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CM Punk Seemingly Replaced on the AEW Fight Forever Video Game Cover

Robert Lentini
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0

All Elite Wrestling dropped a new trailer for the Fight Forever video game tonight and seemingly showed new cover art for the game as well. CM Punk is nowhere to be seen in the new trailer and the graphic at the end of the advertisement.

  • 5 Best Moments from CM Punk’s AEW Career

AEW World Jon Moxley, Hangman Adam Page, ROH Champion Chris Jericho, Britt Bakerfeatured in the trailer for the game and said the following:

Do you remember the feeling when you could just pick up and play a video game? That feeling is back. Are you ready to reignite the magic? AEW Fight Forever. It has deep career modes. You can create your own wrestler, like me. And use all of my signature moves. Battle it out in some of my favorite matches, like Lights Out, Falls Count Anywhere, and don’t forget about the weapons. All the weapons.

The narrator then added that it is time for gamers to create their own unforgettable moments in Fight Forever.

A graphic for what appears to be the new cover for the game was shown at the end of the video. The new cover matches the look of AEW Dynamite and features Hangman Page, Chris Jericho, Sting, MJF, Jade Cargill, Britt Baker, Jon Moxley, Orange Cassidy, Bryan Danielson, and Kenny Omega front and center.

The original advertised cover for AEW Fight Forever featured former two-time AEW World Champion CM Punk at the front, Kenny Omega, Britt Baker, Chris Jericho, Jade Cargill, and Jon Moxley.

AEW Fight Forever hasn’t been given an official release date but Yuke’s and THQ Nordic produced video game is advertised to be available in 2022.

CM Punk Jokes About Locker Room Brawl at AEW All Out 2022

AEW Rampage Results, Takeaways (11/18/22): Full Gear Go-Home Show, World Title Eliminator Tournament

Robert Lentini
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0

AEW Rampage aired live from the Prudential Center in New Jersey tonight. It was the final show before Full Gear tomorrow night at the same venue.

  • AEW Full Gear 2022 Preview

AEW Rampage Results (11/18)

  • Ricky Starks def. Lance Archer to advance in the World Title Eliminator Tournament
  • Hook def. Lee Moriarty to retain the FTW Championship
  • Athena def. Madison Rayne
  • Jun Akiyama & Konosuke Takeshita def. Eddie Kingston & Ortiz

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Ricky Starks Advanced in the World Title Eliminator Tournament

Ricky Starks battled Lance Archer in the World Title Eliminator tournament tonight on AEW Rampage. Archer dominated the action early and went for the Black Out but Starks escaped. The Murderhawk Monster hit a big Clothesline but Ricky kicked out at two. Ricky battled back with a Spear into a cradle for the pinfall victory. After the match, Lance Archer Chokeslammed Ricky onto the steel steps after Brian Cage provided a distraction.

Sammy Guevara Hints That He May Not Have Jericho’s Back at Full Gear

ROH Champion Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara were interviewed backstage. Chris claimed that Claudio and Bryan Danielson’s ego will get in the way at Full Gear. Jericho added that “Sammy and I will guarantee it”. Jericho was on commentary and reacted to segment. He claimed to have no doubt in his mind that Sammy will have his back tomorrow night in the 4-Way match for the ROH Championship tomorrow night at AEW Full Gear.

Hook Retained the FTW Championship

Hook defended the FTW Championship against Lee Moriarty tonight on AEW Rampage. Lee got in some offense early and unloaded some elbow strikes to Hook’s face. Hook countered an Arm Drag and hit an impressive Gutwrench Suplex as Rampage went to a commercial break.

When Rampage returned, Moriarty was in control and hit Hook with an elbow to the back. Hook responded with a big lariat as Stokely Hathaway had a concerned look on his face outside the ring. Moriarty battled back and applied a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Hook countered into Redrum and choked Lee out to retain the FTW Championship.

Athena def. Madison Rayne, Mercedes Martinez Returned

Madison Rayne battled Athena tonight on Rampage. Madison had a pre-taped backstage promo but it was cut off because the match started. Athena hit a Dropkick but Madison battled back and knocked her out of the ring. Rayne went after her but Athena was ready and sent Madison into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Athena connected with a delayed vertical Suplex and both competitors fell to the canvas. Madison responded with a forearm strike but Athena hit a Stunner. Athena followed it up with Double Knees for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Athena knocked down referee Aubrey Edwards and locked in a Crossface. Mercedes Martinez returned and confronted Athena. She walked towards her and Athena retreated out of the ring.

5 vs. 5 Match set for Full Gear, House of Black Vignette

Orange Cassidy, Best Friends, Rocky Romero challenged the Factory to a 5 vs. 5 match tomorrow at Full Gear. It was revealed that Danhausen would be the final teammate in the match at Full Gear and the match will take place during the Zero Hour (kickoff show). Brian Cage versus Ricky Starks in the World Title Eliminator is also set for Zero Hour.

Jun Akiyam & Konosuke Takeshita def. Eddie Kingston & Ortiz

Eddie Kingston & Ortiz battled Jun Akiyama and Konosuke Takeshita in the main event of tonight’s Rampage. Mark Henry interviewed both teams ahead of the match.

Eddie locked up with Konosuke to start off the action. Kingston hit a Belly to Belly Suplex and tagged in Ortiz. Akiyama and Takeshita took control and isolated Ortiz in the corner of the ring. Ortiz battled back with some chops but Akiyama knocked him back down as Rampage went to the final commercial of the night.

When Rampage returned, Eddie and Ortiz had Takeshita isolated in the corner of the ring. Ortiz connected with an Exploder Suplex. Eddie followed it up with a DDT for a near fall. Kingston and Takeshita traded chops in the middle of the ring.

Takeshita exploded off the ropes and leveled Kingston with a Clothesline. Akiyama tagged in and traded punches with Ortiz. Jun hit a big boot and whipped Ortiz into the turnbuckle. Akiyama went for an Exploder Suplex but Eddie broke it up. Ortiz hit Takeshita with a Powerslam but he responded with a Blue Thunder Bomb.

Kingston hit Konosuke with a Suplex and everyone wad won in the ring as the crowd cheered. Jun hit a headbutt but Kingston shrugged it off and hit an Exploder Suplex. Akiyama responded with an Exploder of his own and sent Kingston out of the ring. Akiyama hit Ortiz with a knee strike and an Exploder Supelx for the pinfall victory.

CM Punk Jokes About Locker Room Brawl at AEW All Out 2022

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk has seen the funny side to the infamous backstage locker room fight from AEW All Out 2022.

After winning his second AEW World Championship, Punk had explosive comments for The Elite, Colt Cabana and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page during the post-All Out media scrum.

A fight backstage resulted in Punk and the Elite being stripped of the AEW World and AEW Trios titles respectively, and all parties involved in the fight were suspended.

Seeing the Funny Side

Punk hasn’t appeared for AEW since All Out, but recently made his return to the world of Mixed Martial Arts, albeit as a commentator.

Appearing at CFFC 115, Punk’s co-commentators suggested that Punk could compete with Fury Pro Wrestling next year, but the Chicago-Made star quickly declined.

“I’m bad news. You don’t want me in the locker room.”

CM Punk.

Not to be outdone, another commentator made reference to Punk’s All Out media scrum comments, adding that he should be kept away from press conferences.

CM Punk would also make reference to his shoulder injury suffered at AEW All Out, adding that “everything’s hurt.”

Leaving AEW

Punk may be able to see the funny side of things now, but his actions at AEW All Out have likely cost him his job.

After all parties involved in the backstage fight were suspended, a third-party investigation was conducted that has seemingly damned the former Champion.

While the results of the investigation have not been made public by AEW, everyone who was suspended except Punk and Ace Steel have been brought back.

The Elite will make their in-ring returns at tonight’s Full Gear Pay-Per-View against AEW Trios Champions Death Triangle.

It is believed that AEW is seeking to buy out the remainder of Punk’s contract and release him.

Things Between AEW and CM Punk Were Made Worse By Colt Cabana’s TV Return

Kevin Owens Returns on SmackDown, Joins WarGames Against the Bloodline

Thomas Lowson
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Kevin Owens will step inside the iconic WarGames structure for the second time in his career after making his return to TV on this week’s SmackDown.

Owens had been missing from programming in recent weeks, with his most recent televised match being a six-man tag victory in September of this year.

Return and WarGames

This week’s SmackDown kicked off with a segment between the Bloodline’s Sami Zayn and The Brawling Brutes with Drew McIntyre.

After the Honorary Uce vowed that the Bloodline will win the Men’s WarGames match, Sheamus said that Zayn in particular wouldn’t appreciate their fifth member.

In the main event, Butch defeated Zayn in the SmackDown World Cup Tournament but was attacked by Solo Sikoa after the match.

When Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns arrived to take care of business, he was confronted by the returning Owens.

The two brawled until Owens turned his attention to Zayn, and the Tribal Chief took advantage with a Superman punch.

Reigns’ attempt to hit the spear did not work out, as Owens hit him with a knee to the face followed by a Stunner to send the Head of the Table reeling.

Injury

Owens involvement in the Men’s WarGames match is certainly interesting considering the injury he recently suffered.

At a WWE Sunday Night Stunner event in Madison, Wisconsin last week, Owens suffered an injury during his match with Austin Theory.

While he was able to finish the match, Owens needed the assistance of a referee to stand afterward, and it was reported that he had suffered an MCL sprain.

The former Universal Champion is scheduled to be on next week’s SmackDown, the go-home episode before Survivor Series WarGames.

Kevin Owens Names NXT Stars He Would Call If He Needs Backup

WWE SmackDown Results, Takeaways (11/18/22): Road to Survivor Series, World Cup, Kevin Owens

Robert Lentini
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WWE SmackDown aired live tonight from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut as the road to Survivor Series WarGames continued. Sami Zayn battled Butch and Ricochet faced Mustafa Ali in the first round of the SmackDown World Cup tonight.

  • WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2022 Preview

WWE SmackDown Results

  • Ricochet def. Mustafa Ali to advance in the SmackDown World Cup
  • Karrion Kross def. Madcap Moss
  • Shotzi def. Shayna Baszler
  • New Day & Braun Strowman def. Imperium
  • Butch def. Sami Zayn to advance in the SmackDown World Cup.

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Men’s WarGames Match Announced, Sami Zayn Guarantees Victory for The Bloodline

Sheamus, Butch, and Ridge Holland asked Drew McIntyre to join them for a WarGames match against The Bloodline. McIntyre said he wants to go war with his brother Sheamus. Butch played the role of former NXT GM William Regal and shouted WarGames!

Honorary Uce Sami Zayn interrupted to “Ucey” chants. Sami claimed The Bloodline doesn’t care about the 5th superstar and they are feeling quite Ucey about the whole thing. Sami guaranteed that The Bloodline will win WarGames. Zayn added that he’s going to run through Butch on the SmackDown World Cup.

Sheamus claimed that Sami is going to “crap his pants” when the 5th member of their team is revealed and it is the last person he’d expect.

  • 5 Funniest Moments of Sami Zayn & The Bloodline

The Usos and Solo Sikoa later confronted Sami Zayn backstage and argued with him about guaranteeing a victory for The Bloodline. Sami said he did nothing wrong and wondered if Jey thought they were going to lose the WarGames match at Survivor Series.

Ricochet Advanced in the SmackDown World Cup

Ricochet battled Mustafa Ali tonight in the SmackDown World Cup. Mustafa was wrestling at less than 100% for the match and had his ribs taped. Ali got in some offense early but Ricochet battled back as SmackDown went to the break.

When SmackDown returned, Ricochet connected with a Superplex. Ali responded with a Hurricanrana and a Dropkick to send Ricochet out of the ring. Mustafa went for a Crossbody but Ricochet caught him and hit a Body Slam onto the floor outside the ring.

Back in the ring, Ricochet went for a 450 Splash but Mustafa dodged it. Mustafa applied a Crossface but Ricochet made it to the bottom rope to break the hold and the match continued.

Ricochet connected with a Clothesline and springboard Moonsault but Ali kicked out at the last moment. Ali hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a two count. Ricochet hit a strike to Ali’s ribs but Mustafa bounced back with a Tornado DDT.

Mustafa climbed to the top rope and went for a 450 Splash but Ricochet dodged it. Ricochet took control and hit a Shooting Star Press for the pinfall victory to advance in the World Cup tournament.

Karrion Kross def. Madcap Moss

Madcap Moss faced Karrion Kross tonight on WWE SmackDown. Before the match, Emma gave Madcap Moss some advice. The two are dating in real life. Emma and Xia Li seemingly argued backstage two weeks ago to set up a match but absolutely nothing has come of that.

Karrion dominated the match early and beat down Moss in the corner as Scarlett watched on. Karrion eventually put Moss away with the Kross Jacket. Emma made her way to the ring to check on Moss after the match.

Kross later approached The Usos backstage and they asked if he was joining Brawling Brutes for Survivor Series. Karrion said he wasn’t and claimed that he will be going after Roman Reigns’ title soon. Bray Wyatt was seen in the background during the backstage promo.

LA Knight Slapped Bray Wyatt & Instantly Paid For It

Bray Wyatt came to the ring and apologized to LA Knight for headbutting him last week.

Our live coverage begins alongside WWE SmackDown. Refresh this page for live updates during the show and leave a comment below. LA Knight got into the ring with Wyatt and smacked him in the face. LA Knight said “now we are even” and made his way to the ring apron. Wyatt told LA Knight that the decision he’s about to make right now will change the rest of his life. Bray extended his hand and LA Knight smacked him in the face again. Knight backed away as graphics for Wyatt appeared on the screen.

LA Knight was briefly interviewed before leaving and a masked person was behind him. The cameras later cut back and LA Knight was buried under a bunch of equipment.

Shotzi def. Shayna Baszler

Shotzi battled Shayna Baszler tonight on SmackDown. Ronda Rousey was ringside for the match. Ronda distracted Shotzi several times and Shayna kept capitalizing. Raquel Rodriguez marched down the entrance ramp and Shotzi capitalized with a roll-up for the pinfall victory.

New Day & Braun Strowman def. Imperium

New Day and Braun Strowman battled Imperium tonight on WWE SmackDown. Strowman knocked Gunther down and the Intercontinental Champion retreated out of the ring as SmackDown went to a break.

When SmackDown returned, Braun hit a couple of shoulder tackles on Ludwig and Vinci. Back in the ring, Strowman hit a slam for a near fall. New Day isolated Kaiser in the ring and hit Midnight Hour. Gunther was about to break up the cover but retreated after Braun Strowman got into the ring.

After the match, former Intercontinental Champion Ricochet confronted Strowman and warned him not to look past the “flippy” wrestlers. Ricochet will battle Strowman in the next round of the SmackDown World Cup.

Butch def. Sami Zayn to Advance, Kevin Owens will Join Brawling Brutes & McIntyre at Survivor Series WarGames

Sami Zayn battled Butch of the Brawling Brutes in a first-round match-up of the SmackDown World Cup in tonight’s main event. The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa were ringside for the match.

Zayn connected with a Blue Thunder Bomb and went for the cover but Butch kicked out at two. The Honorary Uce taunted Ridge Holland before launching Butch out of the ring. The two squads traded words as Sami rolled Butch back into the ring.

Butch hopped to the middle turnbuckle and planted Sami with a Tornado DDT for a near fall. Butch climbed back to the top rope but Sami tripped him up. Sami then shoved Butch off the top rope and to the floor as SmackDown went to the final commercial break of the night.

When SmackDown returned, Sami and Butch battled on the apron as The Bloodline beat down the Brawling Brutes. Butch flipped onto The Usos and got back into the ring. Butch geared up in the corner but Sami caught him with an Exploder Suplex. Zayn set up for the Helluva Kick but got distracted by Sheamus and Jey Uso fighting outside the ring. Butch capitalized with the Bitter End for the pinfall victory.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made his way to the ring and hit a Superman Punch on Ridge and Butch. Drew McIntyre waited for Roman in the ring but got distracted by Sikoa. Reigns leveled McIntyre with a Spear and walked towards Sami Zayn.

Sheamus got into the ring and circled Roman Reigns. Kevin Owens then showed up to a big reaction from the crowd. Kevin Owens knocked the Tribal Chief down and had a stare down with Sami Zayn in the ring. Roman capitalized with a Superman Punch as Sami sent Ridge into the barricade. Owens caught Roman with a Stunner and the crowd popped. KO will join The Brawling Brutes, and Drew McIntyre against The Bloodline at Survivor Series WarGames.

Britt Baker on Her Match Against Saraya at AEW Full Gear: “It’s a Very Compelling Story”

Robert Lentini
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Saraya made her debut in All Elite Wrestling at Dynamite: Grand Slam.She will be returning to the ring this Saturday at AEW Full Gear. The PPV will air live from the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

  • AEW Full Gear 2022 Preview

Her in-ring career came to a halt after suffering an injury in a 6-woman tag team match at a WWE Live Event. Saraya, fka Paige, spoke with Chris Van Vliet on Insight recently and said she wanted to have a rematch against Sasha Banks one day.

Britt recently spoke with Sports Illustrated about Saraya’s first opponent in the ring in years. The storyline for the match has become Saraya saying that AEW is her house already while Britt has pointed out that she has been with the company since the start.

It’s so progressive for our division. It’s a story-driven match. It’s a very compelling story, and the match is going to be even more exciting.

Baker added that Saraya hasn’t wrestled in five years and that is a long time to be away. She noted that the two do have one thing in common though, their love for wrestling.

She’s been out of the game for five years,” Baker says. “That’s a long time. For all our differences, we have one thing in common—wrestling is our life. We’re going to wrestle like our lives depend on it.

Britt was asked about wrestling Saraya and she said she is ready to deliver this Saturday at AEW Full Gear.

I don’t take this opportunity lightly. It is a challenge I welcome. Saraya is a star. She’s one of the best wrestlers in the world. Not everyone knows Britt Baker.

Having a match with a star of her caliber is the next step I need in my career.

I feel similar to the way I did before the “Lights Out” match against Thunder Rosa. I knew the match had to be excellent. I’m in that position again, and I’m ready to deliver.

H/T: Sports Illustrated

3 Things Saraya Brings to AEW’s Women’s Division

“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry Addresses Why He Changed His Ring Name

Andrew Ravens
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Jungle Boy has reached a turning point in his career as he is no longer a tag team player and has shifted towards being a singles star after his former partner Luchasaurus and past manager Christian Cage turned on him. 

Now with a new direction, Jungle Boy has pivoted to a nickname, with him now using his real name of Jack Perry going forward.

While speaking with ComicBook.com’s Liam Crowley, Perry revealed that he originally wanted to stay away from using his real name in order to separate his personal and professional lives.

Reality

jungleboy

“I initially went with the whole Jungle Boy thing as a way to not be myself or more what I guess people thought I was,” Perry said. “It was my way of really getting people to just watch my wrestling, which was really important to me. I wanted people to just watch me do what I did in the ring. I didn’t want to have to talk or have a character that other people were trying to push on me. It was like, I’m Jungle Boy. I don’t talk, I don’t do anything. You just got to watch what’s in the ring. A lot of that was to avoid my personal life in a way.”

The reason for the change is due to the nature of his current feud with Cage and Luchasaurus as Cage has frequently brought up Perry’s family on AEW programming.

“Christian goes and just blows all that out of the water and is going nuts every week, saying all this stuff,” Perry continued. “At that point it’s kind of like, what am I waiting for now? This seems like the time to go for it.”

Perry will wrestle Luchasaurus inside a steel cage this Saturday at the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view.

JBL Addresses His Giant Pants on WWE RAW: “I Have a Large A**”

Robert Lentini
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0

JBL returned to WWE recently as Baron Corbin’s manager on Raw.

Rey Mysterio approached Triple H backstage during an episode of SmackDown and tried to quit the company because he didn’t want to battle with his son, Dominik Mysterio in Judgment Day.

The Game talked Rey out of quitting and orchestrated a trade. Baron Corbin was traded to Raw in exchange for Rey Mysterio. JBL has been managing Corbin on the red brand and has referred to him as a “wrestling god”.

  • 5 Funniest Moments of Sami Zayn & The Bloodline

Corbin has been picking up victories on Raw lately but lost all of his money this past Monday. Akira Tozawa whooped JBL and Corbin in poker, but Baron got his revenge later on the show by defeating him in a singles match.

JBL joined Corey Graves’ After The Bell podcast recently and was asked about the MC Hammer suit pants he was wearing on RAW recently. JBL said he has a large backside and the bigger pants are necessary.

I happen to buy pants that fit me,” said JBL. “I have a large a**. I have got more a** than a donkey farm. My college coach told me one time, ‘son if I told you to haul a**, it’d take you four trips’. I am not putting my large a**, ten pounds of potatoes in a five-pound sack, and putting them in skinny jeans.

Drew McIntyre Believes Tyson Fury is “Custom Fit” for WWE

Robert Lentini
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Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has aligned with his old friend Sheamus and The Brawling Brutes in their battle against The Bloodline leading into WWE Survivor Series WarGames.

The Bloodline brutally attacked Sheamus on a recent edition of the blue brand and sent him to a “local medical facility” (hospital). The Celtic Warrior returned last week and helped The Brawling Brutes against Roman Reigns, The Usos and Solo Sikoa.

As of now, there has not been a men’s WarGames match announced for the premium live event on November 26th. It seems likely that it will be the Brutes versus Bloodline at Survivor Series in a WarGames match.

Sheamus, Butch, Ridge Holland, and Drew McIntyre still need one more superstar on their team if it does turn into a WarGames match. McIntyre sang a tune with boxer Tyson Fury after his loss to Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle and perhaps he could be the final member of the squad for WarGames.

Speaking with Sportskeeda Wrestling, Drew said that he’d love to see Tyson Fury in WWE one day. McIntyre added that Tyson would fight in the company after he decides to hang up his boxing gloves.

Oh, a hundred percent [Fury is perfect for WWE]. Tyson and I go from arguing with each other on social media to singing with each other in Cardiff to make sure the fans go home happy, no matter how I felt personally in the moment.

You’ve gotta sometimes swallow your pride and make sure the fans are happy. But Tyson gets it, he’s an entertainer, he’s top of his field, and when he chooses to hang up the boxing gloves, he’s very much custom fit for WWE.

H/T: Sportskeeda Wrestling

Detroit is the Front Runner to Host WWE SummerSlam 2023

Andrew Ravens
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It appears WWE will be heading back to a familiar city for next year’s SummerSlam. A front runner city for the 2023 summer premium live event is Detroit, Michigan, according to Fightful Select. WWE sources have indicated that Detroit was being looked at by the company in recent months.

WWE hasn’t been to the area for this summer event in years, as the last time was in 1993 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons formerly played. 

WWE has also looked at other venues for the show, such as Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Pistons, and Ford Field, which hosted WrestleMania 23. 

The last two years, WWE has held stadium shows for the event – Nashville, Tennessee, this year and Las Vegas, Nevada in 2021. 

Updated WWE Premium Live Event Schedule

WWE SummerSlam
(via WWE)
  • Saturday, November 26: Survivor Series at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Saturday, January 28: WWE Royal Rumble – San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome
  • Saturday, February 18: WWE Elimination Chamber – Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Bell Centre
  • Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2nd: WrestleMania 39 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles CA

MJF Reveals the Secret to his Popularity

Michael Reichlin
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Maxwell Jacob Friedman is having the biggest year of his professional career. The 26-year-old wrestling prodigy looks to make history Saturday night and win the ‘big one’ just miles from his hometown of Plainview, NY.

MJF will challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship in the main event of AEW Full Gear. Win, lose or draw, the match itself is a testament to everything he’s achieved so far. He may not be the biggest or strongest man in AEW. He may not be a technical wizard like Bryan Danielson or Claudio Castagnoli. However, fans can’t get enough of MJF.

He’s great one the mic, one of the best in the business today. However, MJF says it’s his authenticity that resonates most with the audience.

During an interview with Vulture, journalist Anne Victoria Clark asked MJF if he’s ever considered portraying another ‘character’ in AEW. Friedman corrected her immediately and told her he’s not playing a character. He said ‘gimmicks’ are not confined to pro wrestling. In every walk of life – politics, professional sports, Hollywood – people are ‘turning their personalities up to 11’ to get attention.

Like I said, I think the reason that I have such an animalistic magnetism to wrestling fans is because it’s very obviously me.

– MJF

Fans Love MJF’s Authenticity

MJF says fans love him because he speaks his mind when others are scared to do so. He’s not afraid to cross any lines or offend anybody. Society is more sensitive than ever, which allows him slice through the noise and stand out.

Social media is a huge part of today’s culture. Wrestlers face an onslaught of negativity from people they don’t even know, but MJF doesn’t let any of that get to him. If he doesn’t know you or wouldn’t come to you for advice in real life, he’s not going to be offended if you don’t like him.

“I think that’s a big issue with my generation,” he said. “If I read every single positive thing people had to say about me, I would be the most egotistical person in the world, because people are nonstop talking about how I’m the greatest professional wrestler of all time, so you just have to walk away from your phone every now and then.”

MJF is considered a heel for the most part, but there’s no question that he’s won people over and gets cheered a lot at AEW shows. He

“Again, I just think people love authenticity, and I think the name of the game is authenticity. In a fake world, people want to see real people, and there’s nobody realer than me.”

– MJF

Matt Hardy Thinks MJF Will Be the ‘Face of AEW for a Long Time’

Samantha Schipman
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Matt Hardy put over MJF as the future face of AEW.

While predicting who would win the AEW World Championship at Full Gear on the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy agreed with host Jon Alba that MJF will become AEW World Champion on Saturday night. “I feel like it’s MJF’s time. It’s very interesting because of where the pay-per-view is located. Not too far from his home base. He’s been doing some great work. He’s extremely talented young man and he’s a guy that’s going to be the future of AEW for a long time, I think so. Even as much as he jokes around, ‘my contract is coming up. They want me up North, brother. They want me at the ‘E’.’ I think he’s going to be the face of AEW for a long time.”

Matches Matt Hardy is looking forward to at Full Gear

Saraya Britt

Alba and Hardy discussed AEW focusing on a women’s storyline that doesn’t involve a championship. “It is nice to see them just highlight them because of their stardom and that’s why they’re going to have the match. Their promos the last couple of weeks have been really strong. They’ve really talked a lot of people into buying a ticket and wanting to see this match.

After singing, “Be The Elite, be, be, be the Elite”, Hardy said he wants to be in The Elite. “Maybe I’m the one that recovered them after they were DELETED!” Hardy joked that the headline will be that he wants to join The Elite. “Anything to not kill the cockroach (his career),” he joked.

He’s “pumped” for The Elite vs. Death Triangle. “Whoever wins that match –I’m going to say this, right here, right now though — Death Triangle and The Elite, myself and Private Party, Hardy Party, we are focusing on these six man tags right now; these Trios matches. We want to come looking for those titles. I’m going to go ahead and say that right now. Whoever wins that match, we want to come looking for those titles.” A few weeks ago, Hardy said that the Hardy Party could be looking for Trios titles after they reunited.

Hardy believes The Elite vs. Death Triangle will steal the show.

Tony Khan Addresses AEW’s Interim Women’s World Title Situation

Michael Reichlin
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0

AEW President Tony Khan is shedding light on the decision to crown an Interim Women’s World Champion while Thunder Rosa is out of action.

Rosa still the official AEW Women’s World Champion, but she hasn’t competed since late August when she announced on Dynamite that she’d be taking time off due to injury.

Since then, the company held a tournament to crown an interim champion. Toni Storm won that prize and has been a fighting champion ever since. Storm has questioned the validity of Rosa’s situation, and the entire concept of an interim champion. She’s said plainly, Rosa should be stripped of her title and thinks the whole situation is ridiculous.

There’s a strong argument that a champion should have to surrender their title if they are unable to defend it for several months – and they’d be number one contender when they return.

Truly a World Champion?

Thunder Rosa

Khan appeared on Barstool Sports’ Rasslin’ podcast this week to promote Saturdy’s Full Gear pay-per-view. According to TK, it was a difficult choice to let Rosa keep her title while she’s out injured. He wanted to give her every opportunity to come back and defend her championship, without knowing how long Rosa will be out.

At the end of the day, he decided to go the interim champion route and thinks the eventual unification match will be a big deal.

He touted Storm as a huge free agent signing who came in with a great reputation and television experience. She’ll defend the Interim title against Jamie Hayter at Full Gear. Even with Thunder Rosa out of the picture for now, Storm and Hayter have become “really key figures” in AEW and whoever wins will “truly be a world champion.”

Things Between AEW and CM Punk Were Made Worse By Colt Cabana’s TV Return

Andrew Ravens
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CM Punk and Colt Cabana’s relationship is rocky, to say the least, which has impacted the talks between AEW and the former World Heavyweight Champion. 

Cabana was among the list of people that Punk ripped in his infamous rant following AEW All Out where he criticized Hangman Page and The Elite. Punk was suspended as a result while also away rehabbing an injury. 

When Punk came into AEW, Cabana’s television time decreased and there were rumors that Punk was potentially the reason behind Cabana not being featured as much on the show, which Punk himself denies, because of their broken friendship. 

Cabana’s AEW deal wasn’t going to be renewed until the locker room came to bat for him and he was moved to the ROH brand. 

Cabana was back on Dynamite on November 2 as ROH World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho’s mystery opponent. This seemed to support the idea that Punk being suspended opened the door for Cabana to come back. 

CM Punk’s Denial

CM Punk
(AEW)

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Punk is still ‘adamant’ that he had nothing to do with Cabana’s absence from AEW TV.

“Colt Cabana wrestling Chris Jericho only made things worse as far as issues with the two sides. Punk remains adamant he had nothing to do with Cabana being gone. A lot of talent in AEW believes and insists differently and it’s openly talked about.”

Meltzer added that there had been no change in CM Punk’s contract situation as he’s still under contract and AEW was selling his merchandise this past week at Dynamite.

Linda McMahon Spotted at Mar a Lago with Former President Trump

Michael Reichlin
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Former WWE President and CEO Linda McMahon was in Palm Beach, Florida this week alongside former US President Donald Trump.

Trump, a WWE Hall of Famer is his own right, is gearing up for another run at the White House. Just days ago, he announced his candidacy for 2024.

The Trumps and McMahons go way back, dating back to the 1980’s. In addition to their collaborations in the world of professional wrestling, McMahon served in Trump’s Presidential cabinet from 2016-2019 as the head of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Trump touted the “incredible job” McMahon did when she stepped down from her post at the SBA. He said she was a “superstar” in that role. He expected a lot from her, but was still surprised at how well she did and how many people she helped.

On Thursday, the 45th President held another event was at Mar a Lago. As seen in the video and photo below, Trump and McMahon were seated next to each other in multiple settings.

McMahon has kept a low profile since leaving public office, but could certainly mount a comeback now that Trump is running for President again. Trump almost certainly will not be selecting former Vice President Mike Pence as his running mate again. Pence remains loyal to Trump, but has publicly flirted with the idea of running against him in the primaries to determine the nominee for the Republican party in ’24.

McMahon would make an interesting choice for a running mate, considering their longstanding history together. She could also serve as an advisor.

Backstage Update on Steve Austin’s Talks With WWE for WrestleMania 39 Match

Andrew Ravens
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The details of the talks between WWE and Steve Austin are staying under wraps for now after word leaked earlier this week that the WWE Hall Of Famer received an offer from WWE to do another match. 

This comes after Austin came out of retirement earlier this year for a match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38. 

Where Things Currently Stand

Kevin Owens Stone Cold Steve Austin
via WWE.com

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is smoke to the fire, and something is in the discussion phase between Austin and WWE with ideas “discussed internally that are being kept secret.”

Austin could face two types of opponents should he accept this offer – one being a younger star who can help carry the match as Owens did at WrestleMania 38. The second type of opponent could be a big name, such as Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, or John Cena. 

Because Punk is in talks with AEW for the promotion to buy out his contract following the All Out incident, there’s been speculation about him potentially returning to WWE and perhaps a match with Austin. 

Punk can’t return to WWE until he gets his release from AEW should both sides be interested in working together again. Meltzer’s report added that the idea of Punk potentially returning to the company is not a positive for many in WWE. Still, they also recognize this will be a decision made by Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Nick Khan.

Edge Explains His Plans For Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
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It’s hard to believe that The Rated R Superstar has been back in the wrestling world for more than two years and he is already talking about riding off into the sunset for good. The former World Champion discussed his intention of hanging up his boots during WWE’s tour of Canada earlier this year in August. He explained to the crowd in Toronto after Raw that he planned on seeing them one more time and ‘in a perfect world,’ say goodbye to the fans after that.

The 49-Year-Old was recently interviewed by The Nation Network. He was asked about his announcement and why he wants to retire in Toronto. Replying to it, Edge explained that he didn’t come back to win more championships. His goal was always to tell a good story before calling it a career:

“That’s the key. The first time I was told, ‘You gotta hang it up. That’s it, you’re done.’ It was WrestleMania. I retired world champ, and that sounds Cinderella, but I just didn’t know. That made it hard to chew on all those years, but I had to accept it and move on with what life is now. [I got to] start an amazing, beautiful family and the acting thing started to kind of take [off] a little but when I had the chance to get this back. The first thing I thought is, ‘I want to retire in Toronto.'” explained Edge,

He continued: “Because again, I know the window is not open for long. But if I can do it there, I think then I’ll be able to go right. I’m good. That was the last thing to kind of check off. I didn’t come back to win 4 more championships or anything like that. I really just came back to have fun, try and help teach a new generation of talent that I never got my hands on before. I always say, I call us storytellers. [I always intended to] come back and tell hell of a story for three or four years and then ride off into the sunset.”

You can check out Edge’s full interview in the video below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Plans for Two Recent WWE Signees Debuting for NXT Soon

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE NXT roster is set to grow soon as two signings to the company will likely be making their TV debuts in the near future.

In July 2021, WWE began their Next in Line program, which has see the promotion focus on signing collegiate athletes that they can mold in their own style of wrestling.

Despite a belief that the NIL program means WWE won’t be signing indie wrestlers anymore, NXT head Shawn Michaels has said that this isn’t the case at all.

The Debuts

AJ Amrhein and Isaac Odugbesan are the next rookies in line to join NXT, according to the Wrestling Observer. Both are signings from WWE’s Next in Line program and signed with the company earlier this year.

Amrhein tried out for WWE at the WrestleMania 38 tryouts in April, while Odugbesan was part of the Summerslam 2022 tryouts from Nashville back in July.

AJ Amrhein

AJ Amrhein

A fitness instructor from Scottsburg, Indiana, Amrhein was a member of the acrobatics and tumbling team at Baylor University. In 2020, Amrhein was awarded Baylor’s ‘Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year’ award and is a three-time national champion with The Bears.

Amrhein made her in-ring debut at an NXT live event on September 24 from Citrus Park, LF. She teamed with Arianna Grace and Kiana James in a losing effort against Fallon Henley, Thea Hail, and Valentina Feroz. 

Last month, Amrhein changed her social media profiles to Dani Palmer, which is likely to be her ring name in WWE.

Isaac Odugbesan

Unlike Amrhein, Odugbesan is still using his real name, though the Observer writes that this will be changed soon enough.

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Odugbesan has made his name as one of the best shot putters in the college ranks.

Odugbesan placed third in the NCAA championships with a 67-2 throw and won the Eastern finals with a 68-5 throw.

The 21-year-old placed seventh in the indoor finals earlier this year.

Details on WWE Launching 2 New NXT Brands in 2023

Update on CM Punk’s Recovery from Torn Triceps Injury (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk may have already wrestled his last match for AEW, but the former World Champion is recovering nicely.

At AEW All Out 2022, Punk regained the AEW World Championship from Jon Moxley, but his media-scrum comments and the backstage fight led to his being suspended.

It is believed that AEW will buy out Punk’s contract and release him, but are trying to negotiate a non-compete clause.

The Injury

During his All Out match with Moxley, Punk suffered a torn triceps injury which he has undergone surgery for.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter Dave Meltzer reports that Punk’s recovery is going “really well.”

Punk was reportedly advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible after the injury was confirmed, to avoid muscle atrophy.

A torn triceps injury typically takes six months to recover from but can be longer in some instances.

What’s Next for Punk?

Punk could be in fighting shape sooner than expected, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be welcomed back to AEW.

During his All Out rant, Punk bashed several prominent and well-liked members of the roster, including Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, Colt Cabana, and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.

It has been reported that AEW talent, including those at the top of the card, have made it clear that they will not work with Punk if he is brought back.

The reception isn’t much better for Punk in WWE, with some in the company saying they “absolutely do not want” him back, believing he’d only cause more trouble.

Tony Khan Praises CM Punk & Reveals if He Knew What He was Going to Say During His Media Scrum Rant

The Usos Succeeded in WWE “In Spite” of Vince McMahon

Thomas Lowson
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The Usos have become one of, if not the greatest tag team in WWE history, but had to overcome much more than their opponents.

Debuting on the main roster in 2010, Jimmy and Jey have become one of the longest-tenured teams in WWE history.

This week, the brothers broke the record for the longest reign as WWE Tag Team Champions of all time, having held the SmackDown Tag Team Titles since July 2021.

In Spite

The Usos have faced and defeated some of the greatest teams in recent history, but arguably their biggest foe was Vince McMahon’s booking.

Speaking on After the Bell, Corey Graves recognized Jimmy and Jey’s recent accomplishment and highlighted how they had to deal with a boss who had little interest in tag wrestling.

“Let’s be honest. The old boss [Vince McMahon] looked at tag team wrestling different than the current boss [WWE’s Head of Talent/Creative Triple H.] But the Usos began succeeding when there was an old boss when the old boss was still in charge.

“The Usos, in spite of the fact that it was his [McMahon’s] never favorite flavor of ice cream, still, week after week after week, would go out there and tear the house down.”

Corey Graves.

Jimmy and Jey secured their record by retaining the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles on last week’s SmackDown against the New Day.

What’s Next for The Usos?

After becoming the longest-reigning WWE Tag Champions of all time, The Usos next high-profile match won’t be for the gold.

Jimmy and Jey are expected to enter WarGames later this month, alongside Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

The Bloodline are expected face The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens, though there are questions about Owens’ status given his recent MCL injury.

Owens, a Raw Superstar, is scheduled to be on this week’s and next week’s episodes of SmackDown.

3 Tag Teams Who Could Dethrone The Usos in WWE

Corey Graves Names Ex-United States Champion the Next “Megastar” of WWE

Thomas Lowson
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Bruno Sammartino. Hulk Hogan. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. John Cena. Roman Reigns. Austin Theory?

Earlier this year, it appeared that Theory was destined for greatness, having been personally endorsed by Mr. McMahon and holding the Money in the Bank contract.

Since McMahon’s retirement in July, things have gone downhill for Theory, who failed in his MITB contract cash-in attempt on U.S. Champion Seth Rollins last week.

Megastar

On this week’s Raw, a much-more serious Theory defeated Dolph Ziggler and attacked Rollins, signaling that his feud with the latter is far from over.

During After the Bell, Corey Graves, who called on fans to give the story a chance last week, had a huge prediction for WWE’s youngest United States Champion.

“I believe in Austin Theory. I don’t believe he’s ‘that guy’ yet, but in my heart of hearts as a nerd who’s spent way too much time studying the history of this business and watching it and loving it with all my being, I believe Austin Theory is the next megastar [of WWE.] And I think on Monday a lot of people started to believe as well.”

“I believe Austin Theory is the next megastar.”

Corey Graves

Letting things Play Out

After Theory’s failed cash-in attempt, fans were quick to criticize WWE for ‘burying’ the young Superstar and ‘wasting’ the contract.

On his show, Graves noted how fans were quick to jump the gun and called it a problem that exceeds far past just Theory’s situation.

“Let everything play out. Everybody loves to get ahead of themselves and jump on Twitter. ‘Oh this is it! Austin Theory’s done. He’s buried. Why would you do this to the guy?’ Let the story play out. This is WWE. World Wrestling Entertainment [emphasis on entertainment.]

“Let the story play out.”

Corey Graves’ advice to fans.

“There is a story involved. There’s curiosity. There’s drama. There are red herrings. Just like any source of literature. It’s entertainment. So let it play out. What we saw was a whole new chapter for Austin Theory.”

Seth Rollins

Theory has been a main event star in recent weeks but has been working closely with Seth Rollins.

With Roman Reigns missing from Raw on a weekly basis, the reigning U.S. Champion has taken the mantle as WWE’s top Superstar on the red brand.

On his show, Graves explained why Rollins is playing such an important role to elevate Theory.

“Rollins has been one of the mechanisms in this story, that has helped elevate Austin Theory’s stock in the eyes of the viewers. Yes, Rollins was the one who beat him but that was an essential part of the story. What Rollins is doing simultaneously is elevating the United States Championship.”

While no championship rematch has been announced, Rollins and Theory are expected to feud in the coming weeks, including a possible match at Survivor Series WarGames.

Who Produced Austin Theory’s Failed Money in the Bank Cash-in On WWE Raw?

Bret Hart: Punching Vince McMahon is Probably the Greatest Thing I Ever Did

Thomas Lowson
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Bret Hart is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer with dozens of titles to his name, but none of it compares to giving Vince McMahon a shiner.

After being screwed of the WWF Championship in Montreal, Hart confronted McMahon and punched his soon-to-be ex-boss, giving the then-Chairman a black eye.

The wrestling urban legend is that Hart knocked out McMahon with his one punch.

Dark Thoughts

Hart being screwed out of the title came after over a decade of dedicated work for McMahon, and after Earl Hebner swore on his kids’ lives that there’d be no funny business.

As you’d expect, Hart was furious after the match, and made that clear when speaking to The Ringer.

“I’m a pretty easygoing guy. But I do know that I had a lot of dark thoughts, really crazy, dark thoughts about how angry I was when that happened.”

The Hitman added that he initially tried to confront McMahon in his office, but felt relieved that the door was locked.

The Greatest Thing I Ever Did

Hart didn’t confront the Chairman in his office, but McMahon made the brave decision to approach Hart in the locker room.

Speaking about the punch he gave the billionaire, Hart admitted it could be seen as foolish, but he does not regret it one bit.

“It was probably the greatest thing I ever did, in the sense that I stood up for myself like no other wrestler ever stood up for themselves.”

Bret Hart.

Hart would exit the WWF for WCW, and it wouldn’t be until January 2020 that the Hitman next appeared on a Vince McMahon broadcast.

What WWE Originally Planned for Bret Hart’s Return after Montreal Screwjob

h/t – Wrestling Inc

Kevin Owens Booked for WWE SmackDown Despite Recent Injury

Thomas Lowson
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Could Kevin Owens compete in WarGames at Survivor Series later this month despite his injury?

At a WWE Live event, Owens suffered an injury during his match with Austin Theory which the Canadian Superstar would go on to win.

It was later reported that Owens is dealing with a sprained MCL and has been rehabbing at WWE’s Performance Center in Florida.

SmackDown

With Owens injured, many assumed that plans for him to compete at WWE’s upcoming Premium Live Event had been canceled.

According to PW Insider however, Owens is scheduled to be on this week’s Smackdown, despite being a Raw Superstar.

The former Universal Champion is also scheduled for next week’s SmackDown, which will be the go-home episode before Survivor Series WarGames.

The original plan was for Owens to be part of the Men’s WarGames match, which would have seen him team with Drew McIntyre and the Brawling Brutes against the Bloodline.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that Owens “better heal up quick” if he wants a chance to compete in WarGames.

Survivor Series WarGames

This month’s Survivor Series will mark the first time that WarGames has been used on the main roster.

In addition to the men’s match, the event will also feature a women’s match, between Team Bianca and Team Damage CTRL.

Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Rhea Ripley, and Nikki Cross will face Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and one final teammate yet to be announced.

It has been reported that WWE is planning some ‘craziness’ in this year’s WarGames matches, to produce footage that can be used in the future.

Kevin Owens Opens Up About ‘Wrestler’ Promo With Drew McIntyre

Bianca Belair Wants to Play Marvel’s Storm: “I’m Just Waiting on the Phone Call”

Robert Lentini
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RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair wants to portray the Marvel character Storm in an upcoming film.

Bianca Belair battled Bayley at Crown Jewel in a Last Woman Standing match. She defeated The Role Model once again but this time in an interesting way. Belair trapped Bayley inside of a ladder and she couldn’t escape before the referee counted to ten.

Bayley will not let their rivalry die and the two stars will meet again on November 26th in much different circumstances. Damage CTRL, Rhea Ripley, and Nikki Cross will battle Bianca Belair, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Mia Yim, and a mystery superstar at Survivor Series: WarGames. Bianca will have to find one more superstar to join the team on RAW or wait to reveal the mystery superstar at the PLE at the TD Garden in Boston.

The EST spoke with ComicBook recently and revealed that she would love to play Storm in a feature film. Halle Berry has played the character several times in X-Men films. Bianca added that Hollywood is ready for a strong woman to come onto the scene.

Oh, 100%. I would love to cross over onto the movie scene and play Storm and just play such a strong, amazing character,” Belair said. “I think that hopefully Hollywood is ready for a strong, powerful, muscular woman to come on the scene, and if they are, then that’s me, and I’m ready. I’m just waiting on the phone call.

Bianca Belair also promoted the new season of WWE Supercard and you can check out the entire interview in the video below.

H/T: ComicBook

AEW Full Gear Predictions

Ryan Droste
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AEW Full Gear takes place this Saturday from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. This will be the fourth incarnation of AEW’s Full Gear PPV event; the first was held in Baltimore back in 2019.

SEScoops correspondents Jesse Velasquez, Andrew Ravens, and Robert Lentini have assembled to provide our official AEW Full Gear predictions.

Jade Cargill vs. Nyla Rose

Jesse Velasquez: This story has been running for awhile now. I think this match will be better than what people expect of it. Jade Cargill is due for a bit of struggle, even if she remains undefeated in the process. Which she most definitely will. The bigger question is who takes the title from her? (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

Andrew Ravens: Rose stands no chance of beating Cargill and everyone knows it. Jade should and will remain the TBS Champion because there’s no one ready to dethrone her. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

Robert Lentini: Jade Cargill is undefeated and will walk out of Full Gear the same. Nyla Rose has stolen the TBS Championship and Jade battled Marina Shafir in a match to forget. That sums up the build to this one. My prediction is Jade retains and her next feud will be better because it cannot possibly be worse. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

Consensus: Jade Cargill

Jungle Boy vs. Luchasaurus

Jesse Velasquez: The steel cage is a nice touch to this bout. The flip from heel, to face,  back to heel was puzzling for Luchasaurus, but he’s better suited in this role. I see Jungle Boy getting a measure of revenge in this rematch from their previous duel on Dynamite back in October. (Prediction: Jungle Boy)

Andrew Ravens: Let’s all hope this is the blowoff for this feud for a little while as Christian Cage will still be on the sidelines for a few more months due to injury. Jungle Boy needs a big win on PPV, and with a win in this type of match and opponent, the stars align for him to walk out victorious. (Prediction: Jungle Boy)

Robert Lentini: Christian Cage will likely be ringside for this match and you’ve got to think he will play a factor. Jungle Boy obviously needs this win as AEW has said he’s one of their brightest stars of the future. A loss to the dinosaur guy wouldn’t jive with that. (Prediction: Jungle Boy)

Consensus: Jungle Boy

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal vs. Darby Allin and Sting

Jesse Velasquez: Why this match is on an AEW pay-per view, I have no idea? I eagerly anticipate Jarrett moving to the front office after this contest. Oh, and Sting remains undefeated in AEW (Prediction: Darby Allin and Sting)

Andrew Ravens: The babyfaces should go over here, and Jarrett should eat the pinfall to keep Lethal strong. Personally, I’m ready to move on from this feud and let both Lethal and Allin go in other directions with Jarrett disappearing from television. (Prediction: Sting and Darby Allin)

Robert Lentini: Jeff Jarrett just arrived in AEW and he’s not losing his first match. Jay and Jeff pick up the win and maybe this is the match that leads to Darby Allin stepping back out on his own. (Prediction: Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal)

Consensus: Split

Saraya vs. Britt Baker

Jesse Velasquez: I’m anxious to see what Saraya looks like after 5 years away from the ring? It’s rare when a highly anticipated debut match goes the other way. I can’t see a debut of this magnitude in the women’s division going any other way than Saraya winning. (Prediction: Saraya)

Andrew Ravens: I could see this match going either way with either star winning and the cases for it being made. I’ll side with Saraya winning her first match back, as fans are still backing Baker despite being a heel. If they wanted to put heat on Baker then have her beat Saraya. (Prediction: Saraya)

Robert Lentini: Saraya debuted at Dynamite: Grand Slam and instantly vaulted to the top of the women’s division. There is no question that more fans are looking forward to this match than the two women’s title matches on the card. Britt will put up a good fight and will likely try to cheat to win, but it isn’t going to happen. Saraya wins her return match and gets her first victory in AEW. (Prediction: Saraya)

Consensus: Saraya

Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Samoa Joe

Jesse Velasquez: This is a tricky contest to call. Samoa Joe already holds the Ring Of Honor TV title, so I can’t see a double champion crowned. Wardlow’s run has been less than stellar since winning the title in June. Yet he is still a force when he’s on tv and wrestling. Hobbs has some momentum, but hasn’t wrestled much since losing to Ricky Starks on Rampage. I’m going to go with Wardlow prevailing by pinning Samoa Joe, keeping Hobbs looking strong in the process. (Prediction: Wardlow)

Andrew Ravens: This is an interesting match with three big guys. I don’t see why AEW would take the title off Wardlow unless they just wanted to have a title change although Hobbs getting the title could be a possibility to give him something as Wardlow doesn’t really need the title. Let Wardlow remain champion for a little while. (Prediction: Wardlow)

Robert Lentini: I’m eliminating Samoa Joe right off the bat from winning this match as he is the current ROH TV Champion. However, I am picking Samoa Joe to take the pinfall in this match because he can afford to. The only reason I can see taking the title off of Wardlow is to set up a feud with MJF over the AEW World Championship. I don’t think that is going to be MJF’s first feud, so Wardlow retains by pinning Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs has a reason to continue a feud with the TNT Champion. (Prediction: Wardlow)

Consensus: Wardlow

The Acclaimed vs. Swerve In Our Glory

Jesse Velasquez: We get the 3rd installment of this trilogy and it’ll be a fun one. There isn’t much of a doubt that The Acclaimed will win this, as it’s far too early to take the title off of them. The bigger question is, does Swerve Strickland turn on Keith Lee? I think it happens as these 2 are destined to be major factors in the singles division. (Prediction: The Acclaimed)

Andrew Ravens: Their first match was a lot of fun, and I expect to see this one be one of the best matches on the card that I am looking forward to seeing. I don’t see a reason why AEW would do a title change here, and I think The Acclaimed will retain. (Prediction: The Acclaimed)

Robert Lentini: The Acclaimed are one of the most popular acts in AEW and there is no reason to take the championships off of them. Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee aren’t seeing eye to eye anymore. Strickland essentially already has turned heel, but he makes it official by attacking Keith Lee after they lose their opportunity at the gold. (Prediction: The Acclaimed)

Consensus: The Acclaimed

Chris Jericho vs Bryan Danielson vs Claudio Castagnoli vs Sammy Guevara

Jesse Velasquez: I’m curious which direction they go? With Ring Of Honor headed to PPV in early December, This match screams Jericho or Danielson winning. It also looks like the promotion will have a TV deal coming soon? It’s a matter now of who Tony Khan wants to be the face of ROH for a short time when they get started on television? (Prediction: Chris Jericho)

Andrew Ravens: Chris Jericho should retain. Claudio already had the title and Bryan and Sammy don’t need it. Jericho was crowned champion with the idea of him being the champ when they get their new TV deal, which is rumored to be happening soon. Jericho retains. (Prediction: Chris Jericho)

Robert Lentini: Chris Jericho made this match himself and put Sammy Guevara in it as his “backup.” There’s no way Sammy’s ego isn’t going to get in the way of that and he’s going to want to become the champion. Jericho’s plan will backfire and Bryan Danielson will emerge as the new ROH Champion. It would be a little ridiculous for Bryan Danielson to lose yet another title match in AEW but it is entirely possible. (Prediction: Bryan Danielson)

Consensus: Split

Ethan Page vs Brian Cage, Ricky Starks or Lance Archer

Jesse Velasquez: The two names who jumped off this page when this tournament started were Ethan Page and Ricky Starks. Both men have been long overdue for a higher spot on the card. It’s now a question of do they have Ricky win 3 matches in 2 days? Or do they have Page take advantage of a fatigued Starks and go over here? (Prediction: Ricky Starks)

Andrew Ravens: Regardless of what happens on Rampage, Page seems to be the guy that AEW has been building this tournament for and it’s a nice change to see him be pushed by the promotion instead of being someone on the undercard with no real direction. I don’t see him being a world champion, but he can become a uppercard guy. (Prediction: Ethan Page)

Robert Lentini: Ethan Page is scheduled to face either Lance Archer or Ricky Starks at Full Gear. Archer and Starks will battle on Rampage to determine Page’s opponent in the finals. I think Ethan Page makes the most sense as the winner of the tournament and MJF’s first opponent as champion at Dynamite: Winter is Coming. I guess I’ve given away my prediction for the AEW World Championship a couple of times already. (Prediction: Ethan Page)

Consensus: Split

Death Triangle vs The Elite

Jesse Velasquez: We’ve seen the teases of The Elite coming back from their suspension after the Brawl Out at All Out. In my opinion, this will be match of the night from an in-ring standpoint by a wide margin. The 6 men involved have some incredible chemistry, as we’ve seen over the last 3 years in AEW. The trios titles will go back to the original champions. (Prediction: The Elite)

Andrew Ravens: The Elite needs to win the titles here as they were stripped of them for the All Out incident that everyone knows all too well. This could be one of the best matches on the card and I see The Elite looking to make a statement in this one. (Prediction: The Elite)

Robert Lentini: The inaugural Trios Champions, The Elite, will be making their return to All Elite Wrestling after over two months of being suspended for their role in the fight in the media scrum brawl following All Out. Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks will return to the company with a win and reclaim the championships they never lost. (Prediction: The Elite)

Consensus: The Elite

Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter

Jesse Velasquez: Judging by crowd responses, Tony Khan has a decision to make here. It’s my belief that the promotion wants to hold off for Toni Storm vs Thunder Rosa when she returns from injury. Yet the fans are solidly behind Jamie Hayter over the last couple of months. I can’t see Khan making the same mistake he did when The Acclaimed lost at AEW All Out, in spite of the biggest crowd reaction on the show. (Prediction: Jamie Hayter)

Andrew Ravens: The oddsmakers expect to see a title change here with Hayter going over. I see this being a pick ’em that could go either way. Storm should remain champion until Thunder Rosa gets back to do the title unification bout. However, an argument could be made that to make the interim titles mean something then they need to be booked like the regular titles, and thus title changes happen. I’ll side with Storm, though. (Prediction: Toni Storm)

Robert Lentini: The fans haven’t really gotten behind Toni Storm at all since becoming the Interim Women’s Champion. Part of that is the interim label, and also the fact that she hasn’t done anything interesting with the title. Toni will likely retain just to set up the inevitable match against AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa. I’d like to be wrong (I usually am) but I’m picking Toni to retain at Full Gear. (Prediction: Toni Storm)

Consensus: Split

Jon Moxley vs. MJF

Jesse Velasquez: Jon Moxley has done a phenomenal job of holding the AEW World title multiple times over the course of the last 6 months. He’s been the foundation of AEW through this tumultuous 2022 calendar year. Yet it’s time for MJF to take the top spot. He’s been groomed for this over the last couple of years and is ready now more than ever. He’ll do it with the help of William Regal as he turns on Moxley, costing him the title and siding with the new AEW World champion. (Prediction: MJF)

Andrew Ravens: MJF should and will win the title here. I would be shocked if he doesn’t, especially with him now being a babyface. What will be interesting is how AEW handles Moxley from there. Does he turn heel on MJF, and that’s what leads them to a rematch? Do they go their separate ways? That’s the question. (Prediction: MJF)

Robert Lentini: Maxwell Jacob Friedman is winning this match and leaving Full Gear as the new AEW World Champion. This Saturday, the Devil will get his due, and may God help us all. (Prediction: MJF)

Consensus: MJF

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