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AEW Dynamite Results (2/16): CM Punk & MJF, Title Match, Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson

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AEW Dynamite aired live from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN. CM Punk announced the stipulations and when his rematch against MJF will take place. Sammy Guevara defended the TNT Championship against Darby Allin in this week’s main event. In addition to the takeaways below, Malakai Black & Brody King had a vignette tonight. They heard a knock at the door to signify a new member coming to the faction.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494139512984854532?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

Dynamite Results

  1. Bryan Danielson def. Lee Moriarty
  2. Wardlow def. Max Caster to qualify for the Face of the Revolution Ladder match
  3. Santana & Ortiz def. Chris Jericho & Jake Hager
  4. Thunder Rosa def. Mercedes Martinez
  5. Sammy Guevara def. Darby Allin to retain the TNT Championship

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

CM Punk Will Face MJF In A Dog Collar Match At Revolution

CM Punk kicked off the show in the middle of the ring. Punk noted that some of the wrestlers in the back became straight or pro wrestlers because of him. He brought up MJF and the crowd instantly started booing. CM Punk said that MJF beat him twice in his hometown, and claimed that he proud of Max.

Punk joked that MJF is just “shitty little Max from shitty little Long Island” and not “Piper from Portland or Bret from Calgary”. CM Punk thanked Moxley for the assist last week and announced that he wants to face MJF at Revolution. Punk pulled out a dog collar and jokingly asked MJF to be his valentine.

He wondered if MJF was backstage pissing his pants because dog collar matches take years off a career. Punk asked MJF to come out from backstage because he has something he wants to say to MJF’s face. Punk brought out a picture of MJF asking CM Punk for an autograph back in the day. Punk joked that this was probably the greatest day in MJF’s life and it was just another Friday for him.

Punk added that the canvas he’s sitting on is not going to be stained with MJF’s shitty spray tan, it will be stained with MJF’s blood. A loud “CM Punk!” chant broke out as MJF raised the microphone to his mouth. MJF seemed bothered and dropped the microphone. MJF left as Tony Schiavone pointed out that the only other Dog Collar match in AEW was Cody Rhodes versus Brodie Lee.

Jon Moxley Responded To Bryan Danielson

Bryan Danielson faced Lee Moriarty in the first match of the night. Danielson told Lee to bring “violence” to the match last week on Rampage. Danielson controlled the action early and focused his attack on Lee’s knee.

When Dynamite returned from a break, Danielson was still in control and had Lee trapped on the mat. Danielson and Lee started trading punches while upside down in a submission hold and the crowd popped. Danielson got the better of the exchange and got back to his feet.Lee tried to battle back but Danielson planted him with a Suplex. Danielson put Lee to sleep with a Triangle hold and flexed while Lee tapped out.

After the match, Bryan Danielson asked the audience if Lee Moriarty passed or failed. He told the crowd that is why he doesn’t trust the American public with anything. Danielson wanted an answer from Moxley and Jon made his way to the ring. Moxley brought up the first time he met Bryan Danielson but came up short.

Jon noted that facing the best just made him want it more and he has never been able to beat Bryan Danielson. Moxley said that he couldn’t come up with one good reason to say no to Danielson’s offer to team up with him and build the future of AEW. Moxley wondered if Danielson only wants to team up with him to avoid facing him. Moxley wanted a match first because “he doesn’t stand side by side with anyone until he bleeds with him first”. Moxley told Danielson that decision lies in his hands and left the ring.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494125092552462338?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

Wardlow Qualified For The Face Of The Revolution Ladder Match

Wardlow battled Max Caster in a qualifying match for the Face of the Revolution Ladder match at the PPV in March. Shawn Spears and Anthony Bowens were ringside for the match. Wardlow beat the hell out of Max as Dynamite went to a break. When Dynamite returned, Bowens distracted Wardlow and Caster capitalized. Max hit an Elbow Drop off the top rope but couldn’t keep Wardlow down.

Caster went for a Powerbomb and that backfired right away as Wardlow sent him flying with a Back Body Drop. Wardlow knocked Bowens off the ring apron and started delivering Powerbombs as the crowd chanted along. Bowens tried to attack Wardlow after the match but he hit him with a Powerbomb as well. Shawn Spears hit The Acclaimed with a couple of chair shots and Wardlow wasn’t pleased.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494127292913790977?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

Adam Cole Interrupted Hangman Page

Tony Schiavone was set to interview AEW Champion Hangman Page but Adam Cole immediately interrupted. Cole told Hangman that his title reign will be coming to an end soon and demanded that Tony get the hell out of the ring. Hangman responded by claiming that the AEW World Championship will be the only major title Cole will never hold.

Adam Cole told Hangman Page that he has become an unbelievable wrestler and world champion. Cole joked that Hangman has always just been known as “the other Adam” in any promotion they have been in together. Cole told Hangman that one day they will fight for that title and may the best man win. Cole extended his hand and shook hands with the champion before exiting the ring. Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish then jumped Hangman from behind. Dark Order made the save and 10 threw a bunch of security guards out of the ring.

Santana & Ortiz def. Hager & Jericho

Jake Hager & Chris Jericho battled Santana & Ortiz tonight on Dynamite. Eddie Kingston returned and was ringside for the match. Santana and Ortiz isolated Jericho in the ring to start off the action and beat him down. Hager tagged in and slammed Ortiz to the mat. Ortiz tried to battle back with some forearms to the face but Hager sent him flying across the ring. Hager followed it up with a Splash off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall.

Santana tagged in and hit Hager with some chops to the chest. Jericho tagged in and connected with a Codebreaker on Santana for a near fall. Jericho set up for a Lionsault but Ortiz held him on the ropes. Santana jumped up next to Jericho and hit a Russian Leg Sweep for a near fall. Santana & Ortiz hit a Blockbuster on Jericho for a near fall. Jericho got distracted by Kingston and hit him with a Dropkick. Chris went for the Judas Effect but Santana ducked. Santana leveled Jericho with a big discus lariat for the pinfall victory. Jericho and Kingston brawled after the match.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494134910415740930?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

Thunder Rosa def. Mercedes Martinez

Thunder Rosa battled Mercedes Martinez tonight on Dynamite. The action quickly spilled into the crowd with Thunder Rosa taking control during the commercial break. When Dynamite returned, Thunder Rosa and Mercedes were battling on the ring apron. Thunder Rosa connected with a Suplex off the apron and through a table below.

Back in the ring, Thunder Rosa and Mercedes Martinez battled on the turnbuckle. Martinez hit an awesome release German Suplex that sent Rosa crashing to the canvas. Mercedes followed it up with an Elbow Drop for a near fall. Thunder Rosa battled back and connected with a Thunder Driver on top of some steel chairs for the pinfall victory.

After the match, AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker came down to the ringside area. Mercedes Martinez hit Thunder Rosa with a led pipe from behind. Jamie Hayter then attacked Mercedes Martinez as Britt beat down Thunder Rosa some more.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494140322502385667?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

Sammy Guevara Retained The TNT Title After Andrade Interfered

Sammy Guevara defended the TNT Championship against Darby Allin in this week’s main event. The two quickly battled to the top rope and Sammy got Darby in a Fireman’s Carry. Guevara dropped Darby across the top rope and Allin bounced to the floor below. Sammy followed it up with a Swanton and Darby fell to the floor outside the ring.

When Dynamite returned, Allin hit a standing Coffin Drop and both men fell to the mat. Darby was the first up and went to work on Sammy’s knee. Sammy battled back and hit a ridiculous Spanish Fly off the top rope. Sammy couldn’t capitalize on the move as Darby quickly applied a Figure Four and stretched out the injured knee some more. Guevara reversed the hold for a moment but Darby flipped it back over. Sammy and Darby traded slaps in the middle of the ring until the hold was broken.

Allin sent Sammy to the outside and went for his patented dive but Guevara was ready and countered into a Cutter on the floor. Sammy then went for a Senton off the top rope but Darby got out of the way and the TNT Champion crashed onto the ring apron. Andrade showed up and attacked Sting ringside. He laid out Darby as well by hitting him over the head with an iPad (yes, an iPad) and Sammy hit the GTH for the pinfall victory. Sammy Guevara is still the TNT Champion.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494144792531546115?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

After the match, Matt Hardy rushed the ring and attacked Darby. Andrade attacked Sammy Guevara and left the ring the both TNT Championships. Dynamite went off the air with Andrade celebrating with Matt Hardy.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1494145530028515329?s=20&t=qsEtfISpGAi5jj7o5mBKlQ

Buddy Matthews Could Be Headed to AEW Soon

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Former WWE Superstar Buddy Matthews (Buddy Murphy) looks to be the next free agent to become All Elite.

AEW has lost Cody Rhodes but the company is seemingly set on adding some more talent. We’ve seen the likes of Jay White cross over from other promotions. We’ve also seen free agents such as Keith Lee put pen to paper for a full-time role with AEW. Now, the company is reportedly seeking to add another player to the mix.

Fightful is reporting that AEW has a “working plan” in place to welcome Buddy Matthews. Not much else is known about what that plan would entail and whether or not Buddy would work full-time for the company.

This is speculation, but Murphy has been rumored to be part of AEW’s House of Black faction with Malakai Black and Brody King.

It’s an interesting turnaround from the last report on Matthews potentially going to AEW. Back in Sept. 2021, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reported that AEW passed on signing Matthews for undisclosed reasons. It seems the timing is finally right.

Back in June 2021, Matthews was released by WWE due to budget cuts. He had performed under the WWE banner as “Buddy Murphy.” During his time with the promotion, he became a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion as well as a former Raw Tag Team Champion with Seth Rollins, and a former NXT Tag Team Champion with Wesley Blake.

Matthews has been seen on both NJPW Strong and MLW since his WWE departure. He’s also worked some indie shows.

Cody Rhodes Returning To WWE Without Brandi (Report)

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It looks like Cody Rhodes is WWE-bound but not his wife if a new report holds true.

Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated is reporting that Cody is on his way to WWE after making his surprise exit from AEW. Cody was not only an on-air talent and EVP for the company, but he was also one of the founding members of AEW.

Cody In, Brandi Out

The report also notes that while Cody will be returning to WWE, Brandi Rhodes will not. Brandi had been a ring announcer for WWE under the name “Eden Stiles.”

There’s been much speculation regarding Brandi’s backstage reputation during her time with AEW. Wade Keller of PWTorch reported that not many people had nice things to say about Brandi and her role as Chief Brand Officer in AEW.

Keller’s report was disputed by Vickie Guerrero and Red Velvet on social media.

“Me and I think it’s very disrespectful and rude how you guys can make comments and have people believe things that are not true,” Red Velvet said. “Back off and just be happy for people in their new endeavors. Good day!”

Vickie Guerrero had the following to say about the report from Wade.

“This is disappointing, a story breaks and the media knows all the facts! I can vouch for Brandi Rhodes she is professional & my friend over 10 years…she carries herself with integrity on and off the camera.”

Time will tell if this report holds up but the signs seem to indicate that Cody is well on his way back to performing for the WWE Universe.

Chris Jericho Says Vince McMahon & Tony Khan Asked Him To Skip G1 Supercard From MSG

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Chris Jericho casually revealed on Talk is Jericho that both Vince McMahon and Tony Khan asked him to not be part of the G1 Supercard Show from Madison Square Garden in 2019. The event was held on April 6th that year.

At the time, Jericho had already announced he had signed with AEW. The company had yet to produce its first show, however. According to Jericho, he was originally to face Hiroshi Tanahashi on the G1 Supercard.

“I was actually going to go against Tanahashi,” Jericho said while speaking to guest, Brody King. “And then both Tony Khan and Vince McMahon asked me not to do it. That’s a whole other story, we could do a whole podcast just on that. But I didn’t do the show.”

The show was headlined by Kazuchika Okada defeating Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. AEW would present its first show, the Double or Nothing PPV the following month on May 25th, 2019. Jericho would defeat Kenny Omega in the main event that night. He would go on to defeat Adam “Hangman” Page at All Out on August 31st, 2019 to become the inaugural AEW World Champion.

H/t To Wrestling Inc. for the above transcription.

Ric Flair Says No One From WWE Reached Out To Him After Split From Wife

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Ric Flair noted on a recent episode of his podcast that nobody from WWE reached out to him after his recent split with his wife Wendy Barlow. According to Flair, nobody at the company cares about you after you are gone.

Flair noted that many of his celebrity friends reached out to him following the split but not one person from WWE did.

“But what killed me is that Charles Barkley, Darius Rucker, Kid Rock, can call me and say, ‘Is everything cool?’, which they have, and I go, ‘Yeah, everything’s great.’ Life changes and goes in different directions. Not one person from WWE called.”

“The most insensitive company in the world, people that I’ve given my life to, and they’ve given me a lot of theirs. None. So you see how it goes. When you’re not there, they don’t care.”

Flair continued to say that no wrestlers from “either company” have called him. He has received calls from executives working in those companies, however.

“Executives have, but I’m talking about my wrestling friends,” Flair added.

Flair and Barlow were married in 2018. Back in 1993, Barlow portrayed “Fifi the Maid” in WCW in segments along with Flair. She was Flair’s 5th wife. Flair also noted on his podcast that him and Wendy still have a good relationship.

H/T to WrestlingNewsCO fro the above transcriptions.

WWE Working On Another “Austin-Level” Surprise For WrestleMania

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WWE is reportedly planning another big surprise for WrestleMania this year. In addition to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin returning to the ring to face Kevin Owens, Dave Meltzer reports that the company has something else of equal weight also still to be revealed.

“There’s apparently one more surprise besides Austin still to come and it’s supposed to be ‘Austin-level’. That’s a pretty small list of people who could be Austin level,” said Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer continued, “The Rock… I think Dwayne’s got stuff going on so I don’t think it’s going to be him So, who else do we have? Hogan, Flair, and Undertaker, right?”

Who is Austin-Level?

Steve Austin WrestleMania 38

In terms of who the surprise could be, there are limited options as to who could be as big as Austin. John Cena stated on the Ellen Show recently that he is unlikely for WrestleMania this year.

“WrestleMania is usually in the cusp of late March, early April. I don’t know if I’m going to make it this year. That’s a good conundrum to have because there’s a lot of good opportunities coming up, which I would love to take. And if all those things line up, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make WrestleMania,” Cena said.

“Cena’s got stuff going on,” Meltzer said. “That could always be a swerve too but I was told he had stuff going on.”

Who do you think could be considered at the same level as Stone Cold Steve Austin?

The Good Brothers File To Trademark “The BC” Amidst Feud With Bullet Club

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Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows have filed an interesting trademark considering their current rivalry with their former stablemates in Bullet Club. The Good Brothers have been in a rivalry with the Guerrillas of Destiny in Impact Wrestling as of late. The feud also played out on an NJPW show last summer.

Doc Gallows’ company “Wrestlemerica” and Karl Anderson filed to trademark “The BC” for wrestling purposes on February 10th, 2022. Michael E. Dockins is the attorney on record for the filing.

This comes at an interesting time, as The Good Brothers will defend the Impact Tag Team Championships against the Guerrillas of Destiny at No Surrender this weekend. The storyline is that Anderson and Gallows feel that Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and other members of the current Bullet Club should thank them for making the faction what it is today. Tama Tonga has been particularly unmoved by this sentiment.

Karl Anderson and Tama Tonga are 2 of the 4 founding members of the faction. Back in 2013, the group was started by Prince Devitt (Finn Balor), Bad Luck Fale, Anderson and Tonga. Gallows would join the group later that year. Tanga Loa would join the group in 2016. Jay White joined the group in 2018 and is also involved in the faction that is active in Impact and NJPW’s American division.

AEW Stars Dispute Report That Brandi Rhodes Was Disliked Backstage

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Nyla Rose and Red Velvet have responded to recent reports that Brandi Rhodes was disliked backstage in AEW. A quote from PW Torch’s Wade Keller has been gaining traction online and both wrestlers responded to refute it.

“It sounds mean but nobody has anything nice to say about Brandi Rhodes and her disposition or popularity behind the scenes,” Wade Keller was quoted as saying by @WrestlePurists.

Red Velvet then spoke up and said that the report is incorrect as she has nice things to say about Brandi.

“Me and i think it’s very disrespectful and rude how you guys can make comments and have people believe things that are not true! Back off and just be happy for people in their new endeavors. Good day!”

Vickie Guerrero responded to Red Velvet’s Tweet as well. She noted that Brandi carries herself with integrity and the two have been friends for a decade.

“This is disappointing, a story breaks and the media knows all the facts! I can vouch for @TheBrandiRhodes she is professional & my friend over 10 yrs…she carries herself with integrity on and off the camera”

https://twitter.com/VickieGuerrero/status/1493951431665139716

Nyla Rose was less polite in her response and did not wish anyone a good day.

“This is just flat out some bullsh*t. Brandi was liked by many people backstage including myself. Is she a polarizing character, for sure… but don’t work yourself into a shoot. You want a hot scoop from the source, well here it is. Stop making sh*t up”

Red Velvet continued to support Brandi in the thread.

“I think you have a lot to say, about someone Im sure you never even got to know personally! @TheBrandiRhodes is very professional and private. Just because she’s not out there involved in everyones drama doesn’t make her unpopular backstage. She as Cody had a big hand in helping.”

Leva Bates also disputed that Brandi was disliked backstage.

Miro Comments On The Differences Between AEW & WWE’s Creative Process

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Miro appeared on the Kurt Angle Show recently and noted the differences between WWE and AEW in terms of the creative process. The 37-year-old said wrestlers in AEW write their own promos based on guidance from Tony Khan. There are no writers and it is up to the performer to determine what they say.

“Big differences, first, the creative,” Miro said regarding AEW and WWE. “There’s no writers, we just have Tony that writes certain things. But on a day-to-day basis, you’re pretty much in charge of your own writing. If you have a promo, yeah, Tony may have a suggestion, but usually, it’s going to be on you and what do you want to say.”

Miro continued to talk about the differences between AEW and WWE in terms of the matches. While AEW does have producers for matches, they are not quite as hands-on in AEW as they are in WWE.

“The matches, yeah, we have producers, or agents, or coaches as we call them, but they’re not going to be on every match and they’re not as hands-on as WWE is. They’re not going to tell you ‘Oh, they dived in the last match so you can’t do dives before that,’ the control level, it’s all about peer-to-peer. There’s not going to be a middle man, there’s not going to be a man on top that tells you what you can and can’t do.”

Finally, Miro spoke about the differences between Tony Khan and Vince McMahon in terms of the direction given to performers. He noted that Vince is more hands-on and restricts his performers in more ways than what takes place in AEW.

“I had times where Vince tells me ‘Don’t smile, don’t look at the people, don’t raise your hand, don’t do this.’ Tony Khan is not going to do this, he’s a big wrestling fan and he wants to see good wrestling matches. The styles, you can tell the style is much different,” he continued.

Miro In AEW

Miro hasn’t wrestled a match in AEW since Full Gear back in November. He lost to Bryan Danielson in the finals of the title-eliminator tournament on that show. The latest reports are that he is healthy and waiting to be factored back into things creatively. Dynamite tonight will emanate from Miro’s home city of Nashville, Tennessee.

https://twitter.com/covalent_tv/status/1492123651109531657

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the above transcriptions.

Ronda Rousey Will Have Crazy Stipulation at Elimination Chamber

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Ronda Rousey will wrestle her second match since returning to WWE last month at the Royal Rumble when she travels to Saudi Arabia this Saturday for Elimination Chamber. Rousey will team with Naomi to take on Charlotte Flair and and Sonya Deville.

But the story gets a little crazier from there.

According to a report from PWInsider, a stipulation will be added to the match during this Friday’s taped edition of WWE SmackDown. That stipulation? Rousey will have to wrestle the match with one hand tied behind her back.

This week’s SmackDown was taped last week in New Orleans due to the WWE travel schedule to get to Saudi Arabia in time for this weekend’s big event. You have may have seen the widely circulated fan video of Flair taking a slow motion bump into a table during a contract signing during the taping. It was a bit awkward, to say the least.

Rousey is set to take on Charlotte Flair for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 38; she used her Royal Rumble match victory to be positioned in that match. What will be interesting is whether or not WWE uses the stipulation at Elimination Chamber to actually beat her, with a built in excuse, before WrestleMania.

In a WWE Digital Exclusive backstage interview after last week’s SmackDown, Rousey alleged that she could defeat Deville with one hand tied behind her back — clearly planting the seeds for what is to be revealed about the new stipulation for this match on SmackDown this week.

After being asked if she’s worried about Deville, Rousey said, “Worried about Sonya? No, I could beat Sonya with one hand tied behind my back. She’s the last of my worries.”

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.

WWE NXT Results (2/15): Breakker vs. Escobar, Dusty Rhodes Classic Finals, Steel Cage Bout

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The February 15, 2022 episode of WWE NXT aired live on Syfy from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

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  • Pete Dunne def. Tony D’Angelo
  • NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Toxic Attraction def. Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta 
  • NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes def. Cameron Grimes 
  • The Creed Brothers def. MSK
  • NXT Champion Bron Breakker def. Santos Escobar

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals

1nxt 1

Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals took place between MSK and the Creed Brothers.

The match was the co-main event. MSK got the early advantage. There was a wild spot where Lee was tossed onto the announce table. Following the break, MSK got the hot tag and hit some dives off the top rope. The finish called for The Creeds hitting their finisher. 

MSK won last year’s tournament while this marked the first time that the Creed Brothers worked the tournament since signing with WWE. 

Steel Cage Match

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Pete Dunne and Tony D’Angelo battled inside of a steel cage match at this show. This was the opener and various weapons were used including a fire extinguisher, tables, chairs, and more. They both kicked out of their finishers. Dunne won the match. 

Dunne and D’Angelo have feuded in recent months as Dunne defeated D’Angelo on the December 21st edition of NXT only for D’Angelo to then defeat Dunne in a Crowbar on a Pole match on the January 11 edition. 

NXT North American Title Match

An NXT North American Title match between champion Carmelo Hayes and Cameron Grimes took place. 

Grimes became the number one contender to Hayes’ title by defeating Tony D’Angelo in the main event of the January 25th edition of NXT. 

The match started off slow and kicked off the second hour. They went back and forth with some near falls down the stretch. Grimes took out Williams at ringside. Back in the ring, Hayes hit his finisher for the win. 

Women’s Tag Team Title Bout

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NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin defended the titles against Persia Pirotta and Indi Hartwell.

The match was short. The babyfaces hit their finisher, but it was broken up on the pinfall. Persia was sent into the ring steps. Indi was knocked off the top rope and the heels hit their finishers for the win. 

Over the past few weeks, the two teams have been feuding dating back to when Hartwell, Pirotta, Kay Lee Raydefeated all three members of Toxic Attraction in a six-woman tag team match. 

Main Event

0NXT 1

NXT Champion Bron Breakker vs. Santos Escobar was saved as the headliner. 

The match was presented commercial free. Bron was in control in the early going. Santos fought back, sent him to the floor, and hit an outside dive. Dolph Ziggler ran out and superkicked Bron, which led to a near fall for Santos. Ciampa came out and took out Ziggler. Bron with a spear then his finisher for the win. 

Breakker won the NXT Championship from Tommaso Ciampa at New Year’s Evil last month. Since that time, Escobar has taken exception to Breakker becoming champion so soon into his career. Escobar has stated that he  despises the opportunities Breakker has been given, and Breakker winning the NXT Championship before him.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1493783523060293632

Bron Breakker Retains WWE NXT Title At Vengeance Day

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Bron Breakker made his first title defense as NXT Champion against Santos Escobar in the main event of Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0, titled Vengeance Day. 

The match was a slow start with Bron in control. Santos took over after tossing him to the floor and hitting an outside dive before picking apart the champion. Dolph Ziggler ran out and superkicked Bron, which led to a near fall for Santos. Tommaso Ciampa came out to fight Ziggler to the back. Bron with a spear then hit his finisher for the win. 

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1493783523060293632

The storyline coming into the bout was how Escobar objected to Breakker becoming champion so soon into his career and that he does not like that Breakker has been given so many opportunities so soon.

Leading up to the bout, Breakker has been offering for weeks to face Escobar in the ring, but the heel star had been delaying the match. Last week, Breakker and Santos met for a “Championship Summit” segment to hype the match. 

Escobar won the Cruiserweight Title in May 2020 where he held the title for 321 days before dropping it to Kushida in April 2021. Since that time, he has been feuding with various stars, but this was his first time challenging for the top prize in NXT. 

Bron won the NXT Title from Tommaso Ciampa last month at the New Year’s Evil special of NXT 2.0. 

The Creed Brothers Crowned 2022 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Winners

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The 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is in the books as the final two teams battled it out for the trophy. 

At NXT Vengeance Day, MSK wrestled The Creed Brothers in the finals of the tournament. MSK got the early advantage in the coo-headliner. Lee was tossed off the apron onto the announce table. After the commercial break, Carter got the hot tag and cleaned house. Carter hit a back flip off the apron. He went to the top rope and hit a front senton then Lee hit a dive off the top rope for a near fall. 

The finish saw The Creeds hit their finisher. As a result, they’ve received the Dusty Cup and earned a shot at the Tag Team Champions Imperium.

The first round matches took place last month with MSK beating Jacket Time (Ikemen Jiro and Kushida), Edris Enofé and Malik Blade beating Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza), The Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed and Julius Creed) over Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs, and Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) defeating Chase U (Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward). 

The second round bouts included MSK over Enofé and Blade and The Creed Brothers beat Grizzled Young Veterans. Past winners include:

  • 2015: Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
  • 2016: The Authors of Pain
  • 2018: The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly)
  • 2019: Aleister Black and Ricochet
  • 2020: The BroserWeights (Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne)
  • 2021: MSK

Carmelo Hayes Retains WWE NXT North American Title At Vengeance Day

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An NXT North American Title match between champion Carmelo Hayes and Cameron Grimes was one of the top matches featured on the card of Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0, titled Vengeance Day.

The match took place in the second hour and was back and forth. Although Grimes had some momentum down the stretch, Grimes took out Trick Williams at ringside and back in the ring, found himself on the receiving end of Hayes’ finisher. 

This was set up on the January 26th episode of NXT 2.0 when Grimes secured himself the title opportunity by defeating Tony D’Angelo in the main event. Pete Dunne made his return on this show to cost D’Angelo after losing to D’Angelo in a ‘Crowbar on a Pole’ match. He hit D’Angelo over the hand with a Cricket bat. 

At New Year’s Evil in January, Hayes unified the North American and Cruiserweight Titles by beating Roderick Strong. This marked Grimes’ first shot at the North American Title since TakeOver XXX in 2020 when he worked a 5-Way Ladder Match with Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed, Damian Priest, and Velveteen Dream. Since then, Gargano, Reed, and Dream are no longer with WWE. 

The North American Title was first introduced in April 2018 and won by Adam Cole. There had been 13 champions in the original history of the title.

AJ Styles Still Pushing Hard for WrestleMania Dream Match

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It’s no secret who AJ Styles wants to work against at this year’s WrestleMania in Texas. Now, the former WWE Champion once again doubled-down on wanting a match with Edge in a new interview with Ariel Helwani.

“He’s so knowledgeable, he’s such a superstar. I would love to get the opportunity to get in the ring with him,” Styles said (h/t ComicBook). “There was that time when I thought there would never be an opportunity to wrestle him, and now, it’s here. The time is limited in which we can pull it off. Whether he or I retire first, who knows, but I want to get that match. I desperately want to get that match. I think it’s the one that most fans would enjoy.”

Styles also referenced that Edge wants the match, too. Edge hasn’t been seen since he and Beth Phoenix defeated The Miz and Maryse at the Royal Rumble in St. Louis a few weeks back.

AJ Styles Has A Shot at the WWE Championship This Weekend

WWE Elimination Chamber 2022
WWE Elimination Chamber 2022

Styles came up short in a match with WWE United States Champion Damian Priest this past Monday night on Raw, but the Phenomenal One gets a shot at the WWE Championship this weekend.

Styles will compete in an Elimination Chamber match in Saudi Arabia on Saturday that will have Bobby Lashley’s title up for grabs. Also in that match will be Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Austin Theory, and Riddle.

The rest of the card for WWE Elimination Chamber is as follows:

  • WWE Universal Championship Match
    Roman Reigns (c) vs. Goldberg
  • WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match
    Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lita
  • WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
    The Usos (c) vs. The Viking Raiders
  • Elimination Chamber Match
    Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H. vs. Doudrop vs. Alexa Bliss
  • Ronda Rousey and Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville
  • Falls Count Anywhere Match
    Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss
  • The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio

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.

Why Did Cody Rhodes Leave AEW?

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Cody Rhodes is gone from AEW. This is a blockbuster story with a lot to unpack. For those questioning if this is an angle, it’s not. This is a legitimate situation and not part of a storyline.

Cody’s AEW contract expired approximately six weeks ago, as first reported by Sean Ross Sapp. Cody has been working as a free agent since then, with negotiations ongoing.

Just two months ago, Cody tweeted, “I’m thankful to the fans that cheer and boo me because both are getting ready to go on a ride that’s just bizarre and not the path that you think. We’re not doing what’s been done before.” Little did we know at the time just how bizarre things would get.

During the early days of AEW, Cody, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks were all involved with planning longterm storylines and feuds. SEScoops has learned learned that Tony Khan assuming total control over the creative process was a big factor in Cody leaving AEW.

Of course, this is the wrestling business and these things always come down to dollars and centers. Cody Rhodes was asking for big money. How big? AEW refused to pay his asking price and allowed an Executive Vice President to walk out the door.

The talks fell apart on Monday when it became clear Cody and Brandi would not be returning. Cody’s pending departure from AEW was a hot topic of conversation behind the scenes at Monday’s Raw.

Is Cody Rhodes Returning to WWE?

WWE is said to be “very interested” in bringing Cody. They know the type of buzz Cody Rhodes returning would generate. The company is also keenly aware of the public perception that talent is discouraged and morale is low.

AEW has signed a lot of former WWE and NXT talent, which has reinforced these optics. Cody Rhodes would be the first AEW original to jump ship and we could see him thrown into a top WrestleMania program at any moment.

WWE has the cash to get this deal done, no matter what Cody is asking for. The general feeling within the industry is that Cody returning to WWE is inevitable.

Despite the reports of tension amongst AEW’s EVP’s, Cody Rhodes was very well-liked behind the scenes in AEW. As one of the co-founders of AEW, he’s been a mentor to young talent. Many AEW stars have been expressing their gratitude towards Cody on social media since this story broke.

Lita Talks Training For Her First Singles Bout In Over A Decade, Not Joining AEW

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Lita is slated to challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship at Elimination Chamber on February 19, which will mark her first singles match since 2006 where she dropped the Women’s Title to Mickie James at the Survivor Series. 

While speaking with Sports Illustrated to promote the show, the WWE Hall Of Famer talked about how her training has gone for the bout: 

“I really feel good. I have been away from the ring [and traveling with WWE], so I haven’t been beating myself up. I’m sleeping in the same bed and holding a regular training schedule. They gave us quite a bit of heads up for the Rumble this year, so I’ve had time to prepare, and that has shifted into making my workouts more intense. Plus, combine that with a group I’ve linked up with in the Bay Area called Hood Slam—I have an open invitation to their ring and that’s helped so much. That’s really helped put any doubt to rest.”

Prior to Lita’s latest WWE return, it was reported that she considered going to AEW. She gave some additional details on how the talks went and why she eventually decided to stay with WWE. 

“They reached out to me initially, and I was intrigued. They’re doing a lot of cool stuff. It’s exciting whenever there is competition—it stokes the industry as a whole. And they’ve really fostered the rise of the star of Britt Baker. I was intrigued, but as we ended up talking, it felt like it wasn’t the right move for me. We ended it with, “Not right now. I wish you the best and I’ll be watching.” It’s a fun product and I’m glad for their success. I ultimately feel I’m home in WWE. There is something that feels right about that.”

Lita also stated in this interview that there are currently no plans for her in WWE following the Elimination Chamber event. 

205 Live Ending, NXT Level Up Show Taping This Week

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WWE’s 205 Live show will no longer be around in the near future.

The company’s developmental system is going through a revamp. NXT was rebranded to NXT 2.0 on Sep. 14, 2021. NXT 2.0 has featured newer talent from the developmental system to build them to be the next company star. While introducing new talent like NXT Champion Bron Breakker, the company has released or let go several veterans from the NXT era like Samoa Joe on Jan.6.

Sarray faced Lash Legend during the December 17 205 Live
Sarray faced Lash Legend during the December 17 episode of 205 Live

While NXT 2.0 features new talent, not every wrestler can compete on the show weekly. The WWE decided to have the fresh talent from developmental to compete on 205 Live. Wrestlers like Draco Anthony have competed on the 205 Live last year before his NXT 2.0 debut on Feb. 1. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reports that 205 Live will be ending and that the WWE will rebrand it to NXT: Level Up. The taping of the new show starts on Feb. 15 and will be 60 minutes episode.

“…Instead of 205 Live, WWE are slated to tape the first episode of NXT: Level Up prior to tonight’s NXT Vengeance Day live broadcast in Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center. We are told the episode is slated to be 60 minutes long, said the report(h/t Mike Johnson).

resultats 205 live 5 juin 2018

Problems With 205 Live

While 205 Live will end, fans can hope that the company will pay more attention to NXT: Level Up. 205 Live started as a show for the WWE cruiserweight division and had great talents like Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali, and Tony Nese. While the show had cruiserweights putting on incredible matches, the WWE failed to promote the shows. Former 205 Live talent Tony Nese shared his experience being on the show with Chris Van Vliet on Oct. 27, 2021.

“We would always say that we were in this wrestling purgatory. Even though I was there, when it comes to the company’s decisions, I’m on the outside looking in too. This is all speculation, but it seemed like they had an idea for the show. It was Triple H’s idea. It was his baby. He wanted the show to have a yearly tournament, win/loss records, all that stuff. He wanted it to be a different feel. As soon as it was announced that the cruiserweights would be a part of RAW, that was where Vince was like, ‘No, it’s my show now.’ All that other stuff went out the window,” said Nese(Fernando Quiles Jr.).

It’s unclear what WWE has planned for the first NXT: Level Up episode.

WWE Elimination Chamber 2022 Stage: First Look (Video)

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Footage of the stage and set for WWE Elimination Chamber days ahead of the show has surfaced online. 

As seen below in the video, WWE already has set up the stage, ramp, ring, and tent-like structure that goes over the ring where the chamber structure is housed. All that’s left is adding the seating chairs on the floor. 

The event takes place this Saturday, February 19 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the Jeddah SuperDome. The pre-show will begin at 11am ET, and the main card will begin at 12pm ET. This will be the first Saudi show for WWE of 2022 with the second event expected to take place in October or November. 

Eight matches have been confirmed for the main card and the pre-show bout has yet to be revealed. 5 of those bouts will feature championships on the line including WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg and WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Lita.

There will be two chamber bouts – WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory vs. AJ Styles vs. Riddle and Doudrop vs. Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki A.S.H. vs. Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss with the winner challenging for the Raw Women’s Title at WrestleMania 38.

MLW Returning to Chicago’s Cicero Stadium on July 16th

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Major League Wrestling (MLW) is returning to Chicago’s Cicero Stadium this summer.

MLW boss Court Bauer appeared on ESPN Chicago’s Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday with Jonathan Hood to announce the news.

Tickets for this event go on sale Tuesday, March 1st at at MLWgo.com and Eventbrite.com. As part of a ‘fan appreciation’ experience, MLW fans can meet and greet their favorite MLW fighters ahead of the show.

Top stars advertised for the event include World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone, Los Parks, Jacob Fatu, Davey Richards, King Muertes, EJ Nduka,
Calvin Tankman, National Openweight Champion Alex Kane, Richard Holliday with Alicia Atout and more.

Additional details about the card will be announced in the weeks ahead.

For more information, visit MLW.com.

Listen to Court Bauer’s appearance on Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday:

Dustin Rhodes Addresses Cody & Brandi Leaving AEW

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“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes reconfirms he is still with All Elite Wrestling.

His employers shocked the professional wrestling community with the announcement of Cody and Brandi Rhodes’s departure from the company. Both Cody and Brandi signed a multi-year contract with AEW before the the start of the promotion on Jan. 1, 2019. The “American Nightmare” confirmed reports on Jan. 26 that he didn’t have a contract with the company.

Cody’s lost his last match against Sammy Guevara at Beach Break on Jan. 26. The company teased a feud between Brandi and former UFC star Paige VanZant at AEW Dynamite on Feb. 2. It’s unclear what the company had planned for Brandi and Van Zant. However after failed contract negotiations, both Cody and Brandi decided to test free agency.

cody dustin rhodes hug 1200x675 1

Now that both his brother and sister in law aren’t with AEW, fans have started to wonder if Dustin would leave the company. However, he shared on Twitter that he is still with his employer and doesn’t plan on leaving.

cody goldust

Why Did Dustin Rhodes Join AEW?

Before joining AEW, Dustin felt that he lost his passion for wrestling with WWE. Under the persona Goldust, he has wrestled for and left WWE on different occasions over the years. His his last stint with the company lasted for six years. After feeling underutilzed with his former employers, he requested his release. While not immediate, WWE granted Dustin’s release on Apr. 21, 2019.

In an interview with AEW Unrestricted on Apr. 23, 2020, Dustin shared why he lost his passion for wrestling in WWE.

“When you’re sitting at home for a couple of months with another company who doesn’t value you at all, and you’re sitting there knowing you have so much more to offer. You kind of lose your passion, and for the first time in my 31 years, I lost my passion for the wrestling business,” said Dustin(h/t Anutosh Bajpai).

Dustin Rhodes
‘The Natural’ Dustin Rhodes

He also discussed the moment he decided to ask for his release in the interview.

“They just will not give me the time of day, and I had enough.” said Rhodes,” I said enough was enough, and for the first time, I kind of stood up for myself in a big way and said, ‘I am quitting. I am asking you for my release. I am done. I’m not happy here anymore, said Dustin(h/t Anutosh Bajpai).

Dustin signed a multi-year contract with AEW on Aug. 30, 2019. While he has no interest in leaving, it’s unclear if AEW will renew his contact when it’s up.

Kofi Kingston Still Injured from Botched Spot at the Royal Rumble

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Kofi Kingston still hasn’t fully recovered from an injury he sustained during last month’s Royal Rumble match

The former WWE champion is known for his Royal Rumble moments using his eye-popping athleticism to avoid elimination. Kingston has done incredible things like walking on his hands to get back into the ring. Every year, he and WWE try to create more moments for fans to remember. However, this year they were unsuccessful.

After Kevin Owens threw Kingston out of the ring during the 2022 Rumble, Kingston tried to catch himself on the barricade without his feet touching the floor. Unfortunately, his feet did touch. The error was caught on camera, resulting in his elimination from the match.

Kingston tells The Week in Geek Radio Show that his toe is bothersome from the botched “Kofi spot.”

Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston

“It was definitely a risky move, he said. “I knew I was going to be in pain no matter what. You know, whether I hit it or not, and unfortunately, I got the pain and didn’t get the benefit of actually doing what I wanted to do.”

He continued, “The ribs are doing okay. My toe is actually in a lot of pain, which is really weird, but I didn’t expect to come down with such velocity from that height. Although looking at it now, I’m like, well, what did I expect? I don’t know.”

big e on kofi kingston being loved

Kofi Kingston Has No Regrets

It’s unclear how bad is Kingston’s toe injury, but he is still competing on Friday Night Smackdown in tag team matches. The former WWE Champion also doesn’t regret his failed Royal Rumble moment and believes it’s essential to take risks.

“…I tell people that it’s so important to go out and try as hard as you can, even if there is a risk of failing and it might be a high risk of failing. You still have to go out and try. You can’t do anything epic without risk, so go out and put yourself out there, and don’t be afraid to fail,” said Kingston.

He teamed with Big E in a loss against Los Lotharios at Smackdown on Feb. 11. Kingston didn’t share in the interview if he considered taking time from wrestling to heal his injury. It seems the WWE will continue to let him wrestle unless the damage gets worse.

Cody & Brandi Rhodes Comment On Leaving AEW

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Cody Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes have made their exit from AEW but there seems to be no bitterness.

It had been known that Cody’s contract with AEW expired and he hadn’t re-signed despite holding the TNT Championship. Many thought it was a work but when he lost the title to Sammy Guevara, he cut a backstage promo confirming the reports.

Just minutes after a report from ESPN’s Mike Coppinger claiming that Cody was done with AEW, it was confirmed by “The American Nightmare” and the promotion.

Happy Trails

Cody Rhodes issued a statement on his departure from AEW. Here is part of it:

“I have loved my time at AEW. Amazing locker room. Amazing fans. Amazing people. The ‘revolution’ was indeed televised, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be part of that.

“First, I want to thank Tony Khan. He’s taken the baton and run with it, and it was an honor to work for him and to know him on a personal level. He’s a beautiful soul.

“Obviously need to thank my incredible wife and the mother of my baby girl, Brandi, for all of her love and support throughout this journey together and the amazing relationships she fostered with Kulture City and the American Heart Association.

“I also need to thank Nick and Matt Jackson (these two, whether they know it or not, took an undesired and not confident lil’ cub and gifted me the confidence to become a leader of the pack), Kenneth Omega, Chris Jericho, Chicken…we started the fire. I must thank Tim W/Keith M/Greg W and the amazing production crew who understood and captured the vision with such grace.”

Cody and Brandi Rhodes

Brandi Rhodes also commented on making her exit from AEW.

“A heartfelt thank you to every fan that has supported me in AEW. It was an honor to be the company’s first Chief Brand Officer. The thank you list is long so I’ll try not to wander.

“Thank you to Kulture City, Special Olympics Illinois and the American Heart Association for allowing me to cultivate these amazing partnerships. Thank you to every AEW Heel that helped me build a dream community of female fans.

“Thank you to every AEW wrestler and talent that worked hard to create a great locker room environment. Thank you to the production team, make-up team, and seamstresses. Thank you, Dustin, QT, Jerry Lynn and Leva Bates, for every ounce of energy, help and encouragement you provided.

“Thank you to my husband for being that constant rock and partner every single day. Thank you to TNT, TBS and WarnerMedia for treating my family like your family. Thank you to Tony Khan for giving me this opportunity and platform. I move forward with my daughter and this quote in mind.

“‘We must take time to define our own path. Too quickly we can find the world defining it for us’ – Unknown

“Also…

‘I’ll see you on the flippity flop’ – Michael Scott.”

For those wondering about the status of Dustin Rhodes, he’ll be sticking around. He took to social media to say the following:

“No, I am not leaving. I like it here in AEW.”

Cody & Brandi Rhodes Leave AEW, Tony Khan Issues Statement

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AEW has been dealt a massive blow as Cody Rhodes has decided to leave the company along with his wife Brandi.

Reports had swirled regarding Cody’s contract status with AEW. The promotion and Cody didn’t try to hide it either. Following his TNT Title loss against Sammy Guevara at the Beach Break edition of Dynamite, Cody gave a passionate backstage promo where he confirmed he was working without a contract.

Cody & Brandi Gone

Shortly after a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter surfaced claiming that Cody’s AEW contract status was “up in the air,” Mike Coppinger of ESPN reported that Cody is indeed out of AEW.

Minutes after Coppinger’s report, both Cody Rhodes and AEW made the confirmation.

Here is a statement from AEW’s head honcho Tony Khan:

“Cody and Brandi Rhodes were integral to the launch of All Elite Wrestling. Cody’s ability combined with his boldness and his passion for our industry and his love for community outreach helped AEW deliver on our mission to give fans what they needed for far too long – something new, innovative and lasting.

“Brandi helped us shape the AEW story, and I appreciate how hard she fought for us both in the ring and out of the ring, competing in the women’s division while advancing our efforts at inclusion and civic causes, including great partnerships with Kulture City and the American Heart Association.

“I have immense respect and appreciation for Cody and Brandi, and I wish them both the best as they move on from AEW. Thank you, Cody and Brandi!”

The report from Coppinger noted that Cody does not have a non-compete clause. This means, he’s free to show up anywhere he pleases.

Speculation has run rampant for months on what Cody will do next. Many expect him to make his way back to WWE but time will tell if that’s what he plans to do.

More On WWE Pitching WrestleMania Match To Stone Cold Steve Austin

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The news of WWE pitching Stone Cold Steve Austin a return match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 swept the internet yesterday, with fans around the world excitedly discussing the possibility.

PWinsider provided some more update on the story recently. The site revealed that WWE originally reached out to the Texas Rattlesnake in late December/early January to gauge his interest in a return.

Though there has been zero confirmation within WWE from any source in the following weeks that Steve Austin has agreed to have a match at the Show Of Shows.

The original idea pitched to the Hall of Famer was for the Mania match to be a one-time send-off for the former champion in front of a massive crowd.

Even if Stone Cold Steve Austin doesn’t wrestle at the show, WWE had always intended for him to be a part of the event in some capacity. Austin was featured in the initial announcement about the PPV last year.

His involvement would help the company boost ticket sales for the upcoming PPV. WWE needs to move around 200,000 tickets to sell out the two-night event from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The initial talk about Austin’s return was described as a “Hail Mary idea” to the site. The hope was that the Attitude Era star would begin his storyline at Royal Rumble which obviously didn’t happen.

The status of the whole affair is very much up in the air at the moment. If there are indeed any plans for Austin to have a match at the show, the storyline should begin post-Elimination Chamber this Saturday.