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Jungle Boy To Challenge Darby Allin For The TNT Title On AEW Dynamite

Alex Laybourne
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In the aftermath of AEW Dynamite pulling in 1.2 million views this past week, TNT Champion took to social media to call out his boss, Tony Khan.

Allin told Khan to pick a Top 5 contender to be the next challenger. That list includes a who’s who of AEW’s deep roster: Hangman Page, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Jungle Boy, former TNT Champion Cody Rhodes and Powerhouse Hobbs of Team Taz.

AEW has since announced that TK selected Jungle Boy the #1 contender to the TNT Championship. The undefeated member of Jurassic Express will get his chance to make history next week. This will be an exciting contest between two of the top young babyfaces in All Elite Wrestling.

Jungle Boy commented on the news of his upcoming opportunity. The 23-year-old is grateful for the chance to win his first championship gold on the big stage.

Darby Allin as TNT Champion

Darby Allin is one of the most exciting figures on AEW right now. His bond with Sting has been entertaining and fitting given his character. The best part about it was that it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t done to push him into main even status, it was done because they were a good fit, and that always makes more compelling television.

His run to the TNT title was the reward for a job well done. Putting aside the tragedy of Brodie Lee, Darby earned his title shot and took the chance he was given.

Since then, he has never backed down from a challenge putting on some memorable matches along the way. His recent match with John Silver – who has a big future with the company – being just one example.

Titles shouldn’t change hands every few weeks. A champion should be the best man in the company at that time. Their reign should reflect the reward for their work. With only two singles titles in the organization, it doesn’t make sense to dilute either of them with short runs. The odd surprise here and there makes for entertaining viewing, but on the whole, strong champions make for strong titles. As it stands, it doesn’t look as if Darby will be dropping the belt any time soon.

Yes, he is closing in on a six-month reign, but with Omega being the true heel, and following the more traditional route of only defending his championship at specific, grand occasions, it makes sense to keep the TNT belt active and around the waist of a wrestler who gives his all every single match and can take a beating like nobody else on the roster.

Six-Year-Old Kid Cuts a Killer Promo on Hulk Hogan

Alex Laybourne
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It was January 1984 when Hulk Hogan pinned The Iron Sheik in front of a packed Madison Square Garden that Hulkamania was born. In that match, Hogan became the first man to ever escape the dreaded Camel Clutch and captured his first title in what is now WWE. That match, that victory changed the course of wrestling forever.

Love him or hate, Hulk Hogan changed wrestling back in the 1980’s and apparently he is still changing the lives of wrestling fans today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNflaw_BCG7/

That kid is only six years old. That means his parents were most likely his age or younger when Hulk Hogan burst onto the scene and started the groundswell that we still talk about today. That speaks volumes about the longevity of the Hulkster.

While many will criticise this spot as being rehearsed, well, welcome to the world of professional wrestling. It still goes a long way to show how important fan interaction.

Hulk Hogan Will Always be a Controversial Wrestling Figure

Hulk Hogan remains one of the more polarizing figures in the wrestling industry. Revered by some as a pioneer and ridiculed by others in the wake of his recent public trials and tribulations. His recent appearance at Wrestlemania 37 certainly caused very mixed reactions.

Putting all of those aside, he rightly holds the status as a living legend. It’s a joy to see Hulkamania still capturing the hearts and minds of wrestling fans today.

Hogan’s appearances on WWE have been sporadic in recent years. Yet he remains an active voice in the world of professional wrestling. His history with the company means he will always carry WWE association and help grow the WWE brand.

WWE SmackDown Results (4/16): WrestleMania Fallout, Roman Reigns & Cesaro

Robert Lentini
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WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome. It was the first episode of SmackDown following WrestleMania 37. Pat McAfee made his debut on commentary with Michael Cole. Cesaro faced Jey Uso in the main event of this week’s edition of SmackDown.

SmackDown Results (4/16)

  1. Rey Mysterio def. Otis
  2. Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn
  3. Ziggler & Roode def. Street Profits to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
  4. Natalya def. Shayna Baszler
  5. Cesaro def. Jey Uso via DQ

Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode of SmackDown:

Roman Reigns Ignored Cesaro

Universal Champion Roman Reigns kicked off the show and made his way to the ring with Jey Uso and Paul Heyman. Roman Reigns said he called his shot and walked out of WrestleMania as the Universal Champion. Reigns pointed to his shirt that read “acknowledge me” and claimed that nobody in WWE wants to face him now.

Reigns boasted about defeating two HOFers at WrestleMania and that he has fulfilled his obligation and it was time to head to the jet. Cesaro interrupted and joined Reigns in the ring. Universal Champion Roman Reigns left with Heyman and Jey and Cesaro stood alone in the ring. Cesaro threw the microphone out of the ring to end the segment.

Cesaro asked for a match against Roman Reigns and Adam Pearce was about to make it official but Sonya Deville interrupted. Sonya said she will go talk to Reigns to see if he wants the match. Paul Heyman was later interviewed by Kayla Braxton. Heyman said Cesaro isn’t an attraction, he is a joke and stated that he will face Jey Uso in the main event.

Rey Mysterio Picked Up A Win

Otis faced Rey Mysterio tonight. Chad Gable and Dominik Mysterio were ringside for the match. Otis dominated early and slammed Rey to the canvas. Rey battled back with a Senton off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall. Otis caught Rey in midair and planted him with a Powerslam.

Otis went for a Splash off the middle rope but Rey got out of the way. Mysterio tripped up Otis and hit the 619. Rey climbed to the top rope and leaped onto Otis. Rey then rolled him up for the pinfall victory.

Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn marched to the ring and claimed he got screwed over at WrestleMania. Sami noted that Logan Paul was his guest of honor and was supposed to help with the documentary to expose the grand conspiracy. Zayn claimed Logan’s mind was poisoned by Kevin Owens and everyone in the WWE Universe.

Zayn said he was distracted by wondering what Logan Paul was thinking and that is way Kevin Owens was able to beat him at WrestleMania. Kevin Owens interrupted as SmackDown went to a break. Sami and Owens battled in a singles match when SmackDown returned.

Owens dominated early and unloaded several punches to Zayn’s face. Kevin Owens hit Sami with a Swanton and went for the cover but Zayn kicked out of two. Zayn rolled out of the ring and crawled up the entrance ramp but Kevin brought him back down to the ring. Kevin hit a Neckbreaker for another near fall. Owens went for the Stunner but Sami rolled out of the ring. The match ended in a countout and Owens brought Sami back to the ring. Owens hit a few right hands and followed it up with a Stunner to Zayn.

Bianca Belair Celebrated Her Title Win

Street Profits came to the ring with balloons in the corners. They vowed to take the titles from Roode & Ziggler tonight and brought up Bianca Belair defeating Sasha Banks in the main event of WrestleMania. Montez Ford then introduced SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair as the greatest part of his life.

Bianca Belair delivered a motivation speech about chasing your dreams and her victory was for all the little girls around the world. Sasha Banks was then interviewed backstage and showed the mark left on her by Belair’s hair whip. Sasha got pissed off and walked away to end the segment. Bayley was then interviewed backstage and vowed to restore dignity to the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Roode & Ziggler Retained The SD Tag Titles

Street Profits then battled Roode & Ziggler for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Street Profits controlled the action early and isolate Ziggler in the corner. Angelo Dawkins hit a Spinebuster and Ford sent Ziggler out of the ring.

Dawkins hit Roode with a Splash and followed it up with a Bulldog. Angelo connected with a massive shoulder tackle on Roode as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Roode connected with a Spinebuster and tagged in Ziggler.

Dolph hit Dawkins with a Neckbreaker for a near fall and Montez tagged in. Ford hit Ziggler with a Clothesline and followed it up with a Standing Moonsault to Roode for a two count. Ziggler tagged in but Montez didn’t see it. Ziggler snuck up behind Ford and hit the Zig Zag for the pinfall victory. Ziggler and Roode are still the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.

Natalya Easily Defeated Shayna Baszler

Natalya faced Shayna Baszler tonight on SmackDown. Nia Jax and Tamina were ringside for the match. Natalya went for the Sharpshooter right away but Shayna rolled out of the ring. Nia and Tamina started trash talking as Shayna got back into the ring.

Shayna brought Natalya down to the canvas but Natalya was able to break free. Shayna connected with a knee to the face and went for the cover but Natalya kicked out at two. Natalya went for the Sharpshooter but Nia hopped on the apron for a distraction. Natalya shoved Shayna towards and Baszler stopped herself. Natalya capitalized with a roll-up for the victory.

Seth Rollins Attacked Cesaro

Jey Uso squared off against Cesaro in this week’s main event. Uso went for a Crossbody but Cesaro countered into a Backbreaker to start off the action. Jey rolled to the apron and Cesaro followed him. Cesaro bounced Jey’s face off the top turnbuckle a couple times and then booted him to the floor outside the ring. Jey caught Cesaro with a Superkick as SmackDown went to a break.

Jey climbed to the top rope but Cesaro tripped him. Cesaro went for a Superplex but Jey blocked it. Cesaro connected with an uppercut and followed it up with a Gutwrench Suplex off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall.

Cesaro hit an awesome springboard uppercut for another two count. Jey and Cesaro started trading punches in the middle of the ring. Cesaro leveled Jey with a Clothesline and went for the cover but Jey kicked out at two. Cesaro then hit Jey with the Swing but Seth Rollins interfered. Seth attacked Cesaro from behind and the match ended in a DQ.

Opinion: I’m fine with the feud with Rollins continuing and am looking forward to Cesaro eventually facing Roman Reigns. I was looking forward to both RAW and SmackDown this week and unfortunately they both were forgettable shows following WrestleMania.

Logan Paul Talks Wrestlemania Moments and Lays Down a Challenge for Kevin Owens

Alex Laybourne
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Logan Paul is a rather polarizing figure. The internet personality has a great many fans and an equal number of haters. Yet that didn’t stop him from making the most out of his WWE appearance at Wrestlemania 37.

While everybody can agree, Bad Bunny was by far the best celebrity wrestler in WWE, with an argument possible for his performance being second to Banks and Belair on night one. That said, Paul showed up, played his own character well and ate a stunner from Owens drawing praise for how he sold the move.

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

When talking on his podcast IMPAULSIVE, Paul admitted there wasn’t much to sell when it came to the move.

“Sold? Like, I actually, I actually got f*cked up” he commented before going on to quash the naysayers claims that wrestling is always fake.

Paul then went on to lay jokingly lay down a challenge for Kevin Owens “Maybe one day I will get my revenge on you, Kevin Owens, I’m coming for you.”

Logan Paul Had the Time of His Life at Wrestlemania

Logan Paul also admitted that he had the time of his life at the grandest show of them all. He added that he couldn’t stop smiling once he was backstage after the Kevin Owens – Sami Zayn match.

The comments from the loudmouthed celebrity cast a positive light on professional wrestling. If his words were anything to go by, he came away with a more appreciative understanding of what professional wrestling is all about.

Paul is still planning on having his exhibition boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather at some point in 2021. However, speculation could linger about whether we could see Kevin Owens vs Logan Paul at Wrestlemania 38.

A Double Dose of Positivity For AEW Dynamite Crowds and Venues

Alex Laybourne
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Welcome to Daily’s Place, home of the Jags … and AEW Dynamite. Ever since the pandemic struck, AEW has been running their promotion from Daily’s Place. The stadium is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL team owned by the Khan family. This has proven to be a reliable and stable home for AEW, who tape three shows there each week.

For the past few months AEW have slowly reintroduced crowds into the stadium, and news of a sold out Machine Gun Kelly concert being held there on April 23rd can surely be a sign that AEW could soon see the return of capacity crowds to its wrestling events too, perhaps even for the upcoming Blood and Guts match on May 5th. Interesting that they don’t even mention limited places.

It starts a double hit of positive news for AEW fans, with speculation also rife that the promotion will look to move away from Daily’s Place and take AEW Dynamite back onto the road. With previously planned shows for both Houston and Milwaukee still on the cards, albeit for dates in August as opposed to the original June and July dates.

Could We See AEW Dynamite Back on the Road?

The fact that they were rescheduled rather than postponed indefinitely shows that while it may not necessarily be imminent, the future is looking positive for AEW Dynamite to get back out on the open road. Dave Meltzer is even speculating that All Out could be held in Chicago later this year. Of course, that is dependent on all things pandemic related going according to plan.

If that’s the case it won’t be long before it’s not only Sammy carrying signs around the arena

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNawdd9pXVq/

It will be interesting to see how this will impact the AEW Dynamite and its two Dark counterparts. Throw in the possibility of house shows too, and it is easy to see how AEW can take the great momentum they have and really ramp up the pressure on their rivals.

Top WWE Executive Reportedly “Didn’t Get” Billie Kay

Andrew Ravens
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Billie Kay was among 10 wrestlers to be released by WWE on Thursday. 

Fans may have noticed that WWE’s Executive Producer & Chief of Global Television Distribution Kevin Dunn was trending on social media and it’s due to a recent report about Kay’s WWE release.

Fightful Select reported that Dunn “didn’t get” Kay and had verbalized that he saw a ceiling for her in the company. It’s unclear as to how that contributed to the release. 

Her release was said to be a surprise to many people in WWE as she was recently used on TV in addition to her being loved in the locker room among talents as was Peyton Royce, who also got cut.

Kay’s most recent match came when she wrestled for WWE in the Tag Team Turmoil match as she teamed up with Carmella on Night One of WrestleMania 37. She signed with the company back in April 2015.

Kay, Royce, Samoa Joe, Mickie James, Mojo Rawley, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Wesley Blake, Kalisto, and Bo Dallas were let go by the company. They’re currently under a standard 90-day non-compete clause with WWE, which prevents them from having the freedom to sign with other promotions until Wednesday, July 14.

Paige Still Hopeful She Will Wrestle For WWE Again

Alex Laybourne
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When she first burst onto the scene as a 21-year-old, former WWE superstar Paige seemed destined for a glittering career. The women’s division was about the enter its revolution and Paige was the woman leading the charge. Then, tragedy struck in 2016 when she suffered a neck injury that saw her miss almost 18 months of action.

A short-lived return of less than a month resulted in a second injury that saw her call time on her career at just 25 years old.

If history has taught us anything, it is that injuries heal, and with both Daniel Bryan and Edge make successful comebacks after what were originally career ending injuries.

In a recent episode of Renee Paquette’s Oral Sessions podcast, Paige addressed the question of whether she could be the next name on the list of superstars to make a return.

Paige Has Wrestling in her DNA

Paige said she gets chills watching wrestlers like Edge and Daniel Bryan compete for WWE after neck and brain injuries kept them out of action for several years.

She noted that Edge’s return, in particular, gives her hope, because Edge overcame a similar spinal injury that ended Paige’s career.

“I’d come back tomorrow if I could, but I’m always going to have in the back of my head, what if?” she said. “I might not be mentally ready to come back, but when I am, watch out world, you’re going to be in trouble.”

Paige comments were said with a smile, suggesting the response from the British superstar was rather tongue-in-cheek, but who knows. Wrestling is in Paige’s blood. She was born into a wrestling family, and certainly had a rather unique, wrestling-centric upbringing.

Even now, after being away from the ring for almost three years, she still posts regular images from her wrestling days. For someone like that, the need to perform, the passion that runs through their veins never dies, and for many fans, the prospect of hearing that scream and seeing Paige skip down the entrance ramp just got a whole lot more realistic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNYO0K6hGh0/

Mark Henry Plans To Wrestle Again This Year After Turning 50

Alex Laybourne
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WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry is considering a return to the ring. The World’s Strongest Man isn’t looking for a Goldberg style championship run, nor an awe-inspiring return like Edge. No, his reasons for wanting to get back into the squared circle are far simpler and more fitting for a man of his character and poise.

Henry turns 50 years old on June 12th. During a recent episode of Busted Open on Sirius XM, he revealed his desire to wrestle again after reaching this big milestone.

“I’ll be 50 years old, and I want to be able to say I wrestled after I was 50 and had a good match,” said Henry. “I wrestled in four decades, and that I was able to help somebody in the process or bring attention to somebody that nobody knew. So that’s the whole point in me doing it.”

You can listen to his comments in the player embedded below:

Mark Henry has been a great ambassador for the sport. It is only fitting that his desire to return is to not only prove a point to himself, but also to help the younger generation of superstars gain valuable in-ring experience.

Henry is now part of the management structure at SWE yet when asked if he would make his return for this promotion his response was somewhat coy.

“I’m kind of right now a WWE lifer but only God knows what the future holds.”

Could We See a Leaner Meaner Mark Henry?

Henry went on to say that he would love to have one more match with Randy Orton. Orton is a wrestler who many seem to think is the best star in WWE right now. There can be no denying that Henry has kept in shape since stepping away from the ring. Henry looks very trim if a recent Covid vaccination pose is anything to go by.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNHQo4huI1/

While this makes it sound like he would come back to help out Vince, you can’t help but think seeing Mark Henry square off against Paul Wight in an AEW ring would be a great thing to watch. If he happens to give MJF an Olympic slam along the way I’m sure nobody would object.

New Vignettes Point to a Character Change for the Returning Aleister Black

Alex Laybourne
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Aleister Black has not been seen in a WWE ring since August. In fact, he was drafted to Smackdown and has yet to make an appearance for the brand. The reason for his disappearance has never been disclosed, but it is believed to be the result of several niggling injuries that needed time to heal.

The break came at a good time with the storyline given to Black during his feud with Kevin Owens was rejected by fans and critics alike.

If the time away has helped the Dutchman heal up, then everybody on the Smackdown roster had better be prepared for his return, because surely has a little bit of frustration to work out.

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

According to sources, Black has recently been seen at the WWE performance centre and has started filming a series of vignettes teasing his return.  The videos are rumoured to be priming a new character direction for Black with their primary focus being on his ‘childhood’.

Black Has Yet to Reach His Full Potential in WWE

Fans are hoping a well-developed character story could signify a big push for the star who has been underutilized since his promotion to the main roster back in 2019. While it looks like he will be returning to Smackdown, an argument could be made for NXT being a better home. With his gritty edge and incredible skillset, the more eye-catching altercations would surely be on the black and gold brand.

Prior to Wrestlemania, an online spat began between Black and Murphy, with the pair seeming to be angling for a match at the greatest show of them all.

While it didn’t transpire, a returning feud could give them both a good platform to showcase their skills in the ring.

Ronda Rousey Plays it Cool on a WWE Return

Alex Laybourne
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It has been two years since we last saw Ronda Rousey in a WWE ring. The first woman to have held a UFC and WWE title belt burst onto the wrestling scene and seemed set to for a entertaining career inside the squared circle, before suddenly requesting time away just after Wrestlemania 35.

The reasons for her sudden withdrawal from the ring is often attributed to both her desire to start a family and the previously gruelling travel schedule that the WWE expect their stars to maintain.

Throw into the mix the nasty accident that Rousey suffered on the set of 9-1-1 that saw her almost lose a finger, and you can understand why it has been so long since she was last seen in a WWE ring.

Speculation on a return was further sparked this month when WWE President Nick Khan dropped strong hints that Ronda was ready to return during an interview with Colin Cowherd

While it has always been expected that she would return to the ring in due course, in a recent episode of Table Talk, Rousey seemed somewhat non-committal about her return. “I don’t know,” said Rousey. “When I feel like it … Eventually, when I feel like. I don’t know.”

Rousey’s Wrestling Future

During her time off, Rowdy Ronda Rousey has flip-flopped with regards to her wrestling career, moving from engaging with fellow wrestlers in a kayfabe war or words, to trashing her former employers. Whether it is all a play on character building or just the actions of a fight unclear on what they really want remains to be seen.

For fans of wrestling, the prospect of having Ronda back in WWE forming an alliance with her MMA four horsewoman buddies Marina Shafir, Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke would be interesting, to say the least. The story possibilities surround a faction like that are endless and if WWE wrote it well, could be reason enough to tempt Ronda back for one more WWE run.

Big Cass Talks Recovery, DDP, & Possible Return To WWE

Chris Stephens
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Big Cass, now known as CazXL, recently sat down for an interview with Chris Van Vliet. During the discussion, Cass talked about his recovery from alcohol addiction, time spent with Diamond Dallas Page, and his future in wrestling.

Cass opened up about the seriousness of his addition.

“It became a matter of life and death,” he said. “I had a few more seizures after the one in Philadelphia. It got to the point where I knew I was going to die. If I keep going down this path I’m gonna die. There was a point where maybe I didn’t even care about that, but for some reason at that point in time I did care. I was like I can’t die, I’ve got to do something about this. I could have easily given up, but some instinctual thing told me to keep going. The hardest thing to do is to reach out for help.”

He also spent some time discussing how DDP helped him on his road to recovery. He also revealed that he’s currently in a relationship with Page’s daughter, Lexy Nair.

“He helped a lot. He was one of the first people to give me a platform and encourage me to share what I was going through. If I didn’t do that then people can’t relate to it. That was a big first step was me admitting it. I think I admitted it in a promo backstage after I wrestled Jon Moxley. But the video that DDPY put out really got the word out to what I was going through. And it was through Dallas that I met my girlfriend [Lexy Nair, daughter of Dallas Page and AEW Backstage reporter].”

Big Cass On His Future In Wrestling

Cass has wrestled on a couple of shows for Lariato Pro, Doc Gallows’ promotion. He’s hopeful to sign on with a notable promotion now that he’s returned to the ring. When asked about possibly wrestling for AEW, here is what he had to say:

“I would love to go to AEW. I’d love to go back to WWE, go to AEW, IMPACT, New Japan, Ring of Honor, wherever. Those conversations with Gallows and Anderson have happened and it’s something I would love to do. But one day at a time is the way I take it, I don’t want to look too far into the future. If a phone call comes tonight that’s great, if it doesn’t come for another 3 – 4 months or a year, that’s fine too. I’m open to go anywhere and to have fun, and to make a name for myself.”

Cass was also asked if he thinks a return to WWE is possible for him.

“I do. I think with time and earning people’s trust, just as I have earned my family and friend’s trust. People have to see you doing well over a certain period of time.”

The full interview can be viewed in the player below:

Backstage Details On Mass WWE Releases

Chris Stephens
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For the second year in a row, WWE made roster cuts on April 15th. 10 wrestlers from RAW and Smackdown were released. In 2020, other cuts were made from NXT and developmental that were not initially announced to media or the public as well.

According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, all talent is being paid for the next 3 months up until July 14th.

“All talent released is being paid through 7/14 and will have a non-compete until that point,” wrote Dave Meltzer.

The report continued to say that there are some recently released wrestlers who will attempt to have the 90-day non-compete clause waived.

“There are people who have or are going to ask to see if that can be waived because they want to get on the market and back to work as soon as possible,” Meltzer continued.

It was also noted that Andrade managed to avoid sitting out for 90 days following his release recently.

After last year’s round of cuts, some wrestlers waiting out their 90 days actually came back to appear on WWE programming. Heath Slater worked a match and segment with Drew McIntyre after being released but before his 90 days were up and before debuting for Impact.

Pat McAfee Joins Smackdown Commentary Team

Chris Stephens
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Pat McAfee is the newest member of the commentary team on WWE Friday Night Smackdown. WWE announced today that McAfee, who was defeated by Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX, has been hired as a commentator.

“For as long as I can remember WWE has been a company that I have admired, both for its incredible staying power of creating riveting entertainment and for its ability to connect people all over the globe,” said McAfee. “I’ve been fortunate to try a lot of cool professions but working for WWE was the one I looked forward to most. I am incredibly honored and grateful for the chance to give back to the business that has given me and many others so much and having the opportunity to sit at the same table that legends have graced is truly a dream come true. Now let’s go get it.”

The Smackdown commentary team will be Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. The RAW team is now Adnan Virk, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton.

“Good morning beautiful people… TONIGHT a dream comes true. Thank you all so so much for following along with this dumb ass life I’ve been incredibly fortunate to live.. I’m grateful for it all.”

https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1383027420991750146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1383027420991750146%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwe.com%2Fshows%2Fsmackdown%2Farticle%2Fpat-mcafee-smackdown-analyst-announce-team

Mauro Ranallo To Call Kenny Omega vs Rich Swann At Rebellion

Chris Stephens
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Impact Wrestling has announced that Mauro Ranallo will return to pro-wrestling commentary at Rebellion on April 25th. The promotion sent out a press release that Ranallo will call the match between Kenny Omega and Rich Swann on the show.

“Swann vs Omega, champion vs champion, title vs title – this match represents everything I love about professional wrestling,” said Ranallo. “I have been fortunate to call these two superstars’ matches in the past and I’m very excited to be part of this historic encounter.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dC5qFrdF7U

 “This once in a generation title vs title showdown deserves to be called by the once in a generation play-by-play announcer. I’ve known Mauro for over two decades. There are very few people in the world who are as passionate about or know their wrestling history as well as Mauro. This is an historic main event, the world champions of two major organizations putting everything on the line. I’m thrilled that April 25th, at Rebellion, fans will have Mauro’s legendary voice proving the soundtrack to history!”

Ranallo and Impact released the following two videos breaking down Swann vs Omega at Rebellion:

https://youtu.be/9Fpk-aGnktM
https://youtu.be/BGSqmxPANSo

Here are the matches scheduled for Rebellion:

  • AEW World Championship vs Impact World Championship
    Kenny Omega (c) vs Rich Swann
  • Impact Tag Team Championships
    FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson) (c) vs. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)
  • Knockouts Championship
    Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Tenille Dashwood
  • X-Division Championship
    Ace Austin (w/Madman Fulton) (c) vs. TJP vs. Josh Alexander
  • Knockouts Tag Team Championships
    Fire N Flava (c) vs Jordynne Grace & TBA
  • Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona

Impact Results (4/15): Kenny Omega & Rich Swann Press Conference, Jazz Retirement Ceremony

Chris Stephens
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Impact Wrestling on 4/15 featured a contract-signing segment between Rich Swann and Kenny Omega for Rebellion. It also featured the retirement ceremony for Jazz and more storylines and angles leading to the PPV later this month.

Impact 4/15 Quick Results:

  1. Josh Alexander defeated TJP
  2. Karl Anderson defeated Crazzy Steve
  3. Jazz & Jordynne Grace defeated Fire N Flava (Non-Title)
  4. Brian Myers defeated Jake Something
  5. Sami Callihan defeated Matt Cardona

Tensions Boil Over During Rich Swann & Kenny Omega Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dC5qFrdF7U

The headlining segment on Impact 4/15 was a press conference featuring Kenny Omega and Rich Swann. Tony Khan and Jerry Lynn were on-hand from AEW and Khan spoke about how if Swann wins, he’ll be on both Dynamite and Impact moving forward and if Omega wins, he’ll continue to be on both shows as well. Khan also said that there would be for sure be a clear winner.

Kenny Omega concluded the press conference by running down Swann and then slapping him which started a brawl between the two.

Jazz Officially Retires

At Hardcore Justice, Deonna Purrazzo defeated Jazz in a match that carried a title vs career stipulation. This week on Impact, Jazz came out for her official retirement ceremony. She was interrupted by the members of Fire N Flava, the tag-team champions.

Word then came from the back that Fire N Flava and Jazz and Jordynne Grace were being booked in an impromptu match. Jazz and Grace quickly won the short match and Jazz continued with her retirement speech. The locker room spilled out to pay respect to her.

Later in the back, D’Amore would confront Fire N Flava and say that now they have to defend their tag belts against Grace and Jazz at Rebellion. Jazz said she needs to honor the stipulation, however, but does know someone Grace can team with on the PPV.

Josh Alexander Defeats TJP Ahead of Rebellion

At Rebellion, Ace Austin will defend his X-Division Championship against both Josh Alexander and TJP in a triple threat match. This week, Alexander and TJP went one-on-one to kick off the show.

After a back-and-forth match with lots of submissions, TJP looked to finish things off with his Mamba Splash. Alexander countered with an ankle lock, however. TJP then transitioned to a triangle submission but Alexander countered with a power-bomb onto his knee, and then the Divine Intervention piledriver for the win.

Big Petey Pump Details Josh Alexander’s Odds At Rebellion

Viewers on Twitch will note that every week Scott Steiner’s famous “Steiner Math” promo is replayed during commercial breaks at least once. This week, Petey Williams recreated the promo while explaining what Josh Alexander’s odds are in the triple threat X-Division title match at Rebellion. Evidently, the numbers don’t lie and they spell disaster for Ace Austin’s title reign at Rebellion.

Karl Anderson Picks Up Win Over Crazzy Steve

Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are preparing to face FinJuice later this month at Rebellion. Anderson took on Crazzy Steve from Decay this week. He’d pick up the win thanks to some distraction on the outside. Gallows distracted Steve after the Decay member had his opponent locked in an Upside Down. The distraction then allowed Anderson to hit a spine buster for the win.

Brian Myers & Matt Cardona Pick Each Other’s Poison

Ahead of their singles match at Rebellion, Brian Myers and Matt Cardona each picked the opponent of the other on this week’s episode. Cardona picked Jake Something as Myers’ opponent but The Most Professional Wrestler picked up the win with his “Roster Cut” clothesline.

After Myers defeated Something, he revealed Sami Callihan as Cardona’s opponent. Callihan then attacked Cardona from behind to kick start their match. Callihan picked up the victory after giving Cardona a thumb to the eye followed by his patented piledriver for the win.

Sami Callihan vs Trey Miguel At Rebellion Booked

After his match, Callihan called out Trey Miguel. He offered Trey a chance to partner with him but Trey turned him down. Callihan also revealed it was him that attacked Tommy Dreamer and not Violent By Design. This set off Trey who attacked Callihan. Callihan hit him with a low blow, however. Callihan continued his attack using a chair, suplexing Trey into it to close the segment.

It was later revealed that the two will go one-on-one at Rebellion.

Next Week On Impact Wrestling

Here are the matches scheduled for next week’s episode of Impact:

  • The Good Brothers vs Decay
  • Tenille Dashwood vs Susan
  • Eric Young vs Eddie Edwards

Updated Rebellion Lineup

Here are the matches scheduled for Rebellion:

  • AEW World Championship vs Impact World Championship
    Kenny Omega (c) vs Rich Swann
  • Impact Tag Team Championships
    FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson) (c) vs. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)
  • Knockouts Championship
    Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Tenille Dashwood
  • X-Division Championship
    Ace Austin (w/Madman Fulton) (c) vs. TJP vs. Josh Alexander
  • Knockouts Tag Team Championships
    Fire N Flava (c) vs Jordynne Grace & TBA
  • Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona

AEW Ratings Soar to a Record High and Raise Questions About Ratings Battles

Alex Laybourne
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The first Wednesday night without the competition of NXT saw AEW ratings soared to an incredible rating high of 1.2 million. They also scored a 0.44 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. This was the highest viewing figures to date for AEW and a jump of around 43% from the previous week.

Likewise, however, NXT saw a growth in numbers following their move to Tuesday nights. Figures were 4.82% up on the recent Take Over: Stand and Deliver. Granted they only had a 0.22 rating and were almost 400,000 viewers behind AEW with 805,000 viewers.

However, the fact that both companies saw a number increase gives some food for thought. Many people will call AEW the winners for the recent Wednesday Night War, but what if both sides were actually losers?

AEW & NXT: Better Apart

With both companies drawing increased viewers, you have to argue that fans who previously had to choose one or the other indulged their passion this week and watched both shows without problem. When taking this approach to things, does competition for a timeslot really benefit anybody or does it work to hold back both shows from really reaching their full potential.

Wrestling fans are quite quick to call their preferred show the best by watching it live, when really, each company, and even each brand within a company is different. They are run with differing styles and mentalities and they are all ok. Some may be more appealing to certain fans but that also works both ways.

Whether you are an AEW fan, a WWE: NXT fan or just a supporter of professional wrestling, increased numbers are always a good thing. What many initially saw as an act of retreat by WWE could turn out to be a strategic win for both promotions.

Young Bucks Deny That AEW Has “Faction Overload”

Alex Laybourne
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Depending on when you grew up and which wrestling promotion you watched the most, your opinion on the presence of factions in wrestling will differ. The Young Bucks, who cut their teeth in NJPW took time to respond to fan criticism that AEW has too many factions.

The Young Bucks, who were part of two factions while working in Japan – Bullet Club and the splinter group The Elite – responded to their critics in an interview with TV Insider.

There have been several new factions form in AEW over the past couple of weeks. Including the ‘Super Elite’ which has seen the Bucks once more side with Kenny Omega. Alongside them are the Good Brothers Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, and the group manager, Don Callis.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNgNV_el-WT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This particular group is interesting not because of its members but because it crossed two different promotions without any form of brand/network segregation.

Factions Form as the AEW Brand Takes Shape

We have also seen the rise of The Factory, The Pinnacle, Matt Hardy Office, and the post-pandemic reunion of Death Triangle. Surely it is also only a matter of time before Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston form their own group.

Either way, the Bucks are convinced that factions are good for wrestling. With the success AEW has had to date, who could question their logic.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has been booking factions for more than 40 years, and they’re still around. I see the argument, but I think North American fans have never seen this many at one time. They are used to one, two, or three stables in a company. It’s easier to book angles. It’s easy to get more people involved with different groups. If you’re not aligned in a stable, you’re alone, and that’s hard to book sometimes. That’s why we have a lot of factions. It has clearly worked. Nick said in response to the question.

While Matt went on to discuss the realistic possibility of a trios championship. This is another belt that gains much more credibility when you have clear cut groups to work with.

Tay Conti Comments On 1-Year Anniversary Of Mass WWE Releases

Chris Stephens
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On April 15th, 2020, WWE cut more than 20 wrestlers from its roster shortly after a worldwide pandemic had shut down multiple wrestling companies and the entire independent wrestling scene. The company decided to do something very similar today.

Some of the names released last year have posted online about what impact being released by WWE during a pandemic has had on them.

“April 15th, 2020, I finally got my release. I would say it was a really big, unexpected moment. I felt lost, I felt hurt, I felt it was the end of my world,” Conti said. “Silly me. And then I allowed myself to feel all the feelings. I was sad, I was mad, I was frustrated, I was scared and the list goes on.”

“April 15th, 2021, this morning I woke up, I looked at myself in the mirror and I said ‘hey girl, I’m proud of you.” And I really am because in less than a year, I proved myself, I finally found myself, I worked my way to the top.”

Conti is now the #1 contender for the AEW Women’s Championship and will challenge Hikaru Shida next week on Dynamite.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNsQ33uhKn4/

WWE Pandemic Cuts – Where Are They Now?

  1. Drake Maverick (NXT)
  2. Luke Gallows (Impact)
  3. Karl Anderson (Impact)
  4. EC3 (ROH)
  5. Curt Hawkins (Impact)
  6. Lio Rush (MLW & other places)
  7. Heath Slater (Impact – currently injured)
  8. Eric Young (Impact)
  9. Kurt Angle (Conrad Thompson podcast)
  10. Aiden English (Twitch and YouTube channels)
  11. Erik Rowan (done some GCW shows)
  12. Sarah Logan (gave birth to little Viking)
  13. Mike Chioda (has appeared on AEW programming)
  14. Primo Colon (likely waiting to return to WWC)
  15. Epico Colon (likely waiting to return to WWC)
  16. Mike Kanellis (Bennett) (ROH)
  17. Maria Kanellis (ROH)
  18. Zack Ryder (Impact)
  19. No Way Jose (Wrestled once for Lariato Pro – Doc Gallows’ promotion)
  20. Deonna Purrazzo (Knockouts Champion in Impact Wrestling)
  21. Rusev (AEW)
  22. Tay Conti (AEW)
  23. Cezar Bononi (AEW)

WWE Releases Chelsea Green, Samoa Joe, Billie Kay, Mickie James & More

Chris Stephens
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One year to the day that WWE released more than 20 wrestlers during a pandemic, they’ve cut several more today. WWE announced today that they have released the following talent:

  • Samoa Joe
  • Billie Kay
  • Chelsea Green
  • Mickie James
  • Tucker
  • Kalisto
  • Wesley Blake

**Updated Names:

The following names have been added to today’s roster cuts:

  • Bo Dallas
  • Peyton Royce

Reactions To WWE Releases

Samoa Joe and CM Punk seem to have put things in perspective:

Mickie James commented on her release on Twitter.

“Grateful for the memories. Grateful for the locker room. Grateful for the fans. Grateful for these little keys to my golden handcuffs. You can never expected others vision of you to be big as your own dreams. Thank you,” she Tweeted at Vince McMahon.

Matt Cardona also took to Twitter to comment on the releases.

“I was literally making a post about how this past year has been a blessing in disguise as the news of these releases broke. You will all be fine. Work your ass off. Create your own opportunities. I love you @ImChelseaGreen. You are a fucking star.” He Tweeted.

As was the case last year, there could be more names to be added to this list as the day goes on and people are contacted. Chelsea Green and Samoa Joe’s names were added recently to the report after not having been included in the original.

“WWE has come to terms on the release of Billie Kay, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Kalisto and Wesley Blake as of today April 15, 2021.”

Tony Khan & Aubrey Edwards To Attend Impact Rebellion PPV

Chris Stephens
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On Sunday, April 25th, 2021, Rich Swann and Kenny Omega will go one-on-one with both the Impact and AEW title belts at stake. AEW’s Tony Khan recently revealed on Busted Open Radio that he plans on attending the PPV. Khan also said he plans on bringing AEW referee Aubrey Edwards along with him.

“I’m going to be coming up to Nashville to maintain order next weekend at [IMPACT Rebellion], that you moved at my suggestion [Laughs]. I’m going to go to UFC with my good friend Dana and then I’ll come to [Rebellion] and make sure that no funny business goes on in this title match. I’m going to bring my own referee, Aubrey (Edwards),” Khan said on Busted Open Radio (transcriptions via Fightful).

The following has been confirmed for tonight’s episode of Impact on AXS TV:

  • Rich Swann and Kenny Omega contract signing
  • Josh Alexander vs TJP
  • Jazz’s retirement ceremony.
  • Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona – Pick your Poison

Impact Rebellion Lineup:

  • AEW World Championship vs Impact World Championship
    Kenny Omega (c) vs Rich Swann
  • Impact Tag Team Championships
    FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson) (c) vs. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)
  • X-Division Championship
    Ace Austin (w/Madman Fulton) (c) vs. TJP vs. Josh Alexander
  • Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona

CM Punk On What Wrestling & Horror Fans Have In Common

Chris Stephens
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CM Punk is doing media rounds to promote his new movie Jakob’s Wife. The film will be available on-demand and in select theatres beginning tomorrow. Punk recently spoke to Digital Spy and commented on the similarities between wrestling fans and fans of horror films.

“Horror fans, as well as wrestling fans, will almost die on hills that they normally wouldn’t die on, meaning, ‘I discovered this wrestler first, I discovered this movie first’,” Punk said. 

“And you’re almost not allowed to like it because you weren’t in on the ground floor. Horror movie fans and wrestling fans really are so passionate that they hold what they love near and dear to their heart and they almost want to protect it.”

“Whereas they should want everybody to like it – the more popular it is, the more eyeballs that are on it, the more content you probably get,” he continued.

CM Punk on Horror and Wrestling Fans

Punk continued to say that both horror films and wrestling get a bad reputation from some.

“I think the majority of people will view horror and wrestling as a lower brow entertainment, which, when it is done to the best of its ability, neither are.”

“I think that keeps those fans on the defensive, you know they’re used to having to defend what they love because other people will constantly remind them of, ‘Oh, that’s fake,’ or ‘Oh, that’s just a bunch of blood and boobs’ or whatever.”

The full interview with Punk can be read here. A trailer for Jakob’s Wife is below:

MLW Fusion Results (4/14): 3 Championship Matches

Chris Stephens
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MLW Fusion 4/14 featured 3 championship matches. The Caribbean title, MLW tag-team titles, and the National Openweight Championship were all on the line.

The full show can be viewed in the player below:

MLW Fusion 4/14 Quick Results:

  1. Caribbean Championship
    Richard Holliday (c) defeated Gino Medina
  2. MLW Tag Team Championships
    Los Parks (c) defeated The Dirty Blondes
  3. National Openweight Championship
    Alexander Hammerstone (c) defeated Mil Muertes

Richard Holliday Defends Caribbean Strap Against Gino Medina

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1382472233537433603

This match has been months in the making. Several backstage altercations have taken place between Medina and Holliday, usually with the two disagreeing about how Medina left the Dynasty. Medina says he quit, Holliday says he fired him. They’d finally meet in singles action with the Caribbean title on the line this week.

Medina hit Holliday with his own version of the 2008 but was unable to pin his opponent with it. Shortly after, Medina went crashing face first into an exposed turnbuckle. This allowed Holliday to hit his version of the 2008 to gain the victory.

Los Parks Retain With Help From El Jefe’s Associate

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1382476763612073984

The MLW Tag Team Championships were also on the line this week. Los Parks took on Aria Blake’s Dirty Blondes. Both teams would resort to under-handed tactics in an attempt to gain the advantage in the match. Ultimately, it would be the team from Azteca Underground who would gain the victory.

The Dirty Blondes had gained the advantage thanks to repeated low blows. El Jefe’s associate then lifted up the ring and allowed LA Park Jr. to illegally enter the match. He then gave both members of the Dirty Blondes a low blow and LA Park and El Hijo de LA Park then rolled up their opponents for the victory.

After the match, Salina de la Renta lost her composure and attacked Aria Blake. All the stress El Jefe appears to be placing on her seems to be getting the best of Salina.

Lio Rush vs Myron Reed 2 In The Works

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1382479028381171717

We heard from Injustice’s Myron Reed this week. Reed mentioned that as the former middleweight champion, he’s owed a rematch against Lio Rush. He said he first needed to get Contra out of his way before he cashed in his rematch. Reed also said that going to war with Contra made him a better wrestler and more hungry for his rematch with Rush. Still, no date announced yet for the match, however.

Court Bauer To Appear Next Week

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1382479279905247235

MLW announced this week that Court Bauer will appear next week’s show. They mentioned a potential new TV deal and update on the partnership with DragonGate as reasons for his appearance.

Alexander Hammerstone Defeats Mil Muertes

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1382482803208683523

Alexander Hammerstone was able to defeat Mil Muertes in the night’s main event. He was able to retake possession of the belt he never lost after giving the Man of 1000s Deaths the Nightmare Pendulum. El Jefe will likely not be pleased with Salina regarding this loss.

After the match, Hammerstone cut a promo and said that next week he is going to hold a press conference to announce some very “Dynastic News.”

Coming Up In MLW

Here is what MLW has scheduled for next week:

  • Court Bauer To Appear
  • Alexander Hammerstone to announce some “Dynastic News”
  • TJP vs Bu Ku Dao

Questionable Authenticity: The Young Bucks’ Dior x Nike Air Jordan 1’s

Alex Laybourne
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The Young Bucks kicked off Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite by cutting a promo about their decision to align with Kenny Omega and company last week. The Bucks are now working as heels and introduced new ring gear to signify their new attitudes.

Nick and Matt Jackson sported Jordan 1 Retro High Dior sneakers this week. The shoes sell for upwards of $10,000 on the secondary sneaker market.

Some eagle-eyed fans on social media were quick to point out that the Young Bucks’ Jordan 1 Retro High Diors might not be authentic. Sneaker aficionado @Richiedge is convinced the Jackson brothers were rocking fakes.

It’s interesting that this ‘controversy’ occurred just as the Bucks were solidifying their heel turn. Was this fashion faux pas an oversight, or was it really a very clever move that shows the depths to which some wrestlers are willing to go in order to play their characters?

Designing the Perfect Heel

Spending $10,000 on sneakers could be perceived as a heel move. However, if the shoes are in fact fraudulent, there could be other forces at work.

Could Excalibur’s insistence that Don Callis is literally human garbage could point to the fakes being a planned spot? After all, great professional wrestling is about great storytelling just as much as it is the action in the ring.

Could it be that the Bucks’ new designer shoes were a gift from Callis? A device to further highlight his slimy and underhanded nature? He is, after all, a bold-as-brass coward, and an even bigger snake than Jake has ever met. Kitting out his guys in fake designer gear would be a perfect fit.

Whether true or not, you could easily see the story being spun that way now, and fair play for it. Creativity is important to AEW and well, let’s face it, you’ve got to give the people what they want.

Great heels were becoming a thing of the past, and the universal loathing for Kenny Omega and the new Super Elite is a throwback to the days when a heel was booed and loathed to the very core of a wrestling fans heart.

Franky Monet/Taya Valkyrie Comments On Name Change

Chris Stephens
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Taya Valkyrie is now Franky Monet. She had been wrestling under her previous name for more than a decade. As is often the case, however, she changed it for her debut under the WWE NXT banner.

Monet recently took to Twitter to comment on her name change.

“Hey guys, I LOVE MY NAME…..maybe since I picked it. Go figure!” she Tweeted. “I could be called Sunshine Tuna and I would make it work!!! So take a breath, stop complaining and enjoy this evolution and ride with me. Thanks”

Ey5bCzhWgAg5X08.jpg small

She also explained her reasons for the name.

“Monet for the French artist, Franky because I’ve always loved unisex names and I think it’s super cute, spunky and different,” she Tweeted.

The name “Sunshine Tuna” seemed to gain traction online.

“And for the record, nobody was going to name me Sunshine Tuna, it was just an example,” Monet continued. “The name does not make the wrestler. One that’s powerful and strong helps of course but just know we all think long and hard about these things. I’m me, la WERA LOCA. Always, now, forever.”

Her comments led Peyton Royce to reflect on what her WWE name almost was:

Chris Jericho: AEW Drove NXT Screaming & Yelling Away From Wednesdays

Alex Laybourne
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Nothing seems to polarize wrestling fans more than the concept of a ratings war. The recent Wednesday Night Wars is no different. It’s easy to understand why this concept gained such traction, with all of the similarities to the famous Monday Night Wars. AEW the young upstart, with lots of talent vocalizing their frustration at being caught in the WWE doldrums.

Yet, an argument could be made that there never was such a war, as wrestling is a singular affair, and regardless of company is there for everybody to enjoy. Which side is right? In many ways, both and none are correct. That’s why it is so much fun to be a wrestling fan at this point in time.

It goes without saying therefor that the recent announcement that NXT was moving from Wednesday to Tuesday was greeted by many as a surrender of sorts, with WWE conceding to AEW, for that timeslot at least. The numbers don’t lie, and AEW were pulling in the dominant ratings each week.

The GOAT Declares Victory

One man who was quick and clear when it came to voicing his opinion on the matter was wrestling legend and certain hall of famer Chris Jericho. The G.O.A.T, who was big part of the Monday Night Wars also, wasted no words when talking to Forbes.com claiming that AEW sent NXT screaming and yelling to the safety of a Tuesday night.

“Yes, we wanted to beat NXT,” Jericho declared. “Yes, we wanted to drive them screaming and yelling away from Wednesdays and we did that.”

It’s interesting to think that Chris Jericho wrestled for both WCW and WWE during the Monday Night War period, and now, despite being a WWE star appeared on the WWE network recently with an appearance on the Broken Skull Ranch podcast.

Either way, his words speak volumes about the drive AEW’s stars have to make their company stand tall and proud.

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