Live from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York, AEW presents ROH Final Battle exclusively on the ROH HonorClub streaming service. The full card is as follows:
PPV: Chris Jericho vs Matt Cardona for the ROH World title; Athena vs Billie Starkz for the ROH Women’s title; Lee Moriarty vs TBD for the ROH Pure title; Red Velvet vs Leyla Hirsch for the ROH Women’s Television title; The Sons of Texas vs The Righteous for the ROH Tag Team titles; Jay Lethal vs QT Marshall; Brian Cage vs Willie Mack vs Komander vs Mark Davis vs AR Fox vs Blake Christian in a Survival of the Fittest match for the ROH Television title; Mansoor vs Atlantis Jr; and Katsuyori Shibata vs Tommy Billington.
ZERO HOUR: The Infantry vs The Undisputed Kingdom; Harley Cameron vs Hanako; LEEJ vs Gates of Agony; and The Dark Order vs Grizzled Young Veterans.
Final Battle will air at 8PM ET and a subscription is required to watch the show. You can get a one-month deal for $9.99. The Zero Hour show will start an hour prior and will air on ROH’s social media channels as well as on the HonorClub service.
Warner Bros. Discovery and All Elite Wrestling today announced details about the start of their new multi-platform media rights agreement that will provide fans with the widest available access ever to AEWs most popular programming.
Starting Wednesday, January 1, 2025, WBD’s networks and platforms will remain the exclusive home of AEW Dynamite (Wednesdays on TBS) and AEW Collision (Saturdays on TNT), and will also, for the first time, stream those programs live for Max subscribers in the U.S.
WBD and AEW will ring in the new year, and the new agreement, with AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen on TBS & Max at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 from Asheville, North Carolina. Fans will witness the aftermath of AEWs World End in a special New Year’s Day event that will benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted the Asheville area in Sept. 2024.
On Saturday, January 4 at 8 p.m., TNT and Max keep the high-flying action going with AEW Collision, emanating live from Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
All live AEW programming airing on WBD’s networks will also be available to stream on Max and on demand after their live broadcast.
Additionally, AEW Dynamite, AEW Collision, AEW Rampage and all AEW pay-per-view library content through the end of 2024, representing more than 700 hours of AEW action, will be made available on Max on a rolling basis. At launch, all AEW Dynamite episodes and pay-per-views from the company’s inaugural 2019 year will be available, as well as more than two months of the most recent AEW programming that aired across WBD’s networks (select episodes will be made available shortly after launch).
As previously announced, AEW and WBD will also collaborate to distribute AEW live pay- per-view events on Max, with all marketing and promotions of those PPV events exclusively centered on Max. AEW PPV distribution on Max will begin later in 2025, with additional information and pricing to be shared in the coming months.
Following yesterday’s New York Times story on Lee Fitting, who is now WWE’s Head of Media & Production, Janel Grant’s legal and PR team kicked into gear to advance their case against the company, which is a plaintiff in their lawsuit which also includes Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis.
The New York Times revealed that Fitting was fired from ESPN after 25 years after years of sexual misconduct, with the investigative team interviewing 20 women during his time with the Disney company.
“How can WWE claim they are committed to improving the company’s culture, and at the same time, hire a man earlier this year who was accused of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment in his previous role?” wrote Grant spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff-Lamy in a statement.
“The allegations against Lee Fitting during his time at ESPN are extremely concerning. Revelations like this are why Janel Grant’s lawyers sent a letter to WWE and Endeavor, urging them to release all current and former employees from their NDAs,” Barkoff-Lamy continued.
She said that the same “old boys club” who enabled Janel Grant’s abuse are continuing to put alleged predators in leadership roles, urging for this pattern to change once and for all!
WWE and TKO did not make any comments after Fitting’s story was published.
Logan Paul was unveiled as the newest member of the Raw roster yesterday at the Raw on Netflix Kickoff event by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce.
Paul was making his first WWE appearance since losing the United States title against LA Knight at SummerSlam a few months ago.
Coming out on stage, Paul said that the WWE product is amazing and incredible right now and getting to watch his peers wrestle every week made him realize…how much better he really is than everyone else!
Paul said that he will stay humble but he’s the best athlete and was the greatest United States champion ever, with all his matches being a banger.
“Think about it. Mike Tyson wants to fight me, Conor McGregor wants to fight me. Of course they do…a payday with a Paul brother is a bucket list item for most all of these washed up fighters,” Logan continued.
Paul closed off with a warning to WWE Superstars on the roster, saying that if they have something that he wants, he’s going to take it, and he’s not going to ask for permission, he’s simply going to take it from them.
Last week, Paul said on his Impaulsive podcast that he’s retired from WWE and would not be at WrestleMania 41, obviously a way to keep his appearance as a surprise.
Former AEW Tag Team champions FTR hinted last night on Dynamite that they’re not coming to the Dynamite Fight For The Fallen episode alone and will have backup.
The themed episode of Dynamite will air live from Asheville, North Carolina, the home of FTR. It will also be the first episode which will be simulcast on Max.
FTR will be coming to get revenge on the Death Riders and while they’re currently not cleared the compete due to the the backstage attack from last weekend, the duo will definitely be showing up in their hometown and not coming alone.
The tease is for former TNT champion Adam Copeland, who was recently cleared to return to action following a broken foot. Copeland also lives in the area and is big friends with Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.
The event will benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted the Asheville area in September.
Two Continental Classic matches took place last night on Dynamite as the tournament is nearing its end.
In the blue league, Shelton Benjamin of The Hurt Business defeated The Beast Mortos to get three points and move to six while Mortos remains with zero points along with Komander from the gold league.
In the gold league, Darby Allin defeated Will Ospreay to get his three points and now the gold league has four stars – Ospreay, Ricochet, Claudio Castagnoli, and Allin – all with six points each.
The action continues Friday on Rampage with Komander vs Brody King from the blue league and then on Saturday on Collision with Allin vs Castagnoli and Ospreay vs Ricochet from the gold league and Mark Briscoe vs The Beast Mortos and Daniel Garcia vs Shelton Benjamin from the blue league.
Another huge match was announced for the Raw on Netflix premiere episode on January 6, with Liv Morgan defending her Women’s World title against Rhea Ripley.
The announcement came from Raw General Manager Adam Pearce at yesterday’s Raw on Netflix Kickoff event which was held at the new, state-of-the-art WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
Both women were in attendance for the event, an event which saw fans being welcomed inside the WWE Headquarters for the first time ever.
This is the third match announced for the show so far, with Roman Reigns vs Solo Sikoa in a tribal combat rules match and Seth Rollins vs CM Punk.
Writing just days after his return to WWE at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Jesse “The Body” Ventura said it was “truly an honor” to come back home to WWE and it was an incredible feeling to return to the place where his career began.
Ventura said that the biggest change he saw was the energy and vibe backstage.
“You don’t feel a battle of ego’s like you often did back in my day,” Ventura said in a post on Substack. “From the executive level to the locker room level you instead feel a very strong sense of teamwork and creativity. Everyone is running in the same direction. Fueled by a desire to see everyone succeed, not just themselves.”
The WWE Hall of Famer heaped praise on Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Nick Khan for creating an environment which Ventura said he has never seen before in the world of professional wrestling.
In a blockbuster article by The New York Times it was revealed that current WWE’s Head of Media & Production, Lee Fitting, was fired from his ESPN job after years of sexual misconduct.
Fitting was ESPN’s Senior Vice President of Production for 25 years before joining WWE in the beginning of the year.
The New York Times reached out to 20 women, including six which brought forward their complaints to ESPN’s HR department. An investigation into Fitting’s allegations led to his firing from the Disney company.
WWE and TKO Group did not provide any comments to The New York Times while a spokesman for Fitting denied most of the allegations while ignoring some other allegations in the story.
The story comes at an awkward time for the company as it’s going through the Janel Grant lawsuit, with sexual allegations against former WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and the company itself.
The full investigative story can be read at NYTimes.com.
Facing an NFL double header on Monday, Raw drew 1,533,000 viewers this week, up 148,000 viewers from the previous week.
The show started with 1,554,000 viewers in the first hour and then decreased slightly to 1,512,000 viewers in the second hour. The two NFL games on ABC and ESPN had a 17.8 million combined audience.
In 18-49, Raw had a 0.475 rating, up 0.04 from last week’s show and was #3 on the top 50 cable chart for the night and #4 in all of television. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
TNA star Ash by Elegance, real name Ashley Sebera, announced on social media that she got married on December 12 to Ulysses Diaz in Miami, Florida.
“Tale as Old as Time. What a magical moment.. We truly are Beauty and the Beast! Our fairy tale is so pure & real…& our love was felt on 12/12/24,” she wrote.
The artist formerly known as Dana Brooke in WWE got engaged to the Cuban boxer in July 2021. This is her first marriage.
Tonight’s Dynamite is the Holiday Bash themed episode and is live from the nation’s capital of Washington, DC.
Five matches have been announced for the broadcast including the main event of Jon Moxley, PAC and Wheeler Yuta vs Hangman Page, Orange Cassidy and Jay White in a trios match, Mercedes Mone defends her TBS title against Anna Jay, Hook teams up with Katsuyori Shibata against Christian Cage and Nick Wayne, and two Continental Classic matches with Will Ospreay vs Darby Allin from the gold league and Shelton Benjamin vs The Beast Mortos in the blue league.
Appearances from MJF and FTR have also been announced.
Collision on Saturday drew 246,000 viewers, down 32,000 viewers from the previous week. The show had a 0.09 rating in 18-49, up 0.02 from the prior show so the audience skewed much younger with less viewers. This was the least-watched Collision in its regular Saturday time slot and went head-to-head with WWE’s Saturday Night Main Event. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
When show creator Vince McMahon started the WWE, his goal was to take wrestling to the masses and make it not just a regional event but a national and even global phenomenon. In recent years, that dream has become a reality, and some of the biggest names in the WWE world are often spotted at various events. For example, three of wrestling’s biggest names were recently noticed at the Power Slap 10 event, which is truly a unique combination of athleticism.
What is Power Slap?
Power Slap is exactly what it sounds like: competitors slapping each other in the face. As silly as it sounds, it’s a brutal and intense sport that often features dozens of hits directly to the head. The best competitors are truly some of the strongest people in the world and absorb a ton of blows. Power Slap is affiliated with WWE through the UFC, which makes the presence of wrestlers not too surprising. However, the names that showed up were truly interesting.
Who Showed Up?
Undoubtedly, the most exciting sighting at the event was Rey Mysterio, a true wrestling legend. While nearly 50, this tiny dynamo has consistently brought amazing athleticism and high-flying excitement to the wrong. Along with him were Braun Strowman and Omos, three huge and burly wrestlers who were basically the exact opposite of Mysterio. Seeing these three together brought a lot of smiles to fans’ faces and brought out a lot of cameras and Sharpies for autographs.
Were They Competing?
It would have been amazing if Mysterio, Strowman, and Omos actually competed in Power Slap 10. However, they were there simply to watch, hang out with fans, and enjoy the fierce competitiveness of the event itself. But can you imagine the huge Omos slapping someone in the face and driving them to the ground? Sure, it’s possible. But Power Slap competitors have a different kind of grit than wrestlers, so perhaps it’s best if these three stick to their lanes.
What’s the Big Deal?
Sure, these three might not have the same name draw as more contemporary wrestlers. But imagine walking into a golf tournament and seeing Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Andrew Luck hanging out. For football fans, that would basically be a dream come true. Well, for wrestling nuts, seeing these three unlikely pals spending time together just enjoying the unique world of Power Slap was a truly inspiring and once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Will We See More of These Three?
While Mysterio, Strowman, and Omos are three unique names in the WWE world, it’s clear that they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Whether or not they’ll be at similar events like these in the future, it’s clear that their presence was not only noticed but newsworthy. That only happens to a sport when it’s truly hit the big time. As if there was any more evidence needed to show that, yes, wrestling in all its amazing, over-the-top glory, is here to stay as a global institution.
The pre-sale for the TNA Slammiversary 2025 pay-per-view at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, started yesterday morning on Ticketmaster.com using the code TNAUBS.
The show will take place on July 20 and could be the biggest TNA audience in years if it sells good. Currently, the arena is configured to host just over 4,000 fans with the 200 and 300 levels closed off.
The cheapest tickets are $44.65 while front row seats are $735.10 plus taxes and fees. This is fairly ambitious from TNA who is using a large arena for the first time in many, many years.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, December 20.
Bell Media in Canada announced that its Discovery channel will be rebranded as USA Network on January 1 after a major content and licensing agreement with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
The press release says that with the brand change, AEW Collision will be moving to Canada’s USA Network from the TSN+ streaming service and will air live on Saturday nights.
Dynamite will remain airing on TSN.
USA Network is available to Canadians via a nationwide free preview, from January 1 to February 28, through participating service providers across the country.
NXT star and North American champion Tony D’Angelo has been cast in season two of the television show Wild Cards on The CW.
The show follows a cop, played by Giacomo Gianniotti, and a con woman, played by Vanessa Morgan, who have no other option but to join forces to solve crimes.
Other stars announced for the show are Martin Sheen, Ally Shelly, Marie Avgeropoulos, and Katie Findlay. D’Angelo will play the character of Jaws, a “formidable and commanding criminal mastermind” according to Variety.
WWE NXT star Axiom will make a rare indie appearance when he returns to his home country of Spain in less than 10 days.
Local promotion Tyris Wrestling announced that one half of the NXT Tag Team champions will be wrestling on their Snowball 30 event in Valencia on Saturday, December 28.
The Madrid-born star formerly known as A-Kid has been part of the NXT roster since 2019, first with NXT UK and then moving to America.
While it was not the biggest box office smash that they have hoped, The Rock’s Red One movie has smashed the Amazon Prime Video records, with 50 million worldwide viewers in its first four days on Prime Video according to Deadline.
That’s the most watched Amazon MGM Studios’ film ever on the service, besting Road House from March 21 which reached 50 million global viewers alone in its first two weekends.
The movie opened in theaters nationwide on November 15 and was #1 for one weekend and was #6 last weekend.
“Given the audience response to Red One both in theaters and on Prime Video, the film will clearly be a perennial holiday favorite for years to come,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. “Every film is different, and we are so grateful for the partnership with our filmmakers in collectively finding the right strategy to get this film in front of the widest possible audience. With Red One, there was no doubt that strategy needed to include a theatrical release and associated marketing campaign, which drove audiences to theaters and generated awareness for the film with viewers who would ultimately tune in on Prime Video. It’s rewarding to see our plan pay off for customers, and we are incredibly thankful to the entire filmmaking team and cast who helped make it happen.”
Ethan Page recreated the Shawn Michaels “I lost my smile” speech from the same building where HBK delivered it originally in 1997 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts last night on NXT.
But it was all a setup and Je’Von Evans found out the hard way what Page is really made out of.
Page, who has been on a bit of a losing streak lately, cut a great promo in the ring, mentioning that all he wanted to do is provide for his family. A somber Page then said that he lost his smile, before he was interrupted by Je’Von Evans.
Evans said that everyone wanted to see the real Page and said that he was proud of him, and NXT was proud of him too. An emotional Page responded saying that Evans was right, and now everything is clear for him…he should not be worried about losing his smile, but rather, he should worry about taking Evans’ smile.
At that point, Page whacked Evans with the mic as the crowd went crazy, realizing they fell for Page’s ruse. Page then got a chair, wrapped it around Evans’ head and he jumped on the chair as he screamed, “You want the real me? This is the real me?”
As soon as Page jumped on the chair, Evans spit out blood everywhere in perfect sync, making it a fantastic shot. Officials quickly hit the ring and the show went to commercials.
