Monday Night Raw is trying to recover from record-low ratings these past two weeks as it goes head-to-head with more NFL on both ABC and ESPN.
The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes will be kicking off the show in hopes of spiking up that number and viewers sticking around.
Matches announced for tonight’s show include Dominik Mysterio vs Dragon Lee for the NXT North American title, Otis vs Bronson Reed, and Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn get their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles rematch against Finn Balor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day.
Plus, Shinsuke Nakamura will be responding to Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will be a guest on MizTV.
During a Q&A show with AdFreeShows.com, current ROH World and NJPW Strong Openweight champion Eddie Kingston revealed that he signed a new, four-year deal with All Elite Wrestling.
Kingston said that fans didn’t hear about it because he did his business on the low and no one needs to know how much and how long.
“My thing was coming up, I got four more years,” he said. “I got my f*cking shit. I got my shit and I’m going to be there for a minute because there is nowhere else I want to be.”
Kingston made his AEW debut in July 2020 when he answered Cody’s challenge for the TNT title and remained with the promotion ever since.
He won the ROH World title at the Dynamite: Grand Slam episode last week.
The second half of the 1000th episode of Impact last week, technically episode 1001, drew 106,000 viewers, down 1,000 viewers from the previous show. Impact did the same 0.01 rating in 18-49 as the previous two weeks. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
Speaking to TMZ Sports, former NXT Women’s champion Mandy Rose said that the response to her OnlyFans has been great and loves that she can directly chat with fans while offering them photoshoots, behind-the-scenes content, and “spicy” stuff.
“Financially, I’ve been doing really well,” Mandy said, adding that both personally and mentally she feels amazing and now she can spend more time with her family and get involved in things she never thought she would.
Mandy said that WWE is an amazing platform and she will be forever grateful for the opportunity but the company is not the “be-all and end-all.”
Asked if fans will see her back in a ring, Mandy said that she does miss performing, the adrenaline rush, and the comradery.
“I don’t know about the future, I am a free agent, if the right call comes around and I feel like making an appearance, kinda coming back to any wrestling federation out there, I’m not saying it’s a no, but right now I’m pretty busy, it has to be the right call,” she said.
The former champ admitted that money since joining OnlyFans has been “life-changing” but she does not want to brag about a number.
“I have a lot of financial freedom right now, it’s been pretty lucrative, not gonna lie,” she concluded.
The West Australian newspaper has started rumors that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could be appearing at the upcoming Elimination Chamber premium live event in Perth.
“Speculation mounts Perth to smell what The Rock is cooking” the story says, published yesterday evening, adding that The Rock “stands a chance” of coming Down Under to be part of the show.
The Rock admitted two weeks ago that a match against Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 39 was “locked in” but then the stars did not align. He did mention WrestleMania 40 in Philly as another possibility and Elimination Chamber will be the final stop before Mania.
In related news, there are websites which are saying that WWE had 80,000 pre-registrations for Elimination Chamber, with The West Australian cited as the source, however, neither their website nor their social media has published that figure.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that Sheamus is out with a shoulder injury.
Meltzer described the injury as “really bad” and the Celtic Warrior has not appeared on WWE television – or non-televised live events – since the August 18 episode of Friday Night Smackdown.
On that night, Sheamus wrestled Edge in Toronto in what was Edge’s last match under his WWE deal.
It’s unknown how long Sheamus is out for and Sean Ross Sapp of Fightul also added this weekend that Sheamus’ contract with WWE expires next year and has not been renewed yet.
If he is out for an extended period of time, WWE could add all that time to his current deal.
The card for the AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view increased by five matches this weekend.
The October 1 pay-per-view will honor the late Antonio Inoki on his one year anniversary of his death.
The matches announced are Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita, and Sammy Guevara versus Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Chris Jericho in a trios match, Christian Cage defends his newly-won TNT title against Darby Allin in a two-out-of-three falls match, Eddie Kingston defends both the ROH World and NJPW Strong Openweight titles against Katsuyori Shibata, Kris Statlander puts up her TBS title against Julia Hart, and a number one contenders match for the AEW Tag Team titles will see a four-way featuring Lucha Bros vs Hook and Orange Cassidy vs The Young Bucks vs The Gunns.
Tickets for the show, taking place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington are available now at AEWTix.com.
AEW Women’s champion Saraya wrote on social media that all her wrestling gear, apart from a couple of outfits, have gone missing.
“Heads up to the public. All my wrestling gear has recently gone missing, including some items that I owned for ten years and had sentimental value,” Saraya wrote. “Jackets, my return gear, Wembley gear, Outcast gear, the whole lot. Luckily, I have two jackets left, but I would love for you guys to keep an eye out on the internet and auction sites because someone may wind up selling stuff eventually.”
Saraya is offering AEW tickets and an autograph to anyone that leads to the recovery of the items. If you hear or spot them, contact Hello@allelitewrestling.com with a subject line of Saraya Gear and all the details.
AEW Collision tonight comes to us from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI. After last week drawing 467,000 & 0.15 in the 18-49 demo.
Good god we’re gonna get Jericho, Omega & Ibushi vs Takeshita, Sammy & Ospreay aren’t we!? That heel team’s tasty.
*****
Darby said he’s not stupid, this is a handicap match, but he’ll win anyway
Cage said he won’t
Ricky Starks continues to think that passing out is the same thing as winning, it’s also a very strange way to position a heel
Danielson said Starks won’t win
Christian Cage ‘vs’ Luchasaurus vs Darby Allin
Backstory: Cage wants rid of Allin but knows he won’t go without a title shot, so offered this – basically a handicap match
Lots of talk of this being a way to get the belt onto Cage. On one hand, it’s a bigger matchup if he faces Darby 1-on-1 at WrestleDream. On the other, it’s just more fun him claiming to be the champ without actually being.
No pretending, the heels surrounded Allin in the corner. Though Cage bailed and left Luchasaurus to do the work. Allin came prepared – he threw powder at the monster then drilled Cage with his bullet tope. That moment when we’re reminded triple threats are all no-DQ is never fun.
Code Red to Cage for two, Saurus hit with the tope this time; Allin was snapped across the top rope by Cage as he returned to the ring. Then tossed around ringside by Luchasaurus. There were duelling chants here for Cage/Darby and cheers for Cage during the intro promo.
A chair was placed in the ring, Darby placed on it and choked against the ropes by Cage. Then choked against the chair’s back. Luchasaurus then German’d him – complete with chair – Cage stopped the cover then tried to steal it himself, Allin kicked out. Christian flung him out through the ropes, Allin then did a flip over the ring stairs, crashing to the mats as the ads arrived.
Allin avoided a charging Saurus in the corner, Cage readied a spear which missed badly and was rolled up for a pair of two counts. Allin countered a suplex into a Death Drop, a Coffin Drop was on the way, Saurus pulled Cage out to ‘safety’, Allin turned it into a Coffin Splash to both.
Got his boot up in the corner as Saurus charged again, Cage missed a belt shot, allowing Saurus to chokeslam Darby. He then picked up his title as the announcers explained this was the first time he’s ever touched it. Cage tried to take it back, Luchasaurus turned away, Cage tried to reason with him and he eventually handed it over.
Allin shoved Cage into Saurus, belt shot to the champ, count of two.
A running punt followed, Coffin Drop, Cage in to fling Allin outside and pin his own monster. Plenty of cheers as Aubrey counted three. Cage hugged Luchasaurus with a big smile, Saurus didn’t look happy. Nigel claimed that ‘as long as he gets food in his bowl tonight he’ll be fine’.
He again put Cage on his shoulders. Said it the first time they did this, you can see where it’s going. He set Cage down safely. For now…
Nice story telling before a crowd who were into the action.
Winner: Christian Cage
Recap of the Sammy/Jericho angle from Rampage. Jericho hit the ring to confront Callis and co., Kenny Omega made the save. To an enormous pop. The pair later challenged the heels to a trios tag.
Callis and his boys were with Alex Marvez. Callis said it makes him sick that Jericho and Kenny are teaming against him when he’s the one who built them both. He re-emphasized how close Omega and Ibushi are. It makes Kenny ‘weak’. So as great as Ibushi is, he actually weakens their team.
He put over Sammy and the guy who beat Omega twice in one week – Takeshita (whose facials, body language and etc. continue to shine). Callis said he has another family member – Will Ospreay. They’ll ‘finish it once and for all’ at WrestleDream.
*****
Schiavone with Christian and Luchasaurus. He dedicated his win to Nick Wayne’s parents. He’s finally finished with Darby. Tony corrected him – Tony Khan has made Cage vs Allin at WrestleDream, 2/3 falls. A livid Cage ran off to complain to Khan.
RVD & Hook vs 2.0
Backstory: None
Maybe AEW officials really weren’t aware of Moxley’s concussion Wednesday. But it’s a bad look to allow RVD – who’s acknowledged his CTE issues – to perform just days later.
He came out to a massive pop. The announcers talked about him teaming with Taz bitd. As is becoming a pattern on Saturdays, the stars’ opponents came out to a collective shrug. With Anna Jay & Jake Hager.
Locals chanting for Van Dam as Hook and Menard set things off. Menard took Hook down then celebrated. Hook took him down into a front face lock then wrestled circles round him into another takedown, Menard hit a knee to the gut then ran to tag out.
Hook had his foot grabbed by Jay and Parker stomped him down. The youngster avoided a splash in the corner, got the tag to Van Dam to another huge pop: armdrag takedown to Menard, Parker attacked from behind, Van Dam blocked a kick, hit a spin kick to Menard, bringing Parker back in, Van Dam hit a front kick to the head and springboard spin kick.
Parker bailed outside, all the heels got together for a convo, Van Dam was about to dive onto them when they split, he did the thumbs instead.
Break.
Hook back in against the heels, he shook them off but was blocked from tagging RVD at the last second. The youngster snatched Parker into an exploder, crowd desperate for the tag, Hook got it, RVD ran through the heels: lariats, kicks and spin kicks, rolling thunder. Menard hit from behind, Van Dam slipped behind on a boy slam, notha spin kick, Van Dam about to head up when Anna took the ref, Hager headed in with a chair and ate a Van Daminator.
A very bad looking ‘miscommunication’ then happened, allowing Hook to snatch Paker in Redrum (it’s becoming evident by the week that Kevin Kelly isn’t up on AEW moves), Van Dam hit 5 Stars to Menard. 1, 2, 3.
Like the opener, there was nothing wrong with this. Crowd loved RVD. However, back-to-back segments putting over middle-aged veterans needs to be balanced by pushing younger talent.
Van Dam & Hook celebrated. For a long time.
Winner: RVD & Hook
They replayed Eddie Kingston winning the ROH Title then showed comments from him after Wednesday. He challenged Katsuyuori Shibata as an homage to Antonio Inoki. Both titles on the line.
*****
More weird informercial stuff from the Dark Order. The usual generic Collision package that ticks off the ‘get them on tv’ box.
*****
Cut to the Kingdom who are growing on me by the week. Taven pointed to a wristband and insisted that ‘Neck health’s important’ (they were both clad in ‘NECK STRONG’ tees). He called the Best Friends a bunch of fakes. Because when Trent injured his neck Chuck wasn’t by his side. They’re going to show them what ‘people who don’t celebrate neck health awareness month deserve’.
Bennett did his wiener punch/piledriver thing like Weds. And insisted that next week he’s going to have piledrivers for everyone ‘in support of neck health’. They’ll find out how close and strong the Best Friends really are because ‘you’re damn sure not neck strong’.
Great fun.
Julia Hart vs Kiera Hogan
Backstory: None
Who’d have thought a company would just throw Hart vs Hogan out on free tv?
Julia came out with Big Brody. We were told – emphasis on told – that she’d attacked Willow backstage earlier this afternoon and spray painted her (yawn). Must’ve been some hella toxic paint since she’s apparently in hospital. Supposedly Willow was supposed to be wrestling Julia here so Kiera volunteered to take her place. Kelly ‘wished we had footage’ of the incident aka ‘we came up with this last-minute’. Also, Hogan and Willow are friends despite never once being on-screen together. Got all that?
Hogan went right for Hart, hip attack against the ropes. Hart slammed her head to the mat then stepped on her hair and stomped her. Crowd absolutely silent as Julia landed a suplex to some polite applause. Then fired shots from the mount. Hogan hit a roundhouse but was tripped via STO. Julia landed a very nice standing moonsault for two.
Then grabbed a chinlock. Kiera didn’t want to tap when asked. She came back with running lariats and a shotgun in the corner. Julia avoided another, hit a running elbow, kick to the spine and sliding lariat before announcing ‘the House always win’ and tapping Hogan out via Hartless, maintaining the hold a little longer than necessary.
She went back to the hold, getting no heat because fans don’t tend to care about babyfaces they never see. Skye Blue walked to the ring, Julia hid behind Brody then spray painted her. King took the mic to say the violence wouldn’t end until getting to Kris Statlander, the only person who’s beaten Hart.
Hart warned her that the ‘House always wins’. Hart has a lot going for her but needs more seasoning in the ring. Action was ok.
Overall, this was garbage. Garbled storytelling which seemed like it was building to Hart vs Willow but then didn’t. At least the spray paint gimmick is original though right? We can all agree on that.
Winner: Julia Hart
Footage of the Righteous winning a shot at the ROH Tag Titles last night. Cut to a weird video of them posing outside among flowers and trees. ‘We are the corpse of decency nailed to a post of greed and moral decay’ about sums it up.
They are going to ‘expose’ BtYBB. Dutch laughed, the other guy said ‘Dig what I’m sayin?’ for about the tenth time in sixty seconds.
Jay White vs Andrade El Idolo
Backstory: White challenged Andrade last week after noticing him watching a BCG match
Kelly said these two have ‘been on a collision course for several weeks’. They have?
Cardblade/Switchboard and all of the gang joined White. The combination of Andrade’s music and Dasha’s announcing continues to be a winner. As AEW pushed Hispanic Heritage Month. Well-timed.
An ‘Ass Boys’ chant broke out before the match did. White and Andrade talked smack, circled, locked-up – White was driven to the corner. Rope break. White took a cheap shot then ducked back between the ropes, Andrade snapped, the ref got in-between.
Andrade headlock and shoulder block, Juice distracted him, allowing White to grab a headlock of his own. Down to the mat. Back up, White was whipped, slid through to the outside, avoided a baseball slide but was smacked to the floor with a big chop.
Andrade sent him back in, headed upstairs, diving cross body, snap suplex, another, the third amigo countered as White slipped behind and raked the eyes. Then went upstairs, Andrade springboarded into a dropkick to knock him outside. El Idolo right after him, sending him back inside where White kicked out at one.
White avoided a splash in the corner, hit a ddt for two. Then backed Andrade to the corner with chops before a flurry of shoulder thrusts then more chops. Andrade hit a big boot, went upstairs, White caught him on his shoulder, Andrade slipped to the apron but was spiked off and against the barricade.
The BCG celebrated on top of him as the ads arrived.
Andrade stuck in a headlock mid-ring, he began to fight up, axe handles to the gut, White slammed his head down against the mat, Andrade rolled him up for a close count (we missed most of it since they keep cutting to the BCG at ringside – it’s very annoying). White landed a kick to the knee, Andrade crumpled to his knees. White fired stiff chops, Andrade fired-up, to his feet, beckoning White on, he ducked a big swing, stereo lariats leaving both down. Crowd clapping.
Ref at five as they clambered up together, yay/boo chops and strikes, heavy hands from Andrade sending White stumbling back to the corner then back center right into a dragon screw. Another. Diving lariat and kip-up next, White down in the corner, crowd chanting ‘Idolo’. The BCG pulled Jay to safety, Andrade took to the skies via spingboard moonsault to nail them all. ‘Holy Shit’ said the crowd.
Back inside, double-jump moonsault for an oh-so near fall. Crowd really into this. He dragged White up, Jay crumpled, slipped behind looking for a sleeper suplex, Andrade back elbows, White back with chops, to the ropes, Andrade followed-in with a big boot. White down, he came back to dump Andrade over the ropes via Saito suplex. Nasty spill. White sent him back in, Uranage coming, hit, Andrade barely rolled his shoulder off the mat at 2.9, White to another pin, shoulder up at two.
White dragged Andrade up, backed him to the corner, Andrade got a boot up, White wrenched his leg down, Andrade screaming about his knee, limping to the middle, White firing more chops but being smacked with a running back-elbow. As with Andrade, he barely raised his shoulder at 2.9. TiA chants from the crowd.
White slumped in the corner, just crushed via running double knees, hammerlock ddt, Juice put Jay’s boot on the rope in the nick of time. Andrade simply dragged White middle, applied the Figure Four (White’s selling and screaming was superb), into the Figure Eight, White about to tap, the Gunns took the ref, Juice smacked Andrade with his Collision Cowboy of the Month award, White dragged an already-out Andrade to his feet for a Bladerunner and the inevitable win.
White was so out of it he had to be helped up by the rest of the BCG as they celebrated.
I’m absolutely fine with finishes like that when they’re for storyline purposes (though it could’ve protected the ref better). These two ain’t done and now the babyface has a reason to seek revenge. Helps when the match is this good. This was what I was most looking forward to on this show and it didn’t disappoint.
Winner: Jay White
They showed Santana winning on Rampage, being confronted by Ortiz and walking away. Ortiz promo package – he said Santana’s been using him for 14 years, had a lot to say on social media then when they met face-to-face walked away, ‘tough keyboard warrior’. He did what he always does, ran from his problems. ‘You’re not gonna be able to run much longer.’
Nice work capped with a good final line.
*****
Shane Taylor promo. He talked about them tagging in ROH and dominating. Then Keith left ‘for the other billionaire’. He stayed to become an ‘ROH legend’.
To take care of his family and look out for his kids’ future he’ll put Lee ‘in the ground’. But before he takes everything from Lee, Lee has to get through Lee Moriarty (whose name I couldn’t remember till they said it, doesn’t suggest he has much of chance).
Can heels stop justifying their actions by talking about feeding their kids? It’s somewhat counter productive.
*****
Aussie Open came out in suits to join on comms as we were shown them losing to FTR last year in New Japan. Kelly hugged them and called them ‘My boys’. Nigel said ‘pleasure and an honor’. So both the babyface and heel announcer like them. Great.
Fletcher then called the titles ‘belty-welties’ to confirm they are indeed heels. Nice work.
FTR vs Workhorsemen (Tag Titles)
Backstory: Part of FTR’s open challenge
Cash took Henry down as the crowd drifted between silence and chanting ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’. Davis talked about them ‘stew(ing)’ over their loss to FTR last year. His voice is disappointing, it should sound like tobacco and gravel.
Henry got two via roll-up, hit an enziguri then tagged in Drake. JD Drake is apparently a pro bowler. That fits. He landed a big chop and the crowd went wild so not sure if there’s a fight happening or something? Dax backed to the corner, more chops, he fought out with his own, Drake countered into an inverted atomic drop, scoop slam, falling headbutt, Dax kicked out before one.
Henry back in, crowd quiet, as they’ve been most of the match, he setup Dax for Drake to come back in via senton from out-to-in. More quick tags from the heels left Dax taking kicks from Henry. He fired-up, firing chops then dropping Henry via brainbuster. Henry tagged out, Drake knocked Cash off the apron to block the tag then squashed Dax in the corner via cannonball. Henry followed with a stomp off the top then tope to Cash which just about made contact. Tough landing.
Back inside, Drake hit a moonsault which brought the crowd up once more, two only, ‘Holy shit’ chant from the fans. Cash dropped Henry face-first against the apron out of a Gory Special. Drake dived off the top again but was caught into the Sharpshooter for the quick tap.
Good action. Could’ve been better if the Workhorsemen ever appeared on tv. Drake in particular got some big reactions from the crowd.
Aussie Open were excited at the titles being on the line. They stood and applauded, eyed the champs then took a mic into the ring. Davis yelled ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie then congratulated them before saying they were in for the fight of their lives’.
(The next bit was very AEW – Fletcher said FTR had called them the best tag team in the world. Yet recent tv says anything but. They’re far too into the ‘real’ reputations of wrestlers and miss the part about making them match it by winning matches.)
Fletcher’s talk of taking ‘FTR to the limit in a five-star classic’ only confirmed this. Though his admitting that they haven’t hit their New Japan heights in AEW and that being why they’ve made this challenge did cover some of that nicely.
They need to prove to the people and themselves that they’re everything they say they are. Dax called them ‘sacrificial lamb(s) to Max and his best friend and Jericho and his best friend’. He ‘beg(ged)’ them – literally getting on his knees – to bring the real Aussie Open since at WrestleDream they’re facing the best team in wrestling history. If they aren’t going to do that, don’t turn up.
Can’t tell whether that was really good or too insider. Might be a ‘me’ problem.
Winner: FTR
Lexi with ‘CJ’ (Perry). Lexi asked ‘why now?’ Perry said Miro’s lost his way, she wanted to help him become champion again. But he’s distracted by temptations. Miro appeared. To say his temptation was her. But hers is the lights, camera and fame. She said she loves chasing titles, ‘it makes me come alive’ (be nice if more people said that on AEW tv).
Miro said his ‘righteous path is to save them’. But if she stays… (he implied that he’d have to save her). She asked if she looked like she needed saving. They agreed to walk their separate paths. Though she asked that if he loved her, not to ‘lay a hand’ on any of her future clients (she’s definitely managing Hobbs isn’t she).
She asked him to promise. He walked off without doing so. She sighed.
Liked this. Perry’s a good actress.
*****
They played a WrestleDream promo package voiced-over by Tony Khan. Interesting choice. He said every match could steal the show then talked up Inoki (might want to research the guy). This is an ‘event one-year in the making’.
Don’t lie to fans like that. We’re not stupid.
Ricky Starks vs Bryan Danielson (Texas Death Match)
Backstory: Starks was pissed that despite beating BD he didn’t have a match on the ppv or a video package while the Dragon did, so made this challenge
JR out, Danielson very over, Starks charged him at the bell, stomping him down in the corner. Ricky was dressed in all black and for a fight r/t in wrestling gear. Lot of tv time left.
Ten punches in the corner, Danielson dumped him outside on the fifth then launched a tope before finally removing his ring jacket. Then dropping Starks yambags-first across the barricade and brawling into the crowd, dumping a bin on him – contents and all – then heading up the stairs firing kicks, crowd ‘Yes!’-ing themselves silly.
Starks landed a shot to the gut as they continued brawling through the crowd. But ran into one from the Dragon, who launched more kicks. Starks headed away back to ringside then flung Danielson over into the front row on the other side. A bunch of security came to help Danielson up, Starks springboard splashed the bunch.
Ads.
Back to Starks beating Danielson against the desk, the Dragon bleeding from above his left eye. Starks had smacked him with the ring bell during the break. He continued the beating with a microphone then grabbed a chair, firing it against Danielson’s knee after placing it against the ring post.
He then placed the chair around Danielson’s ankle and headed upstairs; Danielson recovered to smack him with the chair then joined him upstairs. Starks bit him, fired more shots to the wound then did his pose – hand covered in blood. Allowing Danielson to land a superplex, releasing Starks while maintaining his grip on the buckle with his legs and performing a sit up to launch a shotgun dropkick from the top.
Yes! kicks with Starks on his knees, more and more vicious, Starks down but clutching the chair. Danielson ran in, Starks flung it at him at head height (that is really bloody stupid after the time Danielson missed with concussions, not to mention after what happened with Mox). The crowd chanted for tables because they’re an original bunch.
More ads.
Back to Starks beating on Danielson again. The Dragon snapped back with a roundhouse, stumbling forward to throw chops, Starks threw back but lost the battle after Danielson targeted the legs. Ricky hit a flurry of slaps then a spear before wrapping a chain round the Dragon’s neck to choke him.
Danielson dropped, Starks released the choke. Danielson up at eight, Starks right back to the choke, back-to-back this time as he tried to hang the vet. Who kicked up and over off the buckle to free himself and snatched a rushing Starks into the LeBell Lock. Starks tapped but that doesn’t end a Death Match.
He began choking Starks with the chain. Nigel was disgusted. ‘Two wrong don’t make a right!’ he yelled when Kelly said they’d both done it. Starks simply powered out of a chain-assisted choke, shots from the mount, Danielson reversed things before they brawled on their knees – yay/boo – until collapsing.
Danielson crawled to the ropes, getting up with their assistance, ducking a chair shot, busaiku knee-ing the chair into Ricky’s face, Starks now bleeding from the mouth – looked legit. As Danielson launched stomps with the wrists captured. Starks spat up at him, Danielson stomped harder then crashed to mat, exhausted.
Somehow Starks still wasn’t down. The count didn’t even start. Danielson wrapped his knee in the chain then launched another busaiku knee. Danielson just got to his feet at nine as Starks stayed down.
Would’ve been better ending on the chair-assisted knee. Otherwise another very good, very physical match between these two. Yuta and Big Bill flew down to check on their respective guys. A shoving match commenced as the show ended. One of the best weeks of AEW tv in a while.
The Undertaker will be holding is 1 deadMAN SHOW in Perth, Australia, as part of the activities leading up to the Elimination Chamber at the Optus Stadium.
The news was revealed by The Sunday Times in Perth, but no date or location was given as to when or where the show is taking place.
WWE and the Cook Government officially announced that Elimination Chamber would be taking place in Perth this past Thursday, with the local government paying a fee to bring WWE into town.
The Optus Stadium holds 60,000 fans and tickets are expected to go on sale very soon for the February 24 event.
Hulk Hogan married his fiancé Sky Daily on Friday in a small ceremony in Clearwater, Florida, according to TMZ.COM.
Only their children were in attendance for the event held at the Indian Rocks Baptist Church, however Hogan’s daughter Brooke missed the wedding as it was held on a very short notice and couldn’t make it in time.
Hulk proposed to Sky in July of this year and TMZ says that sources indicated that they couldn’t wait any longer and wanted to get married as soon as possible.
This is the third marriage for the Hulkster, who was previously married to Linda and Jennifer.
WWE fired a total of 22 WWE Superstars and Performance Center developmental trainees in total this week, the first mass layoffs of in-ring talent since early 2022.
Those who unfortunately got their pink slip were, in alphabetical order, Alexis Gray, Aliyah, Brooklyn Barrow, Dabba Kato, Dana Brooke, Dolph Ziggler, Elias, Emma, Ikemen Jiro, Kevin Ventura-Cortez, Mace, Mansoor, Matt Riddle, Melanie Brzezinski, Mustafa Ali, Quincy Elliot, Rick Boogz, Riddick Moss, Shanky, Shelton Benjamin, Top Dolla, and Yulisa Leon.
The biggest names on the list are obviously Matt Riddle and Dolph Ziggler while Mustafa Ali, who previously publicly asked for his WWE release, was doing well in NXT and had an NXT North American title shot lined up at No Mercy next week.
These layoffs follow what was an ugly week the previous week with over 100 employees getting fired from WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut following the merger with Endeavor.
Endeavor is looking for up to $100 million in cost-saving measures from WWE so it’s highly likely that more layoffs are on the horizon.
Eddie Kingston has announced that he will stop doing independent dates due to his added responsibilities as ROH World champion and NJPW Strong Openweight champion.
Kingston said that dealing with a lower back injury also came into play to make this hard decision as he needs to get it fixed so he can be ready for all the NJPW Strong and AEW shows.
“When my responsibilities as NJPW and ROH champion is over I will hopefully be able to do Independents again,” Kingston wrote. “I apologize to all but I just need to focus and my body needs to be ready for those shows.”
Kingston won the ROH World title for the first time this past Wednesday at Dynamite: Grand Slam after he beat Claudio Castagnoli.
After both John Cena and The Rock paid tribute to Dolph Ziggler, it was two-time WWE Hall of Famer and 16-time world champion Ric Flair who used a post on X to praise Ziggler, who was released from WWE after 19 years of service.
Flair called Dolph a “close friend for 20 years” and that he has been nothing less than the best professional and the best everything he has been called upon to do.
“A leader, a champion, and a man of unquestionable character,” Flair wrote. “I’ll never forget the letter you wrote me in the hospital.”
Flair said he knows Ziggler will be successful in life because that’s who he is.
“I look forward to our next meeting & 2 dirty Martinis with extra olives,” Flair concluded.
The TKO stock on the New York Stock Exchange got a total knockout this week as the former WWE stock dropped by around 16% in just two days.
The big change came on Thursday when WWE announced that Smackdown is moving to USA Network next year from FOX and despite previously saying that they could get as much as a 70% increase on TV rights, USA is paying around a 40% increase, down 30% from initial projections.
To make matters worse, Raw and NXT are still without a home for the 2024 season so the expectations are now even higher for these two shows to deliver a higher percentage in TV rights fees.
TKO stocks closed the day on Wednesday at $104 but the following day went down to $85.97 and yesterday closed the trading week with $83.82.
This has been the lowest since March of this year and during the past six months, the stock saw a high of $115.34.
The Elite won the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles last night on Rampage: Grand Slam after they defeated The Mogul Embassy.
This is the second time that The Young Bucks and Hangman Page won these titles, with their last run coming in 2017/2018 and lasting 201 days. The Bucks also had another run with the titles with Cody Rhodes, four months after they lost the titles with Page.
Page was the one who picked up the win for his time, pinning Brian Cage. This ended The Mogul Embassy’s 283-day run with the titles, a run which started at Final Battle on December 10, 2022.
The reason that LA Knight was not involved on Smackdown last night was because he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to leave the building according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.
It was bad timing for Knight as he was supposed to be involved in the main event closing angle, coming out to save John Cena from the attack of The Bloodline. Instead, creative changed and it was Cena who ended up being solo getting attacked by Sikoa and Uso.
Earlier in the broadcast, a tag match of Cena and AJ Styles vs Sikoa and Uso was teased but it was then said it will be for Fastlane and The Bloodline took out AJ Styles backstage, leaving Cena with no partner.
Cena still went out for the contract signing to end the show but Smackdown ended kinda flat as no one made the save for the 16-time world champion.
Smackdown opens with John Cena out to the ring. He says he has been doing lots of things since he returned to WWE, and he is not here to do any of those things because he is here to compete, and tonight is the night he wants a match and he is angry at the Bloodline. He says he is mad enough to face them both, but he thinks he found himself a partner, a phenomenal partner.
A.J. Styles then comes to the ring. Styles takes the microphone and says let me get this straight, you want A.J. Styles and John Cena against the Bloodline, well if you want some come get some.
Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa come out and get on the apron but then jump down and tell them not tonight.
Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio (L.W.O.) VS. The Street Profits
Dawkins dumps Rey over the top rope onto Ford and with the referee’s back turned, Lashley chokeslams Rey on the apron and yells at Dawkins to pin Rey and Dawkin’s hesitates but picked Rey up for a power bomb and Rey reversed and dumped Dawkins over and pins him.
Winners: Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio (L.W.O.)
After they show a video of the Rock returning last week in a segment with Austin Theory and when we come back, Theory is out there screaming at the announcers.
Adam Pearce is yelling at Austin Theory and they run into Ridge Holland and Butch and Grayson Waller walks in. Pearce said that is an excellent idea it’s Austin Theory and Grayson Waller against the Brawling Brutes.
Lashley is angry at the Street Profits and says he wants the suits and everything back and they can go sit in catering and he will find someone else that can get the job done.
Paul Heyman is standing beside Adam Pearce and Paul has his phone out and looks concerned.
Asuka VS. Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship
Before the match starts, Charlotte Flair comes to the ringside area and sits down. Bayley and Dakota Kai are in Iyo’s corner.
Dakota places Iyo’s foot on the ropes and Flair gets up and hits Dakota. As Asuka is draped over the second rope, Iyo drops her knees on Asuka and goes to the top rope, Iyo hits her moonsault and pins Asuka to retain the championship.
Winner and Still WWE Women’s Champion: Iyo Sky
Solo, Jimmy and Paul are in the locker room and Adam Pearce walks in with a contract for a match at Fastlane and Paul says if it’s not tonight I am ok with it. Jimmy says he will sign it in the ring and Paul says decisions like that need authorization and approval from the Tribal Chief. Jimmy says let me know what he says, and Solo says don’t worry after tonight there won’t be anyone left to fight us at Fastlane. Paul yells on the phone to call Roman Reigns.
Butch & Ridge Holland VS. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
Butch had Waller in a sleeper hold outside and Holland had Theory in a Boston Crab inside in the ring. Waller was able to get free after ramming Butch into the ring post and runs in and hits Holland with a stunner and Theory was able to hit Ridge with A-Town Down.
Winners: Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
Next the contract signing for the tag team match at Fastlane John Cena & A.J. Styles VS. Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa.
After A.J. is introduced, it shows Jimmy Uso beating up Styles as Cena runs to the back from the ring Solo then dives off a rafter onto Styles through a table and the electronics in the back. Cena made it to Styles but Jimmy and Solo already had the damage done. Styles is on a stretcher on his way to an ambulance after the break.
As A.J. is loaded into the ambulance, Mia Yim goes with him and Karl Anderson before he gets in the Ambulance, he tells Cena he has been telling A.J. not to get involved with this Bloodline stuff.
Back in the ring, Solo was throwing everything out of the ring from the contract signing. Paul gets the microphone, as Paul does his opening, he is getting booed loudly. Paul says he has in his hand a contract signed by John Cena without any tag team partner for Fastlane. Jimmy then grabs the microphone off Paul.
Jimmy says look what happens when you mess with the Bloodline. And Jimmy says if he was as smart as he thinks he is he would have jumped in that ambulance with A.J. and get far away from the Bloodline. Jimmy started saying Cena was the twos, and Cena comes out and goes for an AA on Solo. Jimmy superkicks Cena. Solo then hits Cena with the Samoan Spike.
Jimmy and Solo continue to stomp on Cena. Jimmy goes to the top rope and does Cena’s you can’t see me and splashes Cena. Then gets up and signs the contract and hands it to Solo who also signs the contract.
Jimmy then lays the contact folder on Cena and he and Solo stand with arms raised.
Matt Riddle has been released from WWE, just weeks after he claimed that he was sexually assaulted by a Port Authority police officer at JFK Airport in New York.
As always, there are two sides to every story and sources told TMZ at the time that Riddle was drunk coming off his flight and he and several other eye witnesses were interviewed but not detained.
“Just wanted to inform everyone that I’m no longer with WWE,” Riddle wrote on X. “Thank you for the memories and opportunities also thank you to all the fans for the support and love you give me every time I go out to the ring. See you all soon.”
Riddle was super popular with the fans but had a rocky few years in the company ever since he joined in 2018. He also failed two drug tests and sent to rehab last year.
AEW will have a two-hour Rampage: Grand Slam tonight on TNT starting at 10PM ET with seven matches taped for the broadcast from Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Scheduled for tonight are Mike Santana vs Boulder, a six-person mixed tag team match featuring Anna Jay, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker vs Hook, Orange Cassidy, and Kris Statlander, Darby Allin and Sting team up to take on Christian Cage and Luchasaurus, The Elite vs Mogul Embassy in a six-man tag match for the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team titles, Skye Blue vs Julia Hart, and a four-way tag team match to determine the #1 contenders for the ROH World Tag Team titles with The Righteous, The Kingdom, The Hardys, and Best Friends.
The main event of the show will have The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn defending their AEW World Trios titles against The Dark Order.
