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Update On Robert Roode Amid WWE Absence

Anutosh Bajpai
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Robert Roode has seemingly provided an update on his status amid the various rumors about his absence from the WWE ring.

The former NXT champion recently posted a photo on Instagram on Thursday. He tagged in Southlake Orthopaedics and noted that he recently had a medical procedure done in Birmingham, AL:

“Heading home after what is hoped to be a successful trip to Birmingham AL. Big thank you to @southlakeortho and @andrews_sports_medicine for taking great care of me this week. Especially to the first class medical staff of Dr Micheal Ellerbusch , Dr Andrew Cordover and Dr Charles Carnel.”

Robert Roode joined WWE back in 2016. He had a successful run in NXT where he won the brand’s top title once during his tenure.

The former TNA world champion made his main roster debut in August 2017. He has been a regular for WWE programming ever since and has won multiple titles in the company.

Roode however, hasn’t been seen on WWE programming in the recent while. His last match came on June 25 where he competed against Omos on a live event.

There is no word on if Robert Roode is expected to stay out of action following the medical procedure. We will keep you posted on his status.

Dr. Chris Amann Reportedly No Longer Working For WWE

Robert Lentini
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Longtime ringside physician Dr. Chris Amann has reportedly retired from WWE.

According to PW Insider, Amann reportedly gave his notice some time ago and has officially retired from his position with WWE this month.

Chris joined the company in 2008 after working as a physician for the 2008 United States Olympic team. He was the senior ringside physician that worked with both WWE and NXT talent. Chris also oversaw the medical care of other ringside physicians and trainers on the staff.

Dr. Chris Amann sues CM Punk

Long before the meltdown following AEW All Out, CM Punk had issues with WWE and Dr. Chris Amann.

In 2014, CM Punk was interviewed on The Art of Wrestling podcast, hosted by Colt Cabana (or Scott Colton as referred to be Punk during his media scrum rant).

Punk claimed during the podcast that the doctor misdiagnosed a lump on his back as a “fatty deposit” and it was later revealed to be an MRSA infection. Chris Amann later sued both CM Punk and Colt Cabana for defamation. His argument was that the words said on the podcast called into question his ability to perform his duties as a physician.

The trial lasted about a week and found that neither CM Punk or Colt Cabana were liable for defamation.

After the European tour, the whole European tour I am dry heaving after every match. I’m on all fours after every match and I’m either puking for real or I am just dry heaving because I don’t have anything in my stomach. I have no appetite. I don’t know what is up and what is down.

I can’t sleep, I can’t f***ing train. Doc’s like, ‘Oh you are sick, here is a Z-Pak.’ They Z-Pakked me to death, so much that in December I **** my pants on a SmackDown because that’s what antibiotics do to you.

CM Punk on Dr. Chris Amann

Jim Cornette Criticizes The Booking Of WWE SmackDown Star: “What Are You Supposed To Think About Her?”

Robert Lentini
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Jim Cornette is not a fan of how WWE has been booking SmackDown star Lacey Evans as of late.

She returned to the company with a series of vignettes in which she spoke about her difficulties as a child, and her time in the military but it ultimately led to her being a heel on WWE TV.

On last Friday’s edition of the blue brand, SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan defeated Lacey Evans in a singles match. After her victory, Liv set Lacey up on a table and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Liv connected with a Senton through the table and sent a message to Ronda Rousey after the match.

Liv Morgan will be defending the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Ronda Rousey in an Extreme Rules match at the Premium Live Event on October 8th.

Jim Cornette Criticizes WWE’s Booking of Lacey Evans

Wrestling legend Jim Cornette shared his thoughts on WWE’s booking of Lacey Evans on a recent episode of his Drive-Thru podcast. Cornette wondered if Lacey had pissed someone off backstage and claimed that he has never seen a more talented female performer booked so poorly.

Who did Lacey Evans piss off?,” asked Cornette. “That is my question. Because I don’t know that I’ve seen a more talented female performer booked in such ridiculous sh**y ways ever from any company. What are you supposed to think about her? They had her do those promos, again part of this I’m sure was Vince, and some weird Vince idea that he had.

They had her do the promos as the abused child, the military hero, and a determined young woman, which all led up to her being a heel for some reason. She’s great as a heel. But now they are using her as f***ing cannon fodder for this Liv Morgan experiment of trying to make people believe that Liv Morgan is, now or ever has been, or should be a professional wrestler.

H/T: Sportskeeda Wrestling

Backstage Update On When WWE Is Expected To Reveal The ‘White Rabbit’

Robert Lentini
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WWE is reportedly planning on unveiling the ‘White Rabbit’ at an upcoming Premium Live Event.

For several weeks, WWE has been running a cryptic teaser campaign featuring a mysterious white rabbit. The company has been playing the 1967 song “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane during live events and occasionally during commercial breaks of RAW or SmackDown.

A QR code appeared on a recent edition of RAW as Austin Theory made his way to the ring. The code brought fans to a secret WWE website where fans saw a “Hang Man” game. The question was “who killed the world?” and the answer was “YOU DID”. Another QR code appeared during this past Monday’s episode of the red brand and took fans to a TikTok video when scanned.

The video features the same question and answer from the Hang Man game with past and present wrestlers saying the words. The number “40701” was also displayed and fans uncovered that is the zip code for Corbin, Kentucky. You can check out our deep dive on WWE’s White Rabbit here.

WWE Reportedly Will Unveil The White Rabbit At Extreme Rules

According to a new Fightful Select report, the company plans to reveal the White Rabbit at Extreme Rules on October 8th.

Fightful stated that those they have spoken with backstage in WWE said that the teaser campaign has been more successful than they envisioned and has generated incredible buzz for the company. The report noted that they were not told if the “White Rabbit” will physically be at Extreme Rules or not and the reveal is expected to be Bray Wyatt.

WWE Has “Significant Plans” For Popular Raw Superstar

Andrew Ravens
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Fans can expect to see Finn Balor be booked as a main event player soon under the creative vision of Triple H on WWE programming. 

Balor was pushed as a top star in NXT under Triple H, where he held the NXT Title several times. However, on the main roster, he was only briefly used as a top star when he first arrived in 2016, becoming the first-ever Universal Champion at SummerSlam. However, he was sidelined due to an injury he suffered in that bout against Seth Rollins. 

Finn Balor’s Bright Future

WWE has significant plans for Balor in the months ahead, according to WrestleVotes:

“I’m told that significant plans are lined up for Finn Balor in the future. I don’t know exactly for what those plans are, but he is a strong favorite of the new leadership group. Expect Finn to play a big role in the foreseeable future of WWE.”

WWE has kept The Judgment Day strong under two different regimes in the way of Vince McMahon, and now Triple H. Edge first created the group alongside Reha Ripley and Damian Priest. 

This past June at Hell in a Cell, Judgement Day beat Balor, AJ Styles, and Liv Morgan. The following night on Raw, Balor turned heel by attacking Edge and joining the group. 

At next Saturday’s Extreme Rules event from Philadelphia, Balor is slated to wrestle Edge in an I Quit Match.

Several Notable Impact Wrestling Contracts Expiring Soon

Andrew Ravens
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Impact Wrestling officials will be looking to re-sign several of its talent as their contracts are slated to expire. 

It was previously reported that Mia Yim’s deal was slated to expire this year. Chris Sabin is under contract with Impact Wrestling through this year.

The Names

Mia Yim

Fightful Select reported today Yim has been under a short-term deal with Impact carrying her into October. The exact date is October 9th, which would make her a free agent after that date. This would mean she is under contract through next month’s Bound  For Glory pay-per-view. 

Also, Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven’s deals are currently set to expire soon.

Yim previously worked for Impact from 2015 to 2017 under the ring name of Jade, where she won the Knockouts Championship. Yim also became the Queen of the Knockouts in 2016 prior to signing with WWE in 2018.

Yim was among the names to be released by WWE last November, including her husband Keith Lee. 

Yim made her return to Impact Wrestling this past May at the Under Siege event, where she saved Taya Valkyrie from a post-match beatdown at the hands of Deonna Purrazzo.

Randy Orton Appears in Court for WWE/2K Sports Tattoo Trial

Andrew Ravens
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The trial for the Randy Orton WWE 2K tattoo lawsuit is underway after being pushed back several times over the past couple of years.

In 2018, tattoo artist Catherine Alexander brought a lawsuit against WWE, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., 2K Games, Inc., 2K Sports, Inc., Visual Concepts Entertainment, Yuke’s Co., Ltd., and Yuke’s LA Inc.

She claims in the lawsuit that those parties have infringed on her copyright by using the tattoo work she did on Orton in video games without her permission. She performed the tattoo work on Orton between 2003 and 2008. Although Orton is not a defendant in the case, he does have a part to play as a witness.

The Trial

Randy Orton posing

The trial officially began this past Monday, September 26. Pwinsider reported today that Orton testified as a witness on Wednesday, September 28.

It’s a notable case as the result will set s a legal precedent when it comes to the usage of people’s tattoos in video games.

Orton hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since the May 20th episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown, where he and Matt Riddle lost to The Usos. Orton had to get some work done on his back to get through the match. As previously reported, the feeling is that his back is so bad that he may have to get surgery, which would keep him out of action for the rest of 2022.

Chris Jericho: I Was the Only Big Star When AEW Began

Thomas Lowson
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Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho believes AEW would have not hit the ground running in the way they did without his involvement.

Following the success of ALL IN, AEW was announced in January 2019, with Jericho, being one of the first names announced.

Later that year, Jericho became the first AEW World Champion and has been a fixture of the promotion ever since.

The Jericho Effect

Jericho joined AEW less than a year after his last WWE match, and after a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the promotion.

Speaking during the latest AEW Unrestricted, Jericho discussed his own influence in the company’s early days.

“I wouldn’t say it [AEW] was built around me but at the risk of sounding egotistical if there was no Chris Jericho, I don’t know if the company would have gotten off the ground as quickly as it did.

“At the time, I was the only national superstar name that was involved. I mean besides Jim Ross but Jim Ross isn’t an on-air talent, he’s a commentator.”

The only Big Star?

Jericho wasn’t the only wrestler confirmed during the January 2019 press conference, as AEW EVPs Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks and then-EVP Cody Rhodes all made appearances.

On the podcast, Jericho explained how while the group are all stars in their own right, they didn’t have the same presence as he did that attracted networks.

“Keep in mind, no-one really knew Cody at that point. He’d been gone for years, and the last time we’d seen him, he was Stardust when he left [WWE.] And as much buzz as Kenny [Omega] and Matt and Nick Jackson had, they were still mostly just regional guys. They were worldwide stars, but when it comes to national TV in the States, they didn’t have any experience with that.

“They were worldwide stars, but when it comes to national TV in the States, they didn’t have any experience with that.”

Chris Jericho on The Elite not bringing the same appeal to networks.

“So there really wasn’t anybody else and I think if Chris Jericho wasn’t involved, it would have been a lot harder to sell to TBS or TNT or those types of people that were involved.

“We needed that big TV [deal] to get off the ground. We needed money, which we had, passion, which we had, television which is very hard to get and a roster of stars that no-one had really seen before, that were ready to go to the next level. But you needed a guy that kinda could open the door.”

AEW Without Chris Jericho?

It’s hard to imagine AEW without Chris Jericho, and for all his claims, the former World Champion believes that the company would have succeeded, with or without him.

“If I’m the bridge to get here, check me out, and then look at all these other guys that we have… Would the company have happened if I wasn’t there? Probably. But I don’t think it would have grown as quickly as it did, or maybe gotten off to such a huge start.

“Would the company have happened if I wasn’t there? Probably. But I don’t think it would have grown as quickly as it did.”

Chris Jericho.

“Everything worked out the way it should, but it happened very quickly, and once again, I think when the company started, it was on my back.”

Chris Jericho Reveals What He Didn’t Like About Working For WWE

Drew McIntyre: Vince Told Me “Don’t Listen to Anybody but The Undertaker”

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre has become one of WWE’s biggest stars in years, and he has The Undertaker to thank in playing a role.

McIntyre signed with WWE in 2007 and after a brief spell on SmackDown, returned to the blue brand in 2009 as ‘the Chosen One.’

It wouldn’t be until 2020 that McIntyre would fulfill Vince McMahon’s promise that he’d become WWE Champion, winning the title at WrestleMania 36.

Working with the Deadman

Drew McIntyre and the Undertaker shared the ring only a handful of times, but the two were close behind the scenes.

Speaking to Hollywood Raw, the Scottish Warrior explained how he became a personal project of the Deadman.

“It was awesome. He was put in charge of me probably against his will, when I was about 23. That was about the time where I think the powers that be realized that the older generation were starting to retire. [They] weren’t going to be there forever and they had to start pushing some youth to the front.”

McIntyre was right, as, in 2007, The Undertaker would begin taking lengthy periods off TV, and by 2010, was competing in just a handful of matches a year.

The Youth Movement

McIntyre learned plenty working with The Deadman, but he wasn’t the only young Superstar being groomed for greatness.

Over on Raw, Sheamus was moved to the red brand in 2009, and ended the year as WWE Champion.

In the interview, Drew explained how his real-life best friend also had a mentor of his own.

“Sheamus and I were kind of the first two people they took as the kind of projects. With Sheamus on Raw and myself on SmackDown. Sheamus was put under the Triple H learning tree and I was going to The Undertaker learning tree. Vince said ‘You don’t listen to anybody but The Undertaker.’

“Vince said ‘You don’t listen to anybody but The Undertaker.'”

Drew McIntyre.

“I wish I thought the way I think now back then, because [his] wrestling IQ is obviously off the charts. At the time, mine was a lot lower than it is now. So many of those lessons that I got, just flew right over my head. Thankfully I remembered a few.”

McIntyre Today

After capturing the WWE Championship, McIntyre was relied upon to carry the company through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking about the Undertaker, who he called the “coolest guy in the room,” McIntyre said the Phenom’s presence backstage would pay off years later for him.

“You could feel him when he walked in the room. It’s such a presence. If there was a situation, it was always dealt with calmly by him. So it’s such an impact on me. How to be a leader. How to conduct yourself.”

Drew McIntyre Thought WWE Would Cut Iconic WrestleMania 36 Moment

Drew McIntyre Reveals Who He Would Like To Induct Him Into Hall Of Fame

Anutosh Bajpai
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Drew McIntyre and Sheamus have had very similar career paths. They both started their wrestling careers around the same time and got signed by WWE less than a year apart. Both the stars were positioned as future main eventers from early on in Raw and SmackDown respectively.

While their careers differed a bit after that, both have had a resurgence in the last few years. More importantly, they have been best friends through all these ups and downs and their friendship has only gotten stronger with time

During a recent interview with the Hollywood Raw podcast, the Scottish Warrior was asked which star he would like to induct him into the Hall of Fame. It’s only fitting that Drew McIntyre took the name of Sheamus:

‘It’s Gotta Be Sheamus’: Drew McIntyre

“Oh God, it’s gonna end up being Sheamus, ain’t it? He’s been there since before we both got signed. The good times, the bad times. I am best man at his wedding coming up. He was best man at my wedding.

We give each other hell all the time. As everybody sees, we fight more than me and my actual brother. What people get to see on TV as well as backstage they don’t get to see. But yeah, it’s gotta be Sheamus.”

Both Drew McIntyre and Sheamus wrestled in highly praised matches during the Clash At The Castle PPV. The Celtic Warrior has since continued his feud with Gunther while McIntyre has been pulled from the road due to food poisoning.

More Originals From SEScoops:

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

Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook Match Added to WWE Extreme Rules 2022

Thomas Lowson
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Imperium and the Brawling Brutes will look to settle the score next Saturday when the two factions meet in a Good Old Fashion Donnybrook match at WWE Extreme Rules 2022.

The no-disqualification match was confirmed on WWE.com and on social media, after weeks of the two sides feuding.

Imperium Vs. The Brawling Brutes

The two teams have been at odds for some time, with Imperium reuniting at Clash at the Castle 2022.

At the Cardiff, Wales event, GUNTHER retained the Intercontinental Championship against Sheamus in a critically-acclaimed match.

Imperium once again stood tall over the Brawling Brutes in a Six-Man Tag Team Match on the September 9, edition of SmackDown.

After Butch and Ridge Holland defeated three-other teams (including Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) to earn a shot at The Usos, Imperium attacked them, costing them the Undisputed WWE Tag Team title match.

On the SmackDown before WWE Extreme Rules, Sheamus will once again challenge GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship.

Extreme Rules

The Donnybrook match is just the latest addition to a stacked WWE Extreme Rules 2022 card, which will see several stipulations.

Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will defend her title against Bayley in a ladder match, the first singles ladder match in WWE Women’s history.

Drew McIntyre will take on Karrion Kross in a strap match, while Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins will square off inside the Fight Pit.

The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor will take on former leader Edge in an I-Quit match.

https://www.sescoops.com/news/wwe-extreme-rules-2022-betting-odd/

AEW Rampage Spoilers for September 30

Andrew Ravens
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All Elite Wrestling will present a regular episode of its weekly Rampage series this Friday night on TNT after last week’s special 2-hour “Grand Slam” edition 

These matches were taped Wednesday night after Dynamite from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA, courtesy of Pwinsider.com: 

AEW Rampage Spoilers

AEW Rampage
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed defeated The Butcher and The Blade and Private Party.
  • Jamie Hayter (with Britt Baker and Rebel) def. Willow Nightingale.
  • Lee Moriarty (with Stokely Hathaway and W. Morrissey) def. Fuego Del Sol.
  • Ryan Nemeth insulted Philadelphia and ECW until FTW Champion HOOK interrupted. HOOK choked him out. The Trustbusters came out and left an envelope for Hook on the stage. HOOK picked up the envelope on his way to the back.
  • RUSH defeated John Silver. After the match, Andrade El Idolo attacked Alex Reynolds and Silver. The Dark Order got involved, as did The Butcher and The Blade. Hangman Page ultimately made the save.

AEW is about to kick off several weeks of holding live episodes of Rampage starting next week, including a live Battle of the Belts special next Friday night. 

WWE Promised Mick Foley Just Five Matches a Year When he Joined

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley is certainly a rich man now, but that wasn’t the case when he joined the promotion. 

Foley debuted in the then-WWF in 1996, as Mankind, appearing not long after WrestleMania 12. 

Mankind would immediately enter a feud with The Undertaker, with Foley getting the win in the first Boiler Room brawl at Summerslam. 

Five Matches & $750

Foley came to the WWF in 1996 after a lengthy and successful run in WCW working as Cactus Jack. 

Speaking on Foley is Pod, the Hardcore Legend said his deal when joining the WWF was much lower. 

“I signed on that opportunity, and the only thing you were guaranteed is five matches a year at $150 a match. So you’re guaranteed $750 a year and that’s it. If they decided not to push you or take you off the road, then you’re sitting by idly, not making anything.”

When asked by co-host Conrad Thompson how he felt at the time, Foley said he was just grateful for the opportunity. 

“I was happy. I didn’t start complaining about checks until 1998. I was just happy to be there, but they [the checks] weren’t enormous. Even the Pay Per View checks were not that big a deal.

“I remember accepting it as ‘this is what I get.’ When I did get a much bigger payoff for King of the RIng [1998] Hell in a Cell, it really did surprise me. I even wrote a letter of thanks to Vince [McMahon.]”

Marc Mero

While Foley received a very low guarantee, a sign of the company’s financial struggles at the time, Marc Mero had the opposite treatment. 

Despite signing with the WWF around the same time, and having also worked previously in WCW, Mero received a much more lucrative contract

Speaking about Mero, Foley said there was some resentment from the locker room at the time.

“It wasn’t his fault… It’s not like Marc was going to say ‘hey, looking at the guys, I’ve decided to give them a little bit of mine back.’ 

“I took it personally at the time, and I saw him [recently] and asked him to forgive me. I kind of dogged him for a few years, even in my book.”

Part of Mero receiving the WWE’s first guaranteed contract was that the company wanted to make sure his then-wife Sable joined with him.

Saying No to WrestleMania

After a year in the WWF, Mankind had established himself but continued to be in the mid-card. 

During the podcast, Foley said he even said he turned down a very short feud with Mero which would have culminated at WrestleMania 13. 

“I was opposed to working with Marc [Mero] was at Wrestlemania in 1997. I said ‘if it’s just on the card, if it’s just a matter to be on the card, I’d rather not be on it.’ Even though it’d be years before I referred to myself as Mr. In Your House, I realized there are opportunities for me to shine and be in main event matches and steal the show.”

Instead of Mero, Mankind teamed with Vader to face Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith at WrestleMania.

 

Mick Foley Would’ve Loved Doing Post-Show Press Conferences

Goldberg Gives Update on his WWE Contract Status

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg is always ready to return to the ring but isn’t contracted for any more matches.

Goldberg returned to WWE in 2016 and has had 12 matches so far, with a 5-7 win-loss record.

Highlights of Goldberg’s return include two Universal Championship victories, defeating Kevin Owens in 2017 and ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt in 2020.

Goldberg’s Contract

Goldberg Contract 1 1

As part of his deal with WWE, Goldberg wrestles a handful of matches each year, traditionally at important events like WrestleMania, Summerslam or a Saudi Arabia-held event.

Speaking on the latest episode of WWE’s The Bump, Goldberg addressed his current contract, and a possible rematch with Roman Reigns.

“Well, I don’t have any matches left on my contract, but I know one way we could take care of him. I do need to give him a little receipt for that little choke-out in Saudi Arabia.”

The two-time former Universal Champion last competed at Elimination Chamber 2022 in Saudi Arabia, losing to Roman Reigns.

The Tribal Chief

Goldberg would love to be the one to dethrone Roman Reigns (now on day 760 of his title reign,) but he’s not the only one.

Speaking about possible challengers to the head of the Bloodline, Goldberg said that a mutual foe of theirs could do it.

“I think there are a number of superstars that are capable of dethroning him, most definitely. It’s got to be the right time, the right place, and it has to be one-on-one. That’s tough because nowadays with The Usos, he’s got a built-in bodyguard system working out pretty well for him. I think Brock most definitely has the opportunity to do it when he comes back.”

Lesnar hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since losing to Reigns at Summerslam.

The Tribal Chief will next defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel 2022 against Logan Paul.

Goldberg Recalls First Year In WWE Being The Most Stressful Of His Life

H/T Fightful

Saraya Takes Dig at WWE with First AEW Dynamite Promo

Thomas Lowson
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Saraya had a subtle dig at WWE during her first promo for AEW during last night’s edition of Dynamite.

The two-time former WWE Divas Champion debuted for AEW during last week’s Grand Slam edition of Dynamite, after parting ways from WWE in July.

Saraya left WWE on July 7, when her contract expired and was not renewed by the company, and she has since made it clear it was not her decision to leave.

The Promo

Appearing on this week’s AEW Dynamite, Saraya spoke about the promotion being “my house” and was joined in the ring by AEW’s female babyfaces, led by Interim Women’s World Champion Toni Storm.

When Britt Baker interrupted the segment, entering alongside Jamie Hayter, Rebel, and Penelope Ford, Saraya announced a lumberjack match between Storm and Serena Deeb.

Saraya also took aim at WWE’s former CEO Vince McMahon, saying:

“I talked to Tony [Khan] backstage… It’s so good to have a boss that finally listens to me!“

Saraya.

Storm would retain the Interim AEW Women’s World Championship against Deeb later in the show.

Will She Wrestle?

Saraya has not competed so far in AEW, but there is a belief that she will wrestle for the promotion.

According to a recent report, the amount Saraya is being paid implies that she will be wrestlingin some capacity.

Saraya did not get physical during her debut or this week’s AEW Dynamite but teased a potential program with Britt Baker.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion took shots at Saray’s December 2017 injury, which resulted in her retiring in April 2018.

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

Hurricane Ian reportedly causes changes to AEW Dynamite

Samantha Schipman
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AEW Dynamite was live from Philadelphia, but was impacted by Hurricane Ian in Florida, as several wrestlers didn’t make it to the show.

According to Fightful Select, Swerve Strickland was scheduled to appear. This is why Keith Lee was by himself in a backstage segment with AEW Tag Team Champions, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. Lee said that his partner wasn’t there because he was “exceptionally disgruntled”, particularly with Gunn cheating to help The Acclaimed win.

ROH Television champion, Samoa Joe, was also scheduled to be on Dynamite. With the show being in Philadelphia and having a focus on Ring of Honor, they had plans for him.

Tony Khan advises AEW talent to stay home due to hurricane

Tony Khan

On Monday, Tony Khan sent out both an e-mail and a tweet stating that talent and staff could voluntarily stay home from TV if they were “worried about Hurricane Ian affecting your travel or home or your family life.”

Although his name wasn’t mentioned in the Select report, Jake Hager was absent from the Jericho Appreciation Society’s celebration of Chris Jericho’s “The Ocho” title win.

Rampage was filmed after Dynamite, so it’s possible that it was also affected by wrestlers who didn’t travel to Philadelphia.

The report did say there will be more to come on who else didn’t travel and how it effected the show.

Former WWE Superstar Pushing For a Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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Triple H has brought back a number of people since coming to power in WWE. Now another interesting name is pushing for his return to WWE TV.

Retired wrestling star The Boogeyman recently posted a photo on Twitter wearing a WWE Network hat. In the caption, he wrote: “Bring Boogeyman Back To Tv”

The wrestling star was part of the WWE roster from 2004 to 2009. He took part in the fourth season of Tough Enough and later joined the roster at Ohio Valley Wrestling. He made his main roster debut during the October 14, 2005 episode of SmackDown.

The original idea was for him to be part of a TV show but it was canceled. Since WWE still had the talent under contract, they brought him in to wrestle. The Boogeyman would appear at unexpected places, holding clocks.

The wrestling star, real name Martin Wright was later moved to ECW back in 2007. His last wrestling appearance for the company came on March 3, 2009 where he competed against Kane. He was released the next day.

The Boogeyman has since been brought back by the company. He has made a number of appearances for the promotion in the last few years and he also signed a new contract with the company earlier this year.

Watch: MJF Sings To The Philadelphia Crowd Before AEW Dynamite

Robert Lentini
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Maxwell Jacob Friedman has taken the professional wrestling world by storm and is in line for a shot at the AEW World Championship.

MJF appeared on this week’s edition of Dynamite for another promo segment with Wheeler Yuta. Maxwell interrupted Wheeler last week, called him mid, and referred to his group as the Blackpool Cuckold Club.

On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Wheeler responded and challenged MJF to a match. Maxwell interrupted and said he will face Wheeler next week. Yuta wanted a fight but Colten and Austin Gunn from The Firm stable came to MJF’s rescue.

MJF sat in the crowd to watch Jon Moxley’s match for the 2nd week in a row. After Jon defeated NJPW star Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator match, MJF was shown smirking in his luxury box in the arena. Wheeler Yuta showed up from behind and attacked before AEW security broke it up. Yuta and MJF will face off next week on Dynamite in Washington D.C.

MJF Sings To The Philadelphia Crowd Before Dynamite

Before Dynamite went on the air, Maxwell sang a song for the Philadelphia crowd in the Liacouras Center. Unfortunately, it was not a song that they wanted to hear as MJF sang the “fight song” for the New York Mets baseball team. The Philadelphia Phillies and the Mets have a longstanding rivalry.

After he was done singing, MJF added that the New York Mets are so much better than the Phillies. He also claimed that The Khan’s Jacksonville Jaguars are going to hand the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season this Sunday. You can check out Maxwell’s rendition of the Mets’ fight song in the video below.

Miro Addresses His Lack Of Television Time In AEW

Robert Lentini
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Miro hasn’t been seen on AEW television in some time and addressed the matter on social media today.

The Bulgarian Brute was last seen in All Elite Wrestling in a six-man tag team match at AEW All Out on September 4th. He teamed with Darby Allin & Sting to face House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, Buddy Matthews).

Miro didn’t play a part in the finish of the match, as Sting spat green mist in Malakai’s eyes and Darby followed it up with a Coffin Drop for the pinfall victory. After the match, Malakai Black bowed to the crowd and many speculated that his time in the company was done.

He released a statement confirming that he requested his release, and then followed it up with a video stating that he will be returning to AEW after some time away. Buddy Matthews announced that he will be taking some off as well to “recalibrate” at an independent wrestling event over the weekend.

When it comes to appearing on weekly television, Miro has been rarely featured since Forbidden Door in June. A Twitter user pointed out that Miro has not appeared on an episode of Dynamite in three months.

The 36-year-old responded to the fan and sent a message to the AEW locker room. Miro suggested that he hasn’t been featured on television because “nobody has the balls” to face him.

Miro (Rusev) was released by WWE in April 2020. He made his in-ring debut for All Elite Wrestling several months later on September 9th. Miro debuted in the promotion with blonde hair as “The Best Man” aligned with Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford, but that gimmick was abandoned shortly after.

He is a one-time TNT Champion in AEW and held the title for 140 days in 2021 before dropping it to Sammy Guevara. Miro signed a four-year extension with AEW to keep him with the promotion until 2026. His name started popping up in rumors after he liked a post that hinted that he might be better off in WWE following Jon Moxley’s Word Title Eliminator against Mance Warner.

Watch: What Happened With Bandido After Dynamite Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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The main event of this week’s episode of Dynamite saw Chris Jericho defending his newly won ROH world title against Bandido in a singles match.

The masked star offered a handshake to the wrestling veteran before the bout. However, Y2J rejected this code of honor and he flipped the bird instead. The two went on to have a good match which has been praised by fans.

The ending of the bout saw Jericho poking Bandido in the eye. He then pulled Bandido’s mask over his eyes. The high-flying star still almost caught Chris with a roll-up but the former WWE star ultimately retained the title using a Liontamer.

After the match, Chris Jericho claimed that the Ring of Jericho era has begun. He said that he will beat every great champion that has ever held the ROH title.

What Happened With Bandido After Dynamite

Once the cameras stopped rolling, Tony Khan came out. The AEW president raised the hand of Bandido who was on his way back to the locker room.

The former ROH world champion received a huge applause from the crowd. He ended up hugging the AEW owner before finally heading to the back:

Many fans are demanding Khan to sign Bandido to an AEW contract after his performance on Dynamite. The post-show moment between the two suggests that Bandido may actually get an official offer very soon.

Update On MJF’s Absence, How Warner Bros Feel About His Return

Anutosh Bajpai
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After several months of absence, MJF is back on AEW programming. He is also making media appearances once again and claiming that he is getting paid a lot more money than he did before.

We have an update on the AEW star’s absence and how he spent his time away from the promotion, courtesy of Fightful Select.

MJF himself has been claiming that he didn’t leave his house for three months. According to the site, it’s actually mostly true. The 26-year-old did not have any contact with most people in AEW, including many friends, throughout his hiatus following Double or Nothing.

The AEW talent did shoot some stuff with the crew of Impractical Jokers. He was seen at Disney in the Summer once too, but he stayed away from social media and refrained from going out in public much.

There hasn’t been a confirmation of MJF’s claims about not signing a contract extension. Though he is now in a much more favorable situation financially.

Regardless of his contractual situation, the Devil’s return has had a positive impact on AEW’s TV ratings. He has been involved in some of the highest-rated segments since his comeback.

People within Warner Bros Discovery are said to be happy about MJF’s comeback and they have pointed to him being a rating success for the AEW shows.

7 Takeaways From AEW Dynamite (9/28): World Title Eliminator, ROH Title Match, MJF & Saraya Appear

Robert Lentini
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AEW Dynamite aired live from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia tonight. Chris Jericho defended the ROH Championship against Bandido in the main event. Jon Moxley squared off against NJPW star Juice Robinson in a World Title Eliminator. Saraya and MJF also appeared during tonight’s show.

Dynamite Results (9/28)

  • Bryan Danielson def. Matt Menard via submission
  • Jon Moxley def. Juice Robinson via submission in a World Title Eliminator
  • Toni Storm def. Serena Deeb to retain the AEW Interim Women’s Championship
  • Ricky Starks def. Eli Isom
  • Chris Jericho def. Bandido via submission to retain the ROH Championship

Here are the takeaways from this week’s Dynamite:

Bryan Danielson def. Matt Menard

Chris Jericho held a celebration tonight for capturing the ROH Championship from Claudio Castagnoli last week at Dynamite: Grand Slam. Jericho said he’s the most honorable man in AEW. He added that he’s the most viewed Ring of Honor Champion already. Chris referred to this era as the “Ring of Jericho” and hyped his match against former ROH Champion Bandino tonight. The champ pointed out that Bandino is a professional wrestler and sports entertainers win every time.

Jericho brought up ROH Pure Champion Daniel Garcia and presented him a gift. The crowd chanted “you’re a wrestler!” at Daniel Garcia as he opened up a ridiculous purple hat. Chris shouted that is the look of the “best technical sports entertainer” of all time. Daniel threw the hat down as the crowd cheered and punched the pizza-guy wrestler (Luigi Primo).

Garcia said that this isn’t what he wanted when he got into the business. Bryan Danielson interrupted and suggested that Garcia join the Blackpool Combat Club. Chris claimed that Danielson was trying to poach Garcia away and said that Daniel belongs to him. Garcia said that he doesn’t belong to Jericho and threw a pizza out of the ring. Garcia suggested a tag team match with Danielson against Guevara and Jericho. Matt Menard shouted at Garcia some more and said he was sick of him. Bryan Danielson challenged Menard to a match and he accepted.

The match started off back and forth. Menard connected with a couple of lariats but the American Dragon responded with a Dropkick. Angelo Parker went to interfere but Claudio Castagnoli broke it up and dragged Parker backstage. Bryan got the Lebell Lock applied for the submission victory.

Wheeler Yuta Will Battle MJF Next Week

Wheeler Yuta made his way to the ring and claimed that MJF can’t hang with him in the ring. Yuta demanded that MJF come to the ring and take the ass-kicking he deserves. Maxwell Jacob Friedman showed up in a Mets jersey and joked that Philadelphia is the place you live when you can’t afford to live in New York.

MJF called Tony Schiavone a “fat old pr*ck” once again and said that Wheeler is one of the best wrestlers in the world. Maxwell noted that he’s the biggest draw in the company. The crowd chanted “shut the f*** up!” as MJF said that Wheeler Yuta has the same charisma as Joe Frazier and he’s dead.

Friedman boasted about making more money than everyone. Yuta shouted that he doesn’t care about Max’s money and challenged him to a fight. Yuta got out of the ring and made his way up the entrance. The Firm’s Gunn Club (Colten and Austin Gunn) showed up and MJF said he will face Wheeler in a match next week. Maxwell added that he’s going to go sit up in the crowd and watch Jon be a terrible professional wrestler tonight.

Jon Moxley def. Juice Robinson, Wheeler Yuta Attacked MJF

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley faced Juice Robinson tonight in a World Title Eliminator (Juice gets title shot if he beats the champ). Juice attacked during Moxley’s entrance and rolled him into the ring. Moxley connected with a Clothesline and launched Robinson into the barricade surrounding the ring.

When Dynamite returned from a break, Moxley was busted open (of course!) and Juice hit him with a Backbreaker. Moxley battled back and applied an Armbar for the submission victory.

After the match, Hangman Page made his way to the ring and got right in Moxley’s face. MJF got on the microphone in the crowd and suggested that he may want to cash his chip in soon. Wheeler Yuta showed up behind MJF and attacked until security broke it up. Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against Hangman Page on October 18th.

Saraya Promo, Toni Storm Retains

Saraya made her way to the ring and said it is great to back in the ring. She stated that she is the revolution and will bring change to AEW’s women’s division. AEW Interim Women’s Champion Toni Storm, Madison Rayne Skye Blue, Athena, and Willow Nightingale. Saraya spoke highly about the talent in the ring.

Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, Rebel, and Penelope Ford interrupted. Britt joked that Saraya is another shiny new toy that we’ve all seen come and go recently. Baker noted that she put her neck on the line for AEW, and unlike Saraya’s hers is actually strong enough to handle it.

Saraya joked that Britt’s name rhymes with “sh*t”. Baker took some more shots at Saraya before Serena Deeb made her way to the ring. Toni Storm defended the AEW Interim Women’s Championship against Deeb in a singles match with everyone ringside and Saraya on commentary.

Toni went for a Superplex but Deeb countered into a Crossbody for a near fall. Serena launched Toni out of the ring and the heels went to attack her. The babyfaces and heels traded words as Dynamite went to a break.

When Dynamite returned, Deeb locked in a submission but the champion was able to escape. Toni connected with Storm Zero but Deeb powered out at two. Toni followed it up with another Piledriver, but this time off the middle turnbuckle for the pinfall victory. Toni Storm is still the Interim AEW Women’s Championship.

Keith Lee Interrupted The Acclaimed

AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed was interviewed by Tony Schiavone backstage. Keith Lee interrupted and noted that Billy Gunn interfered in the match. Lee added that The Acclaimed got carried in the match and Swerve is not here because he’s very disgruntled. Billy Gunn said he’s got two words for Swerve and said “scissor me”.

Ricky Starks Dominated

Ricky Starks defeated Eli Isom tonight in a squash match. He hit the Roshambo for the pinfall victory in a quick match.

Chris Jericho Retained The ROH Championship, Will Defend Against Bryan Danielson On October 12th

Chris Jericho defended the ROH Championship against Bandido in the main event of tonight’s show. Bandido controlled the action early and caught Jericho with a Suicide Dive. During the break, Jericho battled back and beat the challenger down in the ring.

When Dynamite returned, Bandido hit an insanely long delayed Vertical Suplex before climbing up to the top turnbuckle. Bandido hit a big Frog Splash and went for the cover but Chris kicked out at two. A loud “Eddie!” chant broke out after the move.

Jericho perched Bandido up on the top turnbuckle and bashed him across the back with a few forearms. The challenger knocked Jericho down and went for a Crossbody but Chris countered into a Codebreaker for a near fall as the match continued. Bandido sent the champion out of the ring again as Dynamite went to the final commercial break of the night.

Back from the break, Jericho went for a Suplex of his own but Bandido escaped. Bandido rolled up Le Champion for a close two count. Bandido went for a GTS but Jericho blocked it. Chris tripped Bandido up and applied the Walls of Jericho in the middle of the ring. Bandido started crawling toward the ropes. He grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold and Chris celebrated as if he won the match.

Bandido hit an Enziguri and perched Chris up on the top turnbuckle. Bandido hit a crazy flip into a Powerslam but somehow Chris kicked out at two. The challenger followed it up with a Northern Lights Suplex and went for the cover but Jericho kicked out at two. Chris hit a big boot and got the Walls of Jericho applied again for the submission victory. Chris Jericho is still the ROH Champion.

After the match, Chris said “The Ring of Jericho Era” has begun. Jericho vowed to beat every great champion that has ever defeated held the title. Chris challenged Bryan Danielson to a title match on the October 12th edition of Dynamite. Jericho then hit ROH announcer Bobby Cruise with a Judas Effect to the side of the head and posed for the booing crowd to close the show.

Sasha Banks Removes WWE From Twitter Handle

Robert Lentini
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Sasha Banks may have dropped a major hint at her WWE future today on social media.

It was reported last month that Sasha Banks and Naomi had reached an agreement to return to the company. That deal may have fallen through as The Boss has made change to her Twitter name today.

Her new name on the social media application is her real one, Mercedes Varnado. At the moment, WWE is still listed in her bio. “Sasha Banks – WWE Koska Reeves – The Mandalorian. She remembered who she was and the game changed.”

Triple H On Sasha Banks Possibly Returning To WWE

WWE has undergone a massive change at the top of the company in recent months. Vince McMahon stepped down as the company’s CEO in the midst of an investigation into “hush money” payments made to former female employees. Former EVP of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis was also involved with the scandal and was dismissed from the company.

Naomi and Sasha Banks walked out of WWE during an episode of RAW in May. They left their Women’s Tag Team Championships on Laurinaitis’ desk, left the arena, and have not been on WWE television since. Following the recent departures from the company, Triple H was named Chief Content Officer in addition to replacing Laurinatis in his role as EVP of Talent Relations.

The Game recently joined Ariel Helwani of BT Sport for an interview and said the following when asked about Sasha Banks returning to the company.

“Time will tell. In a lot of ways, communication breakdowns are terrible. And there was a communication breakdown there for whatever reason.

Starting back up that communication is not a difficult process, but it can be a process and you have to go through the process.

She is an unbelievably talented young woman that can do just about anything she wants. It just comes down to whatever she wants to do now with her life or career, whatever that is.

There’s a passion clearly for what we do, there is a passion for other things as well.

So it comes down to what she wants to do. Because it got to be right for her, it’s got to be right for everybody.

But she is, I think as you’ve seen over the course of her career, just coming into the PC at NXT, she’s just an unbelievable performer that I believe in with everything I have.

She’s one of the biggest stars in our business so it is just what she wants to do.”

“Absolutely NOT!” – Naomi Shuts Down Comparisons To WWE NXT Star Lash Legend

Robert Lentini
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Naomi has reacted to a wrestling fan comparing her to WWE NXT star Lash Legend.

On last night’s edition of NXT, Lash Legend and Wendy Choo traded words to continue their storyline. A wrestling fan on social media mocked the segment and referred to Lash as an “off-brand Naomi”.

The two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion took to Twitter to respond to the comparison. She stated that she looks forward to watching Lash’s success in the industry and requested that fans stop comparing black women for the wrong reasons.

Absolutely NOT! Lash is in her own lane. I’m very proud of her and I look forward to her growth and success. Please stop comparing us black women for the wrong reasons. Respectfully.

Why Hasn’t Naomi Been On WWE TV?

Naomi and Sasha Banks captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships during Night 2 of WrestleMania 38. Queen Zelina and Carmella defended the titles in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team match. Banks and Naomi performed a double team move on Carmella to win the titles.

A little over a month later, Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of the company during the May 16th taping of RAW. WWE was building towards the Hell in a Cell PPV and the champions were set to battle each other in a Six-Pack Challenge in the main event to determine Bianca Belair’s opponent at the Premium Live Event.

Banks and Naomi walked into former EVP of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis’ office and claimed that they were not respected enough as the tag team champions. They then left the titles on his desk and exited the building.

On the May 20th of SmackDown, Michael Cole announced the two were suspended “indefinitely” and referred to their actions as unprofessional. He announced that there would be a future tournament to crown new Women’s Tag Team Champions.

More than three months after Banks and Naomi walked out of RAW, Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah defeated IYO SKY & Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL to win the titles in the finals of the tournament.

Rodriguez and Aliyah dropped the titles to Damage CTRL in a rematch on the September 12th episode of RAW. Naomi and Sasha Banks have been rumored to return to the company but have not appeared yet. They recently walked the runway at a fashion show in New York City and a member of Damage CTRL was in attendance.

Malakai Black Shows Off Dragon Tattoo On His Head

Michael Reichlin
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Malakai Black was back in the tattoo studio this week getting worked on by Orlando-based artist Eddie Saraiva. The House of Black leader posted a video on Instagram showing off his latest piece, a (still in-progress) dragon adorning the left side of his head.

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Malakai Black’s Status

Malakai Black is currently on hiatus from pro wrestling. His most recent match for AEW took place at All Out earlier this month. Shortly after that event, there was a slew of information regarding his health and future with AEW.

Amid the chaotic fallout of the All Out post-show media scrum, it was reported that Black was seeking time off due to personal reasons. He was pulled from appearances due to “health issues” and later confirmed that he requested his release from AEW.

Shortly thereafter, Malakai Black “debunked the rumor” that he is leaving AEW. During a live stream on Instagram, he stated, “I will see you guys in a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months. Like I said, I’m only taking some time off. That’s it. I’m just taking some time off.”

He reiterated that there is no “conspiracy” to his situation, he’s simply taking time off.

“I am fine,” he said.” “I am going to be fine. Everything is fine. You will see me right back with AEW pretty soon. I’m just going to take some time. That is it.”

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