Much to the surprise of nobody, Vince McMahon was backstage at Friday Night Smackdown in Madison Square Garden last night according to PWInsider.com.
McMahon has largely avoided attending shows since returning to power although he still messes around with creative remotely, still sending everyone into chaos just like the good ol’ times.
Apart from WrestleMania 39 and the Raw after WrestleMania, McMahon only was present for one more show, which was the Raw from Hartford, Connecticut in June.
With the show being held at Madison Square Garden, a favorite of McMahon, it was expected for the big boss to be present.
Smackdown opens with a recap video of the Bloodline Civil War.
The Usos are out first and are talking about winning the Bloodline Civil War and as they started celebrating. They are interrupted by Paul Heyman who comes out with Solo Sikoa. The Usos told Heyman to shut up and Heyman says there is only one man in WWE that can ever tell me to stop talking and Solo put his hand over the microphone as Heyman looked wide eyed at Solo.
Solo takes the microphone and tosses out of the ring and just stands in the corner and stares at his brothers and then the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns comes to the ring.
The Tribal Court is after the commercial break.
As Roman stood in the center of the ring, the crowd chanted, “you got pinned” and after he asked them to acknowledge him, he said he is still the Tribal Chief. Roman asked why they were wasting his time because neither one of them are the tribal chief and have no authority to call him to a tribal court.
The Usos then have a video package showing how Roman treated them. As the crowd chanted “you messed up” Roman said no he didn’t that is not who I am that is who I was forced to be. Roman said he did it for the Usos and the crowd.
Roman then says he was a WrestleMania main eventer before there was a Bloodline and he didn’t need the Bloodline, the Bloodline needed him. Roman says he has five children in his household and asked the Usos if they thought he needed to take their families on as well and he didn’t want this much stress. He doesn’t want it and he doesn’t need it. Roman says he is done he doesn’t want it anymore if you want it…it’s yours.
A stare down between Roman and Jey begins. Roman takes his lei off and then starts talking to Jey off the microphone. And places the lei on Jey and acts like he is crying and takes off the Undisputed title and throws it to the mat. Then Roman gets on his knees in front of Jey. Jey leans over and whispers something to Roman as Roman is really crying and Roman gives Jey an uppercut to the crotch and Jimmy attacks Roman as Solo looks mad and confused.
Heyman gets out of the ring and Solo goes over and pulls Jimmy off Roman and throws him into the corner and stops and looks down at the tribal lei which is now lying in the middle of the ring. Jimmy then takes off running toward Roman but Solo catches him with a Samoan Spike.
Solo picks up the lei and looks at it as Roman gets back to his feet and walks over to Solo. Solo hesitates to give it back to Roman who is standing there with his hand open. Jey comes to and clotheslines them both. Solo slams Jey as Roman gets up and gives Jimmy a superman punch. Roman then kicks Jimmy out of the ring and continues to beat him down. Solo then stops Jey from saving Jimmy by tying him up in the ropes. Roman gets the Undisputed title out of the ring and smashes it on Jimmy’s head. Roman hits Jimmy with the ring steps as Solo continues to hold Jey in the ropes. Jey somehow gets free and goes after Roman and Solo hits him with a Samoan Spike. Roman tells Solo to finish them. Solo picks up Jimmy and places him on the announce table as Roman buries Jey with chairs. Solo gets on the barricade and splashes Jimmy through the table.
As the officials arrive to stop the chaos, Heyman places the lei over Roman and tells him he acknowledges him as his tribal chief.
Jimmy Uso was stretchered out of the arena and taken to a hospital in an Ambulance.
Sheamus VS. Austin Theory for the WWE United States Championship
Pretty Deadly come out and that brings Ridge and Butch out and Wilson gets on the apron and Sheamus hits him with the Brogue Kick and Theory takes advantage and rolls Sheamus up grabbing his trunks and gets the three count.
Winner and Still WWE United States Champion: Austin Theory
The Grayson Waller Effect with special guest The Rated R Superstar Edge. Grayson asks Edge for his big announcement. Edge says it’s the 25 anniversary of his career. Grayson asked why he is back in WWE and Edge says it’s simple it’s because of all of them and points to the crowd then stands up and tells Grayson he will be back to him in a minute he wants to talk to them.
Edge talks about his first PLE Summer Slam 1998 and said they opened his arms to him. Grayson says that Edge’s big announcement that he is retiring and asked the fans to give him a round of applause for his accomplishments. Edge then says Grayson last week you were standing eye to eye with John Cena in London. This week you are standing here standing eye to eye with me, so someone somewhere sees something in you, but you have been here for half a hiccup and have not even had a match on the main roster yet. But you managed to doggy paddle your way into some deep waters and it’s time to sink or swim because I am not retiring. As a matter of fact, I talked to the powers that be and I am going to have a match here tonight its going to be the Rated R Superstar VS. Grayson Waller.
Edge then shoved his microphone into Waller’s chest as Waller stood in disbelief.
Karrion Kross VS. A.J. Styles
Styles hits the phenomenal forearm on Kross to get the win.
Winner: A.J. Styles
Asuka is in the ring and screaming, no one is ready for Asuka and Bianca Belair comes to the ring as does Charlotte Flair. Flair and Belair get into it. Asuka taking them both out and goes to the top rope and Iyo Sky hits Asuka with the Money in the bank briefcase as Bayley hits Asuka with a rose plant and Iyo hits the moonsault and was going to cash in, but Belair takes out Bayley on the outside and Flair takes out Sky.
Edge VS. Grayson Waller
Good match but as Waller went for his finishing move the rolling stunner, Edge counters with a spear and gets the win.
Winner: Edge
After the match Edge rolls out and gets a microphone and said “Hey, Waller, you swam.”
During the match it was announced that Jey Uso who had rode to the hospital with Jimmy is back in the arena.
Roman is shown in the locker room and Heyman says my tribal chief, Jey Uso is back in the arena and looking for you and Roman says he won’t have to look far because his tribal chief will be in the ring.
Roman is back in the ring as he stated he would be with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Roman then said he did not like how it went the last time and asked the crowd to acknowledge him. The Usos music comes on and they are looking around but its Jey coming through the crowd.
Solo goes out to meet him and Jey takes a running leap, and he dives on Solo and then throws Solo headfirst into the corner ring post.
Jey then grabbed a chair and slid into the ring where Roman was waiting with his title in hand, but it was Jey who smashed Roman in the stomach with the chair and then over his back. As Jey pulls back to hit Roman again Solo recovers and slides in the ring and grabs the chair from Jey.
As Solo goes to hit Jey with the chair, Jey gives Solo a superkick and hits Solo with the chair as Roman rolls out of the ring. Jey gave repeated chair shots to Solo’s back. As Roman and Heyman stand looking toward the ring, Solo rolls out of the ring and Jey throws the chair out of the ring, gets a microphone, and picks up the Undisputed Championship Roman left behind.
Roman starts yelling at Jey to put it down. Jey said the trial of the tribal chief you are looking at the judge, the jury and the executioner right now. Now I have to get you. It’s trial by combat now. I don’t care about no brothers, no wiseman. It’s you and me one on one and you better accept so I can beat you one more time.
Week 17 of WWE on A&E had an episode of Most Wanted Treasures with Trish Stratus and Alundra Blayze and that was followed by episode eight of Stone Cold Takes on America.
WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures drew 262,000 viewers, down 14,000 viewers from last week’s show which revolved around Eddie and Rey. It did a 0.07 rating in 18-49, down 0.02, and did not chart at all.
Episode eight of Stone Cold Takes on America did 181,000 viewers, down 30,000 viewers from episode seven and the least-watched episode so far of the season. The show did a 0.04 in 18-49, down 0.02 and did not chart. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
It’s going to be a major Smackdown tonight from a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York and what do you do to make a big show at the world’s most famous arena? You put Roman Reigns on trial!
The Undisputed WWE Universal champion will be heading to Tribal Court himself after earlier this year he put Sami Zayn through his court. This time, it’s The Usos who are making their cousin answer for his actions.
Plus, the Rated-R Superstar Edge will return as he will be the guest on The Grayson Waller Effect. Edge’s SummerSlam angle is supposedly starting tonight so we’re going to get a hint of who his opponent might be.
Also, two matches have been announced for the show so far with Austin Theory defending the United States title against Sheamus and Karrion Kross takes on AJ Styles.
Dynamite this week recovered a little bit in the ratings following last week’s low, with the show doing 855,000 viewers, up 46,000 viewers from the prior week. The show did a 0.29 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.05 from last week and was #1 on the cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
Former WWE champion Big E told Corey Graves on his After The Bell podcast that he’s feeling great but there’s no timetable for his in-ring return.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a timetable but the great thing is I feel 100%. I don’t even feel like someone who broke their neck,” Big E said. “My mobility is incredible, it’s great, my strength is great, I have no issues whatsoever.”
The New Day member however said that doctors gave him no answers on a return, saying he “got nothing” in that regard.
Big E said that he’s really thankful for how he feels now and considers himself blessed.
“I can walk around, I can touch my toes, I can go to the gym, all those things,” he told Graves.
E broke his neck on the March 11, 2022 episode of Smackdown when Ridge Holland executed an overhead suplex on him but didn’t get enough height and Big E landed on his head, fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae.
Ticket tracking service WrestleTix is reporting that All In has surpassed the 75,000-mark for tickets distributed and Wembley Stadium has now been set up to hold nearly 88,000 fans.
The show has around 68,000 paid tickets according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer and it’s more or less around 10,000 paid tickets away from having the largest paid number in professional wrestling history, surpassing WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas.
All In stands at $8.6 million in gate money, which will shatter any AEW record and also smashes any wrestling record in the United Kingdom.
There have been no matches announced for All In yet so in theory, a strong lineup could drive up sales even higher. This will be AEW’s most successful event in a very, very long time that will be hard to replicate for them.
And if you’re wondering why WWE is pushing for a WrestleMania in London, well, they want their records back and a two-night WrestleMania will for sure destroy any record AEW sets next month.
The July 4 episode of NXT drew 508,000 viewers this week, down 114,000 from the prior week. The low viewership was expected considering it was Independence Day and this was the lowest number ever for NXT. The show drew a 0.13 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 0.04 from the prior week. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)
The Survivor Series will be held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois this year on Saturday, November 25 during Thanksgiving weekend. Smackdown on the eve of Survivor Series will be held in the same arena.
A pre-sale for combined tickets will kick off on Wednesday, July 19 at 10AM CT, with the general public on-sale date set for Friday, July 21 at 10AM CT. Additional details on individual tickets being released for each event will be announced in the coming weeks.
Survivor Series in 1989 and 2019 were also held in Chicago. Last year the show was marketed as WarGames but there’s nothing in the press release which mentions that so far.
Two mystery participants are set to enter the Blood & Guts cage match later this month, one joining the Blackpool Combat Club and one joining The Elite.
The double cage match will feature 10 participants in a five-on-five match and eight of those 10 were revealed on Dynamite last night.
For the Blackpool Combat Club there will be Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Konosuke Takeshita while for The Elite there’s Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks.
Bryan Danielson is out injured and that leaves one member for the BCC while Eddie Kingston is in Japan so that’s one less for The Elite.
Omega, addressing the Edmonton crowd after cameras stopped rolling, said that their mystery partner was recently a recruited old friend who cares about him, the rest of the Elite, AEW, and changing the face of pro wrestling. The crowd chanted for former NJPW star Kota Ibushi but Omega didn’t give any other hint.
Who will join the Blackpool Combat Club remains to be seen and there were not any signs on who that final member might be.
Blood & Guts will be held on July 19 at the TD Garden in Boston.
Canadian professional wrestling historian Pat Laprade today wrote that according to multiple sources, All Elite Wrestling will be making its Montreal debut this coming December.
Laparde said that Tuesday, December 5 is set to be a Collision and ROH taping while Wednesday, December 6 will have a live Dynamite and Rampage taping immediately afterward.
Bell Center, the arena which hosted this year’s Elimination Chamber and the Smackdown that came before it, is set to also play host to the AEW double header.
AEW is currently on a Canadian tour which will end on July 15 in Calgary with live Collision.
WrestleCon: Destination Detroit has been announced for SummerSlam weekend and will be operating on Friday, August 4 between 5PM and 9PM and Saturday, August 5 between 9AM and 2PM.
The convention will be held at the Huntington Place at 1 Washington Blvd in Detroit with entrance tickets costing just $10 per day.
Guests so far confirmed appearing are Tony Schiavone, Boogeyman, Lex Luger, Ron Simmons, IRS, Ted DiBiase, Sting, Sgt Slaughter, Honky Tony Man, and Nailz. More guests will be announced over the next few weeks.
Destination WrestleCon is a smaller version of the WrestleCon fan convention that is held every year during WrestleMania.
Monday Night Raw with the post-MITB show on the eve of Independence Day drew 1,827,000 viewers, down 146,000 viewers from the prior week.
Hour one started with 1,850,000 viewers, then decreased slightly to 1,840,000 viewers in the second hour, and then wrapped up the night with 1,790,000 viewers for the third hour.
Cable rankings are not available as of press time but Raw did a 0.49 rating in the 18-49 demo, a big decrease of 0.12 from the prior week. No hourly demos are available. (Ratings credit: F4WOnline.com)
Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics is reporting that longtime WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt will no longer be representing WWE in the antitrust lawsuit filed by MLW as he is retiring.
In comments to Thurston, McDevitt said that he hoped that the judge would throw MLW’s lawsuit again but he didn’t and the case will run into 2025 for sure and he wanted to retire by the end of the year.
“It would make sense for them to secure counsel who can go the distance on the case now that discovery will be starting. There is also the chance that I might be a witness given the allegations,” McDevitt wrote.
McDevitt will be 74 in six months and said that it was the right time to transition to retirement, although he will continue to help WWE and Vince McMahon in any way he can.
He has served as Vince’s and WWE’s attorney for the past 36 years and has been one of McMahon’s most trusted individuals. McDevitt has always been the one to take WWE’s major court cases and has helped Vince beat the federal government in 1994 after the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York criminal court brought a case against Vince McMahon on suspicion of supplying illegal anabolic steroids to his wrestlers.
Attorneys from the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Warton & Garrison LLP will be working with WWE on this MLW antitrust lawsuit.
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. After last week drawing 809,000 & 0.24 in the 18-49 demo. Second-lowest audience of 2023; lowest demo in three years.
*****
If you had a friend you trusted, and he tried to kill you with a cinder block, would you ever even consider tagging with him?
To address that, Renee was with Keith Lee & Darby from earlier today. Allin challenged Lee to ‘pull your head outta your ass’ and basically suck it up in the upcoming match. Lee called him ‘ballsy’ and ‘stupid’, smiling as Allin left.
Taz thought this was an attempt to drive a ‘wedge’ between Lee & Swerve. I thought it was a weak ass attempt to try explaining why on earth Lee wouldn’t just crush Strickland on sight.
Though it was at least an attempt. And Excalibur did recap the whole cinder block thing. They even replayed it as Strickland made his entrance. Honestly not sure if that makes it better or worse, probably the latter.
Strickland clearly didn’t think there was the slightest chance of any scrapping since he patiently waited for his former partner on the ramp.
Lee ignored Swerve, but didn’t so much as give him a dirty look. Still no brackets btw.
Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy (Blind tag tourn)
Backstory: Swerve & Lee have been pseudo-feuding since the Boer War
Lively crowd as Lee and Darby got to it – Allin slapping Lee, the big man launching Darby into space with a beal out of the corner. Then looking for his finish, the cameras missed something for the second time already, Darby got the tag to Cassidy while we were shown a replay.
Cassidy did all of his deliberately weak offense, to ‘Holy S’ chants. Lee responded by double chopping him to the mat. Crowd oohing and aahing. As Orange begged off, got the pockets, took another double chop and collapsed into Lee like he was sleeping on his chest.
The crowd laughed. It was amusing, but this is supposed to be a tournament to get a tag title shot. And one partner tried to murder the other. Comedy in wrestling’s great, but there’s a time and place. AEW never seem to find it.
Allin back in, no budging Lee on a Coffin Splash, a second rocked the big man, to his knees, Swerve came in to launch off Lee’s back for a heel kick, pace quickening as Swerve went to work on Allin, slipping behind him to hit his diving elbow to the back of the head.
Allin selling his leg after a bad landing, being whipped corner to corner, crashing through the ropes to the floor, the fans chanting his name as the ads arrived.
Bright start helped by energetic fans.
Back to Lee helping Swerve superplex Allin, those two fighting outside with Orange trapped in a bearhug inside. Swerve and his goons pulled the steps down onto Allin, ‘trapping’ him.
Orange slipped free, launched a tope to Swerve, was caught outside by Lee but slipped behind to grab a sleeper, his legs around the big man’s waist. Lee simply marched him up the steps into the ring, the same steps Darby was trapped under.
Pretty creative. But boy those steps looked awfully light when they were pulled onto Darby.
Cassidy looked for a tornado and stundog, Lee blocked both, too strong to be budged, until Cassidy got stundog at the second attempt, holding Lee in place for Allin to hit a code red, the crowd wild. As Swerve looked to break up the pin via frog splash, Allin moved, Swerve hit Lee. And laughed.
Why the hell are they wrestling together?
Strickland flung Orange to Lee, Lee flung him back, Swerve drilled Lee via roundhouse, again mistakenly. Orange took out Lee with a tornado ddt through the ropes, Allin pinned Swerve (who else!) with the Fuller Leglock.
Fun match, terrible booking.
In a tournament so prestigious we don’t even know who the winners are facing. Despite it first being announced about a month ago. RIP the tag division.
Aside from Swerve probably being a better heel than a face, he, Lee & the tag scene would be better off if they’d just remained together.
Winner: Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy
Nick Wayne video package narrated by Darby. Who was trained by Nick’s father, Buddy.
Allin talked about finding out Buddy was dead and punching the window in his car. Deciding that he was going to watch over the youngster. They showed footage of Allin giving Nick his contract.
As they played a highlight package with Allin talking him up as a competitor. Allin thinks he’s ‘ready’.
*****
To Tony Schiavone waiting to greet Jungle Boy in the parking lot. Who emerged from a car in shades and an open shirt. He’s not a thug from New York, he and Hook will do things in a ring, ‘like professionals’.
He was about to ask Tony Khan for that match when Hook ran up on him. Perry managed to free himself and sprint back to his car as it too sprinted away.
It was short but this was better promo work from Perry. Character has potential.
*****
They replayed the story so far re: Cole and MJF. Then cut to their weekend together.
Max was late to the gym, Cole working out an hour before he arrived, Max wearing his ‘Better than you bay bay’ tee. MJF trusted Cole to spot him, Cole played on his phone instead. There was no payoff, Max just put the weight back down when he was done.
Then spotted a plus-size dude working out. Cole wouldn’t let Max tell fat jokes, until they agreed he reminded them of Tony Schiavone, laughing and pointing at one another like ‘good one’.
Cole then tried to lift the same weight as Max. Easily doing more reps as the champ looked bemused.
Bemused being the operative word. Again, there is definitely a place for comedy, the world title feud is not it. And no babyface should not have a single thing in common with the guy the announcers put across as about the most reprehensible human being on the planet.
Wasn’t awful but wasn’t anything special. Didn’t seem to have a purpose. Certainly didn’t make me want to see them fight.
Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs Bollywood Boyz & Blade
Backstory: None
No idea why Blade’s with these guys. If they explained, I missed it. Gunn started, threatening to pull his shorts down and getting rolled up for two.
Now this match is a fitting place for a little comedy.
Caster in, back body drops and slams to all three heels. Scissor Me Timbers, Scissoring, seemed it was about to be over but no they’re going through a break instead.
Caster got the Mic Drop shortly after we returned. A ‘great trios victory’ per Excalibur. It’s amazing we’ve never seen that trio before since they’re such reputable opponents.
They were celebrating when Harley Cameron appeared on the screen. Stone-dead silence in the crowd. Next Wednesday, she’s going to debut her own music video. The silence continued, barely broken by a handful of boos. Until Billy took the mic to give her the ol’ ‘We got two words…’ treatment.
Last time Cameron tried to rap the show was held up ten minutes by the fans. And next week it ain’t taped.
Winner: Acclaimed & Billy Gunn
Footage of Eddie Kingston defeating Kenta today for the NJPW Strong title. Excalibur said it was a ‘lifelong dream’ of Kingston’s. Eddie’s very genuine celebration made this seem a better title than pretty much anything in AEW.
*****
Cut to a Moxley promo package. Talking Kingston. They’ve both got everything they want out of this business. So why’s Eddie so mad?
It pisses Mox off how much Kingston complains about the young kids and how they have no work ethic. Whereas the BCC help train youngsters and look forward, not back.
‘Eddie, answer your phone’
Are the BCC heels or not!? Because generally the guy who talks up the younger generation and is appreciative of what the wrestling business has given them ain’t a heel.
*****
Blood & Guts will be 5 vs 5. Each team has a guy TBA before the match itself. Not a fan of that. The feud is Elite vs BCC. Adding too many guys outside of that waters it down.
Especially since Danielson missing out means BCC have only three of the five. I’m not counting Takeshita as BCC since that’s not been made official. Though he does have a place in this match and feud so that’s fine.
*****
Cut to Matt Hardy being deemed worthy of finding out live who his tag partner in the weird tourney is. ‘Jeff’ said RJ City. Matt’s dumb so he assumed it was his brother. It’s Jeff Jarrett of course. ‘I hate Jeff Jarrett!’. Don’t we all.
That’s on Rampage. Their opponents? Who the hell knows, we didn’t stick around to draw them.
*****
Yuta package pushing the main event. Yuta said he already beat Omega and he’s the favorite. And will take out Kenny before Blood & Guts.
Words and message = good. Delivery so-so.
*****
Chris Jericho out to a total babyface reaction as they showed what’s been going on between he and Sting.
‘You guys are loud here tonight!’ Is anyone actually a heel?
Though they are loud tbf. Very good crowd.
Jericho said things haven’t been going well and it might be time to make some changes. He said Alberta is the perfect place to be ‘reinvigorated’, back where he started his career. He named a bunch of local places and driving through them reminded him of the passion he had when he was younger.
‘Wrestling still is everything to me’. He feels ‘invigorated’, ‘resurrected’. It’s time to become the greatest version of himself ‘EEEVER’.
Weird music interrupted. It was Don Callis.
Decent amount of boos and a ‘F you Callis’ chant. Getting louder as he took the mic. To say he was hearing that Jericho needed a change. Louder.
It was six years today Callis called Jericho to ask if he wanted to face Omega in New Japan. Louder. With that match, they changed wrestling history. Without ‘my idea’, neither these people or Jericho are here right now
Jericho said he couldn’t hear him due to the boos. Then recalled eight years ago when Jericho helped him get back into the business. The commentators noted ‘the egos on these two’.
Callis agreed that the two make history when they align. And Callis was recently betrayed by a ‘coward, punk’ Kenny Omega. His new family will be based on trust. So he wants the greatest of all the time, the man who beat Omega, his best friend ‘Chris Jericho’.
‘Will you join the Don Callis family?’
Incredulous, Jericho said he doesn’t join factions, he creates them. He has a one-word answer – ‘Maybe’.
Jericho walked off.
Just totally confused by most of these characters’ alignments. At least there’s hope the mouldy JAS will end. Would be intriguing if I wasn’t wondering what the hell Jericho’s supposed to be. Guess it still is. Though if he joins, that instantly demotes Takeshita.
Over an hour in now, not much action.
*****
Punk/Joe package. Punk vowed to change history and win. Joe said Punk’s never beaten him and ‘nothing changes’. Punk promised to win – ‘tell me when I’m tellin’ lies.’
Ending a two-decade-long streak with one week’s build is such short-term thinking. Almost the definition of it.
They then pushed Starks/Hobbs and showed Joe taking out Roderick Strong.
On whom Renee was trying to get a medical update. Doc Sampson said he’s not too bad but they’re going to be careful given Strong’s history.
Strong, wearing a neck brace and looking anything but, said he felt ‘great’.
Adam Cole walked in to ask how Strong was. But got a text from MJF about ‘hitting that double clothesline tonight’.
And had to go since his match was next. Roddy seemed confused. Yep.
MJF & Adam Cole vs Matt Menard & Butcher (Blind tag tourn)
Backstory: The AEW champ & the man pursuing him just happened to be drawn together in the only part of the tournament bracket shown on tv
Max asked them to stop his music mid-way through so Cole could get the big entrance. Max did the Rick Steiner run-around-and-slide-under-Cole’s-legs thing as the latter ‘bay bay’d.
That was funny.
They were facing Butcher and Matt Menard who didn’t get an entrance and maybe got mentioned by the announcers? Hell of a tournament btw. G1 take notes.
Max worked as a pseudo babyface against the heels, while taking shortcuts like poking the eyes and seeking leverage from Cole on an abdominal stretch. Starting a ‘do it’ chant until Cole briefly did provide said leverage.
Menard got Max stuck in the heels’ corner, they worked him over while he tried to get the hot tag to Cole. At least with Max I know it’s all an act and he’s decidedly a bad guy.
Still stuck on the wrong side of the ring, Max screamed in a Butcher abdominal stretch. The match partying like it’s 1970 so far, dominated by that move. Right on cue, MJF briefly slipped free but was dragged back into the hold, screaming for Cole to help him.
Btw, he wrestled in the ‘better than you bay bay’ tee.
After illegally freeing himself, even the announcers who normally despise Max talked up him ‘making the crawl’ like he was a big babyface. Good guy announcers should not be that dumb. Prime JR would have called it out as BS. As would Kevin Kelly.
Cole in, lariats, pump kicks, knee strikes, things speeding up, neckbreaker across the knee, Max distracted Cole by begging for the tag so they could hit the double clothesline.
Cole rebounded to fight off both guys, missed a Panama sunrise, thrust kick, Menard down, being readied for the Boom. Cole ignored Max’s shouts for the clothesline and took the win himself.
Max was pleased to have won, wrapping Cole in a big hug.
Crowd really into Cole’s flurry along with he and Max as an act. The latter took the mic to ask if there were ‘any devil worshippers in the house?’ Sparking an ‘MJF’ chant.
Then asked if there were any fans of someone with a ‘super cool name’ before asking Cole to ‘do the thing’. Cole did the Adam Cole bay bay as Max briefly said they should’ve used the clothesline. Before asking Cole to hang-out again this weekend. The crowd chanted ‘yes’.
Cole agreed too.
About to leave, Cole was stopped by MJF so he could yell ‘Happy Birthday’, start a chant, unleash streamers and bring out a cake and party hats etc. Max put a hat on a less than enthusiastic Cole.
Max began to sing happy birthday. Unamused, Cole cut him off. Max said there was one more thing, starting a ‘make a wish’ chant. And was prepping to shove Cole’s face in the cake when Cole turned the tables.
Then ate icing off Max’s face, noting it was good cake. ‘With sincerity’, Cole thanked Max for all the birthday stuff. ‘Thank you my friend’. This genuinely was said sincerely.
Just no idea what to make of this. It was tremendously entertaining. MJF’s just phenomenal at working a crowd. Yet it was still weird. When Foley and Rock did this sort of goofy stuff, the world title was elsewhere.
Clearly the story is going to be that Cole continues to out-think Max. MJF thinks he’s suckered Cole in like he does everybody else but really Cole is playing him. I hope anyway.
As above, didn’t make me want to see them wrestle. It made me want to see them hang out at a theme park or something.
Winner: MJF & Adam Cole
Britt with Renee. Baker didn’t care what Ruby or anyone said about her. But Soho lied last week about taking everything from her. There are two things no-once can: her pride since she’s always the face of the division. And being the first ever Owen tournament winner.
Britt’s just sorry they have to meet in the first round since she’s going to win the whole thing again and that means Ruby’s bowing out early.
*****
Renee with Jericho, Sammy and Garcia. Garcia wasn’t happy about Jericho maybe joining Callis. Jericho emphasized he’d only said maybe and that it was time the other two flew by themselves.
Renee revealed that it just so happened Sammy and Garcia had been drawn together in the tag tournament. Jericho said this was a perfect opportunity for them. Garcia offered a fist bump. Sammy paused briefly but reciprocated. Though like last week didn’t utter a word.
*****
Footage of Britt and Cole winning the Owen last year. About the first time we’ve seen that since they did.
Britt Baker vs Ruby Soho (Owen Cup)
Backstory: Winner faces Skye Blue in the semis
Britt came out alone vs the other three.
The match beginning with her working the arm, down into a pin for a quick two, Soho up into a headlock, Britt took her down into an armbar, Soho fled outside. Baker targeting the arm early ahead of Lockjaw.
Ruby back in, Baker back to the arm via hammerlock, to a headlock, Baker into the ropes, shoulder block, slingblade, then something went awry as they looked for a suplex/ddt and Soho bailed outside.
Britt followed and jawed with Toni and Saraya, right in front of the ref, allowing Ruby to strike from behind.
It bears repeating – in Outcasts’ matches, everyone looks dumb except the people who are supposed to. Crowd dead for most of this so far as the ads arrived. Allowing us to hear Saraya’s non-stop shouting.
Britt threw a forearm, another, further flurry, big lariat, another, neckbreaker: she’s clearly losing this one, absolutely dominant.
Very slow sequence into a pin attempt for two.
Glove out, ‘DMD’, Soho looked for No Future, Britt blocked it, looked for the stomp, got rolled up, popped up to have her boot grabbed by Toni, Saito suplex for two. A few loose boos among the silence.
Soho missed a stomp off the top, ate a thrust kick, sloppy backslide by Britt, into Lockjaw, right in the middle. Here come the Outcasts onto the apron (wrote that ahead of time), they hit Britt with last year’s Owen title, No Future, Britt kicked out.
There was a pop as she kicked out, the fans into Baker; the heels not at all.
Ruby got a neck crank, Baker kicked off the ropes into Lockjaw, Toni and Saraya dragged Ruby out of the ring to safety. ‘This is too much’ said Schiavone.
Baker went out, took out Toni and Saraya, tried a victory roll, Ruby countered and Toni gave her leverage to bag the pin.
Bet none of us saw any of that coming right? Another highly prestigious tournament. It’s no wonder Tony Khan likes these so much.
Skye Blue appeared right behind Ruby but did nothing. Just as she hadn’t bothered helping Britt since AEW’s booking isn’t creative enough to allow for any babyfaces to bring backup.
It’s a conundrum they just can’t overcome.
A poor match, crowd didn’t care a lick about the heels. And an entirely predictable finish.
Winner: Ruby Soho
Kenny Omega vs Wheeler Yuta
Backstory: BCC vs Elite continues
Much like Saturday, it’s on this to somewhat save a poor show with little good action and a bunch of confusing character placement.
Barely any reaction for Yuta, who as a solo act is not yet at main event level. His heel presence is improving though.
Again like Saturday, Omega’s music brought a smile despite the rest of the show. Huge pop for Kenny, his shoulder covered in tape as he slapped hands with most of the front row.
Yuta immediately attacked from behind, to the corner, stiff chops and forearms, this already has an intensity lacking all night. Omega returning fire, the crowd into it as he smashed through Yuta in the corner, stomping him to dust.
Biting the forehead, Yuta sought the advantage, it didn’t last – into a back body drop and big backbreaker for two. ‘Let’s go Kenny’ chant as Yuta again worked him over in the corner, Omega got the boots up, Kintaro crusher, you can’t escape, he slipped and held his shoulder whole rolling through toward the buckle.
Allowing Yuta to get back on top, missile dropkick, Omega outside, Yuta pursuing him via tope, Kenny’s already injured upper torso smacking into the barricade, the heel beginning to target it, flinging Omega into every barricade.
Was Demar DeRozan in the crowd? Because a little girl was shrieking as Yuta slipped back in to break the count. The crowd chanting ‘Kenny’ again, willing him back inside.
To the apron, he fired forearms, Yuta cut him off, Kenny came back with a kick to the head then blocked a suplex until being elbowed in the back of the head and dropped face-first across the top rope.
Then placed Omega’s head against the middle buckle, putting all his weight on it to a flood of boos as the ads arrived.
Like the story so far. Omega well on top until his very physical match with Ospreay caught up to him. Only complaint is the way that began: the crowd thought it was a botch. Because it looked like one. Briefly sucked the air out.
Yuta still on top, Omega knees up to block a senton, buying time. To his feet, snapping jabs, the momentum swinging, crowd behind him until being elbowed across the head and neck once more.
Omega snapped back to hit a leaping forearm, big axe handles, rolling forearm, fisherman buster, count of two. Crowd counting along. V-trigger ready, missing, Yuta another shot to the back of the head, Samoan drop/Olympic slam, kickout at two.
Yuta to the top, Kenny cut him off thinking superplex, crowd roaring again as he delivered a huge one. Yuta just kicking out, dragged to his feet, Omega beckoning him to bring it, forearm exchange until Yuta poked the eye, Omega coming back with a chop, sending Yuta into the ropes as he rebounded into a duck under, German with a bridge, nearly three.
Another following, Omega landing right on the back of his head. Until blocking another by running Yuta into the buckle, flurry of elbows, Yuta back with more chops and forearms until being kicked away back into the corner.
Omega looking for a splash, caught into another German, shaking loose, shoving Yuta away into the ropes, the youngster rebounding into a v-trigger to the back, snapdragon, another, Omega signalling one more, Yuta fighting hard, slipping under into a roll-up for two.
Popping up to be blasted with another v-trigger, OWA ready, Kenny struggling to get him up, Yuta escaping into a Seatbelt pin, kickout at two and 2/3, Yuta right back on offense, thinking hurracanrana, caught into a powerbomb instead, then rolled through into a brutal v-trigger for another exceptionally close count.
Things about to end – goodbye/goodnight – as Don Callis hit the ramp, security swarming, Takeshita sneaking behind, blue thunder bomb, Yuta off the top via splash, kickout at 2.9!
Yuta back to the top, Omega desperately grabbing the boot, weird punch that looked like a low blow but wasn’t really anything, OWA off the top, 1, 2, 3.
Absolutely fantastic match. Yuta was the first proper heel on the show, intense and severely dislikeable as he took cheap shots and targeted a weakness. And Kenny was about the most popular babyface all night.
Claudio was straight out to attack, he and Takeshita beating down the Canadian, Yuta still down after the OWA. Until the Bucks and Page flew down with chairs to another big cheer.
They gave Castagnoli a BTE Trigger as the show clearly ran out of time, Page readying a chair shot as the Dark Order appeared behind him.
The faces getting the better of that after Omega winning was a little excessive. The heels need some heat going into Blood & Guts.
FTR vs Juice Robinson & Jay White (Eliminator match for tag titles (This is not part of the Eliminator tournament – confusing I know))
Willow Nightingale vs Athena (Owen Hart Cup)
Will Hobbs vs Ricky Starks (‘’)
CM Punk vs Samoa Joe (‘’)
Next Dynamite:
Ruby Soho vs Skye Blue (Owen Cup)
Nick Wayne vs Swerve Strickland
Komander vs Chris Jericho
Thumbs Up/Down
The opener was fun if you can ignore the booking
Cole and MJF’s chemistry in an entertaining segment
Omega vs Yuta
*****
Swerve and Lee teaming – I’ve said enough above
Swerve taking another pin – the list of guys on AEW’s roster with his charisma, mic skills and in-ring is short indeed
This eliminator tournament is a complete joke – no brackets, no explanations, the titles themselves a total afterthought
An awful lot of tournament matches & matches with no build the last two weeks and heading into next – it feels like they’re just trying to get a show out there
AEW continues its tour in Canada with tonight’s Dynamite coming to you live from Edmonton.
A couple of matches have been announced, including the Owen Hart Cup tournament match between Britt Baker and Ruby Soho which was originally scheduled for last week, Kenny Omega vs Wheeler Yuta, Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland vs Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin in the Blind Eliminator Tag Team tournament quarter final, and MJF and Adam Cole vs still to be determined opponents in another Blind Eliminator quarter final.
Plus, we will hear from Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley.
During his latest Impaulsive podcast on YouTube, Logan Paul discussed the Money In The Bank botched move with Ricochet, which was eventually saved when Ricochet pulled some super hero power.
The move was supposed to be a Spanish fly off the top rope and into the waiting tables at ringside. Both were supposed to land on the rope at the same time from the ladder, but Ricochet hit the rope just slightly before Paul did, forcing him to slip.
“Keep in mind, I’m a newb and I don’t really know what I’m doing out there. So when stuff goes wrong, I don’t really know how to improv,” Paul said.
“So in my head, I’m like, this is f*cked. We f*cked this up,” he continued.
But he was wrong, and Ricochet had another trick to make it somewhat work.
“I’m looking at him. I’m like, oh…this motherf*cker is still trying. I’m not even ready, his feet aren’t even planted off the second rope, just hacks a backflip, went crashing through the tables, scraped my shoulder, I hit my head on the thing.”
Paul said that he’s now fine and he did not suffer any concussion or any bad injury.
“It’s just a wild sport,” Paul said.
The YouTuber now looks like he will be in a program with Ricochet heading into SummerSlam and the two will be in a face-to-face this coming Monday on Raw.
AEW’s Willow Nightingale lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title at the NJPW Strong Independence Day night two event at the Korakuen Hall today to Stardom’s Giulia.
Nightingale became the inaugural champion after beating Mercedes Mone at the Resurgence event on May 21. Mone was the original picked winner but a broken ankle changed everything, with Mone changing the finisher on the fly as she was unable to continue.
It was not all bad news for AEW though as Eddie Kingston won the NJPW Strong Openweight title after he beat KENTA. Kingston blocked a GTS attempt before delivering a Northern Lights Bomb to win, ending KENTA’s reign after just 45 days, the same number of days as Nightingale’s reign.
Jon Moxley headlined the show in a Final Death Match against El Desperado, winning the match.
AEW and VIX officially announced a multi-year agreement that will bring AEW’s shows exclusively to VIX subscribers in Mexico, as well as countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Starting today, Wednesday, July 5th, subscribers to VIX’s premium plan will have access to Dynamite, Rampage, Collision, and Battle of the Belts. Pay-per-views will air on 30-day delay. Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision will all air live.
More than 190 episodes of AEW: Dark and AEW: Dark Elevation in Spanish commentary will also be available on-demand.
AEW programming will be available on VIX in the following locations: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and in the Caribbean region including: Anguilla, Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana (Guyane), Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Isla del Maiz, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Providencia Island, Saba, San Andres Island, St. Barthelemy, St. Christopher [St. Kitts] & Nevis, St. Eustatius, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Suriname, Swan Island, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks And Caicos Islands.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is one of the most well-known wrestling companies globally. With its popularity soaring, the online community became a hub for fan interaction, virtual showdown, and much more. On these virtual platforms, fans have cultivated their legions of followers.
WWE superstars have forged connections that reached far beyond the arena through unparalleled athleticism, engaging personalities, and compelling storylines. You’ve come to the right place if you’re wondering who the most popular WWE superstars are. But first, check out these Colorado sports betting promos by ClutchBet for more thrills. Below are the five most popular online wrestlers.
1. The Undertaker
The Undertaker, also known as Mark William Calaway, is a retired pro wrestler born on March 24, 1965. The Undertaker is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers, best known for his career in WWE from 1990 to 2020. He debuted as Cain the Undertaker at the WWF Survivor Series on November 19, 1990.
About a minute into the match, he eliminated Koko B. Ware with his signature maneuver, the Tombstone piledriver. The Undertaker is also popular for being tormented by horror-themed mind games, with him carrying a casket on stage.
2. The Rock
The Rock or Dwayne Johnsons is an American actor, film producer, and pro wrestler. Even though he is no longer an active wrestler in the WWE, The Rock was integral to the success and development of the WWF, now WWE, during the Attitude Era. He wrestled for the WWF for eight years before pursuing a career in acting.
The Rock has a total of 17 championships in the WWE. He is the 6th Triple Crown Champion and won the Royal Rumble in 2000. The Rock had two signature finisher moves, the rock bottom and the people’s elbow. His multiple moveset choice, power, and speed made The Rock an exceptional wrestler.
3. Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns, or Leati Joseph, is an American pro wrestler born on May 25, 1985. He was a former football defensive tackle for a Canadian team. He is currently a two-time Universal Champion, three-time WWE Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, one-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a one-time WWE United State Champion.
It’s no surprise Roman Reigns is successful in the WWE as he is a member of the Anoa’I family. The Anoa’I family is famous for their Samoan-American wrestling records. Roman Reigns’ father was a former WWE Hall of Famer, Sika Anoa’o, and a tag team champion.
4. John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena, also known as John Cena, born on April 23, 1977, is a pro-American wrestler, rapper, bodybuilder, and actor. John Cena’s first televised WWE match was on June 27, 2002, against Kurt Angle.
John Cena has 16 World Championships, of which 13 were WWE Champions and 3 World Heavyweight Championships. Also, John Cena holds the fourth-highest number of combined days as WWE Champion behind Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and Bob Backlund.
5. Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar, better known as Brock Lesnar or The Beast, is an American pro wrestler with mixed martial arts. He made his debut in WWE in 2002, called up to the main roster with Paul Heyman as his manager.
Lesnar’s unstoppable force, amazing strength, numerous striking methods, and quickness make it challenging for attackers to plan their next move. Lesnar is a seven-time WWE Champion, three-time WWE Universal Champion, Royal Rumble Champion, and King of the Ring Champion, and has once won the Men’s Money in the Bank.
Conclusion
The list above is only the tip of the iceberg! There are several popular WWE superstars, but this list covers the most popular online. And as we look to the future, the influence of these superstars will only continue to grow.
