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Tony Khan Slams False Report That He’s Running For Congress

Chris Stephens
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Tony Khan has responded to reports that he is planning to run for Congress. Earlier this morning, ProFootballTalk.com reported that Khan had filed to run for Florida’s 4th Congressional District. Not only did Tony Khan refute these reports, he compared ProFootballTalk’s sources to MJF and Tony Schiavone.

“The fact checking standard for @ProFootballTalk reporting is far lower than that of @AEW’s roving reporter @tonyschiavone24. I’m definitely not running for Congress; this filing is faker than Eddie Gilbert’s apology to Tommy Rich in 1984. PFT sources as trustworthy as @The_MJF.”

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported the news.

Jacksonville attorney Chris Hand got to the bottom of the news, however, and confirmed that Tony Khan definitely is not running for Congress.

Things continued between ProFootballTalk and Khan.

Who Filed Tony Khan’s Name To Run For Congress?

The two options appear to be that Tony Khan filed to run but then didn’t follow up on it or someone filed Tony Khan’s name as a joke. Since Khan is denying the reports, the latter seems far more likely. Perhaps it was an AEW, Jaguars, or Fulham fan.

“But whether someone filed the statement as a joke or @TonyKhan filed it in 9/21 but decided not to complete the process, the bottom line is this: He isn’t an active candidate for Florida’s 4th Congressional District.”

The Great Khali Joins Bharatiya Janata Political Party In India

Chris Stephens
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The Great Khali is now officially a member of the Bharatiya Janata Political Party in India. Bharatiya Janata is one of two major parties in the country and has been in power since 2014. They are considered a right-wing party with policies that align with Hindu nationalist positions.

Real name Dalip Singh Rana, he officially joined the party today.

“I have wrestled all over the world. If I just loved money and fame, then I would have stayed in the United States and in the WWE. However, I have always loved my country. I was also impressed by all the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So I told myself that even I should join him and help the country progress. I am a fan of his hard work and thinking,” Khali said, shortly after joining the party.

Khali has formerly worked as an assistant Sub-Inspector with the Punjab police. The 49-year-old also participated in the farmers protests held in India in late 2020/early 2021.

Khali is a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. The Wrestling Observer voted him the Most Overrated in 2007 and the Worst Gimmick in 2008.

Tony Khan Comments On When Deal To Bring In Jay White Was Made

Chris Stephens
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Jay White made his AEW debut on Dynamite last night in a backstage segment with Adam Cole and the Young Bucks. Tony Khan would later post to social media that the deal to bring him in was only secured on Sunday. This was after Khan and AEW announced that there would be a big announcement made on this week’s Dynamite.

Khan said that he may have used the term “Forbidden Door” incorrectly, and this left fans assuming someone from another promotion was being brought in rather than a new signing. Evidently, Khan decided to bring in White in addition to Keith Lee to ensure these fans were satisfied.

Khan wrote:

“I didn’t secure @JayWhiteNZ until Sunday. I realized after the fact that Friday night I butchered my own definition of Forbidden Door in hyping tonight. I heard the fans’ feedback, & wanted to ensure that tonight was a special #AEWDynamite for all. Thank you everyone who watched!”

Khan’s original promise is below:

In storyline, Adam Cole brought in Jay White without mentioning this to the Young Bucks. He did the same thing with Kyle O’Reilly and just isn’t checking in with them before doing stuff. Cole also mentioned that they made an oath that they were Bullet Club 4-life. The Young Bucks, however, were concerned that White and Kenny Omega were once rivals. A Bullet Club vs Elite storyline in AEW seems imminent.

Paul Heyman Explains How He “Seduces” WWE Audiences

Michael Reichlin
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Paul Heyman is a master communicator. He is one of the greatest talkers in wrestling history and possesses a keen ability to affect audiences.

Heyman was interviewed by NOLA.com to promote Friday’s WWE SmackDown from New Orleans. He addressed WWE operating during the pandemic and the various challenges this presented.

With fans prohibited from attending live events, WWE was forced to get creative and ran shows from the ThunderDome. Wrestlers are reliant on reactions from audiences and it’s just not the same performing for LCD screens.

Some talent struggled with this format, while others thrived. Paul Heyman didn’t skip a beat and remained a prominent force during this unique period in WWE history.

“I can play the audience as my instrument.”

– Paul Heyman to NOLA.com (February 2022)

When Paul Heyman pulls back the curtain and shares clues about what makes him so great at what he does, fans need to listen up.

Heyman divulges that one trick to resonate with audiences involves viewing them as one entity instead of a collection of individuals.

“I see the audience en masse,” Heyman told NOLA. “You try to seduce as much of the crowd as possible, to be invested in your message, and the only way to do that is to present yourself to all of them, not one of them or some of them.”

Heyman crafts the delivery of his words based on what he’s sensing from the audience.

“I can play the audience as my instrument,” Heyman said. “I can ride their display of emotions to what I’m saying to make the best music possible to those living it in person or watching it at home.”

In Heyman’s opinion, the best performers work with the audience instead of speaking at them. “If the audience isn’t a character in the performance, then you’re leaving out your greatest asset.”

Keith Lee Becomes the 5th Former NXT Champion to Sign With AEW

Chris Stephens
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Keith Lee made his AEW debut last night on Dynamite. He is the 5th former NXT Champion to have signed with the promotion. Lee defeated Isiah Kassidy and earned a spot in the Face of the Revolution ladder match in the process.

Lee joins Malakai Black, Adam Cole, Andrade el Idolo, and PAC as former NXT Champions now with AEW.

With WWE’s rebrand of NXT to NXT 2.0, many wrestlers who do not fit the mold of what WWE wants on its main roster have been released or who left of their own accord.

Former NXT Champions In WWE

PAC – The former Neville in WWE has been with AEW since the beginning. Neville voluntarily left WWE in 2018. Currently, he’s a member of Death Triangle and involved in a feud with the stable of another former NXT Champion now in AEW.

Malakai Black – The former Aleister Black in WWE was released on June 2nd, 2021. Due to only having a 30-day non-compete clause, Black debuted for AEW the following month. He is a 11-2 in the promotion overall and has been spewing black mist in the face of many. That mist seems to be having a big effect on people.

Andrade el Idolo – Andrade requested and was granted his release from WWE in March of 2021. He made his debut in AEW on June 4th, 2021. He has a 10-4 record in the promotion thus far and appears to be entering a rivalry with Darby Allin and Sting as he had been attempting to get Darby to work for him.

Adam Cole – Adam Cole left WWE after TakeOver 36 as his contract with the promotion ran out. While attempts were made by WWE to re-sign him, Cole left for AEW and debuted at the end of the All Out PPV last fall. He is still undefeated in the promotion and at the end of last night’s Dynamite let it be known he wants the next shot at Hangman Page’s AEW World Championship.

Other Former NXT Champions Available

On top of the 5 former NXT Champions now in NXT, several more are currently free agents.

Samoa Joe – WWE released Samoa Joe in April 2021 and he signed a new deal with NXT shortly after. He was then released from that contract on January 6th, 2022. Joe is a 3x NXT Champion.

Killer Kross – Karrion Kross is a former 2x NXT Champion and was released from WWE on November 4th, 2021. His is now a free agent as his 90-days non-compete period has expired.

Johnny Gargano – Gargano’s contract with WWE expired in December and he opted not to return. The former NXT Champion is free to show up wherever he wants currently but the belief is he is taking time away for the birth of his child.

Bo Dallas: Bo Dallas was released from his contract in April last year after having been with the company for 13 years. He was the 3rd ever NXT Champion.

There have been a total of 19 NXT Champions in history:

  • 10 are still with WWE: Bron Breakker, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, Robert Roode, Seth Rollins, Tommaso Ciampa, Big E, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn.
  • 5 are signed to AEW: Keith Lee, Andrade el Idolo, PAC, Malakai Black, Adam Cole.
  • 4 are free agents: Killer Kross, Samoa Joe, Johnny Gargano, Bo Dallas.

Tony Khan Updates Kenny Omega’s Hiatus from AEW

Michael Reichlin
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Kenny Omega has been out of action since November 2021. After losing the AEW World Championship to Adam Page at Full Gear, the Best Bout Machine announced he’d need to step away from AEW. He told the Young Bucks, “I feel like there is things I gotta fix and there is things I gotta change and I can’t do it here.”

Omega had been working through injuries for months. During his reign as AEW champion, he dealt with issues affecting his knee, shoulder and an abdominal hernia.

AEW President Tony Khan spoke about Kenny Omega’s situation this week while doing the media rounds for Wednesday’s Dynamite from Atlantic City. During a discussion with PWInsider, Khan said Omega is greatly missed behind the scenes.

Kenny Omega Update

“He’s one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and was a dominant champion in AEW for almost a year,” said Khan. “I personally miss Kenny Omega being around very much. He’s healing from a bunch of injuries, significant injuries.”

“He wrestled through all of that and had some of the best matches in the history of the company while he was really beat up. And he really cares a lot about wrestling and he worked his ass off to fill up and make his matches great even when he was in a ton of pain.”

It’s believed that Kenny Omega has undergone all the necessary procedures for him to begin a road back to recovery and full health. Tony Khan still can’t believe what he was able to do in the ring while battling such extensive injuries.

“Now it’s time for him to rehabilitate and heal and he’s going to come back stronger, and comeback, I hope as good or even better than ever. I really believe the stuff he did while he was physically limited was so impressive.”

“He was coming in with major injuries and then he worked a really hard schedule here in AEW too. I think he was absolutely the wrestler of the year for 2021. And I’m very excited for Kenny Omega’s return in 2022. It’ll be a long time coming and we’d be excited to have him back.”

It will be interesting to see how Kenny Omega conducts himself when he returns. Prior to his hiatus, Omega was entrenched in the Elite with the Young Bucks, but there was tension with Adam Cole. We could see Omega and Cole jockey for control of The Elite, or he could go in an entirely different direction.

AEW Hints at Possible Jeff Hardy Arrival

Ryan Droste
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With his brother Matt already a longstanding member of AEW at this point, it wouldn’t shock anyone to see Jeff Hardy sign with the promotion very soon. And AEW themselves seem to be leaning into the rumors that Hardy could become All Elite in the near future.

On Wednesday night’s edition of AEW Dynamite, a pretty obvious nod was made in Hardy’s direction during the Keith Lee vs. Isiah Kassidy match. During the bout, Matt Hardy abandoned Kassidy by jumping the ringside guard rail and exiting through the crowd. The story was he was frustrated by another poor outing from one of his proteges.

However, the reference to Jeff came with how Matt exited the ringside area. This was exactly what Jeff Hardy did during his final match with WWE at a house show in Edinburg, Texas back in early December.

Tony Schiavone even overtly made reference to that incident on commentary during Dynamite, saying it was an “erratic” move. Reports at the time of Hardy’s WWE departure mentioned his behavior as being “erratic.” His brother Matt referenced this during a Twitch stream in January when he came to his brother’s defense, noting that WWE “may have jumped the gun” with Jeff’s release.

Kassidy’s match on Dynamite was what Hardy had previously called a “make or break” moment for him. In storyline, Hardy has been disappointed with Private Party’s inability to emerge victorious. They lost to Jurassic Express recently on Rampage, and Kassidy followed that up with a loss to Sammy Guevara.

https://twitter.com/MATTHARDYBRAND/status/1491579276499505152

Do you want to see Jeff Hardy join AEW? Who would you like to see him feud with? Let us know in the comments section below!

And don’t forget to check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

AEW Dynamite Results (2/9): Keith Lee Debuts, Texas Death Match For AEW Title, Jay White

Robert Lentini
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AEW Dynamite aired live from the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Hangman Page defended the AEW Championship against Lance Archer in a Texas Deathmatch in the main event.

Dynamite Results (2/9)

  1. Wardlow def. The Blade
  2. Keith Lee def. Isiah Kassidy to qualify for the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match
  3. CM Punk & Jon Moxley def. FTR to earn Punk a rematch against MJF
  4. Jade Cargill def. A.Q.A to retain the TBS Championship
  5. Serena Deeb def. Katie Arquette via submission
  6. Hangman Page def. Lance Archer in a Texas Death Match to retain the AEW Championship

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

CM Punk Wants A Rematch Against MJF

Wardlow brought out some cardboard cutouts of MJF’s victory over CM Punk last week. Wardlow handed Justin Roberts some cards to introduce members of The Pinnacle. Justin referred to MJF as the man who beat CM Punk twice in that dumpster Chicago.

MJF was carried down the entrance ramp on a throne and had a big grin on his face. MJF then made out with one of the girls before getting into the ring for a bro hug with The Pinnacle. The crowd chanted “shut the f*ck up!” at MJF as he boasted about defeating CM Punk twice.

Maxwell thanked Shawn Spears for warming him up and Wardlow was very angry. Spears pointed at the sign and revealed a new “Better than the best in the world and you know it” logo. MJF claimed that it was time that he become the new AEW World Champion. CM Punk came out without any music and asked for a microphone.

Tony Schiavone interviewed Punk and he joked that MJF’s win in Chicago is about as suspect as his spray tan. Punk said he brought some friends and motioned to the entrance ramp. Darby Allin and Sting arrived with baseball bats in hand. Punk demanded a rematch with the guy that beat him in Chicago, Wardlow. CM Punk dared Wardlow to grow some balls and leave these jerks. MJF shouted that he beat Punk all by himself and Punk asked Wardlow if he heard that.

MJF stated that Wardlow is his best friend and that he’s not wrestling in this dump Atlantic City. MJF told Punk that he has to find a tag team partner other than Sting or Darby Allin tonight. MJF referred to them as “tweetledumb and tweetle dipsh*t”. If they can then defeat FTR, he will give Punk his rematch.

Wardlow Dominated

Wardlow faced The Blade tonight on Dynamite. Blade hit Wardlow with a chop block but he shrugged it off and planted him with a Suplex. Wardlow sold a knee injury as Dynamite went to a commercial break. When Dynamite returned, Wardlow drove Blade to the corner and beat him down.

Wardlow unloaded an elbow to the face as Shawn Spears enjoyed the match from the entrance ramp. Wardlow planted Blade with a big Powerbomb and the crowd started chanting for another one. Wardlow hit another Powerbomb and ignored Spears as he told him to go for the cover. Wardlow hit two more Powerbombs for the pinfall victory. After the match, Shawn Spears got into the ring and hit Blade with a chair.

Inner Circle Is Falling Apart, Jay White Appears

Chris Jericho requested an Inner Circle meeting and the group came down to the ring as the crowd sang along to “Judas”. Santana and Ortiz came to the ring with different theme music and not sporting an Inner Circle vest. Santana said that Chris Jericho only cares about himself at the end of the day. Santana added that they haven’t been able to go after the tag titles because they have to come to Jericho’s rescue. Santana said it was always the fans that kept them going and he would have dropped Jericho’s ass a long time ago if it wasn’t for Ortiz.

Jericho asked Santana what has Eddie Kingston ever done for them and said that he is The Influencer in this company. Chris noted that they had their chance at the tag titles a year ago and they lost to the Young Bucks. Things got heated and Santana grabbed Jericho be the throat. Sammy broke it up and Jericho shoved him away. Jericho tried to apologize but Sammy cut him off. Guevara said he has quit this group before and threw his Inner Circle vest in the ring. Sammy said his goal is to become the best champion of all time and this bickering isn’t going to help that. Ortiz and Santana then challenged Jericho & Hager to a match to settle it.

After the match, Jay White showed up and helped Young Bucks & Adam Cole beatdown Trent & Rocky Romero. Later on Dynamite, Young Bucks complained about Adam Cole inviting Jay White because he used to be enemies with Kenny Omega.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491592268431691776?s=20&t=sJeBvOSnZAH-JL6usQNPcg

Keith Lee Debuted With A Win

Keith Lee made his AEW debut and faced Isiah Kassidy tonight. The winner will qualify for the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match. Keith Lee launched Kassidy across the ring as Matt Hardy flipped out ringside. Lee connected with a Crossbody but Kassidy battled back with a Dropkick. Keith got distracted by Quen and Kassidy hit a Corkscrew Splash.

Matt Hardy exited through the crowd as Keith Lee battled back. Lee hit a massive Powerslam and won via pinfall. Keith Lee is in the Face of the Revolution Ladder match. Marq Quen attacked Keith Lee after the match. Private Party knocked Lee to the outside and tried to leap onto him. Keith caught Kassidy and slammed him down. Lee then Powerbombed Quen on the ring apron to end the segment.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491589711059689477?s=20&t=sJeBvOSnZAH-JL6usQNPcg

CM Punk Teamed With Jon Moxley, Earned A Rematch Against MJF

FTR battled CM Punk and a mystery partner tonight. It was revealed to be Jon Moxley and that got a great reaction from the crowd. MJF and Shawn Spears were in disbelief watching backstage as Moxley made his way through the crowd.

Punk and Dax Harwood started off the match and locked up in the middle of the ring. Punk hit a shoulder tackle but Dax responded with an Arm Drag. Dax retreated to the corner before locking up with Punk again. Punk took control and Cash Wheeler tagged in. CM Punk greeted him with a Body Slam and tagged in Jon Moxley.

Jon and Harwood locked up. Moxley got in a Headlock but Harwood escaped with an Arm Drag. Harwood applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring but Moxley battled to his feet. Punk tagged in and FTR took back control of the match.

Punk eventually escaped to the corner and tagged in Moxley. Jon started unloaded Clotheslines and delivered a double DDT to FTR. When Dynamite returned from a break, FTR was back in control and had Moxley isolated in the corner. Punk shoved Wheeler off the turnbuckle as Moxley battled with Harwood. Moxley got Harwood up in the Electric Chair and Punk climbed to the top rope. Moxley took out Wheeler with a Crossbody and Punk went for the cover but Dax kicked out at two.

Harwood connected with a Brainbuster on Punk but he was able to kick out at the last moment and the match continued. Punk went for the GTS but FTR countered into the Big Rig. Wheeler went for the cover but Moxley broke it up at two. Moxley and Punk went for their finishers but FTR escaped again. FTR shoved Moxley out of the ring but he got back inside and broke up a Piledriver. Referee Aubrey Edwards was distracted with Moxley and missed Wheeler tapping out to the Anaconda Vice. Punk hit Tully with a GTS that looked terrible. Wheeler rolled him up from behind for a near fall. Punk finally hit the GTS on Dax for the pinfall victory.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491599319945953284?s=20&t=sJeBvOSnZAH-JL6usQNPcg

Jade Cargill Is 27-0

Jade Cargill battled A.Q.A tonight on Dynamite in a TBS Championship match. Jade slammed her to the mat right away but A.Q.A. got back up. Cargill showed off her power and lifted A.Q.A up with one arm. A.Q.A hit a Dropkick that knocked the champion out of the ring. Jade shrugged it off and swatted A.Q.A to the floor as Dynamite went to a break.

When Dynamite returned, A.Q.A hit a Crossbody that knocked Jade to the mat. She followed it up with a Shooting Star Press and went for the cover but Cargill kicked out at two. Cargill connected with Jaded for the pinfall victory and is now 27-0.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491600326465658881?s=20&t=sJeBvOSnZAH-JL6usQNPcg

Serena Deeb Picked Up A Win

Serena Deeb made her way to the ring and boasted about only taking three minutes to defeat Sky Blue. Deeb wondered who wanted to get in the ring with her next for The Professor’s 5 Minute Rookie Challenge. Deeb defeated Katie Arquette in a minute.

Hangman Page Retained The AEW Title

Hangman Page defended the AEW Championship in a Texas Death Match. Hangman sent Archer through glass on the entrance ramp and brought him to the ring. Page leveled Archer with the Buckshot Lariat and the challenger fell out of the ring. Lance Archer was busted open as Dan Lambert came down to the ring. Lambert started unscrewing the turnbuckle as Archer beat Hangman down.

The action spilled into the crowd and Hangman connected with a Moonsault. Hangman brought Archer back into the ring but couldn’t go for the Buckshot Lariat because Lambert and Jake Roberts had removed the turnbuckles and the ropes were on the canvas. Archer capitalized and beat Hangman down as Dynamite went to a final commercial break.

When Dynamite returned, there were two tables set up next to the ring as Page and Archer were battling on the ring apron. Hangman was now bleeding from the face too. Jake Roberts hit Hangman with a Clothesline and went for a DDT but Archer shoved him away. Hangman capitalized with a DDT on the floor and rolled Archer back into the ring. Archer caught Hangman with a Chokeslam on top of a trash can.

Lance then stabbed the AEW Champion in the head with a fork over and over before throwing him out of the ring. Archer connected with a Cannonball off the apron and raised the AEW Championship. Lance rolled Hangman into the ring and grabbed a few chairs from under the ring. Archer hit Hangman with a Blackout onto the steel steps and rolled the bloodied champion back into the ring. Archer set up a barbed wire chair and lifted Hangman up for a Powerbomb.

Hangman escaped and wrapped barbed wire around his forearm. Hangman hit Archer a couple times before planting him with a Belly to Back Suplex. Hangman used the referee as a springboard for a Buckshot Lariat through both tables outside the ring. Page got into the ring before the ten count to win the match and retain the AEW World Championship.

After the match, Adam Cole marched to the ring and ripped the AEW Championship away from the referee. Cole stared at Hangman before putting the belt on his shoulder. Cole said some words to the champion and left the ring to close the show.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491608969621778432?s=20&t=sJeBvOSnZAH-JL6usQNPcg

Jay White Appears On AEW Dynamite

Andrew Ravens
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“Switchblade” Jay White made an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite when during a backstage segment where The Young Bucks and Adam Cole attacked Roppongi Vice members Trent Baretta and Rocky Romero.

White has been mentioning All Elite Wrestling in recent weeks while doing promos. In a night full of surprises, White was just one of them that AEW President Tony Khan was talking about. 

White broke into the pro wrestling business in 2013 and first worked for NJPW in 2015 before going to ROH in 2016 then back to New Japan Pro Wrestling. While working for the Japan-based promotion, he held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Intercontinental Championship, NEVER Openweight Championship, and United States Heavyweight Championship.

Through NJPW’s affiliation with Impact Wrestling, White started working for the promotion last year. His most recent win in Impact came on the January 22nd episode of Impact when he teamed with Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa to defeat Violent By Design (Deaner, Eric Young & Joe Doering). 

White hasn’t worked a match in Japan since NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2021 – Tag 2 on May 4, 2021. Instead, the promotion has been using them for the NJPW Strong brand here in the United States. 

White is slated to wrestle Eric Young at next Saturday’s Impact No Surrender special. 

Lance Archer Discusses the Severity of his Neck Injury

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling talent Lance Archer has detailed the severity of the neck injury from last year.

Wrestling fans were concerned about Archer’s wrestling career in a match against Eddie Kingston at AEW Dynamite on Oct 23, 2021. The neck injury occurred when he landed on his head doing a moonsault from the top rope. While he finished the match, the damage caused him to miss two months from wrestling.

Archer returned to AEW on Jan 12 by attacking AEW Heavyweight Champion Adam Page. He challenges the champion for the title in a Texas Death Match on AEW Dynamite on Feb 9. The title challenger appeared on Busted Open on Sirus XM to discuss his neck injury and if he’s ready to wrestle again.

“I feel great. Beyond blessed for the fact that I actually didn’t break my neck,” said Archer. He explained,”… A centimeter a different way and, it could’ve been a different result. I basically gave myself an extreme version of whiplash because I bounced off my forehead, but if it had been any part of the crown of my head, I probably would’ve been paralyzed or dead. So beyond blessed that it didn’t happen, and then the medical staff here has been extremely amazing.

They kept me on the road and kept me in physical therapy here with our guys and, I’ve done everything they asked me to do before coming back and even before this match. You know every day that the different physical exercises that they asked me to do, I’ve stayed on top of them and, they’ve been extremely happy and like I said I feel great.”

Lance Archer
(via AEW)

Is Archer Concerned Taking the Buck Shot Lariat?

Archer feels confident challenging Page for the AEW title. He has competed in a Texas Death Match before and has a win over Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Championship at Fyter Fest on Jul 21, 2021. Although, recovered neck injury does create concern if he could take certain moves, including Page’s Buck Shot Lariat. The champion connects with the lariat to the neck and chest area, potentially causing whiplash to the opponent’s neck. However, Archer isn’t concerned and plans to win the championship.

“…If you go into this business if you go into any match with any trepidation and worry that when you get hurt. If I’m worried about his finish, If I’m worried about any of these moves, If I’m worried about doing another moonsault and landing on my head, If I’m worried about any of that when I’ll get hurt,” said Archer.

It’s unclear if Page will try to be extra protective of Archer after his neck injury. Although it seems the challenger is ready to do what it takes to defeat the AEW champion.

Ric Flair (Still) Can’t Stop Talking Trash About Becky Lynch

Michael Reichlin
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Wrestling legend Ric Flair is taking aim at Becky Lynch once again.

The war of words between these two has been ongoing for quite some time. From their dispute over who is truly The Man to Lynch’s rocky relationship with Charlotte, these two really do not get along.

In the lead-up to Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair’s match at Survivor Series, Flair said “there’s not enough choreography in the business to save you.”

Flair got a ton of negative attention from the Dark Side of the Ring episode about the Plane Ride from Hell. Lynch was asked about that situation and her beef with Charlotte Flair during a November interview with Ariel Helwani. She didn’t hold back.

“It’s really sad, because this is a legend at one point, Ric Flair is now jealous of me,” said Lynch. “It’s cool for me, he’s now using me to get clout to promote whatever he has going on because he’s dug himself into a hole with other things.”

Flair Says Lynch has “No Drip”

becky lynch migos

Last month, Ric Flair attempted to slight Becky Lynch once again, seemingly out of the blue. Lynch took a photo with rap group Migos over the weekend at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view. Migos is comprised of Offset, Quavo and Takeoff.

Flair previously worked with Offset for the Ric Flair Drip music video. He posted a comparison photo of them both and claims Becky Lynch ‘has no drip and never will.’ Flair has since deleted the tweet.

Ric Flair & Becky Lynch Beef Continues

On the latest episode of his Wooooo Nation podcast, Ric Flair hurled insults at Becky Lynch yet again. Flair called Becky Lynch generic, stupid and out of her mind.

While talking about Ronda Rousey’s return to WWE, Flair ran down Big Time Becks for referring to Rousey as Ronnie.

“Anybody who is stupid enough to call her ‘Ronnie’ and make a joke of her presence, what she brings to the company, is out of their mind,” said Flair.

Becky Lynch fired back at the Nature Boy with a zinger of her own. She told her 2.1 million Twitter followers, “Work so hard your heroes become your rivals. Then, become so good, Ric Flair loses his mind every time you breathe.”

Tony Khan Addresses Potential AEW Roster Cuts

Chris Stephens
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Tony Khan recently addressed potential roster cuts in AEW. Khan was speaking with TV Insider when he noted that some more wrestlers will likely not have their contracts renewed by the company.

“When we started a lot of people had contracts that were a couple of years long and a lot of them are coming up,” Khan said. “I have really tried hard to be very considerate of the people on the roster, especially going through the pandemic. That encompassed a long period of time where we were still in our first year of television and going into our second.”

Wrestlers Kept Under Contract During The Pandemic

Khan said he didn’t want to release anyone during the pandemic. He says this was because he knew it would be difficult for them to get work elsewhere during that time.

“I kept a lot of people under contract even though I wasn’t necessarily using them on television because I wanted them to still have paying work, which was hard to come by for wrestling during the pandemic where there weren’t any independent shows. Really only two places were running and the other place was cutting people left and right.”

Several new names have joined the promotion lately. This has led to others on the roster not being utilized as frequently. Ultimately, those not being utilized may not have their contracts renewed by the promotion.

“I did want to give some job security to people,” Khan continued.”Now with so many wrestlers coming in, I can’t renew all the contracts. I’ve had to make some tough choices based on ability, fan response, or both. I try to maintain the best roster I can for the company and fans.”

Lio Rush’s contract with AEW runs out on February 14th and he has announced he will be a free agent after. Peter Avalon’s contract was not renewed. Big Swole’s contract was also not renewed. Others that have been talked about as possibly not getting renewed include Brian Cage and Joey Janela, though that is just speculation.

Ric Flair Hopes Shane McMahon Leaving WWE is a Work

Michael Reichlin
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WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair believes Shane McMahon’s departure from WWE is legitimate and not part of a wrestling storyline.

The Nature Boy spoke about Shane’s falling out with WWE on the latest episode of his Wooooo Nation podcast.

Shane McMahon’s surprise return at the Royal Rumble was short-lived. There were plans for Shane to be part of WWE storylines through WrestleMania, but all of that was scrapped after he exhibited what many observers called unprofessional behavior backstage at the Rumble event.

Ric Flair says he’s very fond of the entire McMahon family and thinks the whole situation is very unfortunate.

“I like Shane McMahon as a person, he has always been great to me my whole life,” said Flair. “Of course, I do not have enough good things to say about Vince. It’s a very uncomfortable topic and situation for me to discuss because I just do not know enough about it.”

When asked if WWE sending Shane McMahon home was a work, Flair says he hopes so, but he doubts it.

“No, but I really do not see Shane being put through this brief period of humiliation for it to be something that’s not real either,” he continued. “If your family is as closely knit as they are, why would you let that be the top subject in WWE news for two weeks? I hope it’s a work.”

Flair added that he does not expect Shane McMahon to join All Elite Wrestling (AEW), despite speculation that he could be the mystery surprise advertised for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

Listen to the latest episode of Ric Flair’s Wooooo Nation podcast here:

Tony Khan Has More Exciting Things Planned For Dynamite

Chris Stephens
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Tony Khan believes that tonight’s AEW Dynamite will satisfy a lot of fans. He was a guest on today’s episode of Busted Open Radio and noted that he’s changed course from what he had originally planned and believes he’s made the show even better.

“I am going to try to satisfy a lot of fans tonight, I had a lot of thoughts over the weekend on what that means. I pivoted some plans in the last few days in a good way to make tonight’s show even better,” Khan said to Busted Open.

Perhaps the most notable part of the show being promoted is the debut of a new signing. The new signee will face Isiah Kassidy in a qualifying match for the Face of the Revolution ladder match. Khan said that the new signing is a “major one” for the company.

The new signing is only one aspect of the show that Khan believes will satisfy fans, however. Some of those things have not been announced yet.

“There’s a lot of fun things already announced & then there’s more things we’re gonna do that we have not announced yet,” Khan continued to say about tonight’s broadcast.

He wouldn’t go into detail regarding what those “fun things” are, however.

“I don’t want to get too specific to say exactly what’s going to happen, but it’s going to be a great night for the fans. I promise there’s definitely one surprise, and I think there’ll be some other really fun stuff along the way too,” Khan said.

“It’s because I listen to the fans and their voice and what they want to see. There’s a lot to look forward to on this show,” Khan continued..

Tony Khan Says This Won’t Be A “Higher Power” Moment

Vince McMahon Higher Power

In reference to the infamous “Higher Power” angle from the Attitude Era, Tony Khan said tonight’s surprise will not disappoint the fans.

“I remember when I was a kid and the higher power turned out to be Vince, that was very disappointing because at school we had spent so much time speculating who it might be & I think our big fear is that it was just going to be Vince. So I don’t want that to happen here,” Tony Khan said to PW Insider.

AEW Dynamite 2/9

AEW has only announced two matches for tonight’s show. In addition to the new signing facing Isiah Kassidy, the world title will be on the line in a Texas Deathmatch between champion Hangman Page and challenger, Lance Archer. Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle are also scheduled to have something of a team meeting as well.

H/T to F4WOnline and @WrestlePurists for the above transcriptions

Joey Janela Updates His AEW Contract Status

Chris Stephens
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Joey Janela’s contract with AEW runs through April 30th. Despite rumors that Janela will not be re-signed by the company, the Bad Boy is hopeful to remain All Elite.

Janela appeared on Barstool’s Rasslin podcast this week and told Brandon Walker, “4/30 my contract is up, April 30th, I don’t know what the f**k is going on.”

When asked if he thinks AEW will renew contract, Janela is keeping an optimistic outlook. “I think it will,” said Janela. “If it doesn’t I look like a f**king idiot right now.”

Janela has been with AEW since January 2019. Tonight’s AEW Dynamite takes place from his hometown of Atlantic City, so it will be interesting to see if and how he’s used.

Joey Janela on The WRLD on GCW

Janela also addressed GCW’s PPV from The Hammerstein Ballroom, the WRLD On GCW. He was defeated by Matt Cardona on the show.

GCW’s first pay-per-view was plagued by timing issues. Several of the top matches were rushed due to poor planning. The main event featuring the Briscoes taking on Matt Tremont and Nick Gage was cut to under 6 minutes.

“I don’t think the show was timed correctly,” Janela said. “I don’t think they added in the time for the video packages and stuff.”

“We had to be off at 11 but that’s been the problem when people first start doing the PPV thing. Barely Legal, All In, it’s just a part of history now. We are just in that realm of rushing to the finish line.”

Joey Janela’s full appearance on Rasslin’ can be viewed below.

If you use any of the above transcriptions please credit Rasslin’ with Brandon Walker with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcriptions.

Candy Floss Departs NXT UK After Contract Expires

Chris Stephens
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NXT UK’s Candy Floss is no longer a member of the roster. She posted to social media recently to state that her contract with WWE has now expired. Candy Floss has not wrestled since 2019. Her statement is below.

“In May 2019, I lost my mum to cancer. Then in January 2020 I signed with NXT UK,” she began her statement (grammatically edits have been made.).

“Unfortunately, my dream career with WWE got put on hold when, during the pandemic, I was diagnosed with severe PTSD and anxiety because of the trauma I experienced witnessing my favourite person, my mum, fight for her life. I decided I needed to put my mental health first and WWE couldn’t have been more supportive. In December 2021, my contract with WWE expired. It is very sad for me as I wish my journey with WWE didn’t have to end like this as I’ve worked so hard to get signed. I just want to say thank you to WWE for dealing with me so well as I know it’s not an easy situation, I’m very grateful for it all.”

“From fighting in the ring nearly every day, I found myself being in the biggest fight with my mental health. On a positive note, I am doing so much better! My dream isn’t over, life just decided to be very unfair (not so sweet) towards me. Hopefully, I will be back in the ring again sometime soon and hurt my 90-year-old back again.”

“Thank you to everybody for supporting me!”

Floss announced last summer that she was on leave from the company. The 22-year-old was trained by the Progress Wrestling Dojo before signing with WWE.

WWE Experimenting With Cameramen Standing In The Ring During Matches

Chris Stephens
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During last night’s WWE NXT 2.0, there were times when a camera operator was standing directly in the ring during a match. The performers would work around them as they wrestled. According to a report from PW Insider, this is something the company is experimenting with.

“Several readers who are at tonight’s WWE NXT taping have sent word (and photos) of a WWE camera operator entering and standing inside the ring while talents are wrestling with the talents working around the camera,” wrote Mike Johnson.

It was noted that this took place during the match featuring The Creed Brothers and the Grizzled Young Veterans as well as during other matches.

WWE’s production has been criticized by fans for frequent camera cuts during matches that make the show feel overly produced.

WWE NXT 2.0 2/8 Results

Last night’s episode of NXT 2.0 was the go-home show for next week’s Vengeance Day. Mandy Rose defended the NXT Women’s Championship, 2 Dusty Rhodes Classic semi-finals matches took place, and Tiffany Stratton’s father’s credit card was on the line when she faced Wendy Choo.

WWE NXT Results (2/8): Ziggler Shows Up, Women’s Title Bout, Dusty Rhodes Classic

Quick Results:

  1. Creed Brothers def. Grizzled Young Veterans
  2. Tiffany Stratton def. Wendy Choo.
  3. Pete Dunne def. Draco Anthony.
  4. LA Knight def. Sanga.
  5. Sarray def. Dakota Kai.
  6. MSK def. Blade/Enofe
  7. Mandy Rose def. Kay Lee Ray to retain NXT Women’s Title

WWE NXT Results (2/8): Ziggler Shows Up, Women’s Title Bout, Dusty Rhodes Classic

Andrew Ravens
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The February 8, 2022 episode of WWE NXT aired live on Syfy from Orlando, Florida at the Capitol Wrestling Center. 

WWE NXT Results 

  • Creed Brothers def. Grizzled Young Veterans
  • Tiffany Stratton def. Wendy Choo.
  • Pete Dunne def. Draco Anthony.
  • LA Knight def. Sanga.
  • Sarray def. Dakota Kai.
  • MSK def. Blade/Enofe
  • Mandy Rose def. Kay Lee Ray to retain NXT Women’s Title

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Sarray vs. Dakota Kai

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Sarray vs. Dakota Kai was set up when Sarray returned with a new look and a new attitude.

 Last week, Kai confronted Sarray, who dedicated her first win to her grandmother. Kai said she didn’t care about Sarray’s lineage and stated that the sun will always set, no matter the changes.

The match was decent with Sarray going over with her finisher. 

LA Knight vs. Sanga

2 nxt

LA Knight vs. Sanga in a singles match took place. Grayson Waller and Knight have been feuding for several weeks as Waller attacked him in a parking lot once. 

The match saw Knight fight from underneath. After Waller took off the turnbuckle padding, Knight sent Sanga into it then hit a neck breaker for the win. Post-match, Waller tried to attack Knight, but Knight laid him out with his finisher. 

Women’s Title Bout

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NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defended her title against Kay Lee Ray on this show. 

Last week, Ray appeared to kidnap Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne before throwing cake and spaghetti on Rose. She threatened her with a baseball bat until she agreed to a title match on this show. 

The match was saved for the main event. Ray hit an outside dive early in the match. They went back and forth and did some near falls near the finish. There was some outside interference by Dolin and Jayne. Rose hit her finisher for the win. Post-match, Io Shirai ran out to make the save for Ray. 

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1491246150808215553

Dusty Tag Classic Match #1

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MSK vs. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe in the semi-finals of the Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. 

The match was short as it was the co-main event and they just did a bunch of spots. MSK went over when they hit their finisher. 

Dusty Tag Classic Match #2

6 NXT

The Creed Brothers vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans in the semi-finals of the Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. 

The match opened the show. At one point, Brutus was sent throat first into the steel part of the ring frame and he sold his throat. The Creed Brothers made a comeback only for GTV hitting an outside dive then a doomsday device for a near fall. The Creed Brothers hit their tag team finisher for the win. 

As a result, they will now face MSK in the finals of the tournament. 

Let’s Meet

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Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar met for a “Championship Summit” segment to hype their NXT Title match on next week’s Vengeance Day episode. 

Bron said that he respects Santos, but he’s going to beat him and there’s nothing Santos can do about it. Bron wanted to fight right then. Santos said he doesn’t expect anything less from someone so new. Santos said he’s pulling all the strings and he has everything under control. Santos said he will put an end to Bron’s career before it starts. 

Dolph Ziggler came out to the ring and said what a night, what a moment with these two wanting to fight until he showed up. He congratulated Bron for knowing how to use Twitter. Dolph said that he works Tuesday’s now with a bonus. He said that he’s not paid by the hour and asked who Bron was. Bron said he’s the champ and would handle Dolph after he’s done with Santos. Dolph said that’s what a rookie would do. Dolph rattled off his accomplishments, but is missing one title and that’s the NXT Championship. He said that he’s in the head of Bron. 

Tommaso Ciampa came out and said what a moment it was for Ziggler to be in NXT. He said Dolph as the NXT Champion is a hard pass. Santos said once he becomes champ then he will handle Ciampa and Ziggler. Dolph said that Ciampa thinks NXT is his home and wants to know when it ends. Ciampa kicked him in the face and cleared the ring. They brawled to the backstage area. Legado Del Fantasma jumped Bron and put him through a table. 

Mandy Rose Retains WWE NXT Women’s Title Over Kay Lee Rae

Andrew Ravens
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Mandy Rose put the WWE NXT Women’s Championship on the line during Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0 against Kay Lee Ray. 

The match took place in the main event with it airing commercial free. Ray got the hot start including an outside dive. Back in the ring, Rose took over as she hit a spinebuster before slowing down the pace. Ray fought back and went for a powerbomb, but Rose rolled through for a near fall. There was some outside interference by Dolin and Jayne, which led to Rose hitting her big boot finisher for the win. 

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1491246150808215553

On last week’s NXT, Ray terrorized Rose throughout the show until Rose would finally agree to give her a title match.  It took for Kay Lee Ray to kidnap Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne along with dumping food onto Rose for it to happen, but here we were. 

Rose defeated Gonzalez to win the NXT Women’s Championship at Halloween Havoc with the help of Dakota Kai.

Ray signed with WWE NXT UK in 2019. She had been the NXT UK Women’s Champion for nearly two years, but dropped the title in her most recent match on June 10th to Meiko Satomura.

What are your thoughts on Mandy Rose retaining the NXT Women’s Title? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

Vickie Guerrero Explains Her Delayed Spot In 2005 WWE SummerSlam Ladder Match

Andrew Ravens
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Vickie Guerrero addressed her involvement in the 2005 SummerSlam Ladder Match between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. 

Around this time, the two stars had a rivalry that was very memorable. It came to an end at this show and both Eddie’s and Rey’s families were utilized in the story. This started the beginning of Vickie’s time as a character on WWE television.

Near the end of the match, there was a spot where Eddie crashed down to the mat and he could be heard yelling where is Vickie. She would eventually help Rey win the ladder match. 

Vickie told a fan on Twitter that she did not miss her cue for the spot. Instead, she was told not to go out yet because it was not safe for her to push over the ladder as Rey was under it at the time. 

“Hey genius…I didn’t miss my cue….Rey was under the ladder and it was not safe for me to run and push the ladder…I was told to wait until Rey was out of the way. #stayinyourlane.”

Vickie would later become a heel on WWE TV through various roles such as a GM and manager. She is currently managing Nyla Rose in AEW. 

WWE Scouting Talent During Bout at the Ballpark

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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WWE officials will be on hand for Bout at the Ballpark, an event showcasing top amateur wrestlers from NCAA. International athletes will also be in action.

Bout at the Ballpark will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 12.

WWE’s Talent Watch

In a statement, WWE discussed its presence at Bout at the Ballpark.

“The best wrestlers in the world and perhaps even future WWE Superstars will be on display when the Bout at the Ballpark heads to Arlington, Texas this Saturday.

“A unique wrestling showcase featuring the top teams in both NCAA and international competition has been scheduled for Globe Life Field on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

Bout at the Ballpark which will include dual matches between Oklahoma State University, the University of Iowa and the United States senior national team and a team of International All-Stars, and a major women’s international freestyle dual meet and a featured international Greco-Roman bout between the United States and Mongolia. Oklahoma State wrestling is the home of defending 197 lbs. NCAA champion and member of WWE’s Next In Line inaugural class, AJ Ferrari.”

AJ Ferrari
AJ Ferrari (Photo: WWE)

As mentioned in the statement, AJ Ferrari, who is a part of WWE’s NIL program will be featured at the showcase. It’ll be interesting to see if someone else from the event will be able to follow in Ferrari’s footsteps.

WWE was able to snag Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. The company has been placing an emphasis on younger and bigger talent, so their trip to Bout at the Ballpark isn’t a surprise.

Kyle O’Riley Praises Shawn Michaels’ Role as NXT Coach

Tyriece Simon
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Kyle O’Riley credits WWE legend Shawn Michaels for teaching him how to structure a main event wrestling match.

Before his departure for All Elite Wrestling, O’Riley had singles run as a main event talent in NXT. At the time, the WWE wanted to give him a push while his partner Bobby Fish dealt with an injury. NXT had him feud against his former Undisputed Era leader Adam Cole and Finn Balor.

O’Riley had experience as a singles wrestler in other promotions, like Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. However, he thanks Michaels for learning new skills on how to compete in the main event. On the All Elite Wrestling Unrestricted Podcast the new signee explained how the legend help him.

“I learned alot about structuring like a main event match and you know there’s that age old adage of pro wrestling listen to the people, listen to the people, ane never really got what the meant,” said O’Riley.

He continued, “…Shawn really kind of taught us just to instead of going up and down with the crowd reaction you try and just keep it at a level. So like on a double down just don’t move and like until they start to die and, then you can move and, then you can bring them back up and, it’s just little things like that you don’t really think of and, it’s really hard to learn on your own until someone just kind of explains it to you and, then a light bulb goes off and just helps take your game to next level.”

Shawn Michaels Current Role in NXT

O’Riley isn’t the only former NXT talent to praise Michaels for his help. Adam Cole and Johnny Garagno have also credited the WWE legend for his coaching and appreciates their time working with him.

While NXT has changed to NXT 2.0, he continues to work closely with younger talent to succeed. His job as a coach helped Michaels get promoted to NXT 2.0 Vice President of Talent Development.

Kyle O’Riley in AEW

Kyle O'Relly Adam Cole Bobby Fish
Kyle O’Relly, Adam Cole & Bobby Fish

O’Riley signed with AEW on Dec. 22, 2021, but he still is thankful for his time in NXT. In the interview, he didn’t share any ill will to his former employer.

In AEW, he’s reformed ReDragon with Bobby Fish and hope to become AEW Tag Team Champions. Although he is back in a tag team, it’s still possible to see O’Riley compete in one on one matches.

It’s unclear if AEW fans will see him compete in the main event as a singles star.

Chris Masters Shares Theory On Why John Cena Had Beef With Him

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Chris Masters believes he knows why John Cena didn’t take too kindly to him.

At one time, it appeared WWE strapped a rocketship to Masters’ back. He was given a push on WWE TV, riding an undefeated streak. WWE put over his Master Lock finisher as a move that was nearly impossible to get out of.

After being around the main event scene for a brief time, Masters’ soon found himself demoted. He violated WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy twice and never regained success.

Beef With Cena Explained?

Reports have surfaced over the years claiming that John Cena, one of WWE’s biggest stars, never took a liking to Chris Masters. It’s a report that Masters himself has confirmed.

Appearing on Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling, Masters shared his theory on why he and Cena never clicked (h/t 411 Mania).

“I just don’t think John was too big on working with me at the time. I think it was just a little more difficult for us to have good matches with each other. I think it was just that Shawn was easy to have matches with, but Shawn had so much experience too.

“With Cena and me, we never got a good rhythm in terms of our working. That was probably my fault, but it’s hard to say for sure. I just remember that there were some times where Cena had voiced displeasure in my work.

“It was difficult because I was working with HBK and Cena. Shawn even stuck up for me a few times saying that he didn’t have any problem working with me, and he said it out loud, which was appreciated. It’s just, I think that I had some issues too, around that time.

“So maybe that contributed to some of that, who knows for sure, but for whatever reason, I just felt like Cena just didn’t take too much pleasure working with me and maybe he felt like I didn’t give him enough of a chance, so I don’t know. I don’t know the specifics. It’s been such a long time.”

These days, Cena is a Hollywood star. He’s a shoo-in to become a WWE Hall of Famer in the future.

Masters was never able to become a breakthrough star in the industry after his WWE run. He has done some work for NWA more recently, however.

Powerhouse Hobbs Received Key Advice From Mark Henry

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Powerhouse Hobbs has received valuable guidance from a Hall of Fame big man.

Hobbs is currently a member of Team Taz. Many have high hopes for Powerhouse and believe he can one day make a bid for the main event scene. He certainly has his supporters and one of them is Mark Henry.

Piece Of Advice

Powerhouse Hobbs
Powerhouse Hobbs (Photo: AEW)

Powerhouse Hobbs appeared as a guest on Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday and discussed who have been his biggest supporters in AEW.

“From the very first time I debuted on AEW until now, I’ve completely done a 180. Everything has changed. Cody Rhodes is a big influence on me. Mark Henry, that’s my wrestling dad.

“I have him on my phone as ‘Dad.’ FTR, Arn Anderson, Dustin Rhodes, obviously Taz, Billy Gunn. There are so many people that influence me, daily. There are so many people I can call and get advice from. It’s not just one.”

Hobbs then went on to reveal the key piece of advice given to him by Mark Henry.

“He let me know, like, ‘Hey, you need to change up the way you look. Stop eating carbs after 5 o’clock.’ Since then, my body has like, switched.”

Mark also works in AEW but he isn’t mixing it up inside the ring. He is known for his backstage interviews on Rampage these days but he also works behind the scenes.

H/T (transcription): ewrestlingnews

Titus O’Neil Makes History With Oscar Nominations Announcement

Tyriece Simon
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WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil (Thaddeus Bullard) and his middle school have made Academy Awards (Oscars) history.

On Tuesday, O’Neil appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America to reveal the nominees for the Best Animated Feature. The announcement was made live from the Thaddeus M. Bullard Academy at Sligh Middle Magnet School in Tampa, Florida. This was the first time Academy Award nominees were announced from a middle school.

“Today we not only got to celebrate the best in cinema, but we got to celebrate diversity and the first black producer in Oscar history,” Bullard said. “Our foundation is about providing opportunities to youths in our most struggling neighborhoods to inspire them and to show them that anything is possible.”

He added, “We continue to try to bring opportunities to these kids to level the playing field and expand their minds far beyond their circumstances. I can’t thank Will Packer and the Academy enough for this amazing opportunity for exposure which will surely lead to expansion for so many of these kids and families.”

The 94th Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 27, 2022.

Titus O’Neil: WWE Global Ambassador

Although O’Neil isn’t wrestling for the company consistently, he has contributed greatly as the WWE Global Ambassador. His employers has allowed O’Neil to help with their charity programs like Be A Star. However, he also continues work on his own charities and help his community in Tampa, Bay, Florida.

On Jul. 17, 2020, he was a named a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award. While he wasn’t the winner, the WWE honored him with the Warrior Award at the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame.

O’Neil continues to expand his legacy outside of wrestling for WWE. While his in-ring career may be over, he has accomplished great things as the company’s Global Ambassador.

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