The Rock is teasing a big NFL announcement on the last day of 2023.
The Fox Sports NFL Twitter account recently teased a big news coming our way. Interestingly they tagged XFL in the photo they posted, followed by The Rock promoting the announcement:
A consortium led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson purchased the XFL brand from Vince McMahon back in August 2020, with intentions to once again relaunch the football league.
This came after a relaunch attempt by Mr McMahon himself failed due to the COVID-19 pandemic halting the 2020 season after only five weeks of play.
The league under The Rock’s ownership returned to play in February 2023. They announced a merger with USFL earlier this year, aiming to play a combined season next year.
Now the latest tease suggests that things may be changing once again and we may see XFL and NFL joining hands in some form before the 2024 season.
The Great One is also rumored to make his return to WWE for the WrestleMania 40 build-up. He made a lone appearance back in September taking out Austin Theory in a segment.
His return may take place as soon as this Monday’s Day 1 special of Raw for which Triple H has been teasing the return of a former WWE champion.
Swerve Strickland is not waiting for anybody going into 2024 and if Keith Lee wants to have a match with him, then he’s gonna have to work hard for it.
The two former tag team partners were supposed to finally face each other in a singles match at the Worlds End PPV. Hours before the show, however, it was revealed that Lee was not cleared by doctors. This resulted in a last-minute change in the match card, and Dustin Rhodes stepped up to face Strickland in a match instead.
The Limitless One’s injury was addressed at the Worlds End press conference. In response to a question, company president Tony Khan confirmed that Lee wanted to wrestle at the show and detailed why he wasn’t allowed to do so:
“Keith absolutely did want to wrestle. There is a process there and it involves a doctor examining the wrestler every time before they go out and wrestle but also keeping in touch with him during the week. Keith mentioned he got injured in his match at Final Battle. He had a great match with Shane Taylor hard hitting match in Dallas at Final Battle. Then after that, Keith had gotten back in the ring and had a great match with Brian Cage. Did a great number on Collision.
Keith, today when he went in to see the doctor, his injury had gotten worse during the week and really it was worse than it was after the Shane Taylor match and it was worse than it was after the Brian cage match. The swelling had gone up and with the swelling being what it was the doctor didn’t feel comfortable clearing Keith. So it’s a tough call. But the doctor did what he thought was right and I respect the medical team’s decision.”
On the question of this long-anticipated match taking place sometimes later, Swerve Strickland said that he is done waiting. He explained that if Keith really wants to get a shot at him now, he’ll have to do something to earn it:
“It’s quite unfortunate. I’m done waiting though. I don’t wait on anybody. For me. I’ve been waiting for a while now. Now I have my sights set on something else, and that’s championship gold. So either Keith’s gonna have to work harder than ever in 2024 to reach me at that point or reach to the championship or do something, but I’m not waiting on anybody. If the match happens, he’s gonna have to work hard to get to me at this point.”
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
CM Punk headlining WrestleMania won’t mark the finish of his story, but rather just the beginning, according to the WWE Raw Superstar.
Punk is one of two men confirmed for next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, with the other being Cody Rhodes. Both men are considered favorites to win the Men’s Rumble match. The show will mark ten years since Punk’s final match at a WWE PLE which came as part of the 2014 Royal Rumble Match.
CM Punk is Just Getting Started
At the December 30, WWE live event in Inglewood, California, CM Punk defeated Dominik Mysterio in a rematch from their Boxing Day collision. Punk once again received a massive ovation from the fans in attendance, who joined in with his signature ‘It’s Clobbering Time!’ catchphrase.
Speaking to the fans after the match, Punk addressed Rhea Ripley not being in Dominik’s corner before turning his attention toward the Men’s Rumble match.
“Like all of you, I’m disappointed that Rhea Ripley wasn’t here tonight. I was looking forward to hoisting her and bodyslamming her to cause California to break down the San Andreas fault and fall into the ocean. Maybe next time. Give yourselves a round of applause you beautiful, beautiful, people. You packed this place, days after Christmas. You spent your hard-earned money and your valuable time to spend time with us and I appreciate that.
“At the end of the month in January, I go to the Royal Rumble and damnit, if there was a sign hanging in this building I’d point at it right now. But I’ll point at my heart [Punk does so] because that’s where all of you reside until I walk into the Rumble and I walk out the winner! That’s me, finishing what I started and it’s not over then because then I’m going to go on to main event WrestleMania. And that’s not the finish of my story, sorry Cody, that’s me just getting started!”
Punk received a ton of support from the fans, as well as behind the scenes. Backstage, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi was very pleased to see Punk at the event. In a video shared on social media, Rikishi can be seen welcoming Punk ‘home.’
Adam Copeland’s days as a WWE Superstar may be a thing of the past, but the Rated R Superstar paid tribute to one of his iconic WrestleMania matches last night.
Since joining AEW at WrestleDream, Copeland has been feuding with his former friend and ex-tag team partner Christian Cage. The two faced off for the TNT title in Montreal earlier this month on an episode of Dynamite in a match that Cage would win.
Copeland’s WrestleMania 22 Tribute
At AEW Worlds End, Copeland once again challenged for the AEW TNT Championship, this time in a No Disqualifications match. Throughout the match, Copeland paid tribute to his epic Hardcore match at WrestleMania 22 in 2006, which saw the then-Edge defeat Mick Foley. Copeland wore the same attire at Worlds End that he wore for the match with Foley, right down to his vest.
Later in the match, Copeland used a flaming table, just as he had at WrestleMania 22 nearly two decades earlier. Rather than spearing someone through the table though like he did in Chicago, Copeland powerbombed Nick Wayne onto the table at Worlds End.
Tony Khan has confirmed that Andrade El Idolo’s AEW contract is expiring at the end of the year and he will not be renewing his deal with the company.
The AEW President took part in the media scrum after the World’s End PPV. Among other things, he talked about this being the 5 year anniversary of AEW and how it means that some contracts are bound to expire. Khan gave a shout-out to QT Marshall who is one of the day one talents leaving the promotion at the end of the year. He then confirmed that Andrade’s AEW deal is coming to an end as well:
“Somebody who has not been with us the entire five years, but they’ve been with us about half the time. They’ve been outstanding and somebody I really respect and I don’t expect to see necessarily, as it stands right now renewing the contract but somebody that I have a great amount of respect for and would be parting on good terms and was tremendous, was here and did wrestle tonight is Andrade El Idolo.
Andrade El Idolo’s contract is up at the end of the year. We’ve had great talks. I have a tonne of respect for Andrade El Idolo. He’s been a huge performer in the Continental Classic week after week I talked about this great run Collision’s been on, Andrade El Idolo has been a huge part of it. Also has wrestled on the other shows and the Blue League of the Continental Classic.
Tony Khan claimed that they would have given a prominent position to Andrade if he had decided to stay with the company. He then praised him for the World’s End match with Miro, saying that he will be leaving on a high note:
“He’s outstanding. I wanted to keep him involved at the top. If we had been able to reach an agreement, certainly he would be somebody we would slot in, in a prominent position. I think we did everything we could to show Andrade El Idolo we really do value him.
I think this last run he’s had in recent months has been tremendous. If this is going to be the way he’s gonna leave AEW, talk about leaving on a high note because he had a great match with Miro tonight.”
Andrade has long been rumored to be on his way back to WWE. A contract expiration means he will be free to make an appearance for any company he likes at the start of the year. With Triple H’s latest tease, many believe that we may see him back in the Endeavor owned promotion sooner rather than later.
You can check out the full Worlds End media scrum below:
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
After months of build, the reveal of the Devil has had the wrestling world talking. Taking to Twitter, Cole shared a snippet from the song ‘pride.is.the.devil. by J. Cole and Lil Baby.
Anthony Bowens has been aligned with MJF and was attacked by The Devil’s henchmen alongside the rest of the Acclaimed recently. The AEW Trios Champion had just two words for Cole and his allies.
Alex Hammerstone recently wrapped up his time with MLW and has teased joining AEW. The former MLW World Champion shared a photo of himself alongside MJF, and others during their time as The Dynasty and asked if MJF needs some help.
There have been some negative reactions to the closing moments of AEW Worlds End, but that hasn’t phased Samoa Joe. The new AEW World Champion made it clear he’s enjoying the ‘salty tears’ of fans.
Damn, ankles gonna swell all these salty tears I’m drinking.
AEW is the safest place for professional wrestlers, according to AEW President Tony Khan, as the allegations against Chris Jericho continue to make headlines.
Jericho faced NDA and Kylie Rae chants during AEW Worlds End, and a hashtag movement calling for him to be fired trended on Twitter. Speaking on the post-Worlds End Media Scrum, Tony Khan was asked about the allegations and the protocol to keep wrestlers safe from unwanted advances.
“We’re very serious about [that] and we’ve had a policy in place. Certainly I think any time there’s anything like that, we would make sure we do everything we can to prevent it. AEW has the best safety record I believe of any pro wrestling company in the world. I believe we have the most safe environment. I believe we have the best safety record of any pro wrestling company and I would hold the record of AEW on safety against any wrestling company in the world. I think we, AEW is the safest place for pro wrestling and if any of our wrestlers ever have a concern they always have an open line to talk to me and I you know I believe anybody would sit here and tell you they always can talk to me anytime they are concerned about anything.”
When asked for details about the steps wrestlers can take if they feel they are being harassed, Khan outlined what happens to a wrestler if they are found to have violated company policy.
“If there was anything that came to light to me, I would take it to the disciplinary committee. That’s how we’ve been doing it and I think our disciplinary committee has been doing a great job. Everybody knows they have an open line to me or anybody on that committee.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The new AEW World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe has confirmed that we will be getting a new belt for the top prize of the company in his new era.
The Samoan Submission Machine took part in the World’s End press conference after his big win at the PPV. He was asked about the current title design and Joe confirmed that the current belt is ‘going into garbage’:
“Oh this is going into garbage, Don’t worry about that. I mean this trash right here, this little knockoff, BS Lucha stuff that he got going on, this is going away.
We’re getting the good belt, the right belt. Something that’s designed well. I’ve spoken with Tony intensively about it and we’re we’re very much looking forward to it. I mean, we got a whole new era starting up here.”
The current AEW title design was introduced by MJF last year after he defeated Jon Moxley at the Full Gear PPV to win the title.
The Scumbag held the championship for 406 days before Samoa Joe defeated him for the title. Though Joe had a lot of help in doing so.
The new AEW champion had been helped by the mysterious devil who was revealed at the show tonight. You can check out the identity of the masked man here, and read what the future holds for MJF after the show tonight here.
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
MJF has made no secret about the number of injuries that he has raked up during his career, especially in recent memory. Now, the Salt of the Earth is expected to take some time off.
MJF Taking Time Off
MJF lost the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. That was a hard-fought main event match in Long Island, MJF’s homestead, but he still lost to the Samoa Submission Machine via a chokehold.
After the match, Adam Cole revealed himself to be The Devil. The Kingdom, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow were also unveiled as his associates. That storyline will apparently carry on without MJF as a target, because Our Scumbag is taking time off.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that many within AEW that he spoke to “immediately following AEW Worlds End said that they expect MJF to be off TV for a while immediately, if not almost immediately.”
MJF had sustained a plethora of injuries during his AEW Title reign, but was adamant that he wanted to see it through. As MJF is often influential in his own creative, there’s always a chance he could insist on an absence not happening, but it’s expected internally.
MJF has not brought up the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and most believe that it is due to a contract resigning that was not publicly announced. There are also currently no talks between MJF and WWE at this time.
MJF also wants a dual career in Hollywood and pro wrestling. With The Iron Claw’s release, that possibility is certainly out there for the former AEW World Champion.
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Wardlow were revealed as the Devils during AEW Worlds End. Despite MJF’s ongoing angle with that masked faction, it appears that he will be taking some time off.
AEW Worlds End will go down as one of the worst nights in the career of MJF, who lost his AEW World Championship and his best friend in one fell swoop.
For months, MJF has been targeted by somebody in his ‘Devil’ mask, who has been attacking anyone close to the scarf-wearing wrestler. Suspicion had been running rampant within AEW, with several wrestlers and even MJF himself being accused of being behind the attacks.
A New AEW World Champion
With his tag-team partner Adam Cole injured, MJF was until recently in an unlikely team with Samoa Joe. On this week’s Dynamite though, Joe betrayed MJF, who would lose the ROH World Tag Team Championships to two of the Devil’s henchmen. It was revealed on Dynamite that MJF had done ‘business’ with the Devil.
At Worlds End, MJF defended his AEW World Championship against Joe and a title change took place. The finish saw Samoa Joe lock MJF in the Coquina Clutch, and his arm fell three times, resulting in the submission victory and a title change.
Following the match, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF and Cole, who was at ringside for the match to ‘support’ his ‘friend.’ When one of the masked men was about to hit Cole with a chair, the lights went out. When they came back on, CVole was revealed as the Devil.
The masked men were also revealed as Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The four men beat down MJF and left him out cold to close the show.
All Elite Wrestling’s final pay-per-view of 2023 is in the books, but the show wasn’t short of headlines.
News, rumors, and more flew around the wrestling world just hours leading up to the event and once the main event closed, we were left with more questions than answers.
So, without further ado, here’s what you need to know coming out as AEW closed out their 2023:
Samoa Joe Heads Into 2024 as AEW World Champion
A legitimate injury, nearly everybody in the AEW locker room going after him, and the impending arrival of The Devil, it was very much a MJF vs. the world scenario in the now-former World Champion’s hometown of Long Island, New York. While everyone thought it would be the doing of The Devil that would be the ultimate undoing of MJF’s World Title reign, it was a Coquina Clutch from Samoa Joe that would put MJF out cold and leave referee, Bryce Remsburg with no choice but to call for the bell. Samoa Joe now sits at the top of the mountain in All Elite Wrestling.
Is MJF YOUR scumbag? MJF puts the #AEW World Title on the line against Samoa Joe in the main event of #AEWWorldsEnd.
‘The Devil’ Adam Cole Was Pulling The Strings All Along Against The Puppet Master Himself, MJF
Rewind all the way to the June 14, 2023 edition of AEW Dynamite…MJF and Adam Cole fought to a 30-minute time limit draw with MJF’s AEW World Championship up-for-grabs. Just weeks later, the pair were ‘randomly’ drawn together as teammates in the inaugural ‘Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament,’ a tournament the pair ending up winning, but ended up falling short in their bid for the AEW Tag Team Titles against then-champions, FTR. However, MJF and Adam Cole would gain something more valuable than gold (to some)…friendship. MJF and Cole put their differences to the side and respected one another after such a grueling rivalry. The pair would kick-off AEW’s biggest show in the company’s history ‘All In’ by defeating Aussie Open to become Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions in front of 70,000-plus fans inside of London, England’s historic Wembley Stadium. MJF and Cole would also close out the show with their long-awaited AEW World Title rematch, but this time, MJF would get the better of Cole, and retained his title.
After a string of injuries and health woes, Cole would be in-and-out of competition, leaving MJF to fend for himself and defend the titles by himself, which led to numbers being too much for the Long Island-native to handle, when he dropped the ROH Tag Titles to his newest rival ‘The Devil’s’ masked friends on the December 27 edition of Dynamite. With Samoa Joe lurking in the shadows for a rematch of his own, MJF accepted Joe’s challenge, for a helping hand leading up to tonight’s showdown…something Joe honored until the aforementioned 12/27 Dynamite, where Joe took out MJF following the latter’s title loss.
And on one fateful night in MJF’s hometown of Long Island, New York…his past finally caught up to him as he lost the AEW World Championship…and his best friend, Adam Cole. Following Joe’s victory over MJF, the vaunted masked men surrounded the ring before rushing inside and attacking both men…but the attack stopped and the masked assailants held MJF and Cole face-to-face before the lights would go out…and when they came up, Cole was standing side-by-side with the masked men, all facing MJF. By the time the now-former champion figured out what just happened, it was too late as Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett all removed their masks to reveal Cole’s newest creation…which closed out ‘Worlds End’ by taking out Cole’s now-former tag team partner…and The Devil was no longer MJF…but the man playing the strings all along, Adam Cole, Bay Bay.
‘The Mad King’ cemented his place in AEW history. During AEW’s inaugural Continental Classic tournament, Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley did exactly what they do best, brutalize their opponents and a collision course to the finals was exactly what many wanted and predicted. The Heart and Soul of AEW against the Ace of AEW was exactly what the doctor ordered for what was otherwise a somewhat lackluster pay-per-view event. Both Kingston and Moxley came with their best and after violent attack after violent attack, it was the pride and joy of Yonkers, New York who came out on top in front of his home state fans as the first-ever AEW Continental Classic Champion.
Take a look at All Elite Wrestling’s newest title belt, as well as some of the highlights of this brutal encounter, below:
The only person who may be able to handle these blows from Eddie Kingston is Jon Moxley.
In-ring wise, the best match on the card was Christian Cage’s (technically) unsuccessful TNT Championship defense against longtime friend and rival, Adam Copeland. After a beautifully violent 20-plus minute encounter, Copeland planted Cage’s protege, Nick Wayne through a table engulfed in flames before delivering a Killswitch of his own to Cage to secure the 1-2-3. Just moments after his victory, Copeland was celebrating with his first title in AEW, however, Cage’s sidekick and former TNT Champion, Killswitch (FKA Luchasaurus) attacked Copeland before getting ready to cash-in his TNT Title opportunity that he earned by outlasting 19 other competitors during the show’s ‘Zero Hour’ battle royale affair.
However, Cage would return to the ring and somehow convince Killswitch to hand him over the contract, which the then-former champion would sign and hand over to senior referee, Paul Turner. The bell would ring before Cage did what Copeland did to him…finish him off with his own signature move, the spear. The devastating spear would garner the three-count for Cage, and in doing so, make him a two-time TNT Champion, and now becoming the TRUE Ultimate Opportunist.
Miro Sends Andrade el Idolo Packing While Redeeming His Ultimate Prize
With rumors swirling that Andrade el Idolo would be departing AEW following tonight’s pay-per-view, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Miro would have his hand raised following the pair’s match. While that was exactly the case, it was far more competitive than many previously thought after the news of Andrade’s impending departure came about, and while securing the 1-2-3 was the goal of the match, Miro gained something far, far more valuable…his wife CJ Perry, who assisted ‘The Redeemer’ and was reunited with her husband at long…long last.
As previously mentioned, many rumors and news surrounded tonight’s show. Throughout the first handful of matches, the damper of the earlier day’s news sure casted a dark cloud over AEW’s final pay-per-view offering of 2023, however the classic TNT Championship match between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland began a hot streak for the night as Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley’s Continental Classic Final before the ultimate reveal of Adam Cole as The Devil lea
ding to Samoa Joe’s World Championship victory over MJF closed out the night on a high note.
Who will Samoa Joe set his sights on for his first title defense? Will Adam Cole have answers for MJF after months and months of manipulation? Will MJF even be with AEW in 2024? We have a TON of loose ends to tie up as All Elite Wrestling opens up to a new chapter, starting this Wednesday night on Dynamite.
AEW begins their 2024 when the company returns to your screens this coming Wednesday, January, 3, when Dynamite takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
All Elite Wrestling will be back on pay-per-view on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will feature the legendary Sting’s final match against a yet to be announced opponent.
Mansoor is now officially a free agent and the former WWE star is aiming for a fresh start with no animosity.
The once Maximum Male Model joined Denise Salcedo for a new interview and he talked about the emotions he went through when he was let go by WWE back in September.
“I can joke about it because I’m not bitter about it. It did bother me, believe me, but 90 days is a long time. At a certain point, you’re in bed and you’re trying to go to sleep, and all you can think about is, ‘What did I do wrong? What could I have done better?’ At some point, you’re like, ‘I can’t live like this. I gotta just try and make the most of it and make the best of it.’”
Mansoor Wants To Handle His Destiny On His Own Terms
Mansoor, along with his tag partner Mace, officially became a free agent on December 21 and told Salcedo how as a member of the WWE roster, he’d go months without wrestling in the ring. Now that he’s not under contract, that element gets removed.
“I’m so excited to be able to go out there and say, ‘Listen, for whatever happened in WWE, what you’re about to see is who I really am, and you’re about to get the most serious and real indicator of my talent, and if it goes great, phenomenal. If it doesn’t, I’ll fade off into the sunset, but at least I get to know it was based on my own talent.”
Mansoor will be a participant on the upcoming GCW card Look At Me at Royal Rumble Weekend.
Please credit Instinct Culture and h/t to Fightful for the transcription.
Adam Copeland captured the AEW TNT Championship at Worlds End, in his first title win in over a decade, but the Canadian’s run with the gold was very short-lived.
Since joining AEW at WrestleDream, Copeland has been feuding with his former friend and ex-tag team partner Christian Cage. The two faced off for the TNT title in Montreal earlier this month on an episode of Dynamite in a match that Cage would win.
Adam Copeland Wins (and Loses)
In a No-Disqualification match at AEW Worlds End, Cage and Copeland held nothing back in their efforts to leave Long Island with the TNT Championship. As the winners of the first two TLC matches, it was fitting that the bout featured Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. In the end, Copeland hit Cage with Christian’s own Killswitch finisher to get the win and become the new TNT Champion.
This was an emotional win for Copeland, as it was his first time winning a championship since he captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from Dolph Ziggler in early 2011. Unfortunately for the Hall of Famer, his time on top was short-lived. After the match, Killswitch (formerly Luchasaurus) hit the ring with a guaranteed TNT Championship match contract Killswitch had won the opportunity during the Zero-Hour pre-show battle royal.
Look who’s here to cash in their TNT Title Shot!!! KILLSWITCH!
Rather than challenge Copeland, Killswitch surrendered that contract to Christian who had the match restarted. Cage then used Copeland’s finisher, a spear, to win the title back.
This makes Copeland a history maker in AEW, but not in a good way. The Canadian legend now holds the record for the shortest title reign in the history of the company.
AEW Worlds End 2023 proved to be a tough night at the office for Chris Jericho who was on the receiving end of some choice chants from the Long Island crowd.
In the fifth match of the show (and eighth match if you include the pre-show) Jericho was victorious in an eight-man tag-team match. The bout saw Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting and Darby Allin defeat AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks, and Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs.
Chris Jericho Faces Chants
Jericho’s appearance at the show was something of a surprise, as some fans expected him to be pulled from AEW Worlds End. In the hours before the show, Jericho faced allegations of misconduct with wrestler Kylie Rae. Nick Hausman made mention of Jericho having skeletons in his closet, and Rae herself reacted with a heart to a post saying that Jericho is not a safe person to be around for young women in wrestling.
At this time, AEW President Tony Khan has yet to address the allegations against Jericho, who was the first-ever AEW World Champion. It is likely he will be asked about the matter during the post-Worlds End media scrum.
AEW saw a few random injuries throughout 2023 that greatly changed their booking plans. They couldn’t get through the final pay-per-view of the year without being forced to change things up.
Keith Lee was scheduled to take on Swerve Strickland in a singles match at AEW Worlds End, a long-awaited showdown that some fans doubted would ever materialize. Sadly, that match wasn’t meant to be in 2023.
Unexpected Change Of Plans For Keith Lee
In an update on X, Keith Lee shared that he was going to enter the Worlds End match with an injury. Although he did not divulge the specifics of the setback, he assured fans that he is committed to giving his best effort in the upcoming match.
Today… I keep it very real with you guys. I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022.
It has been mostly well taken care of. Things have been worse since Final Battle.
I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
Today… I keep it very real with you guys.
I have been working through an injury since Arthur Ashe Stadium 2022. It has been mostly well taken care of.
Things have been worse since Final Battle. I am trying to get through today for you guys, but I cannot promise anything.
Keith Lee was taken out of AEW Worlds End and Dustin Rhodes was placed in his spot. Swerve Strickland picked up the win against The Natural in the end, which continued his winning streak in AEW.
This is not good news for Keith Lee, and we can only hope that whatever kept him off the AEW Worlds End card isn’t something that will persist far into 2024.
WWE saw some notable departures in 2023, as the company fired a ton of people after the TKO Group Holdings takeover. Now, Kevin Dunn is leaving the company.
Kevin Dunn’s WWE Departure
PW Insider reports that Kevin Dunn is leaving WWE. Having served as Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, Dunn conveyed his decision to depart to WWE during Christmas week, concluding over three decades of association with the company.
Dunn, who held the post of Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, informed WWE around Christmas week he was exiting after more than three decades with the company. We are told that a big factor in his decision to retire is changes internally post-Endeavor acquisition and that Dunn was “never going to do anything that was dictacted” to him, as opposed to how he personally oversaw production in the past. We are told this was not an issue of creative but two differing versions of how things should be run from a TV production perspective as WWE seeks to cut costs.
Why Kevin Dunn Is Leaving WWE
The decision to retire was influenced significantly by internal changes post-Endeavor acquisition. Kevin Dunn was unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives, contrasting with his previous hands-on approach to production oversight.
It was also reported that Kevin Dunn’s departure was not linked to creative matters but rather divergent views on television production perspectives aimed at cost reduction.
Despite rumors of his departure in recent years, the company never initiated Kevin Dunn’s exit. On the contrary, the WWE Board of Directors urged Dunn to continue when Vince McMahon initially retired in July 2022. While not surprising, Dunn’s exit carries substantial implications, given his profound influence on the vibe, ambiance, and production of WWE’s product over several decades.
Kevin Dunn’s History in WWE
Since 1993, when the Monday Night Raw era started on the USA Network, Kevin Dunn assumed the role of Executive Producer for all WWE programming, shaping the distinctive style of WWE production recognized by casual fans.
Kevin Dunn’s departure marks the end of an era, as he played a pivotal role in ensuring every WWE broadcast or documentary adhered to his approval.
Kevin Dunn served as the official Director for many live broadcasts and, more importantly, held the Line Producer role for all WWE broadcasts from 1993 onward. The Line Producer is a crucial internal figure responsible for budget breakdown, crew hiring, fiscal oversight during filming, and overall planning to ensure optimal use of capital for production.
AEW Worlds End is set to take place on December 30th, and the roster is ready for anything. One star is reportedly wrapping up his time with AEW in Long Island, and Andrade is WWE-bound after that.
Possible Spoiler On WWE Return
Wrestle Purists reports that they have been told by sources around AEW that Andrade El Idolo is expected to wrap things up with Tony Khan’s company at AEW Worlds End. It was then noted that Andrade is expected to arrive in WWE on the January 1st episode of RAW.
According to WrestlePurists sources, Andrade El Idolo is expected by many in AEW to finish up with the company tonight at World’s End.
He is also believed by many within AEW to be heading back to WWE. Some think it could happen as soon as the Day 1 RAW.
A WWE source we spoken to is aware of the talk surrounding Andrade and is expecting him to join the company imminently.
A WWE return makes sense for Andrade, because his wife, Charlotte Flair, works for the company. She is currently out of action for 9 months due to a knee injury, but The Queen would definitely cheer on Andrade’s WWE return from home.
According to WrestlePurists sources, Andrade El Idolo is expected by many in AEW to finish up with the company tonight at World’s End.
He is also believed by many within AEW to be heading back to WWE. Some think it could happen as soon as the Day 1 RAW.
Sean Ross Sapp later reported on Fightful Select to note that Andrade’s exit from AEW wasn’t pleasant. He made it known to a lot of people Wednesday at AEW Dynamite that he intends on leaving the company.
Fightful Select learned this week that Andrade and AEW were set to no longer work together, with most expecting it to culminate at the AEW Worlds End show. Numerous sources indicated that Andrade made it clear this past Wednesday at AEW Dynamite he no longer wanted to be with the company and was planning on leaving. We’re told that the situation surrounding Andrade’s exit was less than pleasant, with some even saying a major disagreement had unfolded.
WWE Day 1 Surprise Planned
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that said WWE is looking to add some star power to their Day 1 show. A former champion is expected to return, but no specific name has been reported yet.
Andrade’s inclusion in the Day 1 episode would bring a surprise reaction, but the real question then lies on Triple H’s plan for the former NXT Champion.
Triple H Comments On WWE RAW 1 Surprise
Triple H heard the report that someone is coming back at WWE RAW’s Day 1 event on January 1st. He commented to stoke the flames a bit on that rumor.
Not going to confirm or deny the rumors of a former @WWE Champion appearing at #WWERaw Day One… but I will say to stay tuned.
Not going to confirm or deny the rumors of a former @WWE Champion appearing at #WWERaw Day One… but I will say to stay tuned.
The Iron Claw film brought the Von Erich Family’s story to the masses, and that R-Rated film is currently in theaters. The actor who played Ric Flair in the film also received a ton of attention, but the pro wrestling community was not kind about how he portrayed The Nature Boy.
The Iron Claw’s Ric Flair Actor Speaks Out
The actor who took on the role of Ric Flair in The Iron Claw film faced severe criticism. Aaron Dean Eisenberg, the man behind the portrayal, is now addressing the negative feedback he received for his depiction of The Nature Boy.
During an interview on Man Cave Chronicles, Aaron Dean Eisenberg provided insights into his approach to playing Ric Flair. He acknowledged the challenges and the mixed reactions his performance garnered
“It’s been interesting. I feel Flair is definitely an idol for some people, so they really hold him in high regard and sort of expect a certain thing for him. I’ve gotten a lot of love, but also a lot of hate, which is very new for me. It’s certainly a polarizing performance.”
The Iron Claw’s Reception
Despite the film earning praise from both critics and audiences, wrestling fans, it only pulled around $5 million in its opening weekend. Compared to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Migration, and Wonka, it did not stack up. That being said, it’s harder for R-Rated films to draw compared to those family-friendly options.
Critics on the internet were exceptionally harsh toward Aaron Dean Eisenberg, despite his dedicated effort. It seems that he is not letting it bother him. If anything, this acting credit on his IMDB page was definitely noteworthy.
The Judgment Day stands as one of WWE’s best factions, as they took over in 2023. Judgment Day also added JD McDonagh to their ranks in recent memory. However, a recent glitch occurred when a member of the faction faced a big logistical problem while trying to attend the December 29th WWE house show.
Judgment Day Member’s Issue in Canada
During the December 29th WWE house show at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Judgment Day’s dynamic was on display. Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest actively participated in the event, while Dominik Mysterio provided corner support for Ripley.
However, JD McDonagh was notably absent from the scene. Finn Balor took to Twitter, sharing an image of The Judgment Day backstage in Canada. In the accompanying caption, he revealed McDonagh’s absence, attributing it to paperwork troubles that prevented him from joining the Canadian event.
”The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto”
The incident shed light on the logistical challenges faced by WWE Superstars, showcasing the intricate details behind their appearances. We can only hope that they straighten this out, so JD McDonagh doesn’t have to miss any more events outside the United States.
Shotzi has quite a time in Las Vegas when WWE rolled through town for a live event on December 29th. The SmackDown Superstar got married while she was in Sin City, and she didn’t even have time to change out of her wedding dress before her match.
Shotzi’s journey in NXT was marked by her captivating character and impressive in-ring abilities, earning her a devoted fan following. Beyond the squared circle, her personal life recently took a significant turn as she tied the knot.
Shotzi Gets Married
Fans were cheering on Shotzi since news of her engagement broke in July. The anticipation surrounding her impending wedding naturally led to speculation about when the big day would finally arrive.
During the live event in Las Vegas, Shotzi’s joy was obvious as she stepped into the ring wearing her wedding dress. The celebratory atmosphere was further heightened as she teamed up with Bianca Belair.
Shotzi wrestled in her wedding dress after getting married yesterday
Shotzi and Bianca Belair went on to defeat Bayley & Iyo Sky in tag team action. The combination of personal happiness and professional success made for a memorable moment for both Shotzi and her fans.
Chris Jericho is a legendary pro wrestler, and he was responsible for much of AEW’s early rise in popularity. On the day of AEW Worlds End, a troubling allegation dropped about him that could paint him in an entirely different light.
Chris Jericho and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Chris Jericho and CM Punk and Ace Steel’s attorney, Stephen P New, recently had it out on social media. The whole ordeal surrounded the non-disclosure agreements that everyone involved in Brawl Out signed.
Chris Jericho claimed that he never signed any NDA about this. Then Stephen P New fired back to say that a confidentiality clause is in the AEW Employee Handbook.
Hey @StephenPNew– I don’t adhere to an employee handbook and have NEVER had one in 4 years of working for @aew. Ive also never signed an NDA in my life ….ever. So stop trying to be a bully and making egotistical fantasy brags for your clients, and start doing some research… https://t.co/P8Fjda7d9K
Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman later called Chris Jericho out for having people sign NDAs himself. That got Hausman a subsequent block from the former AEW World Champion.
Nick Hausman later had Stephen P New on his Rumor and Innuendo podcast for an interview about everything that was going on with that situation.
Then, a clip of Nick Hausman from that Rumor and Innuendo podcast went viral. In that clip, Hausman made mention of skeletons in Chris Jericho’s closet. He also brought Harvey Weinstein’s name into the situation as a comparison to Jericho’s situation.
“There are issues with Chris behind the scenes, where I know a lot of people who were hurt by Chris and his actions. You know, it’s very uncomfortable to me to see him lauded like he is and only having the focus on that, because I do think there are a lot of questionable stories about Chris that will find their way out over time when people are ready to tell those stories, that will cast him in a very different light.”
“I mean, Harvey Weinstein won a lot of Oscars, Harvey Weinstein produced a lot of very popular films. Harvey Weinstein is now in jail … I’m not saying that is happening to Chris, but the narrative can quickly turn if you’re hiding a lot of skeletons in your closet.
A short time later, after that clip went viral, an X account re-posted an older tweet that didn’t get much traction at the time. This tweet implied that Kylie Rae may have left AEW due to Chris Jericho.
“So here’s the deal, you don’t quit the hottest fed going today (AEW) without reason. I have it from people in the know that Kylie was asked to go to Chris Jericho’s room. With the understanding that others would be there. When she got there it was just him. He made a pass at her (no other details are given) and she freaked out.”
Another tweet was posted talking about women who are waiting until it’s safe to speak about Chris Jericho. Kylie Rae reacted to it, as she posted a heart emoji.
During the All Out 2019 media scrum, Sean Ross Sapp asked Tony Khan about Kylie Rae’s status with the company. Reports had previously broke saying that she had requested her release from the company, but no other information was known at the time.
Tony Khan confirmed in 2019 that Kylie Rae is no longer with AEW. He said that she asked for her release, and it was granted. That split was also said to be a “super amicable” one.
“She is no longer with us. We had so many announcements going into the battle royal, she asked for her release, and we granted it. She called me and asked if she could be released from her contract. It’s pretty simple, I said, ‘yeah,’ I asked her if everything was okay, she said, ‘Yeah,’ she just didn’t want to be with the company anymore. We talked about it. It was very simple. So yeah.”
The pro wrestling world lost several notable figures over the course of 2023, but sadly, we must add a legend to that list. Killer Khan, real name Masashi Ozawa, has passed away at the age of 76-years-old.
Killer Khan’s Career in WWF
Killer Khan was a Japanese wrestling legend, hailing from Niigata Prefecture. He transitioned to professional wrestling in 1971 and engaged in notable matches against WWE icons Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.
During his illustrious career, Killer Khan achieved main event status in both Japan and the United States before retiring in 1987. Following his wrestling career, Masashi Ozawa ventured into entrepreneurship by opening Izakaya Kanchan’ in Shinjuku Ward, which unfortunately closed in 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, Masashi Ozawa made his singing debut in 2005 with songs like Furusato Makaka (Japan Crown) and Shinjuku Sanhyakugoya. He was a multi-talented individual, and will be missed throughout the world.
Killer Khan’s Cause of Death
Masashi Ozawa’s passing was attributed to a ruptured artery, with reports indicating that he lost consciousness at Kanchan’s Jinjo Sakaba in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, before being transported to the hospital. Our thoughts are with Masashi Ozawa’s family, friends, and fans during this sad time.
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins put CM Punk on notice at a recent live event, declaring that the Chicago-Made star only cares for himself.
At a recent WWE live event in Toronto, Canada, Seth Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre in the show’s main event. After the match, Rollins couldn’t help but notice the CM Punk chants from the crowd and had some choice words about the ‘Best in the World’.
“What do y’all think, he’s going to pop through that curtain tonight? Na. He ain’t going to come tonight because, you know what, he doesn’t give a da*n about y’all. Hey, I’ve been honest, I’ve said this about CM Punk from day one. CM Punk only gives a damn about CM Punk. But hey, you know what? You’ve all paid your hard-earned money.”
This isn’t Rollins’ first time taking a swing at CM Punk at a live event. Click here to see how the World Champion brutally shut down a Punk chant at a previous event.
WWE’s Live Holiday Tour rolled through the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 29th. Fans packed the venue to see WWE action, and Shotzi had a very special time in Sin City.
Shotzi Gets Married
Shotzi shared on Instagram that she got married in Las Vegas right before the WWE live event. This was a surprise for fans, but we have no word on whether she rode a tank down the aisle.
On Instagram, Shotzi said she got married in Las Vegas and would go straight to work after. WWE had a live event in the area, and Shotzi took advantage of the location for a very personal reason.
“JUST MARRIED! When I realized I would be performing in Vegas, we decided to elope before the show. It was very spontaneous and so perfectly us. I loved every second of it. I’ll post something a little mushier later but its now time for an action packed reception!”
They say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. That really only works if you don’t enter into a legally binding contract of matrimony.
Shotzi has been teaming up with Bianca Belair in tag matches against Bayley and IYO SKY at recent live events. She continues getting a good reaction from fans, but those in Las Vegas tonight had another reason to get excited to see her; because Shotzi is a newly married woman with a lot to celebrate.
WWE Superstars are enjoying the holidays, and Shotzi made the most of it by tying the knot. The unexpected wedding added a unique twist to her already eventful year. This latest eloping move on Shotzi’s part only goes to solidify her reputation of marching to the beat of her own drum.
John Cena departed from WWE once again when the strike in Hollywood was over. His career outside pro wrestling continues, and he still doesn’t know how much longer he has in the ring. WWE was still able to feature John Cena in the final SmackDown of 2023.
John Cena’s Message to Fans
WWE did not air a live episode of SmackDown to close out 2023. Instead, they aired a best-of episode. A clip from John Cena was featured during the show, as he provided a cell phone video message to fans.
During his message to fans, the Greatest of all Time stated that he doesn’t know how much time in WWE he has left. This is the same message he’s delivered in the past, and it seems that uncertainty hasn’t changed. I also thanked fans profusely for their support.
John Cena proposed a toast to the WWE Universe for making his 2023 special. He walked fans through his brief return to the ring, before saying:
“I do not know how much time in the WWE I have left. But I do know in recent times when I returned home, you have always welcomed me.”
John Cena said when he made his last return run to WWE that he came back to get a match. He had that match against Solo Sikoa in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel. Then Cena proceeded to lose that match and tease retirement in a huge way.
John Cena’s acting career is not slowing down, and it shows no signs of stopping. If anything, Cena’s name is getting bigger in Hollywood. The same is not the same for WWE, because even though he will always be considered a GOAT, his blockbusters in the ring could come to an end sooner than later.
