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Details on MLW Hitting WWE With a Cease and Desist Letter

Rayan Sayyed
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Major League Wrestling (MLW) has reportedly sent a Cease and Desist legal letter to WWE over the company’s attempt to use MLW talent on the Raw is XXX anniversary special.

This is not the first time MLW has accused WWE of predatory behavior (more on that below). According to MLW sources (via the Wrestling Observer), WWE attempted to contact MLW’s contracted talent to be part of the Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony.

MLW stars who are part of the Anoa’i family include Jacob Fatu (son of Samu Fatu, nephew of Rikishi) and his brother, Lance Anoa’i.

The Acknowledgement Ceremony was reportedly canceled due to The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) being unable to attend. The segment was replaced by The Trial of Sami Zayn.

It’s believed that MLW CEO Court Bauer would have been open to the idea of his talent working a WWE show, but such arrangements would have to run through MLW offices, instead of ‘feelers’ being sent to talent directly. Per the Observer, WWE not replied to the C&D letter.

WWE vs. MLW

The legal battle between the two has been heating up in recent months. MLW filed a lawsuit against the wrestling giant for interfering with their business prospects and contracts.

According to previous reports, the lawsuit specifically accuses the WWE of attempting to prevent Vice TV from working with MLW in early 2021. It also alleges that a former WWE executive named Susan Levinson even called Vice TV to let them know that Vince McMahon is not exactly happy about its partnership with MLW.

WWE also reportedly stopped MLW from getting a deal with the streaming service Tubi. MLW claims that failure to secure a deal with Tubi caused substantial losses, including event cancellations and a 40% drop in ticket sales. The company’s CEO, Court Bauer, has spoken out against WWE in a press release.

“WWE has been wrongfully depriving its competitors of critical opportunities for many years, but its latest conduct has been even more unconscionable,” said MLW CEO Court Bauer. “I think we speak for the rest of the professional wrestling world when we say that this anti-competitive behavior has to stop.”

WWE Royal Rumble Preview, Steve Austin & The Rock Rumors

Ryan Droste
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This week on Top Rope Nation, SEScoops Site Manager Ryan Droste is joined by Pro Wrestling Torch Assistant Editor Zack Heydorn to preview Saturday night’s WWE Royal Rumble event.

Each week, the video version of Top Rope Nation streams live to the SEScoops YouTube channel. You can join the live streams by subscribing to the channel and turning on notifications so you never miss a live broadcast. This will include a regular weekly edition of Top Rope Nation (typically Thursday nights), as well as reviews of all major WWE and AEW PLE/PPV shows. That means that the crew will be live this Sunday morning to review the Royal Rumble.

On episode 281 this week, every match on the Rumble card is previewed (with predictions). Plus, Ryan and Zack also look at the rumors of appearances by The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin at the Royal Rumble. Will it happen? Should it? A great discussion.

You can watch the show via the embedded YouTube video at the top of this page. Additionally, you can listen to the audio-only podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever podcasts are found. You will also find an embedded audio player below.

Bray Wyatt On What The Undertaker Said To Him At Raw 30th

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bray Wyatt got to share a pretty special moment with The Undertaker at Raw 30th Anniversary special. The Dead Man symbolized the passing of the torch when he didn’t capitalize on the opportunity to Chokeslam LA Knight. The Last Outlaw instead passed him on to the former Universal Champion so Wyatt can deliver a Sister Abigail. Taker then whispered something to Bray before making his way back.

The Fiend recently had a rare interview with Ryan Satin on Out of Character. He was asked the question everyone has in mind – what did The Undertaker say to him. While the former champion didn’t betray the secret, he did claim that it was a very special segment. Wyatt who never re-watches any of his work, said that it’s the one moment he will cherish for the rest of his life:

“Okay, so I think everybody kind of can see it for what it was, right? When something like that happens, that’s something that no one can take away from me.” said Bray Wyatt, “That moment belongs to me. No one else in the world in the history of time ever gets to have that moment. No one but me. What he said was something that only I would have understood. Something that only I would be able to appreciate, for when and where it happened.

It was something I never thought would come but what he said exactly is between me, him, God [and] the devil. I could never [reveal it]. I’ll never, never tell so. I’ll go to my grave with it. But it was powerful, and it was unexpected. Very very cool. Something I will cherish for the rest of my life. That’s a segment I can watch back. That’s a special one.”

You can check out the interview of Bray Wyatt below:

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Bray Wyatt Opens Up About Struggles After Loss Of Brodie Lee, WWE Release

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bray Wyatt is one of the rare breed of wrestlers who have kept kayfabe alive. He is one who almost never comes out of his character to talk to people and it creates a mystique around him. Though sometimes it also leads to him facing all his problems on his own without involving the world into it.

The WWE star had a rare chat with Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast. They talked about his return promo at Extreme Rules last year where the former Wyatt Family Leader opened up about his struggles a little bit and thanked fans for saving him. He revisited the emotions during the talk and reiterated that it’s the fans that have led him back:

“Well, I despise the way my mind works. That’s the truth of it all. I’m the first person ever to tell you all my flaws. I refuse to watch myself back. I’ve never seen pretty much anything that I’ve ever done. I can’t watch. I [am] just that kind of headcase man, but it’s also kind of my superpower.

It’s what makes me, me. [It] is the obsession. When I’m geared on something, I’m so deep into it that there is no separating life from anything else. It just is. When I dive deep like that, it’s what makes me connect and it’s the reason that I have fans that are so into what I do. It feels like it’s part of their life too. If I didn’t have such passionate fans, man, I wouldn’t be here. I really wouldn’t. It’s them that led me back here.”

‘It Was All Out of Nowhere’: Bray Wyatt

The former Universal champion went through a dark period in his life just around the time of his WWE firing in 2021. He lost two of his best friends apart from losing his job. Opening up about the time, Bray Wyatt admitted that he didn’t deal with it very well. Though he also explained that the long journey has led him to where he is now:

“There was so much there. Just so much going on with all that. It was out of nowhere. I wasn’t prepared for any of that. I lost my childhood best friend. I lost Brodie. I lost my best friend from college Mark. It was something that I think I didn’t deal with very well. I think Brodie’s wife Amanda dealt with it. The kids dealt with it better than me and Rowan did. There’s something there that reminds me of him every single day.

I think that time period was such a conundrum for me. I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to kind of remember what makes me, me. It was a long journey man but it’s led me here, into this moment. This is the best I’ve ever felt.”

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Vince McMahon Has Not Attended Any TV Tapings or Creative Meetings Yet (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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Could Vince McMahon actually be telling the TRUTH?!

The 77-year-old billionaire retired from WWE last July over allegations of misconduct with female employees, resulting in millions of dollars being paid in NDAs.

McMahon returned to WWE earlier this month and has since been appointed the promotion’s Executive Chairman.

Keeping his Word

When announcing his intention to return, McMahon made it clear that he was merely back to facilitate a sale of the promotion.

Names reported as potential buyers include Comcast, FOX, Netflix, Disney, Amazon, and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, among others.

Many have been dubious of McMahon’s claim, and believe it is just a matter of time until he makes a play to take over previous roles such as Head of Creative.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that McMahon is remaining true to his word, and is rarely seen outside of meetings about the potential sale.

McMahon has not attended any TV tapings, nor has he appeared at any creative meetings yet.

Sources who spoke to the Observer that contrary to McMahon’s first era on top of WWE, he now leaves work at a normal time, rather than staying into the early morning.

The Sale

Though there was a time when the idea of Vince McMahon selling WWE seemed impossible, McMahon is seemingly fixated on making a sale go through.

While it had been reported that the Saudi PIF had purchased the company and were planning on turning it private, that was later debunked.

It is believed that WWE hopes for a sale to happen soon, before they have to renegotiate with their broadcast partners at the USA Network and FOX later this year.

NBCUniversal CEO Comments on a Potential WWE Sale

NXT Talent Still In the Dark Over WWE Royal Rumble Status (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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The talent from WWE NXT are still in the dark as to whether they will be used for tomorrow’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.

The show will be the 36th Rumble event (37 if you include the Greatest Royal Rumble) and will be the sixth year in a row that there will be a men’s and women’s match.

This will also be the first Royal Rumble for Triple H following his appointment as WWE’s Head of Creative and Head of Talent Relations last July.

NXT Power

At this time, just seven spots in the Women’s Royal Rumble match have been filled, while 16 for the men’s match have been claimed.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that as of midweek, NXT talent, particularly the women, were waiting to hear if anyone was being brought into the Rumble.

WWE has previously used NXT talent to boost the numbers in previous Royal Rumbles.

It was reported ahead of last year’s Royal Rumble event that WWE did not want to use women from NXT for that year’s match, following the brand’s relaunch as NXT 2.0.

The belief at the time was that with NXT 2.0 once again being a developmental brand, it didn’t make sense for these ‘rookies’ to be put in the Women’s Rumble.

No Rousey

The women of NXT may not be sure of their Royal Rumble fates, but we do know that Ronda Rousey will not compete.

The Observer adds that as of mid-week, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion was not going to be in the Rumble match.

The feeling is that they didn’t want to marginalize Rousey’s star power by making her just one of 30 names in the match.

Ronda Rousey returned to WWE after a near three-year hiatus at last year’s Royal Rumble event, winning the Women’s Rumble match.

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Staff Predictions

Mark Briscoe’s AEW Debut Wasn’t Approved Until Late in the Plans

Thomas Lowson
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This week’s emotional tribute show to Jay Briscoe was a huge night for AEW, but wasn’t approved until very late in the game.

Briscoe died last Tuesday in a car accident, mere minutes from his home in Laurel, Delaware. He was 38.

Both Jay and Mark had previously been banned by WBD from appearing on AEW programming over controversial comments Jay made a decade ago.

Tribute Show

This week’s show went off well, but there were several changes made to the show before it went live.

Fightful Select reports that prior to Tuesday, it didn’t appear that Mark Briscoe’s match against Jay Lethal was happening.

AEW had to move “many things around” to make the match a reality, and Ian Riccaboni was flown in just hours before the show.

The AEW TNT Championship match between Darby Allin and Buddy Matthews was the originally scheduled main event of the show.

That match had some time trimmed to add to the Briscoe-Lethal match, and the same happened with the Acclaimed’s therapy segment.

One source said it was impressive how they were able to provide Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal as much time as they needed without compromising anything else that was advertised.

Dalton Castle was at the show and came to sit front row to cheer on Mark Briscoe, who defeated Lethal in the main event.

Those working in AEW who spoke to Fightful said they were very happy with how the show went.

Mark Briscoe on Brother Jay’s Passing: “He’s Ain’t Gone”

Top AEW Star Missed This Week’s Dynamite Over Visa Issues

Thomas Lowson
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This week’s edition of AEW Dynamite was an emotional show, but one top name from the company could not attend.

This week’s Dynamite was a tribute to Jay Briscoe, who died earlier this month in a car accident near his home in Laurel, Delaware.

Dynamite saw Jay’s brother Mark make his AEW debut and defeat Jay Lethal in the main event of the show.

Visa Issues

In addition to a stacked show, Dynamite saw the rosters of AEW and Ring of Honor appear to support Mark, but Kenny Omega wasn’t among them.

According to Fightful Select, the self-proclaimed ‘Best Bout Machine’ wanted to be at the AEW tapings “but has been battling visa issues” in recent days.

Omega has not appeared for AEW since he and the Young Bucks regained the AEW Trios Championships from Death Triangle on the January 11, 2023, episode of Dynamite.

It remains unclear when Omega will be able to return to TV, and the former World Champion missed much of 2022 due to injuries and his post-All Out suspension.

Tribute Show

Even without Omega, this week’s Dynamite was an exceptional affair in memory to one of the most established names in Ring of Honor history.

Dynamite saw AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin retain his title against Buddy Matthews, while JungleHook defeated Matt Hardy and ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page.

Bryan Danielson continued his winning ways in his efforts to get a shot at MJF, by defeating ROH Six-Man-Tag Team Champion Brian Cage.

Ruby Soho defeated Toni Storm in a match that was meant to be a triple-threat but was changed due to Britt Baker’s injury.

Kenny Omega’s Time with WWE Made Him Question His Love for Wrestling

Dax Harwood Reflects On 2022 Rivalry With The Briscoes

Anutosh Bajpai
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FTR didn’t have the best year in 2021. The tag team was stuck in limbo after jumping ships from WWE to AEW and they didn’t get a lot of opportunities to showcase their talent. The duo of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler decided to change this in 2022 and the team that helped them in this task was none other than The Briscoes.

Harwood talked about their highly praised feud with the ROH veterans on the latest episode of his podcast. He remembered their first encounter at ROH Final Battle in December, 2021 where FTR attacked The Briscoes. Per Dax, there were no plans for them in the place at the time and they just wanted to test the waters:

“We just wanted to test the waters. We just wanted to see what was gonna happen. Myself and Cash, really were in a low point in our career. We weren’t doing anything. We begged Tony to let us do that.”

– Dax Harwood

‘We Deserve To Be On National Television’: Dax Harwood

The Final Battle confrontation led to a highly praised match between the two teams at Supercard of Honor 2022. It was the time when the future of ROH was in question. So the two teams decided to go out with a blaze of glory and prove that they deserved to be on national television every week:

“We knew we could go. If Ring of Honor was going to go out, the four of us could go out with a blaze of glory and say, ‘This is who we are. This is what we represent and we deserve a job somewhere. We deserve to be on national television every week somewhere.’ That was our mindset going into it. Then the match happened. Man, it was f**king magical.”

The match between FTR and The Briscoes at Supercard of Honor was awarded a five-star rating by Dave Meltzer. It helped both the teams create buzz. They went on to have two more highly praised matches that helped put them back on the map.

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Bray Wyatt Says He Can’t Bring Back The Cult Leader Character Without Brodie Lee

Anutosh Bajpai
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Ever since Bray Wyatt returned to WWE last year, people have been wanting to see the return of his cult leader character. The reason for him to not bring it back however, is very personal.

WWE on Fox recently posted a clip of their upcoming sit-down interview with the former world champion. He is seen talking about the different iterations of his character.

Speaking about the gimmick he originally debut on main roster with, Wyatt explained that he can’t bring it back without Brodie Lee:

“For me, the Hawaiian shirt of Bray, who he was, he can’t be without Brodie. I can’t be that without Brodie. It’s just not the same. It’s disrespectful to my best friend. It just can’t be without him.”

– Bray Wyatt

The WWE star also mentioned his WrestleMania 37 match against Randy Orton. He claimed The Fiend died that day in Tampa, Florida and ‘it can never be again.’

Brodie Lee, better known to WWE fans as Luke Harper was one of the original members of The Wyatt Family. He, unfortunately, passed away in December 2020 at the age of 41.

Bray Wyatt is scheduled for a pitch-black match against LA Knight at Royal Rumble this year. The event, scheduled for Saturday, January 28 will be coming live from Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Mark Briscoe on Brother Jay’s Passing: “He’s Ain’t Gone”

Anutosh Bajpai
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Mark Briscoe believes that Jay Briscoe is not truly gone and he has just moved on to the next higher level of existence. Now it’s time to wrestle for him.

The ROH veteran addressed the passing of his brother in a video published on Caprice Coleman’s Twitter account. He mentioned that he wouldn’t have been able to continue wrestling this long, if his brother was not with him:

“Ain’t no way I’ve been wanting to do this for this long if ain’t have my boy with me this whole time. But now, it’s time to carry on for him. Family is beyond. This life is temporary. Let’s focus on the eternal, not the temporal.”

Jay Briscoe passed away in an unfortunate car accident on January 17. The wrestling world has since come together to mourn the loss and pay tribute to the ROH legend.

Mark Brisoce: “He Ain’t Gone”

Mark Briscoe mentioned how Jay is not with him in person. Though the late star is still in his heart and knowing that has helped him keep going:

“He’s still with me right here [points to his heart]. He ain’t gone. If I thought he was gone, I wouldn’t be no good. I know he ain’t gone. I know he just moved on to the next higher level of existence. You know what I mean? That’s what keeps me going and keeps me pushing forward.”

– Mark Briscoe

AEW presented a tribute show for Jay Briscoe on this week’s Dynamite. You can check out the tribute video they put together below:

Impact Wrestling Results (1/26/23): Golden Six Shooter Match

Tyriece Simon
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The Jan. 26 episode of Impact Wrestling aired on AXS TV at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

This episode featured a main event between Sami Callihan, Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Rhino, Moose, and Chris Sabin in a Golden Six Shooter match. It is a six way elimination match. The winner of the match will challenge Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship at No Surrender on Feb. 24. This week’s episode also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. Impact Wrestling offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49.

If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.

Impact Wrestling Results (1/26) Results

(C)Trey Miguel vs. Mike Jackson- X Division Championship Match

The match started with both Miguel and Jackson exchanging holds and going for quick pinfalls. Miguel tries to go for a handshake and punches Jackson in the face. The champion starts to control the match by working on the arm. Miguel goes for a Springboard Moonsault but misses. Jackson pulls his straps down and tries to fire back, but Miguel stops him.

The action goes to the outside, where Miguel misses a Clothesline to Jackson and hits the ring post. Jackson brings the champion back to the ring and goes Old School. He tries to walk over the ring ropes and hit Miguel’s arm but gets hit in the stomach. Miguel takes back control of the match. The finish came when Miguel landed the Lighting Spiral on Jackson.

After the match, Crazy Steve and Black Taurus confront Miguel, but the champion runs away in the crowd.

We get a backstage interview with Impact World Champion Josh Alexander. He says no matter who wins the Golden six shooter match; he’ll remind him why he is the champion. Steve Maclin confronts Alexander and teases a match between them in the future.

The Good Hands (Josh Hotch & John Skyler) vs. Kushida & Kevin Knight

Kevin Knight and John Skyler start the match. Knight controls the arm of Skyler and tags Kushida in the match. Both Kushida and Knight start to focus on the arm of Skyler. The match turns when Skyler tags in Hotch, and they start taking control of it. Hotch brings Kushida to his teammate’s corner and tags Skyler back in. Skyler lands a cheap shot on Knight and The Good Hands land a Rolling German Suplex/ Jackknife pin combo on Kushida for a two count.

The Good Hands tried another tag team move, but Kushida countered and tagged in Knight. Knight and Kushida start to take control of the match. Kushida blind tags in the match and picks up Hotch over his head for Knight to hit a Dropkick. Kushida locks in the Kimura lock on Hotch to win the match.

We get a backstage segment between Mickie James and Jordynne Grace. Grace wants another opportunity at the Impact Knockout Championship.

(C)Death Dollz(Jessicka & Taya Valkyrie) vs. Gisele Shaw & Tara- Impact Knockout Tag Team Championship

Taya Valkyrie and Tara start the match, but Gisele Shaw blind-tags Tara. The Death Dollz start to take offense to Shaw after Jessicka tags in. Jessicka lands several kicks on Shaw and tries to go for a leg drop but misses. Shaw follows up by landing a Running Uppercut to Jessicka in the corner. The fans start chanting for Tara, but Shaw refuses to tag her. Jessicka tags in Valkyrie, who rallies a comeback.

Jai Vadal trips Valkyrie as she runs to the ropes near him. Rosemary hits a Spear on Vidal to take Vidal out of the match. Shaw lands Tara’s signature move, the Spider web, for a two count. Shaw teases like she’ll tag Tara in but denies her. Tara enters the ring to confront Shaw. They get into an argument until Shaw pushes Tara. Tara responds by landing the Widow’s Peak on Shaw. Tara leaves the match and the Death Dollz hit the Death Driver on Shaw to win the match.

We get a backstage segment between Santino Marella and Dave LaGreca. Bully Ray stops them while talking and asks Marella why he isn’t in the Golden 6 Shooter Match. Ray threatens Marella after he gets denied again from being involved in the match. LaGreca tells Marella that he should get Tommy Dreamer to go against Ray.

We get a backstage interview with Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans. Steelz talks about last week’s tag team match and says James didn’t defeat her one-on-one. Steelz also teases a split between her and Evans as a group.

The Major Players(Brian Myers & Matt Cardona)vs. The Bullet Club (Ace Austin and Chris Bey)

Matt Cardona and Chris Bey start the match by exchanging holds. Bey gets the better of Cardona and tags Ace Austin in. The Bullet Club lands several tag team moves on Cardona and Brian Myers to take control of the match. Cardona and Myers escape to the outside of the ring. Austin does a dive to the outside on The Major Players. Austin tries to put the legal Myers back in the ring but gets attacked by Cardona.

Cardona tags in the match to take the offense to Austin. The Major Players tagged in and out of the match to dominate Austin. Myers taunted Bey and got caught with a kick from Austin. Bey gets tagged, and he takes the offense to Cardona, who is tagged in. However, Myers distracts Bey for Cardona to land a hard Clothesline. He follows it up by hitting the running boot to Bey in the corner. Myers tag in to land a Top Rope Elbow Drop for a two-count.

Myers tags in Cardona to go for another tag team move, but Bey takes them both out. Bey tags in Austin, and the finish comes when Austin locks in a weird pin on Cardona for the win.

After the match, Joe Hendry comes out to accept Cardona’s challenge for the Digital Media Championship.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Sheldon Jean

Jonathan Gresham takes control early against Sheldon Jean. He locks in an Ankle Lock, but Jean gets to the ropes. Jean tries to get some offense in, but Gresham counters every move. The finish comes when Gresham hyperextends Jean knee and hits hit him in the back of the head with an elbow to win.

Impact teases matchups for next week.

  • The Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) will face Kushida and Kevin Knight.
  • Giselle Shaw try to get her revenge against Tara in a singles match.

Golden Six Shooter Match

Moose and Rhino clear the ring of the other opponents. They both start exchanging Shoulder Blocks until Moose racks the eyes of Rhino. Moose tries to capitalize but gets caught with a clothesline by Rhino. Chris Sabin takes out Rhino momentarily with a Running Shoulder Block. Sami Callihan enters the ring and lands an Exploder Suplex on Sabin. However, Sabin gets the momentum back by countering a move from Callihan and dives to the outside on Moose.

Each opponent starts landing their moves on each other in the ring until it’s down to Rhino and Callihan. Rhino starts to beat down Callihan until Moose surprises him with a Spear. Before Moose can cover, Callihan kicks him in the face and pins Rhino to eliminate him. We go on a commercial break.

After the break, Moose is in control of the match. Eddie Edwards tries to attack Moose but gets caught in the Urinage. Sabin hits a Tornado DDT on Moose to stop his dominance. Callihan enters back in the ring to attack Sabin. However, Sabin outsmarts him. Edwards tries to attack Sabin but hits Callihan. Sabin grabs Edwards and runs up Callihan’s chest to land a Tornado DDT on Edwards.

Sabin tries to go after Callihan but gets countered by him. The action in the match continues to go back and forth with all opponents. The subsequent elimination comes when PCO distracts Edwards and Sabin puts Edwards in a cradle pin to eliminate him.

Moose enters the ring to attack Sabin. He overpowers Sabin until he gets caught with an Enzuigiri in the corner. Sabin tries to land another Tornado DDT, but Moose avoids it and hits a Spear on Sabin to eliminate him. We go to commercial break.

We return from a commercial break with Moose, Callihan, and Swann exchanging offense. Swann lands a Springboard Cutter on Callihan to make him roll out of the ring. Moose turns his attention to Swann and starts to focus on his leg. He gets overconfident and tries to pick up Swann from his leg, but Moose gets caught in a roll-up to get eliminated. The Design comes to the ring, and Cody Deaner tells Callihan he has to beat Swann.

Callihan and Swann exchange offense until Swann hits his opponent with a spinning kick to the face. Swann gets the win after landing a 450 Splash from the middle rope.

The Design beats down Swann, and Deaner tries to make Callihan attack Swann. However, Yuya Uemura, Franke Kazarian & Josh Alexander come out to save Swann.

Report: WWE Changed Plans For Women’s Title Match At The Royal Rumble

Tyriece Simon
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0

The WWE Royal Rumble will take place this Saturday, Jan. 28. The matches are set; however, it seems the company changed their plans for the women’s title picture for the event.

WWE surprised fans with Charlotte Flair’s return and the defeat of Ronda Rousey for the Smackdown Women’s Championship on the Dec. 30 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. Before her match with Flair, Rousey defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the title. However, it’s reported WWE didn’t initially plan for the Rousey and Rodriguez match to happen that soon.

Ronda Rousey
(via WWE)

Fightful Select reports that the company wanted the Rousey and Rodriguez title match to occur at the Royal Rumble. The report also shared that WWE had thought of having Flair work with Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.

“…Ronda Rousey Smackdown Women’s Title defense against Raquel Rodriguez that took place on December 30 was actually originally planned to go down almost a full month later. Fightful has gained information that displays that the match was set for the WWE Royal Rumble as of early December,” said the report.

It also added that “…Another interesting note is that several WWE plans have changed as a result of this in relation to it. At the same period, Charlotte Flair was tentatively scheduled on a “suggested matches” list to wrestle Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. Rhea Ripley was set to take on Rousey, but that’s when Rousey was still Champion.”

Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey
(via WWE)

What’s Next For Ronda Rousey?

After her defeat to Flair, it’s unclear what WWE has planned for Rousey. The report notes that WWE gave her different creative options before Dec. 30. However, it didn’t work out, and they went with Flair defeating Rousey after her match with Rodriguez. It also didn’t share the options that WWE presented to the former champion.

She isn’t advertised to compete at the Royal Rumble this weekend. This could still change, but Fightful Select reported on Jan. 20 that she isn’t expected to appear at the event.

The company could have Rousey challenge Flair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. However, Flair is working with Sonya Deville, which could get added it the Royal Rumble card. Rousey will have to wait to see what WWE has planned for her.

Vince McMahon Spotted at WWE Headquarters

Andrew Ravens
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Vince McMahon returned to WWE as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, and countless changes have been made in the wake of his decision.

His daughter and the former WWE CEO and Chairwoman Stephanie McMahon publicly announced her resignation on January 10, just hours before McMahon officially named himself the Executive Chairman. 

This was after McMahon brought himself back to the Board along with George Barrios and Michelle Wilson while some Board members had left. 

JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R Speed, and Alan M Wexler were the members that were removed to make way for them. Nick Khan is the CEO of the company, while Triple H remains in charge of WWE creative as well. 

Last week, several big backstage names parted ways with WWE, and several employees were fired. Vince has also brought back EVP of Operations Brad Blum to the company.

He’s Back

Pwinsider.com reported, “McMahon was spotted earlier this week at Titan Tower, so it appears he’s back in his old office.”

Since his return to the Board, there have been rumors that he was back, but this marks the first confirmed sighting of the former CEO and Chairman. 

McMahon’ departed from the company last July after ‘hush pact’ allegations. He reached a settlement with Rita Chatterton for millions after she accused him of raping her in 1986. McMahon is back to facilitate a sale of the company and help with the TV rights negotiations.

Britt Baker Update Following Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite

Andrew Ravens
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AEW President Tony Khan unexpectedly announced Wednesday morning that Britt Baker wouldn’t be competing as scheduled on this week’s Dynamite episode. 

Khan cited that she wasn’t medically cleared to compete and had been pulled from a scheduled triple threat bout against Ruby Soho and Toni Storm on this week’s show. 

Dave Meltzer noted on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio that Baker’s injury is not considered serious although it’s still unclear what the exact injury is. She wasn’t cleared and won’t be sidelined for a lengthy period of time. 

Plans Change

Soho vs. Storm in a singles match was booked instead on the show. AEW did use Baker on Dynamite as she was seen on the stage area during the match, leading to a distraction that allowed Soho to pick up the victory.

Khan revealed on Wednesday morning’s Busted Open Radio that the planned triple threat would take place once Baker is medically cleared. 

Baker’s last Dynamite match happened when she teamed with Jamie Hayter and defeated Saraya and Toni Stormon on the January 11, 2023, edition of Dynamite from Los Angeles. She teamed with Jamie Hayter and defeated Saraya and Toni Storm that night. Last week, Hayter & Baker beat the Renegade twins on Rampage.

AEW & DAZN Announce Multi-Year, Exclusive Broadcast Deal

Thomas Lowson
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Action from All Elite Wrestling will be available in dozens of markets across Europe and Asia as part of a new broadcast deal with DAZN.

DAZN, the popular global sports streaming service, began in 2015, and holds domestic broadcasting rights for several top soccer teams in their main markets, include Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga.

The Statement

In a statement by DAZN Group, it was confirmed that they had secured “exclusive broadcast rights to AEW, in a multi-year deal that will bring the promotion to DAZN subscribers in 42 markets across Europe and Asia.

The deal will include AEW Dynamite and Rampage, Dark and Dark: Elevation, four Battle of the Belt events a year, and four Pay-Per-Views a year.

The statement by DAZN calls the introduction of AEW to is schedule “another major addition to the breadth of multi-sport content available on the platform.”

AEW is described in the statement as “the new professional wrestling league taking the world by storm with its meteoric rise, record-high ratings, world-class roster and highly entertaining product.”

AEW will air in the following markets as part of DAZN:

Albania, Alderney, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Jan Mayen Islands, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Svalbard, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Impact Partners with DAZN to Bring Content to 170+ Countries

Mick Foley On Bleeding Having A Place In Wrestling

Jon Fuentes
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WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley believes that bleeding certainly has its place in professional wrestling.

Foley recently took to his podcast, “Foley Is Pod,” and discussed the topic. It’s a topic of discussion that many legends have been sharing their thoughts on as of late. The ex-WWE Champion explains that blood definitely has its place in professional wrestling, as long as it’s not overused.

“I always felt like [blood] had a place. I’ve been around when it was overused, I’ve been around where it was underused or extinct. I was pretty good with the amount of blood when I was in WWE.

“Of all the big matches — up until I had my comeback matches, where the blood was more frequent — I think I was only in four or five bloody matches, in my four years in WWE. Less is more. So that when Steve and Bret had their legendary match [at WrestleMania] it really meant something because it wasn’t overdone.”

Mick Foley Hell in a Cell

He further explained that he’s sure there were some of his matches that featured blood that probably didn’t need it. However, there were also matches that featured blood that actually helped make a good match great.

“I’m sure there were times when I was involved in bloody matches that didn’t need to be bloody. I was in some others where the blood would have taken a good match and made it great, or taken a great match and made it legendary.

“I did pretty well for myself in WWE during my main four years there, where I rarely bled. I did pretty well in WCW even after they put the ixnay on the bleeding. I didn’t feel like I had to have it. I thought I had it in perspective.

“Maybe I used it a little more often than I should have, but I also don’t think that I overused it. Or else my fair complexion would look considerably different.”

Quotes via 411Mania

Kevin Owens Reacts To Stephanie McMahon WWE Departure, Potential Sale

Jon Fuentes
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Kevin Owens has offered his reaction to Stephanie McMahon departing WWE, and the possibility of a sale.

Owens recently took part in an interview with Express News to promote the upcoming Royal Rumble in San Antonio, Texas. During the interview, Owens was asked about the recent departure of former WWE co-CEO Stephanie McMahon.

“KO” said that McMahon has been nothing but amazing to him since he’s been in WWE, and he, along with others, are happy that she gets to take this time for herself.

“(Stephanie) has been nothing but amazing to me my entire time here,” Kevin Owens said. “And I was so happy to see her more at the shows and get to be around her and get to work for her. Everybody’s also kind of happy that she gets to take this time for herself.”

Kevin Owens

There have also been a lot of rumors about a potential WWE sale. While the rumors are running rampant, Owens claims himself, along with the rest of the talent, are just focused on what they do inside the ring.

“The internet will say what the internet will say, and then the reality will be what really matters. We just care about what we do in the ring. That’s what we try to do our best at.”

Triple H Reveals WWE Name He Thinks Has Potential To Be One Of The Biggest Stars In Wrestling

Andrew Ravens
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Triple H thinks highly of Austin Theory, just like his father-in-law, Vince McMahon, now that he has seen what the young star can do on the WWE main roster. 

Theory’s first run on the main roster didn’t go as anyone wanted it to and he was sent back to NXT where he was paired with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Indi Heartwell, where he got over with the fans. 

It was reported that when Vince McMahon was still overseeing main roster creative, he thought Theory had the potential to be the next coming of John Cena. Theory even looked up to Cena while growing up as a child and wants to work a match with him. 

Triple H on Theory

Triple H commented on Theory’s potential as a top WWE star while speaking to ESPN.

“It’s a nuanced feeling… once you see this guy’s a great athlete, I’m looking for their personality, their charisma,” Triple H said. “Austin Theory has it, and then some. Do I think he has all the potential to be one of the biggest stars in the business? Absolutely. What determines that? A lot of that is up to him now. You give him little bits of things here and there and he’s improving his game and he’s smart. He listens to the crowd, he listens to the people. He sees all the stuff that’s going on, and he adapts his game on a regular basis.”

Theory, who retained his US Title over Bobby Lashley in the main event of WWE Raw 30, has not officially declared for the WWE Royal Rumble.

NBCUniversal CEO Comments on a Potential WWE Sale

Michael Reichlin
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Comcast Corp, parent company of NBCUniversal, is among the many organizations discussed as potential buyers of World Wrestling Entertainment.

On Thursday’s Comcast earnings call, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was asked about the possibility of purchasing WWE.

Shell did not specifically mention WWE in his response, but stated that the company is always in acquisition mode if the right opportunity comes along.

“We are always looking for bolt-on acquisitions that bolster our businesses. Two examples: we bought DreamWorks [Animation]… and it has been paying off steadily since our acquisition. Just now, with Puss In Boots [The Last Wish], which is a big hit at the box office and really our entrance back into the Shrek universe, continues to make that acquisition look really favorable, And our Blumhouse investment over time, where we’re partners with Jason Blum, and we have a big hit, M3GAN, this month, which is coming out of that investment.”

You can listen to audio of this topic here, courtesy of Brandon Thurston:

As of this writing, WWE has a $6.42 billion market capitalization.

Click here for more of our recent coverage on a potential WWE sale.

H/T to Deadline for the transcribed quote

WWE News: Bray Wyatt’s Role on SmackDown, Naomi & Natalya’s New Looks, Rhea’s Royal Rumble Training

Michael Reichlin
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It’s Thursday, January 26 and we are just two days out from the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble from San Antonio, Texas. SEScoops will have live results of the Rumble on Saturday night. We’ll also be hosting a live discussion in the comments section of our Results post – we hope to see you there. Here’s a rundown of some odds-and-ends news items:

Bray Wyatt’s Role on SmackDown

Bray Wyatt is having a big week. On Monday’s Raw is XXX anniversary special, the Eater of Worlds shared a memorable encounter with The Undertaker. Each of them commented on the moment, with Wyatt stating, “This moment justified a lifetime of sacrifices for me.”

According to the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE officials have Wyatt slotted as the #1 babyface on SmackDown brand. He’ll face LA Knight in a Lights Out match (stipulation details TBA) at the Rumble.

As the top babyface on SmackDown, it’s probably only a matter of time before he’s in the title picture for either Roman Reigns’ Undisputed Universal Championship, or the Intercontinental title held by Gunther.

Royal Rumble Favorites & Participants

The Royal Rumble premium live event will be headlined by two 30-person Rumble matches (men’s and women’s), with the winners going on to challenge a champion of their choosing at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood. The current favorites, based on leading online sports betting sites, are Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley.

As of this writing, 15 people are confirmed for the Men’s Rumble match and only seven confirmed for the Women’s Rumble. WWE.com has a running tally of all the participants.

Rhea Training with Dominik:

WWE has published several videos to get fans hyped for the Royal Rumble. As seen below, Rhea Ripley has been training with Dominik Mysterio.

Ripley was in the news earlier this week for her comments about wanting to compete in the men’s Royal Rumble match.

Zoey Stark Throws Shade at Nikkita Lyons

NXT star Nikkita Lyons announced that she’s dealing with a serious knee injury (a torn ACL and meniscus). Rival Zoey Stark has little sympathy for Lyons, who will be out of the ring for several months.

Naomi and Natalya’s New Looks

Finally, two female Superstars are sporting new looks. Naomi (Trinity Fatu) continues to branch out into modeling with a new photo shoot for L’Officiel Baltic Sports.

Natalya has been out of action since November, when she underwent nasal surgery to move her dislocated nose “back to the center of my face where it belongs.” During her time away, she’s decided to tryout a new hairstyle.

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Staff Predictions

Ryan Droste
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WWE Royal Rumble takes place this Saturday from San Antonio, Texas. This will be the 36th Royal Rumble event for the company; it originated as a standalone PPV event in 1988. This is the fourth time that the Rumble has been held in San Antonio (1997, 2007, and 2017).

SEScoops correspondents Andrew Ravens, Tyriece Simon, and Ryan Droste have assembled to provide our official WWE Royal Rumble predictions.

WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss

Andrew Ravens: Bliss has been a fine title contender, but I’m not sure anyone takes her seriously as a threat to Belair’s protected reign as champion. That may hurt the reaction from the live crowd in the match, although I don’t rule out some interference by Uncle Howdy. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

Tyriece Simon: This match is interesting because different stories are happening with this rivalry. We have Belair defending her title against Bliss. However, we also have Uncle Howdy helping or distracting Bliss. I expect Uncle Howdy to be involved with Bliss somehow at the Royal Rumble. Regardless, Belair should win the match and end the feud this weekend. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

Ryan Droste: Associating Bliss with this Wyatt nonsense again isn’t good in my book. Absolutely dreadful television. Do we really need “Uncle Howdy” involved in two stories? Please, make it stop! There’s no way that Belair should lose here, so I’ll go with the champ to retain. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)

Consensus: Bianca Belair

Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight (Pitch Black Match)

Andrew Ravens: No one knows what to expect from this match other than maybe being a street fight in a dark arena where you barely see the competitors brawl. What is likely is the fact that Wyatt is nearly a lock to win the match, and it would be a mistake to beat him in his first televised match. (Prediction: Bray Wyatt)

Tyriece Simon: This rivalry has been fun to watch. LA Knight has stepped his game up, and WWE is behind him. Bray Wyatt has reminded me of people of just how great he is. Wyatt should win the match decisively, but I hope Knight has some highlight moments in the match. (Prediction: Bray Wyatt)

Ryan Droste: Nothing makes me want to change the channel faster than this latest incarnation of Bray Wyatt. The Fiend was responsible for some of the worst television segments to ever air on a WWE program, and we’re toeing that line again here with “Uncle Howdy.” I had hoped that his return would equate to better storytelling and television than when we last saw The Fiend. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. There’s no way they beat him here, though. (Prediction: Bray Wyatt)

Consensus: Bray Wyatt

WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens

Andrew Ravens: Although this should be a fun match, Owens isn’t winning the title here. WWE has done a great job of building him up as a worthy contender, and it’s nice to see him back into the fold as a worthy challenger for the top title in WWE, but he won’t win here. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)

Tyriece Simon: The story of The Bloodline vs. Kevin Owens has been so good. Owens winning the match would be well deserved, as he has lost to Reigns numerous times for the title. However. The champion will win this match. I expect Sami Zayn to get involved in the match to try to help Reigns. Reigns will stand tall at the end, but The Bloodline and Owens story will continue past Royal Rumble. Another thing for fans to look out for is if the match will be the main event. If this match is the main event, I can see an angle happening after Reigns wins. If Rhodes wins the Royal Rumble match earlier in the night, the Rock could still show up to set up a match at WrestleMania. I can see a scenario where the Bloodline beats down Owens, and The Rock comes out to make the save to end the show, which could set up a confrontation with Reigns. I don’t want The Rock involved, but I can see it happening if they want him for WrestleMania. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)

Ryan Droste: To state the obvious, the Bloodline, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn are responsible for what has been, far and away, the best WWE television for many months now. I’m looking forward to this match as Reigns and Owens have delivered big at the Rumble twice before, and I expect this to be the same. It would be completely asinine to beat Reigns here, though, and there’s no way it happens. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)

Consensus: Roman Reigns

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Andrew Ravens: This is a real pick em, but I will side with Rhea Ripley. She makes the most sense to get the win here as she’s pushed as a top star and I could see her take the Raw Women’s Title away from Bianca Belair at WrestleMania with a program that could last months. (Prediction: Rhea Ripley)

Tyriece Simon: The build for this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble has been underwhelming. WWE has different storylines happening in the women’s division, so it has taken away from building the Women’s Royal Rumble match. With that said, Rhea Ripley will win the match. She is the most featured talent in the match, but she is also an opponent Belair has yet to face for the title and has unfinished business with Charlotte. Ripley had a great year in 2022 with The Judgement Day, and I can see WWE giving her the opportunity for a WrestleMania title match. (Prediction: Rhea Ripley)

Ryan Droste: The obvious answer here is Rhea Ripley. The question is whether they go with the obvious (and right) call or try to get cute and change things just to do so. I hope they stick with the obvious and put Ripley over. (Prediction: Rhea Ripley)

Consensus: Rhea Ripley

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Andrew Ravens: Cody Rhodes is a heavy favorite to get it done here, and unless WWE wants to swerve fans, I believe he is the man that will win the bout. It makes too much sense unless there is another road to the WrestleMania main event for him. I see Rhodes challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at Mania and will pick him to win. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)

Tyriece Simon: The winner has to be Cody Rhodes, right? WWE has shown video packages for the last couple of weeks to promote his return at Royal Rumble this Saturday. Rhodes is seemingly the favorite to win the Rumble, but another option exists. You have to also factor in The Rock if they did get him for WrestleMania 39. They have the Royal Rumble poster with the lighting images, he has a natural story with Reigns, and the company has wanted The Rock to have one last match at WrestleMania for some time. I hope this isn’t the case, so I’m going with Rhodes. However, I’m not entirely assured that WWE won’t pull a swerve. (Prediction: Cody Rhodes)

Ryan Droste: Feels like a contest between two men, Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes, unless a big surprise is planned (The Rock, Steve Austin). The way that Rhodes has been built, it almost feels like he has to win it. Once again, they might try to swerve the audience since it is so obvious. Then again, the obvious choice in the past has often been the correct winner (Michaels in ’96, Austin in ’98, Austin in ’01, Batista in ’05, McIntyre in ’20 and many others). I’ll go with Cody.

Consensus: Cody Rhodes

Rob Van Dam Addresses Possible WWE Royal Rumble Return

WWE Signs 15 Athletes to the Next In Line Program

Michael Reichlin
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WWE has announced the signing of 15 athletes to the company’s ‘Next In Line’ program, which aims to recruit elite collegiate athletes from around the Untied States.

As the Next in Line program enters its second year, WWE has finalized the third class of prospective future Superstars. The program now encompasses 46 athletes (26 male, 20 female) from 13 sports.

This round of signees includes two-time NCAA All American wrestler Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State University), four-time NCAA National Champion thrower Turner Washington (Arizona State University) and NCAA Champion hurdler Alia Armstrong (Louisiana State University).

Here’s the full list of athletes and the sports they’ve played:

  • Abby Jacobs (Soccer)
  • Alexandra Jaksec (Tennis)
  • Alia Armstrong (Track & Field)
  • Cameron Jones (Football)
  • Dee Beckwith (Football)
  • Greg Kerkvliet (Wrestling)
  • Isaiah Iton (Football)
  • Jaiden Fields (Softball)
  • Landon Jackson (Football)
  • Mady Aulbach (Basketball)
  • Nick Dawkins (Football)
  • Otoniel Badjana (Track & Field)
  • Peyton Prussin (Wrestling)
  • Tori Ortiz (Track & Field)
  • Turner Washington (Track & Field)

WWE also published this infographic about the Next in Line program, which has been updated to include the latest class of 15 athletes:

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Learn more about the “Next In Line” program at wwerecruit.com.

Road Dogg: CM Punk is More Sports Entertainer Than Pro Wrestler

Thomas Lowson
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Is CM Punk the best wrestler in the world as he claimed during his iconic June 2011 Raw pipebomb?

Perhaps, perhaps not. But he’s a darn fine ‘Sports Entertainer.’

Punk has been a huge topic of discussion ever since his actions following last September’s All Out 2022 event, and he has been suspended ever since.

Sports Entertainer

Punk has often credited himself as a professional wrestler, and during his 2011 pipebomb spoke about ‘sports entertainers’ like The Rock and John Cena.

Oh his Oh You Didn’t Know podcast, ‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James admitted that Punk is a great wrestler, but believes that the Sports Entertainer label fits him better. He added:

“Punk’s a great example of a guy that if you just went with wrestler, wrestler, wrestler, wouldn’t have made it without the attitude, mic skills and I don’t want to say character because Punk was never really a character, he was just himself, but he’s good at it.”

‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James.

CM Punk’s Future

Punk’s future with AEW remains uncertain, with Tony Khan refusing any and all requests for comment on the former World Champion’s situation.

It has been reported that some top names in AEW have refused to work with Punk if he is brought back, and that Chris Jericho is one of them.

Things are not looking better for Punk in WWE, with reports that some in the company absolutely do not want him to return.

The belief is that Punk (who walked out of WWE in 2014 on bad terms) will only bring the problems seen in AEW if he is rehired.

AEW Roster Don’t Buy Tony Khan’s Recent Claim About CM Punk (Report)

h/t – Wrestling Inc

Tony Khan ‘Pushed & Pushed’ for WBD to Allow Mark Briscoe on AEW Dynamite (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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Mark Briscoe was allowed to appear on this week’s Dynamite but only after the monumental efforts of AEW President Tony Khan.

The Briscoes were not allowed to appear on AEW programming due to an edict by Warner Bros. Discovery, over problematic comments made by Jay a decade ago.

After Jay’s death earlier this month, Mark was allowed to compete on this week’s Dynamite, where he faced Jay Lethal.

Khan’s Efforts

Briscoe’s debut on this week’s Dynamite came hours after a report stating that WBD wanted no part of him on their show, due to Jay’s comments.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that it was Tony Khan who went to bat for the Briscoes.

“You have to credit that one to Tony Khan. I mean, he pushed and pushed and I mean, he pushed really hard on this one and got them to change their minds. They [Warner Bros. Discovery] were pretty dead-set against it. I mean, the social media stuff, that possibly could have helped.”

Dave Meltzer.

Team Effort

While Khan was able to convince WBD to ditch their ban on either Briscoe, he wasn’t the only one who worked on this.

On his show, Meltzer said that it was a team effort of people who showed the better side of Jay Briscoe to AEW’s broadcast partners.

“It was certainly a lot of people. We said it last Wednesday, but a lot of people had been saying it all week like ‘how do you ban Jay Briscoe, the tribute show? How do you ban the tribute show when you’re showing Dana White on Slap-Fight?’ Dana White’s mistake was December 31st, 2022 [and WBD moved on.] Jay’s mistake, a big mistake, both of them were big mistakes. His mistake was in 2013 and he had certainly apologized and atoned for it. Just read the article that I did. The stuff from [ROH commentator Ian] Riccaboni and other people. Cary Silkin and others.

“Nobody hid from that part of Jay Briscoe’s life, and neither did he. So [allowing Mark on Dynamite] was the right thing to do and I’m glad he got to do it. But it took a lot a lot a lot of work to get it done.”

Meltzer added on his show that Mark is free to compete on AEW going forward, implying that his appearance this week was not a one-off.

Fans Asked to Stop Harassing Family of Other Driver in Jay Briscoe Tragedy

For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

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