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Tony Khan on ROH Death Before Dishonor PPV Buys

Luis Perez
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Last night’s Ring of Honor pay-per-view event Death Before Dishonor has been said to be a huge success.

The second pay-per-view under the new ownership of the President of All Elite Wrestling, Tony Khan, is said to have been more successful than ROH Supercard Of Honor 2022 back on April 1st.

“We’re approaching 25,000 buys digitally. We’re well over 20,000, approaching 25,000” Tony Khan said during the Death Before Dishonor post-show media scrum.

“Just digitally. And when we get the cable and satellite buys, this will be one of the highest Ring of Honor pay-per-view buys in the history of the company in over 20 years of operating. And as I said, this is the fourth biggest live attendance.

“Of course our first show, we did Supercard was up there. This beat that by a big margin and it was great. And so it is the number four all-time in over 20 years of Ring of Honor events. And again, it is the highest ever for a non-WrestleMania weekend event.”

Later on in the media scrum, Tony Khan would go on mention that this could be a good driver for if or when Ring of Honor starts weekly television.

“I think the business success of tonight’s show is hopefully a good driver and so I think it’s really good news for anybody who likes Ring of Honor. Because the show tonight was a big success and we’ve really revived the brand. And for a company that had a very uncertain future.”

We will report any updates as well as the pay-per-view buy numbers when they become official.

Jonathan Gresham Has Asked for His ROH/AEW Release

Luis Perez
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According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Jonathan Gresham has asked for his ROH/AEW release.

In the report, there was a conversation between Gresham and Tony Khan that was said to have involved Gresham “cussing out” Khan.

Sapp would go on to tweet, “There seems to be a lot of lack of communication between talent relations and talent that we’ve heard from. We’ve had stories of Gresham, Marko, Cage, Janela, and others not being able to get answers or responses.”

In an interview with WrestlePurists.com ahead of his recent ROH World Championship defense, he spoke about his communication with the AEW President.

“To be honest, I’ve not really talked to him. I don’t know what he thinks about me. Ive had very short conversations with him, when I say short I mean short. So I dunno. I would hope that he values me, I don’t know though. So we’ll find out in the coming weeks, months I guess.”

Jonathan Gresham on communication with Tony Khan

The backstage incident seemed to play a part in Gresham’s mood going into his match against Claudio Castagnoli at Death Before Dishonor.

Gresham made his entrance without his signature octopus mask, robe or flag. Twitter user @HeelWillMahoney described it as him being called into work on his day off.

Castagnoli ended up defeating Gresham with the Ricola Bomb to become the new ROH World Champion.

Since his loss to Claudio, the former champion has deactivated his Twitter account.

More details on this story to come.

Are The Blackpool Combat Club the Next Challengers For FTR?

Luis Perez
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Last night at Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor, the rematch of the dream match from Supercard of Honor earlier this year was held. The rematch between FTR and The Briscoes was contested under the stipulation of 2-out-of-3 falls.

Both teams went to war for around 50 minutes in another instant classic.

Following the aftermath, FTR cut a promo to end the show…or so we thought. The newly crowned ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli and ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta, both members of the Blackpool Combat Club, came out on stage.

Could they be the next challengers for the ROH Tag Team Championships?

In the media scrum following the pay-per-view, when asked about the ending of Death Before Dishonor and if the match could happen this Wednesday at Fight For the Fallen, Wheeler Yuta responded,

“Well, I’m not sure when it will happen, but I’m sure that that is a collision course that we’re definitely on now. Obviously, FTR in my opinion is the best tag team in the world.”

Wheeler Yuta on challenging FTR

“But there’s a reason that we have the Ring of Honor World Championship, the Ring of Honor Pure Championship. And Claudio and I’ve never tagged who’s to say that we’re not going to be the best tag team in the world.

“So I’m really excited for that one.”

The Fight for the Fallen edition of Dynamite will take place this upcoming Wednesday (July 27) at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Could we see another interaction or even a match between the Blackpool Combat Club and FTR?

Will Ospreay Claims he Received Cease & Desist from Kenny Omega

Thomas Lowson
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Will Ospreay is one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s most popular stars, in addition to being the reigning IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

Ospreay has amassed a huge fanbase who are willing to pay for merchandise, but one shirt is no longer available to them.

The Shirt

On Twitter, PW Tees announced that a shirt of Ospreay’s has been pulled, following a cease and desist being filed.

The front of the shirt depicts the British wrestler hitting the One-Winged Angel, while the back features the phrase ‘Better Than The Best Bout Machine,’ a nod to a nickname for Kenny Omega.

In response, Omega said that the shirt raised various legal concerns in AEW, and apologized to Ospreay’s fans.

Omega added that all orders already made for the shirt will be fulfilled.

Ospreay Fires Back

Will Ospreay is furious that his shirt has been taken down, and believes Omega is acting like a hypocrite.

In a video response, Ospreay referenced Omega’s own run-ins with C&Ds, noting that WWE filed a cease and desist when he and others were using the ‘Too Sweet’ hand gesture (via Fightful.)

“I have just exposed Kenny as an insecure little b*tch. It was fine when those guys were throwing up the Too Sweet and got hit with a cease & desist. They continued to poke the bear. When it is me doing it to you guys, you have a problem with it. It’s because Kenny is a miserable little pr*ck. He takes it out on me because I’m actually having fun with my life.”

“It was fine when those guys were throwing up the Too Sweet… When it is me doing it to you guys, you have a problem with it.”

Will Ospreay

Ospreay also claimed that Omega is unhappy that AEW has now “turned into something you don’t like.”

He noted that while AEW have portrayed themselves as the underdogs to WWE, they are now “the big boys, trying to look down on the little guys.”

Tony Khan Says a Lot of Jim Cornette’s AEW Criticisms are Fair

Thomas Lowson
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Since being founded in 2019, All Elite Wrestling has become a smash-hit with fans, earning legions of loyal supporters around the globe.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, fans have stuck to AEW’s programming, calling it an alternative to WWE’s standard of entertainment.

Not everyone has been impressed over the years by what Tony Khan has been able to produce.

Cornette is “Fair”

One of the most vocal critics of All Elite Wrestling is Jim Cornette, who routinely bashes the product on his podcast.

From the booking to the in-ring style, Cornette has never shied away from taking shots at the All-Elite promotion and like AEW, has his own share of loyal listeners.

During the media scrum following Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor Pay Per View, Tony Khan admitted that some of what Cornette says has some truth to it (via Sportskeeda.)

“Just as also some of the other vocal critics of AEW, including Jim Cornette. One of the more vocal critics, but at times also a lot of what he says is very fair.”

Tony Khan admits that some of Jim Cornette’s criticisms of AEW are very fair.

Khan didn’t give a specific example of one of these “fair” assessments of AEW by Cornette.

Cornette and Omega

Arguably Cornette’s biggest issue with All Elite Wrestling is one of the company’s Executive Vice Presidents: Kenny Omega.

Earlier this month, Omega fired back to the constant criticisms by Cornette, saying that he has realized that “hateful speech” helps to pay his bills.

Firing back on his podcast, Cornette blamed Omega for making “wrestling something to be laughed at,” and that the former World Champion has “ruined a pastime, a hobby, an interest and entertainment that a lot of us had.”

Jim Cornette Thinks AEW Had “Worst Segment” Ever On Wrestling TV

Original Plans For Claudio Castagnoli’s Debut Revealed

Luis Perez
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Last month saw the AEW debut of former WWE star Cesaro, now using his real name again, Claudio Castagnoli. Following Bryan Danielson’s injury, Bryan handpicked Claudio as a mystery opponent for Zack Sabre Jr at AEW and NJPW’s joint show Forbidden Door.

Castagnoli also ended up taking Danielson’s spot as a member of the Blackpool Combat Club in the Blood and Guts match a few days later against the Jericho Appreciation Society. But was this always the plan for Claudio Castagnoli’s All Elite Wrestling debut?

During the Death Before Dishonor media scrum, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated asked Tony Khan if the original plan was to debut him at the Ring of Honor PPV.

“It was the original plan. Yeah, it was originally. He was going to debut here and it would have been a different build to the pay-per-view than what we did. And I think in a way that, you know, everything worked out perfectly.”

Tony goes on to say:

“So originally my vision when we spoke, was that Claudio was going to come back at Ring of Honor and he would debut and he would be a mystery wrestler and I think there would have been a lot of anticipation for who was going to be.

Tony Khan on original plan for Claudio Castagnoli

“But I also think that it would have been a great delivery and I honestly think that like, you know, if the fans had gotten drawn to the possibility of who could be associated with Ring of Honor, who is a name that is so important to the history of Ring of Honor and also, was certainly, I believe the best free agent wrestler in the world, then I believe it would have been a lot of fans assuming, hoping, wishing, wanting to see it be Claudio.

“But things change and I also knew when we spoke, there was a possibility that you would come in, as the alternate replacing Bryan Danielson as Zack Sabre Jr’s opponent at Forbidden Door, and also replacing Bryan Danielson in the Blood and Guts match. And so everything’s worked out great.”

Last night Claudio Castagnoli competed against ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham in the opening match of ROH’s Death Before Dishonor.

Castagnoli came out the victor against Gresham, ending the 224-day reign of Gresham who had previously won the vacant championship at ROH Final Battle 2021 back in December.

Please H/T SEScoops if you use any quotes from this article

Tony Khan Comments on CM Punk’s Injury Recovery

Luis Perez
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Just five days after becoming champion, CM Punk announced on the June 3rd episode of Rampage that he had suffered an injury that will require surgery.

Punk ended up not relinquishing the AEW World Championship, as originally speculated by fans, but a new Interim Champion would be crowned during his absence.

During the ROH Death Before Dishonor post-show media scrum, Tony Khan was asked for an injury update on CM Punk.

“Well, he’s doing well on his recovery. He was at the Comic-Con today. I didn’t see his panel and obviously, we saw that Bryan Danielson announced his return there, and not long after of course you saw that was confirmed here again on Death Before Dishonor that it will be on Wednesday Bryan Danielson returning from injury.

“Speaking of a Ring of Honor, true Hall of Famers CM Punk, the AEW World Champion. I don’t know exactly what he said, but I know that he’s doing well in his recovery. So I don’t want to scoop anything he may have said at the Comic-Con panel. So he’s doing well, he’s not behind in his recovery.”

Tony Khan on CM Punk’s recovery

“I wouldn’t want to step on what he said, but the last we spoke, I haven’t spoken to him since he did the panel, but going into the panel, he’s doing well, and on track and we look forward to a great unification match when he’s back. Whoever the Interim Champion is.”

When asked if we could see Punk back for Labor Day weekend in Chicago, Tony replied, “We’ll see, I mean I can’t rule it out but I also can’t promise because I don’t want to say anything when it comes to somebody’s recovery from a real serious injury and he’s really battling hard to get back as soon as you possibly can.”

During the AEW panel at SDCC CM Punk stated that he has no timeline for when he’ll be back inside the ring. His foot was shattered. He says it’s healing, but has not fully healed.

He also went on to say that he’s re-learning to walk.

CM Punk defeated Hangman Page at Double or Nothing on May 29th to become the AEW World Champion. His final match before the injury announcement was alongside FTR where they defeated Max Caster and The Gunn Club on Dynamite.

WWE Giant Debuts New Look at NXT Live Event

Michael Reichlin
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WWE Superstar Commander Azeez has a new look and a new role with the company.

At Saturday’s NXT live event from Cocoa, Florida, Azeez appeared alongside Cora Jade. The duo wrestled a mixed tag match in a losing effort against Ivy Nyle and Sanga.

Azeez previously portrayed Apollo Crews’ Imperial Guardsman on the main roster. That act has disbanded, with both men now wrestling for NXT 2.0.

This latest change is the fourth incarnation of Babatunde Aiyegbusi’s character in WWE. He signed with the company in 2016 after playing football in the Polish American Football League and German Football League. He had a brief stint NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, but only played in the 2015 pre-season.

After debuting as Dabba Kato during the short-lived Raw Underground concept, he was later dubbed Babatunde before transforming into Commander Azeez on the main roster.

It will be interesting to see if WWE sticks with the Azeez & Jade pairing, or if this was a one-off situation while the company decides how to position the 6-foot-9 giant.

Commander Azeez in NXT 2.0

As seen in the photos below, Azeez is sporting a new look in NXT:

image 5
(Photo: @brownscientific)
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(Photo: @rosendevilletm)

Sami Zayn Plans to ‘Run His Mouth’ After He’s Done Wrestling

Michael Reichlin
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Sami Zayn discussed the prospect of retiring from active competition on the latest episode of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions.

Earlier this year, Zayn celebrated the 20th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut. Prior to joining WWE in 2013, Zayn had a lengthy run on the independent scene. Before the WWE Universe met Sami Zayn, he portrayed the masked character El Generico in companies such as PWG, Chikara, ROH and Dragon Gate USA.

At 38 years old, Zayn knows he can’t wrestle forever. He isn’t planning to hang up the boots any time soon, but he has thought about the next phase of his career.

When father time knocks on his door and he’s wrestled his last match, Sami Zan hopes to put his communication skills to good use.

“I don’t know, because it could be taken away when you’re not ready for it. ‘Till the wheels fall off, I suppose, and then when they do, I’d love to run my mouth and be Bobby Heenan, be Paul Heyman, or be whoever, you know.”

– Sami Zayn on retirement

Heenan and Heyman are undeniably two of the greatest talkers in wrestling history, so Zayn clearly has high aspirations for himself. Whether he works as a broadcaster or manager, there’s no doubt that Zayn has a lot to offer the business even outside the ropes.

Zayn has been out of action for several weeks due to an injury. He last competed at WWE’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Since then, he’s been seen wearing a sling. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Zayn’s injury is “legit, but it’s not major, and they are hopeful of him being able to wrestle in a few weeks.”

Elsewhere during the interview, Zayn played the ‘word association game’ and named the first thing that came to mind about topics such as Seth Rollins, John Cena and Triple H.

You can stream Sami Zayn’s appearance Broken Skull Sessions right now on Peacock.

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

AEW Fight for the Fallen 2022 Preview (Dynamite & Rampage)

Michael Reichlin
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AEW presents Fight for the Fallen 2022 this coming week. The themed editions of Dynamite and Rampage will help raise awareness for Oceana, a Washington D.C.-based charity that aims to protect the world’s oceans.

AEW has announced several matches for each show, which you can see below. The most significant news is that Bryan Danielson has been medically cleared to return and will be in action Wednesday night.

Fight for the Fallen Matches

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AEW Dynamite: Wednesday, July 27th

  • Bryan Danielson returns to action against Daniel Garcia
  • AEW Interim World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Rush
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • Danhausen challenges FTW Champion Ricky Starks
  • Tony Nese & “Smart” Mark Sterling vs. Swerve Strickland in a 2-on-1 match. Keith Lee will be banned from ringside.

AEW Rampage: Airing Friday, July 29th

  • Lee Moriarty vs. Matt Sydal
  • Ethan Page vs. Leon Ruffin

Will Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement be Permanent?

Thomas Lowson
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This week, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE, after decades of running the company.

McMahon’s retirement comes one month after he stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the Board, due to the allegations of misconduct against multiple female employees.

McMahon is alleged to have paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) over 16 years.

Will He Stay Retired?

For years, it was said that the only way McMahon would ever relinquish control of WWE is when he passes away, so the choice to retire is rightly being seen as a huge deal.

While McMahon has insisted that he is finished with WWE, there are some who are skeptical about how long this will last.

Fightful Select reports that some in WWE don’t see McMahon’s retirement as long-lasting, given that he has little hobbies or social circle outside of pro wrestling. (via Wrestling Inc.)

“I’m not banking on anything being permanent,” one source said. “Triple H was phased out, Stephanie was phased out, Bruce left the company for a decade, Johnny has been in and out, and none of them has the power Vince does. I’m not convinced that he can actually stay away, especially if he feels the heat has died down.”

“I’m not banking on anything being permanent… I’m not convinced that he can actually stay away.”

The ‘Heat’

If Vince McMahon is waiting for the heat of these recent scandals to die down, then he may be waiting a very long time.

Reporters from the Wall Street Journal have said that they are conducting interviews with former WWE Superstars, and a third article is expected to be published.

Wrestling World Reacts to Vince McMahon’s Retirement

Bianca Belair Calls WWE Raw Superstar the Next “Heavyweight World Champion”

Thomas Lowson
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Bianca Belair knows all about winning championships in WWE.

The winner of the 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Belair would capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37, in the main event of the show.

A year later, Belair would capture the Raw Women’s Championship, dethroning Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 this past April.

Belair’s Pick

Belair is no stranger to championship gold, but also sees big things in the future of Montez Ford.

Speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Ebro, and Laura Styles on Hot 97 radio, Belair praised her husband’s in-ring work and called him the next WWE World Champion (via Sportskeeda)

“There’s a lot of talk right now about Montez Ford. He’s the next Heavyweight World Champion. He’s been in the gym. He’s been changing his physique… I’m excited for the future for him. He has so much potential. He’s really focused on this tag team thing right now with Angelo Dawkins. The Street Profits are doing amazing things. All I can say is it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when for my husband. I’m putting it out there.”

“He’s the next Heavyweight World Champion… it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

Bianca Belair calls Montez Ford a future WWE World Champion.

The People’s Endorsement

Bianca Belair isn’t the only WWE Superstar to see big things in Montez Ford’s future.

Last week, The Rock praised Ford as the “whole package” in the latest positive message from the ‘Brahma Bull.’

In February this year, The Rock agreed with Belair’s mindset that Ford will be a future WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

WWE has also reportedly been high on Ford, admiring his in-ring work and charisma.

Montez Ford Got Emotional After The Rock Labeled Him A Future World Champion

Latest On Max Dupri And Maximum Male Models

Anutosh Bajpai
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This Friday’s SmackDown saw an abrupt change in the Maximum Male Models storyline. NXT star Sofia Cromwell debuted as Maxxine Dupri, with reports suggesting that Max Dupri was done with the group.

We have an update on the situation and the future of the character played by the former LA Knight.

Per Fightful, the whole angle was Vince McMahon’s idea and he had taken a particular interest in the storyline. The boss even came down to the ring to produce the Maximum Male Models debut segment which doesn’t happen often.

The former WWE chairman had a distinct vision for how Max Dupri would sound. McMahon worked with Max quite a bit on it. He said that he wanted the character to sound nothing like Knight.

Both Mace and Mansoor were on board with the angle, but LA Knight had some reservations. He said to have ‘ruffled some feathers with a couple of scripts’ and challenged what the writers had come up with.

Though despite the report that the decision was made a couple of weeks ago, Max Dupri was unbooked on last minute. Other people involved in the segment weren’t given any concrete information on his status.

A source said that Vince McMahon retiring from WWE is the best thing that could have happened to Knight. He still has supporters in WWE that enjoy his work, and the door isn’t closed for the decision to be reversed.

What Creative Changes Are Expected After Vince McMahon’s Retirement

Anutosh Bajpai
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Vince McMahon held the keys when it came to WWE creative for over 5 decades. Now that he is gone from the company, the WWE programming is expected to go through some major changes.

Fightful Select provided some updates on what changes we can expect. They noted that one source within creative said that we may see fewer rematches moving forward.

It’s believed that Vince McMahon will redo a match if he liked it and thought that it made sense. He then ‘later forget that they’d done it so many times.’

There were people that claimed that the 76-year-old had issues remembering names of talents here and there. This might be a reason why he shortened many talent names.

People believe that the new leadership may not want to deviate from McMahon’s vision too much out of ‘respect’ for the boss, but they still think that small improvements in current programming can make a huge difference.

As far as long-term changes go, most people said that it will be determined by who ends up in control of creative. If Bruce Prichard ends up taking over, it’s likely that not much will change.

Though if it’s someone else, the likelihood of ‘forward progression’ will be much higher. You can check out more backstage news on Vince McMahon’s retirement here.

Watch What Happened With FTR After ROH Death Before Dishonor Went Off The Air

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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The 2022 ROH Death Before Dishonor PPV has gone off the air and FTR created a moment that one fan won’t soon forget.

Death Before Dishonor was held inside the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. The show got started with a bang as Jonathan Gresham put the ROH World Championship on the line against Claudio Castagnoli.

In the end, it was Claudio who hit the Ricola Bomb and pinned Gresham to become the new ROH World Champion.

In the main event, FTR and The Briscoes had an instant classic for the ROH World Tag Team Championships. This was a best 2 out of 3 falls match and FTR won the match, earning the two falls, while The Briscoes earned one.

When Cameras Stopped Rolling

Once ROH Death Before Dishonor went off the air, FTR brought a young fan into the ring. The fan got to hoist up one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Titles.

SEScoops’ Steve Fall was in attendance for the show and he captured the special moment:

SEScoops provided live coverage throughout the evening. You can check back on the homepage for ROH Death Before Dishonor results and video highlights.

Bryan Danielson Cleared to Wrestle, First Opponent Since May Revealed

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Welcome back to the Bryan Danielson show.

Danielson has been out of action since late May. The top AEW star competed in an Anarchy in the Arena match during the Double or Nothing PPV.

It is believed that Bryan suffered a concussion during the match. While Danielson was feeling fine physically, AEW President Tony Khan left no stone unturned in ensuring that Danielson would wait until he was 100 percent ready to get back inside the ring.

That day has come.

Bryan Danielson Returning

bryan danielson 10 21 21
(via AEW)

During an appearance at the San Diego Comic-Con Convention, Bryan Danielson announced that he medically cleared to get back in the ring.

Furthermore, it was announced during the ROH Death Before Dishonor PPV event that Danielson will take on Daniel Garcia on a special Fight for the Fallen edition of AEW Dynamite this Wednesday night (July 27).

The Danielson vs. Garcia matchup seemingly confirms that the rivalry between Blackpool Combat Club and the Jericho Appreciation Society will continue.

We’ve updated our Wrestling Injuries Tracker to reflect Bryan Danielson being medically cleared to wrestle.

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AEW continues to receive good news after going through a wave of talent injuries. It was reported that Kenny Omega is expected to be back sooner than later. The target for Omega could be at the All Out PPV on Sept. 4.

Jonathan Gresham Deactivates Twitter After ROH World Title Loss

Joey Galizia
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Tonight’s Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view opened with Jonathan Gresham defending the world championship against Claudio Castagnoli, a competitive back and forth contest that saw Castanoli get the win and capture his first singles world title.

Shortly after the bout’s conclusion Gresham deactivated his Twitter account. The Octopus had been a topic of conversation on social media over the weekend, with some toxic fans taking shots at his height or on-screen character. It is not confirmed that this is why Gresham deactivated, but it will be something to keep an eye on.

Gresham won the ROH world title at last December’s Final Battle by defeating Jay Lethal, who had replaced the champion at the time, Bandido. Gresham and Bandido would eventually meet at SuperCard of Honor to determine the promotion’s undisputed champion, which was won by Gresham in the show’s main event.

You can see a screenshot of Gresham’s Twitter below.

Screen Shot 2022 07 23 at 5.45.04 PM

Sescoops will keep you updated as this is an ongoing story.

Claudio Castagnoli Wins ROH World Title at Death Before Dishonor

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Claudio Castagnoli can finally call himself a world champion.

Castagnoli challenged Jonathan Gresham in the PPV opener for Death Before Dishonor. While many expected the bout to headline the card, commentator Ian Riccaboni explained that there was a coin toss to determine what would be the main event.

FTR vs. The Briscoes for the ROH World Tag Team Championships won the toss.

It was clear that the crowd heavily backed Claudio in this one and they got exactly what they were hoping for.

Claudio Castagnoli hit the Ricola Bomb to cap off one heck of an opening match. Claudio scored the pinfall and he now lays claim to a world title for the first time in his career.

This marks the end of Jonathan Gresham’s 225-day reign as the ROH World Champion.

SEScoops’ Steve Fall and Jaychele Nicole are both in attendance for ROH Death Before Dishonor and have provided some clips of the celebration:

ROH Death Before Dishonor 2022 Results: FTR vs. The Briscoes, Claudio Castagnoli Wins Title, Samoa Joe

Robert Lentini
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ROH Death Before Dishonor 2022 aired live from the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA. FTR defended the ROH Tag Team Championships against The Briscoes in a 2 out of 3 falls match in the main event.

ROH Death Before Dishonor 2022 Results:

  • Colt Cabana def. Anthony Henry (pre-show)
  • Trust Busters def. Shinobi Shadow Squad (pre-show)
  • Brian Cage & the Gates of Agony def. Blake Christian, Tony Deppen, Alex Zayne (pre-show)
  • Willow Nightingale def. Allison Kay (pre-show)
  • Claudio Castagnoli def. Jonathan Gresham to become the new ROH Champion
  • Dalton Castle & The Boys def. The Righteous to become the new Six-Man Tag Team Champions
  • Wheeler Yuta def. Daniel Garcia to retain the ROH Pure Championship
  • Rush def. Dragon Lee
  • Mercedes Martinez def. Serena Deeb via submission to retain the ROH Women’s Championship
  • Samoa Joe def. Jay Lethal via submission to retain the ROH TV Championship
  • FTR def. The Briscoes in a 2 out of 3 Falls match to retain the ROH Tag Team Championships

Here are the takeaways from the PPV:

Claudio Castagnoli Captured The ROH Championship

Jonathan Gresham defended the ROH Championship against Claudio Castagnoli in the first match of Death Before Dishonor. William Regal accompanied Claudio to the ring. Prince Nana has apparently purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises in storyline and he accompanied ROH Champion Jonathan Gresham to the ring. The crowd was heavily behind Castagnoli early.

Claudio controlled the match early and connected with the Swing. Gresham battled back with a series of strikes and posed for the crowd. The champ hit Claudio with a Dragon Screw and applied a knee bar in the middle of the ring. Claudio showed off his strength with a slam and went for the cover but Gresham kicked out at two.

Gresham focused his attack on Claudio’s knee and leveled him with a chop block. The champ went for a submission hold but Claudio booted him away. Castagnoli connected with a Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker and went for the cover but Gresham kicked out at two. Claudio followed it up with a big uppercut for a near fall.

Jonathan went after Claudio’s knee again and hobbled the challenger. The champ hit a Missile Dropkick and a forearm to the face for a near fall. Gresham quickly got Castagnoli in an Ankle Lock but Claudio reached the bottom rope to break the hold and the title match continued.

Castagnoli took a couple of chops to the chest but shrugged them off. Claudio decked Gresham with an uppercut but the champion responded with an Enziguri. Castagnoli went for a move but his knee gave out. Gresham capitalized with an Ankle Lock and then planted Claudio with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count.

Claudio hit a big uppercut and went for the Neutralizer but Gresham escaped. Jonathan went for a roll-up but Claudio kicked out and decked him with a Clothesline. Castagnoli delivered a bunch of elbow strikes to Gresham and followed it up with the Ricola Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. Claudio Castagnoli is the new Ring of Honor Champion. After the match, Castagnoli and Gresham shook hands.

Dalton Castle & The Boys Are The New 6-Man Tag Team Champions

The Righteous (Vincent, Dutch, Bateman) defended their Six-Man Tag Team championships Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate). The Righteous dominated the action early and beat The Boys down. Vincent tagged in and connected with a Suplex. Castle battled back by throwing The Boys onto The Righteous outside the ring over and over again to a big pop from the crowd. The action broke down into a brawl and The Righteous isolated one of The Boys in the ring.

Vincent hit Death From Above but Dalton broke up the cover at two. Vincent hit a Cutter and then a Suicide Dive onto Castle outside the ring. Dalton hit Vincent with a Hurricanrana as Dutch delivered a Bossman Slam. Dalton Castle hit Dutch with a German Suplex. Castle then delivered the Bang-A-Rang for the pinfall victory. Dalton Castle & The Boys are the new Six-Man Tag Team Champions.

Wheeler Yuta Retained The ROH Pure Championship

Wheeler Yuta defended the ROH Pure Championship against Daniel Garcia. William Regal accompanied Yuta to the ring and joined commentary for the bout. Ace Steel, John Walters, and Josh Woods were the judges. Wheeler controlled the action early and applied a submission hold. Garcia battled back and launched Yuta out of the ring.

Garcia beat the champion down before bringing him back into the ring. Daniel went for a cover and started yelling at the referee to count faster. Wheeler connected with a Body Slam and followed it up with a Senton. Yuta planted Garcia with two German Suplexes and went for a third but Daniel escaped.

Yuta and Garcia traded shots until they both fell down in the middle of the ring. Garcia and Wheeler then brilliantly traded strikes and submission holds as the crowd got into the match. Yuta locked in a Liontamer in the middle of the ring but the Jericho Appreciation Society member used one of his rope breaks to get out of the hold. Daniel planted Wheeler with a Piledriver and went for the cover but the champion kicked out at two. Wheeler then got Garcia in a roll-up for the pinfall victory. Wheeler Yuta remains the ROH Pure Champion.

Rush def. Dragon Lee

Rush squared off against Dragon Lee tonight at ROH Death Before Dishonor. Rush sent Dragon Lee into the barricade several times to begin the match and posed for the crowd. Dragon battled back and pet Rush on the timekeeper’s table. He then went for a very long dive through the ropes and connected through the table. Dragon followed it up with a Double Stomp off the top rope for a two count.

Rush hit a German Suplex and both wrestlers were down in the middle of the ring. They made it back to their feet before the ten count and Rush connected with a vertical Suplex for a close two count. Rush delivered some kicks on the ring apron but Dragon responded with some chops to the chest.

They went back and forth on the ring apron with chops before Dragon Lee connected with a knee strike to the face. Dragon Lee charged and Rush sent him flying to the floor with an overhead throw. Back in the ring, Rush played possum before hitting a Dropkick for the pinfall victory.

Mercedes Martinez Retained The ROH Women’s Championship

Mercedes Martinez defended the ROH Women’s Championship against Serena Deeb tonight at Death Before Dishonor. Mercedes and Serena traded submission holds to start off the action. Deeb connected with a Cutter and went for the cover but Mercedes kicked out at two. Martinez perched Deeb up on the top turnbuckle and joined her up there. Mercedes went for a German Suplex but Serena held onto the ropes. Deeb unloaded some elbow strikes to the head but Martinez shrugged them off. Serena eventually was able to knock Mercedes back into the Tree of Woe and booted her in the head several times.

Serena followed it up with a running Dropkick and the ROH Women’s Champion fell to the mat. Mercedes went for an armbar but Serena was able to block it before Martinez applied a headlock. Martinez and Deeb traded kicks over and over in the middle of the ring. Deeb went for a roll-up but Martinez rolled through and connected with a knee strike to the face.

Martinez went for a Splash in the corner but Deeb dodged it. Mercedes hit a running boot to Serena’s face and climbed up to the top rope. Martinez then connected with a German Suplex off the top rope for a two count. Deeb applied the Serenity Lock but Martinez countered into a roll-up for a near fall. Serena bashed Martinez’ knee onto the canvas several times. The champion countered and sent Deeb face-first into the turnbuckle.

Mercedes hit a Superkick to the face and followed it up with a slam. The champion then locked in the Brass City Sleeper for the submission victory. Mercedes Martinez is still the ROH Women’s Champion.

Samoa Joe Retained The ROH TV Championship

Samoa Joe defended the ROH TV Championship against Jay Lethal at Death Before Dishonor. The two brawled outside the ring to start off the action. Joe leveled Jay with a Clothesline and went to roll him into the ring. Lethal blocked it and raked Joe’s eyes before taking a look at the title. Lethal tried to bounce Joe’s head off the title but the champ countered with a headbutt.

The challenger leveled Joe with a Suicide Dive and followed it up with a chop to the chest. Jay motioned along with the crowd as they chanted “Lethal sucks!”. Joe battled back with a chop of his own and then hit a running kick to Jay’s head.

Satnam Singh attacked Samoa Joe to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Jay put Joe’s arm in a steel chair and shoved it into the ring post. The match then officially started once they got into the ring and the referee kicked Satnam out from ringside. Joe hit a Splash in the corner and followed it up with an Enziguri.

Joe went for the cover but Jay got his boot on the ropes. Lethal connected with a Dropkick off the top rope and went for the cover but Joe kicked out at two. Samoa Joe hit a shoulder tackle that knocked Jay to the ropes. The challenger bounced off and connected with a Dropkick for a two count.

Jay hit another Enziguri and both wrestlers fell to the canvas. Samoa Joe was the first up and sent Jay to the outside. Joe connected with a Suicide Dive through the ropes and rolled Lethal back into the ring. Samoa Joe hit a big Clothesline and went for the cover but Lethal kicked out at two.

Joe connected with a Powerslam but couldn’t keep Jay down for three. Lethal responded with a slam for a near fall. Jay perched Joe up on the top rope but he knocked the challenger down. Joe hit a leg lariat off the middle turnbuckle and went for the cover but Lethal kicked out at two.

Samoa Joe went for the Muscle Buster but Jay escaped and hit Lethal Injection but the champion somehow was able to kick out at two. Joe connected with a Uranage and set up for the Muscle Buster but Sonjay Dutt hopped on the ring apron. Lethal hit Samoa Joe with the title but Joe somehow kicked out at two. The crowd broke out in a “Joe!” chant and the champion applied the Coquina Clutch for the submission victory. Samoa Joe is still the ROH TV Champion.

FTR def The Briscoes To Retain The ROH Tag Titles

FTR defended the ROH Tag Team Championships against The Briscoes in the main event. It was a 2 out of 3 falls match. The two teams argued for a bit after the bell rang in the middle of the ring. Dax Harwood and Mark Briscoe started off the match. They locked up and Dax took control. Cash Wheeler tagged in and went to work on Mark Briscoe’s arm.

Mark connected with an Armdrag and a backhand to the face that knocked Cash down. Harwood and Jay Briscoe tagged in and Dax applied a headlock. Jay sent Harwood to the outside and he sold a shoulder injury.

Back in the ring, Jay and Cash traded chops. Cash and Jay seemed to get crossed up and Wheeler hit Jay hard in an odd sequence. Mark tagged in for a moment so Jay could regroup. Jay tagged back in and Cash sent him to the corner. Dax tagged in and hit Jay with an elbow to the back of the head for a near fall. Harwood planted Jay with a Suplex and brought him back to the corner.

Cash tagged in as FTR continued to isolate Jay Briscoe in the corner. Jay leveled Cash with a big boot and Mark tagged in. Mark hit a shoulder tackle and followed it up with a Suplex on Wheeler for a near fall. Mark hit a Splash in the corner as The Briscoes took control and isolated Cash in their corner of the ring.

Wheeler eventually got to the corner and tagged in Harwood. Dax unloaded some strikes to The Briscoes and then sent Jay flying across the ring with a German Suplex. The Briscoes battled back and knocked Harwood to the outside. Wheeler absolutely leveled Mark with a Clothesline but turned around into one from Jay. Back in the ring, Harwood planted Jay with a DDT for a two count.

The Briscoes then picked up the first fall after hitting Dax with the Doomsday.

Jay caught Dax with a Clothesline and booted him out of the ring. The action spilled out of the ring and Dax got busted open on his chest after hitting the barricade. Back in the ring, Jay hit Dax with some chops in the corner. Dax battled with Jay on the turnbuckle and hit a Back Suplex off the top rope.

Wheeler fired up the crowd for a tag but Mark Briscoe tripped Cash up to prevent it. Mark got Harwood in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Harwood escaped and they started trading chops to the chest. Harwood escaped and finally got the tag to Wheeler. Cash got into the ring to a big pop from the crowd and started unloading chops and strikes.

Cash planted Mark with a Brainbuster and went for the cover but Briscoe kicked out at two. The two teams started battling outside the ring as the action broke down. Back in the ring, Wheeler climbed to the top rope and hit Mark with a Crossbody off the top turnbuckle for a two count. Briscoes had the match won but Dax broke up the cover at the last moment.

Mark chased Dax around the ring and Harwood sent him into the steel steps. Harwood tagged in and FTR hit Jay with the Big Rig for the pinfall. FTR and The Briscoes were now tied 1-1.

Cash and Mark were both busted open and trading haymakers in the middle of the ring. Mark delivered an Exploder Suplex that sent Cash flying across the ring. Dax tagged in and Mark hit him with an Exploder Suplex as well. Harwood and Mark Briscoe battled on the ring apron. Mark leaped off the ring apron and hit Dax with a Blockbuster on the floor.

Jay got Harwood in the Electric Chair but Cash broke it up. FTR isolated Jay Briscoe but the referee accidentally got knocked out. Mark Briscoe sent Cash into the barricade as Jay planted Dax with a Piledriver. Jay went for the cover but the referee was down outside the ring. FTR hit a Big Rig on Jay and Wheeler rolled the referee back in. The referee began counting but Jay kicked out at the last moment and the match continued.

Mark shoved Cash off the turnbuckle and Briscoes hit Doomsday Device on Cash again. Jay went for the cover but Cash broke it up at two. Mark and Cash battled to the outside as Dax and Jay were in the ring. The two had a bit of a hockey fight before Jay hit a big boot to the face. Dax bounced off the ropes and responded with a Clothesline for a two count.

Jay applied a Crossface on Harwood in the middle of the ring. Cash tried to break it up but Mark got him in a Crossface. Dax got to the ropes to break up the hold as Mark sent Cash out of the ring. Mark climbed to the top rope and Cash hopped up there with him. Cash sent him through the table below with a Suplex. Jay planted Dax with a Piledriver for a near fall.

Harwood perched Jay up on the top turnbuckle and unloaded a bunch of chops. Dax then planted Jay with a Piledriver off the middle turnbuckle and rolled over to cover him in a cool finish. FTR retained the ROH Tag Team Champions and got a great reaction from the crowd. After the match, FTR and The Briscoes showed each other respect in the ring. Dax said “mother f*cker I love professional wrestling”. Harwood added that “you can call me a mark if you want but I love this sh*t”. FTR then said they will see everyone on Dynamite. ROH Champion Claudio Castagnoli, ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta then appeared with Regal on the entrance ramp. Everyone held up their championships to close the show.

ROH Death Before Dishonor 2022 Live Stream

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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It’s time for Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor PPV and the live stream for the preshow is set to begin.

Tonight’s (July 23) ROH Death Before Dishonor PPV will be held inside the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham will put the title on the line against Claudio Castagnoli.

Plus, Jay Lethal will challenge Samoa Joe for the ROH World TV Championship. Also, FTR puts their ROH World Tag Team Titles on the line against The Briscoes in a 2 out of 3 falls match and much more.

There’s so much to unpack that we’ve narrowed down five key things to look for during tonight’s event.

ROH Death Before Dishonor Card

Jonathan Gresham
(via ROH)

Here’s a look at the ROH Death Before Dishonor card (not in order):

  • Zero Hour: The Trustbusters vs. Shinobi Shadow Squad
  • Zero Hour: Colt Cabana vs. Anthony Henry
  • Zero Hour: Gates of Agony & Brian Cage vs. Tony Deppen, Alex Zayne & Blake Christian
  • Zero Hour: Willow Nightingale vs. Allysin Kay
  • ROH World Championship Match: Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • ROH World TV Championship Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Jay Lethal
  • ROH Pure Championship Match: Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Daniel Garcia
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship Match: FTR (c) vs. The Briscoes – 2 out of 3 falls
  • ROH Women’s World Championship Match: Mercedes Martinez (c) vs. Serena Deeb
  • ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship Match: The Righteous (c) vs. Dalton Castle & The Boys
  • Rush vs. Dragon Lee

Live Stream

Claudio Castagnoli
(via AEW)

Before the PPV card begins, the Zero Hour preshow will be streaming live at 7 p.m. ET. You can catch the live stream below.

The PPV festivities will begin at 8 p.m. ET. Fans looking for that portion of the card can make their purchase through Bleacher Report for $39.99.

Former WWE Star Claims Vince McMahon Used To Harass Ashley Massaro During Her WWE Run

Joey Galizia
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Vince McMahon retiring from WWE has sent shockwaves through the pro-wrestling industry, as many believe the decision was due to the Wall Street Journal piece accusing him of severe misconduct, with more allegations and stories reportedly set to come.

One person who is not shocked by this news is former WWE star Paul London, who joined Rene Dupree on his podcast to discuss McMahon’s retirement, as well as reveal his own stories of the Chairman that may have remained unknown.

London, who was with WWE from 2003-2008 says that McMahon used to constantly harass Ashley Marasso, a women’s star from that era who tragically passed away in 2019. He says that McMahon would proposition her to fly with him on his private jet, and McMahon’s right-hand man, Kevin Dunn, would follow in suit.

“I do remember specifically, many times when she would, she would be crying to me because Vince was propositioning her to fly on the jet with them like Kevin Dunn – buck tooth Bucky would be telling her that she has to fly on the jet with them. They’d always put the Divas up at like the TV hotel or whatever, you know, he’d been knocking on her door and you know, trying to get her to answer.”

While London once again says that he’s not surprised by the allegation he is shocked that something like this didn’t surface within the last 10 years.

“I’m surprised it hasn’t come out within the last 10 years. But it just goes to show how afraid people are of that power dynamic where they’re so fearful of losing their job or and it’s like what does that say about you if you’re protecting this 90-year-old f**king corpse with a thong tan line just because he’s a billionaire. I mean it’s like I said money changes people.”

Stories of McMahon’s retirement will continue to come out in the following weeks, and have already shaken up top WWE stars like Brock Lesnar, who left SmackDown when he heard the news, but was eventually convinced to return to the venue for the main event segment.

Sescoops wil continue to provide up to date coverage on this story.

(Quotes by WrestlingNews.Co)

Concerns & Optimism in WWE After Vince McMahon’s Retirement Announcement

Thomas Lowson
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This week, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE; an act that countless people thought they’d never see.

McMahon’s announcement comes a month after he stepped down from the roles of WWE CEO and Chairman of the Board, over allegations of improper conduct with female employees. 

McMahon has allegedly paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements to female WWE employees over the past 16 years. 

Concerns Over McMahon

McMahon’s decision to step down from WWE is unquestionably the biggest shift in power the promotion has ever seen, and there are concerns for the ex-CEO’s future. 

According to Wade Keller of PW Torch, many close to McMahon are worried about how he will spend his time now, as he has no hobbies or social circles outside of pro-wrestling.

Despite this, McMahon is not expected to return to WWE in any capacity other than as the father of Stephanie McMahon. 

In his retirement statement, McMahon did not address the allegations against him, which many believe is the reason for his retirement. 

Keller reports that with McMahon retiring days before Raw returns to Madison Square Garden, the claims against him must be serious, as Vince has a lot of love for ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena.’

It is said to be in WWE’s interest to keep McMahon happy as he is still a large shareholder and his opinion carried a lot of weight.

Future Plans in WWE

 After stepping down as WWE CEO and Chair, McMahon remained in charge of WWE creative, though that has changed now.

Keller notes that Bruce Prichard is expected to take over the role as head of creative for the time being. 

Kevin Dunn, a long-time confidante of McMahon (who some consider little more than a Vince yes man) is expected to remain in his role as an Executive Director of WWE, though it is unlikely he will remain in the role for the long-term.

Changes are expected, but they will be gradual as the company wishes to demonstrate stability to stakeholders including stockholders, partners, and sponsors.

There are even talks from AEW wrestlers, who believe they will have a better chance in WWE or that at the very least, WWE will show more of an interest in them without Vince McMahon in charge.

Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan will serve as co-CEOs, and while they are not close, they are not considered enemies.

Women and WWE

Many Superstars are said to be optimistic that this change of leadership will help them, but it is understood that any changes to the rosters will be gradual rather than immediate.

Female Superstars are reportedly the most optimistic, as WWE Chairwoman Stephanie McMahon is said to be well-liked and is a supporter of women’s wrestling.

Some even think that Naomi and Sasha Banks could return after walking out of the May 16 Raw due to creative differences with Vince McMahon’s plan for that night’s main event.

It’s believed that the former Women’s Tag Team Champions’ main beef was with Vince and that his retirement could smooth things over.

However, other management may still hold a grudge against both women, who have shown no signs of being brought back to TV.

Wrestling World Reacts to Vince McMahon’s Retirement

Cody Rhodes on WWE Rule: ‘They Can Fine Me Every Time’

Ryan Droste
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Cody Rhodes continues to recover from his pectoral injury, but the WWE star hasn’t stopped making headlines since he’s been away from the ring.

This week, Rhodes was at San Diego Comic Con on behalf of WWE along with several others from the company. There was a humorous moment during a presentation when some new WWE Mattel figures and titles were being revealed.

The presenter mentioned “new championships,” and Rhodes chimed in by saying “you can say belt.”

WWE has long had a rule, reportedly due to Vince McMahon’s wishes, that championships were not referred to as “belts” on television, or really, anywhere. This has been joked about in the wrestling community ad nauseam over the years as being over the top.

Sam Roberts was there and said that maybe Cody can say belts but others will get in trouble.

“They can fine me $1,000 every time I say belts. I’m fine with that. If they give me a title belt, sure it’s a championship, but it also physically goes around your waist. Those are great belts,” Rhodes responded (h/t Fightful).

Cody Rhodes With Championships Belt Plans?

cody ic belt

Rhodes has a history with championship belts in WWE that has satisfied longtime fans and collectors. In 2012, he brought back a modified version of the iconic Reggie Parks Intercontinental Championship from the 1980s and 1990s.

There have been rumors that if Rhodes becomes WWE Champion in the future, he will bring back the famous “Winged Eagle” championship belt that WWE used from 1988 until 1998. To many fans, this is the greatest belt the company has ever had.

Of course, Rhodes seemed primed for a run at the WWE’s top prize, with a potential victory in the Money In The Bank match, until his injury sank those plans. Fans are hoping to see Rhodes return in time to make headlines at WrestleMania 39 next year.

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. This week, we react to the news of Vince McMahon’s retirement. 

What Really Happened With Brock Lesnar Last Night?

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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The hours leading up to the July 22 episode of WWE SmackDown were chaotic but it ended up working out for one massive superstar.

The Friday night show for the blue brand was historic. It was the first WWE show since Vince McMahon announced his retirement.

Vince had been the longtime Chairman and CEO of the company. He was also the Head of Creative but he is not gone from the company entirely outside of being a majority shareholder.

The announcement was made just hours before SmackDown went off the air and there was a lot of uncertainty with Brock Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar Ballyhoo

080 SD 07222022DG 36709 ea23d9597eae4d30b2c1da3f20326f34
(via WWE)

It had been reported by Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline and Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful that Brock Lesnar left the building hours before WWE SmackDown went off the air. Bryan noted that Brock let WWE officials know he wasn’t happy about Vince McMahon retiring.

Brock had been advertised to appear on the show but WWE pulled that advertising and didn’t mention his name on the air outside of a commercial for the July 25 episode of WWE Raw in New York City.

Brock did indeed show up, however at the end of SmackDown. He attacked Theory with his own Money in the Bank briefcase and laid him out with the F5.

In an update, Fightful reports that once things cooled down, Lesnar returned to the TD Garden in Boston, MA. One WWE superstar told the outlet that there was uncertainty about Brock’s status for the show but felt the situation was “overblown.”

There were also said to have been multiple script changes after Lesnar left the building and most within the backstage area didn’t know if “The Beast” would return.

New Character Debuts on SmackDown, Max Dupri Character Done

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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A WWE NXT star has made her main roster debut.

The July 22 episode of WWE SmackDown was held inside the TD Garden in Boston, MA. Dominating the headlines going into the show was the fact that Vince McMahon retired earlier in the afternoon.

While the show was rewritten due to Brock Lesnar leaving the arena amid the Vince news, some plans will be going ahead as scheduled.

That much is clear from the newest character serving as a mouthpiece for Maximum Male Models.

Maxxine Dupri has arrived.

Who is Maxxine Dupri?

There was a lot of speculation on which NXT star would don the Maxxine Dupri character. The real answer was revealed on Friday night.

In a backstage segment, NXT 2.0 star Sofia Cromwell was revealed as Maxxine Dupri. Her character is the sister of Max Dupri, who wasn’t seen during tonight’s episode.

The planned 2022 beachwear collection showcase for Maximum Male Models has been pushed back to the July 29 edition of SmackDown.

Max Dupri Character Scrapped

Max Dupri

Maxxine Dupri is now leading Maximum Male Models, so what about the group’s original figurehead, Max Dupri?

According Pro Wrestling Torch, one of Vince McMahon’s final duties as the head of WWE creative was to scrap the Max Dupri character, portrayed by the man formerly known as L.A. Knight.

The decision was made after Max Dupri was “rubbing people the wrong way” behind the scenes. Sofia Cromwell’s debut as Maxxine Dupri was WWE’s way of writing Max Dupri out of storylines.

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