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WWE Disappointed With Gable Steveson’s Training Progress (Report)

Thomas Lowson
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When WWE signed Gable Steveson to a contract in late 2021, there was a lot of buzz around the young athlete.

Steveson had just won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics (which took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and had been considering his options.

It had been suggested that Steveson would sign with AEW, or possibly enter the Octagon for a career in MMA.

Going Cold

Steveson impressed in last year’s Summer Olympics, but his skills haven’t transitioned into pro wrestling.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it’s reported that WWE has gone “cold” on the Olympic Gold Medalist, as the reviews of him in training have been poor.

There were plans for Steveson to be fast-tracked to the main roster after he finished his last amateur season in March, but that hasn’t been talked about in some time.

Steveson appeared at WrestleMania: Saturday, celebrating with RK-Bro and the Street Profits, and suplexing Chad Gable (a fellow Olympian) with ease.

Family Ties

Gable Steveson isn’t doing too well in training to be a WWE Superstar, but the opposite is the case for his brother.

Bobby Steveson, aka Damon Kemp has said to be doing “great” according to the Observer.

Kemp made his WWE in-ring debut in December 2021, in a losing effort to Andre Chase on 205 Live and would have to wait until a March 2022 edition of NXT LVL UP to get his first victory.

In addition to competing on NXT LVL UP and 205 Live, Kemp has worked on NXT and NXT UK.

Gable Steveson Reacts to WrestleMania Moment, GCW Confirms Dates & Venue for the Collective 2023

Malakai Black Calls WWE’s Judgment Day a Copy of The House of Black

Thomas Lowson
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In January, Malakai Black began teaming with Brody King, forming the team the ‘House of Black.’

This came after months of Black teasing that a stable was in the works, and in February, 2022, fellow WWE alum Buddy Matthews debuted for AEW and became the group’s third member.

Most recently, the group added Julia Hart to the faction, who had previously been aligned with the Varsity Blonds.

Mimicking the House of Black

The House of Black are a dark stable, but they’re not the only macabre group in wrestling today.

At WrestleMania 38, Edge began The Judgment Day with Damian Priest, before adding Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor.

Balor’s arrival also marked the end of Edge’s time with the faction, and the WWE Hall of Famer has been feuding with The Judgment Day since then.

Speaking on his Twitch stream, Black addressed the comparisons between the group.

“I was well aware that WWE were going to basically mimic the House of Black. Y’know, what can I do? It is what it is. It only tells me that what we’re doing is clearly something that is very interesting and going very well.”

“It only tells me that what we’re doing is clearly something that is very interesting.”

Malakai Black on WWE ‘mimicking’ the House of Black with The Judgment Day.

“I’m well aware of it. Nothing I can do. I’m going to continue what I do because I’ll always be one step ahead. I have no cuffs. The reason why it [The House of Black] works is because it’s myself and two other people who have great minds for it.”

The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest and Finn Balor will face Edge and Rey Mysterio at tomorrow’s WWE Clash at the Castle event in Cardiff, Wales.

Malakai Black On His Relationship With Tony Khan

If using quotes, please give a h/t to SEScoops.

AEW: Fight Forever to be Featured at Tokyo Games Show

Thomas Lowson
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So far, All Elite Wrestling has released two games for mobile devices, the AEW Double or Nothing Casino game, and AEW Elite General Manager.

Fans and gamers are eagerly anticipating the launch of AEW: Fight Forever, the first console wrestling video game by the company.

The game is rumored to launch later this year for all expected consoles as well as PC.

Tokyo Games Show

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Tokyo Games Show 2022

A lot is riding on the success of AEW: Fight Forever, with reports that AEW has invested an eight-figure sum (at least $10 million) into their gaming department.

Fans in Tokyo, Japan will soon get to check out the upcoming game themselves, as it has been confirmed that AEW: Fight Forever will be featured at the upcoming Games Show.

In addition to the game, there will also be live wrestling at the Games Show featuring talent from AEW, though no matches have been confirmed so far.

This is similar to AEW’s recent visit to Cologne, Germany for GamesCon 2022, where Fight Forever won Best Game in the Sports/Racing category.

Tokyo Games Show 2022 will take place from September 15, to September 18, and will also feature Xbox, Capcom, and Konami at the event.

What we know about AEW: Fight Forever

At GamesCon, Evil Uno and Colt Cabana spoke about AEW: Fight Forever, promoting a rich story for the game.

The pair confirmed a “deep career mode” which will see players go “on the road” with AEW in this mode and select a manager as well.

It was also said that online play will be a large part of the game.

Possible Reason FTR Was Cut from AEW: Fight Forever Video Game

Daniel Garcia Gives his Pick for the Greatest of All Time

Thomas Lowson
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Daniel Garcia has been with AEW for less than a year, but has made a name for himself working with several top stars.

Garcia has proven he can hold his own against the likes of Bryan Danielson, as well as facing Jon Moxley and Sammy Guevara.

In addition to working with All Elite Wrestling, Garcia competes for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he is the reigning PWG World Champion.

The Greatest of All Time

Daniel Garcia may be an established member of the Jericho Appreciation Society, but the first-ever AEW World Champion is not the greatest ever.

In a Q&A with Bleacher Report, Garcia was asked about working with Bryan Danielson, and had nothing but praise for the American Dragon.

“I think Bryan is the greatest wrestler of all time. I think his body of work speaks for itself. His longevity, the matches he’s had across different countries, different promotions, different areas; it really speaks for itself. And being able to share the ring with somebody with that wealth of knowledge, and in a style that I’ve always appreciated so much, is really special to me.

“I think Bryan [Danielson] is the greatest wrestler of all time.”

Daniel Garcia.

Garcia added that he is content if he never wrestles Danielson again, as he is still learning from the matches he’s already had with the former WWE World Champion.

Still part of JAS?

Last week’s AEW Dynamite opened with Garcia speaking about the prior week’s show, where he, Danielson and Jericho had a segment.

That segment saw the two veterans plead their case as to why Garcia should side with them, but the young star left without making a clear decision.

When asked, Garcia confirmed he is still part of the Jericho Appreciation Society.

“”It’s not something that you just say that you’re in or out of. It’s a brotherhood.”

Daniel Garcia.

The segment between the three led to a match between Jericho and Danielson being confirmed for this Sunday’s AEW All Out.

Daniel Garcia Is A Huge Fan Of Bryan Danielson, Talks Similarities In Style

The Wrestling Showcase to Crown Inaugural Champion This Weekend

Michael Reichlin
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This Saturday, September 3, 2022, The Wrestling Showcase will hold its inaugural event, emanating from suburban Chicago, Illinois and available world-wide on FITE.

The event will feature some of the most recognizable names in professional wrestling and will be headlined by a one-night, eight-man tournament to crown the first-ever Wrestling Showcase Champion.

It all goes down Saturday, September 3rd at 5pm (Eastern).

Wrestling Showcase Tournament Brackets

It’s a one-night, eight-man single elimination tournament to crown the inaugural Wrestling Showcase Champion. The first round matches will include:

  • Matt Cardona vs. Tatanka
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Steve Maclin
  • Rich Swann vs. Johnny Showcase
  • Josh Alexander vs. Moose

Johnny Showcase (FKA John Morrison) vs. Rich Swann

Steve Maclin vs Jacob Fatu

Matt Cardona vs Tatanka

Also in ActionMajor League Wrestling has also put its women’s featherweight title on the line with Taya Valkerie defending against “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo and Chelsea Green – both currently tag team partners and co-holders of the Impact Knockouts Tag Team titles in Impact Wrestling. Though here it will be every woman for herself!

Who will be crowned the first-ever Wrestling Showcase champion?

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Also in action, MLW Women’s Featherweight Champio Taya Valkerie puts her gold on the line in a triple thread match against “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo and Chelsea Green.

Plus, in a Future Star Showcase Match, Kal Herro faces “Certified” Luke Kurtis.

Update on W. Morrissey’s Future with AEW

Ryan Droste
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W. Morrissey, the man who was formerly Big Cass in WWE, made his second appearance for AEW this week on Dynamite and turned a lot of heads in the process.

Morrissey appeared to be in tremendous shape once again. Since exiting WWE back in 2018, he has overcome alcohol addiction and got himself in tremendous shape. After a run with Impact Wrestling that ended back in June, there were a lot of questions about whether he would return to WWE or end up with AEW.

Morrissey previously made an appearance for AEW during Dynamite back on May 4th. That night, he was brought in by MJF to face Wardlow. It was a losing effort, but it marked the first time non-Impact fans took notice of how the former WWE star has improved since last seen on a national level.

A new report from Fightful Select sheds light on Morrissey’s future with AEW. Fightful notes that we will be seeing him again, which shouldn’t be surprising after Stokely Hathaway made overtures to sign him following his appearance this week on Dynamite.

Per Fightful, Morrissey is booked to appear on Dynamite next week in Buffalo, New York. That will be the first of three consecutive shows for the promotion in New York state, with AEW Dynamite airing the following week in Albany and Queens after that. The Queens show is the gigantic Arthur Ashe Stadium event (dubbed AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam), and Queens also just so happens to be Morrissey’s hometown.

SEScoops will keep our readers updated on anything new that breaks regarding Morrissey’s future moving forward.

Make sure to check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news. Apple – Spotify – YouTube. 

AEW Star Fined After Dropping F-Bomb on Dynamite

Michael Reichlin
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AEW producer Ace Steel was hit with a fine due to his use of profanity on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

The incident occurred during an in-ring segment that saw Steel convincing CM Punk that he should sign the contract to challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World title this Sunday at All Out.

Punk was questioning himself and his abilities after getting steamrolled by Moxley next week. Steel, a former wrestler who trained CM Punk, forced Punk to look within himself and muster up the courage to face Moxley once again. Even though he got ‘knocked down’ last week, he urged Punk to “f**king get up” and literally slapped some sense into him.

It made for some entertaining television, and Punk did sign that contract, but Steel was disciplined for his unscripted profanity. According to PWInsider, AEW talent was told to be on their best behavior this week, including no swearing on Dynamite or Rampage.

Talent was informed on Thursday that Steel took responsibility for his actions and was commended for doing so. A fine was levied, with the proceeds being donated to charity.

Ace Steel made his debut on the independent scene back in 1991. Over the years, he wrestled for TNA Wrestling, ROH and WWE.

Steel and Punk actually teamed together in TNA as the Hatebreed (2002) in a rare pairing of teacher in student. In an obscure bit of trivia, Ace Steel portrayed Donald Trump for the infamous ‘Trump vs. Rosie O’Donnell’ comedy match on WWE Raw in 2007. He joined AEW as a producer earlier this year.

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Ace Steel and CM Punk in TNA Wrestling

AEW All Out Predictions

Ryan Droste
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AEW All Out takes place this Sunday from the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois (suburban Chicago). This will be the third incarnation of AEW’s All Out PPV event from the venue (2019, 2021, 2022). The 2020 edition was held in Florida due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The site was also home to the All In PPV event which helped lead to the launch of the promotion.

SEScoops correspondents Andrew Ravens, Robert Lentini, and Ryan Droste have assembled to provide our official AEW All Out predictions.

Trios Final: The Elite vs. The Dark Order or The Best Friends

Ryan Droste: Although at the time of this publishing, The Elite’s opponent is not finalized, I’m just going to go ahead and assume it will be The Dark Order (complete with Adam Page). This is a tough one to predict. Does Page turn on the Dark Order? Do they play into Page vs. The Elite some more? Push come to shove, I’ll go with The Elite. (Prediction: The Elite)

Robert Lentini: I think The Elite will emerge victorious at All Out, no matter the opponent. Best Friends and Orange Cassidy would make fun inaugural Trios Champions. Dark Order with Hangman Page would be a cool story. I feel like Hangman Page interacting with CM Punk is much more interesting though. Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks as the first Trios Champions seems like the way to go, especially if Omega doesn’t have to do as much as he is just returning from injury. (Prediction: The Elite)

Consensus: The Elite

Wardlow and FTR vs. Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns

Ryan Droste: This will be cool to see the MCMG in AEW, but there’s absolutely no way Wardlow or FTR should even be considered to lose this match. (Prediction: Wardlow and FTR)

Robert Lentini: I feel like the TNT Champion and ROH Tag Team Champions should be doing something much more interesting at the PPV. They have to win this match. I can’t even imagine them losing it. (Prediction: Wardlow and FTR)

Andrew Ravens: This should be a great match and the perfect spot to put some shine on Wardlow, who has cooled off in recent weeks. I can understand the argument of having the heels go over if there are future plans for them, but this appears to be a one-off so let the faces go over. (Prediction: FTR & Wardlow)

Consensus: Wardlow and FTR

AEW Women’s Title: Britt Baker vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm vs. Hikaru Shida

Ryan Droste: We know that Storm was slated to win the AEW Women’s Championship before the card was changed due to Thunder Rosa’s absence. I think that Jamie Hayter would be an interesting choice here, and I’d love to see it, but I’ll go with the original plan and stick with Storm. (Prediction: Toni Storm)

Robert Lentini: AEW was originally going to do Thunder Rosa versus Toni Storm at All Out, so I think they will just give the Interim Championship to Toni. Britt Baker makes the most logical sense as she’s still one of the only stars in the division, but I’d rather see Toni get a chance as champion at the moment and see if she can be a star as well. (Prediction: Toni Storm)

Andrew Ravens: There are only two names that make sense here, and that’s Baker and Storm. The oddsmakers are backing Storm since she was originally supposed to challenge Thunder Rosa for the title at this show. Baker could be made the champion, but I don’t see that happening unless she is going to beat Rosa to become the real champion. I’ll side with Storm and have AEW go with their original plans for a match against Rosa. (Prediction: Toni Storm)

Consensus: Toni Storm

Casino Ladder Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Wheeler Yuta vs. Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Rey Fénix vs. Rush vs. Andrade El Idolo vs. Dante Martin vs. TBD

Ryan Droste:A lot of this is dependent on who The Joker is of course, but of the announced lineup, Claudio is the only one I can see getting a shot at the AEW World Title right now. The ROH Champion vs. the AEW Champion would be a fun one. (Prediction: Claudio Castagnoli)

Robert Lentini: I’ve been waiting for MJF’s return since he left. It makes sense for MJF and CM Punk to meet again and Maxwell will get a future title shot if he wins the Casino Ladder match. I’ll pick MJF to return as The Joker and ensure a future shot for the AEW Championship on his first night back. (Prediction: MJF)

Andrew Ravens: I’m taking the mystery person as the joker entrant to win the match. I believe it will be MJF. AEW reportedly is bringing him back soon, and I think this would be the perfect spot as it’s a surprise that fans will like and gets him a title shot right away. (Prediction: MJF)

Consensus: Split

Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho

Ryan Droste: Danielson. No deep thoughts about this one. Should be a fun match, but it’d make no sense to beat Bryan here. I hope to see him in the world title picture very soon, so he has to win here. (Prediction: Bryan Danielson)

Robert Lentini: The build to this match has centered on Daniel Garcia and whether or not he’s a pro wrestler or a sports entertainer. It has been odd to watch, but these are still two of the biggest stars in the company. Daniel Garcia is battling Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta on Dynamite for the ROH Pure Championship, so it will be interesting to see if he plays a factor in this match. Bryan Danielson should get the win here and start working his way back into the title picture. I still wish they gave him the AEW Championship last year. I have no want to see Bryan Danielson on the losing end of another match involving Jericho. Anarchy in the Arena was enough of that for me. (Prediction: Bryan Danielson)

Andrew Ravens: Danielson should go over here. This should be a really fun match that, I think, kicks off the show. Jericho doesn’t need the win, but Danielson feels like he needs to be reset, and a win over Jericho would do just that. (Prediction: Bryan Danielson)

Consensus: Bryan Danielson

AEW Tag Team Champions Swerve In Our Glory vs. The Acclaimed

Ryan Droste: The Acclaimed is the hotter act right now, by far, and Strickland and Lee seem like a better fit in the singles division long term. The team was fun while it lasted, but it’s time to give The Acclaimed their due and strike while the iron is hot. (Prediction: The Acclaimed)

Robert Lentini: I’m all for The Acclaimed winning the titles on Friday. They are wildly entertaining and the crowd loves them. Max Caster and Anthony Bowens have also improved greatly in the ring since they signed with the company. If Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland are going to be a tag team for years, then keep the belts on them. I just don’t think that will be the case and would love to see The Acclaimed have their moment in AEW. (Prediction: The Acclaimed)

Andrew Ravens: The Acclaimed is mega over with the fans, and I can see them going over here. Lee and Strickland are a fun tag team, but while The Acclaimed is still hot, keep the rocket burning and put the titles on them. (Prediction: The Acclaimed)

Consensus: The Acclaimed

Jungle Boy vs. Christian Cage

Ryan Droste: The long-anticipated feud between these two has had its moments, but overall it has unfortunately showcased some of Jungle Boy’s shortcomings. Matched up with one of the better talks in the modern history of the business, Jungle Boy’s microphone skills have appeared weak. Do they continue the feud or move Jungle Boy on to something else where his greatest weakness isn’t so prominent? I’ll go with Jungle Boy here. (Prediction: Jungle Boy)

Robert Lentini: This feud started off great with Christian Cage’s incredibly distasteful promos on Jungle Boy while sporting a turtleneck. However, Jungle Boy’s promos didn’t have the same energy and brought the excitement level down for the match. Jungle Boy should definitely get the win though and I also predict it will be one of the better matches of the night. (Prediction: Jungle Boy)

Andrew Ravens: There’s no reason why Jungle Boy shouldn’t win the match. Let the younger guy get a big win over a veteran and move on to something else. (Prediction: Jungle Boy)

Consensus: Jungle Boy

Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

Ryan Droste: A real tossup. I think Starks can recover from a loss and you have Hobbs look strong here. (Prediction: Powerhouse Hobbs)

Robert Lentini: Ricky Starks can explain away a loss because he’s incredibly gifted on the microphone. Hobbs needs to be treated like a man named Powerhouse and win this match in impressive fashion. (Prediction: Powerhouse Hobbs)

Andrew Ravens: Honestly, this is a pick ’em, and it comes down to which star Tony Khan wants a little bit more of a push. I see more upside with Starks and would have him go over. (Prediction: Ricky Starks)

Consensus: Split

AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill vs. Athena

Ryan Droste: Zero chance Jade loses here, nor should she. The biggest lock on the card. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

Robert Lentini: Jade Cargill will walk out of All Out as still the TBS Champion and I’d be shocked if that wasn’t the case. Athena has been a great addition to the roster and hopefully, she can help that division as it grows. There’s no reason to hand Jade her first loss and take the title away from her right now. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

Andrew Ravens: I don’t know who is going to be the right person to beat Jade, but at this point, she really should just be the Women’s Champion. I still have no idea why AEW introduced the TBS Title aside from Tony Khan liking championships. Athena could be the person, but I don’t think it’s time yet. (Prediction: Jade Cargill)

Consensus: Jade Cargill

House of Black vs. Miro, Darby Allin, and Sting

Ryan Droste: A tough one to pick because there hasn’t been a whole lot in the way of build. House of Black feels pretty insignificant right now. I’ll go with the babyfaces. Miro could use a strong win, Darby could use a hot streak, and Sting is Sting. (Prediction: Miro, Darby Allin, and Sting)

Robert Lentini: This is another 6-man tag that feels a bit thrown together. House of Black has never really gotten over with the AEW audience and it wouldn’t shock me if they get defeated by a random collection of talent. I’ll pick Miro, Darby, and Sting to win in a fun match. (Prediction: Miro, Darby Allin, and Sting)

Andrew Ravens: I’ll side with the babyfaces. I think House of Black needs to win here, but Sting usually goes over when he wrestles. It should be a fun match, especially when Sting gets the hot tag, and the crowd goes crazy. (Prediction: Darby Allin, Sting, and Miro).

Consensus: Miro, Darby Allin, and Sting

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. CM Punk

Ryan Droste: They don’t do the quick match last week on Dynamite without having Punk win here. It’d make no sense for him to lose twice in a row, and it would seem the entire purpose of having him lose last week was so that he can regain the championship in his hometown. (Prediction: CM Punk)

Robert Lentini: CM Punk gave his rallying cry on Dynamite to the Chicago crowd at the NOW Arena and there’s no beating him now. His first title run was disastrously cut short and the company has been running in place ever since. They have to give CM Punk the title again and give him a proper run with it. Jon Moxley will get the AEW Championship again one day if he sticks around. He’s one of the biggest stars in the company but who knows how long CM Punk will be in AEW? Let’s try to get the most out of it. CM Punk wins his title back and Moxley bleeds all over the place. (Prediction: CM Punk)

Andrew Ravens: CM Punk wins. He has to win. It doesn’t make sense for them to go through all of this and not have Punk win the title. This has been a messy situation, but if AEW does go through with Punk winning, then the question remains of a trilogy happening. Perhaps that is saved for the Arthur Ashe Stadium show. (Prediction: CM Punk)

Consensus: CM Punk

Chris Jericho Has Bruised Larynx, Fozzy Announces Delay In Upcoming Tour

Joey Galizia
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Chris Jericho continues to kill it in AEW, but he is dealing with a minor injury that will stop him from performing with his band, Fozzy.

The group announced this morning on Facebook that their upcoming Save The World tour will start two weeks later due to an injury he sustained at the August 10th edition of Dynamite, which was the promotion’s Quake By The Lake special.

On that night, The Wizard suffered a throat injury during his world title match with Jon Moxley that bruised his larynx, and has made him unfit to sing.

IMPORTANT TOUR MESSAGE FROM FOZZY

On August 10th during the Quake By The Lake AEW event in Minneapolis, Chris suffered a throat injury that left him with a severely bruised larynx. Unfortunately, even though the injury is healing and is NOT permanent, Chris hasn’t fully recovered and his laryngologist has recommended that Fozzy postpone the first two weeks of the Save The World tour (scheduled to start in Columbus on Sept) in order to facilitate a full recovery as soon as possible.

The postponed shows have been moved to the Spring of 2023. The rescheduled dates can be found at www.FOZZYROCK.com

ALL TICKETS REMAIN VALID

The next leg of the Save The World tour will now start on September 29 in Charlotte. Fozzy appreciates each and every one of you and we can’t wait to rock with you again at FULL STRENGTH very soon!!

Jericho put up a valiant effort against Moxley at Quake By The Lake, but eventually fell victim to the Purveyor of Violence’s bully choke submission.

He’ll have a chance at some redemption this Sunday as he faces Bryan Danielson in a high stakes grudge match at AEW’s ALL OUT pay-per-view.

Latest on WWE’s Plans for Solo Sikoa on the Main Roster

Thomas Lowson
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Late last year, as part of the revamped NXT 2.0, Solo Sikoa debuted on WWE Television. 

Despite being part of the legendary Anoi’i wrestling family, Solo, as his name suggests, has gone it alone in NXT 2.0

Sikoa has been absent in recent weeks, as he is recovering from a sprained PCL.

The Call-Up

Solo Sikoa has impressed fans during his run in WWE NXT 2.0, but it may be about to come to an end. 

According to PW Insider, the plan isn’t just for Sikoa to be called up to the main roster, but for it to happen as soon as possible, maybe even this month. 

This report is hardly surprising, as it has been previously reported that WWE planned on fast-tracking Sikoa to the main roster. 

PW Insider also confirmed reports that Sikoa will be on SmackDown if the current plans don’t change, the same brand as his brothers Undisputed WWE Tag Champions The Usos and his cousin Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

The recovery window for his sprained PCL would line up with a debut on the main roster at some point this month. 

Sikoa celebrated one year of being with WWE earlier this week.

https://twitter.com/WWESoloSikoa/status/1564725858157449216

Another Call-Up

Solo Sikoa could be just days away from his debut on the main roster, but he’s not the only call-up being considered. 

It’s been reported that WWE has considered Indi Hartwell for a call-up, presumably as part of Monday Night Raw.

Hartwell’s on-screen husband Dexter Lumis has been appearing on Raw since being rehired by Triple H last month. 

Lumis and Hartwell recently reunited on the August 23, 2022, episode of NXT 2.0.

Will Ospreay Takes One Final Shot At Kenny Omega As Run With AEW Ends

Joey Galizia
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Will Ospreay says that his current run with All Elite Wrestling has come to an end…for now.

The Aerial Assassin competed on last night’s Dynamite main event, where he and Aussie Open (known as the United Empire) took on The Elite (Kenny Omega & the Young Bucks) in a trios title tournament semifinal. The Elite would pick up the victory after Omega hit a One-Winged Angel, but Ospreay and Aussie Open would get the last laugh as they attacked Omega and the Bucks as the show went off the air.

Ospreay and Omega have been at each other’s throats for a while, taking shots at one another online and setting up a potential singles-bout somewhere down the line.

One Final Shot At The Cleaner

Ospreay took to Twitter this morning to announce that his current run with the promotion has come to an end for the foreseeable future. He credits Tony Khan for trusting his gut, but doesn’t shy away from taking one more jab at Omega. His tweet reads:

“For the foreseeable future my time with AEW is done thanks to TonyKhan for having your own mind and not listening to KennyOmegamanX attempts at blocking me from coming to do a few matches for ya. We are even for now Ken, keep your mouth shut & we won’t have any issues.”

The former IWGP World Heavyweight champion has been featured multiple times in AEW over the last few months. He had a marquee matchup with Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door, and competed on several Dynamites. Ospreay’s tweet can be seen below.

Omega and The Bucks will face either the Dark Order or the Best Friends & Orange Cassidy at ALL OUT depending on who wins the semifinal on this Friday’s Rampage.

Updated Betting Odds for Sunday’s AEW All Out PPV

Michael Reichlin
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We have an updated look at the betting odds for Sunday’s AEW All Out pay-per-view. The main event is finally set and we’ve got 13 matches confirmed for the show (including the Zero Hour kickoff show).

Here are the current betting odds (as of Monday) for AEW All Out, courtesy of Bet Online.

  • CM Punk is a slight favorite (-130) to defeat Jon Moxley (-110) for the the AEW World Championship.
  • Toni Storm is the favorite (-180) to defeat Britt Baker (+325), Jamie Hayter (+300) and Hikaru Shida (+700) to win the Interim AEW Women’s World Championship.
  • Bryan Danielson is favored (-400) to get the win over Chris Jericho (+250)
  • Swerve in our Glory are strong favorites (-450) to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Acclaimed (+275).
  • Christian Cage (-150) is now favored to defeat Jungle Boy (+110) in their grudge match. This is a reversal from what was expected just days ago.
  • Ricky Starks is favored (-240) to get the win over Powerhouse Hobbs (+175)
  • Jade Cargill is heavily favored (-1000) to retain the TBS Championship against Athena (+500).
  • FTR and Wardlow are strong favorites (-650) to beat Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns (+375)
  • The mystery Joker (+150) is the favorite to win the Casino Ladder Match.

Zero Hour Kickoff Show

  • PAC is favored (-600) to retain the All Atlantic Championship over the returning Kip Sabian (+350).
  • Hook is the strong favorite (-1500) to retain the FTW championship against Angelo Parker (+600)
  • Eddie Kingston is favored (-180) to defeat NJPW star Tomohiro Ishii (+125).

Keep it locked to SEScoops this weekend, as we’ll be covering AEW All Out from all angles, including results and news coming out of the event.

Former Universal Champion Returning to WWE Next Week

Michael Reichlin
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Braun Strowman is on his way back to WWE.

Triple H has wasted no time reshaping the WWE roster since taking over talent relations this summer. He’s brought back several acts who were previously released due to budget cuts, including Karrion Kross, Dakota Kai, Io Sky, Dexter Lumis and more.

There are still some big names on the free agency market and WWE just snagged the ‘biggest’ one of them all. Strowman is the latest former Superstar to be brought back into the fold and fans won’t have to wait long to see him back on WWE television.

The Monster Among Men is scheduled to be at Monday’s WWE Raw from Kansas City, Missouri. The news was first reported by PWInsider.

Braun Strowman’s Road Back to WWE

A former Universal Champion, Braun Strowman is released from WWE in June 2021. His surprise caught many people off guard. The 6-foot-8, 385 pounder from Sherills Ford, North Carolina seemed to be the prototype WWE Superstar. He’s got the size, the look, he can talk and is no slouch in the ring.

Since becoming a free agent, Strowman appeared for Ring of Honor and the upstart Control Your Narrative promotion. He had preliminary talks with AEW, but nothing ever came of it. He told Sports Illustrated last year,

“Yeah, we’ve sat down and discussed stuff like that with my agent and things like that.  We’re just trying to find a fit now, where everything kind of will work together since now, there’s so many things that I’m working on in my personal life.”

“I don’t have as much time to devote to the full-time schedule to wrestle now. So, it’s trying to find somewhere where I’ll be able to land in there to show up, have fun and entertain the people, but still be able to work on my side projects along the way.”

Regarding those side projects, he had something in the works with Ric Flair before deciding on returning to WWE. Earlier this week, Ric Flair revealed on his podcast that he and Strowman were in the early stages of working on a “marketing scheme” together.

“We’re kind of working on a project together, it hasn’t really come to fruition yet,” said Flair. “It’s a promotional scheme that somebody brought to me that, it’s legitimate, but we just haven’t gone to work on it yet. He’ll probably have to make a decision if he wants to do that. It could potentially be very lucrative, or go back to WWE.”

Jim Johnston Blames “Mediocre” Music for Lack of Big Stars Today

Michael Reichlin
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Jim Johnston is not impressed by today’s pro wrestling entrance themes. The legendary composer says many themes are “mediocre” and that is a big reason why there are fewer mega stars in this era.

Johnston was Chris Van Vliet’s guest this week on the Insights podcast. He spoke about his childhood, his love for music, the chance encounter that led him to WWE and much more during their discussion.

He began working with WWE in the mid-1980’s. He wasn’t a wrestling fan, but that didn’t hold him back. Johnston worked with the company until 2017 and is responsible for the most iconic themes in wrestling history, including Steve Austin, The Undertaker, The Rock, the Ultimate Warrior, DX and countless others. Amazingly, he worked on a ‘handshake deal’ and never even had a contract with WWE until after the company went public in 2001.

Johnston took his job very seriously. He felt a great responsibility to the wrestlers, because that has a big impact on a character’s presentation. He feels the lack of quality entrance music is a big reason why there are less big stars today.

Today’s Wrestling Entrance Music

“The music now, in WWE and in AEW, I think it’s.. sorry this is mean, it’s all homogenous and it’s mediocre and doesn’t have anything to do with the characters, and I think that’s why there are less big stars.”

“I don’t think there are no potential stars hiding there. I mean, before he was Steve Austin, he was the Ringmaster, and there are many examples there. These people need the right storyline, the right costuming and definitely the right music to lift them up.”

“Particularly the music, is serving multiple masters, in a way. It’s entertainment for the audience, it’s a big boot in the ass for the wrestler before they go out, to sort of get them in the head space of their character, and to kind of get them jacked up to do a great performance.”

“If you’re in that situation, I can’t imagine being in that situation where you’re not really sure of your character, the storyline. ‘I’m supposed to hate this guy, I don’t know why I’m supposed to hate this guy.’ And your music is just kind of generic, wrestler-guy music, and you’re supposed to go out there and be on top of the world. I think that’s a big ask.”

“Did not have a contract with WWE until the company went public. As soon as WWE went public, the lawyers got involved. Couldn’t believe he was working without a contract. Didn’t want him picking up and leaving.”

Setting the Mood

Johnston says he always saw WWE as a live movie, and he was scoring the characters in the movie. He gives Jaws and Darth Vader as examples of how music can instantly set the tone for the show.

He spoke about Steve Austin. You don’t need to know the storylines, you don’t need to know what he did last week. When you hear that music, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. That enhances the product and makes everybody’s jobs easier.

It’s like being in a movie, and the movie is not very good and you’re not following the movie. You’re lost without the music that sets the mood.

Final Years in WWE, AEW

After 30+ years with WWE, he never expected to get fired. However, Johnston did say there was someone in WWE that was always trying to push him out and get his own people in the door.

Johnston said AEW never reached out to him, which amazed him. AEW brought in so many people who used to work for WWE. He thinks Tony Khan could have really stuck it to Vince McMahon by hiring him and doesn’t know why that didn’t happen. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Listen to Jim Johnston’s appearance on the Insights podcast with Chris Van Vliet:

Please credit SEScoops with a link to this article if you use any of the transcribed quotes.

WWE Looking for More Ways to Use The Undertaker After Retirement

Thomas Lowson
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For years, The Undertaker refused to break character, and his dedication to being the character earned him the respect of fans and his peers alike.

Since his Final Farewell at Survivor Series 2020, The Undertaker has taken on more out-of-character projects, both as part of WWE and outside of the promotion.

Fans learned a lot more about the man from the acclaimed ‘Last Ride’ series on the WWE Network and Peacock, as well as his appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast.

More Opportunities

This weekend, The Undertaker will host a ‘1deadMAN Show’ in Cardiff, as part of WWE’s Clash at the Castle festivities in the Welsh capital.

It has also been confirmed that the Phenom will host another one-man show on October 7, at TLA on South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in time for WWE Extreme Rules 2022.

PW Insider reports that WWE is figuring out more ways “to utilize The Undertaker going forward post-retirement.” 

It is unclear what plans, if any, WWE has lined up other than his upcoming one-man shows this weekend and next month.

Out of the Ring

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The Undertaker makes a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic Con.

The Undertaker is certainly enjoying retired life, and has been speaking freely with fans at public appearances.

In July, the former WWE World Champion made a surprise appearance at the Mattel panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

The Undertaker joined a panel consisting of Cody Rhodes (who has been out with a torn pectoral since June,) Ciampa, Zelina Vega, and Sam Roberts who acted as host.

The panel revealed new WWE Mattel figures in the works, including a 30th Anniversary Monday Night Raw set, which includes figures of Razor Ramon the 1-2-3 Kid and The Undertaker himself.

NWA Host Talent-Wide Meeting After Recent Tapings

Thomas Lowson
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It was reported last month that AEW held a talent-wide meeting prior to an episode of Dynamite, to discuss and address reports of wrestlers being frustrated.

The meeting, led by Tony Khan, also saw Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone speak about the roster, Khan, and allegations of contract tampering by WWE.

PW Insider reports that NWA also recently hosted a talent-wide meeting to discuss issues within the promotion.

The Meeting

The meeting got off to a rocky start, as due to a production meeting running late, the time for the talent-wide meeting was also delayed.

Jay Bradley and Sal Rinauro acted as if they were running the meeting and were in charge, which some initially thought was a rib.

Others took offense that the two took it on themselves to begin the meeting, as veteran wrestlers including Bully Ray, Jazz and Homicide were present, and seen as far more ‘deserving’ to speak.

It has been reported that some wrestlers walked out once they “realized” Bradley and Rinauro had “called for the meeting” as well but that has not been confirmed.

It was clarified that Bradley and Rinauro did not call the meeting, which “ruffled some feathers” with talent.

Clean Up

After the meeting, Luke Hawx spoke about having respect for the locker room, and made it clear that people need to clean up after themselves.

Hawx said that while people are asked to tidy after themselves, others have been left to spend time cleaning up food and others items after events are completed.

He pointed out that Billy Corgan is investing a lot of money in the NWA and the roster, and the least they can do is show the locker room common respect.

Hawx was said to be in “that realm so certainly, some of that may have turned off others but we were told his heart was in the right place.”

Billy Corgan Confirms Plans for Future NWA Empowerrr Event

What Happened with Kenny Omega After AEW Dynamite Went Off the Air?

Thomas Lowson
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This week’s edition of AEW Dynamite took place in Chicago, Illinois, and served as the go-home show for the All Out 2022 Pay Per View this Sunday.

Last night’s episode saw the main event of All Out be confirmed that AEW Undisputed World Champion Jon Moxley will defend against CM Punk.

In the main event of this week’s Dynamite, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks defeated the United Empire to advance to the finals of the AEW Trios Tag Title Tournament.

The other finalists will be determined on tomorrow night’s Rampage, with the finals scheduled for All Out.

After the Show

Once AEW Dynamite went off the air, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks remained in the ring to the delight of the crowd. He spoke about how great it was to be in Chicago, which he called the birthplace of AEW.

The former AEW World Champion also said that it had become a privilege and a purpose to provide an alternative (though didn’t reference WWE by name) in professional wrestling.

While speaking about the upcoming Trios Tournament finals, Omega and the Bucks were attacked by the United Empire.

Grabbing the microphone, Will O’Spreay said that things between himself and Omega aren’t over by a long shot, before continuing his attack with a steel chair.

Despite the best efforts of the Young Bucks to protect their tag-team partner, the two were attacked, and the United Empire only left after Ospreay relieved an elbow to Omega.

After the attack, Omega was helped to the back by officials at ringside.

AEW Star Leaving After His Contract Was Not Renewed

Robert Lentini
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The Undisputed era in All Elite Wrestling is over before it really even got started.

Bobby Fish’s AEW contract expired Wednesday, August 31st and is now officially a free agent. Fish made his AEW debut on October 6, 2021. The 45-year-old was released by WWE in August of last year. Fish has not been seen on AEW television since the August 3rd episode of Dynamite. On that episode, Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly attacked The Young Bucks to split the Undisputed Elite faction.

He told the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast that he was supposed to be a part of the Trios Tournament with Adam Cole and Bobby O’Reilly but plans were changed due to injury. Bobby added during the episode that he would run through a wall for Triple H and now he may be afforded that chance.

Bobby Fish debuted in a loss against Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship. He battled top stars like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson in singles matches before teaming up with Adam Cole and The Young Bucks. Kyle O’Reilly joined their group on the Holiday Bash edition of Dynamite.

Fish has been used sparingly in recent months due to injuries suffered by Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole. His last match was during a taping for AEW Dark: Elevation in July. Bobby has recently been taking independent bookings and started the “Undisputed” podcast.

AEW Dynamite Results (8/31/22): CM Punk & Jon Moxley, Trios Tournament, W. Morrissey, All Out Go-Home Show

Robert Lentini
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AEW Dynamite aired live from the NOW Arena in Chicago. It was the final Dynamite before All Out this weekend. In addition to the takeaways below, Christian Cage and Jungle Boy had a backstage interview with Jim Ross ahead of their match at All Out.

Dynamite Results

  • Bryan Danielson def. Jake Hager
  • Hikaru Shida & Toni Storm def. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter
  • The Pinnacle (Wardlow & FTR) def. Ren Jones, Silas Young, & “Ice Pick” Vic Capri
  • Wheeler Yuta def. Dante Martin, Rush, Rey Fenix in a 4-Way match
  • The Elite def. Will Ospreay & Aussie Open to advance to the finals of the Trios Tournament at All Out

Here are the takeaways from this week’s AEW Dynamite:

Jon Moxley Left A Signed Contract For A Title Match At All Out In The Ring After Taking Several Shots At CM Punk

AEW Champion Jon Moxley kicked off the show and made his way through the crowd as “Wild Thing” blasted through the speakers. Jon paced around the ring before standing in silence for a bit as the crowd chanted his name. Moxley joked that they are still mopping CM Punk off the floor in Cleveland.

Jon said he heard Punk described as the modern 60-minute man and joked that he had 57-minutes left in him last week and Punk clearly didn’t. Moxley claimed that Punk started to look for a way out last week and curled up into a little ball to die. Moxley added that Punk folded last week and a faint “CM Punk!” chant broke out. Jon added that champions don’t fold and apologized to the fans for CM Punk not being what everyone wanted him to be. Jon said that Punk has a fragile ego, weak mind, weak body, and weak spirit.

Moxley pulled out an open contract for a title match at All Out this Sunday. Jon stated that he’s already signed it and left the contract in the ring. Moxley paced around the contract and warned the person that signs it that he can out-fight anyone and is the embodiment of professional wrestling. Jon threw the microphone down and posed for the crowd to end the promo. Ace Steel, a backstage producer, made his way to the ring and put the contract in his back pocket.

Bryan Danielson Sent A Message To Chris Jericho

Jake Hager battled Bryan Danielson tonight on Dynamite. Before the match, Jericho claimed that Owen and Stu Hart would prefer what he’s accomplished in the wrestling business over what Bryan Danielson has done. Jericho vowed to beat Danielson at All Out during the backstage promo. William Regal accompanied Bryan Danielson to the entrance ramp and then joined commentary for the match.

Danielson got Hager in a choke hold but he quickly escaped. Bryan launched Hager to the outside and leveled him with a Suicide Dive. Danielson leaped onto Hager but Jake caught im. Hager put Danielson through the timekeeper’s table and then bashed him into the ring post. Jake beat Danielson down some more as Dynamite went to a commercial break.

When Dynamite returned, Hager unloaded some more punches but Danielson battled back with a Dropkick off the top rope. Danielson pounded on the mat to fire up the crowd and went for the LeBell Lock but Jake blocked it. Jake went for an Ankle Lock but Danielson escaped. Bryan then applied the LeBell Lock but Hager reached the bottom rope to break it up. Jake hit a Uranage off the middle rope but Danielson shrugged it off. Bryan delivered a running knee to the face for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Jericho Appreciation Society ran down the entrance ramp. Jericho was about to hit Danielson with a chair but Daniel Garcia broke it up. Danielson then caught Jericho with the running knee.

W. Morrissey Is All Elite

The Wingmen came to the ring and demanded more screen time. W. Morrissey (formerly known in WWE as Big Cass) showed up and beat the hell out of everyone. Stokely Hathaway showed up and presented Morrissey with his business card as the crowd cheered. Tony Schiavone went for an interview but it didn’t work out so well.

Hikaru Shida & Toni Storm def. Jamie Hayter & Britt Baker

Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter battled Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm tonight on Dynamite. Hikaru knocked Hayter to the mat to start off the action and tagged in Storm. Toni stomped on Hayter in the corner of the ring. Britt tagged in and beat Toni down in the corner as Dynamite went to a break.

When Dynamite returned, Shida planted Jamie with a Suplex and followed it up with a Splash. She went for the cover but Britt broke it up at two. Toni sent Britt out of the ring and went for a Suplex but Hayter blocked it. Jamie planted both Shida and Storm with a Suplex before tagging in Britt.

Baker connected with a Neckbreaker on Shida and went for the cover but Hikaru kicked out at two. Hikaru battled back and Hayter tagged in. Shida hit her finisher on Baker for the pinfall victory and posed with Toni after the match. These four will face off in a Fatal 4-Way to crown the Interim AEW Women’s Champion.

CM Punk Will Battle Jon Moxley At All Out

Miro, Darby Allin, and Sting cut a backstage vignette about their match against House of Black at All out.

Former AEW Champion CM Punk’s music hit and he made his way to the ring with his hands in his pockets. The crowd loudly chanted his name for a bit. Punk said “June 1st he broke his foot” and wrestled an entire match on it. He stated that he’s got three plates and sixteen screws put in his foot. Punk noted that that is 16 times more than a fat guy in the crowd has gotten screwed in his life.

CM Punk stated that he probably shouldn’t have said that. He noted that this was not the first time he was beaten up in Cleveland and wondered if the new 100% of his injured foot is good enough anymore. Punk said he came to wrestling because he loves this business and the fans. Punk added that it hurts to let the fans down and got emotional.

AEW producer Ace Steel interrupted and said he’s been Punk’s coach from day one. He slapped him in the face and showed him the contract. He started up a “CM Punk!” chant and noted that he filled an arena on a rumor and is not letting him leave now. CM Punk got fired up and brought the contract through the crowd. He signed it and will face Jon Moxley this Sunday at All Out.

Wardlow & FTR Picked Up A Win

Wardlow and ROH Tag Team Champions FTR battled Ren Jones, Silas Young, & “Ice Pick” Vic Capri. Wardlow hit the Powerbomb Symphony for the pinfall victory. The TNT Champion and FTR will face Jay Lethal and Motor City Machine Guns at the PPV. Sonjay Dutt was taking notes on a legal pad for whatever reason during the match backstage.

AEW Champion Jon Moxley Warns CM Punk

Jon Moxley made his way to the ring with the AEW Championship and said that CM Punk can go out on his shield in front of his hometown fans that made. Moxley stated that he will be trying to take Punk’s head off All Out and vowed to show the world the difference between a fake messiah and the real deal. Moxley added that he’s a legend happening right before your eyes. His music cut him off and Moxley stormed backstage.

Wheeler Yuta Picked Up A Win

Four of the eight wrestlers that are in the Casino Ladder match this Sunday at All Out (Wheeler Yuta, Dante Martin, Rush, and Rey Fenix) battled tonight in a 4-Way. Dante Martin hit an awesome Splash out of the ring but Rush knocked him down with a headbutt. Rush followed it up with a flip on the entrance ramp as Dynamite went to a break.

When Dynamite returned, Rush was still in control and the action had returned to the ring. Rey knocked Rush out of the ring with a kick but turned around into a Canadian Destroyer from Dante Martin. Dante hopped to the top turnbuckle but Wheeler shoved him to the mat. Fenix leaped off the top rope and leveled Rush with a Splash.

Wheeler hit Dane with an Armdrag and rolled him up in innovative fashion for the pinfall victory. It was announced that Wheeler Yuta will defend the ROH Pure Championship against Daniel Garcia on next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. PAC vs. Kip Sabian for the All Atlantic Championship was announced for All Out as well.

The Elite Advanced To The Finals Of The Trios Tournament At All Out

Hangman Page offered to join Dark Order in the Trios tournament as Evil Uno was attacked backstage. They accepted and Hangman & Dark Order will wrestle Best Friends & Orange Cassidy on Rampage in the Trios tournament. The winner will advance to the finals.

Will Ospreay and Aussie Open (Mark Davis, Kyle Fletcher) battled Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) in the semifinals of the trios tournament. The winning team will advance to the finals at All Out. Will knocked Omega out of the ring with a Clothesline but turned around into a Hurricanrana from Matt. Young Bucks went for a Crossbody but Aussie Opencaught him. Will Ospreay then climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit a ridiculous Corkscrew Splash onto The Elite below.

Matt planted Will face-first with a slam and tagged in former AEW Champion Kenny Omega when Dynamite returned. Omega hit a Dropkick and then a Fameasser for a near fall. Kenny went for a Snap Dragon Suplex but Will somehow landed on his feet. Ospreay sent Kenny out of the ring and went for a flip but Omega dodged it.

Kenny planted Will with a Snap Dragon Suplex on the floor outside the ring. Back in the ring, Aussie Open planted Omega with a Superplex for a near fall as Dynamite went to the final commercial break of the night.

When Dynamite returned, The Young Bucks battled with Aussie Open. Nick hit Ospreay with a Tornado DDT on the floor outside the ring and climbed to the top rope. Nick went for a 450 but Will got his knees up. Will started mocking Kenny Omega and the two traded punches in the middle of the ring. Omega ducked under an Enziguri and went for a V-Trigger. Ospreay ridiculously countered into a Powerbomb.

Nick countered the Cutter and The Elite took back control. The Elite hit a Superkick/V-Trigger combo but the cover was broken up. Nick flipped onto Mark Davis outside the ring. Young Bucks went for the Meltzer Driver but Ospreay broke it up. Ospreay and Fletcher hit a Shooting Star Press into a Meltzer Driver for a near fall. Omega leveled Ospreay with a V-Trigger and Young Bucks hit Davis with a Superkick.

The Elite isolated Kyle Fletcher and hit him with three Superkicks to the face. Omega tagged in but Ospreay hit him with a knee strike. Omega planted Will with a Tombstone and pushed him out of the ring. Kenny delivered a V-Trigger to Fletcher and then the One Winged Angel for the pinfall victory. The Elite have advanced to the finals of the Trios Tournament this Sunday at AEW All Out. They will battle the winner of Best Friends versus Dark Order on Rampage.

First Look at WWE Clash at the Castle Production Setup

Robert Lentini
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WWE Clash at the Castle airs live this Saturday night from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

WWE Clash at the Castle is the company’s first stadium show in the United Kingdom in over thirty years. The last premium live event held in the UK was SummerSlam 1992.

The crowd is expected to be massive with close to 63,000 tickets already sold. Principality Stadium has a seating capacity listed for the event at 67,580, so there are still tickets available for purchase.

First Look at the Production Setup For Clash at the Castle

Roman Reigns will put the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line against Drew McIntyre in the main event. Roman will be celebrating his two-year reign as champion tomorrow night on SmackDown.

The Intercontinental Championship will be defended by Gunther at the premium live event. The Ring General will battle The Celtic Warrior Sheamus with the title on the line. Liv Morgan will defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Shayna Baszler as well.

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will team up with Alexa Bliss & Asuka to face the heel trio of Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai. Edge and Rey Mysterio will square off against The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle’s rivalry has gotten personal and they will look to settle it this Saturday at Clash at the Castle.

The Wrestling Outsiders have provided photos and videos of the Clash at the Castle production setup. It appears that the premium live event will feature a massive stage in addition to a WrestleMania-worthy crowd. The jumbotron is shaped to form a castle and you can check out the photos/video of the setup below.

“I Have Exciting Plans” – Tony Khan on Tonight’s Dynamite and AEW All Out

Robert Lentini
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All Elite Wrestling President & CEO Tony Khan joined Busted Open Radio today to promote tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite as well as the All Out PPV this Sunday night.

AEW has been hit with the injury bug lately but Tony believes that the company will be back to full strength following Sunday’s PPV.

“Now really this is gonna be the strongest the roster has been, maybe ever after this weekend at All Out. I don’t want to say too much about my plans but it’s gonna be a big weekend. I have exciting plans for the show.”

Tony Khan on the injuries to the AEW roster

Tony added that it is different this PPV because he usually likes to have everything planned and the incredible amount of injuries on his roster prevented that.

“Even in the face of probably the most severe injury bug, probably the biggest star-studded injury list in pro wrestling. It’s now starting to ease up and all those people are starting to come back. Like I said, by this Sunday at All Out and just in general, I think it’s gonna be the strongest and best the roster has ever been. I think people are going to have to watch All Out to see what I mean by that.”

Tony Khan on Tonight’s Episode of AEW Dynamite

Tony also revealed that he has a lot planned for tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite. He referred to tonight’s episode as “the most eventful go-home show” that he’s ever been a part of.

“Tonight is going to be the most eventful go-home show I’ve ever been a part of…Never has a go-home TV been so important as tonights (show). There’s so many implications and so many stakes still out there for this pay-per-view.”

AEW All Out will air Sunday night from the NOW Arena in Chicago. As of now, there is no AEW Championship match announced. It is assumed that Jon Moxley will defend the AEW Championship against CM Punk but time will tell.

H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription

Watch: Damian Priest Lives with a Welsh Family Ahead of WWE Clash at the Castle

Robert Lentini
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Damian Priest will be in action this Saturday at WWE Clash at the Castle. The 39-year-old lost to Edge in the main event of the August 22nd edition of RAW.

The Judgment Day lost to The Mysterios at SummerSlam after The Rated-R Superstar made his return. Rhea Ripley brutally attacked Dominik Mysterio but he returned this past Monday on RAW. The Mysterios came to help Edge during his face-off with his former group.

There have been hints of Dominik betraying his father and that continued on RAW. Dominik wondered why Rey chose Edge as his tag team partner and Mysterio claimed that he needed his experience by his side. Dominik reluctantly accepted to be in their corner for the tag team match this Saturday.

Damian Priest Lives with Welsh Family

Judgment Day member Damian Priest is getting himself prepared for WWE’s first stadium show in the United Kingdom in three decades. Clash at the Castle is set to have an enormous crowd in attendance this Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.

Damian will be teaming up with fellow Judgment Day member Finn Balor in a tag team bout against Edge & Rey Mysterio at the premium live event.

BT Sport recently ran an advertisement for Clash at the Castle with WWE Superstar Damian Priest. In the advertisement, The Archer of Infamy lived with a Welsh family and worked at a brewery ahead of the premium live event. He successfully herded sheep and cooked Welsh treats as well. You can check out the full video below.

Drew McIntyre Teases Bringing Back Beloved Old Theme

Jon Fuentes
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Drew McIntyre has teased bringing back his old beloved “Broken Dreams” theme.

McIntyre’s first run with WWE didn’t go exactly the way he’d hoped, but one memorable aspect of that run was his original “Broken Dreams” theme song. The theme remains one of WWE fans’ most beloved to this day.

However, when McIntyre made his return to WWE in 2017, he was sporting an entirely different theme. Since his rise to top stardom and a World Title reign under his belt, fans have been calling for McIntyre to bring the theme back. And he might do exactly that.

During an interview with Quetzalli Bulnes on WWE Español’s “El Brunch de WWE,” McIntyre discussed the theme, revealing it sold just as much as John Cena’s theme did online. He suggested he’s mentioned to WWE about using the theme again for a big match.

“I talk about the possibility of having it for a big match, so fingers crossed,” McIntyre teased, “[I am] always working to make things happen. I can promise people that.”

Roman Reigns Vs Drew McIntyre

What bigger match for the song’s return than the one McIntyre will be competing in this weekend? He and Roman Reigns will headline the Clash At The Castle event from Wales with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.

McIntyre has been hyping up the event for several months now, with his intentions always on regaining the World Title so close to home. Clash At The Castle goes down from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales this Saturday, September 3, 2022.

Quotes via WrestlingNewsCo

“Wish I was There” – Former WWE Champion Comments on Missing Clash at the Castle

Robert Lentini
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WWE Clash at the Castle airs this Saturday from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It is the company’s first stadium show in the United Kingdom in over thirty years.

Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre at the premium live event. The SmackDown Women’s Championship and Intercontinental Championship will also be defended at the event.

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair will team with Alexa Bliss and Asuka to battle Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Dakota Kai this Saturday at Clash at the Castle. Seth Rollins and Riddle will also meet in the ring after their rivalry has become incredibly personal as of late.

AJ Styles Comments on Missing Clash at the Castle

AJ Styles noted in a recent interview that he was going to miss the premium live event and commented some more on it today. The Phenomenal One joined WWE’s The Bump today and Kayla Braxton wondered if the UK crowd will be one of the best in history this Saturday.

“It hurts my heart not being a part of something like that. We know how the UK is and we know how they erupt over there. They make everything seem so special and to be around that many people at one time, wow it is going to be explosive. I think everyone is going to have an amazing time, wish I was there. Maybe we’ll get to see a new champion.”

AJ Styles on missing Clash at the Castle (24:20-24:48)

The two-time WWE Champion then gave an official prediction for the title match between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre.

“Drew is something special man. It’s his time. I really believe that. In the pandemic, he was champ but this is in front of people. Is it his hometown? Not exactly but I’m sure they’ll be there. I think he’s got momentum on his side, I really do.” (25:16-25:34)

Please credit WWE The Bump and give an H/T to SEScoops if you use quotes from this article.

Kenny Omega Addresses AEW Fight Forever Roster Omissions

Michael Reichlin
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Kenny Omega says the AEW Fight Forever console video game is “pretty close to wrapping up.” He’s also addressed the the game’s limited roster and how that will be addressed.

Omega spoke with Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated this week to promote Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite from Chicago. This is the go-home show before All Out this Sunday. Omega and the Young Bucks battle Will Ospreay and Aussie Open in the semi-finals of the tournament to crown AEW’s inaugural World Trios Champions.

He also spoke extensively about Fight Forever, including some glaring omissions to the game’s roster of playable characters. Omega says the development team is working diligently to ensure fans are more than satisfied with the final product.

“This game isn’t going to pull any punches,” he said. “It’s going to be physical, sometimes bloody, and we’ve got a very high weapon count for everyone to have fun with. The hijinks outside the ring are a lot of fun, and there’s still Career Mode, too. I hope people have a blast with it.”

Development Near Completion

AEW has yet to announce Fight Forever’s release date, but we know the game is due out some time before the end of the year. According Kenny Omega, AEW Fight Forever is nearly complete.

“We’re coming pretty close to wrapping up. There is still the approval process, and we’re looking to avoid any net play issues so people can play online competitively. We really want to make sure that when people try to log onto the servers, they can do so without incurring any issues.”

AEW’s Ever-Changing Roster

FTR
(AEW)

The AEW Fight Forever roster is expected to feature approximately 50 playable characters at launch. Unfortunately, this means a lot of people will not make the cut when the game launches.

AEW is always evolving. That pertains to the craft as pro wrestling, as well as talent roster. As the game was in development, they only left a few slots open for “very special cases” such as CM Punk and Adam Cole.

“Generally speaking, you’re going to see a lot of familiar faces from the early years of AEW, many of whom are still here today. Having that original, year-one roster is important to us. We’re trying to retell that story of how we came into existence.”

– Kenny Omega to Sports Illustrated

Owen Hart and Brodie Lee will be among the special characters who will be playable in the game.

Omega says the development team is committed to post-launch support, which means a lot of the wrestlers who did not make the cut for the launch roster will be available later as downloadable content. He joked that even if John Cena showed up in AEW, it’s too late to include him in the game.

“Now that our game is pretty much wrapped, between now and the release, it will be hard to include anyone new. Even if John Cena walked through the tunnel and down the stage, we probably wouldn’t be able to get him in on time. That is why we’re doing post-launch support.”

It was never the game plan to purposely hold back, but it’s to make sure fans can be a certain wrestler, then they’ll be available as soon as possible.”

– Kenny Omega

Visit SI.com to read their full interview with Kenny Omega.

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