PWInsider.com is reporting at Bobby Roode is in Detroit for SummerSlam weekend although it’s highly unlikely that he will be making any on-screen appearances.
Roode underwent a second spinal fusion surgery in May of this year, following the first one in November of last year. He know has the C4/5 and C5/6 fused.
Roode has not wrestled on television since April 2022, with his last appearance coming at the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on Smackdown during WrestleMania 38 weekend. His last match was on June 25 against Omos at a non-televised live event in Amarillo, Texas.
SummerSlam is just over 24 hours away and Ford Field in Detroit is at the moment ready to welcome just over 48,000 WWE fans.
Ticket tracking service @WrestleTix is reporting that as of yesterday, there were 48,173 tickets distributed, 5,000 of which are comped. The stadium is now set up to hold just shy of 50,000 fans with more sections and seats opened up.
SummerSlam is on track to have the largest gate for a non-WrestleMania show and it’s quite possibly that the attendance will surpass the 50,000 figure by the time tomorrow comes.
The last time WWE held a show at Ford Field was WrestleMania 23 where WWE announced an attendance of just over 80,000.
Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com starting from $35.
Dynamite this week, celebrating its 200th episode, drew 894,000 viewers, down 4,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. The show drew a 0.31 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.02 from the prior week and placed #1 in the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
Impact Wrestling have started working towards the 1,000th episode of its flagship show which will be celebrated in White Plains, New York, with a taping on Saturday, September 9.
A lot of former stars are expected to show up for the event and the company has already announced that The Beautiful People – the tag team of Velvet Sky and Angelina Love – and Awesome Kong will be part of the broadcast.
Sky’s last involvement with Impact was in 2016 and she is a former two-time Knockouts champion and Knockouts Tag Team champion. Love last wrestled for Impact in 2017 and is a former six-time Knockouts champion and one-time Knockouts Tag Team champion. Kong also last wrestled for Impact in 2016 but returned to be inducted into the Impact Hall of Fame in 2021. She is a former two-time Knockouts champion and former Knockouts Tag Team champion as well.
Just like to stress here that when critiquing wrestlers I’m referring to the way they’re booked and used, not the guys themselves. Saves repeating this throughout.
Boom
Best Friends & Storytelling
No, not Trent & Chuck.
The best stories take viewers, readers, fans on an emotional ride and make them guess what’s coming next. Last night MJF & Adam Cole did this with aplomb. The champ’s explanation of past actions made it hard not to root for the guy; his big cheesy grin made it impossible not to consider that he was playing us – and Cole. At several points it seemed he was about to drop the façade.
None more so than when he told his ‘best friend’ he didn’t deserve ‘a title shot’… because he deserves ‘the title shot’! It also explained why Cole was so willing to give MJF a chance, he sees a lot of his former self in Max. Between this and the way Cole openly acknowledged the chance of MJF turning on this past Saturday, they’ve done a nice job mitigating the ‘How the hell could you let this guy sucker you?’ question.
The announcers also played it well – even Schiavone acknowledging that it was hard to rail on MJF. Without saying he was totally convinced by the ‘new’ man.
Unfortunately, I’m still not the least interested in seeing them wrestle. I’d rather they went after the tag titles again. But it was very entertaining while deepening the story and the relationship.
AEW also made absolutely sure that even if fans didn’t catch Collision, they knew what’d happened. More of that needed.
Aussie Open vs Komander & Vikingo
This was loads of fun. The teams worked really well: it was slick, it was fast, it had some killer spots and moments of breathtaking athleticism. Used this line before but there are NBA stars who’d like Vikingo’s vertical. And Komander’s learning to use his rope walking to best effect rather than coming off as more trapeze artist than wrestler.
Guevara & Garcia
These two have a really nice dynamic. Sammy’s the charismatic, high-flying sports entertainer; Garcia’s the (mostly) no-nonsense technical wrestler. Would enjoy seeing them get a push. Sammy was even cheered last night after an excellent ‘hot tag’.
Tag Teams
In just the last few weeks there’ve been good performances from FTR, Bullet Club Gold, Cole & Max, Martin & Andretti. Tonight Guevara & Garcia, Aussie Open, Komander & Vikingo added to that number.
FTR could have fun with any of these guys.
Bust
Making things Special
When they finally got round to announcing their 200th show last week, the announcers repeatedly used the phrase ‘landmark episode’. Yet when it came, nothing particularly landed or made its mark. There was nothing wrong with it. But nothing felt special either. It was just another episode.
Nor did it feel like the company was going anywhere with about a month left before back-to-back big shows. There weren’t any hot feuds or angles which screamed pay-per-view. (Max & Cole is a popular act, not a popular feud.)
Following up and planning ahead: Elite Edition
So last night the Elite came out and had a good match but nothing more: celebrating new deals by doing the same thing they always do. There was no mention of them winning Blood & Guts, no mention of their handshake with the BCC, no mention of what might be next.
Ahead of two pay-per-views, coming off a victory over another top faction, neither of the two ex-world champions wanted to go for gold. Neither did the ex-tag champs want to get back into the chase. They were just out there to be out there.
Kenny didn’t even have cross words for Callis & Takeshita, that fire’s been left to go out.
(On the plus side, is it possible Omega’s throwaway line about Collision means the Bucks might hit the scene to challenge FTR? By all accounts they’re the most entrenched against Punk, so it’s unlikely. Be fun though.)
Token Gestures & Equality
It’d be nice to believe that a women’s title match between two good competitors would’ve main evented regardless of last week’s fuss. But last night wasn’t anything other than ‘evidence’ to throw at people next time they complain about the lack of women on the show.
It had no build and the two hadn’t appeared on tv for weeks. While Storm’s reign was one of the worst in history (to be clear – not at all blaming her – she was left to rot). It’s hard to remember her doing anything outside of her match with Willow at Forbidden Door.
If AEW want to prove this isn’t the case, then next time the women main event – if there is a next time – the match’ll feature competitors who’ve cut promos, been featured regularly on tv or have a story behind them. I.e., they’ll be treated equally to the men.
Repetitive Traits
The Nick Wayne package the night of his debut was very good. It effectively told the sad story of a kid losing his father but continuing to pursue his dream in tribute. For once, AEW told the story ahead of time too.
And Swerve’s final line last night about how easy it is to make a phone call linked back beautifully to AR Fox’s complaint about Darby not helping him out. Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle they broke a framed photo of Nick and his dad over the youngster’s head.
Forget the fact that it’s tasteless, AEW have now made an angle out of a deceased relative so frequently that I’m completely numb to it. (Jungle Boy, Wardlow and Arn Anderson in the last year alone.)
It always seems a cheap way to try convincing us a feud is more heated than the average: Those guys over there might be arguing about who’s better at powerbombs but this guy’s dad really died.
Similarly, the pool of blood meant nothing. It happens every week.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting through his Select service that the reason why Becky Lynch vs Trish Stratus was cut from SummerSlam was simply because of time.
There are already eight matches on the SummerSlam card and there’s a push for premium live events not to be a marathon and still give enough time for all the matches presented.
Obviously, cutting off one of the biggest names ever in wrestling and the other probably the most popular woman right now from the biggest event of the Summer wasn’t the smartest idea, but that’s a decision that was taken.
Unsurprisingly, both Lynch and Stratus were not happy with the news and Sapp adds that while there were some chances of the match happening at Payback, it was eventually moved to the August 14 episode of Raw from Winnipeg where it’s likely to headline the show.
Stratus posted a tweet and a photo today writing, “Checking to see if I’m even available on the 14th…And @ScrapDaddyAP, Winnipeg is NOT a home field advantage. I’m from Toronto, you idiot.”
WWE and Slim Jim today announced a multi-layered partnership that will begin with Slim Jim serving as the Presenting Sponsor of a marquee match at SummerSlam on Saturday, August 5 at Ford Field in Detroit. This partnership between the two iconic brands pays homage to their shared, savage past and marks the largest sponsorship deal in WWE history.
WWE and Slim Jim first crossed paths thirty years ago with a series of explosive, in-your-face Slim Jim commercials, featuring “Macho Man” Randy Savage debuting the famous tagline “Snap Into a Slim Jim!” that has remained a hallmark of the Slim Jim brand ever since. The two global brands will tap into that rich history with a reenergized, multi-platform campaign which begins with “The SummerSlam Battle Royal Presented by Slim Jim,” the first of several custom integrations at WWE’s Premium Live Events. As part of the pact, Slim Jim will also activate at Survivor Series in November, in addition to Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 40 in 2024.
“Alongside our partners at Slim Jim and Conagra Brands, WWE is excited to renew one of the most memorable collaborations in sports entertainment history and there’s no better way to kick off the partnership than a 20-man Battle Royal at SummerSlam,” said Craig Stimmel, WWE SVP, Head of Global Sales and Partnerships.
“Slim Jim has always been about crushing boredom and doing the unexpected, which is also the cornerstone of WWE and their memorable lineup of bold, in-your-face Superstars,” said Spencer Fivelson, VP & General Manager of Snacks at Conagra Brands. “We’re thrilled to be back in the ring with WWE to build on our shared history and celebrate the savage energy of today’s WWE Superstars.
In addition to the live event integrations, the WWE and Slim Jim partnership will include custom content and social media executions with Superstar talent, online sweepstakes to drive fan engagement, in-store activations and more.
Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson gifted MMA fighter Themba Gorimbo a new house in Miami following the first surprise visit that Johnson did at the gym where Themba trains.
Gorimbo, who is from Zimbabwe, came to America with just $7 in his pocket and left his family behind in hopes of making it to the UFC. The story hit close to home for Johnson, who once also ended up broke with $7 in his pocket, hence the name of his production company Seven Bucks Production.
Johnson surprised Themba a few weeks ago at the gym and did it again but this time, there was a bigger surprise in store. Themba lived at the gym as he had no money to pay for rent. He took him for a ride in his truck and surprised him with a new house.
“You and your family enjoy your new house brother. Lights are on. Bills are paid,” Johnson tweeted.
As you can imagine, Themba was moved to tears and repeatedly kept hugging Johnson as they toured the house which was already decorated with family photos.
He recently won his first UFC fight at UFC Vegas 73 and then auctioned off his fight gear and sent the money to his hometown in Zimbabwe so the village could install a water pump for everyone.
Welcome home @TheAnswerMMA You and your family enjoy your new house brother. Lights are on. Bills are paid. Keep your “My Reason” list close, keep taking care of your people and I’m honored to play a very, very small role in your $7 bucks journey. $7 bucks. I’ve been there… pic.twitter.com/rSyC7EiD5I
The first match for All In was officially announced on Dynamite as AEW World champion MJF will defend his gold against his friend and tag team partner Adam Cole.
MJF put over Cole and said that as he promised he would give him a title match and offered him a contract right there. MJF said that there’s no one he would rather make history with at the biggest wrestling event ever than with Cole.
Cole, despite fans telling him to read it first, just blindly signed the contract…which might come back to bite him later!
The All In pay-per-view is set for Sunday, August 27 live from Wembley Stadium where a record-breaking crowd is expected to be on hand.
The post Great American Bash episode of NXT drew 717,000 viewers, up 14,000 viewers from the prior week. The show drew a 0.23 rating in the 18-49 demo, the same as last week and ties the highest point of 2023 so far. Next week’s show will have an appearance from Rey Mysterio in a bid to keep the numbers up from the usual ones. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
The AEW roster celebrated Tony Khan after Dynamite 200 went off the air.
Following the broadcast, Chris Jericho and Tony Khan thanked the fans and then before Khan walked to the back, Jericho told Tony to walk with him to the ring.
Jericho said they celebrated Dynamite 200 because of the vision of Tony Khan. He said that they focused on giving fans something different as well as creating new stars along the way.
At that point, MJF came out and said he wanted to say a quick story. He said before AEW started, there was only one place where wrestlers could make money, and that place was WWE. People booed. MJF said that he could’ve went there and receive a name change but then there was a visionary with a bunch of men who called themselves The Elite and there was a guy called Chris Jericho who took a serious leap and all of them created an alternative.
“That alternative gave opportunities for guys like your AEW World champion who’s over as f***.,” MJF said, before thanking Tony Khan…for making him a very rich man come 2024!
The whole roster then came out on stage to acknowledge Tony Khan as a “Thank you Tony Khan” graphic aired on the big screen.
“Thank you very much, I’ll never forget this,” Khan said.
There’s a new AEW Women’s champion in town and her name is Hikaru Shida.
Shida and Storm main evented the 200th episode of Dynamite last night on TBS and even with The Outcasts in her corner, Storm was unable to retain the title. Storm hit the Storm Zero on Shida and was close to end Shida but then Shida avoided a second Storm Zero and reversed a sunset flip into a high stack and pinned Storm for the victory.
The Japanese star then celebrated with the title as confetti rained from the top.
This is Shida’s second run with the AEW Women’s title, having won it the first time during the pandemic era in front of no fans. Her first reign lasted 372 days, winning it at Double or Nothing in May 2020 and losing it a year later also at Double or Nothing in May 2021.
Storm’s second run with the title ended after 66 days. She won it at Double or Nothing this year from Jamie Hayter.
WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam made a surprise appearance during last night’s 200th episode of Dynamite and got himself a shot for the FTW title against Jack Perry.
Fellow ECW original Jerry Lynn told Perry in a continuation from last week’s angle that there’s no doctor who would clear him to take him on, but he knew someone who is cleared.
The song Walk by Pantera, RVD’s theme from his ECW days, kicked in and the fans went bananas as the former WWE and ECW champion walked out in front of the Tampa crowd.
After going face-to-face with Perry, Perry left the ring but then tried a sneak attack with a chair on the ECW legend but RVD thwarted that and Perry left again.
Later in the broadcast, RVD told Renee Paquette that he will take on Perry for the FTW title next week on Dynamite and after he wins it, he will retire the title once and for all.
RVD last appeared on TV during the WWE Draft episode a few months ago.
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla. After last week drawing 898,000 & 0.29 in the 18-49 demo.
*****
The show has a special intro for the 200th episode. It’s about the only effort they’ve made to make tonight seem so.
Chris Jericho & Konosuke Takeshita vs Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia
Backstory: Don Callis is trying to recruit Jericho and guilt-tripped him into a tag before revealing their opponents would be JAS members
I’m immediately confused about what’ll main event as Jericho’s music kicked in and he walked out of the heel side of the old set. Maybe it’ll be the women? But off no build whatsoever?
They replayed the Inner Circle forming on the first episode. As Takeshita and Callis came out with Jericho. Don’t like Takeshita not getting his own entrance. He’s not being kept hot, if indeed he ever got there.
Sammy and Jericho to a headlock, Jericho ran through Sammy who kipped up, took a shove then threw a chop, the two firing back-and-forth. Guevara ran through his series of flips to avoid his leader before a dropkick and another kip up.
Then hit a leaping knee, tag to Garcia, double-team shoulder block leaving Jericho down as the faces(?) hit a pose to rub Jericho’s face in it. Garcia and Jericho chop battle, the youngster no-sold then danced at him, knocking Jericho down then dancing some more – crowd loved the dancing.
Takeshita did not, tagging in, pace quickening, big TakeshitaLine after a couple duck-unders and a big chop bagging a one count as he incorporated mocking Garcia’s dancing with Jericho’s one foot pin. Ocho back in, belly to back on Garcia, the youngster trapped on the heels’ side of the ring then dropped via delayed suplex. As Jericho himself performed the one-foot pin – ‘c’mon baby!’.
He then made the mistake of slapping Garcia who hit a flurry but had his foot grabbed by Callis and ate a Jericho boot.
Break.
Decent sized crowd quiet as we came back, Garcia still in trouble, throwing chops but shoved to the mat then sort-of getting his knees up on a Lionsault.
Both down, tags beckoning, Guevara in via cross body from the top to take out Takeshita, flinging Jericho out, lariat-ing Takesh out too, tope to Jericho on one side, amazing tornillo to Takeshita on the other, flinging him back in, to the top, frogsplash after pointing to the sky and slapping his chest, Jericho broke the pin at two.
Superb flurry, Sammys great in full flow. Crowd really behind him there too.
Guevara distract by Jericho, blue thunder bomb from Takeshita, ‘Walls of Takeshita’ (Excalibur casually called this as if he’d been doing it for months), Jericho tagging in right into a Sammy Spanish fly for two.
Jericho then swept the legs looking for the Walls (to very little reaction), Guevara inside cradle for a close count, simultaneous lariats leaving both down. Crowd clapping along, Sammy tag, Garcia running into a Code Breaker for another close call.
‘Garcia’ chant from the crowd as Jericho fired more chops, the youngster came back with a flying knee, Takeshita broke the pin but took a superkick from Sammy, leaving him outside. To the top, Guevara launched a shooting star which saw him absolute wallop Takeshita right in the face with his elbow. Looked a sore one.
Back inside, Garcia blocked Judas Effect for a rollup and two. Before sweeping the legs, Dargon Slayer coming, Sammy keeping Takeshita at bay, Callis hit Garcia with the bat, ref missed it, Jericho didn’t, he wasn’t happy. But then span into the cover to win.
The announcers emphasized that Jericho chose Callis over the JAS in that finish.
Strange how little Takeshita wrestled in this. Is he hurt? Otherwise did a nice job making the faces look strong before losing. Garcia and Guevara are a nice team. Good mix of styles.
Winner: Jericho & Takeshita
Tony Khan announcement. He thanked fans, staff and wrestlers for supporting and helping the company, throwing to a highlight package from episode one to now. Beginning briefly with Cody, including the Brodie Lee episode, and ending with a ‘Double Clothesline’ shout and JR’s ‘You know what that means’ line.
*****
Cut to Renee chasing after Jericho. Matt Menard wasn’t happy, calling a mandatory meeting of the JAS. Evidently he doesn’t know what the words he uses mean since he told Jericho he’d better be there.
If he doesn’t keep Menard in the fold, Jericho’s career’ll never recover.
*****
Jack Perry out, music doesn’t suit him any better this week. The announcers tried to continue the ‘ECW paved the way for Perry’ story. Tazz insisted Perry would pay for what he did to Hook.
He snatched the mic from Schiavone. Pretty tepid boos. He told Jerry Lynn to come out and take his ass kicking. Lynn came out with a mic as the crowd lightly chanted his name. He again called Perry ‘Jungle’. He said making an example of Perry ‘would be child abuse’.
Howled at that line.
He’s not cleared to wrestle. But he called a good friend from his ECW days. It’s been rumored RVD’s coming in and the crowd chanted his name. Exploding when his music hit. Perry looked like he’d seen a ghost.
Rob slapped hands with Lynn then walked the ramp, crowd still chanting his name. Haven’t seen him in years, he looks much older, not surprisingly. Going face-to-face with Perry, the latter bailed.
Van Dam did the thumbs, the crowd chanted along. Perry tried a sneak attack with a chair, RVD threw a spinning kick that Perry avoided, Perry again bailed, heading through the crowd. These are not the actions of an FTW champion apparently. Such is the belt’s prestigious history.
They evidently still don’t trust Perry to say more than a few words. He’s not doing anything to dissuade them of this viewpoint.
*****
Excalibur then confirmed that the women would main event tonight. As they cut to a Shida promo. She vowed to win her title back. Storm said Shida was the best in 2020 but isn’t anymore, promising to retain.
Would’ve been useful about three weeks ago. Too late now. Though it is the best-looking match on tonight’s show.
Jon Moxley vs Penta vs Trent Beretta (Anything Goes)
Trent out first as they showed highlights of the Best Friends’ parking lot brawl with Proud & Powerful. Penta out to his usual nice pop. Finally Mox made his way through the crowd.
Trent tope’d himself at Mox before he reached the ring, Penta threw himself at Trent then hit a ringside slingblade to Mox. Who came back with shots, taking Trent inside, chops and strikes, biting the forehead but taking a trash can shot from Penta.
Trent ducked but took a shot from the lid instead, ‘Zero Miedo’, off the ropes right into a Mox cutter. Moxley went under the ring for a barbed-wire 2×4. Groan. Penta snatched it, Mox ducked a swing but took a backstabber, Made in Penta broken up by a Trent running knee, who was then hit with the 2×4 and had it ground across his head by Moxley.
Piledriver on the two-by-four, KKL ducked, Trent hit a belly to back onto the 2×4. Penta dragged Trent out, open hand to the chest, Alex helped setup a table at ringside. And another. Trent was bleeding from the head as he was set on the table.
Penta to the top, Mox cut him off, raking his mask with the 2×4. Trent up to meet Mox atop the buckle, superplex through the tables.
Ads. Trent should not be taking bumps like that after his neck problems. Wild action without much linking it together thus far.
All three scrapping in the middle, double superkick on Mox, Penta one to Trent, setting him atop a table in-ring. Cut off atop the buckle, Trent looked for a superplex, was fought off, avalanche destroyer through the table.
How is that not the finish? Penta took the brunt of this but had to recover so Mox could spear him through another table. TiA chants from the crowd. Groan time again: here come the tacks. A whole two weeks after we last saw them. And in a mid-card match.
Penta had Fear Factor ready, countering into a piledriver, Penta kicked out. Mox hit a release powerbomb onto them, hit a cutter to Trent, who came back with something like a Deadeye onto the tacks. Penta broke up the pin with a bin-lid shot.
Crowd into the action, all three struggling to their feet.
Moxley asked Penta to bring it as a three-way scrap broke out. A stiff one too, Beretta getting the best until a thrust kick and KKL combo from the other two. Who immediately began brawling, Penta kick to the waist, caught out of a springboard into a Paradigm Shift. Trent then stole the pin.
Why do this company hate the Lucha Bros?
Wild, hard-hitting action which was fun outside of the tacks etc. All three worked hard, covered in tacks by the end.
An annoyed Mox snatched Trent in a choke, Chuck and Orange Cassidy were waiting to attack Yuta and Claudio yet had shown no interest in going to help their partner as he was being choked unconscious. Beretta came off the top onto the BCC as the other five brawled back to ringside.
Cassidy hit Moxley with an Orange Punch. Chuck demanded a match on Rampage, in the Daily’s Place parking lot. Since this ‘hadn’t settled anything’.
Penta was just left to rot. Beating him apparently meant nothing, a vehicle to continue a Rampage feud. A week after the BCC & Death Triangle were seemingly at war. Where were Pac & Fenix here?
Winner: Trent Beretta
Footage of MJF sacrificing himself for Cole then hugging him rather than hitting him during Saturday’s tag title match. He’s ‘seemingly had a change of heart’ per Excalibur.
*****
Renee with RVD. He’d heard Perry talking trash. Next week, he’s challenging Perry for the FTW Title. He threatened to retire the belt after winning it. Hopefully this is just a one week thing.
*****
MJF’s music hit to a big cheer. He was exhaling deeply, as if he had something big on his mind. But played to the crowd on his way to the ring as they again replayed what happened in the tag. Can’t fault the follow-up here.
The crowd chanted his name, he had a big cheesy grin on his face then said there were ‘devil worshippers in the house’. He asked the fans there and at home to bear with him as he got something off his chest. He mentioned his ADD. The crowd chanted it.
He said it gives him Rejection Sensitive Disorder. Which makes his life harder, and it was hard already. He was bullied and beaten up. And he recalled the story he told during his Punk feud about the kids throwing quarters at him and calling him ‘Jew-boy’.
He said he can still feel the quarters hitting him and hear the laughter. And it made him think everyone was evil and he had to get them before they got him. But he’s starting to realize ‘that’s no way to live’. He ended up becoming a scumbag himself.
He said it’s easy being mean. What’s hard is ‘being vulnerable and open’. He knew if he did that and still got booed it’d hurt him too much and remind him of who he used to be. But ‘I’m not scared anymore’. Because of ‘each and every single one of you’.
The fans have taught him that they do care about ‘Max’. Cue a ‘Max’ chant. ‘By god you’ve got sympathy for the devil’. He’s not going to change overnight, he’s still a scumbag, but he’s ready to be ‘your scumbag’. He held the mic at the fans as they chanted ‘He’s our scumbag’.
Then put his big cheesy grin back on.
And there’s one person in particular who taught him all of the above, that he can trust others, that even he deserves a friend – he introduced ‘one of the best wrestlers in the world, one of the best human beings in the world, my best friend, Adam Cole’.
Cole hit the ramp to no music, took a mic and hit the ring as the fans chanted his name. He told Max he continues to impress him. Because of the man he’s becoming. Having the guts to share his feelings. He assured MJF he was not alone.
For years Cole had been a jerk for a lot of the same reasons. He told MJF he was becoming the man he was meant to be. The people ‘love’ and ‘adore’ him. Because they know deep down there’s a good guy in there. He and the fans are ‘incredibly proud’ of Max.
He thanked Cole for the ‘verbal fellatio’ and wearing their new double clothesline shirt. But that’s not why he called Cole out. He made him a promise about a title shot, but he’s come to the conclusion that Cole ‘doesn’t deserve a match’.
Crowd waiting with baited breath…
Because he deserves the match in front of the most historic crowd in the history of wrestling, at Wembley, at All In. There’s no-one Max would rather make history with, he gave Cole a contract and started a ‘sign it’ chant.
A ‘read it’ chant also started. Smart fans. Cole didn’t. Then told Max he loved him. Max reciprocated, the two hugged, a graphic came up making it official. The two bantered good-naturedly about who’d win then posed atop the buckles.
Excellent segment with some nice twists and turns. Backstage, Roderick Strong was throwing an absolutely psychotic fit. Mike Bennett and Matt Taven told Strong Cole always forgets about his friends. Strong then sounded like he was badly constipated.
They then confirmed All In will be available on PPV.
The Elite vs Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh
Backstory: Kenny wanted to celebrate his new contract by wrestling Satnam Singh
Wayward Son kicked in to a big pop. Excalibur emphasized that there’d be no AEW without the Elite. The heels’ music played to massive silence. As they showed them eliminating people from the Rampage battle royal.
Schiavone said he couldn’t rail on MJF after what just happened but he damn sure could on Sonjay Dutt.
Jarrett and Omega started, JJ working a headlock, running through Omega, hip-toss, bodyslam, the vet getting the better then doing the strut. Before poking the eyes and tagging Lethal who ran at Kenny and took a deep armdrag.
Matt in, Nick off the top with a stomp to the arm then Matt propelled him into a hurracanrana on Lethal. Before Matt begged them to tag in Singh. Immediately thinking better of it, he went for a tag, the others dropped off the apron but he tagged his brother when he wasn’t looking.
The Bucks hit double dropkicks, Singh just about didn’t fall over performing a cross body. Not joking, he nearly slipped through the ropes.
The heels mocked the Elite’s pose as the ads arrived.
Nick hit a superkick to Jarrett, both down, Kenny begging for the tag, crowd clapping along, Omega in, axe handles for all, crowd chanting ‘Kenny’ as he hit You Can’t Escape to Lethal, interrupted briefly by Singh who was hooked off the apron by the Bucks.
The Bucks avoided Lethal Inject, superkick party, slipped out of a chokeslam from Singh, a wave of superkicks, the big man on his knees, V Trigger, the other four down outside.
Karen Jarrett on the apron for three years as Singh was about to take a OWA. Dutt hit Omega, Cutler sprayed Karen, Dutt took him out, the Hardys out to a big pop, Twist of Fate to Dutt, Jarrett readying a guitar shot, Hangman snuck in from somewhere to wipe him out with a Buckshot, V Trigger from Kenny to Lethal, he paused to ‘play’ the guitar then hit the One Winged Angel for the win.
Massively over the top finish but a fun match. Nice twist with the faces anticipating the heels’ BS and having Page ready as their ace. Overbooked in classic Jarrett fashion but at least it led to the good guys winning.
Omega took the mic then handed it to Page. Who announced that they’d all re-signed with AEW to a nice pop. They’re happy to be here tonight and for another 200. Omega said whether it was Dynamite, Rampage ‘or maybe even Collision’ (he said this knowingly) we’d be seeing a lot of them. Then did his bang, goodnight etc.
Be very interesting to see if they do indeed appear on a Saturday show. Not good business to tease fans with no intent to deliver. Feel-good segment though there’ll be more to say on the usual lack of follow up in Up/Down tomorrow.
Winner: The Elite
Swerve backstage to explain AR Fox joining with him. Fox said Allin hadn’t spoken to him for five years and never helped him out when he could’ve. Strickland said they’d made a movie. Cut to a video of them attending Nick Wayne’s training ring. The Buddy Wayne Academy.
Swerve called it a s***hole, interrupting Nick Wayne and someone training. The Mogul Affiliates beat them up. Leaving Nick to go two-on-one with Swerve and Fox until Swerve broke a framed picture of Nick and his dad across Wayne to lay him out.
AEW love themselves a dead dad story.
Wayne, bleeding, was made to call Darby. Swerve told Darby he better listen or something worse would happen. Strickland said it was so easy to make a phone call yet Darby hadn’t made one to Fox in years.
Wayne was left in a pool of blood.
The last line about the phone call was clever. The rest of this reminded of the angle where the Outcasts whipped Britt Baker. It was way over the top, Wayne’s acting was not good and they’ve gone to the deceased dad story far too often.
Vikingo & Komander vs Aussie Open (ROH Tag Titles)
Backstory: A precursor to the upcoming Mexican/Australian war for the sole right to wear wide-brimmed hats
Just when it seemed we were past having to specify which company’s titles were on the line on AEW television. The Mexicans came out with Alex Abrahantes looking like a proper tag team in matching gear.
Fletcher and Vikingo went to work, the latter ducking and dodging, spinning through the ropes, springboard cross body then one of the most athletic things I’ve ever seen: a standing tornillo into a headscissors.
He rightly stopped to bow afterward, ducking Davis, tagging Komander, rope-walk hurracanrana, the heels regrouping outside. Davis and Komander now, the big man wiping him out via big boot, Fletcher knocking Vikingo off the apron before a double-team big boot/senton combo.
Komander boot up to both; caught out of a cross body into a diving cutter from Fletcher. Kickout at two. Crowd into this as Fletcher missed a charge in the corner, series of thrust kicks from Komander, walking the ropes, he drew Fletcher in then ole’d him outside.
Vikingo in, propelled off Komander’s back into a dropkick on Davis, Fletcher got a boot up, Vikingo hit a kick to the back of the knee then a diving legdrop. Before both faces launched dives, were caught and smashed at ringside.
Ads.
Back to Vikingo off the top into a double superkick and Fletcher propelling him from a Davis Razor’s Edge but kicking out at two. The heels readying a double shot, Vikingo avoided it at first but was then smacked with it.
Davis then had Vikingo in a fireman’s carry position, Komander springboarded, using his partner’s back as a stepping stone into a destroyer on Fletcher. That was cool. Vikingo crucifix bomb, the champs rolling outside to escape losing as the faces walked the ropes to meet in the middle and launch moonsaults.
Davis thrown back in, the faces to the top, synchronized 450, Fletcher just saving the belts. Sent outside by Vikingo, Komander back upstairs, Davis avoiding a springboard, Fletcher back in, crushing lariats, Coreolis, Aussie Open retain.
The crowd were booing fiercely when they realized Komander was about to lose. The faces really got the crowd behind them here. This was tons of fun with some crazy spots. AEW really have some good tag teams again. At just the right time.
Winner: Aussie Open
Punk/Starks package as they pushed Collision.
Hikaru Shida vs Toni Storm (Women’s Title)
Backstory: They wanted to prove both women are still alive but were out of newspapers
Nice amount of tv time for the ladies to play with here. Either Shida’s got new music or I just haven’t seen her for ages. Was really hoping Storm would come solo and they’d make this a serious match but unfortunately she’s not alone.
Schiavone was excellent building the gravity of it. As was Toni’s look of disgust and shaking her head as the crowd chanted for Shida.
Storm kick to the knee, Shida fighting back, both slugging away, stiff shots from Shida into the ropes, Toni bailed outside.
Back in, Shida shot to the gut, the two clashing shoulders, neither budging until Storm grabbed the hair; Shida responding by finally winning the shoulder block battle then launching strikes from the mount. Transitioning into shots to the back of the head, Storm again heading for the outside.
Shida meeting her there, launching a running knee to the chest with Storm hanging off the apron, flinging her to the barricade then firing strikes until Storm swept the legs, sending Shida face-first into the barricade.
And quickly taking her back inside. Though the advantage didn’t last long, Shida flinging her to the buckle, suplex into the corner then a brainbuster. Storm gouging the eyes then kicking Shida against the ropes and launching a hip attack, knocking Shida off the apron where of course the other Outcasts attacked while the ref daydreamed.
Flinging her back in, Storm got two.
Break. I’d give anything right now for Saraya to lose her voice. Anything. It’s constant.
Shida blocked the hip attack, catching Toni into a release German, enziguri, great babyface fire from Shida, running knee-strike in the corner, another, ten punches and a few extra, missile dropkick, 2.5.
Back to the top with Storm sat just beneath, meteora for another close count. Then setting her atop the buckle, headbutt, superplex ready, the cameras had a tight shot so they only caught the end of Ruby interfering, presumably Saraya has the ref (Taz confirmed this, explaining it since we didn’t see it). Allowing Storm to hit a tornado ddt.
Then a brutal hip attack, ddt, Shida kicked out.
Yay/boo in the middle, chops from Storm, rights to the face, Shida struggling, snapping back with a big right, avoiding a Toni pump kick, big knee strike, falcon arrow, nearly three. Saraya threw a kendo stick in right in front of the ref, who just watched the girls fight over it.
Shida got it but smashed Soho off the apron instead, the ref got rid of it, Storm sprayed Shida in the face then hit Storm Zero, Shida kicked out again, crowd totally behind her as she countered a sunset flip into a high stack to bag the win! Got me with that one.
Guessing they’re going with a rematch of this at All In since Hayter’s still injured. Shida both absolutely dominated the match and won.
Pretty good action if you can ignore the usual Outcasts garbage. Crowd totally behind the new champ.
CM Punk vs Ricky Starks (Real World Title, Ricky Steamboat special ref)
FTR vs Big Bill & Brian Cage (AEW Tag Titles)
Kris Statlander vs Mercedes Martinez (TNT Title)
They finally remembered Billy Gunn ‘retired’ so the Acclaimed have a promo
Next Dynamite:
Jack Perry vs Rob Van Dam (FTW Title & Rules)
Added to All In:
MJF vs Adam Cole (AEW Title)
Thumbs Up/Down
MJF & Cole seg
Aussie Open vs Vikingo & Komander
Wrestling was generally good and the show was entertaining enough
*****
Didn’t remotely feel like a special episode ahead of time or during the show itself – possibly excepting announcing the Elite’s new contracts with fit nicely
Mogul Affiliates/Nick Wayne angle
Putting the women in the main event but not giving any build is so half-assed, basically asking for it to fail (ratings-wise)
Only one match announced for both All In and next week’s Dynamite continues to suggest they’re not planning ahead well – the push and build for this show confirms that
Impact Wrestling on AXS TV drew 153,000 viewers last week, up 42,000 viewers from the prior week and the most-watched episode since January 27, 2022! The show drew a 0.03 in 18-49, the same as the previous week. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
AEW will celebrate 200 episodes of Dynamite tonight with a packed card live from the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, the former home of the WWE Thunderdome.
Several matches have been announced for the broadcast already including Jon Moxley vs Trent Beretta vs Penta El Zero Miedo in an anything goes match, Kenny Omega and The Elite vs Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, and Satnam Singh in a trios match, Chris Jericho and Konosuke Takeshita vs Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia, Aussie Open vs El Hijo Del Vikingo and Komander for the ROH World Tag Team titles, and Toni Storm vs Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s title.
Plus, we’ll hear from AEW World champion MJF and FTW champion Jack Perry goes face-to-face with Jerry Lynn. The build towards AEW All In will also start tonight as the show is just over 20 days away!
WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon issued a statement to all WWE employees today after the news came out that he was subject to a federal search warrant and a grand jury subpoena on July 17.
McMahon, who is currently taking a leave of absence to recover from spinal surgery, wrote:
“In 2022, WWE formed a special committee to review allegations of misconduct against me. That review was concluded in November 2022 following an extensive investigation. Throughout this experience, I have always denied any intentional wrongdoing and continue to do so. I am confident that the government’s investigation will be resolved without any findings of wrongdoing. I am focused on completing the recovery process from my recent spinal surgery and on closing our transaction with Endeavor, which will create one of the preeminent global sports and entertainment brands.”
McMahon is also paying back millions of dollars to the company as they recover the funds from the Special Committee investigation on his hush-money deal and funds which he illegally used throughout the years. The company registered an additional $5.4 million in costs this quarter related to that investigation.
Monday Night Raw this week drew 1,760,000 viewers, down 50,000 viewers from last week’s show for the least-watched show since June 12.
Raw started well below the usual levels with 1,710,000 viewers in the first hour and then increased to 1,860,000 viewers in the second hour before dropping to 1,720,000 viewers in the third. The third hour beat the first hour, something which hasn’t happened this year and in quite a lot of months.
In 18-49, Raw also dipped to a 0.53 from a 0.57 of last week, the lowest since July 3. No cable rankings are available as of press time. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
WWE announced that WrestleMania generated $215 million in economic impact for the Los Angeles region this past April, according to a study conducted by Applied Analysis. This marks a new company record breaking last year’s $206.5 million in economic impact for the Dallas/Arlington region.
Since 2016, WrestleMania has generated more than $1.2 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the event.
A capacity crowd of 161,892 fans attended WWE’s pop-culture extravaganza over the course of two nights last April at SoFi Stadium, making it the highest-grossing and most-attended event in WWE history. Key highlights from the study include:
By continuing to broaden the week’s schedule of events, out-of-town visitors stayed an average of 4.1 nights in Los Angeles.
More than half of attendees traveled to Los Angeles from outside of southern California, with 15% of attendees traveling in from international markets.
Visitors had an annual average income of more than $100K.
AEW issued an official press release to announce that The Elite signed long-term contract extensions with the company ahead of tonight’s landmark 200th episode of Dynamite.
The press release called Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, Matt and Nick Jackson as “four cornerstones key to the launch of AEW” and listed the accomplishments the foursome have had since AEW’s inception in 2019.
“The Elite have been so important to the launch of AEW, with the Young Bucks going all in when I first approached them in 2018 about my dream to create an international pro wrestling promotion,” said AEW President Tony Khan.
“Shortly after that, their partners and closest friends Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page joined us to formally launch All Elite Wrestling. All four of them have been instrumental to AEW’s success from the very first episode of Wednesday Night Dynamite in 2019 through the present day,” Khan continued.
“Now as we celebrate tonight’s 200th episode of AEW: Dynamite, I’m excited to share that Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Hangman Adam Page will all be staying in AEW for years to come! Congratulations to The Elite, and we look forward to celebrating the great news with fans around the world. See you all tonight for Episode 200 of AEW: Dynamite,” he concluded.
