Another Jarrett has joined the ranks of AEW as Karen, the wife of Jeff Jarrett, made her debut last night on Dynamite.
After FTR attacked Satnam Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett was on the receiving end of some chair shots from Cash Wheeler and set him up for the Shatter Machine.
But before the champs managed to hit their finisher on JJ, Karen got in the ring from behind FTR and hit a low blow on Wheeler. That allowed Jarrett to recover and with Harwood confronting Karen, Jeff hit The Stroke to lay Harwood out.
Singh, who just minutes before was pushed off the stage and through a table, came for his revenge and hit a double choke slam on FTR while Lethal and Jarrett followed with two guitar shots.
Orange Cassidy will have his hands full at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view because he’s defending his AEW International title against not one, not two, not three…but against 20 other AEW stars!
Cassidy will be part of a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal after he laid out a challenge on Dynamite for anyone to step forward to fight him. Later in the broadcast, Renee Paquette announced that 20 from the AEW roster wanted a shot so a battle royal was made official.
The champion will have to outlast everyone to retain his title otherwise somebody else is leaving Las Vegas with some additional weight in their luggage.
Cassidy has been champion for 217 days, 154 of which as the All-Atlantic champ.
The Anarchy in the Arena match is returning at Double or Nothing and you can expect bedlam as The Elite take on the Blackpool Combat Club in a four-on-four match.
The match was announced in the final segment of last night’s Dynamite which kicked off with Don Callis explaining his actions from last week. Omega came out and tried to attack him but security held off Omega with the BCC coming in to gang up on him.
In the ring, the BCC stood tall but The Young Bucks came out with some weapons and posed at the top of the stage with Omega. Then the crowd went nuts as Hangman Page’s theme song started and Page came out – with an eyepatch – and stood next to The Elite.
A brawl ensued with Page, Omega, Young Bucks, Yuta, Danielson, Castagnoli, and Moxley all beating the crap out of each other. The BCC bolted and then Page took the mic and said that they are The Elite and at Double or Nothing it would be Anarchy in the Arena.
The last Anarchy in the Arena also took place at last year’s Double or Nothing, with the BCC involved in it against the Jericho Appreciation Society in a five-on-five match.
There is trouble in paradise again between CM Punk and AEW as Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com is reporting that the word going around is that both sides are once again locking horns over the return of Punk’s friend Ace Steel to AEW.
Punk was omitted from the Collision announcement which was made this morning and not featured on the press release either. When ComicBook.com reached out to WBD to ask why Punk was removed from the original announcement, a brief statement from them read, “CM Punk is not affiliated with TNT’s AEW Collision.”
CM Punk is pushing for Ace Steel to return and work the Collision show but apparently, according to Johnson, the decision was taken for Steel not to return. Steel was the only one who originally lost his job following the All Out backstage brawl.
Meanwhile, Punk himself vented his frustration in an Instagram story, targeting Bryan Alvarez from F4WOnline.
“Look everyone, Bryan Alvarez doesn’t like it when misinformed internet trolls make up rumors about him so please stop making up rumors and stories for clicks while Bryan makes up rumors and stories for clicks okay?” Punk wrote.
Punk added that he hasn’t been on TV in nine months and people still can’t stop talking about him.
“Maybe stop, you’ll feel better. Love, hate, it’s all the same. I don’t enjoy being the sole person that props up entire misinformed clickbait industry based on toxic gossip from lying sources, but what can you do? When you’re the king, it comes with the crown,” he wrote.
WWE shares took a tumble on Wall Street yesterday, dropping 7.29% on a day where most of the tickers were of the color green instead of red.
The 7.29% drop led to a deduction of $7.93 from its share price, with WWE ending the trading day at $100.91, the lowest it’s been in over a month.
It’s unknown what caused the sharp drop which started at around 10:40AM according to a graph published on MarketWatch. It actually bottomed out at $99.70 at 11:14AM before it started climbing back up slowly to $104. It starting falling back down at 2PM before closing at $100.91 at 4PM.
In after hours trading, the shares finished at $101.40, or up 0.49% over the day’s closing.
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AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the Moody Center in Austin, Tx. After last week drawing 877,000 & 0.32 in the 18-49 demo.
First thoughts on Collision? The artwork sucks – looks too much like Nitro. As the Ed. noted in the newsletter, though he’s not a miserable bastard like me so he was being positive.
Second thoughts, no brand split = good.
*****
Continuing the WCW theme, a wolf’s howl kicked off the show as Wardlow headed to the ring. Healthy ‘Wardlow’ chant from what looks a healthy crowd. Straight to business, the big man said Christian last week made a lot of promises he wonders if the vet’ll follow through on, demanding he come out and try to spit in his face.
Captain Cheap Heat obliged, Luchasaurus in tow. Face to face, neither with a mic, Christian said Wardlow was done as champ, Wardlow grabbed him by the throat, he and Luchasaurus slugged it out, Cage was about to be powerbombed when Saurus’ distraction allowed Cage to hit a low blow.
The vet launching shots from the mount after beckoning Saurus to grab a ladder. Hope this isn’t going where I think it is. He then had Luchasaurus chokeslam Wardlow onto the propped-up ladder, bending it in half. Cage then posed with the belt.
Wardlow continues to be booked into the ground. He looked stupid here, calling out the heels and quickly getting his ass kicked. And this is not a match that needs or is ready for a stip. like a ladder. Nor should Christian be competing in one at his age. He’s done enough of them.
*****
They then recapped Don Callis’ attack on Kenny Omega last week. He’ll attempt to explain his actions later.
*****
And of course, there’s only one man who can open up Dynamite:
Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
Backstory: None
Both heels came out to Moriarty’s theme. Why did they sign Big Bill again? And why are Firm members teaming up after it was ‘deleted’?
Cassidy’s back was all taped-up as Moriarty fired uppercuts before the two rolled in and out of one-counts, the crowd counting along with every number. Hands in the pockets, he propelled Moriarty up into the air with his feet then tagged Darby as Big Bill came in too.
Dumping the title contender with ease via spinning chokeslam. Allin paint-brushed him, bridged him outside, propelled Moriarty into him before both faces hit stereo suicides to a nice response from the crowd. Excalibur put across that they’d been teaming on house shows, the crowd hot for both as the ads arrived.
Bill was on top as we returned, Cassidy in a delayed suplex, Allin tagging himself in but the ref didn’t see. The crowd hot at that as Bill mocked Cassidy’s pockets thing – Orange leapfrogged free but his back seized-up and he couldn’t get the tag.
Moriarty in to block it too, Cassidy slipped behind out of a suplex and collapsed into the tag, Allin launching a springboard at both, crashing into each repeatedly across opposite corners until being snatched into a chokeslam but fighting his way free.
Moriarty went after his leg, both heels in for ages simultaneously until Bill bagged two via a nice Bossman slam. ‘Let’s go Darby!’ This crowd is great so far.
Fighting free of a double team, he tagged Cassidy: tornado ddt to Bill, Moriarty rolled him up for two, spinning slam into a crossface, Cassidy fought free, tag to Allin, both set Moriarty atop the buckle before dragging him off via superplex. Orange again selling the back as Bill came in to run through both faces via clothesline.
A Big Bill suplex was turned into a very lick stundog/code red combo, another double team leading to a Beach Break on Moriarty, Cassidy Orange Punched Bill off the apron as Allin came off the top via Coffin Drop. Only to haul Moriarty up to pin him via headlock takeover.
Message sent.
Really good opener with two guys the crowd loved, great energy, great synergy too from what could be an excellent babyface tag team.
Only nitpick, I kinda accept the ‘anyone’s legal’ stuff in trios and Lucha matches. But it’s too much in tags. And happened throughout here.
Winner: Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy
Alex Marvez with the Bucks in the parking lot looking for an update on Kenny, getting no further than ‘He’s banged up’ before the BCC (sans Danielson) circled behind. Nick was dumped on a car’s hood by Claudio, Yuta blasted Matt’s arm into a car too. Mox said ‘We are the Elite in this business, the only Elite in this business’.
Nice line which would’ve been a much simpler and better way to explain this feud at the outset.
*****
Wardlow being looked over by the doc. An angry Arn Anderson approached, saying he should’ve been out there. Asking Wardlow to stop protecting him. He’s seen what Christian can do, ‘what’re you prepared to do?’
And yep, the champ demanded a ladder match. This shocked the announcers. This match is such awful booking. It’s a stip for the sake of a stip. Utterly meaningless.
*****
Renee backstage with Orange to ask about Kyle Fletcher. He told any contenders that if they wanted a shot they could go see Tony Khan and ask to face him at Double or Nothing. A concerned Renee asked for a chair for the suffering champ.
Sammy Guevara vs Exodus Prime
Backstory: None
Knee strike, GTHH, which this week stood for Go The Hell Home.
Grabbing a mic, he talked about the struggles he’d had here before getting to AEW but they all made him who he is today. He’s not perfect, he’s made mistakes. Sometimes it takes a few wrong turns to get to the right place. And the right place is at DoN.
He listens to what’s in his heart. And his heart says he will be the new AEW champ. Mic drop.
This is either the strangest U-turn from money-grubbing heel to follow your dreams babyface in history. Or it’s setting up a Swerve Bro! at the ppv as Sammy does indeed lay down for the money.
Decent number of cheers here for Sammy.
Winner: Sammy Guevara
Package recapping all Four Pillars from their starts in the company until now. Nothing special.
*****
Schiavone called Jarrett, Lethal etc. to the ring. Dutt had guitars with ‘Dax’ and ‘Cash’ written on them. As FTR attacked from behind, shoving Singh off the stage, brawling with the J’s, Dax undressing Lethal as Cash smacked Jarrett which a chair.
‘FTR’ chants from the crowd as they brought Jarrett into the ring, readying the Shatter Machine until Karen Ang – sorry Jarrett low blowed them. Yaaaay, the whole family’s here. Anyone else from TNA want to join? There’s a new show coming.
Singh recovered just in time to chokeslam both champs before they broke yet more guitars. Still no dimes drawn, RIP Mike Graham.
They posed with the belts. Gee, what a novel ending after a heel attack. That last happened a whole thirty minutes ago.
*****
Renee with Darby. The headlock takeover was a direct message to MJF. As Sammy interrupted, to say he took Darby’s words to heart a few weeks ago when he told him to stop being a follower. Whoever it is, ‘one of us needs to take the belt off that prick’. Sammy held out a fist, Allin reciprocated – ‘May the best man win’.
I’ve both really liked and hated parts of this story. But at the very least I’m intrigued at where the characters will end up. There’s a decent chance any one of the three will turn at the ppv.
Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida vs the Outcasts (Toni Storm & Ruby Soho)
Backstory: Short-ish version – Shida sided with the Originals after returning recently, tricking and destroying the Outcasts with a kendo stick
Jamie’s not cleared here (not sure if that’s legit or story), so the six-person’s been made a tag. Presumably this sets up Hayter’s challenger for the ppv she doesn’t have one?
Shida has new music. Didn’t like it as much as her previous theme on first listen. As they replayed her return last week. She and Britt fist-bumped before making their way down to the ring.
Where the heels raced at them: Shida countered a hip attack via hurracanrana, dumping Soho onto Storm via snap suplex before throwing punches in the corner, the crowd solidly behind her.
Missile dropkick to Ruby, who blocked a suplex and tagged out, Storm stomping away, Shida briefly fighting back but cut off only to come back via enziguri, tag to Britt, flurry of shots to the face, spinning neckbreaker, two slaps of the mat.
Curb Stomp ready, Saraya grabbed her leg, setting up Toni hip-attacking her off the apron, where Saraya threw knees to the gut while the ref was being read a bedtime story. Baker back inside, being stomped down in the corner two-on-one as the break beckoned.
Boot up in the corner, Baker hit a neckbreaker to Toni, both down, Shida ready for the tag, Britt struggling, finally getting there, Ruby in too. Elbow strikes exchanged, Soho down to her knees before a running elbow dropped her, Storm and Saraya fought off, all three heels sent outside where Shida hit a diving cross body. The crowd hot for her again as she bagged two on Soho after a leaping knee.
Storm in illegally once more, Shida fought her off, Falcon Arrow to Ruby for two. Britt in, butterfly suplex, meteora off the top from Shida, Storm made the save as Britt forced Toni to ddt her own partner.
Lockjaw ready, Ruby rolled her up for two, hit No Future, tag to Storm, Britt countered into an air raid crash, hit the stomp, Saraya hit the apron, the ref was with her for ages AGAIN, Storm used the spraypaint to bag the pin.
The refs in AEW must have to pool braincells just to open the door to their locker room.
Largely fun match before the best crowd for a women’s match in ages. Shame about the usual lame interference. Shida exceptionally over and looked really good. Excalibur emphasized Storm’s recent winning record. So seems it’s a rematch from Full Gear for the belt.
Winner: the Outcasts
Renee with Cassidy once more. Apparently twenty people went to talk to Tony. Cassidy said he guesses he’ll fight them all. In a Black Jack Battle Royal since he makes 21. Unless Renee wants to be in it too? She declined.
Really hope this isn’t where he loses it. They’ve done such a good job emphasizing how beat up he is that he really needs to lose it in a singles. Preferably to a heel who’s had more than a slither of tv time.
*****
They finally remembered there was a big grudge match tonight, the first mention of Jericho/Strong. So either Starks/White or Perry/Rush is the main event. Neither seems like one. Then again, neither does Jericho/Strong.
*****
Tony Khan reiterated the earlier announcement of Collision, the new show on Saturday nights. Pretty muted crowd response. Ton of the first episodes in Canada, including the night before Forbidden Door. Next week, he’ll announce where the premiere will be taking place (It was certainly supposed to be Chicago, though there was no mention of Punk today when WBD announced the show).
Chris Jericho vs Roderick Strong, Falls Count Anywhere, JAS & Adam Cole banned from the building
Backstory: Strong challenged Jericho last week after he again called his friend Cole a coward, Jericho accepted thinking he had the JAS in his pocket, only for Strong to have them banned
After the heel Jericho was sung to the ring, the face Strong attacked while he had his back turned, hitting a ton of running elbow strikes and chops until a chop battle ensued, ended by a Strong knee lift before a suplex bagged an early two.
Another exchange saw Jericho clothesline Strong outside, the pair fighting on the apron where Strong hit a belly to back. Count of two on the outside. Where Strong fired more stiff chops and forearms; Jericho responding via knee to the gut then flinging Strong into the table at ringside.
Jericho’s chest bleeding as they made their way back inside. Where a Codebreaker was blocked, Jericho countered back into the Walls, synching back, right in the middle, Strong finally grabbing the bottom rope, tumbling outside to bring the break.
Up in the stands with the fans, Strong bagged two on the stairs, the pair making their way into the arena corridors. As Excalibur announced that Superstar Billy Graham just passed away. RIP. While Jericho smashed Strong through a table via suplex. Not the best timing but can’t be helped.
Brawling along the corridor, a flood of fans following, Jericho went after Strong with a stanchion as the crowd loudly chanted ‘Y2J’. They fought onto a ledge above some stairs, exchanging more stinging chops, count of two for Jericho. Before coming back into the corridor, flurry from Strong, he poured ice cream onto Jericho before eating some himself, and why the hell not! Looked good too.
The brawl continuing, Jericho using something out of trash can to wipe his face clean, the ‘Y2J’ chants following as they made their way outside the building, Storm begging off, as Adam Cole appeared behind the Ocho. That was clever – Strong leading Jericho to right where Cole could get him.
Cole blasted Jericho with the Boom, Strong hit a leaping knee to bag the win. A little surprised at Jericho losing here. Cole kinda got his revenge and Britt certainly wasn’t selling any after-effects during her match.
Very entertaining brawl.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Jack Perry vs Rush
Backstory: None
Forgoing the shenanigans, a stern-looking Perry marched straight to the ring. And was immediately sent back out via clothesline, Rush running him round ringside, aggressively flinging him into every barricade he saw.
Then repeatedly smashing his head into the barricade before trash talking MJF via the camera and posing in the ring. The beating continuing as he flung Perry over the barricade into the fans as the break beckoned.
Someone needs to teach that ref how to count to ten. Any kindergarten teachers in the crowd? Perry absolutely annihilated thus far.
Fighting back, Perry hit a clothesline out of the corner which Rush no-sold, planting him with a headbutt, Perry bleeding from the forehead but firing chops, a kick to the stomach and high dropkick finally taking Rush down, Perry firing up but running into a thrust kick, Rush heading upstairs; Perry meeting him up top.
Where another chop fight took place before Perry took him down via leaping hurracanrana. As Jose grabbed the boot, didn’t matter, Perry hooked the Snare Trap anyway, right in the middle; Rush got the ropes.
Should’ve been the finish.
On the apron, Rush tasted Perry’s blood before they blistered one another once more, Rush then flung a running Perry off the apron via overhead belly to belly. I audibly gasped, he came so close to landing right on his head.
Dragging him inside, Rush got two with a cocky one-footed cover. Then stomped away in the corner before shoving the ref away; Perry rolled him up for three. What the utter f***!????
Rush and Vance began beating down Perry, Darby Allin tried to make the save but got beat down too, the crowd chanting for Sammy who was supposed to have left the arena.
But evidently decided to return, running through the heels, he and Darby removing Preston Vance before the three title challengers locked eyes.
The booking in this match was utter, utter, complete and total s***. If you asked a first-time viewer which of the two in that match was going for the title, they would’ve said Rush. Without hesitation.
In a continuing theme, the action around the booking was very good. An intense match.
And I do like the emphasis that MJF doesn’t have to lose to lose his belt, that’s crucial to this match, it’s the only thing that makes it interesting.
Winner: Jack Perry
MJF backstage with Renee. He’d been watching what just happened and wasn’t happy. She emphasized that he didn’t need to be pinned or submitted to lose. He slapped the mic away. Mox gon’ give it to ya for that.
*****
They replayed footage of Toni Storm injuring Jamie Hayter’s shoulder as Toni cut a promo saying that while she’s winning four matches in five nights (they didn’t say where or who against) Jamie’s doing nothing of the sort. Becoming angrier as she went, Storm emphasized that she’s not the same person who faced Jamie in November and if she’s got any guts she’ll face her at Double or Nothing.
Pretty good promo here, achieving being a little unhinged without overacting.
Ricky Starks vs Jay White
Backstory: White debuted by attacking Starks, then did so again after he beat his partner Juice Robinson last week
If Ricky Starks’ win over Jericho at the last ppv had been followed-up on, if Jay White had been portrayed as a big deal since arriving, if this feud hadn’t been so stop/start, this would absolutely be a valid main-event. But none of those things happened.
Though thinking about it we still haven’t heard from Callis.
Jay White twice bailed outside before taking advantage as Ricky followed him back in. Didn’t last long, Starks stomping away in the corner, White again headed outside, again taking advantage by flinging Starks to the apron. Starks came back by charging White to the guardrail, then had a nice interaction with fans at ringside.
Before taking things back inside as chants of ‘Ricky’ and ‘Too Sweet, Whoop Whoop’ competed among the crowd and White got two after a stun gun. Stiff chops knocked Starks to the mat, Ricky came back via back body drop then stopped to pose. Isn’t this a heated rivalry Ricky’s been ranting about during promos?
Anyway, he again paid for being dumb, pursuing White outside again and being driven into the apron again before taking more chops, briefly fighting back until distracted by Juice Robinson as competing chants again played in the crowd, about a 50/50 split.
In the corner, Starks was lighting up White with chops and stomps, White threw a knee to the gut, Ricky rebounded out of the corner with a big lariat, both guys down. Inverted atomic, running dropkick, splash in the corner, tornado ddt blocked but White ran right into an overhead belly to belly. Tornado ddt this time landed, count of two. Excellent flurry from Starks.
Who White hit with a quick kick to the midsection and ddt, very Jake the Snake, following up via running uppercut in the corner, hauling him up into a German which was blocked but landing a high-angle uranage. Starks kicked out at two.
White said it was night-night time, looking for the Bladerunner; Starks fought him off with back elbows but was dumped outside, almost smacking his previously broken neck on the apron. White hauled him back in, Starks snagged a close two via cradle, White back up to drop Starks with a chop, Ricky hit a swinging neckbreaker then got 2.9 via a suplex/slam hybrid.
Before readying Roshambeaux, White fought out, both hit the ropes, Robinson grabbed the boot, White hooked the Bladerunner, Starks slipped out into a rollup for another very close two (might’ve been three by mistake), both popped up to hit the ropes once more, Starks again readied Roshambeaux, White gouged the eyes to escape.
Robinson came in with a chair, wild swing and a miss, the ref distracted, Starks smacked Juice across the back then took the chair to White for the DQ. Very lame finish to cap a night of poor booking as the crowd booed and Robinson pulled White to safety.
Clearly there are no special plans for Jay White.
Winner: Jay White via DQ
As we sprinted away to race through upcoming matches. After announcing nothing for the ppv till 10 days before, they absolutely blazed through those announcements, barely pausing for a second on each graphic.
*****
A flood of boos greeted Don Callis, a hoard of security lined the ramp as the crowd chanted ‘Piece of s***’. Schiavone asked him ‘Why?’
Instead, Callis wanted to talk about what Kenny did to him. He’s the victim. After everything he did for Kenny – the titles he won him, the match against Jericho in New Japan – ‘without me, there is no Kenny Omega’. As Omega’s music hit. He started attacking security until the BCC attacked.
Mox gave him a ddt on the ramp as Danielson joined them here. Mox took the mic to give Omega a ‘final warning’ to ‘stay down’, right before the Bucks’ music hit, the duo limping to the ramp with a garbage can full of weapons, the announcers emphasizing that it was still three vs four before Hangman’s music hit, the eye-patch clad Cowboy handed a broom by Omega, storming to the ring as an all-out brawl ensued (just read that back, was not intended as a ref. to Brawl Out).
Omega destroying Yuta with a trash can lid, BTE Trigger from the Bucks before they held him in place for a Buckshot. The crowd chanting ‘Cowboy S***’ as Page took the mic to proclaim that ‘we’ are the ‘heart’ and ‘soul of this place’. ‘We are… the Elite!’ Big cheer from the crowd. As Page warned the BCC to run and hide while they can because at Double or Nothing it’s the Elite vs the BCC, Anarchy in the Arena.
Page had a genuine smile on his face as the four raised each other’s arms in the ring.
BCC (it showed all four) vs Best Friends & Bandido
Hear from the Hardys
Acclaimed & Daddy Ass vs Varsity Athletes
Jade Cargill open challenge for TBS Title
Bishop Kaun vs Dustin Rhodes
Next Dynamite:
Lucha Bros vs Claudio & Yuta, ROH Tag Titles
Added to Double or Nothing:
Black Jack Battle Royal for the International Title
Wardlow vs Christian Cage, Ladder Match for TNT Title
Toni Storm vs Jamie Hayter, Women’s Title
The Elite vs BCC, Anarchy in the Arena
Thumbs Up/Down
Fantastic crowd made for a great atmosphere all show long
Very good action all night – the show whizzed by, it certainly wasn’t boring
*****
Jack Perry’s booking – the entirety of this world title build varies wildly from week to week and almost segment to segment. But Perry was made to look incredibly weak here and sneaked a win over a guy we never even see on tv.
“Superstar” Billy Graham passed away today at the age of 79. Graham has been hospitalized for a very long time and was on life support following a string of health issues.
The announcement was made by Ric Flair on Twitter who wrote, “The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left Us. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INFLUENCE On My Career!”
Doctors wanted to remove him from life support earlier this week but his wife Valerie refused to give them permission to do so.
Graham’s health problems are well documented, receiving a liver transplant in 2002 and then requiring another liver transplant eight years later. He was later diagnosed with third-stage liver disease and cirrhosis and had several trips to the hospital for other issues, including heart failure, liver complications, internal bleeding, and ear and skull infection.
Graham made his pro wrestling debut in 1970 and joined Verne Gagne’s AWA two years later, the place where he got his “Superstar” nick name. Five years later, the quickly-rising Graham joined the WWWF but he didn’t last long as he went to Japan and later to the NWA before returning to the WWWF in 1977 for a year. Graham eventually returned to the NWA and then had another stint with the WWF in 1982 for another year. After more disagreements with McMahon, Graham departed the company and went to work for both the AWA and the NWA up until 1986. His next return to WWF came in 1986 but injuries cut his in-ring career short and he went on to be a manager and a color commentator as well.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 after several years of fighting with the company. He is a former WWWF Heavyweight champion, ending Bruno Sammartino’s 1,237-day reign as a champion in April 1977. He lost the title to Bob Backlund after 648 days on February 20, 1978.
On the heels of the new Saturday night television show announcement, AEW returns with Dynamite tonight.
The show is headlined by a falls count anywhere match as Chris Jericho battles newcomer Roderick Strong with Adam Cole and J.A.S. all banned from the building.
Other matches announced are Ricky Starks vs Jay White, Jack Perry vs Rush, Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin vs. Big Bill and Lee Moriarty, and a trios women’s match featuring Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, and Hikaru Shida vs Saraya, Toni Storm, and Ruby Soho.
Sammy Guevara will also be in an action against an unnamed opponent and Don Callis will explain his actions from last week.
The press release announcing the creation of the AEW Collision television show listed a few AEW stars who will be part of that show, including two who haven’t done much for the promotion lately.
Out of the names mentioned, the inclusion of Miro and Andrade El Idolo were the ones which stuck out the most.
Miro returned to Dynamite last week and was shown in a backstage segment walking into Tony Khan’s office, refusing to speak to Renee Paquette when he was questioned. He had been absent from AEW TV for eight months, reportedly refusing some creative plans in store for him which delayed his return.
Andrade has been out of action since September of last year, first getting suspended for a backstage altercation and then for suffering an injury. His last time in the ring was at All Out in the casino ladder match. He is one of the few who seemingly requested his release from the company following Triple H’s ascension to the WWE throne.
Samoa Joe, Thunder Rosa, and Powerhouse Hobbs are the others who were in the press release.
Raine Group, which is advising WWE on its sale to Endeavor, will get one of its biggest paydays with a $65 million fee when the Department of Justice approves it.
Raine is also currently helping the Glazer family sell Manchester United but that fee will be considerably less since WWE’s sale is going for far more money. They also helped Roman Abramovich sell Chelsea last year and netted $38 million.
The group, which was launched in 2009 by former Goldman Sachs banker Joe Ravitch and Morgan Stanley and former UBS banker Jeff Sine, will get a total of about 1% of total aggregate fees according to the Financial Times. In addition, JPMorgan and Moelis & Company will get about $25 million each for other advisory roles.
Sine’s relationship with the McMahon family dates back to 20 years says the FT and the group also advised McMahon on the XFL short-lived revival in 2020.
While WWE had no presence at either the NBC Universal or FOX upfront events this week, it did have an interesting presence at the Disney upfront event.
Raw Women’s champion Bianca Belair and her husband and one-half of the Street Profits, Montez Ford, were present at the event and they were also joined by Pat McAfee.
McAfee was a big winner as the popular commentator and former NFL player announced that he is leaving FanDuel and joining ESPN full time, moving The Pat McAfee Show to ESPN. McAfee had a $120 million contract with FanDuel and was halfway through his deal.
His show will air on ESPN, ESPN+ and YouTube once the move happens in the fall.
NEW YORK (May 17, 2023) – TNT launches a second night of professional wrestling with a new tentpole series, “AEW: Collision” on Saturday, June 17, it was announced today by Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, during the company’s 2023 Upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
This live, two-hour, in-ring show will air every Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. ET and feature more wrestlers, more stories and more action to super-serve fans. “AEW: Collision” will feature headliners including Miro, Samoa Joe, Thunder Rosa, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Andrade El Idolo.
In only four years following the launch of “AEW: Dynamite,” AEW’s footprint has more than doubled across TNT and TBS. Along with “AEW: Dynamite,” Friday night’s “AEW: Rampage,” the recent follow-doc “AEW: All Access,” and now “AEW: Collision,” TNT and TBS deliver the best matches and most entertaining moments in professional wrestling today. AEW has reached 23M total viewers so far this year across all of its shows on TBS and TNT.*
“We’re doubling-down on wrestling with ‘AEW: Collision,’ which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID and HLN, linear & streaming. “AEW’s roster of talent has expanded so quickly that we felt it needed another night to bring our audience the epic rivalries, unforgettable matches and stars they love to watch. Adding ‘Collision’ to our programming mix on TNT will allow us to satisfy the massive demand we’ve felt from our hardcore fanbase and be the ultimate complement to ‘AEW: Dynamite’ on TBS.”
“With the addition of ‘AEW: Collision’ on TNT, I’m extremely proud that a Turner network will be the home of Saturday night wrestling for the first time in more than two decades,” said Tony Khan, CEO, GM and Head of Creative of AEW. “The debut of ‘Collision’ is significant across numerous sectors including television, wrestling, entertainment and sports, and reinforces AEW as the bold property we envisioned when we launched in 2019. ‘Collision’ will deliver live every Saturday night more of what fans and viewers tell us they want – athleticism, big personalities, exciting storylines and hard-hitting wrestling action, all of which have become synonymous with AEW.”
Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez advanced to the next round of the NXT Women’s title tournament after yesterday they won their respective quarter final matches on NXT on USA Network.
Jade beat Fallon Henley in the opening match of the show to secure a semi final match against Lyra Valkyrie while former champion Perez defeated Jacy Jane to set up her semi final against Tiffany Stratton.
Both semi final matches will take place next Tuesday on USA Network while the final match will be at the Battleground premium live event on Sunday, May 28.
AEW Collision, the new Saturday night broadcast on TNT, was officially announced this morning at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront event in New York City.
The announcement was made by Kathleen Finch, Chair and Chief Content Officer of the US Networks Group division of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The broadcast will debut on Saturday, June 17 from the United Center in Chicago with the show tentatively to be marketed as The Second Coming, featuring the return of CM Punk. Collision will air from 8PM to 10PM ET.
“We’re doubling-down on wrestling with AEW: Collision, which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks. “AEW’s roster of talent has expanded so quickly that we felt it needed another night to bring our audience the epic rivalries, unforgettable matches and stars they love to watch.”
With no NBA Playoffs, Monday Night Raw actually drew less viewers this week, getting an average of 1,715,000 viewers, down 69,000 viewers from last week.
The show started with 1,694,000 viewers and then increased to 1,820,000 viewers in the second hour before dropping to 1,633,000 viewers in the third and final hour. The NHL Conference semi final topped the night on ESPN.
Raw was #2, #3, and #4 in the top 50 cable chart among the 18-49 demo with 0.62, 0.56, and 0.55 ratings respectively for an average of 0.58. That was up 0.57 from the prior week. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
A limited number of single seats for Smackdown and Money In The Bank at London’s O2 Arena will go on sale this coming Friday at 10AM GMT at AXS and Ticketmaster UK.
These tickets will be released after the final few combo tickets will be taken off the market on Thursday at 3PM GMT.
When WWE announced Money In The Bank and later Smackdown at the same arena, only combo tickets went on sale. Both shows are at over 17,000 and nearly sold out but the remaining combo tickets are being sold at well over £400 and £500.
The Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns has also been added to the Money In The Bank marketing material so the champ will be wrestling on the show.
Apart from probably their first show, today is likely AEW’s most important day in history as the company prepares to announce their new television deal with Warner Bros. Discovery at the WBD upfront event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
A solid deal will allow AEW to be on a more stable financial ground while allowing it to be more competitive in luring the top talent in this business as well as enhancing their production.
The deal, rumored to be in the $1 billion range over five years, will see the creation of the new AEW Saturday night show, Collision, as well as the continuation of Dynamite and Rampage and a streaming deal on Max.
Details are set to be revealed today and while it wasn’t known if any AEW talent were going to be appearing, WBD asked all their booked talent not to appear in person out of respect for both the talent and the writers who are on strike. Wrestling writers are not part of the WGA so the strike did not affect any wrestling shows.
WWE, widely recognized as a global powerhouse in professional wrestling entertainment, has recently made headlines as it engages in discussions with state gambling regulators to delve into the intriguing realm of legalizing betting on its high-profile scripted matches. The motivation behind this move is twofold: to amplify fan engagement and potentially pave the way for wagering on other secretive scripted events, thus revolutionizing the landscape of sports betting.
To ensure the utmost integrity and confidentiality, WWE has joined forces with EY, the distinguished accounting firm known for its expertise in maintaining the privacy and secrecy of crucial information.
In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the intricate details of WWE’s ongoing discussions. We will analyze its meticulous strategy to preserve the confidentiality of match results. Additionally, we will explore the potential target states where legalization may be pursued. Finally, we will examine the profound impact such a groundbreaking decision would have on the wrestling industry as a whole.
WWE Collaborates with EY to Safeguard Match Results
Confidential sources with insider knowledge reveal that WWE has taken a proactive step by engaging in discussions with state gambling regulators, specifically in legal online casino states. The objective is to establish a legal framework for betting on WWE’s highly anticipated scripted matches.
Recognizing the importance of maintaining utmost confidentiality in professional wrestling, WWE has formed a strategic partnership with EY, a renowned accounting firm. EY has a strong record of upholding secrecy and integrity in prestigious events. These events include the Academy Awards and the Emmys.
By harnessing EY’s extensive experience and expertise in preserving the confidentiality of sensitive information, WWE aims to reassure regulators that the risk of match results being leaked to the public is minimal. In doing so, WWE endeavors to establish a solid foundation for the legitimacy and integrity of betting on scripted matches, ultimately enhancing the overall fan experience.
Drawing Inspiration from the Academy Awards
Drawing Inspiration from the Academy Awards, WWE has turned to a compelling example to support its case in persuading regulators about the safety and feasibility of gambling on scripted matches. To bolster their argument, WWE has pointed out the existing legality of betting on the Academy Awards, which is already facilitated through specific sports betting applications.
It is worth mentioning that renowned companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have already embraced this trend by offering betting options for the Oscars in certain states. While the voting results of the esteemed Academy Awards are confined to a limited group before the official announcement, it is crucial to emphasize that the outcomes are not predetermined by writers. This distinction is of utmost importance as WWE embarks on their quest to obtain betting approval for scripted matches, as it poses unique challenges unlike those encountered in award shows.
Betting Companies’ Stance and Discussions Yet to Occur
Although WWE’s discussions with state regulators progress, betting companies would need to evaluate their willingness to offer odds on WWE matches if legalization occurs. Currently, betting firms have not engaged in substantial discussions regarding this matter, as per sources familiar with the subject. The decision to embrace WWE matches as a legitimate betting option would require careful consideration from these companies, taking into account various factors, including potential risks and fan interest.
Targeting Potential States for Legalization
WWE is eyeing three potential states—Michigan, Colorado, and Indiana—to pursue legalization. Michigan, which already has a Sports Wagering Catalog, undergoes regular updates approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board and shared publicly through the agency’s website and sportsbook operators.
The company has also registered with the Indiana Gaming Commission in connection to this initiative. However, it is important to note that the Colorado Division of Gaming has clarified that it is not considering allowing sports betting wagers on WWE matches, citing an existing statute prohibiting bets on events with predetermined or predicted outcomes, including the Academy Awards.
The Impact of Legalized Gambling on WWE Matches
If WWE successfully legalizes gambling on its matches, it could set a precedent for other protected, secret scripted events to enter the betting landscape. This development would have significant implications for how matches are produced and storylines are created. In preliminary discussions regarding gambling on wrestling, WWE executives have suggested locking in scripted match results months in advance.
Wrestlers themselves would remain unaware of whether they are slated to win or lose until shortly before their respective matches, thus adding an element of suspense. For instance, the WWE has the ability to finalize the outcomes of Wrestlemania’s main event several months in advance, building upon a scripted storyline that heavily depends on the winner of January’s Royal Rumble.
Subsequently, betting on the match could occur starting from the conclusion of the Royal Rumble. It could extend up until just a few days or even hours before Wrestlemania. This allows the wrestlers and individuals involved in the show’s production to discover the results at the same time.
A spokesman for Endeavor told CNBC that the new merged WWE/UFC company will be called TKO Group Holdings. Endeavor previously announced that they would be trading under the ticker symbol TKO on the New York Stock Exchange once the merger is approved.
TKO Group Holdings will be valued at more than $20 billion, with the UFC currently valued at $12 billion and WWE at around $9 billion.
Endeavor will own 51% stake of WWE once the U.S. Department of Justice approves the deal, while WWE shareholders will own the other 49%.
Vince McMahon will remain at the helm, becoming the Chairman of TKO Group Holdings overseeing both the WWE and UFC business. Nick Khan will run WWE and Dana White will continue to run UFC with both having the role of Presidents.
