MJF has made no secret about the number of injuries that he has raked up during his career, especially in recent memory. Now, the Salt of the Earth is expected to take some time off.
MJF Taking Time Off
MJF lost the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. That was a hard-fought main event match in Long Island, MJF’s homestead, but he still lost to the Samoa Submission Machine via a chokehold.
After the match, Adam Cole revealed himself to be The Devil. The Kingdom, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow were also unveiled as his associates. That storyline will apparently carry on without MJF as a target, because Our Scumbag is taking time off.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that many within AEW that he spoke to “immediately following AEW Worlds End said that they expect MJF to be off TV for a while immediately, if not almost immediately.”
MJF had sustained a plethora of injuries during his AEW Title reign, but was adamant that he wanted to see it through. As MJF is often influential in his own creative, there’s always a chance he could insist on an absence not happening, but it’s expected internally.
MJF has not brought up the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and most believe that it is due to a contract resigning that was not publicly announced. There are also currently no talks between MJF and WWE at this time.
MJF also wants a dual career in Hollywood and pro wrestling. With The Iron Claw’s release, that possibility is certainly out there for the former AEW World Champion.
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Wardlow were revealed as the Devils during AEW Worlds End. Despite MJF’s ongoing angle with that masked faction, it appears that he will be taking some time off.
AEW Worlds End will go down as one of the worst nights in the career of MJF, who lost his AEW World Championship and his best friend in one fell swoop.
For months, MJF has been targeted by somebody in his ‘Devil’ mask, who has been attacking anyone close to the scarf-wearing wrestler. Suspicion had been running rampant within AEW, with several wrestlers and even MJF himself being accused of being behind the attacks.
A New AEW World Champion
With his tag-team partner Adam Cole injured, MJF was until recently in an unlikely team with Samoa Joe. On this week’s Dynamite though, Joe betrayed MJF, who would lose the ROH World Tag Team Championships to two of the Devil’s henchmen. It was revealed on Dynamite that MJF had done ‘business’ with the Devil.
At Worlds End, MJF defended his AEW World Championship against Joe and a title change took place. The finish saw Samoa Joe lock MJF in the Coquina Clutch, and his arm fell three times, resulting in the submission victory and a title change.
Following the match, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF and Cole, who was at ringside for the match to ‘support’ his ‘friend.’ When one of the masked men was about to hit Cole with a chair, the lights went out. When they came back on, CVole was revealed as the Devil.
The masked men were also revealed as Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The four men beat down MJF and left him out cold to close the show.
All Elite Wrestling’s final pay-per-view of 2023 is in the books, but the show wasn’t short of headlines.
News, rumors, and more flew around the wrestling world just hours leading up to the event and once the main event closed, we were left with more questions than answers.
So, without further ado, here’s what you need to know coming out as AEW closed out their 2023:
Samoa Joe Heads Into 2024 as AEW World Champion
A legitimate injury, nearly everybody in the AEW locker room going after him, and the impending arrival of The Devil, it was very much a MJF vs. the world scenario in the now-former World Champion’s hometown of Long Island, New York. While everyone thought it would be the doing of The Devil that would be the ultimate undoing of MJF’s World Title reign, it was a Coquina Clutch from Samoa Joe that would put MJF out cold and leave referee, Bryce Remsburg with no choice but to call for the bell. Samoa Joe now sits at the top of the mountain in All Elite Wrestling.
Is MJF YOUR scumbag? MJF puts the #AEW World Title on the line against Samoa Joe in the main event of #AEWWorldsEnd.
‘The Devil’ Adam Cole Was Pulling The Strings All Along Against The Puppet Master Himself, MJF
Rewind all the way to the June 14, 2023 edition of AEW Dynamite…MJF and Adam Cole fought to a 30-minute time limit draw with MJF’s AEW World Championship up-for-grabs. Just weeks later, the pair were ‘randomly’ drawn together as teammates in the inaugural ‘Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament,’ a tournament the pair ending up winning, but ended up falling short in their bid for the AEW Tag Team Titles against then-champions, FTR. However, MJF and Adam Cole would gain something more valuable than gold (to some)…friendship. MJF and Cole put their differences to the side and respected one another after such a grueling rivalry. The pair would kick-off AEW’s biggest show in the company’s history ‘All In’ by defeating Aussie Open to become Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions in front of 70,000-plus fans inside of London, England’s historic Wembley Stadium. MJF and Cole would also close out the show with their long-awaited AEW World Title rematch, but this time, MJF would get the better of Cole, and retained his title.
After a string of injuries and health woes, Cole would be in-and-out of competition, leaving MJF to fend for himself and defend the titles by himself, which led to numbers being too much for the Long Island-native to handle, when he dropped the ROH Tag Titles to his newest rival ‘The Devil’s’ masked friends on the December 27 edition of Dynamite. With Samoa Joe lurking in the shadows for a rematch of his own, MJF accepted Joe’s challenge, for a helping hand leading up to tonight’s showdown…something Joe honored until the aforementioned 12/27 Dynamite, where Joe took out MJF following the latter’s title loss.
And on one fateful night in MJF’s hometown of Long Island, New York…his past finally caught up to him as he lost the AEW World Championship…and his best friend, Adam Cole. Following Joe’s victory over MJF, the vaunted masked men surrounded the ring before rushing inside and attacking both men…but the attack stopped and the masked assailants held MJF and Cole face-to-face before the lights would go out…and when they came up, Cole was standing side-by-side with the masked men, all facing MJF. By the time the now-former champion figured out what just happened, it was too late as Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett all removed their masks to reveal Cole’s newest creation…which closed out ‘Worlds End’ by taking out Cole’s now-former tag team partner…and The Devil was no longer MJF…but the man playing the strings all along, Adam Cole, Bay Bay.
‘The Mad King’ cemented his place in AEW history. During AEW’s inaugural Continental Classic tournament, Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley did exactly what they do best, brutalize their opponents and a collision course to the finals was exactly what many wanted and predicted. The Heart and Soul of AEW against the Ace of AEW was exactly what the doctor ordered for what was otherwise a somewhat lackluster pay-per-view event. Both Kingston and Moxley came with their best and after violent attack after violent attack, it was the pride and joy of Yonkers, New York who came out on top in front of his home state fans as the first-ever AEW Continental Classic Champion.
Take a look at All Elite Wrestling’s newest title belt, as well as some of the highlights of this brutal encounter, below:
The only person who may be able to handle these blows from Eddie Kingston is Jon Moxley.
In-ring wise, the best match on the card was Christian Cage’s (technically) unsuccessful TNT Championship defense against longtime friend and rival, Adam Copeland. After a beautifully violent 20-plus minute encounter, Copeland planted Cage’s protege, Nick Wayne through a table engulfed in flames before delivering a Killswitch of his own to Cage to secure the 1-2-3. Just moments after his victory, Copeland was celebrating with his first title in AEW, however, Cage’s sidekick and former TNT Champion, Killswitch (FKA Luchasaurus) attacked Copeland before getting ready to cash-in his TNT Title opportunity that he earned by outlasting 19 other competitors during the show’s ‘Zero Hour’ battle royale affair.
However, Cage would return to the ring and somehow convince Killswitch to hand him over the contract, which the then-former champion would sign and hand over to senior referee, Paul Turner. The bell would ring before Cage did what Copeland did to him…finish him off with his own signature move, the spear. The devastating spear would garner the three-count for Cage, and in doing so, make him a two-time TNT Champion, and now becoming the TRUE Ultimate Opportunist.
Miro Sends Andrade el Idolo Packing While Redeeming His Ultimate Prize
With rumors swirling that Andrade el Idolo would be departing AEW following tonight’s pay-per-view, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Miro would have his hand raised following the pair’s match. While that was exactly the case, it was far more competitive than many previously thought after the news of Andrade’s impending departure came about, and while securing the 1-2-3 was the goal of the match, Miro gained something far, far more valuable…his wife CJ Perry, who assisted ‘The Redeemer’ and was reunited with her husband at long…long last.
As previously mentioned, many rumors and news surrounded tonight’s show. Throughout the first handful of matches, the damper of the earlier day’s news sure casted a dark cloud over AEW’s final pay-per-view offering of 2023, however the classic TNT Championship match between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland began a hot streak for the night as Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley’s Continental Classic Final before the ultimate reveal of Adam Cole as The Devil lea
ding to Samoa Joe’s World Championship victory over MJF closed out the night on a high note.
Who will Samoa Joe set his sights on for his first title defense? Will Adam Cole have answers for MJF after months and months of manipulation? Will MJF even be with AEW in 2024? We have a TON of loose ends to tie up as All Elite Wrestling opens up to a new chapter, starting this Wednesday night on Dynamite.
AEW begins their 2024 when the company returns to your screens this coming Wednesday, January, 3, when Dynamite takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
All Elite Wrestling will be back on pay-per-view on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will feature the legendary Sting’s final match against a yet to be announced opponent.
Mansoor is now officially a free agent and the former WWE star is aiming for a fresh start with no animosity.
The once Maximum Male Model joined Denise Salcedo for a new interview and he talked about the emotions he went through when he was let go by WWE back in September.
“I can joke about it because I’m not bitter about it. It did bother me, believe me, but 90 days is a long time. At a certain point, you’re in bed and you’re trying to go to sleep, and all you can think about is, ‘What did I do wrong? What could I have done better?’ At some point, you’re like, ‘I can’t live like this. I gotta just try and make the most of it and make the best of it.’”
Mansoor Wants To Handle His Destiny On His Own Terms
Mansoor, along with his tag partner Mace, officially became a free agent on December 21 and told Salcedo how as a member of the WWE roster, he’d go months without wrestling in the ring. Now that he’s not under contract, that element gets removed.
“I’m so excited to be able to go out there and say, ‘Listen, for whatever happened in WWE, what you’re about to see is who I really am, and you’re about to get the most serious and real indicator of my talent, and if it goes great, phenomenal. If it doesn’t, I’ll fade off into the sunset, but at least I get to know it was based on my own talent.”
Mansoor will be a participant on the upcoming GCW card Look At Me at Royal Rumble Weekend.
Please credit Instinct Culture and h/t to Fightful for the transcription.
Adam Copeland captured the AEW TNT Championship at Worlds End, in his first title win in over a decade, but the Canadian’s run with the gold was very short-lived.
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.
Adam Copeland Wins (and Loses)
In a No-Disqualification match at AEW Worlds End, Cage and Copeland held nothing back in their efforts to leave Long Island with the TNT Championship. As the winners of the first two TLC matches, it was fitting that the bout featured Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. In the end, Copeland hit Cage with Christian’s own Killswitch finisher to get the win and become the new TNT Champion.
This was an emotional win for Copeland, as it was his first time winning a championship since he captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from Dolph Ziggler in early 2011. Unfortunately for the Hall of Famer, his time on top was short-lived. After the match, Killswitch (formerly Luchasaurus) hit the ring with a guaranteed TNT Championship match contract Killswitch had won the opportunity during the Zero-Hour pre-show battle royal.
Look who’s here to cash in their TNT Title Shot!!! KILLSWITCH!
Rather than challenge Copeland, Killswitch surrendered that contract to Christian who had the match restarted. Cage then used Copeland’s finisher, a spear, to win the title back.
This makes Copeland a history maker in AEW, but not in a good way. The Canadian legend now holds the record for the shortest title reign in the history of the company.
AEW Worlds End 2023 proved to be a tough night at the office for Chris Jericho who was on the receiving end of some choice chants from the Long Island crowd.
In the fifth match of the show (and eighth match if you include the pre-show) Jericho was victorious in an eight-man tag-team match. The bout saw Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting and Darby Allin defeat AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks, and Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs.
Chris Jericho Faces Chants
Jericho’s appearance at the show was something of a surprise, as some fans expected him to be pulled from AEW Worlds End. In the hours before the show, Jericho faced allegations of misconduct with wrestler Kylie Rae. Nick Hausman made mention of Jericho having skeletons in his closet, and Rae herself reacted with a heart to a post saying that Jericho is not a safe person to be around for young women in wrestling.
At this time, AEW President Tony Khan has yet to address the allegations against Jericho, who was the first-ever AEW World Champion. It is likely he will be asked about the matter during the post-Worlds End media scrum.
AEW saw a few random injuries throughout 2023 that greatly changed their booking plans. They couldn’t get through the final pay-per-view of the year without being forced to change things up.
Keith Lee was scheduled to take on Swerve Strickland in a singles match at AEW Worlds End, a long-awaited showdown that some fans doubted would ever materialize. Sadly, that match wasn’t meant to be in 2023.
Unexpected Change Of Plans For Keith Lee
In an update on X, Keith Lee shared that he was going to enter the Worlds End match with an injury. Although he did not divulge the specifics of the setback, he assured fans that he is committed to giving his best effort in the upcoming match.
Today… I keep it very real with you guys. I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022.
It has been mostly well taken care of. Things have been worse since Final Battle.
I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
Today… I keep it very real with you guys.
I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022. It has been mostly well taken care of.
Things have been worse since Final Battle. I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
Keith Lee was taken out of AEW Worlds End and Dustin Rhodes was placed in his spot. Swerve Strickland picked up the win against The Natural in the end, which continued his winning streak in AEW.
This is not good news for Keith Lee, and we can only hope that whatever kept him off the AEW Worlds End card isn’t something that will persist far into 2024.
WWE saw some notable departures in 2023, as the company fired a ton of people after the TKO Group Holdings takeover. Now, Kevin Dunn is leaving the company.
Kevin Dunn’s WWE Departure
PW Insider reports that Kevin Dunn is leaving WWE. Having served as Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, Dunn conveyed his decision to depart to WWE during Christmas week, concluding over three decades of association with the company.
Dunn, who held the post of Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, informed WWE around Christmas week he was exiting after more than three decades with the company. We are told that a big factor in his decision to retire is changes internally post-Endeavor acquisition and that Dunn was “never going to do anything that was dictacted” to him, as opposed to how he personally oversaw production in the past. We are told this was not an issue of creative but two differing versions of how things should be run from a TV production perspective as WWE seeks to cut costs.
Why Kevin Dunn Is Leaving WWE
The decision to retire was influenced significantly by internal changes post-Endeavor acquisition. Kevin Dunn was unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives, contrasting with his previous hands-on approach to production oversight.
It was also reported that Kevin Dunn’s departure was not linked to creative matters but rather divergent views on television production perspectives aimed at cost reduction.
Despite rumors of his departure in recent years, the company never initiated Kevin Dunn’s exit. On the contrary, the WWE Board of Directors urged Dunn to continue when Vince McMahon initially retired in July 2022. While not surprising, Dunn’s exit carries substantial implications, given his profound influence on the vibe, ambiance, and production of WWE’s product over several decades.
Kevin Dunn’s History in WWE
Since 1993, when the Monday Night Raw era started on the USA Network, Kevin Dunn assumed the role of Executive Producer for all WWE programming, shaping the distinctive style of WWE production recognized by casual fans.
Kevin Dunn’s departure marks the end of an era, as he played a pivotal role in ensuring every WWE broadcast or documentary adhered to his approval.
Kevin Dunn served as the official Director for many live broadcasts and, more importantly, held the Line Producer role for all WWE broadcasts from 1993 onward. The Line Producer is a crucial internal figure responsible for budget breakdown, crew hiring, fiscal oversight during filming, and overall planning to ensure optimal use of capital for production.
AEW Worlds End is set to take place on December 30th, and the roster is ready for anything. One star is reportedly wrapping up his time with AEW in Long Island, and Andrade is WWE-bound after that.
Possible Spoiler On WWE Return
Wrestle Purists reports that they have been told by sources around AEW that Andrade El Idolo is expected to wrap things up with Tony Khan’s company at AEW Worlds End. It was then noted that Andrade is expected to arrive in WWE on the January 1st episode of RAW.
According to WrestlePurists sources, Andrade El Idolo is expected by many in AEW to finish up with the company tonight at World’s End.
He is also believed by many within AEW to be heading back to WWE. Some think it could happen as soon as the Day 1 RAW.
A WWE source we spoken to is aware of the talk surrounding Andrade and is expecting him to join the company imminently.
A WWE return makes sense for Andrade, because his wife, Charlotte Flair, works for the company. She is currently out of action for 9 months due to a knee injury, but The Queen would definitely cheer on Andrade’s WWE return from home.
According to WrestlePurists sources, Andrade El Idolo is expected by many in AEW to finish up with the company tonight at World’s End.
He is also believed by many within AEW to be heading back to WWE. Some think it could happen as soon as the Day 1 RAW.
Sean Ross Sapp later reported on Fightful Select to note that Andrade’s exit from AEW wasn’t pleasant. He made it known to a lot of people Wednesday at AEW Dynamite that he intends on leaving the company.
Fightful Select learned this week that Andrade and AEW were set to no longer work together, with most expecting it to culminate at the AEW Worlds End show. Numerous sources indicated that Andrade made it clear this past Wednesday at AEW Dynamite he no longer wanted to be with the company and was planning on leaving. We’re told that the situation surrounding Andrade’s exit was less than pleasant, with some even saying a major disagreement had unfolded.
WWE Day 1 Surprise Planned
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that said WWE is looking to add some star power to their Day 1 show. A former champion is expected to return, but no specific name has been reported yet.
Andrade’s inclusion in the Day 1 episode would bring a surprise reaction, but the real question then lies on Triple H’s plan for the former NXT Champion.
Triple H Comments On WWE RAW 1 Surprise
Triple H heard the report that someone is coming back at WWE RAW’s Day 1 event on January 1st. He commented to stoke the flames a bit on that rumor.
Not going to confirm or deny the rumors of a former @WWE Champion appearing at #WWERaw Day One… but I will say to stay tuned.
Not going to confirm or deny the rumors of a former @WWE Champion appearing at #WWERaw Day One… but I will say to stay tuned.
The Iron Claw film brought the Von Erich Family’s story to the masses, and that R-Rated film is currently in theaters. The actor who played Ric Flair in the film also received a ton of attention, but the pro wrestling community was not kind about how he portrayed The Nature Boy.
The Iron Claw’s Ric Flair Actor Speaks Out
The actor who took on the role of Ric Flair in The Iron Claw film faced severe criticism. Aaron Dean Eisenberg, the man behind the portrayal, is now addressing the negative feedback he received for his depiction of The Nature Boy.
During an interview on Man Cave Chronicles, Aaron Dean Eisenberg provided insights into his approach to playing Ric Flair. He acknowledged the challenges and the mixed reactions his performance garnered
“It’s been interesting. I feel Flair is definitely an idol for some people, so they really hold him in high regard and sort of expect a certain thing for him. I’ve gotten a lot of love, but also a lot of hate, which is very new for me. It’s certainly a polarizing performance.”
The Iron Claw’s Reception
Despite the film earning praise from both critics and audiences, wrestling fans, it only pulled around $5 million in its opening weekend. Compared to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Migration, and Wonka, it did not stack up. That being said, it’s harder for R-Rated films to draw compared to those family-friendly options.
Critics on the internet were exceptionally harsh toward Aaron Dean Eisenberg, despite his dedicated effort. It seems that he is not letting it bother him. If anything, this acting credit on his IMDB page was definitely noteworthy.
The Judgment Day stands as one of WWE’s best factions, as they took over in 2023. Judgment Day also added JD McDonagh to their ranks in recent memory. However, a recent glitch occurred when a member of the faction faced a big logistical problem while trying to attend the December 29th WWE house show.
Judgment Day Member’s Issue in Canada
During the December 29th WWE house show at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Judgment Day’s dynamic was on display. Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest actively participated in the event, while Dominik Mysterio provided corner support for Ripley.
However, JD McDonagh was notably absent from the scene. Finn Balor took to Twitter, sharing an image of The Judgment Day backstage in Canada. In the accompanying caption, he revealed McDonagh’s absence, attributing it to paperwork troubles that prevented him from joining the Canadian event.
”The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto”
The incident shed light on the logistical challenges faced by WWE Superstars, showcasing the intricate details behind their appearances. We can only hope that they straighten this out, so JD McDonagh doesn’t have to miss any more events outside the United States.
Shotzi has quite a time in Las Vegas when WWE rolled through town for a live event on December 29th. The SmackDown Superstar got married while she was in Sin City, and she didn’t even have time to change out of her wedding dress before her match.
Shotzi’s journey in NXT was marked by her captivating character and impressive in-ring abilities, earning her a devoted fan following. Beyond the squared circle, her personal life recently took a significant turn as she tied the knot.
Shotzi Gets Married
Fans were cheering on Shotzi since news of her engagement broke in July. The anticipation surrounding her impending wedding naturally led to speculation about when the big day would finally arrive.
During the live event in Las Vegas, Shotzi’s joy was obvious as she stepped into the ring wearing her wedding dress. The celebratory atmosphere was further heightened as she teamed up with Bianca Belair.
Shotzi wrestled in her wedding dress after getting married yesterday
Shotzi and Bianca Belair went on to defeat Bayley & Iyo Sky in tag team action. The combination of personal happiness and professional success made for a memorable moment for both Shotzi and her fans.
Chris Jericho is a legendary pro wrestler, and he was responsible for much of AEW’s early rise in popularity. On the day of AEW Worlds End, a troubling allegation dropped about him that could paint him in an entirely different light.
Chris Jericho and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Chris Jericho and CM Punk and Ace Steel’s attorney, Stephen P New, recently had it out on social media. The whole ordeal surrounded the non-disclosure agreements that everyone involved in Brawl Out signed.
Chris Jericho claimed that he never signed any NDA about this. Then Stephen P New fired back to say that a confidentiality clause is in the AEW Employee Handbook.
Hey @StephenPNew– I don’t adhere to an employee handbook and have NEVER had one in 4 years of working for @aew. Ive also never signed an NDA in my life ….ever. So stop trying to be a bully and making egotistical fantasy brags for your clients, and start doing some research… https://t.co/P8Fjda7d9K
Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman later called Chris Jericho out for having people sign NDAs himself. That got Hausman a subsequent block from the former AEW World Champion.
Nick Hausman later had Stephen P New on his Rumor and Innuendo podcast for an interview about everything that was going on with that situation.
Then, a clip of Nick Hausman from that Rumor and Innuendo podcast went viral. In that clip, Hausman made mention of skeletons in Chris Jericho’s closet. He also brought Harvey Weinstein’s name into the situation as a comparison to Jericho’s situation.
“There are issues with Chris behind the scenes, where I know a lot of people who were hurt by Chris and his actions. You know, it’s very uncomfortable to me to see him lauded like he is and only having the focus on that, because I do think there are a lot of questionable stories about Chris that will find their way out over time when people are ready to tell those stories, that will cast him in a very different light.”
“I mean, Harvey Weinstein won a lot of Oscars, Harvey Weinstein produced a lot of very popular films. Harvey Weinstein is now in jail … I’m not saying that is happening to Chris, but the narrative can quickly turn if you’re hiding a lot of skeletons in your closet.
A short time later, after that clip went viral, an X account re-posted an older tweet that didn’t get much traction at the time. This tweet implied that Kylie Rae may have left AEW due to Chris Jericho.
“So here’s the deal, you don’t quit the hottest fed going today (AEW) without reason. I have it from people in the know that Kylie was asked to go to Chris Jericho’s room. With the understanding that others would be there. When she got there it was just him. He made a pass at her (no other details are given) and she freaked out.”
Another tweet was posted talking about women who are waiting until it’s safe to speak about Chris Jericho. Kylie Rae reacted to it, as she posted a heart emoji.
During the All Out 2019 media scrum, Sean Ross Sapp asked Tony Khan about Kylie Rae’s status with the company. Reports had previously broke saying that she had requested her release from the company, but no other information was known at the time.
Tony Khan confirmed in 2019 that Kylie Rae is no longer with AEW. He said that she asked for her release, and it was granted. That split was also said to be a “super amicable” one.
“She is no longer with us. We had so many announcements going into the battle royal, she asked for her release, and we granted it. She called me and asked if she could be released from her contract. It’s pretty simple, I said, ‘yeah,’ I asked her if everything was okay, she said, ‘Yeah,’ she just didn’t want to be with the company anymore. We talked about it. It was very simple. So yeah.”
The pro wrestling world lost several notable figures over the course of 2023, but sadly, we must add a legend to that list. Killer Khan, real name Masashi Ozawa, has passed away at the age of 76-years-old.
Killer Khan’s Career in WWF
Killer Khan was a Japanese wrestling legend, hailing from Niigata Prefecture. He transitioned to professional wrestling in 1971 and engaged in notable matches against WWE icons Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.
During his illustrious career, Killer Khan achieved main event status in both Japan and the United States before retiring in 1987. Following his wrestling career, Masashi Ozawa ventured into entrepreneurship by opening Izakaya Kanchan’ in Shinjuku Ward, which unfortunately closed in 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, Masashi Ozawa made his singing debut in 2005 with songs like Furusato Makaka (Japan Crown) and Shinjuku Sanhyakugoya. He was a multi-talented individual, and will be missed throughout the world.
Killer Khan’s Cause of Death
Masashi Ozawa’s passing was attributed to a ruptured artery, with reports indicating that he lost consciousness at Kanchan’s Jinjo Sakaba in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, before being transported to the hospital. Our thoughts are with Masashi Ozawa’s family, friends, and fans during this sad time.
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins put CM Punk on notice at a recent live event, declaring that the Chicago-Made star only cares for himself.
At a recent WWE live event in Toronto, Canada, Seth Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre in the show’s main event. After the match, Rollins couldn’t help but notice the CM Punk chants from the crowd and had some choice words about the ‘Best in the World’.
“What do y’all think, he’s going to pop through that curtain tonight? Na. He ain’t going to come tonight because, you know what, he doesn’t give a da*n about y’all. Hey, I’ve been honest, I’ve said this about CM Punk from day one. CM Punk only gives a damn about CM Punk. But hey, you know what? You’ve all paid your hard-earned money.”
This isn’t Rollins’ first time taking a swing at CM Punk at a live event. Click here to see how the World Champion brutally shut down a Punk chant at a previous event.
WWE’s Live Holiday Tour rolled through the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 29th. Fans packed the venue to see WWE action, and Shotzi had a very special time in Sin City.
Shotzi Gets Married
Shotzi shared on Instagram that she got married in Las Vegas right before the WWE live event. This was a surprise for fans, but we have no word on whether she rode a tank down the aisle.
On Instagram, Shotzi said she got married in Las Vegas and would go straight to work after. WWE had a live event in the area, and Shotzi took advantage of the location for a very personal reason.
“JUST MARRIED! When I realized I would be performing in Vegas, we decided to elope before the show. It was very spontaneous and so perfectly us. I loved every second of it. I’ll post something a little mushier later but its now time for an action packed reception!”
They say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. That really only works if you don’t enter into a legally binding contract of matrimony.
Shotzi has been teaming up with Bianca Belair in tag matches against Bayley and IYO SKY at recent live events. She continues getting a good reaction from fans, but those in Las Vegas tonight had another reason to get excited to see her; because Shotzi is a newly married woman with a lot to celebrate.
WWE Superstars are enjoying the holidays, and Shotzi made the most of it by tying the knot. The unexpected wedding added a unique twist to her already eventful year. This latest eloping move on Shotzi’s part only goes to solidify her reputation of marching to the beat of her own drum.
John Cena departed from WWE once again when the strike in Hollywood was over. His career outside pro wrestling continues, and he still doesn’t know how much longer he has in the ring. WWE was still able to feature John Cena in the final SmackDown of 2023.
John Cena’s Message to Fans
WWE did not air a live episode of SmackDown to close out 2023. Instead, they aired a best-of episode. A clip from John Cena was featured during the show, as he provided a cell phone video message to fans.
During his message to fans, the Greatest of all Time stated that he doesn’t know how much time in WWE he has left. This is the same message he’s delivered in the past, and it seems that uncertainty hasn’t changed. I also thanked fans profusely for their support.
John Cena proposed a toast to the WWE Universe for making his 2023 special. He walked fans through his brief return to the ring, before saying:
“I do not know how much time in the WWE I have left. But I do know in recent times when I returned home, you have always welcomed me.”
John Cena said when he made his last return run to WWE that he came back to get a match. He had that match against Solo Sikoa in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel. Then Cena proceeded to lose that match and tease retirement in a huge way.
John Cena’s acting career is not slowing down, and it shows no signs of stopping. If anything, Cena’s name is getting bigger in Hollywood. The same is not the same for WWE, because even though he will always be considered a GOAT, his blockbusters in the ring could come to an end sooner than later.
WWE SmackDown aired a best-of 2023 special for their December 29th episode. Some fans didn’t think that there would be any notable moments on the show, but the opening segment of the program included LA Knight breaking out a throwback signature that some fans miss.
LA Knight used to call everyone a “dummy” before he landed in WWE. That trend didn’t continue in WWE for some reason, but he never killed the idea. In fact, he seemed open to the prospect of bringing back his Namer of Dummies moniker.
While speaking to Chris Val Vliet months ago, LA Knight was asked about bringing “dummy” back. He said that 90% of fans in WWE don’t even know that he used to pop TNA Wrestling crowds with that word for years prior to becoming a WWE Superstar.
“I’ve considered. Some people want it, but 90% of the people probably don’t even know. Could it come back? Maybe sprinkle it in here or there, you never know.”
LA Knight opened up the SmackDown December 29th special episode with a little promo on 2023. He said “yeah” and was his trademark self. Then he closed out the segment by ordering them to “get to the clips, dummy.”
That marks the first time that LA Knight has said dummy on WWE television, but it’s not the first time he’s said in a WWE ring. In October, LA Knight used dummy a couple of times during an in-ring promo about the Bloodline, but it didn’t make the air.
LA Knight may fill 2024 with a new trademark word, because he has definitely cashed in on the dummy word in the past.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that, at this time, WWE and Mercedes Mone are no longer engaged in active conversations about her making a return to the company.
Top free agent Mercedes Mone aka Sasha Banks and WWE had been engaged in conversations to possibly bring her back to the company. However, WWE sources stated to Fightful Friday night that the two sides are no longer in active negotiations regarding a return. The two sides had recently been engaged in conversations about a return. We’re told the dialogue was friendly, the back and forth failed to progress, and WWE sources claim that their side walked as a result of it.
It was also noted that another source “believed that she would end up appearing elsewhere imminently, but didn’t state where.”
AEW is set to hold their Worlds End Show this Saturday, followed by NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom next week, and TNA Wrestling is gearing up for a rebranding ahead of Hard to Kill in two weeks. So, Mercedes Mone has a few options if she wants to make a big debut on a special night.
Mercedes Mone’s Future in Pro Wrestling Uncertain
This is quite shocking, because many fans were really hoping for Sasha Banks’ return to the company. It doesn’t appear that is in the cards right now.
Mercedes Mone just registered trademarks for, what could be, a clothing line. She has other options in the entertainment industry, as her acting career could see more credits than the Mandalorian down the line.
Although Bayley opened stated that she begs Mercedes Mone to make a return to WWE at every chance she can, it doesn’t appear that worked. This is also in spite of how amazing Triple H has booked the Damage CTRL stable over the past year, something that Mercedes Mone certainly saw from afar.
Greg “The Hammer” Valentine’s name trended today on X, but not in a way he would ever want it to. A video was released of him using some harsh homosexual language, and it is quite shocking.
Greg Valentine’s Homophobic Video
Missy Beefcake, wife of WWE Hall of Famer Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, recently shared video clips on her X account featuring Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. It was not stated where this video was shot, but Valentine was using derogatory language targeted at the LGBTQ+ community.
In one clip, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine is heard saying, “You f*cking f*ggot. I can whip you with one arm tied behind my f*cking back!” Another clip captured Valentine mentioning, “The f*ggot on CNN besides Don Lemon.” He was talking about Anderson Cooper in that second clip.
Missy Beefcake dropped those two clips, along with a short caption to sum up her thoughts on the content.
“Greg Valentine making homophobic remarks! He’s disgusting!!!!”
While such language might have been more tolerable in the territorial days of pro wrestling, where Greg “The Hammer” Valentine gained fame, it is receiving significant backlash in the present day.
Greg “The Hammer” Valentine is now facing criticism for his remarks, with some calling for consequences and expressing their disapproval of his actions. Fans are weighing in about what Valentine said, and there will likely be a lot more discussion and memes to follow.
Video Is Possible Revenge
It should be noted that Greg “The Hammer” Valentine laid quite a hammer down on Missy Beefcake in a recent interview. He was asked who he loved beating up the most in the ring, to which The Hammer replied Brutus Beefcake, because of “that f*cking c*nt that he married.” He also said that they didn’t have to cut that part out, which they didn’t.
Missy Beefcake’s response to that shot very well could have been in the form of this latest homophobic video drop. There are definitely shots being fired between those two pro wrestling personalities, and things got ugly in a hurry.
WWE’s first show of 2024 will go down on January 1st with the Day 1 episode of RAW. The company obviously wants 2024 to be a great year, and they are expected to kick things off with a big return.
WWE RAW Day 1 Location
WWE will hold their Day 1 RAW at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego. It appears that they are preparing a big return for the show.
WWE Day 1 Surprise Planned
Sean Ross Sapp ran a report on Fightful Select that said WWE is looking to add some star power to their Day 1 show. A former champion is expected to return, but no specific name has been reported yet.
We haven’t been given a specific name, but were told it was someone not currently on their roster. It’s worth noting that “former WWE Champion” was the terms used by those sources.
It was not revealed who we’re talking about, or which title this “former Champion” held. It also was not noted whether this former champion is an active talent or retired.
The report noted that WWE is “on the one-yard line” in landing a former WWE Champion to appear on the show, We will have to see who WWE has planned for fans on January 1st, but this report is sure to get fans guessing.
Britt Baker was the first woman, other than Brandi Rhodes, that Tony Khan inked to a talent deal. She was plucked from the indies, with very little television exposure, and she became one of the top women for AEW. Sadly, she hasn’t been seen on television much at all in recent memory.
Britt Baker’s AEW Absence
On November 29th, Britt Baker dropped a post on X which insinuated that she isn’t thrilled about how much she’s been used in 2023 by AEW. Her post directly brought attention to her lack of promo time.
Tonight’s #AEWDynamite:
MJF live promo time: 7 mins
Christian Cage live promo time: 10 mins
All of 2023 #AEWDynamite:
Britt Baker live promo time: 0 mins
Britt Baker’s Current Situation in AEW
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that Britt Baker is actually injured. Tony Khan let this piece of information slip out during the AEW Worlds End press conference. He listed Britt Baker along with others that AEW is currently missing due to injury or illness.
The reason Britt Baker hasn’t been around apparently is an injury situation. At the media call, Tony Khan talked about key people out with injuries right now and mentioned Kenny Omega, Pac, Adam Cole, Baker and Jamie Hayter
Britt Baker has been around AEW
It was later noted by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select that Britt Baker has been around AEW television despite her injury. She was backstage during the December 27th episode of AEW Dynamite, but she wasn’t meant to appear on-screen. Britt Baker was only visiting this time around.
Fightful is told that Dr. Britt Baker DMD was backstage at Wednesday’s show in Orlando after being out of action for several months. Obviously Baker wasn’t used on the show, and was just backstage visiting.
The nature of Britt Baker’s injury was not disclosed. The AEW All Access reality television show featured her, and highlighted her back injury at the time. Hopefully, Britt Baker will see her return in 2024, and it will translate to much more promo time.
MJF has a big weekend ahead of him and he knows it. The AEW World Champion will be defending his “Triple B” against Samoa Joe in the main event at World’s End, which so happens to be in MJF’s backyard of Uniondale, NY at the Nassau Colliseum.
In a new self-written article on the Player’s Tribune, MJF had a lot to reflect on and noted that he’s been with AEW since the company started in 2019.
January marks the five-year anniversary of AEW’s launch and in the feature, MJF credits Cody Rhodes for bringing him in and Tony Khan for signing him to a contract.
MJF leans into the notion that he’s becoming a free agent on January 1, but an educated guess would lead many to believe that he’s already signed a new deal with AEW. Either way, MJF closed out the piece by noting how big World’s End means to him, especially one aspect of the bout.
“Right now, though, as I’m writing this? It’s Wednesday morning. It’s three days before Worlds End. It’s five days from five years of MJF in AEW. I don’t know what comes next. Here’s what I do know. Wrestling in the main event of a card at Nassau Coliseum as AEW world champ? That sh*t means everything to me. Really. EVERYTHING.”
Another solid indication that MJF is not leaving AEW is the simple fact that he’s the World Champ and involved in the major over-arching storyline that involves him and the mysterious identity of “The Devil.” AEW colleague Ric Flair believes MJF should stay with AEW, stating he could be the next Randy Orton.
Former WWE Superstar Maven Huffman would likely be working for WWE today, if not for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maven joined WWE in 2001 after co-winning that year’s Tough Enough with Nidia Guenard. During his four years with the promotion, Maven would become a three-time Hardcore Champion and is well-remembered for eliminating The Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble match.
A Return Ruined by COVID
A few years after his release, WWE offered him a chance to return, but Maven declined, citing that he had a steady job with the Home Shopping Network. On a recent video from his YouTube channel, Maven recalled a time years later when he was ready to come back.
“I reached out to D-Von and knowing D-Von still had a great relationship with the WWE, I reached out and I said ‘D-Von, I see a path forward I see an opportunity and I know I know I could work with the company.’ The company that I love the company that brought me into this business and I see my opportunity not as a wrestler, age wins but I see my opportunity with maybe announcing, maybe backstage interview segments.”
D-Von was able to put a good word in with WWE, who brought Maven to the Performance Center in Florida. The former Superstar went on to explain how his audition for the role went.
“Tom [Phillips] took me back into a room where they had several monitors set up. What they do with these monitors is they practice, they get themselves ready for live television and they get themselves ready by calling old matches. And that’s what we were going to do that day… He knew I was buddies with Matt Cardona so he actually pulled one of Matt’s and Brian’s old tag matches out just to help aid me with my comfort level. So we then spend the next few hours just calling different matches and he’s guiding me.”
Maven felt the audition went very well and was pleased to bump into some old colleagues, including WWE’s current Head of Talent, Triple H.
“I happened to bump into Hunter and it was good catching up with Hunter. He and I probably talked for a good two to three minutes, caught up… We didn’t talk even talk to business. We talked family and just how we’ve been, just on a personal level so it was good catching up with him.”
After Phillips gave his seal of approval, Maven was contacted with an offer, which the former Tough Enough alum was excited to accept.
“They say ‘Maven if you were given the opportunity to accept a job but we told you you had to move here and it would take you 6 to 12 months coming to this facility and just working by the monitors and just learning different matches is that’s something that you’re willing to do at this level and at this age? And I said ‘Absolutely! I’ll start packing tonight! Tell me when I’ll move here as soon as possible!'”
Maven felt on top of the world for about four hours as he envisioned his future as a WWE commentator. That was until he turned on the TV that night, and saw how the COVID-19 pandemic was changing sports and entertainment.
“I get to the hotel and then I see it. Flashing up on the TV screen and every hope that I had was dashed in a second and what did I see? Flashed up on the TV screen was ‘NBA to cancel their regular season.’
“March 11th 2020 the day that the entire world shut down… That job, it took second place because obviously, we started hearing about just what was going on obviously you heard about people getting sick and family members being lost my goal immediately turned into making it back to New York.
“Within a month the entire world was on lockdown. WWE programming would stop. Live Events, they would only do studio shows in that location. Studio shows that only required a few announcers. Announcers they already had.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
According to Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Shawn Spears was one of the masked men working for The Devil in recent weeks. This was his last role on AEW television prior to his departure.
“Spears hadn’t been used much but on a recent TV was one of the Devil’s guys.”
The Devil has appeared for several weeks, with masked men doing his bidding. It was not noted which segment Shawn Spears appeared in, but many believe The Kingdom played the roles of the two masked men who won the ROH World Tag Team Titles during the December 27th episode of AEW Dynamite.
Shawn Spears’ AEW Departure
Shawn Spears was among the initial group of talents signed by Tony Khan for the formation of AEW. He made his AEW debut during the Casino Battle Royale at the inaugural Double or Nothing event.
Sean Ross Sapp first broke the news of Shawn Spears’ AEW departure on Fightful Select. A short time later, Shawn Spears confirmed that he is leaving Tony Khan’s company.
Shawn Spears is scheduled to depart from AEW on January 1st. The separation is reported to be mutually agreeable as well.
