Roderick Strong became the fourth and final member of NXT’s Undisputed Era to join AEW after yesterday he came out to help his former tag team partner Adam Cole in his fight against Chris Jericho and the JAS.
With fans chanting “undisputed,” the two hugged in the middle of the ring for a big pop from the crowd.
AEW President Tony Khan announced Strong’s signing following his appearance in a tweet.
Strong, who has not been seen on WWE TV since October of last year, had previously requested his release from WWE but it was denied. His contract did run out and was written off TV after he was attacked by Damon Kemp backstage on an episode of NXT.
The former NXT Cruiserweight champion now joins his wife Marina Shafir, Cole, and Kyle O’Reilly in the promotion. Bobby Fish misses out as his deal was not picked up again by AEW.
Strong, now 39, joined WWE in 2016 and also had a stint with Ring of Honor in the past where he was an ROH World champion.
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fl. After last week drawing 830,000 & a 0.28 in the 18-49 demo. That’s the second-lowest total this year.
*****
Orange Cassidy vs Bandido, International Title
Backstory: Orange’s 20th defense
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means… Cassidy’s opening.
They showed a Bandido highlight reel as he walked the ramp. It’s been so long it feels like he’s starting all over again.
A ‘freshly squeezed’ chant played as Cassidy went for the pockets; Bandido quickly swept the leg to end the shenanigans. Orange did the same after Bandido brought out the finger guns. Then mimicked Bandido’s backflips with a lazy cartwheel.
The pair exchanged armdrags and quick pin attempts, Bandido kipping up; Cassidy remaining mat-bound. Clear who the better athlete is. Back to the finger guns and pockets – Orange put the former in his. Cassidy then faked a dive and put his hands in his pockets.
Lot of silliness so far. Yet to get going.
Cassidy ran through his hands in pockets routine: duck under, dive over – then hit a hands-free hurracanrana before depositing the challenger outside via dropkick. The crowd very much behind the champ. As he was caught mid-dive and dumped across the barricade.
Bandido’s kinda been playing heel thus far. Or at least spoiler.
Brawling outside, Bandido rolled the champ in for a quick one-count, hurled himself at Cassidy in the corner before ramming his shoulder to the champ’s gut. A legsweep into an arm-capture stretch muffler followed, Orange reaching the ropes but remaining down.
Dropkicking the champ outside, a shout of ‘arriba!’ preceded a beautiful plancha to bring the break.
Coming back to Cassidy upside down in Bandido’s delayed suplex. Which Orange countered into stundog millionaire; Bandido came back with a regular ol’ suplex. Both guys down. A ‘chop battle’ followed, Cassidy throwing deliberately weak ones, the crowd still into everything he does.
Enough with the messing, Bandido struck with a thrust kick and a pump kick but was caught running in and introduced to a couple turnbuckles. Then hit with a Michinoku Driver II for two.
Cassidy pursued Bandido outside with an elbow suicida but was caught with an enziguri as he re-entered, a light ‘Bandido’ chant starting as the challenger hauled Cassidy in from the apron, up into a superplex. With one freakin’ (Sorry Seth) arm! The crowd oohing and aahing, Bandido followed up with a pop-up cutter for another two.
Orange got a boot up in the corner, hit an elbow strike, Bandido retaliated via step-up enziguri; Cassidy fought off X Marks the Spot. Bandido then just stood for several seconds waiting to catch Cassidy as he came off the top via cross body. Kind of a vibe killer.
Though reinvigorated the crowd with the single-arm military press and frogsplash which followed for two. The pin attempts coming thick and fast: Cassidy mousetrap for two, Bandido rolling through for two of his own. Before popping-up Cassidy, who hit an Orange Punch on his way down, then Beach Break to hold on to his belt.
The story of Cassidy being beaten and battered continued as the announcers talked up his injured ribs. Though he didn’t sell anything during the match itself. Which was ok but not near as good as expected. Too much comedy at the start and stutter-y thereafter. Plus this crowd sounds miniscule; there are even empty seats on camera.
Post-match, Cassidy helped Bandido to his feet and put shades on him as they posed together.
Having younger talent ‘go the distance’ with established guys can absolutely work as a means to get them ‘over’. But they need to be shown beating lesser and middling talents along the way. He’s had good matches yes. But Bandido’s now 0-3
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Renee backstage with Adam Cole. An angry, serious Cole vowed to call out Chris Jericho and show him the ‘mistake he made’. If Jericho wont come out – ‘I’ll find you’.
Cassidy and Bandido happened by, thinking she was there to interview them. After Renee explained why she was really there, Cassidy awkwardly said ‘Oh’ and left. A recurring theme with AEW is that they don’t know when to leave the comedy out and keep Serious separate. This was just such a moment.
Otherwise, just what was needed from Cole. Didn’t like the idea that he was going to ‘talk’ tonight. What happened last week demanded actions, not words. He absolutely should go Ocho hunting.
*****
Already busy, Paquette was now with Darby Allin & Jack Perry. Allin admitted the pair got carried away last week, a little personal. Vowing that if he’d known what was going to happen in Perry’s match, he’d have been there to stop it. Asking Perry to have his back tonight in case the same thing happened.
Perry agreed. Maybe. Sort-of. A little warily.
Darby then very dickishly, very smugly said he wished he was facing Perry tonight because he’d beat him. The two glared as Allin said he had to get ready for his match.
This started so well.
Fairly sure Darby’s not going heel. But calling a get-together to hash out their differences and ask for Perry’s help before deliberately insulting him sure is a heelish thing to do. What a dick. And now I kinda want him to lose.
Which I assume was not the purpose of this.
Outside of the strange casting, Allin’s really finding his confidence on the mic. The delivery good once more.
Dax Harwood vs Jeff Jarrett
Backstory: The two bickered while teaming on Rampage
Jarrett’s cheerleaders were sent backstage as he made his entrance. Cash left of his own volition after a quick hug with his partner. Interesting that it’s never him wrestling singles.
An aggressive grapple was broken as Jarrett got the ropes, Dax quick to cut-out a Fargo strut before some very smooth chain wrestling ended with a Jarrett takedown, the heel walking Dax’s back before hitting a shoulder tackle.
A couple hiptosses and a bodyslam followed, Jarrett now free to strut. Though turning round into stinging chops & uppercuts in the corner. Jarrett threw an elbow strike then stomped Harwood down in the corner.
Dax came back with more chops, snap suplex, legdrop – for just-about two. Before placing the vet upstairs, even more chops preceding a superplex attempt which Jarrett countered into a face-first drop.
Break time. Thus far, there’s been a ban on moves invented after the 80s. Albeit with some smooth grappling exchanges.
Firing rights, the two exchanged shots in the middle, Dax’s left jabs breaking the stalemate until Jarrett ducked, into a knee-breaker, looking for the figure four, Dax countering into the sharpshooter, Jarrett kicked him away, Dax came back with a headbutt off the top for two slaps.
Then fought free of the Stroke, looking for a backslide, faking Jarrett out to hit a piledriver for another close count. The vet seeking respite – bailing outside, Dax in pursuit as he beat Jarrett around ringside.
An attempted shotgun dropkick off the top saw Dax snatched into the figure four, only for him to twice block it but be catapulted into the buckle for another two count. Back to the knee-breaker: Dax rolled through, Jarrett countered back into the figure four, Dax countered the counter into a cradle for another two.
A short-arm clothesline once again saw Jeff heading outside. To the apron. Where Dax readied a suplex back in, the camera making it clear we were getting an Ultimate Warrior Finish as Dutt grabbed Harwood’s leg, holding on as Jarrett got 1, 2, kickout!
Dumb babyface syndrome then kicked in: Dax racing after Dutt, who ran right through the ring in full view of the ref who’d already thrown him out, Dax pursuing, right into the Stroke as Jarrett won. Dutt handed Jarrett one of the tag title belts which he kissed. Remember this moment when the Bucks sign with WWE (Joke! I think…).
This match literally and figuratively took the tag division back several years.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Tony Khan announced the 2023 Owen Hart Tournament. The opening ceremony of which will take place at Double or Nothing. The tournament itself’ll take place in Canada – including matches at Forbidden Door, with the finals in Calgary no less. On July 15th.
A worthy memorial. Let’s hope this year’s edition is better than last.
Wardlow vs Dude They Never Named
Backstory: Nada
After hitting his lame rear-back lariat, it was Symphony time.
The usual then. Other than Arn and his haircut, you might even think it was 2022.
Afterward, Arn advised the defeated man to get a twelve-pack and an ice bath. Then compared Wardlow to tomorrow’s NFL draft – he’s a #1 pick who can ‘put AEW on (his) shoulders’. Arn’s gonna teach him how to gouge eyes and bite-off thumbs.
Just as Christian Cage’s music interrupted, the dinosaur in tow. The heels thought about getting in the ring, then thought better of it. Walking away without saying or doing anything. Just like last week.
If they think either of these guys are at the level where the mere hint of them squaring off is enough to sell the match, they’re wrong. This needs heating up.
There’s still time of course.
Winner: Wardlow
Renee with Sammy Guevara. Quickly interrupted by a supportive MJF, who told him in a soft voice ‘This is your big night’ before kissing his forehead. This relationship sure has changed in a week.
Sammy kissed him back, correcting him that this was ‘their moment’.
The two relayed all the complaints about what they did last week, then shouted in unison ‘We don’t care!’. Guevara vowed to beat Darby then presented Max with a gift, a matching vest. MJF reciprocated, presenting a Burberry scarf. Sammy offered a handshake but the two again announced in unison that ‘friends hug!’.
Sammy told Max he smelled nice.
Am I wrong for finding these two much more likeable than the ‘babyfaces’? Certainly they were more entertaining.
*****
Jon Moxley attacked RJ City as he was hyping Omega & Takeshita teaming.
Darby Allin vs Sammy Guevara, Pillars Tourn. Final
Backstory: Darby got a bye to the final; Sammy reached it via MJF’s help, winner faces Max at the ppv
Presumably there are going to be shenanigans here. Otherwise it’s very hard to justify this being in the middle of the show.
Max came out to watch. With a jar of pickles. Which he ate while commentating.
Sammy started with a slap, Allin snagged an aggressive headlock takeover, maintaining his grip until Guevara forced him to the corner for the break. Allin coming straight back via springboard armdrag as a duelling ‘Let’s go Sammy/Sammy sucks!’ chant played – that Darby promo clearly worked wonders.
Briefly speeding up, Sammy came down from a leapfrog seeking an armdrag of his own, only for Allin to slide across his back, once more into a headlock. As Max literally said ‘This guy (Sammy) is gonna lay down for me’.
As Guevara launched his patented flips into a dropkick, kipping up with that sh**-eating grin. As they cut away from a #1 contender’s match so MJF could promo his pickles.
Allin bridged up out of a pin then returned to the headlock, transitioning into a scorpion deathlock, Sammy getting the rope break then spitting in Darby’s face, leaving an opening for a leaping knee strike before posing in the ring with Allin knocked outside.
Finally pursuing him, Sammy threw Darby back in, blocked a suplex from the apron, Allin settling for choking him across the middle rope. Then seeking a German off the apron, Sammy launching a mule kick then a beautiful dive, even landing in his pose on the mats at ringside.
Max screaming ‘That’s my friend!’ as we went to break.
Both guys down and Darby bleeding as we returned, Sammy rolled outside; Allin launched a suicide dive which Guevara turned into a cutter. Then went table hunting, further endearing him to the crowd. Who were as loud here as they’d been all night.
Darby fired back with stiff chops, setting Sammy atop the table and heading up top. About to launch when Tay Melo ran down to hop on the apron, distracting Darby. As usual, this was in full view of the ref. And Sammy took advantage to hit a Spanish fly off the top for two.
Guevara now set Darby on the table, to the top, 630 through the table. The crowd going wild again as they teased Allin being counted out. He slipped back in at 9, a disbelieving MJF marching down to ringside as Sammy and Darby slumped into opposite corners.
From which Sammy missed with a running splash, Allin hit a shotgun dropkick before heading upstairs for a Coffin Drop. Melo again hit the apron, Max threw Darby his skateboard, Sammy fell down a la Eddie Guerrero.
Paul Turner called for the bell. Max lariated Darby as a graphic showed Sammy vs MJF as the main event for Double or Nothing. Jungle Boy ran off the heels as Schiavone said Tony Khan was in his ear.
Continuing to be an absolute dick, Darby shouted at Perry for not getting here quicker and slapped his hand away. Must’ve been a brutal lariat.
As MJF took the mic to encourage the faces to go at it. Saying they were going back to the undercard. As Schiavone interrupted: ‘Listen up you prick!’ Sammy will indeed be facing Max at the ppv but next week will be Darby & Perry vs Sammy & Max. And if the faces win, it’ll be a four-way at Double or Nothing.
This smacks of We had to kill time before the ppv. They’ve made a mess of Allin here. But… it’s the right match. One on one, it’s hard to see any of these guys beating Max. But if they can pin each other, it at least makes a title change slightly more viable.
Winner: Sammy Guevara
They recapped what’d just happened before panning backstage where a livid MJF and Sammy were leaving. Max ranted that Tony Khan was ‘playing games’ with him. ‘You really think you’re gonna keep me around treating me like this? Where I go, the BBB (the belt) follows!’
Really don’t want to keep being negative. Honestly I don’t. But this is just awful.
Max then told Sammy the car was full, leaving him behind as the camera showed the car to be empty.
*****
Adam Cole then rightly stormed to the ring. Not sure why he waited over an hour, this should’ve started the show.
No stopping, no posing, no ‘BOOM’ as he ranted that what Jericho did to Britt was unforgiveable, a line you don’t come back from. ‘I’m gonna hurt you, I’m gonna hurt you bad’. Demanding Jericho come out.
About to head back in pursuit, Judas kicked in, Jericho appearing on the big screen. He said he didn’t want to be anywhere near a man who allowed the love of his life to be viciously beaten. ‘You are a coward, and I don’t wanna have anything to do with you’.
‘But my guys will’.
As the JAS headed to the ring, quickly and easily overpowering Cole until Orange Cassidy and Bandido hit the ring. Still the faces were easily beaten down.
Until Roderick Strong evened the sides. I’m begging AEW to please stop hiring people. He ran through the whole JAS. Totally overshadowing the man being built for a heated, top-level program.
Again, don’t want to be negative but.
Cole gave Strong a big hug to end the segment.
Jericho was great here btw. Him calling Cole a coward and using it as a pretense to stay away is absolute genius.
And now, it’s time for QTV…
*****
QT said it’s been a rough coupla weeks. As Hobbs grabbed him by the throat. QT promised to make him a champion again. ‘Fix it’ was Hobbs’ verdict. QT said it was time for Plan B.
Okay! This actually wasn’t bad. It featured who it should’ve.
Jade Cargill vs Taya Valkyrie, TBS Title
Backstory: Taya’s version of Jaded is banned for this match
And now it’s time for Taya’s bangin’ theme. As they emphasized Valkyrie not being able to use her finish.
Jade came with Leila and Sterling, tearing up a fan’s sign en route.
Lockup, stalemate, break. Jade with a slap, Taya firing back then Jade taking her to the corner, from which Taya came flying out with a big lariat before launching blows from the mount. Immediately readying Road to Valhalla then realizing she couldn’t use it.
Allowing Jade to take her back to the corner, stomping away, firing shots, Taya getting a boot up then flinging Jade outside where she skinned the cat back in. Or most of the way – Taya thrust-kicking her back out, threatening a dive; Jade moved out of the way.
Then pulled Taya down into a splits position on the apron before dragging her off with something like a reverse ddt (the motion was the same but the impact, rightly, was on the back rather than the head).
Break time.
Jade got two as we returned. But missed an elbow drop. Taya avoided a pump kick, hit a knee strike, a couple lariats, sit-out powerbomb for two of her own. Slapping the mat in an effort to get some noise, any noise out of the crowd. The match very slow.
Jade then set Valkyrie atop the buckle for a superplex, the crowd finally responding. A destroyer followed for another close count. Up into Jaded, Taya escaped via armdrag, footstomp, count of two.
Again she thought Road to Valhalla, Jade fell backwards so Taya could roll forwards as they pretended she’d rolled Valkyrie up. A handful of tights ensuring the pin.
Post-match, Taya hooked Aubrey for Road to Valhalla. A surefire way to be booed. As the other refs prevented the move’s execution.
This went looooong for a Jade match. She’s added some new moves but the problem is that the main body of her matches still feel like practice sessions.
That aside, the match told the right story. Presumably setting up a rematch with Valkryie’s finish legal.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Black-eyed Britt Baker was backstage. Along with shoulder-slinged Jamie Hayter. Baker said the Outcasts forgot who they were messing with. Hayter that Storm’s attack on her shoulder sent her to the hospital. So presumably that’s Hayter’s next defense.
The champ said this was far from over, the Outcasts have ‘declared war’.
*****
Bullet Club Gold/Starks & Spears promo package.
White said Starks and Spears would be looking at the lights when the match ended.
*****
Excalibur nearly passed out announcing next week’s matches.
Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita vs Butcher & Blade
Backstory: The faces’ first-time teaming
Looking forward to this since the babyfaces are great. But this is worlds away from a legit main event. Bryan Danielson joined on comms.
No separate entrances, Takeshita came out along with Omega & Callis. As Danielson mentioned he and Takeshita had trained together and how much potential he has.
Penelope Ford & Kip accompanied B&B.
Danielson accused the Elite of resting on their laurels – Omega hasn’t even ‘pursued’ MJF, ditto the Bucks re: FTR. Unfortunately, most fans were probably nodding their agreement. Especially given the current challengers.
As Takeshita and Blade got things going. Blade with stiff chops in the corner, Takeshita coming back with a big elbow strike. Leg lariat followed, tag to Kenny – big cheer – as the faces executed quick tags, the last of which took place mid-you can’t escape, Takeshita following immediately with a senton.
Omega back in, snapping hurracanrana leading to a terminator dive. Or about to when Kip grabbed the leg, allowing Butcher to attack from behind, Kip hitting an Asai moonsault to Omega on the outside with the ref distracted.
Break. Fast and crisp so far.
Kintaro crusher to Blade, who bailed for a tag, Takeshita in on the other side, coming off the top via cross body, couple duck-unders ending in a Takeshita-line and running boot in the corner.
As Danielson asked whether the youngster would be better off training with the BCC. Pointing out that people like Cutler and Nakazawa trained with the Elite, and they’ve done nothing since they’ve been in AEW. While Yuta’s a two-time champ.
As Takeshita floated behind: waistlock, ducked an elbow, into a sheer-drop brainbuster for two. As Taz admitted when asked that he’d rather Hook train with the BCC over the Elite.
B&B doubled-up on Takeshita with Omega nowhere in sight. A stunner/lariat combo bagging two as Omega returned to break the pin.
Now this was interesting. Out of nowhere, a ‘CM Punk’ chant started. And was quickly, emphatically booed down.
Omega prevented more double-teaming by dragging Blade outside, slipping back in to hit a v-trigger on Butcher. Takeshita followed-up via blue thunder bomb; Blade made the save. But ate a leaping knee from Takeshita, into a snapdragon – Omega following up via terminator dive onto Blade & Kip as even Danielson remarked on Omega’s ‘incredible’ dragon suplexes.
Leaving Takeshita and Butcher alone where the youngster dispatched the big man via running knee. For his biggest win to date.
Grabbing a mic, Danielson said he saw a ‘professional wrestler, who got the pin’ and someone who looks ‘exhausted, like his best days are behind him, living on a legacy built in Japan’.
While Takeshita’s a phenom, who if he trained with the BCC would be a world-beater. With the Elite, he’ll end up like Cutler and Nakazawa. Yet again the distraction from the front allowing the rest of the BCC to attack from behind.
Pulling out a screwdriver, he asked Mox to ‘finish the job’. As the Bucks’ music hit, Claudio quickly taken out via superkick, ditto Wheeler, Omega dropping Moxley. More superkicks followed, the Bucks handing Omega the screwdriver as Danielson pointed this out to Takeshita.
The youngster begged Omega not to use it, allowing the BCC to strike from behind as Takeshita looked crestfallen. Danielson and Claudio held his arms up in celebration, the youngster shook them off. Yuta hit a low blow, Mox readied the screwdriver. As yet again it was used without us really seeing it.
The Elite checked on a bleeding Takeshita as the BCC left.
Decent match which did a nice job of featuring Takeshita both in the match and the story. Might’ve liked to see the attempted recruitment continue a little longer.
Two title matches and a Tony Khan announcement will headline tonight’s Dynamite on TBS kicking off at 8PM ET.
Orange Cassidy will be defending his AEW International title against Bandido while Jade Cargill has her AEW TBS title and the undefeated streak on the line against Taya Valkyrie.
Other matches on the card include The Butcher and The Blade vs Kenny Omega and Konosuke Takeshita, Dax Harwood vs Jeff Jarrett, and Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin with the winner advancing to the Double or Nothing main event.
We will also be hearing from new AEW TNT champion Wardlow, Adam Cole, and Tony Khan.
Impact Wrestling last week on AXS TV drew 133,000 viewers, up 18,000 viewers from the prior week and the most-watched broadcast of 2023 so far. The show pulled a 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.01 from the previous show and placed #125 on the top 150 cable chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
WWE has ordered all office employees to return full-time to the office starting May 1, killing the hybrid model that was introduced during COVID times.
The e-mail to employees, sent by WWE CEO Nick Khan, was revealed in full by PWInsider.com.
“We are all fortunate to be three years, one month and fourteen days removed from the moment where stay at home orders were put in place, businesses shuttered (some permanently) and sports seasons canceled. Of course, at WWE and thanks to all of you, we continued to move forward, never missing a week of production in the safest way possible,” the e-mail from Khan read.
“As I have had the good fortune of meeting with so many of you over the last few months, it has become apparent to me that our business thrives on creativity and an unparalleled work ethic. All of us physically together is a part of that. As such, we will be going back to what has always been the case prior to COVID, which is a return to five days a week in office,” he continued.
Khan stressed the importance of interaction between employees as one of the factors of bringing everyone back in.
“Nothing replaces our ability to interact with one another as we collectively continue to build and represent our company. We will all connect better and be better. Monday, May 1, 2023, will be the start of our full time return to office,” he wrote.
The first group of employees have already moved to the new corporate headquarters in downtown Stamford and the rest will be moving over in the next few weeks.
“If you have not yet seen it, it is a spectacular work space that we believe you will all be quite proud of,” Khan wrote describing their new offices.
Monday Night Raw got an identical number of viewers as last week, with this week’s broadcast pulling in 1,815,000 viewers going against the NBA and NHL playoffs.
Raw started with 1,840,000 viewers and then increased to 1,939,000 viewers in the second hour before dropping to 1,666,000 viewers in the third hour. The third hour featured Bad Bunny which helped soften the ratings drop among young viewers.
Raw was #4, #5, and #6 on the top 50 cable chart for the night with 0.59, 0.55, and 0.54 ratings respectively for an average of 0.56, down 0.02 from last week. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
AEW’s Tony Khan does it a lot, Triple H has done it a few times since WrestleMania, and now Impact are jumping on the “major surprise” bandwagon too.
The company is promoting a major surprise for this Friday’s television tapings which will be held at the Cicero Stadium in Chicago as part of Spring Slugfest. Impact will hold another taping in the same location the next day on Saturday.
There was no hint on what the surprise might be. The last “major surprise” was this past Monday on Raw when Triple H unveiled the new World Heavyweight title and Tony Khan will be on Dynamite tonight for presumably another announcement.
A former WWE female writer has sued WWE, Vince McMahon, and other executives for allegedly discriminating and retaliating against her for objecting to “offensively racist and stereotypical jargon” used in the scripts of black wrestlers.
The full list of people summoned were Ryan Callahan, Chris Dunn, Mike Heller, Christine Lubrano, Jennifer Pepperman, Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon, and WWE as a company.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, said that Britney Abrahams had multiple complaints ignored and was terminated from her job for taking home a WrestleMania chair.
Abrahams worked for WWE from 2020 to 2022 and the lawsuit continued saying that she was allegedly subject to a number of racist pitches after complaining. She was terminated from her job in April 2022 for taking with her a WrestleMania 38 branded chair, a practice the lawsuit said was a common practice that white male writers weren’t punished for.
Abrahams is seeking reinstatement, damages, declaratory judgment, and an injunction restraining defendants from engaging in such unlawful conduct according to BloombergLaw.com.
The case is 23-cv-03109 with The Cochran Firm representing Abrahams.
Season four of the highly-rated Dark Side of the Ring will kick off on Tuesday, May 30, and Vice TV revealed the 10 episodes which will be part of the latest season.
The season premiere episode will tackle Chris Candido and Tammy “Sunny” Sytch. Episode two is on Magnum TA and episode three takes a look at Adrian Adonis. Episode four will be on Doink The Clown and episode five is on Junkyard Dog. Marty Jannetty will be featured in episode six while Bam Bam Bigelow is in episode seven. Abdullah The Butcher is in episode eight, the WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 pay-per-view story is episode nine and then the season wraps up with the 10th episode on The Graham family.
Dark Side of the Ring did not air last year and instead, the producers partnered with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to produce Tales from the Territories. The show was not as much of a hit as Dark Side of the Ring.
The series was on the receiving end of some criticism for the Plane Ride from Hell episode which aired as part of season three and the year off allowed some of that heat to die down.
Chris Jericho will return to the show as narrator.
Week 9 of WWE on A&E had the season finale episodes of Rivals as Biography rapped up its season last week with The Iron Sheik episode.
The 9PM airing of Rivals featured Steve Austin vs Bret Hart and the show did a season-high of 445,000 viewers, up from the 357,000 viewers of Hogan vs Piper last week. The show did also a season-high of 0.15 rating in the 18-49 demo and placed #24.
The 10PM Rivals episode featured Steve Austin vs Shawn Michaels and did slightly less viewers, with 433,000 tuning in. It also did a 0.15 rating in the 18-49 demo and was #25 on the chart.
Next week, WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures starts on A&E as well as Steve Austin’s new show Stone Cold Takes on America.
The Raw brand has departed Chicago to Europe for a mini four-day tour which will see them perform in England, Northern Ireland, and France.
The tour starts tomorrow, Wednesday, with a show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. On Thursday it’s a short drive to Manchester for an event at the AO Arena before moving to Belfast on Friday for a show at the SSE Arena. On Saturday, the final show is in Paris at the Accor Arena.
The WWE Superstars will depart Europe after the Paris show and will travel straight to Fort Worth, Texas to be part of night two of the WWE Draft on Monday Night Raw.
Rampage, which aired on Saturday night instead of Friday, did 371,000 viewers, down 268,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast which followed an NBA Playoff game on Friday night. The show did a 0.12 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 0.09 from the prior week and placed #26 on the chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Facing both NBA and NHL competition, Smackdown drew its lowest number of 2023 so far with 2,175,000 viewers tuning in, down 90,000 viewers from the prior week. The show did a 0.54 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 0.04 from last week and was #2 on network television for the night behind the NBA on ABC and #4 overall in all of TV behind NBA coverage on ESPN. In the overnight numbers, the show did 2,125,000 viewers in the first hour and 2,051,000 viewers in the second. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
In a lengthy update detailing CM Punk’s surprise visit backstage at Monday Night Raw, Mike Johnson of PWInsider said that Punk ended up on a flight from Tampa to Chicago on Sunday with a bunch of WWE Superstars and staff after he finished working for Cage Fury Fighting Championships.
Punk learned from talking to the people onboard the plane that Raw was at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, a short drive from his hometown of Chicago. Punk arrived at the arena before the show started and was escorted into the building by some of the talent.
Johnson said that Punk didn’t try to make his presence a secret and was in “full view” of everyone. Punk ran into WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque and the two shook hands and asked if it’s okay to hang around and if he had time to chat. Triple H informed Punk that he had to clear it with Vince McMahon before.
The update continued saying that Punk also cleared the air with The Miz and the two chatted for quite a bit and Punk was greeted “warmly” by other WWE Superstars who had not seen him since 2014.
Security unfortunately cut the visit short as around 20 minutes later, the order came for Punk to leave the building. “We are told that Punk was respectful of that decision, said his goodbyes and left. We were told he was respectful of everyone the entire time he was backstage, which wasn’t long,” the website stated in the report.
CM Punk is scheduled to return to All Elite Wrestling over the next several weeks and is rumored to be the star of their new Saturday show, titled Collision. Johnson also added that AEW had no idea that this was going to happen and according to some who were there, it came off as Punk was there to make amends with certain individuals.
Bad Bunny will no longer be hosting Backlash next month because as expected, he is now competing on the show.
Bunny, advertised for Raw last night, arrived at the closing moments of the show to come save Rey Mysterio from further attack from Judgment Day’s Damian Priest.
The mega star walked down to the ring with a kendo stick in his hand as Priest waited. Bunny then proceeded to whip Priest with several hard kendo stick shots to the body. Priest recovered on the outside and was about to chokeslam Bunny again through the announce table but Bunny managed to get out and whacked Priest on his leg with the kendo stick again.
Priest managed to escape and then Bunny got the mic and stood on the announce table to inform the crowd – and Priest – that he won’t be hosting Backlash anymore.
“Now I’m going to Puerto Rico to kick your ass,” Bunny said to a huge pop from the crowd. “May 6, Backlash at mi casa Puerto Rico, Damian Priest vs Bad Bunny in a street fight.”
The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes comes out to the ring first. Cody talks about Brock Lesnar and then he talked about his injury and his match last time in this same arena. Finn Balor comes to the ring and says he cannot beat Brock Lesnar by himself. Finn offers to have Judgment Day watch his back and wants him to be a part of the Judgment Day. The fans booed heavily. Cody says he appreciates it but respectfully he must decline. Finn tells Cody he is either with the Judgment Day or against the Judgment Day and Cody better watch his own back. Cody says he was cleared to fight, and he wants to fight Finn Balor tonight.
The Usos & Solo Sikoa VS. L.W.O.
With the other members of L.W.O. outside on the floor lying from being taken out by Jey and Solo. Del Toro gets hit with the Samoan Spike mid air as he was jumping off the top rope. Jey comes in the ring and the Usos hit the 1D for the win.
Winners: The Usos & Solo Sikoa
Bianca Belair is being interviewed backstage when she is interrupted by Damage Control. Iyo then challenges Bianca to a six-woman tag match. Bianca agrees.
In the back, Jey is walking and runs into Sami Zayn. Sami says he heard what Jey said that Jey was dedicating the rematch to Roman Reigns and Sami says he isn’t even doing it for himself. Sami says he feels bad, and Jey tells him not to feel bad because he made his choice and Jey did too.
They showed a video package of Trish Stratus’s message last week.
The Street Profits VS. Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander
Ford hits the frog splash on Cedric for the win.
Winners: The Street Profits
Triple H comes to the ring to make an announcement! He is out here to talk about Roman Reigns who is coming up on 1,000 days as champion. Roman put himself in a position where he didn’t have to defend the championship as much and although that is good for Roman Reigns, it is not good for the WWE Universe so at the draft whichever brand Roman is drafted to he will take the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship with him and stay there and on May 27th at the Night of Champions we will crown a new WWE World Champion. He debuted a beautiful new championship belt.
Damage Control VS. Bianca Belair & Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan
In the end it was Bianca hitting the KOD on Bayley for the win.
Winners: Bianca Belair & Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan
They show the video package of the end of the Lashley/Theory match from last week.
Austin Theory is out next. As Theory talked, he is interrupted by Bobby Lashley. A fight breaks out between the two. Lashley picks up Theory, but Theory goes to send him into the ring post, but Lashley runs right into Bronson Reed. Reed and Theory continued to beat down Lashley including Theory giving Lashley his A-Town Down. Reed then lays out the champion.
Alpha Academy talk with Rick Boogs and Maxine comes in and Mustafa Ali comes in and there is a match tonight with him and Chad Gable.
Chad Gable VS. Mustafa Ali
Ali was able to roll up Gable and hold him for the three count.
Winner: Mustafa Ali
Finn Balor VS. Cody Rhodes
Great match in the end, Cody with a pedigree into the Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes
Seth “Freakin” Rollins comes to the ring. He started talking about his match with Omos but said something bigger has caught his eye and he looked at the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship. As he talked about the possibility of winning the new championship, he is interrupted by MVP and Omos. Seth tells Omos is once in a generation because he was born that way. Seth “Freakin” Rollins is once in a generation because he made himself that way. He then continues to tell Omos he should be afraid of him, but he is not, but he is going to make him famous and take his foot and put his big head on that mat and beat him.
Matt Riddle is talking to Kevin Owens in the locker room and Sami walks in and asks Sami where he has been all night. Sami says he was talking to Jey Uso and Kevin says they deserve whatever happens to them.
Damian Priest VS. Rey Mysterio
While the match is going on they show cameras in the back of Bad Bunny arriving.
Priest gets a chair, but Rey knocks it away and sets Priest up for 619, Rey hits it then goes up for the splash, but Priest gets the chair and hits Rey with it causing the disqualification.
Winner by DQ: Rey Mysterio
After the match Priest continues to beat down Rey until Bad Bunny comes out with a kendo stick and hits Priest repeatedly with it and Priest runs off.
Bad Bunny then says he is no longer hosting Backlash he is going to Backlash to kick Priest’s ass in a street fight.
For many, watching pro wrestling brings back nostalgia, especially for long-time fans who grew up with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. Some may say that professional wrestling is nothing like boxing because it is more soap opera-like with a script. And that’s evident in choreographed theatrics interspersed with detailed costumes and a little acting, sometimes even with copious amounts of tears.
Pro wrestling has been around since time immemorial. Some professional essay writers drafting a historical analysis may say that the sport is comparable to the gladiators competing in ancient Rome inside the Colosseum. This historical evidence proves that humans have always enjoyed these physical matches and find grown men beating each other entertaining. Today, the WWE remains popular and continues to live up to its tagline: “Then, Now, Forever, Together.”
Amidst all this entertainment, people cannot discount that wrestling takes its toll on the athletes’ physiques. After all, whether fans think the matches are staged or not, wrestlers who stay in character must show remarkable athleticism because they will collide, smash, fly, and jump on each other on the floor in front of a live audience. Check out the four most memorable pro wrestling moments in the ring.
The Infamous Hell in a Cell: Undertaker Versus Mankind
One of the most brutal and barbaric moments in the ring that graced the screens via WWE is the encounter between Undertaker and Mankind at the King of the Ring in 1998. In this event, Mankind gets an unfathomable beating, especially when the Undertaker throws him straight to the announcer’s desk from the top of the cell. If a casual fan were asked to write an essay on this encounter, he would definitely note that this one raised the bar because it contained elements of:
Suspense
Action
Surprise
Drama
Raw emotion
And just when everyone thought Mankind was a goner, he climbs back to the top of the cell with a dislocated shoulder. Unfortunately, Mankind suffered more choke slams on the cell and a steel chair. Terry Funk eventually realized that he may have seriously injured his friend, so they staged a swift skirmish that allowed emergency personnel to assess Foley. It’s no wonder why this scene remains the most revisited match in pro wrestling history.
The Bloody Encounter Between Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin
These two wrestlers met in the ring for a submission match at Wrestlemania XIII in 1997. At that time, Bret Hart had already earned his reputation as the Hitman and was known as the babyface who didn’t resort to underhanded schemes. Meanwhile, Stone Cold Steve Austin was new in the game. He was known as a fast-rising wrestling star with a hellish mean streak, powerful offensive moves, and submission maneuvers.
So when the two met up in the ring, the live audience and those watching on TV were astounded because the Hitman crossed the line and made Stone Cold bleed massively. But instead of admitting defeat as blood gushed from his head to face, Austen opted to endure the pain of Hart’s hold and pass out due to the pain. Because of this, the crowd booed Hart but was impressed with Austin’s perseverance and dedication. Many say this match sealed Austin’s fate and catapulted him into fame.
WrestleMania III as Hulk Hogan Slams Andre the Giant
The Hulk and the Giant stood toe-to-toe in an unforgettable match 27 years ago in WrestleMania III. These two behemoths collided in a slow burn match full of:
Bear hugs
Jeering
Strikes
Slaps
Taunting
But towards the final moments of the interlude, the Hulkster did that unthinkable by picking up the gargantuan Andre the Giant and body slamming him onto the mat. Of course, the crowd went wild because this was no mean feat.
This was a fantastic moment because the Hulkster could perform what was seemingly impossible. After all, the Giant lived up to its name by being way bigger than anyone else in WWE then. The crowd went ballistic and erupted in even more applause when the Hulk made a leg drop move that put Andre down for the referee’s count to three. This scene is constantly replayed on the screen today because of the impressive display of physical strength by Hulk Hogan.
Miss Elizabeth Says I Do to the Macho Man
Contrary to popular opinion, not all pro wrestling matches are full of violent and bloody encounters. One of the most poignant events ever happening in the ring is the marriage of Randy Savage, aka the Macho Man, to Miss Elizabeth. Their Summerslam 1991 wedding ceremony, which was televised live, became a big hit. Although it must be said that the two were already married a few years before in private proceedings, the fans will never forget the pomp and circumstance in the ring because it felt tingly and heart-warming.
To top it all off, the couple opening a gift from Jake Roberts, aka The Snake, made the wedding memorable. And it’s not surprising that Jake’s gift was a real live reptile inside the box, much to the chagrin of Miss Elizabeth. And while the present occupied the Macho Man, the Snake, and the Undertaker jumped and slammed him. And this was how the high-profile wedding ended because all the wrestlers eventually reverted to what they do best — fight each other to the delight of the fans.
Final Thoughts on Iconic Pro Wrestling Matches
Indeed, professional wrestling is chock full of memorable events forever embedded into the fans’ minds. In the midst of all the action and gore, the heart of wrestling will always be entertainment. The wrestling version goes way beyond the normal limits of what people see on the silver screen. Many of these moments in the ring are so unforgettable that people still speak about them even if they happened almost three decades ago. And this merely proves that the art of wrestling transcends time!
WWE has resurrected the World Heavyweight Championship with a new winner to be crowned at the Night of Champions premium live event live from Saudi Arabia next month.
Triple H made the bombshell announcement on Monday Night Raw last night at a sold out Allstate Arena. The WWE Chief Content Officer said that while Roman Reigns is nearing his 1,000 days as champion, his contract only calls for limited appearances and it’s time to bring in another heavyweight title to the mix.
At the WWE Draft, Roman Reigns will take his Undisputed WWE Universal title with him to the brand he is drafted to and will remain there while the other brand will get the World Heavyweight title.
Triple H also unveiled the new design, a variation of the Big Gold belt which was used as the World Heavyweight title up until 2013 but now has a big WWE logo in front.
PWInsider.com broke the news that former AEW champion CM Punk was briefly backstage at Monday Night Raw last night in Chicago.
Punk’s arrival was certainly a surprise and the very controversial figure did briefly meet with Triple H according to the website and confirmed by other sources. Punk also met with other WWE Superstars during his short time at the Allstate Arena.
However, when Vince McMahon got wind that Punk was there, he instructed security to ask him to leave due to him being under contract with AEW. Security informed Punk of the decision and Punk politely left without any problems after being notified.
This is the first time that Punk had any interaction backstage at a WWE show since the 2014 Royal Rumble, his last appearance for the promotion.
Appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience, two-time WWE Hall of Famer and 16-time world champion Ric Flair called Vince McMahon his hero.
When Rogan brought up the allegations against McMahon and the women he paid off along the years, Flair said he only judges people by how they treat him.
“And he has treated me like I’ve never had anyone treat me with more respect ever in this business,” Flair said. “He’s a great guy. I don’t care what he does. He’s my hero.”
The close relationship between Vince and Ric is no secret and Flair is open about how Vince came to the rescue more than once, even with lending him money, to survive. Despite being terminated from WWE a couple of times, the “Nature Boy” does not blame McMahon for it and has always praised the WWE Executive Chairman for how he handled him along the years.
