The relationship between Nikki Garcia and her estranged husband Artem Chigvintsev got more complicated after Garcia file a restraining order against him this week.
A judge signed off on the request following Nikki’s sworn declaration to court according to TMZ.COM.
Nikki wrote that her husband tackled her multiple times and pinned her to the ground when their son was present. She also said that since he was removed from Dancing with the Stars, he grew increasingly angry, snapping at her, and yelling a her.
On the day 911 was called and police showed up to arrest him for domestic violence, she did admit that she threw their son’s toddler-size 7 shoes at him and hit his leg, but since they’re light and small, no damage could have been done.
Nikki also detailed what happened that same day and when police showed up, their four-year-old son told them that daddy hurt his hand.
Imposing the restraining order, the judge has prohibited Artem from contacting or coming within 100 yards of Nikki, their son, and their home with the only exception being for visitation or exchange of the child per court-ordered visits. The judge denied Nikki’s request to travel out of country with their son pending a full hearing on October 21.
The usually-reliable @WrestleVotes X account is reporting that the Elimination Chamber 2025 premium live event will be taking place in England next.
Set for March, the two cities which are considered to be front-runners to host the event are Birmingham and Manchester. The Utilita Arena in Birmingham holds nearly 16,000 fans while Manchester has two arenas, the AO Arena, with a max capacity of 21,000 and the Co-op Live, with a max of 23,000.
WWE is holding a non-televised live event at the Co-op which has not sold good and less than 3,000 tickets have been distributed, largely because of very expensive prices.
Last year’s Elimination Chamber was held in Perth, Australia.
In her latest Mone Mag edition, TBS champion Mercedes Mone touched on the Vince McMahon Netflix documentary as well as wanting to see Shane McMahon in AEW.
Mone said that like most people who watched it, she was trying to understand Vince’s relationship with his son Shane and how Shane just wanted to make his father proud just like Vince wanted to do with his own father.
“To see Shane’s passion for that, as well as his passion for wrestling, moved me,” Mercedes said. “Seeing Shane’s incredible heart and passion for wrestling makes me think he has a lot of unfinished business.”
Mone also wondered if Shane is coming to AEW. McMahon already had a meeting with Tony Khan and recently took a photo with The Young Bucks at an airport.
“I’m here for it, and I’m sure our roster is too,” Mone said. “Regardless, it just seems like Shane belongs in the wrestling business. I admit if he doesn’t come back to wrestling, it will make me sad for him. I know what it’s like to be removed from what you love and how sad it made me. I imagine he feels the same way.”
Writing about the McMahon documentary, Mone said that she was a little bit disappointed and didn’t feel that there was too much new information for her to digest.
She called Vince a “crazy genius” for elevating wrestling to a whole new stratosphere and can’t believe she got to work for him.
“He created a universe fans have enjoyed for decades and still do. He made wrestling larger than life. He did it all, and he tried it all. And he failed so many times, too. Where the business is at today is all because of him and his ideas. And that’s what I really liked it,” she said.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting that Bobby Lashley has signed a deal with AEW and is expected to make his debut with the company shortly.
Lashley would be the third member of the former Hurt Business to join the company following MVP and Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin made his AEW debut last night. The other person in the old faction, Cedric Alexander, is still under a WWE deal.
Lashley’s contract with WWE expired in August, with his last match coming on May 5 at a non-televised live event in France, beating Santos Escobar. His last televised appearance was on April 12 of this year, in a triple threat match against LA Knight and Santos Escobar.
The 48-year-old Lashley worked with WWE between 2005 and 2008 and again from 2018 onwards. He is a former two-time WWE champion, two-time Intercontinental champion, three-time United States champion and two-time ECW champion.
Appearing on the brand new No-Contest Wrestling podcast on The Rich Eisen Podcast Network, WWE Superstar CM Punk gave the most detailed overview of how his Survivor Series return came to be last year.
Speaking to hosts O’Shea Jackson, Jr. and TJ Jefferson, Punk said that when he arrived at the Allstate Arena for the show, he still didn’t have a signed contract and was not sure if the deal was even going to happen. He was given a hoodie and told to stay in his car in the back, where several production trucks were also parked.
Punk said that the truck next to him had a photo of Steve Austin so he took a selfie and sent it to Austin, who replied with, “WTF kid?”
Punk said that they cleared the hallway and he was brought in through the service elevator and hid in Triple H’s office just as the WarGames match was starting, awaiting news if the deal is going through or not. When he was told it’s on, he walked through and arrived at Gorilla where it was packed with people since the show was about to end.
Bayley was the first one to give him a bear hug, telling Punk that she knew it was him when they told everyone to clear. He also met Stephanie McMahon, who he had not seen in 10 years.
Punk said he had no idea what he was going to do or how the layout of the entrance was and was trying to communicate with Triple H what he wants him to do. Triple H told him to walk up to the cages, where they held the wrestlers before they entered WarGames, but Punk thought he needed to walk to the main cage in the ring. Among the confusion, he finally figured out what was required of him and all of a sudden they hit his music and the rest is history!
You can watch the first part of the Punk interview below.
The new AEW media rights deal is for three years with another option year if Warner Bros. Discovery decides to extend their partnership.
The $150 million per year quoted is just the base figure, with the deal reportedly worth closer to $180 million in the second and third year when factoring in the pay-per-views on Max and also other programming that will be coming. A fourth option year would bring in more revenue.
Pay-per-view marketing will be centered around Max and fans will get a discount if they buy the AEW shows on the streaming service versus paying full price on other providers such as Triller, YouTube, or PPV.COM. An exact time frame on when that starts was not revealed as the ability to provide pay-per-views on the service is still being worked on.
The biggest win in the deal is also the ability for Dynamite and Collision to simulcast on Max starting next year. That means for those fans in the United States who do not have cable television, they can still watch the shows through their Max subscription.
The Sports Business Journal also revealed that with this new deal, “WBD also keeps its equity stake in AEW,” but the size of it was not disclosed. There were unconfirmed rumors before that WBD owns a piece of AEW which was seemingly confirmed by SBJ.
The deal is far less than the rumored $1 billion figure that was floated around last year.
A couple of more matches were added to the WrestleDream pay-per-view yesterday during the fifth anniversary episode of Dynamite.
Former AEW World champion Chris Jericho is setting his eyes back on the ROH World title and challenged Mark Briscoe for a match on the pay-per-view. Jericho was ROH champion in 2022, holding on to the title for 80 days.
TNT champion Jack Perry will defend his title against Katsuyori Shibata. Shibata appeared on the show and met Jack Perry backstage, asking him for a match through a translation on his phone. Perry said he’ll think about it and then took out Shibata and accepted his challenge.
Darby Allin went from having a guaranteed title shot for the AEW World title to issuing an open challenge for the PPV. Allin lost his shot last week to Jon Moxley and appeared via a taped promo where he asked anyone in the locker room to show up and fight him on the show.
Also, following the International title match last night between Will Ospreay and Ricochet which ended in a disqualification after the interference of Konosuke Takeshita, a three-way match between them for the title was later announced by Tony Khan on social media.
WrestleDream takes place on Saturday, October 12 from Tacoma, Washington.
Following the conclusion of the fifth anniversary episode of Dynamite, AEW World champion Bryan Danielson talked to the fans in a speech to mark the special occasion.
Danielson thanked AEW President Tony Khan, who he said without him, there would be no alternative. He said that because of Tony Khan, AEW exists which is better for the wrestlers, better for production people, and better for fans.
He then thanked the crowd in Pittsburgh.
“I first wrestled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 23 years ago,” Danielson said. “And I don’t know if you guys remember, but you were the crowd that made me into a WrestleMania main-eventer. So I just wanted to say thank you, Pittsburgh!”
Danielson then thanked the boys and girls in the back because they’re the ones who made this place great. He said he had a lifetime job with WWE and he chose to come to AEW because that’s where the best wrestlers in the world are, it’s where the best fans in the world are, and AEW is the best wrestling company in the world.
The champion ended the speech by promising that come WrestleDream, he will “kick Jon Moxley’s f*cking head in!”
Sammy Guevara had to be stretchered out of the arena last night after an injury he suffered during the ROH tapings prior to Dynamite.
Guevara was wrestling Serpentico in a match taped for ROH’s weekly show when a mis-timed spot led to Serpentico landing square on Guevara’s face knocking him out.
The referee, following procedures, ended the match, handing the win to Serpentico, and then EMTs attended to Guevara in the ring. A stretcher was brought out and he was taken backstage, where early reports suggest that he was on the receiving end of a concussion.
Guevara was not the only person who was stretchered out during the Ring of Honor tapings as the match between Lady Frost and Kelly Madan was also halted due to Madan getting knocked out. EMTs also had to rush to the ring to help her and she was taken out on a stretcher as well.
On a tough night for a debut going against the Vice Presidential debate which drew over 43 million viewers across 15 networks, NXT’s premiere on The CW drew 895,000 viewers, up 275,000 viewers from the previous week. The show had a 0.26 rating in 18-49, up 0.07 from last week and this was The CW’s highest-rated broadcast of 2024 so far. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
Warner Bros. Discovery and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) today announced a multi-year renewal of their highly successful five-year relationship with an expansive multi-platform media rights agreement that will provide fans with the widest available access ever to AEW’s most popular programming.
WBD’s networks and platforms will remain the exclusive home of AEW Dynamite (Wednesdays on TBS) and AEW Collision (Saturdays on TNT), with enhanced distribution rights across social platforms as well as building opportunities for additional AEW programming for linear and digital platforms in the future.
Additionally, for the first time, all AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision programming starting January 2025 will stream live exclusively on Max (U.S. subscribers only). All AEW programming airing on WBD’s networks will also be available to stream on demand on Max.
AEW and WBD will also collaborate to distribute AEW live pay-per-view events on Max at a discounted price per event, 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.
“Tony Khan and the entire AEW team have been incredible partners, and we are thrilled to strike this expanded agreement to deliver amazing new AEW content and stories to TNT and TBS, as well as bring the thrilling live action to Max for the first time,” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and CEO of US Networks, WBD. “We are focused on creating fresh and authentic experiences for AEW’s passionate and engaged fanbase while also introducing them to our growing lineup of high-action sports and entertainment at TNT and beyond.”
“We are honored to announce the extension of our incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” said AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan. “This extension continues the tradition of iconic wrestling events broadcast on TBS and TNT, while also establishing a new legacy for AEW through weekly live streams on Max for years to come. We thank David Zaslav, Kathleen Finch and everyone at WBD for their tireless support of All Elite Wrestling since its inception, as well as the AEW fans, talent and staff that helped make this possible.”
Since its inaugural year in 2019, AEW has collaborated with WBD to build a next-generation, pro-wrestling franchise with captivating stories, dynamic and diverse characters, and energetic events all year round. AEW programming has reached more than 33 million fans this year across TBS and TNT, with AEW Dynamite on TBS ranking as Wednesday’s #1 cable entertainment program among P18-49. AEW Collision also ranks among the top 5 programs in its Saturday time slot among P18-49 and M18-49.
The addition of AEW’s popular programming on Max adds to an already robust slate of live programming available to U.S. subscribers, including CNN Max — a 24/7 live news stream featuring live news and programming, and in-depth reporting of all of the biggest news each day and the upcoming U.S. election cycle from CNN’s global news team; and, the B/R Sports Add-on, featuring live coverage of the upcoming MLB postseason, NHL and NBA regular seasons, NCAA Men’s March Madness, US Men’s & Women’s National Team soccer matches, Bellator MMA, Mountain West college football, MotoGP, FIA World Endurance Championship, world cycling, and — in 2025 — NASCAR, Roland-Garros tennis, and BIG EAST men’s and women’s college basketball.
“Switchblade” Jay White returned to AEW last night and attacked Hangman Adam Page, who just minutes earlier defeated White’s stablemate Juice Robinson.
White has been out for the past three months dealing with a foot injury that he suffered in a match against Page in the semifinals of the Owen Hart Cup tournament back in early July. At the time, White was one third of the AEW Trios champions with The Gunns and his injury forced them to surrender the titles.
The 31-year-old former IWGP World Heavyweight champion has been with AEW since 2022 and is currently part of the Bang Bang Gang with Robinson and The Gunns.
Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin made a surprise appearance last night during Dynamite, with the Hurt Business slowly loading back on AEW television.
During a backstage segment, MVP said that he has a big announcement, but was interrupted by Price Nana, returning the favor from last week. Nana reminded MVP that he was a wrestler before and will have no problem to put his wrestling boots back on and face him.
MVP told Nana that what he was saying sounded like a complaint to him, and he doesn’t deal with that, but had somebody who does. At that point, he pointed to someone out of frame, and in walked Shelton Benjamin to a big pop from the crowd.
Benjamin asked Nana if there’s an issue and walked away with MVP.
The former WWE Intercontinental champion has signed a deal with AEW and will reform the Hurt Business, to be known the Hurt Syndicate, when Bobby Lashley debuts.
Benjamin was released from WWE in September of last year.
Dynamite celebrates its fifth anniversary tonight with a live broadcast on TBS from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in front a crowd of just under 5,000 fans.
Four matches have been announced so far, two of which are for a title. Headlining the show will be AEW World champion Bryan Danielson vs AEW Continental champion Kazuchika Okada. This match is for both titles, but the Continental title is only on the line for the first 20 minutes of the match.
Also set for tonight are Will Ospreay vs Ricochet for the AEW International title, “Hangman” Adam Page vs Juice Robinson, and Serena Deeb vs Britt Baker.
The show is expected to have a longer than usual overrun.
All Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery today officially announced a new, multi-year media rights deal which will keep AEW programming on WBD properties for the next few years.
Dynamite will remain on TBS while Collision will remain on TNT and both shows will stream live on Max simultaneously for viewers in the United States. Episodes of Dynamite and Collision will be available to stream on-demand from January 2025. There was no mention of Rampage.
AEW live pay-per-views will be streaming on Max later in 2025 at a discounted price and the deal also calls for enhanced distribution rights across social media and potential new AEW programming on linear and digital platforms.
“We are honored to announce the extension of our incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” said AEW CEO, GM and head of creative Tony Khan. “This extension continues the tradition of iconic wrestling events broadcast on TBS and TNT, while also establishing a new legacy for AEW through weekly live streams on Max for years to come. We thank David Zaslav, Kathleen Finch and everyone at WBD for their tireless support of All Elite Wrestling since its inception, as well as the AEW fans, talent and staff that helped make this possible.”
“Tony Khan and the entire AEW team have been incredible partners, and we are thrilled to strike this expanded agreement to deliver amazing new AEW content and stories to TNT and TBS, as well as bring the thrilling live action to Max for the first time,” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and CEO of US Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery. “We are focused on creating fresh and authentic experiences for AEW’s passionate and engaged fanbase while also introducing them to our growing lineup of high-action sports and entertainment at TNT and beyond.”
Financial terms were not disclosed but according to Variety, the deal is over $150 million per year.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, WWE champion Cody Rhodes suggested that next year’s WrestleMania might be so big that no one would have even guessed.
“WrestleMania 41 I am looking to do what I’ve done 3 times now and enter the main event,” Rhodes said. “But I think it will be something that, perhaps, is bigger than anyone anticipated!”
Rhodes has main evented night two of WrestleMania 39 against Roman Reigns, night one of WrestleMania 40 with Seth Rollins against The Rock and Roman Reigns, and night two of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns, the night he “finished his story.”
WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas is being promoted already as being the biggest one ever, although attendance-wise it will be anything but that due to the size limitation of the Allegiant Stadium.
The announcement of AEW’s new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery is expected imminently, as in, today, to coincide with Dynamite’s fifth year anniversary.
AEW President Tony Khan said on X that he “may” have an announcement by showtime today, with that announcement being the confirmation of the new television deal.
The announcement has been expected for weeks after both sides wrapped up their negotiations. The deal is not expected to be exclusive as AEW is also working with another network, reportedly FOX, to bring another show to television. Today’s rumored announcement will only concern the deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling is also reporting through his Select service that one part of the deal is for Dynamite and Collision to be simulcast live on Max apart from airing on cable television.
A vignette for a new NXT arrival aired last night prior to the main event of the show.
The 20-second promo showed a red-headed woman walking down a highway in the desert with a skyline showing in the distance. As the camera pans upwards, you see the highway sign with 10 and 27 shown, numbers that suggest October 27.
October 27 is NXT’s next premium live event Halloween Havoc which will be held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The vignette is to promote the arrival of Australian star Delta, who signed with the company a few months ago.
Delta wrestled her last match for Riot City Wrestling in her home country this past July.
The Mr. McMahon series on Netflix made its debut in the #4 spot globally in the TV category, with 4.9 million views and 28.2 million hours consumed.
The six-episode limited series dropped at one go on the streaming service on September 25, two days after the weekly rankings started. Mr. McMahon was behind Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story, Nobody Wants This, and The Perfect Couple.
In major markets, McMahon’s series was #3 in the United States, #3 in Canada, #2 in the United Kingdom, #4 in Australia, #9 in Germany, and #9 in India.
Mr. McMahon is directed by Bill Simmons and executive produced by Chris Smith. It chronicles the rise and fall of the former WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Black and gold is no more as a new era of NXT was ushered in last night on The CW with a brand new logo and brand new men and women’s NXT titles.
The modified logo drops the longer design to the N and T letters of the brand’s acronym, with a more streamlined font and using the black and silver colors.
The now older logo was originally introduced for NXT 2.0 with more colors but that was changed to black and gold again when McMahon left the company.
The new NXT titles also drop the large X on the main plate, with the new logo now front and center. The men’s title has a black leather strap and the women’s title has a white leather strap just like the main roster.
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