Cody Rhodes is a WWE fan favorite, and that is very evident every time fans blare out “WOAH” during his Kingdom entrance. He has consistently gone above and beyond for his Nightmare Family, and that included recently agreeing to be a fan’s best man during a live event in Spokane.
Cody Rhodes Is Going To Be A Best Man
During a WWE live event in Spokane, Washington, Rhodes secured a victory over Shinsuke Nakamura as the two prepare for their January 8th battle on RAW. WWE fans often bring signs to events, but one caught the American Nightmare’s eye.
After the match, Cody Rhodes noticed a fan’s sign requesting him to be the Best Man at their upcoming wedding. Cody readily agreed, which brought a huge pop from the Washington crowd.
Cody Rhodes Explains His Actions
This spontaneous and rather significant gesture surprised many fans who initially doubted Cody Rhodes’ sincerity. In a video released by WWE, Cody Rhodes addressed the fan’s request, confirming his commitment to being the best man at the wedding scheduled for March this year.
‘‘I should have not seen that sign. Turns out, I’m gonna be his Best Man. Now here’s the funny thing, don’t even know his name. He’s gonna send me a DM on Instagram he told me. Man of my word. I’m gonna end up at that guy’s wedding. So congratulations to future guy I’m the Best Man to. Yup, I’m the Best Man.”
Cody Rhodes has his eye on winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He wants to finish his story, and make his way to WrestleMania 40. With this kind of connection with fans, it’s evident that he will be a huge babyface favorite when January 27th’s big event in Tropicana Field rolls around.
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has conquered several daunting match stipulations and moments in his wrestling career, but which was the scariest? On episode 12 of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker provided an answer, pointing to one of his most memorable appearances inside Hell in a Cell.
The moment in reference happened during The Undertaker’s Hell in a Cell match against Mick Foley (Mankind at the time) at the 1998 WWE King of the Ring pay-per-view.
While many remember this match for Foley’s thunderous plunge through the announce table, The Undertaker considers another part of the match to be even more terrifying.
Mankind / Mick Foley and Hell in a Cell (1998)
“I think probably the scariest moment was when Mick went through the Cell. When I choke slammed him through it. Not when I threw him off, but when I choke-slammed him through the cell. The way that he landed. I was legit like, ‘Come on, please move,’ because I didn’t know that he was going to. That was pretty tense there for a little bit,” Undertaker said.
“And I’m thinking the worst because of just the way that it looked from my perspective. From my perspective, it looks like he landed on his head. And regardless of the reason why or how, in my head, it’s like, ‘You’re the one that just choke slammed him through it.’ So if he doesn’t get up, all those things are already going through your mind like ‘Are you going to be the guy that crippled Mick Foley?’ Yeah, that was pretty gnarly.”
Another ‘Scary’ Moment
Outside of his Hell in a Cell match against Mick Foley, The Undertaker says another scary moment occurred during his 2019 WWE Super ShowDown match against another fellow WWE Hall of Famer — Goldberg. At one point, Goldberg set The Undertaker in position for a suplex. However, when the two crashed onto the mat, The Undertaker then+ experienced what he described as an “incredible lightning bolt of pain” in his back.
Dave Meltzer emphasized that the certainty of her appearance is contingent on the formalization of a signed contract. AEW has been known to have stars sign contracts just before their debut, so there is no word on whether anything official has been signed.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that there were no indications or teases during the last night’s show regarding Mercedes Mone’s potential appearance in Jacksonville. Despite this, AEW is reportedly expecting her to start her television journey soon.
On last night’s show there were no teases for Mercedes Mone or for her appearing Wednesday in Jacksonville. What I know is that AEW does expect her to start on TV soon, but as noted, until it happens and the contract itself is signed, I wouldn’t consider anything 100 percent.
One would think there would be some sort of a tease of a surprise if she was to appear, since that’s been the case with most major signings. But Sting’s original debut in Jacksonville came out of nowhere.
Mercedes Mone’s Expected AEW Arrival
Dave Meltzer previously noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that, “WWE and AEW have clearly both been talking with her. Obviously this has gone on with AEW for months, if not a year, and she’s never signed yet. There was a lot of talk within wrestling of her on this week’s Dynamite, which she wasn’t on.”
He continued to say, “We do know that the expectation is she will be in AEW fairly soon, but until a contract signing is confirmed, anything can happen.”
AEW Dynamite will air their Homecoming episode from Daily’s Place on Wednesday, January 10th. That very well may be the first time we see Mercedes Mone grace an AEW ring, but AEW hasn’t dropped any blatant teases to confirm those theories yet.
There were talks between Mercedes Mone and WWE, but they reportedly hit a financial roadblock. Bayley still begs Mercedes to make a return at every chance she can, but it appears that the former Sasha Banks may sign with AEW after all.
WWE had an original plan for Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble, but Chief Content Officer Triple H decided to call an audible.
Royal Rumble will naturally be featuring the two 30-person matches as its cornerstone bouts, but Roman Reigns will have his table full to kick off the road to WrestleManai. Reigns will be putting his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship on the line against AJ Styles, LA Knight and The Apex Predator, Randy Orton.
From a television and speculation perspective, the overall thought was that it would be Randy Orton facing Roman Reigns one-on-one for the gold, but that clearly wasn’t the direction taken.
According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, the original plan was indeed Orton vs. Reigns, but there were certain parties within WWE that felt that The Viper shouldn’t be taking a loss so soon after making a major return.
By adding AJ Styles and LA Knight to the equation, WWE has more latitude for Reigns to keep his historic championship reign in tact without Randy Orton having to take a pin or submission, even under dubious circumstances. Everybody knows there’s money in in Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton and the company isn’t playing that card just yet.
If one were to put money on who would take the pinfall on Royal Rumble Saturday, the safe bet may likely be AJ Styles considering that LA Knight already took a pinfall loss to Roman at Crown Jewel. Styles just made a return back to the company as well, but Meltzer stated he believes AJ Styles would make the most since to take a loss.
A new WWE trademark filing with a biblical connotation may be used for Friday night SmackDown’s newest faction.
According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office database, WWE applied to trademark the name ‘Final Testament’ on Sunday. The ‘Goods and Services’ usage description on the January 7 filing discusses the usual:
“Wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service;”
The application does not reference any WWE Superstar(s) in particular, but there are a few clues to follow regarding the true nature of Final Testament.
Karrion Kross & AOP’s New Faction
On the January 5 episode of WWE SmackDown, a promo segment involving Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits was interrupted by Karrion Kross, Scarlett, and a returning Paul Ellering.
As Kross, Scarlett, and Ellering emerged onto the stage, Akam and Rezar of the Authors of Pain snuck up into the ring from behind, providing a pathway for them, along with Kross, to promptly attack Lashley and The Street Profits. The end of the segment then saw Kross, Akam, Rezar, Scarlett, and Ellering standing tall on the entrance ramp.
In the lead-up to Akam and Rezar’s on-screen return, Kross began teasing that he was in need of some “authors” to help put his vision, or rather, “proclamation” into motion.
The group is officially a faction and we should find out soon if their name has anything to do with ‘Final Testament.
The Undertaker is a WWE Hall of Famer who led the locker room for decades. While he led the troops for Vince McMahon backstage, he also saw many instances of tomfoolery along the way.
The Undertaker Speaks on Backstage Pranks in WWE
WWE Superstars spend their lives on the road, and sometimes they get bored. This was especially true during The Undertaker’s heyday, because WWE’s schedule was far more grueling. To pass the time, Superstars would often prank each other backstage.
The Undertaker is famously afraid of cucumbers. Owen Hart took advantage of this fact on several occasions, as he pranked the Deadman with the common vegetable. Through it all, things never got too intense as Taker remembers it. He did remember how The Rockers would tamper with other wrestlers’ belongings while they were busy in the ring.
During his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker was asked what was the most juvenile prank he ever saw backstage in WWE.
“When I first started with WWE, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. They were a couple little turds. That’s what they were. They were just bad. I would go out and have a match. Back then, we’d have somebody there that would bring our ring gear back. Every time I’d come back from a match, there would be my hat sitting on a case somewhere, and it would be poked. The top of it would be poked in. It’d be like sugar poured all over the top of it, flowers put in it. Just silly things that they would do to my hat. I didn’t know who was doing it. One thing with a rib when you’re in the wrestling business is, you don’t sell it. You don’t sell the rib. You don’t let anybody know that the rib’s getting to you. Because if it’s bothering you, it’s only gonna get worse. So I’m just playing it cool and I kind of set it up like a trap one day. I had my hat sitting out on the case. My coat was lying next to it and I’m kind of hiding.”
“This is kinda juvenile in its own right. I’m kind of hiding behind the curtain backstage, watching. I set a trap [and] here comes Shawn Michaels, just be-bopping down the hallway, and he stops. He walked in, he sees my hat and he stops. I remember him looking both ways like ‘Is there anybody around?’ I remember him pushing my hat, the top of my hat, caving my hat in, and I caught him right away. I was like, ‘You son of a bitch.’ And he about pissed himself like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ That was some of the more juvenile. I’ve been fairly lucky.”
“There’s only been a few guys that would rib me. Paul Bearer would rib me and Brian Adams would rib me. Those are the only two. Yeah, those are the only two guys or whatever. I mean Vince. Yeah, he went out of his way to rib me. He would spend thousands and thousands of dollars just to rib me and get a kick out of it. But as far as the talent, though, the only two guys that would rib me were Paul Bearer and Bryan Adams.”
The Deadman was also asked if he ever saw a prank go too far. That is when the former judge of Wrestlers Court was candid in his response. There were what he called “close calls,” and cucumbers were involved. In the end, those ribs were relatively harmless.
“There were a couple of close calls with cucumbers, that got a little bit too close to consumption, which would have been really bad. But most of them were pretty harmless.”
History of Practical Jokes in Pro Wrestling
Another notable instance of a famous backstage rib went down during a European tour in 1993 when Owen Hart switched his brother Bret Hart’s wrestling gear with a smaller-sized version, so the Hitman had to go out alone. Owen Hart also put sliced cucumbers in The Undertaker’s boots, which caused quite a reaction from the Deadman.
Mr. Fuji, who was a legendary prankster backstage, was known for mischievous ribs. He did things like filling babyface wrestlers’ water bottles with salt. Bobby Heenan was also legendary for his outlandish ribs, one that would entertain Superstars for hours on the road.
The infamous “Plane Ride from Hell” in 2002 saw various disruptive ribs, including Ric Flair’s naked antics, which did not age well at all. A wrestling match also broke out between Brock Lesnar and Mr. Perfect, who also allegedly dosed wrestlers with halcion tablets for giggles at times as well.
Cody Rhodes left his position as a top star and EVP for AEW, and he helped build that company in many ways. He also had a big hand in All In, the event which many agree spawned AEW’s creation. It turns out that he also paid for some of that out of his own pocket.
How Ethan Page Ended up on All In Card
Ethan Page played a role in the inaugural All In event back in 2018. The goal of All In was to demonstrate that an independent show could successfully sell 10,000 tickets, and the event’s triumph marked the birth of AEW. After being started by a $10 bet by Dave Meltzer, The Elite took on that challenge in a big way.
According to Ethan Page, he believes that Cody Rhodes personally invested to ensure his participation in this groundbreaking event.
The Bragman Breakdown podcast recently spoke to Ethan Page where he opened up about how he believes he was paid, because it came from Cody Rhodes’ own PayPal account.
“Ultimately, my payment came from his name to my PayPal, so I’m pretty sure I was hand-selected by my friend to get this opportunity. The Bragman Breakdown” podcast. “He also put me in the media scrum… he was definitely looking out. I’ll always deliver on my end to make sure whoever puts their neck out for me is not doing it in a way that is going to get them in trouble. He definitely put his foot forward for me.”
How Ethan Page Ended up in AEW
Despite his involvement in All In, Cody Rhodes didn’t promptly secure a deal for Page with AEW. The former Impact Wrestling star only joined the promotion in 2021, a couple of years after its establishment. Nevertheless, Page doesn’t harbor any resentment towards Rhodes for the delayed signing, as he understands the reasons behind the decision.
Before joining AEW, Ethan Page had discussions with WWE. While acknowledging that Cody Rhodes reached out to him during this period, Page chose not to exploit their friendship to secure a deal with the company. Instead, he opted to sign a contract with AEW after parting ways with Impact Wrestling.
“Ironically, when I was signing with AEW, he told me that he wouldn’t [sign me] because he didn’t want me to be a friend hire, and that’s how I started my career. So I actually respected that. He’s always had my back, and I appreciate him putting me in that because it was such a huge spotlight.”
AEW did not own the rights to the All In show, because ROH helped produce the event. Later on, Tony Khan stated that attaining the rights to the All In event was a big selling point for him buying ROH.
Cody Rhodes may be raking up records and merchandise sales in WWE, as he tries to finish his story. Ethan Page is still in AEW, but he will never forget about everything the American Nightmare did for him.
Brian Cage was a stand-out performer wherever he went before arriving in AEW. He has made fans stand in awe as they watched the big man pull off moves nobody his size could do. Despite his incredible abilities, The Machine is still a man.
Brian Cage’s Latest Bad Bump
Brian Cage is not immune to injuries. Recently, Cage shared evidence of substantial bruises he took during an intense moment in his AEW Dynamite match last week.
During the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Brian Cage participated in a fatal four-way match, facing off against Trent Beretta, Bryan Keith, and El Hijo de Vikingo. The was set to determine the next contender for the AEW International Championship.
In the end, Trent Beretta emerged victorious, cementing his match against Orange Cassidy for his title.
While taking to Instagram, Brian Cage posted a video showcasing the severe bruises he obtained during the match. These bruises were the result of a particularly intense spot where he was thrown onto his arm from the top rope.
”Welllllll, I may or may not have gotten a “boo boo” last Wednesday night on Dynamite…..but I’m not a man, I’m a machine! And the show must go on. #takencareofbusiness #machine #cantstopwontstop #cantbereasonedwith #itsnotballet”
Brian Cage committed to long-term contracts with both AEW and ROH before any speculation arose about his potential departure from AEW. Since then, he has seen a notable increase in his booking within the company.
Tony Khan knows what kind of talent he has on his roster, but The Machine may need a bit of rest to heal up from this latest batch of bruises.
AEW’s Kota Ibushi has hit out at a clinic in the Asakusabashi district of Tokyo, Japan, which he claims is little more than a scam.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ibushi speaks about being presented with a strange powder during a procedure. Ibushi added that the ‘scam’ is charging people 200,000 yen per visit, equivalent to $1384 USD.
“As for the details of the C5 clinic scam that I mentioned before, it starts with an IV drip, but when it doesn’t work midway through, they bring a strange powder (marijuana) without permission, so isn’t this a problem for the police? This is a fraudulent clinic that operates in Asakusabashi and all over the country. Please be careful as it will take about 200,000 yen per time.”
You can see Ibushi’s deleted post below.
Kota Ibushi’s Injury
Fans won’t be seeing Kota Ibushi in the ring for some time after suffering an injury during a recent match for Pro Wrestling NOAH. Ibushi was seen clutching his foot after a moonsault, and reportedly walked into the match with an injury. Ibushi was rushed to hospital after the match. NOAH would later give an update on Ibushi, who suffered a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury. The Japanese wrestler has confirmed that he will have surgery to deal with this situation. There is no word on when he can be expected back in the ring.
Despite Bayley’s support, the 49ers would lose to the Rams in a close-fought game which ended with the Rams winning 21-20.
George Kittle and Wrestling
Kittle will be thrilled to have received this title given that he is a known fan of WWE. Earlier in the 2023 season, he wore an Edge shirt ahead of a Monday Night Football game. Kittle also appeared at WrestleMania 39 and would help Pat McAfee defeat The Miz.
Speaking to Rich Eisen after his appearance, Kittle said that he’s been hoping for something with WWE for some time and was pleased to help out “one of the boys.” Kittle admitted that appearing at WrestleMania was the second-most anxiety-inducing experience of his life, only being beaten by singing with Kelly Clarkson.
Kittle added that he was worried about clotheslining The Miz, and was encouraged to hit harder than he thought was needed. Sure enough, Kittle decked the two-time WWE Grand Slam Champion and would help get the Miz back in the ring.
AEW’s Matt Hardy has hit back at ‘haters’ who have taken aim at his brother Jeff following a mistake on the most recent episode of Rampage.
The January 5, edition of AEW Rampage saw the Hardyz team with Mark Briscoe for the first time in their careers. The trio of tag-team specialists proved to be quite the group as they defeated Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade.
Jeff’s Mistake & Matt Reacts
During the match, Jeff attempted to jump off his brother’s back but slipped in an awkward moment. Many fans leapt onto this mistake on social media and have attempted to make it into a big deal. Not every fan has acted this way, however, and one sarcastically commented that the world was going to end because Jeff made a mistake. Replying to this tweet, Matt pointed out that mistakes are bound to happen. The veteran also had some choice words about those trying to create a ‘narrative.’
Correct. Jeff slipped. It happens all the time in wrestling. Jeff sometimes slipped in the 90s, the 00s, the 10s & he will slip in the 20s. The people on social media that are trying to create the narrative that Jeff’s not good or whatever the fuck are pathetic & merely haters. https://t.co/uUO0FSv9jT
Speaking about a Whisper in the Wind spot from Jeff’s return to AEW that was ‘botched’, Matt claimed that this was supposed to be messed up to show some ring-rust on his brother’s behalf. Matt also made it clear he’s extremely proud of what his brother has been doing.
That WITW spot was actually on purpose, this was not. I agree that Jeff has looked tremendous since he returned & he gains more confidence every outing. I’m extremely proud of him & where he’s at in life. https://t.co/GvJ9xL291o
Shannon Sharpe and the crew of the Nightcap Show are more than welcome to visit a WWE event anytime after the NFL legend shared his love for the wrestling business.
During a recent episode of the Nightcap Show, the topic of wrestling came up. Sharpe spoke about growing up watching Georgia Championship Wrestling and named some of the stars of the era he loved to watch. Sharpe recalled traveling across Georgia with his family to see the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Bobo Brazil, Ox Baker, Andre the Giant, Harley Race, and Nick Bockwinkel.
Taking to Twitter, Triple H was impressed by Sharpe’s love of the business. In a tweet, the Game appreciated Sharpe’s passion and said that he and the Nightcap Show crew are welcome to attend a WWE event any place any time.
Regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, Sharpe is best known for his time with the Denver Broncos, who he played for from 1990 to 1999 and later from 2002 to 2003. Sharpe holds the record for the most receiving yards in a game by a tight end (214) and is a three-time Super Bowl Champion (twice with the Broncos and once with the Baltimore Ravens).
“No one is more committed to and invested in ESPN’s success than Norby Williamson. At the same time, we are thrilled with the multi-platform success that we have seen from The Pat McAfee Show across ESPN. We will handle this matter internally and have no further comment.”
Pat McAfee Show Controversy
McAfee’s show recently saw criticism after Aaron Rodgers made baseless claims that Jimmy Kimmel would be named on the list of those who traveled to the island of Jeffrey Epstein. So far, no hard evidence has proven Rodgers’ claim, and several fake lists shared online have been debunked. McAfee made no effort to challenge Rodgers on his claim.
Corey Graves took it personally when Pat McAfee replaced him on SmackDown. Click here to find out more.
Chris Masters is ready to take his skills to a larger stage than the NWA and has set his sights on AEW, IMPACT, and WWE.
The Masterpiece is best known for his time with WWE from 2005 to 2007 and his subsequent run from 2009 to 2011. He has also competed in IMPACT Wrestling and the NWA and is a two-time NWA National Champion.
Chris Masters Wants To See What’s Out There
In a video shared on his Instagram, Masters spoke about wanting to see what’s out there beyond the realities of the NWA.
“[I’m looking to] see what’s out there for me. The last couple years I’ve been at NWA, [I’ve been] trying to develop myself and kind of evolve my character in every way I possibly could. And now I’d like to bring that to AEW, Impact Wrestling, and of course, WWE.”
Masters recently shared a video of himself making his entrance at an event. With the caption “and now the participant who drew number 2”, Masters was referring to a surprise return in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
TNA Wrestling is currently undergoing significant transformations with its rebranding from Impact Wrestling. Fans are excited for nostalgia, as Scott D’Amore and other Impact officials hope that this re-branding does the trick to re-spark interest.
New X-Division Title Revealed
As part of this overhaul, new title belts are being introduced, and the first glimpse of the redesigned X-Division Title has been revealed.
It was disclosed that TNA Wrestling had laid out plans to unveil a fresh set of title belts, indicating that every champion on the roster would receive updated hardware. They will have those new title belts rolled out soon enough.
The debut of the revamped X-Division Championship belt coincided with the buildup to Chris Sabin’s defense against KUSHIDA and El Hijo del Vikingo at TNA Hard To Kill 2024.
In an official presentation, Scott D’Amore handed over the new X-Division Title to Chris Sabin. He was obviously honored to receive this new title, especially since Sabin has made no secret about how much he loves the old TNA Wrestling titles.
Details About New X-Division Title
The updated design prominently features the recognizable red X at its core and incorporates the revamped TNA Wrestling logo. Chris Sabin, recognized as the X-Division’s most accomplished champion, is currently in the midst of his 10th reign with the title.
As TNA Wrestling enters this new chapter in its history, Sabin proudly holds the X-Division Title. Now, he will defend it proudly.
WWE Superstars are prone to get tattoos, and then they get extra love by sharing their new ink on social media. Now, two WWE Superstars have new art in their skin, and they got those pieces for a good reason.
Zelina Vega has been making waves in WWE since her return in 2022. Apart from WWE, she extends her influence beyond wrestling as she embraces the role of a budding YouTube personality along with Twitch streamer.
Zelina Vega & Dakota Kai’s New Tattoos
Recently, Zelina Vega, in collaboration with Dakota Kai, set a bold target for their YouTube channel. They put their eyes on a goal to reach 15,000 subscribers. Upon successfully attaining this significant milestone, the duo opted for a unique celebration by getting matching tattoos.
In a video shared on Zelina Vega’s Instagram, the two chronicle their tattoo experience. Their new tattoos matched their passions and personalities to a tee, as they got some Pokémon ink.
Choosing Pokemon-themed tattoos to mark the 15k subscriber achievement, Dakota Kai selects a Vulpix tattoo, while Zelina Vega opts for a Seel tattoo.
Happy 15k!! Thank you all for getting @zelvxandcharliegirl to our new milestone! What should our 20k be?? thank you @ownyoursummer for the dope #Pokemon tattoos!
Beyond her YouTube accomplishments, Zelina Vega solidified her commitment to WWE by recently signing a long-term deal. That ensured her continued presence with the company for years to come.
Fans can anticipate with excitement the future ventures from the LWO member. She has also been receiving rave reviews for her character work on WWE television.
Dakota Kai is still going strong as a member of Damage CTRL. Although she may still be waiting out her knee injury, she was still featured on WWE television practically every week, which kept her face out there and her brand relevant. Obviously, both Vega and Kai are connecting with fans in a big way, as evidence by their latest subscriber accomplishment.
WWE has a lot of fans talking about possibilities of outside partnerships. Where Vince McMahon closed his Forbidden Door a long time ago, Triple H doesn’t seem as eager to keep it bolted shut. That has led to some interesting prospects for the future.
WWE has always wanted to branch into Japan, and secure more of that market. Although attempts to form some sort of alliance failed over the years, things are very different within WWE now, as Vince McMahon’s mentality is no longer an issue.
WWE & STARDOM’s Possible Deal
Sean Ross Sapp posted on Fightful Select to note that he could not confirm that talks between WWE and STARDOM have resulted in a deal, but conversations are present between the two companies.
It was noted that, “Numerous WWE sources noted that the company was in a new era and things could be done a lot differently.”
WWE & AJPW’s Current Arrangement
Regarding the AJPW deal with WWE, one that saw Charlie Dempsey make his way to the Japanese company, there is more of a “wait and see how it goes” approach, “but that things are looking good.”
It was also noted that, “WWE has been much more relaxed on these possibilities since Nick Khan gained power, though it wasn’t directly attributed to his arrival, the timeline added up.”
WWE & NJPW Possibly Working Together
Whenever deals with Japanese companies arise, fans will naturally ask about the possibility of WWE linking up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was reported that, at this time, it doesn’t seem likely that a partnership will happen considering NJPW’s alliance with AEW.
Regarding rumors of WWE interest with NJPW, we’ve heard that WWE has long maintained interest in at least some connection with NJPW. Those we spoke to in both companies don’t think it’s particularly likely considering the strong partnership between AEW and NJPW, but said that with new faces at the helm of both WWE and NJPW, it’s at least more likely than it has been in a long time. Sources within WWE we spoke to said that Vince McMahon usually quickly nixed any discussion of such. Rocky Romero had spoken with Nick Khan at one point years ago, but the conversation never went anywhere.
AJPW insiders reportedly expressed happiness with Charlie Dempsey’s performances, considering him an effective representative sent by WWE. NXT sources also reported positive treatment of Dempsey during his trip. We will have to see if that trip will be the only one an NXT talent makes to Japan to represent the company over the course of 2024.
Striker was commentating on the match and was impressed with what he was seeing from Riddle. During part of the match, Stiker said the following:
“How do you let this guy go? This guy is a star, a mega-million dollar star. I don’t care what he does. How do you let him go?”
Many have taken issue with Striker’s comment about not caring what Riddle’s done. Riddle has faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct including from his ex-girlfriend Daniella Petrow. Riddle was also accused of sexual misconduct in 2020 by wrestler Candy Cartwright. While Riddle admitted to having an affair with Cartwright, he claimed it was entirely consensual. This affair led to Riddle’s marriage to his ex-wife Lisa ending. A legal case by Cartwright against Riddle and others was dropped in 2021.
Later in the match, Striker doubled down on his comment about Riddle being able to do whatever he wanted.
“He can do whatever he wants, he can kick your ass. Anyone out there (has) got a problem with him, step to him out on the street, watch what happens. End of conversation.”
Matt Striker Responds
Striker’s comments during the show have faced a backlash, with many taking issue with the notion that somebody accused of sexual misconduct can do “whatever he wants.” On Twitter, Striker reflected on what he had said.
At this time, MLW has not commented publicly on Striker’s comments or his subsequent tweet. MLW’s next major event will be Intimidation Games on February 29.
Matt Riddle recently showed up in New Japan and already has laid out a challenge to a huge star. Click here to find out more.
WWE RAW’s Day 1 episode at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California was a packed card. Not only did The Rock return for a shocking segment, but Rhea Ripley also battled to defend the WWE Women’s World Title against Ivy Nile. The Rock paid attention to Ripley that night, and he had a special message to share.
The Rock’s WWE RAW Day 1 Surprise
The Rock showed up for a segment with Jinder Mahal, where he shut down the Modern Day Maharaja’s anti-American promo. That resulted in “Day One Douchebag” chants, and after The Rock beat Mahal down, he dropped a blatant tease about a future match with Roman Reigns.
Following the show, photos circulated on social media showing The Rock spending time with Ripley, prompting a public comment from The Rock on Instagram. His caption provided a very important message that The People’s Champion had for The Nightmare.
“She wears black. I love black. She’s a bad ass. And I got famous for wearing a fanny pack. We had fun f*cking around backstage —-Love, appreciate and respect you champ @rhearipley_wwe – thanks for trusting me with your title, keep kickin’ ass and raising the bar ——Big shout to @cathykelley for being a total pro and having fun — —-#peopleschamp.”
Rhea Ripley began her WWE career in 2017, participating in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament. She was off to the races after that.
Rhea Ripley joined NXT and evolved into a top star for the brand. Ripley’s accomplishments include winning the NXT Women’s Championship and playing a significant role in various storylines. Over time, she transitioned to the main roster.
To this day, Rhea Ripley is a member of Judgment Day, and many fans consider her the leader of that faction. The Rock definitely can’t wait to see what she does next.
WWE Superstar Jinder Mahal is eager to step into the ring with The Rock once again, after their collision on this week’s episode of Raw.
The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show, which at first appeared to be Mahal. The Modern-Day Maharaja ran down the United States before the return of The Rock, who had some choice words for his fellow former WWE Champion. The Rock then laid out Mahal with a spinebuster and his People’s Elbow.
Jinder Mahal Challenges The Rock
The Rock may have handily dispatched of Mahal on Raw, but now the 3MB alum is ready for another shot at the Great One. Speaking to WWE Super Dhamaal, Mahal has praise for his own efforts on Day 1 Raw.
“I had many good points before Rock even came out. I was feeling confident until I was on the receiving end of, you know, Rock gave me a spinebuster. Up until then, I really believed that I had The Rock. You know, I had his confidence choked. I could see the look in his eyes. You know, I am the Modern Day Maharaja, he may be The People’s Champion, they were cheering him on. For someone who had no respect from the crowd, I think I did really well.”
Mahal then made his intentions clear and challenged the Brahma Bull to a match.
“I want to issue a challenge to The Rock. Anytime in India, you can step into the ring with The Modern Day Maharaja.”
The Modern Day Maharaja ? The People's Champion ? ??@JinderMahal issues a challenge to @TheRock following their altercation on #WWE RAW ?
After dealing with Mahal, The Rock teased going after Roman Reigns’ role as Head of the Table. Click here to check out the reaction from the Tribal Chief.
The pro wrestling world has many happy couples, because it really takes someone in the business to understand the sacrifices required. Sadly, not all relationships last, and it appears that Bron Breakker and Cora Jade may no longer be together.
Bron Breakker & Cora Jade’s Relationship
Cora Jade and Bron Breakker were romantically linked with each other. Their relationship was made official last year.
In 2022, there were speculations about their relationship, which Bron Breakker later confirmed. They openly shared photos and videos with each other on social media, posting numerous times as they let fans know that they were an official couple on their respective Instagram accounts.
Bron Breakker & Cora Jade’s Possible Breakup
Upon checking both Cora Jade and Bron Breakker’s Instagram profiles, they have unfollowed each other and deleted all their shared photos. This was quickly noticed by eagle-eyes fans, causing some concern that the pro wrestling power couple from NXT are no longer dating.
Though there has been no official word from Cora Jade or Bron Breakker on the subject so any rumors about them are just speculation at this point.
Relationships can face challenges due to busy schedules, especially in pro wrestling. Although we cannot be certain about the reason for this development until the NXT stars are ready to address their relationship status publically.
No matter what, Bron Breakker and Cora Jade both have huge upsides to them, as they are top NXT Superstars with main roster potential. At this time, we can only wait for some kind of official word from Breakker or Jade.
AEW star PAC is set to make his return soon after close to half a year out of action with an injury.
During a virtual signing for Highspots, Penta El Zero Miedo recently stated that PAC will be back in AEW soon. During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that the British wrestler is indeed expected to return in the not-too-distant future.
“He’s back soon, I know that.”
PAC’s most recent match took place on the July 26, episode of AEW Dynamite, where he faced Gravity. In August, it was announced that PAC had suffered an injury, though it was unclear what sort of injury he was facing. This has been the latest setback for PAC, who was out of action from March to July of last year. That hiatus was because he needed to get a nose injury fixed.
PAC in AEW
After his tenure with WWE as Neville ended in 2018, PAC joined AEW on January 8, 2019, one week after the promotion was announced. At AEW’s inaugural rally, PAC confronted ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, setting up a match for Double or Nothing. That match wouldn’t take place however as it was scrapped due to “creative differences.”
In June 2022, PAC became the first AEW All-Atlantic Champion, which is today known as the AEW International Championship. He is also part of Death Triangle with Rey Fenix and Penta. He is a former AEW World Trios Champion and the first AEW star to be a double champion.
A prominent name will be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling at some time this month, until a new deal can be reached very soon.
The contract of Alex Coughlin is set to expire this month, Fightful Select has reported. Coughlin is a current member of the Bullet Club and joined the faction in June of last year.
Alex Coughlin in New Japan
At NJPW Independence Day 2021: Night One, Coughlin teamed with Gabe Kidd to capture the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships. The pair defeated Bishamon to win the titles, the first taste of New Japan gold for either man. The pair would hold the gold until October’s Destruction in Ry?goku where they lost the titles to Guerrillas of Destiny.
Coughlin Outside of New Japan
In addition to his work with NJPW, Coughlin is known for his work with Ring of Honor. After appearing a few times in 2019, Coughlin returned to ROH in April 2023 and would team with Katsuyori Shibata, to defeat The Workhorsemen. After the match, Coughlin pointed at Shibata’s ROH Pure Championship, teasing a future match. That match would happen in June and saw Shibata retain the Pure Championship.
Coughlin has also appeared for AEW. He made his debut on the May 10, 2022, edition of Dark . He and other members of the LA Dojo would save LA Dojo’s The DKC and Kevin Knight from a post-match attack by The Factory. At the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door Buy-In show, Coughlin teamed with Yuya Uemura, The DKC, and Kevin Knight in a losing effort to Max Caster, Billy Gunn, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn.
The fans of AEW will have a chance to ‘Get the Feeling’ thanks to a new trademark filing by the promotion. This week, AEW filed a trademark for the phrase for its use on merchandise, as well as at professional wrestling events. At this time, there’s no word on what ‘Get the Feeling’ will mean for the on-screen product.
Interesting Name at AEW Collision
The January 6, 2024, edition of AEW Collision featured some top names, including Adam Copeland, Ric Flair, and Sting, but a different WWE Hall of Famer remained backstage. PW Insider reports that former NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA was backstage at the Collision taping in Charlotte, NC.
Kurt Angle’s AEW Cameo
Kurt Angle has made it clear he’s a WWE guy, but that didn’t stop the Olympian from making a cameo for AEW this week. On Twitter, Stokely Hathaway shared a Cameo featuring Angle, in which he claims that Hathaway is a changed man to Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander. It seems Kurt didn’t stop recording when he should have, as the video ends with Angle asking Stokely where’s his money.
Mariah May looked to set the wrestling world on fire during her AEW in-ring debut this week before the debuting Deonna Purrazzo interrupted. On Twitter, May shared that the place she lives suffered a fire. Fortunately, everyone is okay and the hunky firefighters proved to be a silver lining for the British wrestler.
and I made friends with some animals I carried out
A unique technicality was crucial for the most serious drug-related charge against WWE Superstar being dropped this week.
Morgan was arrested on December 14th in Sumter County, Florida, following a traffic stop and was charged with possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoids. She was also charged with marijuana possession, not exceeding 20 grams, and possession of drug equipment.
Why the Charge Was Dropped
This week, the possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoids charge was dropped against Morgan, which will come as a huge relief to the Superstar. This was the most serious charge against the former SmackDown Women’s Champion.
The decision to drop the charge came as a surprise to many, but there is a reason for this. An Assistant State Attorney in Sumter County told KOMO News that to prove the charge, the State is required to prove that the THC came from synthetic sources and was not derived from plant sources. No labs in the State of Florida perform such tests, so it was remanded to county court as possession of cannabis.
With no labs to perform the test, this charge was dropped. In a statement to The Messenger, Morgan’s attorney Jack Goldberg said:
“We are extremely pleased that the State Attorney’s office made the correct decision to not purse felony charges against Gionna [Morgan].”
What’s Next?
The charge of possession of marijuana, less than 20 grams, is a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida. It can be punishable by up to one year in jail or on probation, along with a $1,000 fine. Conviction of possession also results in a six-month driving license suspension, random drug testing, and the reimbursement of all fees related to the sentence. There is no heat on Morgan for this arrest within WWE.
