at the start of the year. With Triple H’s latest tease, many believe that we may see him back in the Endeavor owned promotion sooner rather than later.

You can check out the full Worlds End media scrum below:

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Adam Cole & More React to The Devil Reveal at AEW Worlds End

Thomas Lowson
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The reveal of the Devil at AEW Worlds End has proven to be a huge talking point among fans and those within the wrestling business. 

In the main event of AEW Worlds End, MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. After the match, the Devil’s henchmen’s attacked MJF and revealed themselves to be Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett. Adam Cole watched on as the four men beat down Cole’s ‘best friend’ before revealing himself as the Devil. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

After months of build, the reveal of the Devil has had the wrestling world talking. Taking to Twitter, Cole shared a snippet from the song ‘pride.is.the.devil. by J. Cole and Lil Baby. 

While some suspected Britt Baker of being the Devil, that was never the plan. On Twitter, Baker was pleased to prove those who doubted her wrong. 

Anthony Bowens has been aligned with MJF and was attacked by The Devil’s henchmen alongside the rest of the Acclaimed recently. The AEW Trios Champion had just two words for Cole and his allies. 

Alex Hammerstone recently wrapped up his time with  MLW and has teased joining AEW. The former MLW World Champion shared a photo of himself alongside MJF, and others during their time as The Dynasty and asked if MJF needs some help. 

Richard Holliday was also once part of The Dynasty and shared his own reaction to the reveal of the Devil and his henchmen. 

There have been some negative reactions to the closing moments of AEW Worlds End, but that hasn’t phased Samoa Joe. The new AEW World Champion made it clear he’s enjoying the ‘salty tears’ of fans. 

Tony Khan: AEW Takes Accusations of Sexual Harassment Very Seriously

Thomas Lowson
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0

AEW is the safest place for professional wrestlers, according to AEW President Tony Khan, as the allegations against Chris Jericho continue to make headlines.

While AEW Worlds End was a historic night for the promotion and saw the crowning of a new World Champion, much of the show was overshadowed by the allegations about Chris Jericho. The veteran is alleged to have acted inappropriately with Kylie Rae, which is said to have been a factor in her AEW exit in 2019. 

Tony Khan on Harassment 

Jericho faced NDA and Kylie Rae chants during AEW Worlds End, and a hashtag movement calling for him to be fired trended on Twitter. Speaking on the post-Worlds End Media Scrum, Tony Khan was asked about the allegations and the protocol to keep wrestlers safe from unwanted advances. 

“We’re very serious about [that] and we’ve had a policy in place. Certainly I think any time there’s anything like that, we would make sure we do everything we can to prevent it. AEW has the best safety record I believe of any pro wrestling company in the world. I believe we have the most safe environment. I believe we have the best safety record of any pro wrestling company and I would hold the record of AEW on safety against any wrestling company in the world. I think we, AEW is the safest place for pro wrestling and if any of our wrestlers ever have a concern they always have an open line to talk to me and I you know I believe anybody would sit here and tell you they always can talk to me anytime they are concerned about anything.”

When asked for details about the steps wrestlers can take if they feel they are being harassed, Khan outlined what happens to a wrestler if they are found to have violated company policy. 

“If there was anything that came to light to me, I would take it to the disciplinary committee. That’s how we’ve been doing it and I think our disciplinary committee has been doing a great job. Everybody knows they have an open line to me or anybody on that committee.”

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

Samoa Joe Confirms New Belt Design For AEW Title After Worlds End Win

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

The new AEW World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe has confirmed that we will be getting a new belt for the top prize of the company in his new era.

The Samoan Submission Machine took part in the World’s End press conference after his big win at the PPV. He was asked about the current title design and Joe confirmed that the current belt is ‘going into garbage’:

“Oh this is going into garbage, Don’t worry about that. I mean this trash right here, this little knockoff, BS Lucha stuff that he got going on, this is going away.

We’re getting the good belt, the right belt. Something that’s designed well. I’ve spoken with Tony intensively about it and we’re we’re very much looking forward to it. I mean, we got a whole new era starting up here.”

The current AEW title design was introduced by MJF last year after he defeated Jon Moxley at the Full Gear PPV to win the title.

The Scumbag held the championship for 406 days before Samoa Joe defeated him for the title. Though Joe had a lot of help in doing so.

The new AEW champion had been helped by the mysterious devil who was revealed at the show tonight. You can check out the identity of the masked man here, and read what the future holds for MJF after the show tonight here.

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

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