Ricky Starks has been added to the card for Friday’s AEW Rampage episode with the promise that fans will hear from him via a promo segment.
This was a notable addition to the lineup as Starks has notably been absent from television as of late, with his last televised appearance being on AEW Dynamite on September 28.
Per Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestler Observer Newsletter, the reasoning behind Starks’ absence from TV has been somewhat explained.
Where Has Starks Been?
Meltzer wrote, “Ricky Starks hasn’t been in the ring for a few weeks due to something not wrestling related but he’ll be back on the show for a promo this week.”
Although no other details were given, it does clear up any speculation of Starks being injured. His return tonight is a step in the right direction for fans of Starks who wish to see him return to in-ring action.
Starks’ most recent prominent feud was with former tag partner, Powerhouse Hobbs, as Hobbs defeated Starks during AEW All Out on September 4 before their rematch during the Grand Slam edition of AEW Rampage that was billed as a ‘lights out’ match where he defeated Hobbs with a Roshambo securing the pin.
Other things confirmed for Rampage include a dream match between Orange Cassidy and NJPW’s Katsuyori Shibata for the AEW All Atlantic championship.
Dr. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter vs., Madison Rayne & Skye Blue and more names for Full Gear Eliminator Tournament will be announced.
Over the last couple of weeks, during AEW programming there have been vignettes of The Elite being erased from programming. On this week’s episode of Dynamite, a hand was shown deleting files of The Elite and replacing them with files of Death Triangle. Questions started coming in asking if Matt Hardy was the one deleting the files. He did have a “Delete The Elite” shirt after all.
In the latest episode of “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy”, he and host Jon Alba were discussing the imminent return of The Elite. Hardy stated, “I’m very happy they’re back. I will say this right here, right now: those guys didn’t do anything wrong in that situation. I think they were the victims. I’m telling you from a first person perspective. I was there. I witnessed it all. I love all three of those guys. I’ve known Matt and Nick forever. I’ve just gotten to know Kenny while working with AEW. I am very happy they are returning to TV and they are back. They’re back in the mix. They deserve to be in the mix.”
Hardy provided this clarification in response to media coverage of his quotes about the events that transpired at All Out:
My comments from this week’s @matthardypod have been misconstrued. I WAS NOT at All Out 2022. I DID NOT say I witnessed the events at All Out. I witnessed the entire process in real time over the months & stand by my comment that the Elite were not in the wrong.
Matt Hardy believes The Elite are the “heart and soul of the AEW”
Hardy also said that he was excited for Colt Cabana’s return this past Wednesday. “Colt Cabana had been away from AEW for a very long time. It is what it is. You know, I don’t really have to sit here and go into things. We’re in a position where he can be back on AEW TV and I’m glad to have him back.”
With the investigation being over, Hardy said, “I’m glad their names have been cleared and they’re coming back to TV. And I’m very happy to see Colt Cabana who I think is a great human being and also a great performer. I’m very happy to see him back on AEW programming.”
Hardy saw the Young Bucks the day before recording his podcast. He says he told them that they “are the heart and soul of the AEW. I feel like The Elite — Matt and Nick and Kenny — in many ways the identity of AEW. You know, without those guys, you don’t have AEW as it is right now. It would be very, very different. Tony Khan may have started wrestling in some capacity. AEW, All Elite Wrestling, those guys are the identity of AEW. So it’s very important to have them back.”
“Full Gear” is just a couple weeks away, so it seems that The Elite will return then if they don’t came back sooner.
Whether fans like it or not, Logan Paul is a contracted WWE Superstar, but will his brother follow in his footsteps?
Logan certainly believes so, as he recently told Ryan Satin that Jake in WWE will happen (via Bleacher Report.)
“Truthfully, I think it’s inevitable. I’m biased, but I think what we’re doing is incredibly exciting, at least for me, personally, it is incredibly exciting.
“If I were watching two brothers take over, and I use that word intentionally, take over two highly entertaining sports, boxing and wrestling in a way that has never been done before, my curiosity would be peaked.”
WWE Co-Chief Executive Officer & Director Nick Khan has signed a new long-term contract with the company.
Khan put pen to paper back on October 19, According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The deal runs through August 5, 2025.
The terms of the new agreement include a base salary of $1,350,000 per year, but there are several more components to his compensation package. Khan will also receive stock grants of $3,575,000 per year and has an annual target bonus of an additional $2,160,000.
Nick Khan
Khan received $15 million in stock when he first joined WWE in 2020 as company President. He quickly became one of the most powerful players in the entire industry, and now serves as Co-CEO along with Stephanie McMahon.
Nick Khan has helped lead WWE during a very prosperous time and is credited with helping the company secure various lucrative business deals. WWE stock was around $45/share when he joined the company over two years ago. Today, it’s priced around $75, a very healthy 66% increase. The stock is up 50.24% year-to-date, as of this writing.
WWE’s Executive Team
WWE’s executive team has undergone a significant shakeup over the past few years, with high-profile departures including Vince McMahon, and former co-Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson.
The following is an updated look at WWE’s executive structure, as of November 4, 2022:
Tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown takes place from St. Louis, Missouri at the Enterprise Center. This show was taped last week, because the WWE crew is currently in Saudi Arabia for Saturday’s Crown Jewel premium live event.
SmackDown will focus on the final build to Crown Jewel. Next week, we’ll begin the road to WWE’s next Premium Live Event, January’s Royal Rumble.
Here’s a preview for what to expect on SmackDown, followed by a link to the Spoiler Results:
The main event will see Gunther defending the Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio.
Former SmackDown Women’s champion Liv Morgan faces Sonya Deville in a No-DQ match to open the show.
LA Knight faces Ricochet
Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya
Braun Strowman will be in action against 5 ‘enhancement’ wrestlers.
Plus, we’ll see appearances by by Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos, The New Day, Ridge Holland and Butch, MVP and more.
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is confident in the company’s women’s division but wishes they were given more time.
Cargill is the inaugural holder of the TBS Championship, a title she has held for over 300 days.
The 30-year-old wrestler debuted in AEW in November 2020 and has remained undefeated since then.
Give Us Time
AEW has received praise from fans for being an alternative to WWE programming, but one major issue with audiences is the company’s women’s division.
Many have said that the promotion does not give their female wrestlers enough opportunities, especially when compared to WWE’s Women’s Revolution.
Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, Cargill said she is sure the women would be able to deliver if given the chance.
“I know for a fact the women in the locker room, all of them can give five-star matches. We just need the time to do it and the time to shine. I mean, we have a very talented roster of ladies. It’s just, we have one match to show and we’re trying to do the best and perform and maximize the minutes that we’re given.”
When asked about the response from fans, and the accusation that AEW does not want to invest in their women’s division, Cargill said it wasn’t her place given how fresh she is to wrestling.
“I’m new to the industry so I’m gonna sit back and just watch how things are going. I haven’t worked in other industries. I mean, we’re going to keep on maximizing the time that we have and just trying to kill and prove that we are worthy of more time.”
AEW Evolution?
In 2018, WWE held their first (and to-date only) all-women’s event ‘Evolution,’ and NWA followed suit with their Empowerrr show in 2021.
Speaking about an all-female Pay-Per-View, Cargill was on board with the idea.
“The all-women’s pay-per-view, I think if that happened it would be a home run. There’d be matchups for the faces that haven’t been on Dynamite and Rampage or haven’t been on there in many months. It would be a great, stellar show. I’m very certain of that.
“Especially with not having to worry about fighting for positions or anything like that. It’s just an all-woman show and everybody has time. I think it’d be outstanding
Cargill was also asked about a dram-match created by fans that would pit her against WWE’s Sasha Banks.
“I have no idea [whether a match with Sasha Banks could happen.] Fans always want to create these fantasy matches that probably never happen. But I mean, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Let’s just say that with wrestling and how unpredictable wrestling is, you just never know.”
In addition to WWE and NWA, Impact Wrestling held several women’s events as part of their One Night Only series of shows, titled ‘Knockouts Knockdown.’
Dealing with Fans
Like many wrestlers, Cargill has had her fair share of toxic fans who use social media to troll and harass her.
The issue is unfortunately much more prevalent for female wrestlers, but Cargill hasn’t shied away from firing back with comments of her own.
When asked about dealing with toxic fans, Cargill said it’s important to have a thick skin, but people shouldn’t be shocked with a response.
“If you’re in this position you should be okay with taking criticism and taking people’s judgments and opinions about you. It’s just when you [fans] throw something, be able to take it back.
“This is what we do. This is our job. We’re entertainment and you can’t throw stuff at an entertainer and don’t think we’re not gonna spin it back.”
Cargill and other AEW stars recently called out a fan on Twitter for comments made about Marina Shafir.
Logan Paul looks to do the impossible this weekend at WWE Crown Jewel. The social media influencer turned boxer turned wrestler challenges Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in less than 24 hours.
Paul has proven to be a natural inside squared circle. He possesses the winning formula of athleticism and charisma that has led countless performers to legendary status.
WWE signing Logan Paul to a multi-year contract in June 2022 seems like a stroke of genius. According to Paul Heyman, he’s been pushing the company to get in business with Paul for years.
Heyman appeared on the latest episode of WWE’s After The Bell podcast. The Special Counsel to The Tribal Chief tells Corey Graves new co-host Kevin Patrick that he wanted to procure Paul’s services back in 2019, when he served as the Executive Director of Monday Night Raw.
This Is Global Publicity
“When I was executive director of RAW, I had pitched Logan Paul to Vince McMahon to get involved in a scenario that would ultimately culminate in a SummerSlam or Survivor Series or a Royal Rumble match,” said Heyman.
Say what you want about the the Paul brothers, they’ve made a dramatic impact on the world of professional boxing and prize fighting. Heyman saw this disruption coming a mile away and felt that WWE should get in on the axction.
“So, I had seen the Paul brothers disrupting the boxing industry from the very beginning when they got involved. I mean, they just came in at such a level and with so much fanfare. This is a no brainer to the Tribal Chief, and it’s a no brainer to his Special Counsel.”
Heyman, a master promoter and opportunist, saw the Paul brothers’ massive audience that could be leveraged to bring additional exposure to WWE and The Bloodline.
“This is global publicity,” he added. “This is a chance to take Logan Paul’s audience and put those eyeballs on WWE, and more importantly, on Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman and the Bloodline. Of course, the desire is to retain as many eyeballs as possible because we’re trying to seduce them with our brand of entertainment.”
Colt Cabana was emotional during his return to AEW programming on this week’s AEW Dynamite, but his big comeback wasn’t exactly for him.
Cabana returned to challenge Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho in a losing effort to The Wizard.
This marked Cabana’s first match on AEW TV in close to a year, with his previous being a November 2021 loss to Bryan Danielson.
For the Locker Room
During Cabana’s lengthy absence from AEW TV, rumors circulated that this was down to CM Punk.
It had been suggested that Punk had arranged for Cabana to be removed from AEW TV, due to the bad blood between the former best friends.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer writes that Colt’s World Championship opportunity was “more for the locker room than anything else.”
AEW President Tony Khan wanted to give the roster some positivity after “months of being ostracized for reasons that had nothing to do with him.”
It is reported that Cabana has a lot of friends in All Elite Wrestling.
Colt’s AEW Journey
Hired in 2019, Cabana started off for AEW as an agent, before being put on Dark and Dark: Elevation as part of the Dark Order.
After returning from filming for Young Rock (where he plays the Brooklyn Brawler) Cabana was no longer used as an agent, which coincides with the time Ace Steel was hired.
When Cabana’s contract was set to expire, he was given the offer to work for Ring of Honor for the same amount of money.
The Observer confirmed reports that Cabana’s appearance on Dynamite was a one-off and he remains part of the Ring of Honor roster.
AEW’s roster is hoping for more opportunities to compete in the ring and is hopeful that untelevised house shows will soon be a reality.
Since forming in 2019, AEW has held Pay Per Views, TV, and produces content on YouTube, but has yet to hold house shows.
Many plans AEW President Tony Khan had were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which caused shows to take place with zero love fans.
House Shows
House shows are a staple of several promotions, including WWE and Impact Wrestling, and AEW’s roster hopes to be next.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that there are no “definitive plans” for the company to host untelevised events.
AEW’s roster has made it clear to higher-ups that they would like to wrestle more and are pushing for house shows.
Meltzer said that AEW house shows would be great to develop younger, more inexperienced talent.
However, it’s reported that AEW would struggle to host live events at this time as when it comes to life events, AEW is the “coldest” it has ever been.
Who’s on the Card?
In his report, Meltzer said that while AEW has its selection of main eventers for potential house shows, not everyone would be on the shows.
It was noted that stars like Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson would be draws, age, and prior injuries could keep house show appearances to a minimum.
Meltzer added that while MJF is certainly young enough to make do regular house shows, it would clash with his character, who competes sporadically.
Will The Rock return to the ring to face his cousin Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39?
That is the question everyone has been asking, and there’s no shortage of fans hoping to see it happen.
Both men have teased a match in the past, and the Los Angeles setting for WrestleMania would certainly make sense given the Brahma Bull’s success in Hollywood.
Acknowledge Him
Both The Rock and Reigns are part of the legendary Anoa’I wrestling family, with relations including Yokozuna, Umaga, Rikishi, The Usos and many more.
In 2018, Lance Anoa’I made his debut for Major League Wrestling, where he competes to this day, but has his prediction for the dream match as he told Sportskeeda.
“I would pick Roman. I feel that he has the youth, the strength, and the time to dedicate to fans of the wrestling federation.”
Lance Anoa’I.
While Lance hasn’t made his name in WWE like his relations, he did appear on Raw in 2019 as part of Reigns’ feud at the time with Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre.
Whatever it Takes
WWE has not publicly confirmed a Reigns Vs. Rock match, though the Brahma Bull’s Hollywood schedule is noticeably free for the first quarter of 2023.
Speaking about the match, Lance is confident WWE will do all it can to make the bout happen.
“That rumor or that dream match or whatever you want to call it has been in the ears of everybody for a long time. Whether it will come to [fruition] or not, who knows but knowing WWE, they’ll probably do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
While WWE no doubt wants the match, The Rock may be hesitant, as an injury suffered at WrestleMania 29 forced the filming of Hercules to be delayed, costing a lot of money.
Maria Kanellis-Bennett is not ashamed to be considered a WWE Diva, despite the stigma that era of women’s wrestling has with fans.
In 2015, WWE began its ‘Women’s Revolution’ and has made a concerted effort to treat women’s wrestling with more respect.
This revolution has resulted in female wrestlers being referred to as Superstars, the introduction of Women’s Tag Titles, and 2018’s all-female event WWE Evolution.
Proud
Maria debuted during the heights of WWE’s Divas division in 2004, and her first match the following year would be a Lingerie Pillow Fight.
This era of women’s wrestling has often been ridiculed by fans, especially compared to the more athletic competition seen today.
Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, Maria admitted to having mixed feelings about the Divas era for a long time.
“It was a different time. I’ve gone through so many transitions of loving that time, hating that time and now I’ve come to a really happy place where I love that I was able to come from that generation of women.”
Maria Kanellis-Bennett.
Kanellis-Bennett’s time in the Divas era would end in February 2010 when she was released, and by the time of her return, the Women’s Revolution was two years in effect.
Respect
While Maria may have come to terms with her part in the Divas era, many fans still believe that this era was detrimental to women’s wrestling.
Addressing the apparent lack of respect, Maria said the idea made little sense given how many women of the time remain big names in wrestling today.
“You have the people that were considered Divas, the Beth Phoenixes who have come and gone back and forth with NXT and have had matches on WrestleMania just recently. The Divas have done a lot and we really set the stage for everything moving forward. Whether people want to respect that or not that’s up to them.
“The facts are the facts and the facts are that Beth is still relevant. Maryse is still relevant. Mickie [James] is still relevant. I’m still doing my thing. Go down the line. The [Bella] Twins have had kids and come back. We’re still a part of this industry and we are still part of this generation. Love us or hate us but you got to respect us.”
“Love us or hate us but you’ve got to respect us.”
Maria Kanellis
Death Threats
While WWE treats their women with much more respect now, there are some fans who didn’t get the memo.
Kanellis-Bennett captured the 24/7 Championship in July 2019, the first pregnant person to hold gold.
Speaking about working with WWE while pregnant, Maria recalled the incredibly rude comments she received.
“I was having so many problems of like getting into the mode of motherhood, and like seeing all the comments of like, ‘oh your husband is just this and you’re just that and how dare you have a kid!’ and saying things about my daughter. She was like a couple of days old and I’m getting like death threats.”
Maria and her husband Mike would welcome their son Carver Mars Bennett into the world in February 2020.
Last month, Shawn Spears made his return to AEW when Rampage debuted in Toronto, Canada. He was in a match with FTR against The Embassy. Prior to that, Spears was last on AEW programming back in May when he lost a steel cage match against Wardlow.
His mother had terminal cancer. Spears explained that in Canada, “you can set yourself up on how you want to go, so that’s what she did. She wanted to go at home, surrounded by her children. She made me promise that if something happened where she wasn’t able to walk, speak, anything like that, that it was time to go.”
Shawn Spears Mother Left Him With One Last Lesson
Shawn Spears
“I was actually supposed to go to a signing on a Friday and she was doing well. But a major stroke had hit on Friday and basically paralyzed her ability to speak, walk, move, anything. So when we were finally all back home — all the kids were there — I had to make the decision to go ahead with the process. She could squeeze your hand, so I was asking her if you’re ready to go, squeeze and let me know she’s ready to go. Everything was on her own terms. That was the most beautiful thing. And that was the thing that brought me comfort during that time was that it was her call and we’re doing things how she wanted them done.
But the lesson that I learned, the final one that she left with me — and it’s something I always knew — but it was made more paramount in that moment: family was everything. That’s all that mattered to her. So, all the money that I have would not have been able to take away her cancer. All that mattered is that she wanted to be surrounded by her kids.”
“And once she passed, it was just like, you don’t believe it, but it’s just right in front of you. You can have everything together. You can have your job, your life, your marriage, everything is together, but then you feel absolutely lost. You don’t know where to start, you don’t know where to go or how to move and it kind of freezes time for a little while.”
After speaking about why he was absent from TV, Spears received many messages from people who had recently lost people. He tried to respond to as many as he could. He reminded fans that we are all going to go through it eventually.
Former AEW star and Dark Order member Alan Angels has a new squad in Impact Wrestling.
Alan is now a part of Eric Young’s Violent By Design faction in Impact Wrestling. Angels helped Eric and Deaner beatdown Sami Callihan on tonight’s episode of Impact.
Angels took to Twitter after the segment and said that he loved violence after joining the faction.
Alan Angels contract with All Elite Wrestling expired at the end of June earlier this year and he exited the promotion. Speaking with Fightful, Angels reveals that he was told be AEW that they were not going to offer him a full-time deal and wanted to pay the 24-year-old per appearance.
“My contract, I was told about a month and a half ago, that they are not going to re-sign me. They did offer me a per-appearance, which I decided not to take, just solely based off what I thought was best for me. I feel there is more room to grow outside of AEW, right now, at this point in my career. It’s nothing against AEW or Tony Khan or any of the higher-ups in the business. It’s a personal thing.
“I feel, me going on the Indies and showing people what I can really do and showing people that I am a good fucking wrestler, I feel that will raise my stock — not saying it’s impossible to do that in AEW, but I guess the perception, how fans perceive Alan Angels, is, I’m the bottom guy in Dark Order and I feel I can change that outside of AEW. It’s possible in AEW, but I feel it would take longer.
On top of that, I never got to have a great Indie career. I was on the Indies for three years, got lucky, and got scooped up. As a wrestling fan, being an Indie wrestler and doing cool ass Indie shows, that’s a thing I want to do. There are plenty of places to make money in pro wrestling right now. That’s not to say that I won’t be back in AEW, maybe I will, I don’t know, but that’s pretty much it. They offered me something, I felt it was better for me not to. That’s all it was.”
Ring of Honor Champion Chris Jericho has made it his mission to destroy the legacy of the promotion since winning the title.
Jericho captured the ROH Championship from Claudio Castagnoli at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Since becoming the champion, Jericho has defeated Bandido, Bryan Danielson, Dalton Castle and Colt Cabana. He’s also attacked ROH commentator Ian Riccoboni and ring announcer Bobby Cruise.
Chris Jericho had an eventful night last night on AEW Dynamite. In addition to defending the ROH Championship, The Wizard also called out Baltimore Ravens QB Lamer Jackson while he was seated in the front row. The former NFL MVP has since responded.
Jericho issued an Open Challenge last night on AEW Dynamite to “any former ROH Champion”. Former ROH Tag Team Champion Colt Cabana answered the call. Colt Cabana and his former friend, now seemingly mortal enemy CM Punk captured the ROH Tag Team Championships in 2004.
The Second City Saints;Colt Cabana and C.M.Punk,celebrate winning the ROH Tag Team Championship.April 24,2004,Chicago Ridge,https://t.co/2xwlJdVJsl always,Punk is the life of the party.? pic.twitter.com/rzYoSUyddc
— Rasslin' History 101 (@WrestlingIsKing) June 5, 2018
Cabana got a big pop from the crowd in Baltimore and “welcome back!” chants echoed throughout the arena. The 42-year-old took to Twitter today to react to his return to All Elite Wrestling.
I returned to national tv last night on @AEW. I love wrestling!
One of the main factors in the CM Punk and The Elite saga was the disappearance of Colt Cabana from the Dark Order and AEW TV. Cabana rarely did anything besides stand with the Dark Order on TV but his absence all of the sudden was bizarre.
Colt’s return coincided with AEW wrapping up their investigation into AEW Brawl Out (the brawl during the media scrum). It is hard not to look at it as a shot at CM Punk and confirmation that Cabana was taken off of television at the request of the former two-time AEW World Champion.
Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez noted the timing of Colt’s appearance on last night’s edition of Dynamite and said that it all but confirms the reports of Punk not wanting Colt in AEW.
AEW star Shawn Spears recently joined Renee Paquette for an episode of The Sessions podcast.
Renee recently joined All Elite Wrestling as an interviewer. She formerly worked in WWE as Renee Young as an interviewer and a brief stint on the RAW commentary team. Spears performed in WWE under the name Tye Dillinger until he asked for his release from the company in February 2019. He signed with AEW a few months later in June.
During the interview with Renee, Shawn talked about former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze and if he will return to wrestling again. The Chairman said that Breeze has claimed that his in-ring career is over.
He still works out, he’s still in shape. There will be times we’ll hop in the ring and have 20, 25 minutes.
We just did that a couple of weeks ago with the Gunns, just at the school to get some cardio in. He can still go, he still does everything.
But I say to him, ‘Hey man, getting ready for a second run?’ He goes ‘Nah, [I’m] retired.’ So I don’t know. That’s the true answer. But I see the excitement sometimes when he hops in.
The 41-year-old added that he hopes that his training partner isn’t done for good and that Breeze will return to the squared circle someday soon.
He’s done very well for himself, he’s a very smart guy.
But I think it still creeps in every now and then, and I only know that because of how passionate he is when he teaches too.
So if he didn’t care, he’d be a little more relaxed. It’s just a matter of timing, or the right opportunity to present itself.
I hope that he’s not done, because he still has a lot to offer. Just an incredible coach, good human being, and a benefit to this industry.
Spears recently returned to AEW on Rampage in Toronto three weeks ago. He teamed with FTR to defeat The Embassy. After the match, Shawn announced that he hasn’t been around lately due to his mother passing away.
Chris Jericho issued an Open Challenge last night to any former ROH Champion and former ROH Tag Team Champion Colt Cabana answered the call.
Colt Cabana was ROH Tag Team Champions with former AEW World Champion CM Punk back in the day. Cabana put up a solid fight but in the end Jericho picked up the victory with the Codebreaker.
After the match, Jericho Appreciation Society attacked ROH announcer Ian Riccaboni but Blackpool Combat Club. JAS and BCC brawled on the entrance ramp to continue their never-ending rivalry until AEW security broke it up.
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Reacts to Chris Jericho Calling Him Out on Dynamite
Before the ROH Championship match, Jericho cut a promo and said he’d even kick Lamar Jackson’s ass tonight. Last night’s Dynamite episode was in the Chesapeake Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Ravens star quarterback was seated in the front row for the show and Jericho called him out. Lamar got a kick out of it and reacted on social media.
At a Ravens press conference earlier today, Lamar revealed that he didn’t hear what Jericho said at first but laughed after they told him. The former NFL MVP added that Jericho is “crazy” and that he enjoyed it because he was a huge wrestling fan growing up.
I got called out. I wasn’t thinking he was going to call me out. You know, Chris Jericho called me out. I didn’t really hear what he said at first and then they told me. I’m like ‘this man is crazy’. I enjoyed it though because growing up I was a huge fan of wrestling.
WWE Crown Jewel takes place this Saturday from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This will be the 4th Crown Jewel event for the company; it originated in 2018.
SEScoops correspondents Andrew Ravens, Thomas Lowson and Robert Lentini have assembled to provide our official WWE Crown Jewel predictions.
WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul
Thomas Lowson: Arguably the easiest match to predict, and that’s not knocking Paul who has proven to be impressive since arriving in WWE. But it’s of course going to be Roman Reigns winning. Maybe a story of Paul has him on the ropes, and has earned a modicum of respect from the Tribal Chief. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Robert Lentini: Roman Reigns is closing in on a ridiculous 800 days as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and he sure as hell isn’t losing the title to Logan Paul. The 27-year-old has been impressive in his two matches thus far in the company but he’s not the superstar to dethrone the Tribal Chief. Logan will get in his one lucky shot for a near fall and may even kick out of a Superman Punch. However, the Head of the Table will be too much for Logan and Roman’s incredible reign will continue after Crown Jewel. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Andrew Ravens: There’s no way that Paul is winning this match, but the way that WWE has built him up with the whole ‘I just need one lucky shot’ was a good attempt at it. Reigns should beat him in a short match because Reigns, WWE’s biggest star, should be able to beat Paul, who has only worked a handful of matches, in no time. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Consensus: Roman Reigns
Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross (Steel Cage Match)
Thomas Lowson: McIntyre has been on the serious back-foot in this feud, and really has been since losing at Clash at the Castle. With WWE eager to please the Saudi crowd, Expect McIntyre to get the win in Riyadh. Kross has firmly established himself back in WWE, now it’s time for Drew to get a win. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)
Robert Lentini: Drew McIntyre and Karrion Kross battled in a Strap match at Extreme Rules. Kross escaped with the victory after Scarlett interfered. Drew attacked Karrion in the parking lot on SmackDown and cost Kross a spot in a Fatal 4-Way match to determine the #1 contender for the IC Title. I’m not quite sure if the Karrion Kross experiment is working on SmackDown but I don’t think it is time to hand him a loss. McIntyre deserves a big win as well but I think it will have to come at another date. (Prediction: Karrion Kross)
Andrew Ravens: With Kross already beating McIntyre and the cage supposedly keeping Scarlett from interfering, Kross should take a loss with McIntyre getting the win. They’ve done a nice job of building up this feud, but I think it’s time to move on with the babyface getting his revenge. (Prediction: Drew McIntyre)
Consensus: Split
WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The Brawling Brutes
Thomas Lowson: This is far more tricky than you’d first think. On the one hand there’s the Usos, who have continued to dominate, and from an initial glance, this should just be another walk in the park. After all, the Brawling Brutes have hardly had their number. But with the story of Jey Uso getting so much attention, I’m going to predict the long-awaited title change. It’ll get the belts off the Usos, continue the divide in the Bloodline and the Brutes deserve a big win. (Prediction: The Brawling Brutes)
Robert Lentini: The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) are out for revenge after The Bloodline brutally attacked Sheamus on a recent episode of SmackDown. I just think Jimmy and Jey will get back to their “Ucey” ways at Crown Jewel and retain the titles. If not, the internal friction between Bloodline members will only get worse. (Prediction: The Usos)
Andrew Ravens: Although this has the potential to be the best match of the show, I don’t see a title change happening. Until Reigns gets closer to dropping the Undisputed WWE Universal Title, The Usos will remain champions. (Prediction: The Usos)
Consensus: Split
WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair vs. Bayley
Thomas Lowson: Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’m starting to grow tired of Belair on top. Perhaps it’s the old adage that the face challenger chasing the title is better than the face champion. Personally, I’m rooting for Bayley in this, but I doubt it’ll happen. Especially with the Last Woman Standing match. Wait until a triple threat (likely Belair, Bayley and Nikki Cross) for the title change, meaning Belair doesn’t take the pin. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Robert Lentini: Bianca Belair successfully defended the title against Bayley in a Ladder match last month at WWE Extreme Rules. Their rivalry has been going on for some time now and a Last Woman Standing match is the perfect stipulation to settle it. The Role Model will defeat Belair this time around and potentially set up a feud with a returning Becky Lynch. Damage CTRL’s attack on Becky is the storyline reason she has missed time while recovering from a shoulder injury. (Prediction: Bayley)
Andrew Ravens: This should be fun, but unless there is outside interference, I don’t see a title change happening on this show. Belair already beat Bayley, and this looks to be the blowoff match of the feud. Belair should retain. (Prediction: Bianca Belair)
Consensus: Split
Braun Strowman vs. Omos
Thomas Lowson: Little interest in this one to be honest. Both men are big and can do big moves. After seeing them repeatedly trade blows though, I’m curious as to how Crown Jewel will be different. (Prediction: Braun Strowman)
Robert Lentini: Omos and Braun Strowman have both been dominant as of late, seemingly defeating multiple enhancement talents on a weekly basis. They will battle at Crown Jewel to determine who the real giant is in the company. WWE seems to be rebooting their push for Omos, so I think the Nigerian Giant will get the victory with some outside interference from MVP. (Prediction: Omos)
Andrew Ravens: I think Braun should go over here because I don’t see what WWE officials do in Omos aside from the guy being really tall. Braun is a better promo and wrestler with the plus of being used as a title contender. Keep it short and to the point, and let’s move on. (Prediction: Braun Strowman)
Consensus: Split
The O.C. vs. The Judgment Day
Thomas Lowson: Perhaps the match I’m most interested in. Plenty has been said about Karl Anderson’s status for the show, but from all accounts, it looks like he’s locked in for Crown Jewel. I imagine Rhea Ripley will again try and be the difference maker, and WWE have certainly been making it clear that while she’s around, the Judgment Day have the advantage. I wouldn’t be too surprised if we see a female Superstar align with the O.C. (possibly Raquel Rodriguez going by recent Live events.) (Prediction: The O.C.)
Robert Lentini: The Judgment Day tried to recruit AJ Styles to the group and attacked him when he declined. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson made their triumphant return to the company and reunited The OC to battle The Judgment Day. Rhea Ripley has been the x-factor in this feud and has gotten the better of Gallows on back-to-back episodes of RAW. The OC are trying to find an equalizer to combat Rhea Ripley and it will be interesting to see who that is. The OC defeat Judgment Day and a mystery superstar prevents Rhea from interfering at Crown Jewel. (Prediction: The O.C.)
Andrew Ravens: As much as I would like to see WWE keep Judgment Day strong, I don’t see WWE beating Anderson and Gallows so early on in their return to the company, especially with a renewed push for Styles. The babyfaces go over, although I can see Judgment Day getting their revenge after the match. (Prediction: The O.C)
Consensus: The O.C.
Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
Thomas Lowson: The long-awaited sequel to their match from Royal Rumble 2022, and what I believe could be the match of the night. Will it be long? No. Physical? Yes! What’s made this feud so great is that unlike before, it isn’t rushed, and is free from distractions. No MVP. No Heyman. No Roman Reigns looming over it. This is simply Brock and Bobby. Personally, I’m predicting a Lesnar win, and the door to be open for a rubber match. WrestleMania Fight Pit anyone? (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Robert Lentini: Bobby Lashley defeated Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble in January but that was because Roman Reigns interfered in the match. Lesnar cost Lashley his United States Championship by attacking The All Mighty before his title defense against Seth Rollins. I predict that this will be pure carnage for about five minutes and The Beast Brock Lesnar will emerge from the wreckage victorious. (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Andrew Ravens: I see Lesnar going over here as he is coming off a loss to Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, and Lashley beat him in their first match at Elimination Chamber earlier this year. This should be a highlight-reel type of match, and they should do a third match at WrestleMania 39. (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Consensus: Brock Lesnar
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Asuka vs. Damage CTRL
Thomas Lowson: Another easy prediction. Bliss and Asuka have just won the titles, with this being Bliss’ first major title win since 2020, and Asuka’s first since 2021. While typically, a faction in multiple matches will win one and lose one, I doubt it this time. Sorry Damage CTRL. It will be a rough night in Riyadh. (Prediction: Alexa Bliss and Asuka)
Robert Lentini: Damage CTRL dropped the titles to Asuka and Alexa Bliss this past Monday on RAW. Bliss and Asuka should win on Saturday again. It doesn’t make sense to play hot potato with the Women’s Tag Team Championships and give them right back to Kai & Sky. (Prediction: Alexa Bliss and Asuka)
Andrew Ravens: WWE just added this because they need another match on the card, and in storyline, it makes sense as the champions do need a rematch as they lost the titles on Monday’s Raw. It wouldn’t make much sense to see WWE do another title change, but we’ve seen crazier things in WWE. (Prediction: Alexa Bliss and Asuka)
WWE Superstar Butch was once a huge part of Triple H’s NXT UK brand, but the pair’s first meeting left a lot to be desired.
Butch joined WWE as Pete Dunne in 2017 as part of the United Kingdom Championship tournament
Despite losing to Tyler Bate in the finals, Butch would win the title in May 2017, and would hold the title for 685 days.
First Meetings
Like its American counterpart, NXT UK saw a lot of involvement by Triple H, who was a key part of the brand being formed in 2017.
Speaking on the latest episode of Out of Character, Butch recalled doing a dark match before signing with WWE and how he had to fight hard (literally) to get the Game’s attention.
“I definitely met him very, very briefly. Me and Tyler [Bate] did a dark match before the show to test the cameras in Glasgow where we had our tryout. Regal picked us up to go and wrestle. I remember he was on his phone or whatever.
“We’re in there and we were just taking it as a job interview, right? So we were out there just putting our best foot forward, putting on the best match we possibly could. Then I remember halfway through, he puts his phone down and just starts watching. I remember him standing there and watching the whole thing.”
Speaking to The Game
While Butch was focused on the match, the idea of speaking for the first time with Triple H was an opportunity he realized he would not be getting again soon.
In the interview, Butch said that despite Triple H’s involvement in NXT UK, he didn’t speak much with the Hall of Famer.
“He was actually talking to Chris Jericho. We stood by the rail, really awkwardly. We thought ‘We’ve got to get five minutes with him if we can.’ Then eventually, Jericho turned around and asked us if we’re okay, what we needed. We said, ‘Oh, we just wanted to make sure everything you saw was okay. If there’s anything we could do differently to improve and get your thoughts.’ Triple H basically just said ‘No, that was great.'”
While the interaction between Butch and Triple H was short, Jericho was far more open.
“Jericho said, ‘Just give me five minutes I’ll come talk to you.’ We had a good chat with him and he had some really kind words to say and stuff. That was the only brief encounter I had with Triple H.”
After working in NXT UK, Butch was moved to NXT, where he held the NXT Tag Team Titles.
Upon arriving on SmackDown earlier this year, the Brit was given the Butch name, and he and Ridge Holland will challenge for Undisputed WWE Tag Champions The Usos at Crown Jewel.
On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Colt Cabana made his return to take on Chris Jericho for the Ring Of Honor (ROH) World Championship. He came up just short, losing to Jericho after a Code Breaker.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider offered an update on the situation. Johnson reports that Cabana’s Dynamite appearance was planned as a one-off event, and he’s still a part of the Ring Of Honor roster.
Cabana’s return was not about him returning to the AEW roster, but rather about Jericho simply knocking off another Ring Of Honor name.
Colt Cabana (Photo: AEW)
Some speculated that Cabana’s return was framed to be a shot at CM Punk amidst Punk’s current issues with AEW, and expected departure from the promotion. If it was, Johnson doesn’t expect anyone to admit it.
However, WrestleVotes did offer up a report on the situation, noting that Cabana’s appearance on Dynamite did not go unnoticed by WWE. The report could be indicating that WWE could swoop in and scoop up Punk for a return should things between him and AEW ultimately come to a close.
Colt Cabana showing up on Dynamite last night didn’t go unnoticed in Stamford. That’s all I’ll say on that right now…
We now have some idea of what WWE had planned for Randy Orton upon his return from injury.
Orton has been out-of-action for the past several months since he and Matt Riddle’s RAW Tag Team Title reign ended. However, initially Orton wasn’t expected to be sidelined as long as he has.
According to a report from WrestleVotes, the initial plan for Orton was to return and immediately turn on Riddle, sparking a feud between the pair.
Of course, those plans were initiated back in May, when Vince McMahon was still the frontman of WWE. Since, McMahon has retired and Triple H has assumed creative responsibilities.
There’s a possibility that Triple H could decide to go in a different direction. As for Riddle, WrestleVotes speculated that WWE might not have anything for Riddle at the moment because Orton isn’t back.
(via WWE)
Shortly after concluding his feud with Seth Rollins, Riddle has been working with Elias on RAW, teaming up against Alpha Academy on Monday Night RAW.
It will be interesting to see what WWE decides to do with both Randy Orton and Riddle should he eventually return. There’s said to be a bit of worry about Orton’s injury and its severity given how long he’s been away.
WWE is expected to be making regular cuts to NXT moving forward.
Earlier this week, WWE released names such as Bodhi Hayward, Sloane Jacobs, Erica Yan, Damaris Griffin, and Ru Feng from their developmental brand.
This isn’t something completely new, as regularly releasing talent is something that has been going on since Vince McMahon was still running operations.
However, under the Triple H regime, that practice will continue. Wrestling Observer Radio‘s Dave Meltzer shared a report on the situation recently.
WWE is planning on continuing to release NXT talent regularly if they feel they are not progressing the way the company wants.
Talent can expect to be let go anywhere from the six-month to one-year mark if progression expectations are not being met. Also, anyone who isn’t put on TV after two years can also expect to be let go.
Of course, Bodhi Hayward’s situation, in particular, was a bit different. Subsequent reports have since suggested that Hayward was actually a handful to deal with, which added to the company’s decision to let him go in the end.
While WWE will continue its efforts to search the globe for more potential stars, it seems they also have set a hard rule on how long they’re waiting to sit on a talent’s potential before cutting ties.
In a conversation of great years in professional wrestling history, 1992 has a tendency to go overlooked. The Golden Era in WWE was tapering off and business was slipping downward. Meanwhile, WCW went through its share of transitions, including Bill Watts taking over creative and instituting unpopular rules like making moves off the top rope illegal. Neither major promotion would really find its way the way they did again around 1996-1997 as the Monday Night War took off.
However, 1992 also featured a deceptive number of highlights and important shifts that set up the future of the business, making it arguably the greatest year in wrestling history, at least for the mainstream product in the US
1992 Had The Best Versions Of Important Matches
January 1992 saw the greatest Royal Rumble match of all time. Ric Flair put on the first iron man performance that culminated in a victory as he entered at number three and lasted an hour against a full catalog of WWE Superstars, including the Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, The Undertaker, Sid Justice, and Roddy Piper as legitimate contenders and a laundry list of iconic names in the supporting cast like Jake Roberts, Jim Duggan, The Big Boss Man, and The Texas Tornado to name a few. The match culminated in an electric finish with Hogan and Justice falling out—handing Flair the win and setting each other up as WrestleMania opponents. Speaking of WrestleMania, the event itself would feature arguably the best WWE Championship match in event history up to that point, with Flair defending against Savage.
On the WCW side of the equation, 1992 was host to the greatest War Games match of all time as the babyface Sting’s Squadron not only won an epic battle, but effectively ended The Dangerous Alliance, a great faction that crumbled by degrees after their defeat. This match featured a perfect blend of current top stars like Sting, Ricky Steamboat, and Rick Rude, alongside up and coming top talent like Steve Austin and Dustin Rhodes, with a fine mix of highly skilled and over role players like Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbyszko, Nikita Koloff, and Barry Windham rounding things out.
WWE SummerSlam drew a full stadium crowd in England for an event highlighted by arguably the best main event in the show’s history: Bret Hart vs. The British Bulldog for the Intercontinental Championship. This would prove to the be the first of many one-on-one PPV headliners for The Hitman as he rose up the ranks.
1992 Saw Major Stars Defined
1992 saw the evolution of Bret Hart. He started the year as Intercontinental Champion, stole the show beating Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 8, and went on to main event SummerSlam and Survivor Series alike. In between those events, he won his very first world championship, cementing him as a top guy.
January 1992 also saw Shawn Michaels famously superkick Marty Jannetty and throw him through the window of Brutus Beefcake’s Barbershop interview set. More than a simple heel turn or tag team split, this was the launch of one of the most important singles stars of the decade to follow.
Early 1992 was a critical point for The Undertaker as well. After a highly successful first year in WWE as a monster heel, there was a real risk of the character running its course. A babyface turn offered longevity and the rise of an unlikely favorite among the fan base. He’d defeat Jake Roberts at WrestleMania, and though he wouldn’t get back to the world title picture for some time, this run set him up to become an iconic character who spanned decades, as opposed to a monster with a couple-year shelf life.
On the WCW side of things, 1992 was the year when Ron Simmons realized his potential at the greatest level, becoming the first universally recognized black world champion after he defeated Big Van Vader.
1992 Was a Great Year For In Ring Performance
One of the biggest arguments in favor of 1992 comes down to in-ring quality. The world title picture in WWE tells its own story as the first year since 1983 when Hulk Hogan didn’t get his hands on the WWE Championship at all. In his place were a trio of all-time-great workers: Ric Flair, Randy Savage, and Bret Hart holding down the fort and elevating the quality of main event matches to a significant degree.
In WCW, Sting quite arguably reached his peak as an in-ring worker—an incredibly athletic and dynamic powerhouse who took well to being the franchise player. Meanwhile, Vader rose up not just an intimidating monster heel, but rare one who could work at an extremely high level. Add in Ricky Steamboat, Rick Rude, and Steve Austin all performing at the highest level and the company was quietly thriving when it came to big matches.
1992 may never get the full credit it deserves, but it was a historically important year, full of great wrestling as the business evolved and prepared for its next boom period. In addition the great signature matches, rise of top stars, and quality of performance on the whole, it was also the first year WWE staged a ladder match and the year WCW innovated Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal, all pointing the way toward even bigger things to come.
Bodhi Hayward was well-liked by fans and in the middle of a popular storyline, but that wasn’t enough to keep his job with WWE NXT.
Hayward was one of five Superstars released from the developmental brand this week, alongside Sloane Jacobs, Erica Yan, Ru Feng, and Damaris Griffin.
It has been reported that unlike previous years of ‘budget cuts,’ the releases this week were down to WWE not seeing enough improvement.
Trouble Backstage
Hayward’s release was the most surprising of the five, given that he was part of the Chase U stable at the time.
It was reported not long after that Hayward’s release was down to issues WWE had with him and not due to a lack of improvement.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shared more details about Hayward’s backstage issues.
With Bodhi Hayward, it was more than that [not showing enough progress.] They didn’t like the work ethic. They didn’t like that he was late to shows and didn’t show up to shows. The primary reason for everyone [else] was lack of progression. But for him it was a little bit more than that. It had to be enough to overcome the fact that he was actually in a storyline that was a long-term storyline, and that the crowd liked him.
Speaking about future prospects for Hayward, Meltzer said that there are options for the former NXT Superstar.
“He does have friends. He might be able to get hooked up some place. He has a good look. He’s got that going for him. People naturally liked him. So it took a lot for him to get cut. He would be the kind of guy they would want to keep. He did get injured, which didn’t help.”
What’s Next?
After his release, Hayward shared a video saying that he is “hurt” and “embarrassed” to be release.
Speaking about the video, Meltzer acknowledged that there is a big difference between promising big things and delivering.
“There are so many guys when they get cut from WWE, they do the big speech. ‘I’m going to come back and this and that.’ And there are guys who do. But seven or eight out of ten, you never hear from them again. They don’t do indies. Remember Dan Matha? ‘Oh yeah you’ll be seeing me! You’ll be seeing me!’ I never saw him again.”
While not confirmed, it is believed Hayward is dealing with a 30-day non compete clause, as is customary for releases from NXT.
WWE Crown Jewel comes at us this Saturday, live from Saudi Arabia. Despite recent warnings of violence and an “imminent attack” in the nation, WWE has pressed on with running the show. Several members of the WWE crew are already overseas getting ready for the event.
Here are the betting odds for WWE Crown Jewel, courtesy of Bet Online:
Roman Reigns (-5000) is heavily favored to retain his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship over Logan Paul (+1000).
Bianca Belair is a slight favorite (-160) to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship against Bayley (+120).
The Usos (-4000) are heavily favored to retain their WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships against The Brawling Brutes (+900).
Asuka and Alexa Bliss (-200) are favorites to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships over Damage CTRL (+150).
Brock Lesnar (-450) is a clear favorite over Bobby Lashley (+275).
Drew McIntyre is a slight favorite (-140) in his steel cage match against Karrion Kross (+100).
Braun Strowman is a heavy favorite (-700) to defeat Omos (+400).
The O.C. (-400) is favored to defeat The Judgment Day (+250).
Keep it locked to SEScoops this weekend, as we’ll be covering WWE Crown Jewel from all angles, including results and news coming out of the event.
Becky Lynch is crossing over to the universe of Young Rock, the hit show about the life of pro wrestler turned Hollywood megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Friday night’s Season 3 premiere, titled The People Need you, takes place in 1985 during the lead-up to the first WrestleMania event. Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Vince McMahon, Lou Albano, Liberace ans Cyndi Lauper will also be depicted.
The episode synopsis reads, “After losing the election, Dwayne Johnson is ready to withdraw from politics. In 1985, Rocky Johnson learns there’s consequences to crossing Vince McMahon.”
On Thursday morning, Dwayne Johnson provided a ‘first look’ at Becky Lynch as Cyndi Lauper on Young Rock.
The Rock says he was present for Becky’s audition for the role, and “We were all very impressed at her high level commitment as an actor to become Cyndi Lauper.”
Becky Lynch is one of the most popular Superstars in WWE. This appearance on Young Rock is not her first time testing the waters in Hollywood. She’s already appeared on a 2020 episode of the show Billions as well as the 2021 Paramount+ movie, Rumble.
The Man has been off WWE television sinceSummerSlam, when she suffered a separated shoulder during her match against Bianca Belair. Lynch was written out of storylines the next night on Raw due to a vicious attack from Damage CTRL.
Young Rock returns this Friday 8:30 PM EST on NBC.
