Last Wednesday, Mercedes Monè made her much anticipated debut in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17. She’s been the talk of the wrestling world and the conversation has turned to AEW.
Last month, AEW began hyping up a mystery opponent for Saraya for the January 11 episode of Dynamite. Social media began buzzing that none other than Monè would be her partner. The two have a history and it would make sense for “The Blueprint” to be her partner. Last week, Saraya told Toni Storm that she was her partner.
Matt Hardy on what Mercedes Monè would bring to AEW
On the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy said that Monè “really bet on herself. It’s hard for me not to appreciate that because I’m one of those guys too where I feel like — Vince knew that too — I don’t have to be in WWE. I’m not afraid to step out of Alexandria, a safe zone. I kind of compare Alexandria from the Walking Dead to WWE. If you stay inside and you have these walls, you’re going to have like, a nice life and it’s safe and it’s easy. You can make decent money and it’s good. But, you can go outside those walls and you can survive on your own, but you have to hustle. So, I have huge respect for anyone who is willing to leave WWE and go out and hustle on their own.”
“I think Mercedes is killing it and she’s doing a great job keeping herself relevant, keeping herself in conversations, being a huge talking point in wrestling business and showing up in New Japan and doing what she did. It was a big deal.”
When asked if he could see Monè in AEW, Hardy replied, “without a doubt.” “I could almost see her being a free agent for a while and just doing spots in AEW. I could definitely see that happening. And it wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up showing up this coming up Dynamite as the mystery partner. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. I don’t know, I don’t have that information. But, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
(Note: this episode was recorded prior to Saraya’s announcement of Toni Storm.)
On what Monè would bring to AEW, Hardy declares that “she is a big star. I mean, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts, about it. I mean, she really has put a ton of equity on her name and on her character and on her identity as a pro wrestler. And she’s been able to continue to hold that as she hasn’t been working with WWE. She’s kept herself in the headlines, which is great.”
“Her coming in to AEW would be a big deal. I feel in some ways, it would be very similar to almost like Cody situation in some ways. It’s like a huge jump; left WWE and came to AEW. It would have that feel.”
Edge hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his latest absence, as he lost an I Quit Match to Finn Balor at the Extreme Rules show in October.
The company already had some plans for him months ago, according to Fightful Select. As of late November, WWE had Edge penciled in for the first couple of PLE events of 2023.
Working Plans
The working plan was for Edge to take on Finn Balor upon his return to pick up their long-running feud. WrestlingNews.co reported that they would be competing at Royal Rumble.
The reason for the rivalry being spread out comes down to Edge working limited dates. Fightful also confirmed WrestlingNews.co’s report that as of that point ahead of Survivor Series, it was slated to be a Hell in a Cell match.
Fightful reports that Edge wasn’t the only one to be planned for the Elimination Chamber PLE in February. In November, WWE’s tentative plan was for Edge’s wife, Beth Phoenix, to be involved in the Montreal event by teaming with Edge to take on Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor.
It should be noted that things can change and can’t be considered official until WWE officially announces it themselves.
Fans can expect to see Chelsea Green make her WWE return anytime now.
It has been reported that WWE has discussed bringing Green back to the company. She finished up with Impact Wrestling in late 2022. Other indications that she was going back to WWE were her shutting down her OnlyFans page and Major Pod having to limit new Green merchandise production due to her signing.
Other Stars
According to Fightful Select, Green has been under contract with WWE “for quite some time and is still awaiting creative.”
Once it was reported that WWE was interested in bringing back Green, there was speculation that her husband, Matt Cardona, could be on his way back to the company as well.
However, Fightful reports that WWE sources have indicated that “Cardona is not signed, but that we shouldn’t rule anything out for the future.”
There was speculation that Kylie Rae may be the next name to be signed with the company after she was brought in for a tryout and later used for a match on Main Event. Fightful notes that Rae is still a free agent.
Fans have wondered who is behind the mysterious Uncle Howdy since the character made his first appearance on WWE television.
Various names have been speculated, from Bo Dallas to Vincent to Cameron Grimes.
As previously reported, WWE has been playing its cards close to its chest with the character as the person behind the costume wears the mask backstage to hide their identity. It looks like fans are one step closer to finding out who is behind the Uncle Howdy mask.
Confirmation?
PWInsider and Fightful Select report that former WWE star Bo Dallas, the brother of Bray Wyatt, is backstage at tonight’s Raw show in Birmingham, Alabama.
On last week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, Alexa Bliss viciously attacked Bianca Belair during their Raw Women’s Championship match, which led to Belair needing stitches from the attack. WWE has confirmed that Bliss will explain her actions last week on tonight’s show.
With Dallas being present backstage, it would sure seem that Dallas is the man behind the Uncle Howdy mask.
Bray Wyatt is set for his first match since returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble by taking on LA Knight in a Pitch Black match.
It’s all settling in for Mickie James. The legendary women’s wrestler has battled top talent on Impact Wrestling in a series of matches dubbed the ‘“’Last Rodeo’”’ in recent months. Often these in-ring experiences have been trips down memory lane for “Hardcore Country.”
Among them was facing Mia Yim at this stage of her career. It got her thinking about working with a fellow veteran early on in Maryland Championship Wrestling and the opportunities given as a young talent.
After putting all the blood, sweat, and tears into her body of work it comes down to the aptly titled Impact Wrestling pay-per-view Hard to Kill on January 13. There the future Hall of Famer challenges Knockouts champ Jordynne Grace in a title versus career battle.
James tells us it was around the NWA EmPowerrr show that the wheels were put in motion for this current run. One that sees the 43-year-old come full circle returning to Impact Wrestling. A home for her at different points dates back to Alexis Laree in Raven’s The Gathering during those early TNA days.
“I didn’t anticipate I was going to come back and be a full-time part of the roster in the first place,” James tells us in an interview. “I think after I lost the championship and the conversation with Tommy Dreamer too. I was like, ‘Tommy I don’t know what I can do. I’ve done so much and been really fortunate to do so much. If I go out, I want to go out on top of my game and not overstay my welcome and not stay too long or when I’m on the downward spiral on my career…’”
She wants to put a bow on things by riding out the old-school way. Working her way up on the grind against a mix of talent including Hyan, Gisele Shaw, Taylor Wilde, and Deonna Purrazzo.
“I wanted to prove that not only I’m the best in the locker room but the best ever. And if I can’t do that I don’t belong here anymore. And then I’m okay with that.”
– Mickie James
The challenger is excited to test her mettle against the imposing Grace. James has upped training ahead of the marquee main event and studied tape. Not only of Grace but a fellow powerhouse in Beth Phoenix.
“I’ve never faced Jordynne before,” James said. “She is probably one of the hardest-hitting women in wrestling. I can probably just say hardest say in wrestling, and it would be accurate.”
Thoughts on Retirement
If James walks out the gold, her mindset is it would be the start of one last reign at the top. Although the word “retire” in wrestling is admittedly a difficult pill to swallow.
“Wrestling is s drug for us,” James said. “Once it’s in our blood, it it’s hard to escape it. There is no better feeling you get than when you’re out there performing in front of people. I never wanted to outstay my welcome. I always want to go out on top and to a place in my career where I was still putting on great matches…I didn’t want to just fade off into the sunset but go out in a blaze of glory.”
With her in-ring career one way or another coming to an end, she is weighing options. The former multi-time champ would enjoy working behind the scenes and as a coach to help performers with their character development.
Along with other projects, James would also like to focus on keeping the memory of her grandma’s horse farm alive by finding generational horses. Her son Donovan would certainly enjoy seeing mom at home more. For James, Impact is a special place because it gave her the family she has today. It was the place she got together for her now husband Nick Aldis.
“I’m excited for Nick because he is a free agent,” she said. “He has a lot of options…Maybe it’s time for me to step back so he can have those opportunities because I’ve had a pretty incredible career.”
James is proud of the evolution of Impact’s Knockouts. She just wishes the company had more visibility as it continues to grow back its fanbase.
“We have some of the best wrestlers in the world. We have definitely the strongest female roster that one can ever imagine,” James said. “They are getting opportunities like the first-ever Ultimate X match or the Last Knockout Standing and all the things…I don’t know if it’s about that as much as I would love for more people to be able to see it and watch it. I think if more people saw it, they will see how great it is.”
When comes to summing up her career and Impact Wrestling story, it comes down to one hope. For the small-town girl who lived her dream, it comes down to being remembered.
“I just want the women to keep thriving and to have made a difference. Hopefully, I’ve done that. And to be honored on the way out on a positive note.”
Catch Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill on Pay-Per-View and FITE TV at 8 p.m. ET on January 13
Mandy Rose is set to address her WWE release for the first time.
Rose, real name Amanda Saccomanno, will appear as a guest on this Tuesday’s edition of “Tamron Hall.” This is a syndicated talk show that airs on ABC stations.
According to the promotional material, the episode description notes that the former NXT Women’s Champion will address her “controversial firing” from WWE in an exclusive interview with Hall.
Breaking Silence
“Tamron has an exclusive interview with former WWE’s MANDY SACCOMANNO addressing her controversial firing from the WWE. Five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee, actress and comedian MARGARET CHO stops by to chat about her new comedy tour ‘Live and LIVID.’ Plus, an All-New Shop Tam Fam!!”
Last month, Rose was released from WWE after learning of adult-themed photos and videos Rose posted on her FanTime subscription service.
Her release came less than 24 hours after dropping the NXT Women’s Championship to Roxanne Perez on NXT TV, which was pushed up from when it was originally supposed to happen in January. This was done because Rose was being released.
Rose’s reign as NXT Women’s Champion lasted 413 days before losing the title to Perez. Since her departure, Rose has made big money by earning $1 million on FanTime.
Following the news that Vince McMahon would be returning to the company as a member of the board of directors, WWE hired JPMorgan to advise on a potential sale of the company.
McMahon claimed that he was returning to WWE to help assist WWE in their media rights negotiations.
While speaking on What Happened When, Conrad Thompson said a WWE sale has been brewing for a while. He also noted that when Nick Khan first joined WWE as an agent to help negotiate the TV deals that they eventually landed with FOX and NBC Universal, he heard an interesting thing. That was when Khan made a deal with Vince that he would get paid big money should he help with a sale of the company.
The Claim
“My friend was represented by the same company that Nick Khan was sort of running, and when my friend sees that the guy who runs this big agency is now going to WWE, he thought, ‘What the f**k? This doesn’t make any sense.’ So he called his contact and said, ‘Dude, what’s up with Nick going, blah, blah, blah.’ He said, and this is years ago now, ‘Yea. He’s got a deal with Vince where in his contract, he gets a big payday when he helps facilitate the sale.’ He told me the number, and I won’t say the number because that’s talking about somebody’s money and that’s not cool, but let’s just say this, it’s more than AEW’s TV contract is for a year. It’s a lot. It’s a lot, a lot. So when you hear it’s a lot, a lot, you think, ‘Well why would this guy go here?’, Ah ha, and now, Ta Da. I’ve heard backchanneling before Mean Gene passed away, he said, ‘Well, I heard from’, and I won’t say who he heard it from, ‘When the stock gets to so and so,’ This has been brewing for a while. I know a lot of wrestling fans have been thinking, ‘Well this is just a brand new development.’ It’s years old.”
In 2020, Khan joined WWE as President & Chief Revenue Officer. He previously worked for CAA.
He also helped negotiate media rights deals for top companies such as Top Rank Boxing and the Southeastern Conference.
Becky Lynch is returning to Young Rock to portray the role of Cyndi Lauper.
The former Raw Women’s Champion previously appeared in the role of Lauper on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s show which is currently airing every Friday night on NBC last November.
That episode included a young Rock meeting Lauper at a party she threw around WrestleMania I in 1985.
Reprise
Lynch posted a tweet on Monday revealing that she’s back filming on the “Young Rock” set. She wrote the following about the news:
“She’s baaaaaaaack! Delighted to be back on set with the incredible #YoungRock cast and crew playing the iconic Cyndi Lauper! Stay tuned.”
In a tweet after the season three premiere, Johnson thanked Lynch and gave her props for the job she did playing Lauper on the show.
The show is based on Johnson’s life and tells the story of how he was shaped into the person he is today as he went from being a football player to being one of the biggest wrestlers in the history of the business to a top movie star.
After being sidelined with a shoulder injury at SummerSlam last July, the top star returned to in-ring action in November at Survivor Series by working the Women’s WarGames Match.
Saraya took time to contemplate her next moves in professional wrestling upon her departure from WWE on July 7.
The call for Saraya’s (fka Paige) release came under the direction of the Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. However, in the weeks following her exit, a new regime stepped into action, and quickly attempted to reel Saraya back in. Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque admittedly remained “shocked” at McMahon’s decision to release her.
“I was like, ‘I dunno, they haven’t renewed my contract’. He was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Well I didn’t know that, so I’m sorry!’ He was really fantastic.”
Upon conversation with Triple H, Saraya was offered a path back into the WWE.
He did give me the opportunity to potentially be a GM again, and give me the opportunity to be like, ‘If you ever potentially want to wrestle again, I’ll give you that opportunity too.’ He was very open about any ideas that I had.
– Saraya
While she weighed that decision, she received a counteroffer from AEW, allowing her more creative freedom for outside projects, and a chance to be a part of something new.
“‘Do I wanna go back to WWE or do I want to go to AEW?'” she recalled thinking. “Seeing Renee [Paquette], she’s one of my best friends, and Mox as well, and [Chris] Jericho, they were all calling me.”
Ultimately, the chapter of Paige officially closed, as Saraya made her debut in All Elite Wrestling in September. Two months later, she made her long-awaited in-ring return, defeating Britt Baker at AEW Full Gear.
Vince McMahon’s blunt force return to the executive chair of World Wrestling Entertainment’s board was inevitable. Outside a criminal conviction and Vince being put in prison, he was always coming back from the hush fund scandal.
The bump in the stock price over the last two working days shouldn’t fool anyone – McMahon doesn’t care about their best interests, and what he wants often conflicts with his own best interest. McMahon’s payoffs for various affairs with female employees had to be documented and accounted for with the Securities and Exchange Commission after he left WWE in the summer. Criminal allegations against McMahon for sexual assault have gone back to the 1980s, including various Non-Disclosure Agreements that former WWE employees have signed. As of now, four women have said McMahon forced them to perform oral sex on them. One worked at a tanning salon in Boca Raton, Fla., and had filed a report. The other – which had came to light recently in early December – accused him of assaulting a spa manager at a resort in San Diego in 2011. The other two – in 1986, and the other in the mid 2000s – came from former employees.
McMahon’s return was always going to happen. He wasn’t going to let the his own sordid and horrid past keep him from doing what he wants with his wrestling company. That the company had turned its ratings and creative fortunes around under Nick Khan, his daughter Stephanie and his son-in-law Paul Levesque – who replaced McMahon in creative – probably infuriated him. His assurances of not disrupting the current management team are absurd – he will likely take over creative as soon as he possibly can. Even if this costs them a chance at booking The Rock for a feud against Roman Reigns, or any more appearances from John Cena.
There’s no other reason for these board moves by him if he wasn’t going to otherwise. McMahon told the board and management he only plans to be there to initiate a sale for the company, something he would have to be there to do anyway. In fact, when McMahon was investigated and kicked out last summer, the board said they would include McMahon on any negotations for media rights or a sale, and said he would be integral and needed voice – especially since he owns most of the company’s stock.
McMahon’s stock position guarantees he’s part and partial to any media or sale talks, so his return is obviously not linked to that.
What McMahon wants is to not to, “eat his cake and have it, too,” he wants to sell his cake and still eat it. He wants a buyer that will let him run the day to day operations of the company – after giving him several billion dollars for the company.
WWE Sale
WWE has been exploring a potential sale since the early-to-mid 2010s. Peak interest began in 2016 when Ultimate Fighting Championship sold for a surprising $4 billion. Also part of that deal, then president Dana White (who didn’t own the company, but had breathed life back into it during the early 2000s and made it a massive success in the following years), stayed on board to continue managing the company.
For years, that made the magic number for a WWE sale $4 billion, if not more. That UFC is now a more valuable product doesn’t matter, to McMahon its about his ego, and that was the number he wanted for a sale at the time, though it wasn’t official. The best time to sell the company was in 2018 when it had negotiated new TV and multi-media deals with Viacom and FOX. WWE later negotiated with Viacom to add the WWE Network streaming service to the Peacock app, handing over years of content.
McMahon said he believes this time – coinciding with their 2024 media rights negotiation – is the time to sell, which is ironic given this was what wrestling business insiders had said after WWE completed its last deal. The company’s seemingly bulletproof profitability – especially after trifling and morally questionable cost-cutting during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 – has only grown.
Alex Sherman of CNBC.com said if a sale occurs, it would most likely happen in the next three-to-six months. Sherman said WWE’s market cap is around $6 billion after the bump its stock took after news of a sale hit the news. This is the number various sources said WWE is looking to get. The company hired JPMorgan Chase to advise, though how much advising they’ll be allowed is another question. Sherman said a sale would likely have major strings attached from McMahon’s side.
McMahon’s potential buyers will have one particular string that would be too much – McMahon himself. Likely any deal would include keeping him with the company as president and creative head. Levesque’s ratings success over the past six months put a huge dent into the fantasy that only McMahon can make a major pro wrestling company into a multi-media success, a legend that Tony Khan and All-Elite Wrestling have already chopped down over the last three years. For years, many debated if anyone other than McMahon could run he company, and that question was answered. McMahon could have sold the company at numerous times during the last several years, now he’s counting on the expense of rights deals to push media companies into just purchasing his company whole.
Potential Buyers
Who would buy WWE? There would be numerous interested companies from all over the world – some more likely than others.
NBC Universal
Comcast and its parent company – NBC Universal – would be the likely top destination for WWE. The two companies have a relationship back to the 1980s and the first Saturday Night’s Main Event. WWE programming has also been on NBCU owned USA Network for the same period of time, outside one contract in the 2000s when WWE was on Spike TV. McMahon has relationships with NBCU that have lasted decades. WWE Network content also is on its Peacock streaming network. NBCU is already paying billions to air WWE programming – why not buy the whole thing? The biggest concern for NBCU would be losing thousands of hours of WWE programming if its bought by a competitor. Live sports and wrestling have maintained their ratings better than traditional scripted TV – even most reality TV.
WarnerDiscovery
AEW fans would go into a panic if WarnerDiscovery bought AEW, but it’s highly doubtful the company would fold or would leave major cable TV. AEW was negotiating with Showtime before it aired its first episode of Dynamite on TNT or made an official announcement of its existence. With the company’s solid ratings and with a rights deal that would be much more affordable and more “bank for the buck” than a deal with WWE, AEW would have suitors. New Japan Pro Wrestling had interests from several major media companies when it began probing for a US TV deal last year – including ESPN – but was locked out of landing in many spots because of its TV deal in Japan.
Warner missed out on WWE during the last negotiations in 2018. This is one reason the network became home to AEW. WWE Network would also be a major content addition to HBO MAX. But it also comes to costs, something WarnerDiscovery has been slashing as well as its own content on its streaming platform. WWE Network content comes with many residuals to be paid, something that WarnerDiscovery is trying to shed on its own content.
FOX
WWE would be a major pickup for FOX for various reasons. The company already airs Smackdown on its major OTA network on Friday nights. A purchase would be a massive boost to its streaming applications across the board and take away a certified hit show from its NBCU competitor. Not to mention the PPV’s that would also be a huge streaming driver for FOX.
Disney
Disney has the strongest content library in the game, not to mention he numerous networks it owns. It’s biggest competitor is NBCU. Grabbing WWE would be a major get for Disney, which could add Raw and Smackdown to ESPN easily with the Disney+ app building up its massive library with another huge purchase of content, like it did with the purchase of FOX’s movie studios in 2019. Sherman said returning CEO Bob Iger is always looking to make an IP slash and taking WWE from NBCU would also be a bit of a get back for Iger, who purchased FOX after NBCU drove the cost up tens of millions.
The Saudis
The controversial relationship between WWE and Saudi Arabia has also been a profitable one. WWE has made more money off its shows in Saudi Arabia then in any of its other endeavours, including every single WrestleMania. Saudi’s PIF hedge fund told Front Office Sports its interested in buying the company from McMahon. It would likely be the company most comfortable with McMahon maintaining a presence on screen and off.
PIF also has the cash – about $620 billion in cash, according to Front Office Sports – and has already dipped its toe into American sports with its LIV Golf tour, which drew away several stars from the PGA. The hedge fund also owns Premier League’s Newcastle United.
The biggest problem for PIF – where do you broadcast it? The potential PR fallout may not be worth WWE’s big ratings for US streamers and media companies.
Though most professional wrestlers may prefer to “layeth the SmackDown” on their opponents, Da Party opted for a different approach.
In a music single released at midnight, the quartet of WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Xavier Woods, Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, AEW‘s Adam Cole, and former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze, laid down the bars. The respective single marks the musical debut of the foursome, as they previously connected in the professional wrestling and gaming worlds.
Each spent time in WWE, with Woods standing as the sole talent to remain with the company, but it was on Wood’s popular Up Up Down Down YouTube Channel where they truly bonded. Now, Da Party lends their voices to the music stylings of “Can’t Stop Da Party.”
Also featuring the voice of Harley Cameron, the dance track “Can’t Stop Da Party” is now available on major music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.
Prior to the song’s official launch, Da Party shared some behind-the-scenes photographs from their recording session in the studio.
Harley Cameron, much like her co-contributors, is a professional wrestler, but she’s also made some moves in the music business as well. In October, she dropped a cover of “I Put a Spell on You” alongside WWE Superstars Shotzi and Scarlett. The trio previously released another song entitled “Indestructible” in 2021.
2021 also marked the premiere of “The IInspiration,” named after the Australian tag team of Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay. The duo used it as their theme song in IMPACT Wrestling. Lee and McKay were featured, alongside Cameron, in the corresponding music video for the song as well.
Amidst his ascent, Waller acquired a new, more conceited, attitude. In August 2022, he even debuted a new talk show: “The Grayson Waller Effect.” Added with his previous stint on the reality television show of AustralianSurvivor, the promising star often draws comparisons to main roster star, The Miz.
Former Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews once deemed Waller as a “low budget” version of The Miz, but the comparisons don’t seem to faze Waller. In fact, Waller sought out advice from the two-time Grand Slam Champion during his time backstage at Raw.
“I had the opportunity to talk to him at Raw. His main thing is to just keep doing what I’m doing,” Waller revealed during an interview with TV Insider. “There are a lot of good wrestlers in this company, but I don’t think there are as many good entertainers. When I get a microphone in my hand I get people talking after. He said that was the most beautiful thing to have. It’s something that he can see and wants me to continue to do. And I got no plans on stopping, mate.”
Mutual Praise
(via WWE)
On the September 28 edition of The Bump, Waller and The Miz appeared to celebrate 25 years of Goldberg. During their time there, the two exchanged mutual praise.
“When I got to properly interact with him on The Bump, he said some really positive things,” Waller revealed. “That is rare for The Miz. It’s rare for me to give that positive back, but I think there is that mutual respect because we both have the same mindset about what wrestling is and what it can be.”
WrestleMania is always a wildly lucrative event for WWE, but 2023’s installment is taking things to a whole new level.
Last week, we reported that WrestleMania 39 is on the verge of selling out with approximately 100,000 tickets sold for the 2-night event. On Monday, WWE sent in word that “WrestleMania Goes Hollywood” has now surpassed 2016’s WrestleMania 32 as the highest-grossing WrestleMania in company history.
WWE® BREAKS ALL-TIME WRESTLEMANIA® GATE RECORD
WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium Surpasses WrestleMania 32 as Best-Seller in Company History, Nearly Three Months Prior to Event
STAMFORD, Conn., January 9, 2023 – WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that WrestleMania Goes Hollywood (WrestleMania 39), which will originate from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles across two nights, broke the company’s all-time gate record for any WrestleMania, despite having yet to announce a single match. The previous record announced was $17.3 million in 2016 at WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The record gate comes on the heels of unprecedented ticket sales demand for WWE in 2022, in which it produced the highest-grossing gates of all-time for Royal Rumble, Survivor Series and Extreme Rules. Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales, which marked WWE’s first major stadium show in the U.K. in 30 years, was the highest-grossing U.K. event in company history.
Additionally, WWE set in-market gate records for SmackDown and Raw events in more than 20 markets for the year, including the December 30 SmackDown, which took place in Tampa, Fla. and heralded the return of WWE Superstar John Cena.
Limited single and two-day combo tickets for WrestleMania Goes Hollywood can still be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. The event streams live on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.
After becoming the first woman to sign with AEW, Baker would go on to become the first woman to win an AEW match, defeating Nyla Rose, Kylie Rae, and Awesome Kong, in fatal-four-way action at Double or Nothing 2019.
A legitimate concussion suffered at AEW Fight for the Fallen that July sparked a feud between herself and Bea Priestly (now WWE’s Blair Davenport) leading to a match on the Full Gear pre-show which Baker would win.
Turning heel in January 2020, Baker would suffer a leg injury that forced her to miss much of 2020, and would return at All Out to lose to Big Swole that September.
Baker’s breakout performance would come on the March 17, 2021 AEW Dynamite, where she lost to Thunder Rosa in the critically-acclaimed Lights Out match.
Despite the loss, Baker’s momentum was undeniable, and would win the AEW Women’s World Championship at Double or Nothing 2021, and won the inaugural Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament at the following year’s event.
This Wednesday will see Baker team with her ally and current AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter to face Saraya and Toni Storm, in the former Paige’s second match with AEW.
This year’s Money in the Bank will be all about the pounds and not about dollar bills given the show’s location.
Last week, it was announced that WWE will host Money in the Bank 2023, the 14th annual event, at the O2 Arena in London, England.
This will mark the first time the event has ever taken place outside of the United States.
Why London?
Following the massive success of WWE Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales, many assumed that another major UK event would be coming in the future.
Contrary to Clash at the Castle though, which took place in the giant Allegiant Stadium, WWE Money in the Bank 2023 will take place in the smaller O2 Arena.
WWE sources who spoke to Fightful Select said how the decision to host the show at the arena would practically guarantee a sell-out of one of WWE’s ‘big five’ events.
One WWE source said that they view O2 Arena as the “MSG of England” and it was a venue they wanted to travel to.
While WWE co-CEO Nick Khan was credited for many of the dates, locations and venues used by WWE in 2022, the company’s deal with the O2 Arena is being called a “collaborative effort.”
Money in the Bank
It wasn’t too long ago that reports circulated of WWE scrapping the Money in the Bank event and hosting the two titular ladder matches on the two nights of WrestleMania.
Another source who spoke to Fightful said that running an event in the O2 Arena helps establish the importance of MITB as one of their biggest events of the year.
When asked about the rumors of Money in the Bank being ended, that source said that this was not seriously considered.
This source added that no booking plans are set for WWE Money in the Bank 2023.
Chris Jericho has now added yet another promotion to his impressive collection by showing up at Pro Wrestling Guerilla’s Battle of Los Angeles.
Alongside the entire roster of the Jericho Appreciation Society, the former World Champion teamed with Sammy Guevara, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Daniel Garcia, who is the reigning PWG World Champion
The Jericho Appreciation Society would face Jonathan Gresham, Evil Uno, SB Kento, Michael Oku, and Kevin Blackwood in a 10-man tag bout.
Jericho’s debut for PWG proved to be a successful one, with the leader of the JAS getting the pinfall on Blackwood after hitting the Judas Effect.
Dave Meltzer’s live notes on the match called it “super entertaining” and that the crowd and wrestlers treated it as a “major match, all action.”
Meltzer added that there was a slow-motion spot for minutes until Jericho started chopping Oku hard, and called Oku and Jericho the highlight of the match.
Jericho gave Blackwood multiple near-falls on him before hitting the Judas Effect.
After the Match
Jericho and his team were victorious, but the former AEW and WWE World Champion had plenty to say after the match.
Saying that they had a “f***ing blast,” Jericho added that PWG is “the modern-day ECW,” noting the passion of the fans and the lack of guard rails.
Jericho added that PWG, like ECW has a great atmosphere that allows indie wrestlers to hone their skills in front of a rabid crowd.
AEW’s Kyle O’Reilly has opened up about his recovery and the post-surgery issues that he’s had to deal with.
O’Reilly, a former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion, in December 2021 as he opted not to resign his contract, and debuted for AEW weeks later.
His arrival in AEW saw O’Reilly reunite with Adam Cole and Bobby Fish, members of NXT’s Undisputed Era, and briefly formed the Undisputed Elite with the Young Bucks.
Surgery
O’Reilly’s most recent match for AEW came in June of last year, where after winning a battle royal, lost to Jon Moxley in a AEW World Championship qualifying match for AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door.
In early September, O’Reilly posted an image to his Instagram story of himself laying in a hospital bed, and hinted that he had undergone neck fusion surgery.
Taking to Instagram this week, O’Reilly spoke about how it is a cliché, but he plans on this new year seeing a new him.
The 35-year-old wrestler added that he has been “dealing with a post-surgical issue” and promised to explain more later.
O’Reilly also spoke about living with diabetes and thanked those who have supported him change his approach to his condition and “hop off the blood sugar roller coaster.”
In an interview with Beyond Type 1 last October, O’Reilly said that this was his first “significant injury” throughout his 17-year wrestling career.
O’Reilly said that he will be using the time to evaluate himself so that he can come back better than ever, and be an overall better athlete.
Neither O’Reilly nor AEW have disclosed when fans can expect him back, but those who have dealt with neck-fusion surgery in the past have missed anywhere from nine months to a year of in-ring time.
O’Reilly’s Undisputed Era ally Bobby Fish left AEW last year and has since joined with Impact Wrestling.
Charlotte Flair may have one of her wishes come true regarding a dream match that she recently talked about.
Flair made a recent return to WWE television as she won the SmackDown Women’s Championship on her first night back against Ronda Rousey on December 30.
Fans are looking forward to seeing “The Queen” work against some of the current talent on the roster such as Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez. However, there are some names from the past that she’s interested in stepping into the ring with. Flair recently spoke to WWE’s The Bump about several legends she wants to face.
The Tweet
Mickie James, Lita, and Michelle McCool were all names that she mentioned. McCool made it clear on Twitter that she is open to the idea of them working a match against each other.
She let Stephanie McMahon and Triple H know as she said, “Real Talk….RESPECT! Oh…..& I stay ready for anytime @wwe @TripleH or @StephMcMahon call! #FlawlessQueen.”
McCool wrapped up her full-time career in 2011, but has since worked one-off matches for the company. The first being in 2018 at the Royal Rumble as the former two-time Women’s and Divas Champion. She followed that up by competing in the 20-woman battle royal at WWE’s Evolution premium live event and then was part of the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match.
What can be said about this man that hasn’t already been said?
While his contributions to the world of wrestling and sports cannot be understated, to many, he is a cutthroat business mogul who will ruin lives to get his way.
In the ring, McMahon holds shocking victories over the likes of The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Bobby Lashley and even John Cena.
But for as compelling (often in a car-wreck-esque way) as McMahon’s matches can be, they’re nothing compared to his work out of the ring.
McMahon has proven himself to be a fighter, and here are Vince’s biggest wins that took place out of the ring.
5: Survivor Series Triumphs over WarGames
Threatened by McMahon, Pay-Per-View providers opted to host Survivor Series 1987 over NWA’s Starrcade.
In 1987, WWE introduced their new November Pay-Per-View, Survivor Series, following the success of WrestleMania 3.
The November date was picked as it was a good middle-ground between WrestleManias 3 and 4, but that wasn’t the only reason.
The same night as Survivor Series, the NWA were hosting their own major event of the year ‘Starrcade’ and this led McMahon to launch into an attack.
In what McMahon himself has called nothing more than a direct threat, the then-WWF Chairman informed Pay-Per-View providers that if they aired Starrcade, then they would be banned from hosting WrestleMania 4 and all future WWF events.
Almost every Pay-Per-View provider relented, and only a handful aired Starrcade, in what would be a very special Thanksgiving night for the McMahon family.
4: WrestleMania
WrestleMania 1 in 1985 would be arguably the biggest risk in McMahon’s life, but it would certainly pay off.
Today, WrestleMania is an internationally known name and hosts the very top names in wrestling and entertainment.
There’s a reason why WrestleMania tickets sell out so fast, but in 1985, the show was McMahon’s biggest gamble.
Realising that times were changing, McMahon invested heavily in the concept of Pay-Per-View, and if urban legends are to be believed, even put his house down as collateral for the show.
Had WrestleMania 1 flopped, the WWF would have struggled to recover, and McMahon would have forever been tarnished as the man who tried and failed to force change.
Instead, WrestleMania 1 was a hit, and would add fuel to McMahon’s burning desire to do better, and it wasn’t long until other companies followed suit.
3: Ending the War
The fate of WCW was in Vince McMahon’s hands after he purchased his competition for a pittance in March 2001.
From the moment Lex Luger appeared on the first WCW Nitro in 1995, the Monday Night Wars were on.
The war saw McMahon and the WWF face the greatest competition they’d ever faced, and for a while, things looked bleak.
As Eric Bischoff will remind anyone within ear shot, WCW Monday Nitro demolished WWF Raw 83 weeks in a row, and there was a time when McMahon’s baby looked sunk.
A dramatic change of storytelling (complete with a new Attitude) would turn the tide, and thanks to inept heads at WCW, the war would end on March 26, 2001, with McMahon the victor.
As Paul Heyman on commentary called out “they say that Alexander the Great sat on a rock and cried, for he had no more world left to conquer” McMahon proved to be the conqueror of pro wrestling, buying out his competition.
2: The Steroid Scandal
McMahon wore a neckbrace during the 1994 steroid trial due to a surgery, though some believe it was a ploy to get sympathy from the jury.
During the 80s, WWF Superstars were larger than life, but to many, names like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and countless others were too large.
In November 1993, McMahon was indicted in a federal court and was accused of approving and distributing steroids to his roster.
McMahon temporarily ceded control of WWF operations to his wife Linda, and was looking at serious prison time if convicted.
McMahon’s saving grace would ironically come from a wrestler who played a prisoner, as Kevin ‘Nailz’ Wacholz testified that McMahon ordered him to use steroids.
That may sound like bad news for McMahon on the surface, but when Wacholz made it clear he was an unreliable and hostile witness, his credibility, and the credibility of the claims, were called into question.
In July 1994, a jury acquitted McMahon of all charges, proving that even the federal government can’t stop Vincent K. McMahon.
1: The Second Coming of Vince McMahon
What is the fate of WWE’s future now that Vince McMahon is back on the board of directors?
To paraphrase the late jazz singer Dinah Washington, what a difference a week makes.
This time last week, fans knew that McMahon was hopeful to return, but few believed it would happen.
After all, WWE has been doing so well without McMahon’s iron grip on production, that it just seemed to make no sense for him to return.
Yet, here we are.
There was a time when fans thought McMahon would never retire, and when he did, thought he’d never return, and hell has frozen over for the second time in six months.
Whether McMahon’s claim of merely being there to oversee a sale of WWE is genuine or not, McMahon is back on the board, in arguably the biggest win of his career.
Bayley’s post received well-wishes by both fans and those in wrestling, including Lance Storm and reigning IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI.
Bayley and Damage CTRL have been feuding with Becky Lynch in recent weeks, with the Role Model getting a win over the Man on the December 19, Raw.
This week, Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY and Dakota Kai defeated Lynch and Mia ‘Michin’ Yim.
Bayley So Far
Signing with WWE ten years ago, Bayley’s career in the company actually began under a mask, as her in-ring debut saw her compete as Luchadora at an NXT live event.
It was in June 2013 that Bayley would adopt her doe-eyed fan-girl character which would make her one of the most popular babyfaces in recent years.
After multiple attempts, Bayley won the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in August 2015, and would retain at NXT TakeOver: Respect that October.
After losing the title to Asuka, Bayley would be called up to Raw in 2016 and won the Raw Women’s Championship in early 2017.
After a run as one-half of the first WWE Women’s Tag Champions, Bayley would capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2019, and would turn heel that September, marking her first run in WWE as a heel.
After a lengthy reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bayley’s reign would end in October 2020, and an injury in July 2021 would keep her out of action until her return last year’s Summerslam.
Tama Tonga only recently captured the NJPW Never Openweight Championship, but his days with the promotion may be coming to an end if WWE can help it.
WWE has internally expressed interest in bringing Tonga into the fold, Fightful Select reports.
Word traveled through the locker room at New Japan’s Wrestle Kingdom event earlier this week, but there is no confirmation if Tonga is interested.
Ironically, Tonga faced WWE’s own Karl Anderson at Wrestle Kingdom, dethroning the Machine Gun to start his second reign as Never Openweight Champion.
Sources in New Japan told Fightful that Tonga’s contract with the promotion is set to expire within “a matter of weeks.”
Tama Tonga
Beginning his training in 2008, Tonga would join NJPW in 2010 and is a founding member of the Bullet Club.
The 40-year-old is a seven-time IWGP World Tag Team Champion with his brother Tanga Loa, which makes sense considering he was trained by the Dudley Boyz.
After winning the ROH World Tag Titles at G1 Supercard, Tonga became the third man to have won a title in ROH, NJPW, and CMLL, behind Rocky Romero and Matt Taven.
Family Affair
Tama Tonga is on WWE’s radar as their next potential signing, but his brother may soon be calling himself a WWE Superstar.
It was reported earlier this week that WWE is also interested in Tonga’s brother Hikuleo but there is no confirmation as to whether talks have taken place.
WWE is said to have been interested in Hikuleo for months, and intermediaries have been used to express interest.
This is the same strategy as the Dragon Lee situation, as Finn Balor was the first to initiate contact with Lee regarding joining WWE.
Dragon Lee announced last month that he had signed a deal with WWE and relinquished his newly-won AAA World Tag Team Championship.
WWE’s relationship with Saudi Arabia may be a highly-controversial one, but the checks are certainly worth it according to Kurt Angle.
The decade-long deal between WWE and the middle-eastern nation began in 2018 and sees WWE be paid a small fortune to host shows.
WWE’s relationship with the country has been a source of controversy given Saudi Arabia’s restrictive views on women and approach to LGBTQ+ people.
Angle in Saudi Arabia
After returning to WWE in 2017, Kurt Angle would compete at some of WWE’s earliest shows in Saudi Arabia prior to his WrestleMania 35 retirement.
Speaking on his podcast, Angle was asked for his reaction to learning that WWE were working with Saudi Arabia.
“I loved it! And the main reason is money, money, money. When you go to these places they spend a lot. These were bought shows. Saudi Arabia… You’re talking 200 million dollars for two shows a year. That’s incredible.”
When asked if he ever thought he’d compete at such a unique event, Angle reiterated how well he was paid.
“No, [I didn’t think I would be part of a show like this.] But I was glad I was. I mean, the paychecks are very generous.”
Kurt Angle.
Unhappy
Angle may have been well-paid for his work in Saudi Arabia, but WWE’s use of him did not sit right with the Olympian.
On his show, Angle said he wasn’t a fan of his booking, but understood why WWE didn’t give him more prominent spots.
“What I will say is this. They didn’t put me in great spots as you know. I think I did I did a Royal Rumble [2018’s Greatest Royal Rumble.] I also did a seven-minute match with Dolph Ziggler [WWE Crown Jewel 2018.]
“They didn’t put me in great spots.”
Kurt Angle on his Saudi Arabia booking.
“The match wasn’t [good.] Dolph was great, don’t get me wrong but me at this point in time I wasn’t so great. I had really started to lose a step at this particular time in my career. The match wasn’t where I wanted to be. I was hoping more for the main event status, but still, the money was still really good.”
Tangling with the Dragon
Angle may not have had the prominent spots he was hoping for in Saudi Arabia, but he did get to lock horns with Bryan Danielson.
Danielson (then Daniel Bryan) also competed in the Greatest Royal Rumble, and nearly won the 50-man match.
Speaking about a spot where he locked up with Bryan, Kurt said it was a delight to do something in the ring.
“We wanted to do something special. So Daniel actually came up with it and it was a great little spot. I enjoyed working with him. Man he’s so talented and he’s not just an incredible high flyer he’s a great technician too. Daniel Bryan could be one of the best overall workers in the business today.”
Speaking about the expected Iron Man match between Danielson and AEW World Champion MJF, Kurt had doubts that the holder of the Big Burberry Belt will be able to keep up.
Fans of Xavier Woods’ popular UpUpDownDown YouTube channel will soon get to hear the group’s single ‘Can’t Stop Da Party.’
Da Party consists of Woods, former WWE Superstar and current trainer Tyler Breeze, Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, and AEW’s Adam Cole.
On Twitter, Cole shared an image of the four members and said it is just two more days before the track’s release.
Given that the tweet was released yesterday, that means that ‘Can’t Stop Da Party’ will drop at some point tomorrow.
Fans can find out more information on how to purchase the track by clicking here.
Harley Cameron
Harley Cameron, who has performed with Shotzi and Scarlett, will feature in the track set to be released on Monday.
All four members of Da Party have proven themselves in the ring, and while Woods can hold his own on the trombone, none are known for their singing.
In addition to the foursome, the track will feature Harley Cameron, who is a wrestler/singer.
Cameron worked with Shotzi and Scarlett last October for a cover of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and produced the theme song for The IInspiration in Impact Wrestling.
Da Party
The quartet of Woods, Breeze, Castagnoli, and Cole were highlights of UpUpDownDown for years, but the group’s run was cut short by factors outside of their control.
Breeze was released from WWE in 2021, and Cole would choose not to re-sign with the company shortly after.
In October 2022, members of Da Party teased a reunion and in November, streamed on Twitch for their first time playing together since Cole’s departure.
Slaughter may have had a less-than-warm response to Evans using the Cobra Clutch, but the two may soon become a regular act on TV.
Last December, the former WWF Champion tweeted that he would love the opportunity to manage Evans, and is confident that she would become a Women’s Champion.
Responding, Evans shared her eagerness to make the pairing happen, asking where does she report in.
While Slaughter claimed for years to have served and trained with the Marines, even off of WWE TV, he never served his country, while Evans is a real former Marine.
Lacey Evans
Lacey Evans was once poised to walk into WrestleMania 37 as Raw Women’s Champion, but her career has been a whirlwind since then.
After Evans announced her pregnancy, plans for a title win were scrapped, and she would return to TV in a vignette on the April 8, 2022 edition of SmackDown.
Initially poised as a face, Evans was quietly moved to Raw and was listed as a heel, but never appeared on the red brand.
The former Marine would be moved back to SmackDown, turned face again, and then turned heel again in the summer of 2022.
Jade Cargill is getting rave reviews for her improved ring work.
The reigning TBS Champion is coming up on the two year anniversary of her AEW debut (March 3, 2021). She’s still early in wrestling career, which has led some critics to call her green. Fortunately, Cargill has star power to spare and had joked that she’s “green like money.”
On Friday’s live edition of AEW Rampage, Cargill successfully defended her gold against Skye Blue. Cargill looked impressive – especially this finishing sequence:
Jade Cargill is really improving – she’s been “green like money” but will be the total package sooner than later #TBSpic.twitter.com/5Xq60Npf6d
Ospreay is one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, so an endorsement from him carries a lot of weight. He just wrestled a Match-of-the-Year candidate against Kenny Omega at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. The match was so good that Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer rated it 6.25 stars (on a scale of 1-5).
Ospreay is not the only main event star who has taken notice of Cargill’s development. Last month, Cargill was asked about her dream opponent. She named WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, “because she can go.” Flair replied:
Keep killing it queen. #undefeated
– Charlotte Flair to Jade Cargill
Ex-WWE Writer Freddie Prinze Jr. is also a big fan of Cargill, calling her an incredibly unique performer and likening her to a unicorn who deserves to be booked in a special way.
“Lions and tigers and bears are cool, but a Unicorn, a Minotaur, a Cerberus,” said Prinze. “They’re magic, and they’re treated that way in the stories I read as a kid. And that’s what Jade is, she’s a Unicorn.”
There’s no doubt that Jade Cargill is one of the most promising home-grown stars on the AEW roster. The 48-0 champion has proven that she’s willing to put the work in to improve her skills. If she continues at this pace, she really will be the “total package” in the near future.
