The NJPW Strong Women’s champion Stephanie Vaquer appeared on Dynamite last night as the road to Forbidden Door starts.
The Chilean 31-year-old wrestles for the CMLL promotion in Mexico and came out after TBS champion Mercedes Mone successfully defended her title against Skye Blue.
Vaquer stayed at the top of the stage and lifted her title while Mone stayed in the ring and lifted her title, suggesting the two will go head-to-head on the pay-per-view.
The two have a history together already as Mone defeated Vaquer in the semi final of the tournament to crown the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s champion last year in May.
She won the NJPW Strong Women’s title in March at Stardom’s 2024 Cindirella Tournament, defeating Giulia.
MMA has become incredibly popular over the past decade or so, not just among those who want to participate but as an observer sport. The allure lies in the elite sportsmanship required to participate, along with the primal desire of someone to overcome the odds and beat an opponent, among other things. However, what makes it especially appealing to watch is when you can place a wager on the outcome of a match and pocket a bit of money in the process. But how to go about the process if you’ve never done so before? We will explore four great strategies that anyone can use to improve their odds of success.
Research Fighters And Their Styles
Before finding a sportsbook and depositing your life savings into your bankroll, you should first understand that betting on MMA is not too dissimilar to how you might do other sports. That is to say, you first need to actually enjoy the sport, and then it’s crucial to take some time to research and observe how the fighters operate. For anyone wondering how to bet on mma, this tip is perhaps the most critical. Once you have a good depth of knowledge regarding each fighter and their styles, you will gain a significant advantage. For example, when watching any fighter from the Caucasus, you can rest assured that they will favor getting their opponent to the floor with powerful throws and then pummeling them into submission. This could stand in contrast to Western fighters, who may prefer a boxing-style approach. This is merely an example, but the point remains that by knowing where each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses are, you can bet more strategically.
Stay Disciplined And Manage Bankroll
Managing your bankroll is as crucial to ensuring success as knowing where to place your money. Why is this? Well, if you don’t have any money to put down because you blasted it all on a “sure thing” you heard from some random online, that will be the end of your betting adventures (at least for that day). Just like the fighters you are attaching, you must maintain discipline at all times, in the amounts you bet, as well as the bets you make.
Don’t Let Emotions Sway Decisions
Just because you are from a particular state where your favorite fighter hails from doesn’t mean squat if they’re always on the wrong end of an arm lock. If you genuinely want to succeed, you may even have to bet on some of the more unsavory characters in the sport who happen to be the best…you can just hold your nose and pocket the cash! This tip also extends to not chasing your losses. If you are on a losing streak, you should know when to call it quits and save your money for another day.
Join MMA Betting Communities Online
MMA is a massive sport and consequently has plenty of highly active forums you can participate in to learn more about the overall sport as well as the fighters. You can often glean a considerable amount of very relevant information from others who have put in the legwork and use it to your advantage when a fight comes up.
Betting on MMA is a great way to watch a highly athletic and entertaining sport while possibly making your wallet fatter in the process. As long as you follow these tips, you should be a winner.
If you’re interested in getting Peacock Premium with the WWE Network, today is the day to get it as the streaming service has an offer for today only where you pay just $19.99 for a full year.
That works out to just $1.66 per month and a savings of $40 over 12 months. This subscription is the one with ads.
Peacock Premium is increasing its monthly subscription over the next two months and this will lock your price for a whole year. After Peacock raises its prices, this annual plan will be $79.99.
You are also able to cancel your subscription any time through the Peacock website to prevent it from auto-renewing next year.
This offer is for new subscribers only but you can use a different e-mail address to get this promotion.
Former WWE employee Janel Grant, who is suing Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE, has agreed to pause her lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Justice Department as the government conducts its own investigation according to a new story by Bloomberg.
The pause is for six months according to someone familiar with the case.
“Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation,” Grant’s attorney Ann Callis said in a statement today. “We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”
All the defendants are denying the claims.
The lawsuit has led to the departure of Vince McMahon from his role as Executive Chairman of TKO Group Holdings, ending his long association with WWE once and for all.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling is reporting through his Select service that Chad Gable’s WWE contract is expiring next week.
The two sides have not reached an agreement on either an extension or a new contract yet and Gable could be a free agent in just a matter of days.
Gable has been featured heavily and regularly on WWE television lately as the leader of the Alpha Academy and is in one of the most prominent storylines on Raw every week.
The 38-year-old has been working with WWE since 2013.
AEW President Tony Khan appeared on The Rich Eisen Show on The Roku Channel and donated his neck brace for charity.
Khan signed the neck brace which he used during the NFL Draft to sell the attack from The Elite and donated it for Eisen’s Run Rich Run charity benefiting St. Judes.
But Khan went a step further than that and bid $100,000 on the neck brace himself and gifted it back to the Rich Eisen Studio, where it will now live on Eisen’s bust.
.@AEW owner/CEO @TonyKhan stopped by ahead of #AEWDynamite here in Los Angeles to talk about getting a TK Driver, wearing the neck brace in the @Jaguars#NFLDraft war room and why it’ll be forever in our studios!
After making a surprise return at Double or Nothing, MJF will return to AEW television next week on Dynamite.
His return was announced during the show last night.
MJF has been absent from AEW television for five months, with his last appearance coming at the Worlds End pay-per-view on December 30 when he lost the AEW World title to Samoa Joe.
The free agency battle which was hyped for months last year also did not happen as MJF announced that he’s not going anywhere. He is believed to have signed a deal late last year after his contract was going to run out at the beginning of 2024.
As expected, the TNT title has been vacated by Adam Copeland after he announced that he broke his leg coming off the top of the cage on Sunday in his Double or Nothing match against Malakai Black.
The TNT title will be up for grabs at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view and it will be a ladder match to determine who will be the new champion.
Qualifying matches will start this week on Rampage with Konosuke Takeshita vs Penta El Zero Miedo in the first match.
Originally, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson addressed the title situation in an in-ring segment and as EVPs, “stripped” the title off Copeland. Then they said they know a guy to take over the title: Jack Perry.
But things did not go The Elite’s way as Christopher Daniels came out and said he is the new Interim EVP and shot down the idea of Perry getting the title and instead announced the ladder match.
Professional wrestling draws millions to its mix of athleticism and dramatic performance. Wrestlers don’t just show off their physical skills; they also dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their craft.
This sport blurs the lines between drama and reality, pushing its stars to their limits in the ring and beyond. Outside the spotlight, wrestlers engage in various activities to support their careers, manage their health, and secure their finances.
Their pursuits are as diverse as the characters they portray—some write autobiographies, others build fitness businesses, and many support charitable causes. These athletes’ lives showcase a combination of determination and strategic thinking, reflecting the complex challenges they face in their profession.
The High Stakes: Wrestlers and Risk Management
Wrestling demands everything from its participants. Athletes push their bodies to the brink, facing risks like severe injuries and concussions. They must sustain their performance over long careers. Like wrestlers, online casino players encounter challenges. Making smart decisions is key.
On sites like Spelpressen.se, knowing the odds is crucial, much like a wrestler timing a risky move. Both require sharp timing and a clear grasp of the risks, blending physical and mental challenges into a winning strategy.
Training and Discipline: The Wrestler’s Regimen
Strength isn’t the only requirement for being a wrestling champion. Dedication and discipline also play vital roles. Wrestlers stick to tough training and strict rules:
Training: Wrestlers train hard every day, doing strength exercises, cardio, and practicing moves. This tough routine keeps them ready for any fight.
Eating Right: They stay fit not only by working out but also by eating well. Their diets are designed to boost performance and help them recover quickly.
Mental Toughness: Mental and physical strength go hand in hand. Wrestlers have to bounce back from setbacks and stay focused even under pressure like players making smart bets in games of strategy.
Always Learning: Wrestlers keep getting better by studying their past fights and changing their moves. It’s like how people learn to bet better by watching and adjusting.
Diversifying Income: How Wrestlers Stay Financially Secure
Many professional wrestlers find extra ways to make money to stay secure when they’re no longer fighting in the ring. They earn from endorsements, acting, and investments.
Stars like Dave Bautista and Randy Orton have boosted their bank accounts by acting and landing endorsement deals, using their wrestling fame to their advantage. Endorsements can be very profitable, matching the wrestler’s image with what their fans like.
This might include deals for sports gear and clothes or showing up in ads and on social media. Big wrestling names often snag deals with top brands, tapping into their huge online followings.
Acting is also a big move for many wrestlers. John Cena and Dwayne Johnson, for instance, have moved into acting in films and TV, which helps them make more money and expands their careers.
Wrestling with Fame: Public Life and Private Challenges
The spotlight of fame brings significant changes to wrestlers’ personal lives, notably by reducing their privacy and subjecting them to intense public scrutiny. Like other famous people, high-profile wrestlers constantly face public attention, both inside and outside the ring, which creates immense pressure.
Media coverage often distorts their stories and exaggerates aspects of their lives, adding more stress to how wrestlers manage their public image. Wrestlers must carefully decide how much of their personal life to reveal to maintain a balance that impacts their popularity and career opportunities beyond wrestling.
The consequences of privacy invasion can be severe, similar to what other celebrities experience when their personal lives are exploited for entertainment.
Beyond the Ring: Wrestlers’ Contributions to Society
Wrestlers also fight for good causes apart from fighting in the ring. Take Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, for example. He has a big heart. He has donated several times to charities like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Red Cross.
His actions show how wrestlers can rally people to support important causes. Wrestling organizations and their stars also dive into community work.
For instance, the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation teams up with local groups to run toy drives and educational programs that make kids’ lives better and strengthen communities.
These efforts highlight how wrestlers contribute more than just entertainment; they play a significant role in making society better, proving they are heroes in and out of the ring.
A Life of Passion and Dedication
Wrestlers live lives filled with challenges and triumphs, both in and out of the ring. They not only face physical opponents but also handle complex task,s like managing finances and dealing with public relations, which gives them skills useful in different high-pressure situations.
Additionally, they go beyond personal success by making a positive impact on communities through charity work and public appearances. Recognizing these aspects helps fans understand the full extent of what it takes to be a wrestler—where every decision counts, just like every move in the ring.
Wrestlers demonstrate resilience and strategic thinking, embodying the essence of both athletes and skilled strategists in their everyday lives and beyond.
The new AEW International champion Will Ospreay won the Casino Gauntlet match last night on Dynamite to become the number one contender for the AEW World title.
Ospreay now gets his chance to go for the top AEW gold at the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view later next month.
The other participants included Jay White, Pac, Mistico, Shota Umino, Claudio Castagnoli, Lio Rush, Orange Cassidy, and Hechicero. Ospreay beat Cassidy to win the match.
The British star will now face Swerve Strickland on the June 30 pay-per-view from the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.
The ‘soon to be newly-crowned TBS champion (Excalibur’s words)’ Mercedes Mone out to start the show. Wearing her belt. And dressed in gold too. She danced, self-satisfied. And smiled a lot.
A decent-ish ‘CEO’ chant started. But hardly anyone joined in her catchphrase. ‘Wasn’t I worth the wait?’ Sunday was a celebration of five years of AEW and ‘the greatest of all time – me.’ Mone said she and Willow had a great match but Willow’s way too nice. She could’ve told her not to trust Stat and Stokely.
She hopes Willow ‘comes back… better than ever,’ (so she’s injured from one move on the ramp?) and ‘kicks their ass.’ She stopped to dance again. There’s a target on her back but she’s ready. Skye Blue appeared on the screen. She intro’d a clip of Mone being attacked in the dark.
Blue said she’d done it and was just getting started (the flat reveal of that suggests they were initially going another way). Then attacked from behind and hit a TKO. I know AEW are short of women who can work and who the crowd care about. But this is incredibly underwhelming.
And we might as well just give up trying to figure out whether Mone or Storm are faces or heels. They’re both at the same time. Probably would’ve been worth actually letting Mone get a bit more shine here considering her win Sunday was overshadowed by heels too.
*****
The EVPs will address the TNT title situation later. Wasn’t Tony Khan back on Sunday?
They were shown arriving earlier, Jack Perry in his ‘Scapegoat’ bus/van. Not a great look. Before going to clips of the ppv. Which is a lot more than they usually do. Including of course Swerve with Floyd Mayweather.
A ‘long history of domestic violence’ per several sites after a quick Google search.
Tony Khan might want to reconsider how often he throws shade at others for who they do business with. Certainly makes me think a lot less of Swerve.
Swerve Strickland vs Killswitch
Backstory: NONE
After ducking and dodging, Swerve was sent outside, hit a kick to the knee coming back in and began targeting the leg before a swinging neckbreaker, which he rolled through all the way into a draping one off the apron.
Apparently Tony Khan has a big announcement later. What? Who’s in charge?
The big guy caught Swerve attempting an apron pump and swung him off into the steps. Then repeatedly against the barricade.
Ads.
Swerve tried to counter a goozle via triangle choke and kicked his way free, leaping up into a flatliner. Kick to the leg, diving elbow to the spine, stupid dance, suplex blocked until countering one of Killswitch’ back into one of his own. Switch fought off another flatliner, chokeslam, two.
Taz called Swerve ‘the world champion’ and I did a double take. Damn sure doesn’t feel it in this position against this opponent.
Every AEW match must now have shenanigans so Switch grabbed a chair. Nana took it away to a big pop, Swerve hit a Stomp off the apron. Was setting up the House Call back inside when Switch countered with a shot and standing moonsault for two.
Swerve hit a release German into House Call but wasn’t done. Swerve Stomp to win. What!!? Killswitch kicked out. A second House Call did it. Well, you surprised the crowd, so if that was the matches’ goal…
Swerve cut a lock of Killswitch’s hair in reprisal for last month.
Cannot remember the last time Killswitch was even a minutely-important part of AEW television. Let alone won a match. And he pushed the world champion. Good action; no drama.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Schiavone said Tony Khan had an announcement of an announcement. Even the other announcers made fun of him.
Schiavone said Mercedes is defending against Skye Blue tonight for the title. Okay. If Blue’s a one-night stand, that’s fine.
*****
To Mox backstage. He put over Rocky to good effect, as he does with everyone he faces. Is tonight a bad idea? He asked rhetorically. Sure. His arm’s messed up. ‘But then again when am I ever 100%?’
‘Why? That’s what champions do? They show up. They get in the ring and they bust their ass. I’m not pissin away at Disney World today’ (who’s that a shot at?).
He mentioned his hectic schedule of defences. He’ll be the man who stands atop ‘New Japan, AEW and anywhere the hell else I wanna go.’ Excellent promo. Hardworking, ducks no challengers but has confidence in himself.
Now…
*****
To what I was dreading. The most visual representation of the WWEification of AEW we’ve seen in five years. A ‘talk-show’ segment: ‘TV Time.’ Big Bill stood in the ring with a cardboard tree and ‘grass’ across the ring. There were light, droning boos.
Jericho coming out did nothing to add to this. It’s weird, they’ve got like 5,000 people in the house but it’s still so dark.
A light ‘please retire’ chant could be heard. Jericho pushed his new shirt and thanked fans for making it a #1 seller. He called his fans ‘branches.’ Which is tremendously crap. And again bragged about being the longest-ever For the World champion. Hook and Shibata gave him a hell of a match but ‘if adversity is ice-cream, always put a cherry on top.’
He must be having great fun looking up these lines. The crowd are dead by the way. Dead. Introducing Bryan Keith did nothing to change this. You’re shocked, I’ll give you a minute.
Jericho asked Keith what made him want to become a ‘disciple.’ Was hoping Keith would say he’s not. But instead he said Jericho doesn’t get enough respect. Absolute silence. Until a ‘STFU’ chant. Which was not a joke or fans playing along, but a genuine demand.
After some deliberately awful ‘bad apple’/’learning tree’ puns, Hook came out to minimal reaction. He was being held back by security until Samoa Joe’s music played and the fans actually made noise. Somehow Joe was already ringside, whispered words to Hook and they left.
This was rotten. And that’s not a pun. Hook/Joe stuff’s intriguing though. Anything that keeps Joe on my screen.
*****
Excalibur threw to the wrong segment. At least he said so, quickly introducing another. Before they did indeed throw to the segment he originally introduced, the death of Konosuke Takeshita Sunday.
Though it was very quick, making it seem like the video guys tried to cover for him? Anyway, a mess.
They then threw to a package on CMLL’s Stephanie Vacquer. Excalibur said she’s coming to AEW. Decent package.
Rocky Romero vs Jon Moxley (IWGP Eliminator)
Backstory: NONE
Rocky threw a dropkick and tope before the bell, then they brawled around ringside. Romero going after the arm with stiff kicks as they returned to the ring. But taking Mox’s suplex bomb before the champ launched stiff kicks. Crowd are silent again btw.
Chop in the corner, superplex fought off by Romero going after the arm. Armdrag takedown, running shotgun, Mox to the apron. A light pro-Mox chant breaking the silence briefly. Before Rocky snapped the arm across the top rope. Then the bottom.
Ads. There are enough fans tonight to make wrestlers feel like stars, if they’d put the right ones out there against the right opponent.
Back to a Moxley superplex, the champ flexing his arm, running lariat in the corner, ten punches, Romero hit kicks to the arm and paintbrushed the champ, who came back via cutter out of nowhere.
Romero went for a juijigitame; Mox clasped his hands together then floated over into knees to the head. Right into the bulldog. But couldn’t grip with his arm. Rocky wrenched back with the arm hammerlocked, Mox blocked two corner attacks, Rocky got an armbar, the crowd couldn’t have cared less because Moxley’s obviously not going to lose.
He stomped his way free then nailed a KKL. Rocky again tried to target the arm but took a discus lariat. Death Rider, even for this the crowd barely roused themselves. Though at least this top babyface didn’t have his finish kicked out of.
Solid action; far too long, no drama, no debate over the finish, which is why it played to silence.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Renee with Hook and Joe backstage, locked in conversation. Joe said they did not exist on Jericho’s time, ‘truly dangerous men exist on ‘our’ time.’ Even Taz said he didn’t know what was going on. They left.
Like this. Joe can talk for Hook and his badass aura rubs off a little.
*****
Don Callis out. Loud boos. He had something ‘more valuable than gold,’ a Callis Fam contract. Should check their win/loss record. It’s been his pleasure to scout a talent like Orange Cassidy.
Cassidy came out. Who ‘cannot possibly be considering this can he?’ per Schiavone. Smart man. Callis deliberately-very-badly tried to offer the contract in a Cassidy-like manner. Nice stuff. He kissed Cassidy’s ass then offered the contract.
He’s so good, knows his character so well, every little nuance.
Cassidy tore it up in front of him. Light ‘freshly squeezed’ chant. ‘Hey Don… no.’
Callis whipped him around and asked who the hell he was. Stokely and Stat came out, Stokely said there was nothing he liked about Orange, he reminds him of Willow, but is out here because of Statlander. She said ‘on behalf of my best friend, he accepts your invitation to the Callis Family.’
Trent appeared behind Orange and beat him down. This sucks. Dumb storytelling with too many plot holes to count. Then there’s the question of why anybody would want to recruit Trent Beretta.
Trent and Callis did the Best Friends’ hug. Which AEW don’t seem to realize no-one cares about. Orange was bleeding. Crowd chanted ‘You sold out,’ and there were some boos so perhaps they were more into this than I.
Related to the above re: Callis, he stomped Cassidy but hurt his foot in doing so. So at least it ended on a high.
*****
Daniel Garcia and Matt Menard backstage. Garcia basically complained that others get opportunities he doesn’t, while he’s stuck in the mud. He was rude to Renee, then vowed to climb the rankings, take Ospreay’s title and leave his bags lighter.
Seen it far too many times. Stop/start, stop/start.
Mercedes Mone vs Skye Blue (TBS Title)
Backstory: See start of show
It was only when they mentioned this being Mercedes’ in-ring Dynamite debut that I realized they probably should have built to this.
Mone ducked a cheap shot, running Blue to the corner, lighting her up, avoided another charge, knee strike, leaping armdrag from the top, dropkick, quick one count. Real nice snap to Mone’s wrestling.
Shoulder to the gut, tejeiras, crowd finally made a little noise as Blue bailed outside. Seemed a mix of cheers and boos for the champ. Which is understandable because it’s hard to tell what she is. Meteora off the apron, Blue sent back in, two count.
Blue countered a suplex into a small package then showed her experience level, Mercedes waiting with her head hanging through the ropes, for a boot which finally came, a Blue draping neckbreaker got two.
Ads.
God this looked so bad coming back from break – pure darkness, dead crowd, no atmosphere.
Mone jawbreakered her way free, boot up in the corner, dragging Blue into the buckle with her feet, sunset flip to put Blue into position for another meteora. Near fall. Backstabber for the same.
She positioned Blue beneath the buckle but was cut off. Blue hit a thrust kick, Mone countered a powerbomb into a rana, Blue hit a twisting full-nelson slam for another close count. Mone ducked a shot, hit a knee, took a superkick but countered Code Blue into a Mone Maker in a really cool finish.
Has to be Skye Blue’s best match. Mercedes is so good. She smartly controlled most of it. And took most of it too. And it didn’t go too long.
Stephanie Vaquer came out. She eyed Mercedes. Each held up their title.
Winner: Mercedes Mone
Renee waiting for word on Orange from the docs. Stokely and Stat interrupted. He made fun of people who are thirty and think Disney is still a magical place (presumably that’s Willow? So was Mox taking a shot at her earlier?).
He said the catalyst for the turn was a four-way in March where Stat said she desperately wanted to become champion again. That she’d returned from back-to-back ACLs while ‘most of these bitches’ miss time with a sinus infection. And he hasn’t started addressing the women’s division yet…
He intro’d the new, improved Kris Statlander.
She kept addressing ‘You,’ no idea whether that was fans or Willow, it wasn’t clear. She basically said she’d been there for everyone and got nothing from it. Now they’d need protection from her.
Stokely was good; Stat wasn’t. Generic. If she wanted that particular title so badly, shouldn’t she be after Mercedes? Can we get a direct explanation as to why Willow’s not here? Is she injured? What’s the injury? How long will she be out?
*****
They showed MJF’s return Sunday. Finally mentioning him, over an hour into the show. A voiced-over package played talking about ‘MJF: the Legacy’ returning. Youngest ever champ and etc. Ending with ‘and he’s not fucking (bleeped) leaving.’ Corny finish.
*****
The fans were chanting ‘MJF’ in anticipation; the Bucks came out instead. That’s some nice easy heat. Though if these fans don’t get to see Max at all they’d be entitled to feel pissed. Presumably some scooped tix after he returned.
Okada got a nice pop, disdain across his face. Perry out last. To a decent number of boos. The first time I’ve ever heard his theme. And I watch twice a week.
Excalibur explained that Perry had missed Darby with the ‘bus’ Sunday. ‘Shut up bitches,’ began Okada, this dude’s just hilarious – mannerisms, the way he says things. Not sure it’s great for his overall image but it’s entertaining. As evidenced when the fans popped and chanted his name.
Perry grabbed a mic and said ‘the Elite run this shit.’ Khan and Omega handpicked a team, set him on fire, yet they still won. He mentioned it was his first match in nine months (someone had to). And he pinned Bryan Danielson.
Nicholas pushed their new Reeboks, which they were all wearing. And the week was capped by winning Sunday. Largely thanks to their two colleagues, so they had brought gifts. They showed a black Lamborghini pulling up for Okada.
Okada was overcome.
Nicholas tried a heelish ‘you deserve it’ chant but the crowd took it up. Okada feigned tears and yelled ‘I love you,’ then came up straight-faced.
(Why aren’t they mad at Darby for trying to set Perry on fire? In fact they haven’t even mentioned it, he’s just fine.)
Matt moved on to business, said Copeland was injured and thought he’d jinxed him by saying ‘break a leg,’ as Copeland went out Sunday. He said they had to make tough decisions as EVPs, so stripped him of the TNT Title.
So they need a new champion, ‘and we know just the guy.’ After the biggest win of his career Sunday, he presented the new TNT champ, Jack Perry. Christopher Daniels interrupted. He has a new job – so another authority figure.
He’s basically Tony’s rep. So you know what’s coming – a tournament. With no managers allowed, no interference. The winners will face at Forbidden Door… ‘in a ladder match!!’
Why? Who knows.
The first match will be on ‘Friday Night Dynamite.’ He didn’t say who or what or anything else. The Elite went to go attack him when the Acclaimed and Billy Gunn came out. Again, details.
*****
Swerve and Nana backstage. He beat Cage, got revenge over Killswitch. He’s curious who his next contender will be. He looked off-camera and said there are a lot of champions, surprises and ex-champions in the Gauntlet match. As if they were all stood waiting to go out.
He’s curious to see who’ll enter ‘whose house…?’ He did his supervillain cackle then left.
*****
Rush called out MJF immediately after they announced the latter would return next week (boy did these fans boo when they realized they weren’t getting Max).
Casino Gauntlet for AEW Title shot at Forbidden Door
Participants: Jay White, Pac, Mistico, Will Ospreay, Shota Umino, Claudio Castagnoli, Lio Rush, Orange Cassidy, Hechicero
This thing’s got some tv time. Jay White out first, waiting. Pac next, fans oohed. He beelined to the ring and nailed a pump kick to a still-robed White. Once again, you can win at any time and if a wrestler’s not out yet, they’re outta luck.
Pac beat White around ringside until White hit a chop and tried to flee back inside. Pac vaulted in after him, step-up rana, White right back outside for an incredibly graceful dive, Pac landing on his feet. Right back in again, the Geordie hit a shotgun from the top.
White out at two.
As Mistico came out: got a big pop here in Cali. Probably could’ve put the lights up if he’d been advertised. He fought off White then scrapped with Pac, who was sent outside via thrust kick, and hit a cross body from the top to the floor onto the two.
Ads.
Back to a huge pop as Mr. Ospreay entered. Jesus what a reaction. He took out Mistico, White tried a cheapshot sleeper suplex, tried to butter up Ospreay who sent him out to Pac, who sent him back in to Ospreay and a corkscrew kick, Pac snuck in to rollup Ospreay for a near fall.
They jawed, Mistico took advantage into La Mistica on Ospreay. As Shota Umino came out, his music getting zero reaction. He broke the hold. Is cool seeing all these different guys mix it up.
He and Ospreay were left, Shota hit a running uppercut before a brilliant, rapid sequence of ducks and dodges, strikes and feints until a big Umino dropkick. Fans loved this. Loudest they’ve been all night. Umino vaulting over into a ddt on the apron, tornado one coming back in, Jay White broke the pin. New Japan have to be happy at how that sequence made Umino look.
Claudio out to a nice pop. Seemingly there’s some heat with Claudio and Jay White? Claudio chased him around the ring, smashing through guys along the way until Umino got a rollup for two but took an uppercut, White broke the pin.
Gunns up for the crowd, leading to him being swept into the swing. Would love to know what the issue is here? Mind telling me announcers?
Ads. During which Claudio gave swings to everyone. Including sweeping the ref into one, until realizing who it was. Crowd frenzied.
Lio Rush out – so bridges must’ve been mended. He kept avoiding Claudio, step-up enziguri, tripping the big man to the apron, knocking him off, Umino tried to attack from behind, Rush slipped out and hit an enziguri but ran into a forearm, each trying to fake and feint the other while running the ropes, crashing together, firing up, until Claudio smashed both down.
This is very well paced, keeping the crowd into it with the entrances while giving guys a chance to shine (except Jay White who just always gets his ass kicked).
Orange out. His head was taped. He sought a tornado ddt on CC, was caught but eventually landed stundog then hit the ddt. Popping up but dropping down holding his head, as Ospreay thought about a Hidden Blade. But thought better of the cheap shot. White didn’t though, sleeper suplex for Ospreay, uranage for Orange, near fall.
Hechicero out. To another pretty good reaction in Cali. He too easily shook off Jay White. Who’s too unselfish for his own good. Then took out Claudio and Ospreay with innovative holds and flips, cradling Orange for two, heading upstairs, diving elbow/cross body onto Ospreay. Mistico hit a springboard rana to take Ospreay out, Rush took Hechicero out, Umino took him out, Mistico took Claudio out with déjà vu, left alone in the ring.
Until springboarding out into a rana on Claudio.
Back inside, Umino looked for Paradigm Shift on Cassidy, who sent him packing with a Punch, Pac tried a rollup, Cassidy countered for two, took a thrust kick, White again snuck in seeking Blade Runner, Pac hit a pump kick in the corner, Juice Robinson came out, the crowd spotting him before the fans did.
He knocked Pac off the buckle, right in front of the ref, anything goes apparently. White avoided a Punch into a sleeper suplex, Ospreay saved a Blade Runner, Orange countered Stormbreaker into a rana, legs hooked, Ospreay just out at two, ducking a Punch, Oscutter, 1, 2, 3.
Genuinely disappointed that ended. Amazingly entertaining.
First thing all night that felt big-time, that the crowd cared about. Probably because it was the only thing all night with both stakes and some debate over the finish.
As the show finished on a high after being largely disappointing. And I complained in the ppv preview about predictable AEW title matches. This one’s anything but. Interesting to see where the booking takes us.
*****
Swerve out, belt over shoulder, eyes fixed on Ospreay. He entered the ring, circling his contender before they went face-to-face and Ospreay pointed at the gold.
Mox’s promo – the most effective talking on the show, saying a lot with a little
Mone vs Blue (if they were men, this might have been par for the course, but if Mercedes can drag the basement for a women’s match to this, it’ll raise the overall standard significantly)
Joe mentoring Hook
Main event, for the reasons mentioned above, fantastically fun and engaging
*****
Jericho segment. Awful, purposeless for much of it, and absolutely dead
Who’s in charge?
Callis/Trent/Orange segment, none of it makes any sense, but what makes even less is how much tv time it’s had
How did we get over an hour in before they mentioned MJF?
Long matches; obvious finishes
Why isn’t Willow here? Can we get an explanation?
Appreciate you reading. Hope you’re having a good week.
The Double or Nothing fallout will take place on Dynamite tonight live from the KIA Forum in Inglewood, California.
The broadcast will be headlined by a Casino Gauntlet match to see who will be the new number one contender for the AEW World title.
Other matches announced for the show include AEW World champion Swerve Strickland vs Killswitch, IWGP World Heavyweight Jon Moxley vs Rocky Romero in an eliminator match, and Saraya vs Mariah May.
Also set for tonight are Mercedes Mone’s TBS title celebration and the debut of a new segment with Chris Jericho titled TV Time.
Collision on Saturday night on TBS drew 415,000 viewers, down 107,000 viewers from the prior week. The show had a 0.15 rating in 18-49, the same rating that it had the previous week. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
Cassidy Haynes from Bodyslam.net is reporting that Jake Hager has departed AEW after his contract expired yesterday without any renewal.
Hager, who has been working for AEW since the inaugural episode of Dynamite in October 2019, has not been used much lately on television and his last match was in late February on an episode of Rampage.
The former WWE World Heavyweight champion then known as Jack Swagger was part of The Inner Circle and Jericho Appreciation Society, both factions fronted by Chris Jericho.
Several AEW stars have their contracts coming up over the next weeks and months and a lot of departures are expected.
Rampage last Friday on TNT drew its lowest viewership ever with just 222,000 tuning in. Rampage was not in its usual time slot and started at 6PM ET. The number is down 169,000 viewers from last week and had a 0.08 rating in 18-49, down 0.05 from the last show. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
Arn Anderson, who has been working with AEW since early 2020, is departing the company effective June 1.
The WWE Hall of Famer and member of the famous Four Horsemen said on his podcast that his last day with AEW is May 31 and will not be renewing his deal, instead focusing on his son Brock.
Anderson thanked several people including Tony Khan, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross, and co-workers like Dean Malenko, Jerry Lynn, and Billy Gunn for everything they’ve done.
Anderson made his AEW debut at All Out 2019 coming to the aid of Cody Rhodes and then signed a deal with the company to start in January 2020, serving as Cody’s advisor. While doing several on-screen appearances, Anderson also worked backstage.
He had previously been working with WWE as a producer but was fired in early 2019 after it was revealed that he allowed Alicia Fox to wrestle at a non-televised live event while she was intoxicated.
Michin and Kelani Jordan are the final two entrants in the NXT Women’s North American title ladder match at Battleground.
The two advanced to the match after they each won their qualifying matches against Tatum Paxley and Wren Sinclair respectively.
They now join Lash Legend, Sol Ruca, Fallon Henley, and Jaida Parker to crown the inaugural champion in the same way that the NXT North American title was decided for the men several years ago.
The world of professional wrestling is all about the brilliance of the performance. It is an arena where athletes must not only excel physically, but also shine in their presentation and appearance. Just as a wrestler stands out with his unique moves and charisma, a diamond stands out through its cut and brilliance. The royal asscher cut, a diamond cut with a royal history, is the perfect symbol for the shine of success in the ring.
The royal asscher cut a royal history
The royal asscher cut is not just any diamond cut; it is a piece of heritage. Developed by the Asscher family in 1902, this cut quickly became popular with royalty and the elite. The unique structure of the cut, with its deep pavilion and high crown, provides unparalleled brilliance. It is a cut that represents prestige and class, much like a championship belt in the world of professional wrestling.
Shining in the spotlight are the similarities between wrestling and diamonds
When you think of the spotlight shining on the wrestling ring, you think of how every move, every technique and every expression is amplified. This is similar to how a diamond like the royal asscher cut catches and reflects light. Each facet of the diamond is carefully cut to achieve the ultimate brilliance, just as a wrestler hones his skills to deliver the ultimate performance.
The psychology of brilliance how bling and performance go hand in hand
There is a psychological aspect to both the sparkle of a diamond and the appearance of a wrestler. Wearing a piece with a royal asscher cut diamond can give one a feeling of confidence and success. This is similar to the way a wrestler wearing a championship belt exudes an aura of invincibility. It’s the bling that not only makes you stand out, but also makes a statement about your achievements and status.
The taped Smackdown from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, drew 2,147,000 viewers, down 39,000 viewers from the prior week and the third least-watched episode of the year. It went against the NBA Western Conference Finals which had a combined audience of over 6 million viewers across two stations and the NHL Eastern Conference Finals. The show had a 0.56 rating in 18-49, down 0.03 from last week and the lowest of the year. Smackdown was #1 on network television but #3 across all of TV for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
Ethan Page, who most recently was part of the AEW roster, made a surprise debut in NXT last night and took out NXT champion Trick Williams in the show-closing angle.
The final segment saw Lash Legend ask Williams if he attacked Noam Dar and Oro Mensah and before Williams could plead his case, the lights inside the Performance Center went out. As soon as they came back on, Page attacked the champion from behind, pushing him into Legend.
“That’s Ethan Page,” screamed Vic Joseph on commentary. “Wasn’t he in AE…?” he continued, before he got cut off exactly by Page, admitting that he was the one with the recent attacks backstage.
The Canadian departed AEW earlier this month after he spent three years with the promotion. Page was part of Men of the Year with Scorpio Sky and Dan Lambert of American Top Team and later was also part of The Firm before moving mostly to Ring of Honor.
