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Thunder Rosa Responds to Claims of Sabotaging AEW Women’s World Title Match

Thomas Lowson
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AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa isn’t too worried about claims that she deliberately sabotaged a recent title match on AEW Dynamite.

During last week’s show, Rosa defended her title against Marina Shafir in a match that left fans scratching their heads.

One fan thought the clunky spots in the match were a perfect example of a wrestler ‘sandbagging:’ deliberately making it difficult to work in the ring.

Both Shafir and former Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker liked the tweet from the person that was accusing Rosa of sandbagging.

Thunder Rosa’s response

Sitting down with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Rosa was asked about the accusations against her.

The AEW Women’s World Champion said that she has nothing but respect for her opponents, and while she’ll try harder next time, chalked this experience up to people talking (via WrestlingNews.)

“I have nothing but respect for my opponents. Anyone who dares to stand in the ring with me, I have nothing but respect to my opponents and send them nothing but blessings. Moving on forward I will continue to work harder to have the best matches I can bring and to bring the most opportunities to all of the women that are behind me. When they step into the ring with me they’re like ‘cool.’ People are going to talk and that’s fine, I’m not worried about that. I will continue to move forward and I will continue to show with my body of work what I’m all about. That’s all I have to say.”

“People are going to talk and that’s fine, I’m not worried about that. I will continue to move forward.”

Thunder Rosa on accusations of sabotaging her match with Marina Shafir.

Past problems

Rosa may not be too worried about people talking about this match, but it’s not the first time those people have spoken about her.

In September 2020, Ivelisse had a match with Rosa in which the two failed to get on the same page.

Ivelisse has even claimed that the uncomfortable Rosa match hastened her departure from AEW, after she was cut in April 2021.

Ex-WWE Star Questions Why Matt Hardy Allowed Jeff Hardy to Drive

Thomas Lowson
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Jeff Hardy is once again in trouble with the law, after being arrested last weekend and driving under the influence.

After being tested by police, who at one point had to pull guns on the AEW star, Hardy’s blood-alcohol level was over triple the legal driving limit at which point he was arrested.

A lot has been said about Jeff and who should share responsibility for his actions, but one former WWE Superstar has taken aim at Matt Hardy.

Matt Hardy and Bill DeMott

It’s been reported that Matt Hardy was with Jeff hours before his arrest, and after AEW President Tony Khan issued a statement about Jeff’s arrest, one fan asked whether action will be taken against Matt.

“What about @MATTHARDYBRAND who was getting drunk with him and let him drive knowing he was drunk and doesn’t have a license full accountability @TonyKhan right @BillDeMott”

DeMott responded by saying “it’s a good question.”

Matt responded, unhappy about DeMott’s insinuation that he bears responsibility for his younger brother’s arrest.

“Understand your passion on this & agree that DD is unacceptable. I expect speculation from fans, but not you. I haven’t touched a drug in over a decade, haven’t drank since I’ve been a Dad. Saw Jeff last on Sun night & flew early Mon w/@RebyHardy. I can’t be with Jeff every min.”

DeMott responded by saying he has nothing but respect for the former ECW Champion.

“No disrespect or anything toward you Matt. Utmost respect, we are all accountable for ourselves.”

DeMott’s tragedy

Jeff and Matt Hardy aren’t the only people that Bill DeMott has been especially critical of regarding driving under the influence.

Earlier this year, DeMott called on WWE to remove Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch for the Hall of Fame following her own arrest and being charged with DUI manslaughter.

Sytch is accused of killing 75-year-old Julian Lasseter via her drink-driving, and DeMott knows what it’s like to lose a loved one.

In 2015, DeMott’s daughter Keri Anne DeMott was killed by a drunk driver. She was 20 at the time.

In response, DeMott founded the Keri Anne DeMott Foundation, which looks to reduce the risk of drunk drivers on the road.

Former WWE Referee Announces Retirement

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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A former WWE referee will be hanging up his uniform.

Referees have the best view of the action but there are some real dangers. Oftentimes, officials are asked to take bumps which can lead to injuries. Outside of the risk factors, referees are also crucial inside the ring and sometimes can make or break a match.

If the referee botches a spot, it can derail the entire match.

Brian Hebner Retiring

Brian Hebner
(via IMPACT Wrestling)

One referee who has called some big matches and always came through is Brian Hebner. With that said, it’s time for new ventures.

During the latest edition of his Refin’ It Up podcast, Brian Hebner announced that he will be retiring from the full-time referee gig. He says that after Slammiversary on June 19, he will work the TV tapings before riding off into the sunset.

“I’m announcing that I’m going to retire from professional wrestling as a full-time referee. I will no longer be under contract with anybody. I will be working for myself.

“This is a move that I’m making because of the fact that there’s a lot of different reasons. I’m not bitter towards the business at all. This has nothing to do with anybody making me mad or anybody making me angry. This is a move on making a personal decision. I’m healthy. I’m in great shape. I’m not beat up. I have a lot of life left to spend with my kids, my family, and my friends.

“I have other projects that I’m working on, this podcast being one of them that I’m really trying to dig into. Some people may think it’s something that I shouldn’t take seriously. Some people think it should be. What it means to me is that I’m doing what Brian Hebner wants to do on my own terms.”

Hebner has called many matches over the years for the likes of WWE, IMPACT Wrestling, and NWA.

Quotes via WrestlingNews.co.

AEW Star Felt Disrespected by WWE During Talks

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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An AEW star didn’t appreciate how one former WWE executive handled things following tryouts.

For many wrestlers, WWE is the pinnacle. From a business standpoint, it truly doesn’t get any bigger. In some cases, however, the money and fame aren’t enough to sway a talent. Sometimes, it comes down to other preferences such as having family time and creative input.

In the case of this AEW talent, it was a conversation that rubbed him the wrong way.

Daniel Garcia on Not Signing With WWE

Daniel Garcia
(via AEW)

Daniel Garcia appeared on Talk is Jericho and he revealed that he initially thought WWE was going to sign him after a few tryouts. He claims Triple H even told him, “Welcome to the team.”

Things went awry, however, when Garcia had a conversation with now-former Senior Vice President of Talent Development Canyon Cemen.

“I talked to Canyon Ceman right before I left. He said, ‘Hey, let me know if any other place has interest because we’ll sign you sooner.’ In my mind. I’m like, that’s disrespectful to me. If you want to sign me, just sign me,” he said.

“I was like, Okay, if he wants to play that, I’ll play it back to him. At the time, I had an interest from Ring of Honor and I knew AEW wanted to bring me back in for extra work. But I was like, I’m gonna make this seem bigger than it actually is. So I said to him, ‘With that being said, I’ll talk to you very soon.’

“I think he got kind of hot at me for that. I think it shook him up a little bit. They emailed me a couple weeks later, kind of saying like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna stay in contact, blah, blah, blah’, and then that kind of made me mad. Then I went on a crazy Indie run and then I signed with AEW.”

Garcia has been working his way to main event status in AEW. He’s headlined several Dynamite and Rampage shows already. He is currently aligned with Chris Jericho in the Jericho Appreciation Society faction.

Quotes via WrestlingNews.co.

Ex-WWE Producer Details Pitching Ideas & Why Things Don’t Pan Out

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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A former WWE producer has revealed frustrations he had working with the company.

WWE is the most successful wrestling company and has been for quite some time. Business-wise, the promotion is making bank with massive broadcast deals among other areas.

With that said, the company has long faced criticism over its creative process. Many feel the storylines on WWE TV leave a lot to be desired.

One former WWE producer has explained why good ideas often don’t go through.

Pitching For An “Old Guy”

Vince McMahon
(via WWE)

Ex- WWE producer Dan Ryckert took to his live stream on Twitch to dish out his take on what goes on behind the scenes.

“There was a lot of pitching, a lot of brainstorming. It was tough because it’s like how many times over two and a half years can you sit in these long-ass brainstorming meetings coming up with a bunch of good ideas that you know are good and that you know that people will listen to?

“And people around you, the people on your team going, ‘Yeah it’s a good idea’ …. But because you’re just waiting for an old guy up top to look at something and he never does, or he does and he forgets about it, and you never get to do it.

“So, kind of hard to get that enthusiasm up for brainstorming two and a half years in.”

Just about anyone who has worked for Vince McMahon has said that they are working for “an audience of one.” That was quite apparent during the closing segment of the June 13 episode of Raw.

That show ended with a pose-down between WWE United States Champion Theory and Bobby Lashley.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Frustration Looms Over AEW Star’s Usage

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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There is frustration brewing over the booking of one AEW star.

AEW’s success has been quite impressive considering the company has only been around since 2019. Tony Khan has been able to score a TV deal with WarnerMedia and figures to be in for a massive broadcast deal once it’s time to renew.

Just as is the case with any other company, AEW does have its faults. Fans and experts have criticized the promotion for signing so much talent that many of them are off TV for weeks and only return in random spots.

It has left one Hall of Famer frustrated.

Jake Roberts Not Happy With Lance Archer’s Booking

Lance Archer Jake Roberts
(via AEW)

Jake Roberts, a wrestling legend who currently manages Lance Archer, had some things to say on a recent edition of the DDP Snake Pit.

Jake “The Snake” expressed frustration over how AEW has been using Archer.

“It is so frustrating for me to see Lance in the spot that he is in. He’s such a phenomenal athlete, he’s in such great shape, he’s got an unbelievable look. The only thing Lance doesn’t do really well is talk and that’s why they brought me.”

Archer has more often been seen on AEW Dark and when he has appeared on AEW TV, he’s been used to put others over. He did have a title match against Hangman Page but the booking just seemed random as AEW didn’t do much to build him up before he attacked Hangman to set up the match.

It’s a far cry from the promo Sting cut on Archer and Roberts back in 2021. Sting told Archer on an episode of Dynamite that he thinks he has what it takes to win the AEW World Championship.

It had been reported by Voices of Wrestling that there are some other stars in AEW that aren’t happy with how they’ve been used.

Archer will be able to show off more of what he can do soon as he’s been announced for this year’s NJPW G1 Climax.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

International Star Turned Down WWE Contract Offer

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One international star was offered a WWE deal but he turned it down.

WWE is considered to be the top company in all of wrestling. It’s certainly the most successful promotion from a financial standpoint and has a rich history.

While many wrestlers long for the day to be able to walk down the aisle and perform at a WWE show, others actually don’t.

Chris Brookes Turned Down WWE

Chris Brookes
(via DDT)

Chris Brookes, who performs under the DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion in Japan, recently revealed that he was ready to turn down a WWE tryout a few years back before a current SmackDown superstar convinced him otherwise.

Brookes went through with the tryout and was then offered a WWE contract. He explained to Andrew Thompson why he turned it down.

“I got offered the tryout I think in 2017… so I got offered the tryout thing first and I remember when they called me, I was like — I think I spoke to maybe Pete Dunne [Butch] about it at the time and I was like, ‘They’ve offered me a tryout thing but I don’t think I’m gonna go.’

“He was like, ‘What do you mean you’re not gonna go?’ I was like, ‘…There’s nothing that I wanna get out of it. It doesn’t feel worthwhile going,’ and I think he convinced me. He was like, ‘Even if you don’t wanna get anything from it, you should still go just to get the experience,’ which he’s right. I’m glad I got to do it and have that tryout [at] The O2 [Arena] and stuff.

“It was a cool two days and whatever and then when they decided they wanted to start the U.K. brand, I guess maybe a year or so after, they offered me a position in it, but they offered so many people contracts and whatever but like, they really cast a wide net at the time and they offered me one of the deals, same as the other guys and I thought about it.

“I think the initial one was like a year or two years thing and I guess if that’s 2018, I was 27-ish around that time. And my mentality towards it was like, of course it’s only two years or whatever but no one knew how it was gonna pan out.

“No one knew what the exclusivity to it would be and I didn’t feel done by any means with doing indie wrestling and stuff that I wanted to do and my goal was always Japan and I was like, if it’s two years, I’m 27, 28 now.”

Chris Brookes also said that WWE was never his goal in wrestling. He said that he fell out of watching wrestling when he was a kid but got back into it years later after watching Pro Wrestling NOAH, Big Japan, DDT, ROH, and CZW.

Quotes via WrestlingNews.co.

Roman Reigns Only Scheduled For One WWE Raw Appearance This Summer

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Roman Reigns will not be on Monday Night Raw very often this summer.

Reigns is the WWE Undisputed Universal Champion. He also happens to be the biggest star in WWE.

The problem WWE is left with, however, is that the “Tribal Chief” signed a new deal that sees him work fewer dates. Many have criticized the company for putting both world titles on Reigns only to extend his deal for fewer shows.

Now, word has gotten out that Reigns won’t even be on Raw for most of the summer.

Roman Reigns’ Lone Raw Appearance

Roman Reigns Contract

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer has reported that Reigns is only scheduled to make one WWE Raw appearance this summer. That being the Madison Square Garden show in New York City on July 25th.

It was reported by WrestleVotes that WWE’s creative team had no clue that Reigns would sign on for fewer dates when the decision was made to unify the world titles.

The thought was that Reigns having both championships would actually lead to more appearances on both brands.

Roman Reigns hasn’t wrestled in a match since WrestleMania Backlash on May 8. That’s about to change, however.

He will be putting the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship on the line against Riddle on the June 17th episode of SmackDown. If Riddle loses, he can never challenge Roman for the gold again.

WWE Had Plans For Troy Donovan Before Sudden Release

Thomas Lowson
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Troy Donovan was released from WWE earlier this month, but this wasn’t a decision that been in the works.

Donovan had served as ‘Two Dimes,’ one of Tony D’Angelo’s ‘family’ on WWE NXT 2.0, but was cut due to what’s being described as a “policy issue.”

Plans for Donovan

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that WWE had taped several weeks of segments for D’Angelo’s family in advance and that these segments included Donovan (via Sporto.)

“So they taped the stuff with Tony D’Angelo’s family, so they may have to re-edit this thing because Two Dimes was already taped for two more weeks. Although, I guess they don’t have to. They could probably still show him for those two weeks, it’s not the end of the world. ”

Meltzer didn’t specify whether the segments will be scrapped entirely, whether they will be edited to remove Donovan or if they will need to be refilmed.

While this isn’t “the end of the world” as Meltzer has made clear, it does reveal that WWE had no plans on releasing Donovan up until very recently.

Neither WWE nor Donovan have said what the policy issue was that led to his abrupt release.

Donovan’s Statement

We may never learn what led to Troy Donovan’s release, but the former NXT 2.0 Superstar has addressed his departure on social media.

While he didn’t specify what led to his departure, Donovan did say that mistakes were made and lessons learned during his brief tenure with the company.

Donovan also thanked fans for their support, calling his release a “bump in the road.”

Reby Hardy Fires Back at Claims Of Enabling Jeff Hardy

Thomas Lowson
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Jeff Hardy was arrested last weekend and charged with three felonies, including driving under the influence, and that’s Jeff’s responsibility alone.

Since Hardy’s arrest, his third DUI within ten years, there’s been a discussion about who bears responsibility for his actions and how this arrest could have been prevented.

Many have said that Jeff’s brother Matt and wife Reby should have worked to stop Jeff from drinking, but the latter has hit back at these claims.

Reby Fires Back

On TikTok, Reby argued that she and Matt have done more than enough to try and limit Jeff’s proximity to alcohol in a scathing response to critics (via eWrestlingNews.)

“Oh, so you were there when I booked the event, right? And when I told the promoters to make sure there was no alcohol there and he was not served alcohol? You were there? And you were there when I was trying to make sure all night through the handlers that that was not happening? You were there when we walked into his hotel room that night, right? You were there. You know, because you were there? Oh, you weren’t there.”

“Short of having him sleep in between me and Matt, there’s really not much more I could have personally done.”

Reby Hardy

Hardy added that she will not be speaking about Jeff Hardy’s situation any further and that her brother-in-law is a fully-grown adult and responsible for his own actions, not her or Matt.

What’s next for Jeff?

In a statement issued on Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that Jeff has been suspended from the company without pay.

Jeff will have to complete courses and prove his sobriety before Khan allows him to return to the ring.

Outside of wrestling, Jeff is facing some serious consequences for his actions, as this marks his third DUI arrest within ten years.

If convicted, Jeff could face a maximum five years in prison.

WWE NXT 2.0 Results (6/14): Breakker vs. Hudson, Title Bout, Six-Woman Tag Team Match

Andrew Ravens
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The June 14, 2022 episode of WWE NXT 2.0 aired live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

  • NXT Tag Team Champions The Creed Brothers defeated Malik Blade and Edris Enofe to retain the titles.
  • Fallon Henley (with Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen) defeated Tiffany Stratton.
  • Wes Lee defeated Xyon Quinn.
  • The Dyad (with Joe Gacy) defeated Javier Bernal and Dante Chen. Post-match, Joe Gacy cut a promo.
  • NXT Champion Bron Breakker defeated Duke Hudson. 
  • Giovanni Vinci (the former Fabian Aichner) defeated Guru Raaj.
  • Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams defeated Two Dimes and Stacks
  • Cora Jade, Roxanne Perez, and Indi Hartwell defeated Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, and Jacy Jayne.).

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Six-Woman Tag Team Match

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Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne vs. Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade & Indi Hartwell took place with the babyfaces going over. 

During it, there was an injury scare as Cora hit Gigi with a cannonball senton and went to pick up Gigi who did not get up before Cora quickly picked her up. Gigi was helped to the back. She came back out for an in-ring promo later at the next taping so she is seemingly fine.

What Did Bron Breakker Do? 

3 nxt

There was a promo backstage with NXT Champion Bron Breakker where Duke Hudson confronted him. Hudson mentioned how he has a win over Bron. He challenged Bron for the NXT Title and Bron accepted.

Later in the show, Breakker defeated Hudson to retain his title. It was a one-sided beatdown. Post-match, Cameron Grimes came out to issue a challenge for the NXT Title at The Great American Bash special on July 5th. Grimes cut a promo on Bron discussing how Bron has been given more than Grimes has.

Title Match

1 nxt 1

NXT Tag Team Champions The Creed Brothers defeated Malik Blade and Edris Enofe to retain the titles.

The match opened up the show. The Creeds are really over with these local fans. Creeds hit their finisher for the win. 

Giovanni Vinci Debuts

05

Giovanni Vinci (the former Fabian Aichner) defeated Guru Raaj in a singles match. He went over in a squash match with the powerbomb as his finisher. 

Before the announcement, there had already been speculation that the role was for Aichner due to the fact the vignettes that have aired for him were shot in Vence and Aichner is from Italy. Aichner was shown in a suit but his face wasn’t shown until last week. 

Time To Talk

04

Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, Two Dimes, Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro, and Joaquin Wilde did a promo in the ring. Tony promoted them in the family and gave them some fancy watches. Tony gave Two Dimes a check and told him to go get a steak dinner. He gave Stacks another check. 

Tony said that Wilde takes orders from him, not Santos. Tony told them in the family, they take an oath of silence and loyalty. He shook their hands. 

Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams interrupted it. D’Angelo challenging Hayes for the NXT North American Championship was set up for the following week. 

Sasha Banks Sporting New Look Amid WWE Suspension

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Sasha Banks is switching things up in the midst of her suspension from WWE.

The May 16 episode of Monday Night Raw brought some high drama that very few could’ve expected. Sasha and Naomi were expected to be featured in a six-pack challenge on the show but the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions left the building.

As a result, WWE vacated the women’s tag team gold and suspended Sasha and Naomi.

Sasha Banks’ New Look

Sasha Banks recently underwent PRK surgery performed by Dr. Newsom. The procedure is done to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

The official Instagram account for Newsom Eye posted photos and video of Sasha’s visit.

In the image below, you can see “The Boss” is rocking a new look.

287426761 180586771061303 8344221341086226533 n
(via Newsom Eye)

Sasha certainly hasn’t let on that she’s missing in-ring action. She attended a concert shortly after walking out of Raw and had spent some family time with her cousin Snoop Dogg.

WWE has publicly buried Sasha and Naomi. The company had both Corey Graves and Michael Cole call the duo “unprofessional” and claim they let down millions of WWE fans.

All online merchandise for Sasha and Naomi has been removed from WWEShop. It’s also been reported that the two aren’t being paid throughout their suspensions.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CewFQsZF7b1/

MOX Audiobook Narrated By Jon Moxley Released

Andrew Ravens
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Jon Moxley‘s autobiography, MOX, is now available in audio form after the initial book was released on November 2, 2021, via Simon and Schuster publishing.

MOX is narrated by the AEW star himself, which makes it even better. The run time is listed as 9 hours and 6 minutes long.  You can check it out on Audible. 

After making a name for himself on the independent scene, he joined WWE where he was repackaged as Dean Ambrose and made his main roster debut as a member of The Shield along with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. After years with the company and several championships held, Moxley made the call to leave WWE in 2019 where he signed with AEW. 

Jon Moxley Book Description

The description reads like the following: 

“A vivid trip through the mind of the top professional wrestler in the business—a nobody from nowhere who achieved his ambitions and walked away with the gold and the girl of his dreams.

Ride alongside Jon Moxley as he retraces some of the highways traveled on his remarkable journey. Revel in the never-before-told stories about his early life in Cincinnati, Ohio; the gritty independent wrestling scene where he cut his teeth; the complicated corporate landscape of the WWE where he bucked against authority; and the rebellious upstart AEW, where he won the championship in 2020 and was finally free to achieve the vision of the wrestler he’d always wanted to be.

With plenty of pitstops and revelatory insights, including grizzly ultraviolent encounters, crazy characters who became lifelong friends, and his unforgettable matches in Japan, MOX is the riveting account of the life of a brawler. It is a tale written in blood and soaked in debauchery, with a good dose of wisdom accumulated along the way.

More than a backstage pass into the arena, MOX is a ticket into the ring. Once inside, you’ll never look at pro wrestling the same again.”

Gail Kim Would Welcome Paige to IMPACT Wrestling (Exclusive)

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Gail Kim is aware that Paige plans to return to the ring at some point.

Late last week, Paige announced that her final day with WWE will be on July 7. She said the company choose not to offer her a contract extension.

Paige has vowed to make her in-ring return and it’s left many wondering where she’ll end up if she can get medical clearance.

Paige to IMPACT Wrestling?

Paige

Speaking to Steve Fall for SEScoops, IMPACT Wrestling producer Gail Kim said she’d be more than happy to welcome Paige to the Knockouts division.

“Never say never. I love Paige, I admire everything that she’s done for women’s wrestling. She also came up kind of in that period where maybe it was so powerful — what it is now.

“Women’s wrestling is probably at its best right now with main eventing. Pay-per-views, shows, it’s not an irregular thing for that to happen. So you know, Paige was part of that process.

“I have nothing but respect for her in and outside of the ring. And hey, if she wants to come over to IMPACT Wrestling I feel like the door is open. So, come on over, Paige!”

– Gail Kim on Paige joining Impact Wrestling

Watch Steve Fall’s discussion with Gail Kim:

Paige’s Next Move

Paige hasn’t wrestled since a house show event back in late 2017. She injured her neck during a tag team match and was never cleared to wrestle again by WWE’s medical team.

After retiring in 2018, WWE used Paige as a manager and later an analyst before having her sit at home until her contract expires.

Paige admitted she was frustrated with the lack of communication from WWE. At one point, she even pitched an idea to serve as Ronda Rousey’s manager but the company never took her up on it.

Nonetheless, she did express gratitude to WWE for keeping her as long as they did knowing she wouldn’t be cleared to wrestle.

Quote: Paige Is Going To Be Back Inside The Squared Circle Very, Very Soon

What Happened After June 13 WWE Raw Went Off The Air

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Another episode of WWE Raw has come and gone.

Fans got to see a Money in the Bank qualifying match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles. Riddle took on Ciampa, while Veer Mahaan went one-on-one with Rey Mysterio. Another MITB qualifier involving Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan vs. Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop also took place.

The June 13 episode of WWE Raw ended with a pose-down between Bobby Lashley and WWE United States Champion Theory.

Once Cameras Stopped Rolling

At the end of Raw, Theory blindsided Lashley by spraying baby oil in his eyes and dropkicking him out of the ring to close the show.

Once Raw went off the air, the two had a match. Bobby Lashley emerged victorious but the WWE United States Championship did not change hands.

After the match, Lashley posed for fans.

It appears Lashley is set on challenging Theory for the United States gold. With that said, the bigger picture for Theory is a potential showdown with John Cena at SummerSlam.

It’s been reported that WWE has been eyeing a match between the two for July 30 inside Nissan Stadium. Theory and Cena have hinted at making the match happen.

Cena is scheduled to return to WWE on the June 27 episode of Monday Night Raw.

Tony Khan Addresses Reason For Creating AEW All-Atlantic Championship

Andrew Ravens
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There are already several championships in All Elite Wrestling and another is on the way as AEW will soon introduce the All-Atlantic Championship. 

AEW President Tony Khan chatted with Connor Casey of Comic Book about the new title.

“It’s a heavy emphasis on international competition, but the US can get involved in the competition. And I think it’s a great way to spotlight a lot of the international wrestlers in AEW, and the international presence that AEW’s developed over the years now with our shows on in 130 countries around the world and great ratings in so many huge international markets, including every week finishing as the number one wrestling company in the UK and our ratings there continue to rise.

“So for the international fans and for the international wrestlers on the roster, I felt like it would create more opportunities. But I also don’t think this title or these opportunities are exclusive to the international wrestlers. But it’s a big benefit of the term.”

NJPW will have two qualifying matches for the All Atlantic tournament as part of their New Japan Road tour event on June 20th. 

The qualifying matches will see Tomoaki Honma take on Clark Connors and Suzuki-gun’s Yoshinobu Kanemaru battle Tomohiro Ishii. The winners of these bouts will face each other on June 21 in Korakuen Hall with the winner of that bout moving on to the finals. On the AEW side of the tournament, PAC has already advanced. Ethan Page vs. Miro and Malakai Black vs. Penta Oscuro still needs to take place. 

The finals will take place at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view event on June 26th to become the first-ever AEW All Atlantic Champion.

Major NJPW Star Booked For AEW Dynamite

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A big-time NJPW star and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will be wrestling on AEW Dynamite this week.

AEW will be airing a special edition of Dynamite on June 15. This will be the Road Rager episode. It’ll feature a tag team title ladder match between champions Jurassic Express and The Young Bucks.

Fans will also get to witness a hair vs. hair match between Chris Jericho and Ortiz.

Will Ospreay Makes Dynamite In-Ring Debut

Will Ospreay
(via NJPW)

AEW President Tony Khan has announced that Will Ospreay will wrestle one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions Dax Harwood this Wednesday night.

Ospreay appeared on the June 8 episode of Dynamite. He and other members of the United Empire attacked FTR and Trent Beretta.

Ospreay and Aussie Open ended up losing a six-man tag team match against FTR and Beretta on Rampage.

AEW Road Rager 2022 Preview

Here’s how the rest of the Road Rager card is shaping up.

  • Hair vs. Hair Match: Chris Jericho vs. Ortiz
  • AEW Tag Team Title Ladder Match: Jurassic Express (c) vs. The Young Bucks
  • Will Ospreay vs. Dax Harwood
  • Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker
  • AEW All-Atlantic Championship Tournament Qualifying Match: Miro vs. Ethan Page
  • Wardlow vs. 20 security guards

Former IMPACT Wrestling Star Burns Indie Promotion’s Titles Over Pay

Andrew Ravens
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Jake Crist, most known for his stint in Impact Wrestling, shared a video of him dousing two title belts with gasoline and then lit them on fire. The belts he burned were the IWA World Championship and the IWA Mid-South World Junior Heavyweight Championship which he had held for over 200 days. 

He told Ian Rotten in the video that he gave him a month to pay him and since the former ECW star burnt this bridge, he thought he would do a little burning himself. At this time, Rotten has yet to comment on Crist’s actions.

Crist has gotten a ton of support from other wrestlers including former Impact/WWE star Zachary Wentz and Neil Diamond Cutter.

https://twitter.com/ZacharyWentz/status/1536758985956655106

The promotion was founded by Rotten in 1996 and based out of Indiana. IWA Mid-South was a starting place for several notable wrestlers includingColt Cabana, Chris Hero, and CM Punk. The promotion has had some controversial moments in the past including Rotten being accused of not paying talent. 

Jeff Jarrett had a confrontation with Rotten’s son after a reported pay dispute between Jarrett and Rotten.

AEW Star Expected to be Done With the Company

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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It looks like an AEW star who had some promise will no longer be working for the company.

Things can change seemingly overnight in the world of wrestling. One minute a performer is in the midst of a big push, the next that person is sent all the way down the card.

Real-life issues can also get in the way of someone’s career and cost them a job. That appears to be what has happened in this situation.

Jake Atlas Gone From AEW

Jake Atlas
(AEW)

Fightful is reporting that Jake Atlas is likely done with AEW. The news comes following the wrestler’s arrest for domestic violence battery.

Atlas allegedly attacked his partner and signed a no-contact order back in May. Atlas allegedly followed his partner after initially charging at him and left the victim with a scratch.

The police report alleges that the issue began as Atlas had a night of drinking and felt his partner was giving more attention to a female friend than him.

There were high hopes for Atlas as he was immediately put in a match with Adam Cole earlier this year and many felt he showed promise before tearing his ACL. It was a tough bump in the road for Atlas but this is even worse.

The Fightful report notes that Atlas had been working on a per appearance deal with AEW.

Atlas signed with WWE back in 2019. He was released by the company in Aug. 2021.

AEW was Atlas’ second chance on a big stage and one has to wonder if he’ll ever get another opportunity again.

Jeff Hardy Suspended from AEW Without Pay After Latest DUI Arrest

Michael Reichlin
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Tony Khan has released a statement regarding Jeff Hardy’s standing with the company.

Hardy was arrested early Monday morning and charged with felony DUI and driving without a valid license. According to the arrest report, police witnessed Hardy’s car swerving and running off the road. Cops pulled him over and drew their guns on the wrestling legend, as seen below.

Hardy was reportedly “in a stupor,” unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol when he failed a breathalyzer test. His blood-alcohol levels were nearly 4-times the legal limit to drive.

Cops Pull Guns on Jeff Hardy Before DUI Arrest (Video)

AEW’s Statement

Tony Khan issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon. Hardy is suspended without pay and cannot return to AEW until he completes a rehabilitation program and maintains his sobriety. According to Khan, Hardy was open to the idea of getting professional help.

“We were able to resume contact with Jeff Hardy this afternoon. AEW does not condone Jeff’s alleged behavior. We’ve made it clear to Jef that we’ll assist him in getting treatment for substance abuse issues, which he has indicated that he’s open to receiving. In the interim, he is suspended without pay, and he can only return to AEW upon successfully completing treatment and maintaining his sobriety.”

Khan also encouraged people to reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline if you or a loved one needs help with substance dependency.

Update on WWE’s Decision to Unify World Title

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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When WWE first decided to put the Undisputed WWE Universal Title on Roman Reigns, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

After all, Reigns is the top star in the company. On top of that, fans had been clamoring for just one recognized world champion in WWE as the feeling among some was that having two champions devalued the importance of having a world title.

When Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38, there was some hope that one recognized world champion would do some good for WWE.

That was before the company’s world champion took on a reduced schedule.

Creative Unaware of Roman Reigns’ New Deal

Roman Reigns
(via WWE)

A new report from WrestleVotes claims that when WWE’s creative team decided to put both the WWE and WWE Universal Championships on Roman Reigns, they weren’t aware that he had been working on a new deal.

The report notes that the team was under the impression that Reigns would actually be making more appearances on both Raw and SmackDown.

Obviously, that hasn’t been the case. The “Tribal Chief” ended up inking a new contract with WWE that sees him working fewer dates.

While WWE claimed that there wouldn’t be much of a difference, Reigns has missed a few weeks of television and will finally be making his return on the June 17 episode of SmackDown.

Reigns will put the Undisputed WWE Universal Title on the line against Riddle. If Riddle loses, he can never challenge Roman for the championship again.

Matt Hardy Breaks Silence On Jeff Hardy’s DUI Arrest

Thomas Lowson
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Jeff Hardy and those closest to him have been left reeling after the “Charismatic Enigma’s” latest arrest.

Last weekend, Hardy was pulled over and arrested in Volusia County, Florida, and faces three charges, including driving under the influence.

When a breath test was administered, Jeff blew an 0.294 on his first and 0.291 on his second, both well over the legal limit to drive a vehicle 0.08.

Jeff was said to be unsteady on his feet and at one point, officers had to pull their firearms on Hardy to get him to comply.

There’s been plenty of talk since Jeff’s most recent arrest, and now someone extremely close to the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has weighed in.

Matt’s Statement

Taking to Twitter, Jeff’s older brother Matt said it was “disheartening” to hear about his brother’s most recent arrest.

Matt added that he will continue doing what he can to support Jeff and that being healthy and well is the most important thing for them and their families at this time.

Jeff’s trouble with the Law

This situation is unfortunately not Jeff Hardy’s first run-in with the law.

In 2009, shortly after his departure from WWE, Hardy was arrested on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and pled guilty the following year.

In September 2011, Hardy was sentenced to ten days in jail, 30 months of probation, and a fine of $100,000.

Years later, after returning to WWE, Hardy was arrested in July 2019 for public intoxication and arrested again three months later for driving under the influence.

Cops Pull Guns on Jeff Hardy Before DUI Arrest (Video)

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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The scene of Jeff Hardy’s recent DUI arrest is more frightening than many even realized.

Early Monday morning, the AEW star was arrested in Volusia County, Florida. He was charged with Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Driver’s License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs, his third offense within 10 Years.

Hardy’s BAC was nearly four times the legal limit.

Scary Jeff Hardy DUI Arrest Video

TMZ has released footage of Jeff’s recent arrest and it’s quite terrifying. Jeff seemingly wasn’t cooperating with three police officers, prompting all of them to pull out their firearms.

Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed.

Jeff Hardy was released from jail on $3,500 bond Monday evening. He’s due for a court hearing on June 14 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

As of now, there has been no word on what actions AEW will take against Hardy. The company did remove advertising for a planned ladder match involving Jeff.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer also reported that WarnerMedia has told AEW to pull any advertising featuring Jeff Hardy.

WWE May Have Already Lost Faith in Former NXT Champion

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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It seems WWE is already at a loss on what to do with a certain superstar.

The old NXT regime has pretty much been dismantled. Many believe the death blow for the old guard was due to NXT consistently being beat by AEW Dynamite in terms of viewership.

Ultimately, Vince McMahon saw more value in making NXT a true developmental brand rather than its own main roster brand. The show now features mostly green talent with some veterans to help guide the stars of tomorrow.

One NXT talent from the prior regime is currently on the Monday Night Raw brand and he may already be lost in the fold.

Ciampa’s WWE Future Not So Bright?

Tommaso Ciampa
WWE.com

Since making his main roster debut (full-time) back in April, Ciampa has seemed lost.

His grand first impression was telling Kevin Owens backstage that Ezekiel isn’t Elias and smiling. The segment gave fans the impression that the former NXT Champion was a babyface but he ended up being a heel.

Ciampa randomly attacked Mustafa Ali on Raw but that really didn’t lead to anything. Then, he had another random attack, this time on Riddle. The following week, Ciampa was given no entrance and was simply in the ring for a short match with Riddle which he lost.

Suddenly, Ciampa is just another guy on the main roster. It doesn’t help that he’s made a few appearances on Main Event as well.

Time will tell if WWE will have anything significant for Ciampa in the future but it isn’t looking good.

Lucha Libre Ice Cream & Churros Opens in Winston-Salem, NC

Thomas Lowson
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Noth Carolina wrestling fans with a sweet tooth are in for a treat thanks to a new store now open in Winston-Salem.

Lucha Libre Ice Cream & Churros is the place to be and the creation of Martin Ortega, who works with his sister Carolina and his three sons, Christopher, Anthony, and Jhoan.

The store, which is the company’s second location, opened this past Sunday at 2021 Griffith Road, not far from Hanes Mall Boulevard and is based on Ortega’s Mexican culture.

Lucha Libre boasts 20 flavors of ice cream, starting at $6.49 for a small cup and $6.99 for a large.

In addition to ice cream and churros, Lucha Libre also sells paletas, milkshakes, fruit treats, coffee drinks, and mangonadas (a frozen mango dessert).

“My brother, going back to his teen years, always loved lucha libre, and he used to work as a promoter for lucha libre back in Mexico.”

Carolina Ortega, sister of Lucha Libre Ice Cream and Churros owner Martin Ortega (via JournalNow)

One top seller at Lucha Libre is the ‘Nutella the Giant’ SmackDown: a Nutella milkshake with churros stuck in it named after WWE Hall of Famer Andre the Giant.

Ortega, a native of Loma Bonita in Oaxaca, Mexico, previously ran a Hispanic grocery store and restaurant called Barrio Latino.

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