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Zilla Fatu Set to Make GCW Debut at 1/26 ‘Look at Me’ Event

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Zilla Fatu is ready to take Game Changer Wrestling by storm when he makes his debut for the promotion at their upcoming January event. 

Fatu is the son of the late Umaga, who is best remembered for his WWE run from 2006 to 2009 that saw him become a two-time Intercontinental Champion. Zilla began training to be a wrestler in late 2022 and had been training at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling training school. In September, Fatu shared that he’d left the ROW promotion, and later explained that there were ‘irreconcilable’ differences that meant he had to leave. 

Zilla Fatu in GCW

With a handful of matches to his name, Zilla Fatu is now ready to make his presence felt in Game Changer Wrestling. On Twitter this week, GCW announced that Fatu will be a part of the Look at Me event in Tampa on January 26. Other names promoted for the show include Andrade El Idolo, Nick Gage, Blake Christian, and Maki Itoh. AJ Francis and Mansoor, who were both released from WWE in September of this year, will also work the event.

A Potential WWE Run? 

With Zilla being part of the famed Anoa’i Family of wrestlers, there has been speculation as to whether he could one day join his relations in WWE. After a successful in-ring debut in July of this year, Zilla was asked about possibly joining The Bloodline. Fatu had a different idea in mind for his WWE arrival and said he plans to ‘own’ WWE and the Superstars currently there. 

The Iron Claw’s Ric Flair Actor Panned In Ruthless Fashion

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The Iron Claw was released to theaters on December 22nd, and reviews are coming in. While some have taken digs at historical inaccuracies in the film, condensing events, and not focusing on certain elements of the story, the internet has zeroed in on their own target: Aaron Dean Eisenberg.

Ric Flair Actor In The Iron Claw Panned

Aaron Dean Eisenberg plays Ric Flair in The Iron Claw film, and the reviews for his performance were not kind at all. Even Don Callis saw this performance, and he couldn’t find anything good to say at all.

Don Callis ripped on Aaron Dean Eisenberg’s Ric Flair walk, his cadence, and said that Will Ferrell would have done a better job portraying The Nature Boy.

Wow. Brutal. He couldn’t even get the walk right. Literally Will Ferrell doing Ashley Schaefer is far superiort

The Internet Wrestling Community had a field day with this. Many were mocking Aaron Dean Eisenberg’s performance, and they were expectedly savage about it. After all, pro wrestling fans aren’t known to be gentle critics.

The Iron Claw’s Box Office Performance

The Iron Claw didn’t do tremendously in the box office, pulling in around $5 million, which put them under much larger films like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ($28,100,000), Wonka ($17,700,000), and Migration ($12,310,000).

The Iron Claw may not have performed in an outstanding way, but it did well for an R-Rated film. In fact, it achieved a notable box office milestone, aligning with its estimated $20 million budget, meaning that the film will hopefully be profitable in time. 

Programming Note About Special Best-Of SmackDown On December 29th

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WWE is closing out 2023 with a special episode of SmackDown. The December 29th episode will be a recap of the greatest moments of the year, and now we have more details.

WWE SmackDown December 29th Plans

WWE SmackDown won’t air live on December 29th, opting for a special show instead. Despite the non-live format, FOX will deliver a two-hour broadcast filled with highlights. This week’s episode is dedicated to the Best of 2023, providing fans with a retrospective look.

TV Guide shared a preview of the episode, promising a special night revisiting the standout moments of 2023. No live matches will be featured on the show, but the two-hour show will be full of big moments.

Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves relive the absolute best matches and moments from 2023, featuring John Cena, Logan Paul, and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

Hosts Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves will guide viewers through the year’s best matches and highlights, featuring notable figures like John Cena, Logan Paul, and the reigning WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

WWE Best of 2023

WWE SmackDown in 2023 saw big stories on the blue brand, including the dominance of the Bloodline. It will be interesting to see what they include in the upcoming best-of episode, because you could fill a full show with just highlights of Roman Reigns and his stable.

WWE SmackDown in 2024

Looking ahead, SmackDown’s New Year’s Revolution special will mark its return to live television on January 5th, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. That episode is already loaded with matches, and you may find that card below.

WWE SmackDown January 5th New Year’s Revolution Card:

  • Santos Escobar vs. Kevin Owens – Tournament final to determine the #1 contender for the WWE United States Championship at Royal Rumble
  • Butch and TBA vs. Pretty Deadly
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. “Michin” Mia Yim – WWE Women’s Championship
  • Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs LA Knight – Triple threat match to determine the #1 contender to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble

McKenzie Mitchell’s First Post-WWE Release Appearance Booked For WrestleMania Weekend

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WWE had a great 2023, but they also fired a boatload of people this year. Apart from the 100 plus people they fired from their corporate headquarters after the TKO Group Holdings merger went through, they also laid down some big roster cuts. A few of those main roster Superstars are now free agents, and they’re taking dates. McKenzie Mitchell also lost her job with WWE recently, but she’s ready to get back out there.

McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE Release

McKenzie Mitchell served as a host for WWE across various media platforms and NXT. She shared the news of her departure from the company on X, as she was fired along with several others at WWE headquarters.

McKenzie Mitchell’s Big News

On Christmas day, McKenzie Mitchell had an announcement. It was officially revealed that she will be at WrestleCon in April, marking her first wrestling engagement post-WWE.

Scheduled for April 4th to 7th, McKenzie Mitchell’s appearance aligns with WrestleMania weekend. She would probably have been around the area for the big weekend, since she is married to Vic Joseph. Now fans have a chance to meet McKenzie in person.

Many were shocked by McKenzie Mitchell’s WWE release. She called on fans to rally behind WWE re-hiring her, but so far she’s still a free agent.

JoJo Offerman Posts Heartfelt Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas

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Christmas is a time to think of those we hold dear, even if they are not with us anymore. Bray Wyatt’s name is certainly being spoken today, as so many reflect, and those who knew him well are remembering the great man that the world lost.

Bray Wyatt made a much-hyped return to WWE television during Extreme Rules last year. That marked his triumphant comeback after being released in 2021.

Sadly, the program with LA Knight that transpired after that was his last match, as he was taken from us on August 24th, 2023.

Despite having so many possibilities upon Bray Wyatt’s return, those creative ideas will remain unfulfilled after his untimely passing.

JoJo Offerman’s Tribute to Bray Wyatt on Christmas

Bray Wyatt’s fiancée, JoJo Offerman, recently shared an emotional post reflecting on the challenges of spending the first Christmas after his demise. She penned a caption that shared her thoughts about losing the man she loved, and their Christmas traditions that she misses during this time.

JoJo Offerman also included a photo of herself, sitting with a glass of wine, while looking at a Christmas tree that was decorated with care. It was also impossible to miss the Bray Wyatt painting that was also placed over their fireplace, right above the family’s stockings.

”Merry Christmas Eve my love. It’s been 4 months without you and it still gets harder. Especially now, because Christmas was your thing. You LOVED going all out for the kids. You did the shopping and I did the wrapping. That was our routine. And you got the coolest shit I swear lol trying to do Christmas the way you would have has been so hard. And I’ve broken down every single day. I miss you so much. The kids miss you so much. We wish you were here. But I know you’re here in spirit and I hope I made you proud baby. I love you more than words Windham, forever.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1Qo3mNtDO1

WWE is Taking Care of Bray Wyatt’s Family

Bray Wyatt’s sudden passing at the age of 36 deeply affected fans and the wrestling community. Four months later, and those wounds are far from healed after losing an absolute genius like Bray Wyatt.

JoJo Offerman has been transparent about her journey in coping with the profound loss, providing updates on her experiences. WWE has also taken great care of Bray Wyatt’s family, by giving him a Legends Deal, releasing a Legacy Collection of merchandise, and making sure that all proceeds go to JoJo Offerman.

Bray Wyatt is gone, but he is far from forgotten. We will have him in our hearts, as the whole world is still in his hands.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1QpHcmtdrF

Will Ospreay Challenges Kazuchika Okada for a Match at Battle In The Valley

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Will Ospreay has issued a challenge to Kazuchika Okada for a rematch at Battle At The Valley in a new video promoting NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18.

Ospreay has a long history with The Rainmaker. He was defeated by the Japanese star at last year’s G1 Climax finals in August. Will turned things around this year and managed to pick up the victory against Okada when the two faced off again in a B block match of the tournament in July.

NJPW has been running an interview series on their YouTube channel to promote the upcoming Tokyo Dome show. The AEW star who will be challenging for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at the event was the subject to the latest one of these interviews.

Will Ospreay’s Challenge

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion was asked if the meaning of his upcoming match has changed since he signed with Tony Khan’s promotion.

The leader of the United Empire said that nothing has changed, because he is allowed to do what he was doing with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Ospreay then talked about him and Okada’s “unfinished business” and issued a challenge:

“I am confident going into this match [at Wrestle Kingdom] that I’ll be walking away with this championship,” Ospreay said. “I am that confident in doing it that I am prepared to make a challenge right here for San Jose, I know Okada is on that poster.

And we have so much unfinished business, granted I was able to get that win in G1 and I can finally prove to everybody that I can beat Okada but I’m happy to put this challenge out right here, right now in front of you all. That I wanna face Okada in San Jose.”

Ospreay made it clear that he is still as committed to New Japan Pro Wrestling as ever, and Okada will be the “first perfect defense” after he wins the championship.

“If I’m gonna be moving on to doing some other stuff, I’m still keeping my hands in New Japan. I wanna show everybody that I’m committed, that I’m staying around and that I have aspirations and plans on defending this championship all around the world, and Okada will be the first perfect defense for that.”

Wrestle Kingdom 18 is set for January 4, 2024, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. You can watch it live on NJPW World.

The main event of the show will see SANADA defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito. Bryan Danielson will face Kazuchika Okada, and David Finlay, Jon Moxley, and Ospreay will fight in a triple threat match to crown the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. 

Chelsea Green Wanted To Wrestle Cardi B In ‘Chelsea’s Got Talent’ Pay-Off

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Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville were going strong as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Then a devastating knee injury took Deville out for the count. Piper Niven replaced Deville, but a Chelsea’s Got Talent idea was in the air prior to that decision. Although it was ended prematurely, Chelsea Green had big goals for that angle.

Chelsea Green Unveils Original Plan For Chelsea’s Got Talent Angle

While speaking to Spencer Loves Interviews, Chelsea Green opened up about her original plan for that Chelsea’s Got Talent angle. They didn’t see it to the end, but she had a big goal in mind.

Cardi B is on the bucket list for a few WWE Superstars, and it seems that Chelsea Green also wanted to take on the WAP rapper.

“If I’m being honest. I wanted Cardi B. If I couldn’t get Cardi B, I wanted to wrestle Cardi B. There was just so many good options in Chelsea’s Got Talent. What I really liked is that we saw people from all over. We did see main roster talent and announcers. We saw Cathy Kelly. We saw R Truth, but we also saw really amazing NXT talent that people hadn’t really seen yet. Karmen from NXT auditioned. We saw reality stars, like Heidi Montag from The Hills. So it could have been anyone and I hadn’t decided yet. It was only just the preliminary rounds. Nobody made it to the semifinals and the finals.”

Cardi B & WWE

Carbi B was rumored to be a part of SummerSlam a couple of years ago, because they used “Up” as the official song. Those plans were nixed when she revealed during the 2021 BET Awards that she was pregnant. That took her out of the running to make the trip for WWE.

Although Cardi B hasn’t taken part in any WWE events yet, that idea is not dead. Her recent social media activity against her soon-to-be ex-husband Offset has rivaled the most heated WWE promos we can think of.

What’s Next For Chelsea Green In WWE

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles to Katana Chance and Kayden Carter during the December 18th episode of WWE RAW. Odds are, Green will try to get those titles back, because she has already initiated a social media campaign to get justice for that loss. 

Eric Bischoff Breaks Down Situation If AEW Loses Warner Bros Discovery Deal

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AEW’s television deal with Warner Brothers Discovery is set to expire at the end of 2024. The next year will be a very important one for Tony Khan, as he looks forward to what is next for his television shows. Tony Khan is committed, but that brings a very important question about WBD’s interest. 

AEW Possible Television Problem

Tony Khan has commented in the past about how strong AEW’s deal is with Warner Brothers Discovery. Still, the possibility is out there that AEW may not retain that platform for their next set of television deals.

During 83 Weeks, Eric Bischoff discussed how Tony Khan is committed to the product and ‘in it for the long haul, but he also questioned what that means if they don’t get renewed by Warner Bros Discovery.

“Let me make it simple. If in fact, they lose WBD, Warner Brothers Discovery, if they’re no longer part of that platform. I’m not sure where they’re going to go. It’s going to be a smaller cable outlet. I don’t see a big cable outlet [picking them]. And this whole thing with Paramount and WBD, that’s such a wildcard. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of variables that’s gonna throw into the equation. It could be really good for AEW. Whenever that is, the Paramount WBD thing if it actually becomes a reality. Because it’s too soon to know if it’s real or not. But if it becomes a reality, and there’s a merger there, it can either be the absolute stake through the heart of AEW or it can be the golden ticket. We don’t know. But in a case where it’s not the golden ticket and AEW finds itself on the outside looking in and WWE is now the television partner for Paramount WBD or whatever that ends up looking like.” 

“I don’t know where Tony’s gonna go. Because the world is getting so small. Vertical integration, you’re looking at probably two or three companies that own everything. Where are you going to go? What cable outlet are you going to go to that isn’t owned by NBC Universal, Paramount. Where are you going and what do you have to sell? Not much. Here’s what you get to sell, ‘Hey, we were on Turner for five years and prime time. Over the last five years, our audience has deteriorated. But we want to be on your network.’ I don’t want to sell that. I wouldn’t want to be the person assigned to try to sell that story.” 

Nothing is set in stone yet, and this is all hypothetical at this point. Still, it is enough to get people talking, because there are some big rumors about the upcoming television landscape, and where AEW falls into that.

Warner Brothers Discovery Interested In WWE RAW

There is reported interest in WWE from Warner Bros Discovery. WWE has not found a new home for RAW yet, and that new deal will go into effect in October 2024.

The recent rumor is that CM Punk’s WWE return brought WBD interest. That could present another obstacle for Tony Khan if WWE is able to secure Warner Brothers Discovery as the new home of RAW.

Bret Hart Looks Back At Famous WrestleMania 13 Double Turn With Steve Austin

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Bret Hart was a part of many famous moments in WWE history. The Hitman is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, and he fought hard to keep his spot in the company. Many fans see WrestleMania 13 as a massive turning point in Hart’s career, but it was also the start of an even bigger change for the pro wrestling business.

Setting Up WrestleMania 13

While speaking to Inside the Ropes, Bret Hart remembered his big feud against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. The Texas Rattlesnake was just getting momentum, and that was reflected by the changing audience at the time.

Bret Hart mentioned that he had a match with Steve Austin at the previous Survivor Series, and they wanted to take time building a rematch. Bret was originally scheduled to face HBK at WrestleMania, but Shawn Michaels went home to “find his smile,” and the match between Hart and Austin was put together at the last minute.

“The audiences were changing in that time period. Especially I remember particularly on the East Coast. I think that was probably due to ECW but the fans started to kind of find it was more fun to cheer the bad guys and piss the good guys off. So they were there to kind of make trouble at the shows lot of the times and they’d start chanting for all the bad guys. During that time period, I noticed that it really changed the atmosphere of the matches.”

“I remember a lot of the good guys having a lot of trouble getting reactions and the bad guys were getting, like Steve Austin was getting all the reaction in the world. You could sort of sense that he was gonna become a babyface, and guys like me would move over to the side. I just saw it as a chance ‘So I should just change styles. I’ll just wrestle like Bret the Hitman, the old Hart Foundation days.’ It wasn’t such a hard transfer for me. I could work heel or babyface pretty easy.”

The WrestleMania 13 Match

When it comes to building the match, Bret Hart stated that it was “pretty nice” how they went about it. Then, when they showed up for the match, there wasn’t much of a plan in place.

“So it was just building up pretty nice. I think my momentum was going pretty well. But when I showed up to wrestle Steve at WrestleMania 13. I don’t think either one of us had much of a plan for the match. I remember we started talking about it in the dressing room. I was like ‘So what are we doing?’ And he was like, ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do?’

“Me and Steve, we were just kind of trying to figure it out. We sat on the ring apron and we just started talking about it and I said ‘The way I see this fight or this match is like a school fight’ I was sort of the guy that was the cool guy in school. [I was] popular with everybody and I was maybe the quarterback on the football team kind of thing. Steve Austin was the new guy that came to school, [who] had a shaved head, was kind of a badass. The way I remember talking to Steve about it is like ‘So this should be like a school fight and all the fans are basically all the kids at the school watching this flight.’ That’s where we started kind of the psychology of the match and how we should build it.”

Steve Austin & Bret Hart’s Future In Pro Wrestling

Bret Hart hasn’t wrestled a match since he teamed with John Cena to beat Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez on September 12th, 2011 during an episode of WWE RAW. Hart didn’t do much in that match, but it still wrapped up his career in WWE.

Steve Austin, on the other hand, is not 100% retired from in-ring competition. You can never say never with him, although there are no reported plans for him to lace up his boots again any time soon. His match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 was proof that the Texas Rattlesnake can still go in the ring.

John Cena Set To Receive Huge Honor From NCAA

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John Cena has received a ton of honors from WWE fans, and Hollywood jumped on board as well. While he waits for his eventual WWE Hall of Fame induction, the Greatest of all Time is being honored by the NCAA.

John Cena’s Big NCAA Honor

John Cena, along with five others, is set to be honored at the NCAA convention in January with the 2024 Silver Anniversary Award.

The Silver Anniversary Award recognizes individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college sports careers. Nominations for this prestigious award are submitted by administrators at the awardees’ undergraduate institutions. The selection process is conducted by a panel consisting of former student-athletes and representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences.

Among the 2024 recipients are Nicole Aunapu Mann, Jerry Azumah, Shannon Boxx, John Cena, Misty May-Treanor, and Cindy Parlow Cone. These individuals will be presented with the 2024 Silver Anniversary Award during the NCAA Convention Welcome and Awards Presentation on January 10th in Phoenix.

John Cena’s NCAA Career

John Cena is already in Springfield’s Hall of Fame. This induction was given to him 8 years ago.

The press release from the NCAA listed out John Cena’s accomplishments in College Football, which saw him serve as a team caption for the 1998 Springfield football team.

As a student-athlete: John Cena served as one of three captains on the 1998 Springfield football team that went 9-2 and advanced to the Division III tournament. At season’s end, the accolades rolled in for the senior, as he was named a Hewlett-Packard Division III first-team All-American, a Football Gazette All-American, an Eastern College Athletic Conference New England/Northeast Division III All-Star and a New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star. A three-time Freedom Football Conference All-Academic honoree, Cena was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was honored at Springfield College’s 40 Under 40 Awards Celebration in 2017.

As a professional: While football ended for Cena after his time at Springfield, he put his athleticism to use as a professional wrestler. Now, he’s one of the most recognizable sports and entertainment faces in the world as a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar and 16-time world champion. He is also well known as an actor and former rapper. His philanthropic work is just as notable. Cena has been especially involved with Make-A-Wish, granting more than 650 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, which is more than anyone else involved with the organization. He’s also been an advocate in anti-bullying efforts and promoting the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, he’s been heavily involved with the Susan G. Komen organization, which strives to eradicate breast cancer, and has worked with WWE to raise more than $1.5 million to support that mission. The collection of these efforts led to him receiving the 2018 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award in recognition of his leadership as a philanthropist.

John Cena has a huge Hollywood career ahead of him, so he will remain in the public eye for years to come. This achievement from the NCAA is still one that he is very honored to receive.

The ceremony on January 10th will be a special one for John Cena. We have not heard whether he will make the trip to receive that honor personally.

The Iron Claw Opening Box Office Number Did Not Reach Expectations

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The Iron Claw finally arrived after decades of pro wrestling fans proclaiming that the Von Erich Family’s incredible story deserves their own feature film. Now, we are getting the numbers after the film’s first few days in the theaters.

The Iron Claw Opening Weekend Box Office

The Iron Claw dropped on December 22nd, but their opening weekend box office did not deliver as many expected. The R-Rated film also received a ton of promotion, with trailers playing during commercial breaks for weeks.

According to Dave Meltzer’s update on FW Daily Update, The Iron Claw is estimated to bring in $5.06 million in 2,774 theaters in week one. That number equals out to around $1,824 per screen.

About The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw tells the story of the Von Erich brothers in the fiercely competitive world of professional wrestling during the early 1980s. Amidst moments of tragedy and triumph, the brothers strive for larger-than-life recognition on the grand stage of pro wrestling. All the while, they must navigate the influence of their authoritative father and coach.

MJF was an executive producer on The Iron Claw, and he also played Lance Von Erich in the film. He didn’t have a ton of screen time, which some fans commented on as well.

The Iron Claw’s Competition

According to The Numbers, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom brought in $28,100,000 and Wonka earned $17,700,000. Also, Migration brought in younger fans as well, with $12,310,000.

The Iron Claw isn’t finished making money yet. There is still streaming and DVD release market after its theatrical run. Still, it didn’t pull in a ton of money in its opening weekend. 

Ricochet Reacts After WWE Higher Up Nixes Special Entrance from Samantha Irvin

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WWE Superstar Ricochet believes that people should stop and think before leaping to assumptions after Samantha Irvin changed one of her entrance announcements. 

Irvin, who is Ricochet’s fiancee, joined WWE a few years ago and has impressed as an announcer. At this year’s WrestleMania 39, Irvin announced Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes for their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship main event on Night Two. After previously announcing for WWE NXT, 205 Live, and SmackDown, Irvin was moved to Raw during this year’s WWE Draft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RqArr-9Y0

Ricochet Reacts to Reports

Part of what has made Irvin a favorite among fans is her unique approach to announcing certain Superstars. On the latest episode of Raw, however, Irvin gave a much more tamed-down announcement of Chelsea Green compared to what fans have heard from her. A WWE higher-up made the call for Irvin’s bubbly announcement of Green to be nixed and while some have pushed for its return, that hasn’t happened yet. 

Taking to Twitter, Ricochet said that fans should “let things play out” and added that people should “stop making assumptions.” The former Intercontinental Champion added that “we all just want the best for everyone.”

If Samantha Irvin is allowed to bring her inflection for Green’s entrance back, it won’t be on tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Instead, tonight’s show will be a best-of-2023 compilation featuring some of the most exciting matches from Raw over the past 12 months. 

Samantha Irvin dreamed of being compared to Lillian Garcia, now it happens every day. Click here to find out more. 

Seth Rollins Sets Unique 2023 Record No Other WWE Superstar Can Match

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2023 has been an incredible year for Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, who will end this year with a record no other Superstar can match. 

Rollins is the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, a title he won at WWE Night of Champions in May. The title was introduced due to Roman Reigns’s lax schedule and stranglehold over the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Rollins defeated AJ Styles in the finals of a 12-man tournament to win the gold. 

Seth Rollins’ Unique Record

This year will go down as one of the best in Rollins’ wrestling career and he is ending 2023 with a very unique record. The reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion is the only WWE Superstar to have competed at every WWE Premium Live Event this year. Rollins’ impressive 12 months is as follows:

  • WWE Royal Rumble: Competed in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match
  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Competed in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match. 
  • WrestleMania 39: Defeated Logan Paul
  • WWE Backlash: Defeated Omos
  • WWE Night of Champions: Defeated AJ Styles to win the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Money in the Bank: Defeated Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE SummerSlam: Defeated Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Payback: Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Fastlane: Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (Last Man Standing Match)
  • WWE Crown Jewel: Defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
  • WWE Survivor Series: WarGames: Competed in the Men’s WarGames Match and won

Rollins’ next match will see him defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre on the ‘Day 1’ edition of Raw. Should he retain against the Scottish Warrior, Rollins will likely defend at the 2024 Royal Rumble on January 27. 

Bret Hart Names Unlikely Match As His Best WrestleMania Payday

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Bret Hart may have had some iconic matches at WrestleMania, but it is an unlikely bout from the Showcase of the Immortals that scored him his best paycheck.

The Hitman’s name is synonymous with WWE’s biggest event of the year. Notable matches for Hart include his WrestleMania 12 Iron Man match against Shawn Michaels which saw the Showstopper capture his first WWF Championship. 

The following year, Hart would win the critically acclaimed I-Quit match with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin that would help propel the Rattlesnake to superstardom. In 2010, Hart would compete at WrestleMania for the final time, defeating Mr. McMahon in a No Holds Barred match in Bret’s first WWE match in over a decade.  

Bret’s Best WrestleMania Payday

Bret Hart may have had some all-time classics at WrestleMania, but none of the matches listed above earned him the best pay. Sitting down with Inside the Ropes, Hart revealed that it was his WrestleMania 11 I-Quit match with Bob Backlund that earned him the most bank. 

“For all my WrestleMania matches, I think WrestleMania 13 was one of my worst payoffs. They paid me not very well, nothing special. Funny enough the Ironman match where I wrestled Shawn, the hour match was also one of my worst payoffs I ever got in wrestling, compared to my biggest payoff which was Bob Backlund at WrestleMania 11. Go figure that.”

The match saw Bret defeat Backlund who rather than screaming I-Quit, instead screamed into the mic held by guest referee Roddy Piper, which was taken as his quitting. The match was the arguable highlight of WrestleMania 11, which is often heralded as one of the worst WrestleManias of all time. 

CM Punk made a subtle Bret Hart reference during his first Raw promo following his return to WWE. Click here to find out more. 

Chris Jericho: I’m Not Bound by AEW Brawl NDA, Punk’s Lawyer is A Mark Who Should Shut Up

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Chris Jericho could be prepared to spill the beans regarding what happened backstage at AEW All Out 2022, provided he is allowed. 

At the September 2022 pay-per-view, CM Punk captured his second AEW World Championship, besting Jon Moxley in the show’s main event. After the show, Punk would shoot on several members of the AEW roster. Backstage, Punk, Ace Steel, The Elite, and others would participate in a backstage fight that resulted in all parties being suspended.

Chris Jericho and the NDA

This week, it was reported that all those involved in the backstage fight at All Out 2022 were dealing with a non-disclosure agreement. The only exception, according to these reports, is Lucy Guy, the wife of Ace Steel, who was present at the backstage altercation. On Twitter, Chris Jericho claimed that he is not bound by an NDA, implying that he could soon speak about the backstage fight. 

This comment caught the attention of Steve New, the legal representative of both Ace Steel and CM Punk. New claimed that Jericho will have some sort of NDA in his employee handbook unless he has a very special agreement with AEW. New also offered to comb over Jericho’s contract. 

Jericho didn’t take too kindly to New’s comments. In a fiery response, Jericho claimed New was trying to be a bully and added that New “should shut your mark ass up.”

Chris Jericho & the Brawl

Chris Jericho was one of the most vocal critics of CM Punk following what transpired last year in Chicago. Jericho called CM Punk a “cancer” following All Out, a comment that would be echoed by WWE’s Seth Rollins months later. Jericho would reportedly be part of a team that tried to prevent Punk’s return but the Chicago-Made wrestler was brought back in June of this year. After Punk’s firing from AEW in September, Jericho called Punk’s departure regrettable

Officials Aiming To ‘Lure’ The Rock For Elimination Chamber 2024

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Officials in Australia are seemingly interested in bringing The Rock to next year’s Elimination Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia.  

WWE will host the 2024 Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia on February 24, 2024 and some of the biggest stars will perform at the event. 

The Rock’s last appearance took place on the September 15, 2023 edition of SmackDown where he had a promo exchange with Austin Theory. Alongside Pat McAfee, ‘The Great One’ laid Theory out with back-to-back People’s Elbows.

Officials are trying to ‘lure’ The Rock 

It has come to light that tourism officials in Australia have launched an early bid to ‘lure’ the Hollywood megastar to Perth as part of negotiations with WWE.

In emails obtained by The Sunday Times, under freedom of information laws, tourism officials raised a string of questions about the deal with the WWE. It included whether they could lure stars down under for the Elimination Chamber at Optus Stadium on February 24.

“What ability does the host have to dictate key talent to participate in a standalone premium live event? For example, could we aim to secure WWE alumni such as Dwayne Johnson?” Tourism WA staff asked. However, WWE’s response was redacted.

This fuels speculation The Rock will join the Elimination Chamber event at Optus. The West Australian had previously revealed in September the growing speculation that ‘The Great One’ could make his return.

Some top stars are set to be a part of Elimination Chamber 2024

Wrestling stars Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, and Australian-born Rhea Ripley are already lined up for the event and Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti dropped teased future announcements on more WWE stars coming to Perth. 

“It’d be huge having someone like the Rock here in Western Australia. I saw he made a surprise appearance recently at a SmackDown! event, so of course, we’d love to see him in the ring as part of this exclusive event,” Ms Saffioti said.

“This is such a huge opportunity for Western Australia — WWE has millions and millions of loyal followers right around the globe, and we are so excited that we get to showcase what we have to offer as part of this exclusive event, right here in Perth.

“There’ll be more announcements made soon about other WWE stars making the trip to Perth, so stay tuned.”

We will now have to wait and see if The Rock makes his return at the Elimination Chamber 2024.

UFC’s Dana White Giving Away Tickets for WWE WrestleMania 40

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Dana White is feeling in a generous mood and is giving away tickets for the biggest WWE show of 2024: WrestleMania 40.

White is the President of UFC, which alongside WWE, makes up TKO Group Holdings. TKO was launched in September of this year and operates under the Endeavor banner. It was back in April that Endeavor announced that they would be acquiring WWE for the sum of $9.3 billion. Endeavor acquired UFC back in 2016. 

Dana White & WrestleMania

With WWE & UFC now both under the TKO Group umbrella, there has been speculation of a potential crossover between the two companies. While we’re yet to see talent from either promotion appear for the other, Dana White is now giving away tickets for next April’s WrestleMania 40. On Twitter, White shared that he would be giving away two tickets to the two-night event, as part of his 12 days of giveaways. The video was also shared by WWE’s own Twitter account. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fifth two-night WrestleMania; a format that debuted during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be the second WrestleMania to be hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, following on from WrestleMania 15 in 1999.

WWE has confirmed zero matches for WrestleMania 40 at this point. With that said, many have predicted that the show’s second night will be headlined by Cody Rhodes facing Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a rematch from their encounter at this year’s WrestleMania. WWE has reportedly been considering Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso for WrestleMania 40, but suspect the wait may be too long and fans could lose interest in their storyline. 

Could ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin compete at WrestleMania 40? Never say never. Click here to find out more. 

Cassie Lee & Shawn Spears Expecting Their Second Child in 2024

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Pro Wrestling couple Cassie Lee and Shawn Spears have announced that they are set to become parents for the second time. 

Taking to Instagram, the couple revealed that they are expecting a baby boy in 2024. Lee delivered the couple’s first child, Austin Jay Arneill, in January of this year

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1QOm_7PmLk

Lee isn’t the only IIconic wrestler to enjoy being a parent. Last week, her tag-team partner Jessica McKay gave birth to her first child, named Cooper

Shawn Spears & Cassie Lee in the Ring

Spears currently competes for AEW, where he has been working since 2019. The former Tye Dillinger instantly made an impact with a feud with Cody Rhodes which would see Spears deliver an unprotected chair shot to  Rhodes’ head. In 2010, Spears was part of the MJF-led faction ‘The Pinnacle’. The faction would defeat the Inner Circle in a Blood and Guts match at Blood and Guts before losing in a Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing.

Cassie Lee is a former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion and IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Champion and is one of four women to have held both titles. In April 2022, Lee, alongside McKay requested their immediate release from IMPACT which was granted. The pair gave a statement sharing their intention to step away from wrestling. Lee wouldn’t wrestle until October of this year and would compete for a tour in her native Australia. 

What do Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay make to wrestling, motherhood, and more? Click here to check out their exclusive comments to SE Scoops. 

J-Pop Star Takechi Kaisei to Make Wrestling In-Ring Debut in February

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Takechi Kaisei may have proven to be quite the performer in the world of J-Pop, but now the 25-year-old is preparing for a role in the ring. 

Kaisei will make his wrestling debut next year at an event for DDT Pro-Wrestling. The show will take place on February 25, from the iconic Korakuen Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. This won’t be Kaisei’s first time appearing in the world of professional wrestling though. During a 24-hour live show, he appeared and did a ‘match’ with DDT’s Tetsuya Endo and Makoto Oishi. It was after that appearance that Kaisei considered doing more in the ring. 

Tickets for the show where Kaisei will make his in-ring debut will go on sale today. 

Who is Takechi Kaisei?

Takechi Kaisei is of the J-Pop group, THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE. The group has a total of sixteen members and has been active since 2014. The members of the band were decided via a competition called Vocal Battle Audition 4, Exile Performer Battle Audition and Global Japan Challenge. The group has five albums, with the most recent ‘Round and Round’ released in February of this year. The group has won six awards, with the first being for Best New Artist Video (for Lightning) in 2017 and the most recent being for Best Artist at the Asia Artist Awards in 2022. 

DDT Pro-Wrestling

DDT Pro was founded in 1997 as ‘Dramatic Dynamite Time’ before changing to its current name in 2004. Events are often a mixture of Japanese lucharesu (a mix of lucha libre and traditional puroresu), worked shoot-style matches, hardcore brawling and comedy matches. In January 2020, DDT’s parent company CyberAgent purchased Pro Wrestling Noah, with DDT’s executives taking over Noah’s operations

See How Your Favorite Wrestling Stars Spent Christmas

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The entire team here at SEScoops would like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or don’t celebrate at all, it’s a great time of year to spread cheer and spend time with loved ones.

Thanks to social media, we get a chance to see how our favorite wrestling personalities spent Christmas and the festivities leading up to December 25.

Presents, trees, ugly sweaters and of course some Die Hard, here’s a look at how everybody celebrated. 

Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio

Dirty Dom hopped on Mami’s lap to snap this photo that belongs in a frame:

The Judgment Day

Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, Damian Priest and JD McDonough exchanged presents Secret Santa style:

Finn Balor also blessed us with this:

Mercedes Moné

The former WWE Superstar known as Sasha Banks dropped this festive photo, including a caption that includes three words starting with H on their own line, which many fans are taking as a reference playful message to Tru

Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes and his ‘Nightmare Family’ received a visit from a well-traveled VIP:

Dax Harwood

AEW star Dax Harwood of FTR is full of gratitude and surrounded by loved ones: 

Stacy Keibler

WWE Hall of Famer Stacy Keibler spent time with her family:

Rhea Ripley and Buddy Matthews

WWE star Rhea Ripley and AEW’s Buddy Matthews got hooked up with this incredible custom arcade cabinet:

Kairi Sane & Bayley

Damage CTRL

Kurt Angle

Olympic gold medalist and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle spent some quality time with jolly old St. Nick:

Johnny Gargano

With this being the season of generosity, Johnny Gargano was in a giving mood when he visited a Wal-Mart in Avon, Ohio. The former NXT Champion purchased and signed a Mattel figure of himself, which he left for a lucky fan to collect. 

Tiffany Stratton

Nikki Cross & the women of WWE Raw:

Nikki Cross ensured her love for the 1988 classic Die Hard, which the former Raw Women’s Champion insists is a Christmas movie. 

She also shared a photo of an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party that was held backstage at Monday’s Raw:

Batista and Mr. Beast

WWE legend turned Hollywood heavyweight Dave Bautista teamed up with influencer Mr. Beast to help out 100 dogs in need 

Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre may have become a heel on WWE TV, though he doesn’t see it this way, but the Scottish Warrior recently made some wishes come true at Make-A-Wish’s Winter Wonderland. 

Hacksaw Jim Duggan

WWE Hall of Famer ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan has shared the ring with some of wrestling’s toughest names, but his toughest challenge is doing his Christmas shopping so close to the big day. 

Danhausen

AEW star Danhausen dressed up like Santa Claus and .. well, ‘ruined Christmas’ as you can see below:

BONUS: Nick Gage from Christmas 2020:

This one is a throwback, but it’s a classic. Here’s a one of a kind rendition of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas from Nick Gage:

https://twitter.com/samantha_1713/status/1738952271675662756

Toni Storm’s ‘Timeless’ Character Work On Full Display In Hilarious Christmas Q&A

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Toni Storm is having an incredible run in pro wrestling right now with her current angle. Her Timeless gimmick may be the best current character work from any female in the entire pro wrestling landscape. She doesn’t stop delivering top quality entertainment, and that includes viral videos.

Toni Storm’s NSFW Holiday Traditions

AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm recently participated in a holiday interview where she shared insights into various aspects of the festive season, including traditions, meals, presents, movies, and more.

During the interview, Toni Storm opened up about her favorite holiday traditions. She made reference to having a key party in the interview. Then she was asked about her favorite meal.

Toni Storm said that she “loves a bit of spotted dick.” Then Storm admitted that was the reason why they had to cancel their key parties. This topic is a bit NSFW, so we will let you Google search what a key party is, but spotted dick is a well-known British dish.

Toni Storm was also asked about her favorite Christmas gift, and she had a good answer. She really liked the binoculars she received one year, because they helped her in some voyeuristic endeavors. 

Then Toni Storm was asked, “What is the best way to spread Holiday cheer?” She said: “Eagle.” Yep, she really did. 

What’s Next For Toni Storm

Toni Storm will defend her AEW Women’s World Title against Riho at Worlds End on January 30th. She has been hyping that match by flaunting her Timeless character on-screen. 

Mariah May, who recently debuted for AEW after a good run in STARDOM, is also by Toni Storm’s side. May will likely provide even more insurance for Storm, as the AEW newcomer fights for the Timeless One’s attention.

Toni Storm is underestimating Riho right now, but Storm has the potential to carry that title for a long time, or at least until Mariah May turns on her down the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe5eMt3krAM

WWE NXT Superstar Charlie Dempsey Heading To AJPW For Landmark Match

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WWE is undergoing significant changes under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella. We now have a partnership with All Japan Pro Wrestling. As part of this collaboration, a current NXT talent is set to travel to Japan for a significant match in 2024.

The All Japan Pro Wrestling Match Set Up

AJPW has been teasing a mysterious challenger, referred to as them as an ‘Assassin,’ for the AJPW Triple Crown Championship. This challenger is slated to face the winner of the upcoming match between Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kento Miyahara on January 3rd.

Following a phone call from WWE to AJPW President Tsuyoki Fukuda, the identity of the NXT Superstar making the trip to All Japan Pro Wrestling has been revealed.

Charlie Dempsey Is Going To AJPW

William Regal appeared in a video where he spoke about his own career in Japan, highlighting some of the great names he worked with over the years. He then stated that a new generation of talent is going to bring that British excellence to Japan.

William Regal then announced that Charlie Dempsey, his son, is making the journey from NXT to AJPW. Regal also made mention of the fact that this is the first time he’s publicly acknowledging that Dempsey is his son, so he picked a great time to confirm that news.

Who Is Charlie Dempsey

Charlie Dempsey came up to NXT by way of NXT UK. He eventually carved out a spot in NXT as a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew alongside Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. Odds are, they will be rooting him on in a big way as Dempsey makes that trip to Japan for an amazing opportunity. 

Ex WWE Superstar Mustafa Ali Looking Jacked Before His World Tour

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Mustafa Ali’s inclusion on September’s list of WWE releases was both a surprise and not so much. Many knew he requested his WWE release in January 2022; but in September 2023, he was in NXT and having a great series of matches with an NXT North American Title match on the horizon. Now that he’s a free agent, Mustafa Ali plans to continue that momentum.

Mustafa Ali Is Ready For His World Tour

Mustafa Ali has completed his non-compete clause period with WWE and is gearing up for a global wrestling tour. It appears that he has been using the last 90 days to get jacked.

The former Retribution leader posed for the camera, and it looks like he’s been lifting some heavy weights. With a look of determination in his eyes, Mustafa Ali simply stated that he’s preparing for his World Tour.

world tour prep. #MustafaAli2024

Mustafa Ali’s World Tour Begins

Recently, Mustafa Ali took to Twitter to unveil a campaign-inspired video, signaling the commencement of his World Tour. This announcement stirred up excitement, because many pro wrestling fans still believe that Mustafa Ali has a truckload of untapped potential.

Mustafa Ali’s schedule will likely fill us fast. He will be a part of GCW’s No Compadre event scheduled for January 12th, where he is set to face Gringo Loco. 

On January 19th, Ali is set to journey to Ottawa, Canada, for a wrestling appearance with C4 Wrestling. Following this, he will mark his debut on the UK independent wrestling scene at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28th. The leader of Retribution is scheduled to participate in an event with DEFY on February 9th in Seattle, Washington.

2024 will be as busy as Mustafa Ali wants to make it as he calls his own shots in the global wrestling landscape.

RVD Blames Lack Of Connection With Triple H On WWE Not Calling Him

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RVD made a name for himself thanks to his innovative move set, and one of a kind attitude. At 53-years-old, Rob Van Dam is still able to perform in the ring, but WWE isn’t calling him.

RVD’s Status With WWE

The WWE Hall of Famer stands out as one of the most skilled competitors to grace the squared circle. He can still get fans to chant his name to this day, and he can still execute every one of his signature moves.

Over the course of RVD’s career, he has clashed with numerous top-tier opponents, including the likes of Triple H. However, RVD believes that a lack of communication with Triple H is a significant barrier preventing his return to WWE.

RVD saw an appearance on WWE television was during the 2023 Draft, but there have been no further developments since then. He has since made it very clear that he’s down to appear for WWE, in pretty much any way they want to use him.

During a discussion on Marty Jannetty’s “Party with Marty” podcast, RVD revealed that he never had a substantial relationship with Triple H, and that is likely why The Game didn’t call him for a comeback.

“No… I never really talk to Hunter. If I had that relationship with him where we talked, then maybe I would be there. I’m assuming that’s a big reason why I’m not there… Everyone can see I’m still in f*cking better shape than ever. I can work with a motherf*cker. If you ask me why I’m not there, I’d probably say relationships with the office but I don’t know.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kiCKVxwR-Y

RVD and Triple H’s Careers Now

RVD’s journey in the wrestling world includes a successful stint in ECW before signing with WWE in 2001. He spent six years as an active wrestler in WWE, securing numerous championships, including the WWE and ECW Championships. Despite leaving WWE in 2007, RVD made a brief return in 2013 before departing again in 2014.

Although RVD appeared for AEW, he never inked a deal with Tony Khan. Those per appearance deals were definitely a sign that the Whole F’n Show is down to appear whenever he’s called.

RVD did previously allude to the idea that he might have lost a spot at WrestleMania in Philadelphia after those AEW appearances. If true, that would also be a Triple H call. RVD also stated his uncertainty that younger AEW talent want any advice from veterans.

In his current role as Chief Content Officer, Triple H holds a key position in WWE, making crucial decisions for the company. He worked for years to climb up WWE’s corporate ladder, and that paid off. 

Although Triple H and RVD are in different places in the pro wrestling world, they are still pro wrestlers at heart. WWE fans can only hope that The King of Kings gives RVD a call down the road. 

Matt Jackson Confirms Wife Dana Massie’s AEW Departure With Heartfelt Post

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Dana Massie, who is also the wife of AEW EVP Matt Jackson, played a key part in overseeing merchandise, managing The Young Bucks’ empire before AEW. She made a transition to AEW, and had a big hand in the company’s early stages, as she was there from the very beginning. She is moving on, and Matt Jackson has confirmed it.

Matt Jackson Speaks On His Wife, Dana Massie, Leaving AEW

Matt Jackson posted to his Instagram stories to address his wife’s AEW departure. He included a photo of Dana Massie backstage at an AEW event, with a sleeping child on her shoulder, while doing her duties as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer and mother at the same time.

In the caption with the post, Matt Jackson also expressed his gratitude for Dana Massie’s contributions. He then thanked her for being a huge part of AEW’s early foundation, while acknowledging the challenges of her sometimes thankless job.

“End of an era. You were in the first conversations, when this was all only an idea. One of the main builders of our empire. Always positive in at times was a thankless job. Glad you got to do it all, and leave on your terms, by your own choice. It’s been fun working with you. See you at dinner.”

AEW saw some significant departures in 2023, with Dana Massie being the latest to disclose their exit. Her role as Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer was very important to AEW since the beginning. She will be missed on the road, but Matt Jackson will still see his wife at home.

Dana Massie left AEW on her own terms, and it doesn’t appear that there is any ill-will there. Whoever gets Dana Massie’s responsibilities next will have big shoes to fill.

AEW Had Some Key Departures in 2023

With Dana Massie’s departure from AEW, and the upcoming exit of Vice President of Live Events and Touring Rafael Morffi, AEW faces changes in key positions. QT Marshall is already gone from the company, and he held a role as Tony Khan’s right-hand man for a time as well.