Double or Nothing, the upcoming AEW pay-per-view this weekend, will be screened at select theaters around the country in partnership with Joe Hand Promotions.
“AEW is at the forefront of creating exciting opportunities that united fans together in new non-traditional venues like movie theaters to experience their events,” said Joe Hand, Jr., President, Joe Hand Promotions. “We’re proud to partner with them and help them grow their fan base and their brand in theaters across the U.S.”
Theaters which will be participating in this event include Cinemark, AMC, Regal, Harkins, iPic, Emagine Entertainment, and others. To locate a theater showing the event, fans can check the Joe Hand Promotions at JoeHandPromotions.com.
Double or Nothing airs this Sunday live from the sold out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Smackdown color commentator Pat McAfee addressed the Sasha Banks and Naomi segment from Smackdown this past Friday where Michael Cole announced live that both Superstars were stripped off their WWE Women’s Tag Team titles and suspended indefinitely.
“The Sasha and Naomi thing…that was my first time hearing what Cole was saying live. I have no idea what to think there. I have no clue. This is very fascinating,” McAfee said during today’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show.
During the Smackdown segment, McAfee is seen being very uncomfortable as Cole read out the statement and did not utter a word.
“I honestly have no idea what to believe, they keep me out of the loop of these things, I have no f*cking idea,” McAfee continued.
He then went back to what Cole was saying as he sat down next to him in silence. “I’m like what is going on right now? Literally as it was happening I was like oh God damn, suspended indefinitely!”
The range of games available is what makes online casinos so popular. But unfortunately, that is their ace in the hole, allowing them to defeat traditional casinos. It’s not just about game choices, though.
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Bonus Upon Registration
Typically, it’s a combination of deposit bonuses and free spins. Depending on the site you’re playing at, it might be one or the other or various forms of freebies.
Only new players who have never previously played at an online casino are eligible for this bonus. Your welcome bonus, like all bonuses, must be wagered a certain number of times before you can withdraw it.
Deposit/Monthly Bonus
These are also known as reloading bonuses, deposit bonuses, or loyalty bonuses. It simply means that you get a bonus every month (for example) to keep you playing. Most online casinos don’t advertise this, but they provide it to their players.
Furthermore, most casinos will give you a monthly bonus based on your previous month’s activity (probably via email). Unfortunately, monthly bonuses are often lower than welcome bonuses, although this depends on your behaviour.
Bonuses for High Rollers on Kucasino.dev
Some online casinos, such as Ku casino, are looking for gamers who will deposit more and play more. These players are called high rollers, VIPs, or whales, and they are rewarded with more significant bonuses for making more extensive deposits.
A 100% welcome bonus of up to £100 and additional benefits and incentives like tickets to sporting events may not be enticing to a high roller. This is always done individually, depending on your behaviour at a particular online casino.
Bonus with No Deposit
Even though no deposit sign-up bonuses are becoming less popular, numerous online casinos continue to provide them to new players. A legitimate no deposit sign-up bonus does not require you to gamble on high-stakes games after doing so instantly.
Be wary of websites that offer a $10 no deposit bonus for a $100 stake on one of their games. Instead, you should join reputable and trustworthy sites with a modest wagering minimum for a newbie.
Cashback Bonuses
You have a decent chance of earning and losing money when you play. So, wouldn’t it be nice to obtain a bonus that compensates you for your losses? Cashback bonuses do precisely that.
Of course, you shouldn’t expect them to pay all of your losses. The bonus credit will need to be wagered, so check the terms carefully before accepting it.
The most common bonuses are available at practically every major online casino, such as ku casino. In addition, some websites that offer a variety of various online casinos frequently include this type of information so that users may select the best option for them. You won’t go wrong in online gaming if you understand how casino bonuses operate.
The next guest on the Stone Cold Steve Austin Broken Skull Sessions series is none other than WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett.
Jarrett, who no longer works for WWE in an official capacity, had a memorable career with stints in WWE, WCW, creating TNA Wrestling, Global Force Wrestling, and many other highlights worthy of a discussion.
The episode of Double J will premiere on June 3 on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.
Austin’s previous guest was the returning Cody Rhodes who sat down for a two-hour interview with the Rattlesnake just after WrestleMania.
Roman Reigns spoke to the fans after the non-televised live event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last night and once again repeated the fact that he won’t be doing many of these any longer.
“I love each and every one of you…except this guy,” Roman said, pointing to a man at ringside. The fans laughed as Reigns explained how the man kept cheering for Drew McIntyre in their match. “This guy sucks,” he continued to a big pop from the crowd.
The Undisputed WWE Universal champion then turned into a more serious tone, saying he appreciated everyone in the crowd.
“From the bottom of my heart, I hope you all had a great time. I know I had the internet talking last week or the week before that but I honestly don’t know if I’m going to be doing many more live events like this on a Sunday going forward,” Reigns said.
“So this could be my last one and I just want you all to know that it was very special for me and I had an incredible time,” he continued, as the fans cheered.
Before leaving, Reigns asked the Cedar Rapids crowd to acknowledge him, and of course, the crowd obliged!
Rumors circulating around are saying that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has not made any movie commitments in the first quarter of 2023, possibly paving the way for the much-hyped match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39.
Rock vs Reigns has been pretty much rumored to be the main match for next year’s WrestleMania in California for a while but Johnson’s busy schedule is one major obstacle for him to be part a proper WWE run to build the match. As one of the most busiest men in the entertainment industry, free time does not come in frequently for the former WWE champion and insurance costs for wrestling while making a movie would be sky high.
The only movie he has listed in pre-production right now is Red One, a movie for Amazon. Set to be released in 2023, Red One is scheduled to film this year with Johnson and Chris Evans in the leading roles.
It is worth noting that the XFL – the league he and his partners bought from bankruptcy court and previously owned by Vince McMahon – will launch in the first quarter of 2023, on February 18, to be exact.
Marketed as WrestleMania Hollywood despite taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, this could very well be the last match of The Rock before a Hall of Fame induction. Plus, it does not get any bigger than a family feud with The Tribal Chief taking on his cousin for a place at the head of the table in the Samoan family!
Speaking to TMZ Sports, 16-time world champ Ric Flair said that he asked “40 different doctors” about returning to the ring and decided that he was only going to listen to one.
“I don’t have any aches or pains. I know I’ve had the health issues, but I asked 40 different doctors, and I decided I’m only gonna listen to one,” Flair said. “Not necessarily the one that was gonna give me the right answer, but that I felt the most comfortable with,” he said.
That one particular doctor cleared him to return to the ring and that’s why Ric Flair’s Last Match event is being promoted for July 31.
The Nature Boy said that he didn’t like the last couple of matches he had and “couldn’t stand the last year” he had as an active wrestler. He said he got someone to motivate him in the gym, mentioning John Cena’s trainer Rob MacIntyre and Jay Lethal, and while he won’t be 100%, he claimed he’ll still be running at 80% or 85%.
Flair, who is 73 years old, is still looking for an opponent for the match.
WWE has gone to great lengths to edit out Sasha Banks and Naomi from their properties as the duo were also removed from the WWE intro video that airs before every show. Michael Cole later announced that both Superstars were suspended indefinitely and stripped off the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.
WWE has also removed all merchandise of the two from WWEShop.com so both women will not be getting any kind of money from potential sales. The WWE Women’s Tag Team titles entry on WWE.COM now has the vacant graphic but at least both are still listed under the Superstars section.
The WWE-run Facebook pages of Sasha and Naomi were deactivated on Friday as well ahead of the announcement. The Twitter and Instagram accounts are personally-controlled so WWE has no access to those social media accounts but Naomi did take down WWE references from her Twitter and Instagram while Sasha unfollowed pretty much everyone from WWE except for Naomi, Tamina, and John Cena.
Both Sasha and Naomi have yet to address their walkout publicly.
Meanwhile, AEW’s CM Punk put out a tweet, and while not specifically mentioning Sasha and Naomi, it was directed at those who are not supporting them.
“Doesn’t matter if your opinion of your coworker is positive or negative. Stand with them,” said Punk. “Because they’ll do the same thing to you and you’ll wish someone helped. Trust me. You’re expendable. Together you’re unstoppable.”
Punk did the same thing in WWE, walking out after the 2014 Royal Rumble and never returned.
LA Knight made his main roster debut last night on Smackdown using a different name from his NXT days – Max Dupri.
Continuing the tradition of being built on NXT only to have a complete name and character change on the main roster, the former Impact World champion introduced himself to WWE official Adam Pearce, telling him he’s the CEO of Maximum Male Models.
Dupri mentioned that he was hired by Sonya Deville before she was removed from her previous role and has a contract, with Pearce telling him that he’s going to reach out to the legal department to verify his claim.
The 39-year-old did a trial of the new gimmick during a few dark matches before Smackdown weeks ago, with Mace and Mansoor as his first clients.
Big Damo, formerly known as Killian Dain in WWE, made his debut for AEW last night on Rampage.
Damo wrestled Shawn Spears on the broadcast but walked out with his first loss as Spears got the victory. Damo was being billed as a “giant” and as a 17-year veteran who held titles in 11 different promotions.
The Belfast-born 37-year-old was released from WWE in mid-2021 after a five-year run, most of which was in NXT as part of SAnitY. He also married Nikki A.S.H. during his WWE days.
Since leaving WWE, he’s been working for New Japan Pro Wrestling and doing a lot of independent shows. He has not signed a deal with AEW.
It’s Saturday morning, and you know what that means… it’s time for our Rampage Review!
H.O.B. vs Evil Uno, Ten & Fuego del Sol
Backstory: Fuego has a death wish, keeps calling out the House
If you had an appearance by the Dark Order or Fuego on your ‘non-prime-time Rampage’ bingo card, take a drink. Or ‘whatever your vice is’, as Jay-Z once rapped. It is the weekend.
We began with Uno repeatedly flinging himself at Brody, to little effect, before Malakai entered with stiff kicks to the stomach. Uno tagged in 10, the pair doubled up on Black until an overhead belly to belly brought an early 2 count.
Fuego tagged himself in but was greeted by an armdrag from Black and a vicious elbow to the face as he rebounded off the ropes. Matthews came in next, mimicking ‘zero miedo’ before snapping back on the arm. Desperate, del Sol tagged Uno back in but Malakai did the same to Brody, who hit a senton before stereo kicks from the other two H.O.B. members. Forcing Fuego back in, who was immediately squashed to the outside via a Brody body block.
Back from the break, Fuego landed a standing Spanish fly to Matthews, leading to double tags: 10 and Malakai. With Brody sent to the floor, the Dark Order followed up with a double-team slingshot wheelbarrow suplex and then a cannonball senton to the outside by Uno.
After kicking out of a pin attempt by 10, Malakai fought out into a rolling knee bar but Uno broke it up, distracting Black, allowing Vance to land a discus lariat. After a tag to Brody, Malakai and Matthews took care of Fuego and 10 with a moonsault and DDT respectively on the outside, before Brody struck with a huge lariat and a Gonzo Bomb for the win.
A breathless, non-stop opener with the right outcome.
Afterward, Death Triangle came out with a tombstone which had House of Black written on it along with Double or Nothing.
WINNER: The House of Black
Lexi w/ Gunn Club & Max Castor. Even Castor called Billy ‘daddy’ and received the reply ‘son’. Clip aired of Bowens injury on Dark. When he’s back, Billy said they’d have a ‘big ol’ scissor party’. Essentially, Billy prefers Castor and Co. to his own kids.
FTR were with Tony, responding to Roppongi Vice’s challenge, which they accepted because they also wanted the IWGP belts. Dax said Trent and co. like to make a joke of everything, but promised they wouldn’t make a joke of them on Wednesday.
Shawn Spears vs Big Damo
Backstory: Spears is a ‘giant killer’, so he’s facing a giant, the former Killian Dane
Spears’ offense had little impact at the outset, Damo slamming and squashing Spears before missing with a vader bomb. Spears yelled ‘Wardlow’ as he hit the C4.
Spears said his match with Wardlow was the main event on Wed. Good God.
Just don’t see the point of these matches. Not a single, solitary person believes Spears is beating Wardlow because of this. This is vital TV time that could’ve been better served by say, a Swerve Scott promo.
WINNER: Spears
Cutler was with the UE. Cole put over O’Reilly, they talked about what an honor it’d be to face-off in the final of the Owen. Bucks challenged the Hardys to a ‘dream match’. I’ll keep on sleeping given Jeff’s latest offerings. Maybe ten years ago.
Kris Statlander vs Red Velvet, OH
Backstory: Former friends face off in the Owen tourney
Ruby Soho joined the guys on comms. Said she couldn’t wait to see Eddie beat Jericho at the PPV.
Statlander pressed Velvet with one arm before dropping her to the mat to start with a bang. Highlighting her strength advantage.
Velvet then showed her edge athletically with a kind-of headscissors. She then received the Sports Entertainer of the Week, because someone has to, as the ads arrived.
A vicious knee welcomed us back before a huge wheelbarrow/German suplex earned Kris a near fall. Countering a suplex, Velvet hit the Final Slice but couldn’t get the win as Excalibur said he couldn’t remember the last time anyone kicked out of it.
Close counts followed by both, including a blue thunder bomb by Kris. Statlander caught a kick, hoisting Velvet up for the Big Bang Theory but Red countered into a roll-up until Stat countered the counter with a roll-up of her own to advance.
Short, but what we saw was really good.
After her loss, Velvet and the Baddies beat down both Statlander and Soho (who tried to make the save) until Anna Jay ran them off using Smart Mark’s crutch.
WINNER: Statlander
A workout video was shown involving Hook and Danhausen/Nese/Sterling. Essentially, Hook/Nese were working-out hard, their partners were not. Nothing special.
Sammy and Tay did such an amazing job turning themselves heel, if only they’d intended it. Mid-ring, Ethan Page called Sammy a ‘piece of trash’ to loud cheers from the fans in Guevara’s hometown. Sammy appeared on the screen with Tay, still wants the mixed tag match. Even Kazarian was booed for having the temerity to associate with Guevara. He and Sammy smashed the TNT title (presumably the spare?) with a sledgehammer. Talk about a metaphor.
Tony w/ Storm/Britt. Toni said she’d rearrange Britt’s teeth and be ‘her D.M.D.’ if anyone interfered in their match next week. Baker was left speechless.
On Dynamite:
Roppongi Vice vs FTR,
Samoa Joe vs Kyle O’Reilly, OH Semi
Britt vs Toni, OH Semi
Punk/Hangman face to face
Jungle Boy vs Swerve vs Starks in a rare three-way
Wardlow vs Spears in a cage w MJF as ref
On Rampage:
Soho vs Statlander, OH Semi
After oh so creatively telling Tony to ‘cut the s***’, Jade challenged Anna Jay at the PPV, Tony Khan must’ve been close by since it was instantly booked.
Matt Sydal & Dante Martin vs Moxley and Daniel Bryan
Backstory: In one of the cringiest promo’s in recent memory, Sydal challenged the BCC to a ‘fight’
Regal joined on comms. Hager came to watch over Jericho. Regal and Jericho spent the first minutes of the match bickering.
‘Abandon all hope’ is what Mox told any potential BCC opponents pre-match. They weren’t just words, he and Danielson striking as the bell rang. Mox crushed Dante in the corner with clotheslines and got a quick 1 count with a suplex. Tagging in BD, the vet went to work with a romero special before another quick pin attempt.
Quickly tagging Mox back in, Dante was getting his backside beaten until darting out the way of a shoulder charge, Sydal flying in after the tag, very briefly getting the upper hand until being plucked out of the air and stun-gunned across the ropes, followed by a Danielson diving double knee to the outside as the break came.
When we returned Dante was exploding with a double cross body block to the outside onto both BCC members, followed by another on Danielson back inside for 2. Sweeping the leg, Danielson hit a double underhook suplex from the top, transitioning into the Lebell Lock. After fighting for a long time, the youngster finally hooked the ropes with his foot.
Angry kicks from Bryan to the chest came next, until tagging Mox back in but Sydal interrupted, leading to a lightning flurry from the underdogs: double roundhouse, shotgun dropkick, Sydal to the top for a crazy meteora onto Danielson on the apron, Nosedive on Mox, BD saved at the last split-second. ‘This is awesome!’
Continuing to shine, Dante countered a Paradigm Shift and a Bulldog Choke before heading up top, Mox avoiding the resulting dive and hitting a piledriver for another long 2. The end in sight, Moxley unleashed hammer and anvil elbows before this time nailing the Paradigm Shift for the victory as Danielson worked over Sydal.
Excellent action. The BCC boys have the knack of making you believe their opponents can win, even when you know otherwise. Strange decision to pin the up-and-comer with Sydal right there but Dante did work the majority of the match and despite getting a beating, was also made to look good against two of the company’s biggest stars.
In the aftermath, Jericho and the Jobbers attacked as the show ended mid-brawl.
What we didn’t see was what occurred next with the American Dragon. Who appeared to legit trap his leg between the ring and the ramp, with reports that he was stuck for ten minutes and visibly annoyed at those trying to help him. Other reports say this was a storyline injury.
WINNER: Mox and Bryan
Check Out…
This was a pretty damn good show top to bottom. If you like ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ spotfests, check out the opener. A little more serious? Hit the main event.
Smackdown opens with a preview for tonight’s Tag Team Championship unification match between RK-Bro and The Usos. First out comes the Bloodline. Roman Reigns opens with, “Grand Rapids…acknowledge me, tonight you not only acknowledge me, you acknowledge my cousins, so tonight you acknowledge the Bloodline!”
Heyman gets the microphone and says, “Roman Reigns is the greatest of all time.” Heyman then list everyone from Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, The Rock, etc. and says, “Roman Reigns would knock them down.”
Roman then tells The Usos they know what he expects, and he loves them.
Sami Zayn VS. Shinsuke Nakamura
Zayn rolls out of the ring Nakamura follows only to get hit with a Michinoku Driver on the floor by Zayn, Zayn then rolls in the ring as the referee counts, Nakamura back in right after the 9 count.
Action spills back on the floor this time it was Nakamura getting the upper hand and Zayn rolling back in the ring right after the 9 count only to be met with a Kinshasa and Nakamura pins him.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Happy Talk is next! No guest, Happy just cuts a promo on Madcap Moss, after he was done Happy destroys the Andre the Giant Memorial trophy.
Gunther VS. Drew Gulak
Gunther destroy Gulak again
Winner: Gunther
After the match Gunther puts Gulak in a Boston Crab but Gulak is rescued by the arrival of Ricochet and Gunther leaves the ring.
Adam Pearce is in the back and Max Dupri (L.A. Knight) says Sonya Deville hired him and Pearce says Deville has been relieved of her duties as WWE official. Dupri says well there is an issue because he and his stable have a signed a contract and Pearce said he will have to reach out to his legal department and get back to Dupri.
In the back, Shotzi yells at Raquel Rodriguez for “Stealing her moment last week” and is going to make her pay and she is nothing but 6 feet of disappointment.
Raquel Rodriguez VS. Shotzi
Raquel hits her one-armed powerbomb on Shotzi for the win
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Xavier Woods VS. Butch
Woods with a quick rollup for the pin
Winner: Xavier Woods
RK-Bro VS. The Usos to unify the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship
Jey Uso goes to the top rope but is caught by Riddle, Riddle attempts to hit an RKO but Roman Reigns holds Uso, Uso then hits the splash for the pin.
Winners and New Unified Tag Team Champions: The Usos
After the match, the Bloodline beat down RK-Bro, Reigns chokes out Riddle and places him on the announce table, The Usos use the steps on Orton, Jey Uso dives and crashes down on Riddle destroying the announce table. Reigns then puts Orton in the guillotine choke as officials try to break up the assault. The show ends with The Bloodline posing in the ring with all the titles.
The Bloodline now controls the majority of the men’s WWE titles as The Usos last night defeated RK-Bro to unify the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team titles during Friday Night Smackdown on FOX.
The ending did have an interference from Roman Reigns, who held on Jey Uso who was on the top rope and about to receive an RKO from the top from Riddle. The referee was being distracted by Paul Heyman at ringside. That led to Riddle to fly on his own and Uso then hit the splash from the top rope and covered Riddle for the three count.
After the match, Reigns then attacked Riddle, payback for his flying knee from last week. Riddle was then placed on the announce table and Jey Uso hit a splash from the top rope to the outside, crashing through the table. Reigns then put Orton in the guillotine as The Bloodline ran riot at ringside.
“Wreckage of humanity,” Cole said on commentary, as WWE cameras made sure to get as much reactions from fans as possible, including young fans crying.
In what could be a sign of what’s coming next, WWE has suspended Sasha Banks and Naomi indefinitely and stripped them off the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.
The announcement was made by Michael Cole on Smackdown yesterday, who said that what the champions did disappointed millions of WWE fans and their peers. Cole then said that both have been indefinitely suspended by WWE and a tournament will be held to crown new WWE Women’s Tag Team champions.
The suspension comes a few days after Sasha and Naomi walked out of Monday Night Raw, disrupting the already-announced main event. The duo walked out over creative differences.
Meanwhile, any merchandise from both Sasha and Naomi have been pulled out from WWEShop.com and are no longer available for sale.
The situation between all parties involved have gone from bad to worse with no reconciliation in sight. Both Sasha and Naomi are said to have their contracts expiring in a couple of months but the company can freeze them until they’re back.
The two were in negotiations for a new deal when they walked out of Raw.
Tonight’s Friday Night Smackdown on FOX will be headlined by a Raw/Smackdown Tag Team title unification match as RK-Bro take on The Usos to settle who are the kings of the tag team division.
The match has been in the making for several weeks now and was originally scheduled for the Backlash premium live event before Roman Reigns tore up the contract and shoved it down Riddle’s throat. That match was eventually changed to a six-man tag match where The Bloodline took on – and won against – Riddle, Orton, and Drew McIntyre in the main event.
There were conflicting rumors as to WWE not going ahead with the unification of the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team titles but the match for tonight is a go, although there exists the possibility that the match ends with a DQ or count-out, hence the titles stay where they are.
Other matches announced for tonight are Xavier Woods vs Butch and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Sami Zayn.
Who will come out on top in the battle between WWE and AEW?
On one side, you have the behemoth that is WWE. They have been around since the early 1980s and are a well-oiled machine when it comes to professional wrestling. On the other side, you have AEW – a company that is backed by billionaire Tony Khan and has already made waves in the wrestling world with its innovative approach to the sport.
So, who will come out on top and sit atop the imagery ladder in the world of professional wrestling?
The battle was always on
The battle between WWE and AEW is one that has been brewing for months now.
It all started when AEW was first announced and people began to wonder if they would be able to compete with WWE. Then, when AEW held their first event, Double or Nothing, it was clear that they were a force to be reckoned with.
Naturally, the two companies continue to fight against each other for TV ratings, live event attendance, and social media engagement, whilst there has since been a number of former WWE stars working for AEW following the release of their previous contracts.
The AEW has been rather successful in luring ex-talent from the WWE, with influential superstars such as Chris Jericho, Paul Wight (Big Show), Mark Henry, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Jon Moxley (Dean Ambrose), and even CM Punk has all been a part of the promotion since it was formed, whilst there have been a plethora of others to have performed, too.
Cody Rhodes was one of the first to join the new promotion, however he has since decided that it would be best to return to the WWE and made his awaited return at WrestleMania 38 back in April 2022.
Fans remain divided
Since then, the two companies have been engaged in a war of words, with each side taking shots at the other, whilst it seems there have been some split opinions between fans about which is better.
If you continue to check out the sports blogs that have been created regarding professional wrestling, everyone appears to have an opinion about both the WWE and the AEW.
Some will argue that because the WWE has not had any real competition – aside from the best attempts of TNA Impact and WCW in the past – for a couple of decades, the product that they provide has become a little stale in places, and creativity behind the storylines that are written have since dropped off.
Nonetheless, given the longevity that Vince McMahon’s company has had since it was formed, there are a number of hardcore WWE fans around that will continue to swear by the company and believe that it can edge out and oversee the challenge from AEW.
Those that have begun to follow AEW may feel that they are getting a new product and wrestling experience as the promotion has continued to try and be as innovative as possible since entering the industry, although there will be some that will be critical of the direction it is heading, with some likely questioning certain aspects.
Again, there are fans in the world that will argue that it is just WWE 2.0, as so many former superstars are now on the AEW roster because of their name and reputation, rather than perhaps some of the more exciting and upcoming wrestlers on the indy scene at the moment.
How will the battle end?
Naturally, there will be many that will be interested in seeing what happens to both companies within the professional wrestling industry. Will the fact that now the WWE has some legitimate competition push them to be better and return to a time where they were the undisputed No. 1 promotion? Will AEW be able to continue to challenge the WWE and be able to compete alongside them?
Of course, fans of professional wrestling – regardless of their allegiances – will hope that the sport will be able to benefit as a result of the competition, as this will only help to improve the overall experience that is offered, whilst also potentially attracting newer viewers and fans, too!
According to multiple insiders, the announcement of leave of absence by Stephanie McMahon from WWE took many people by surprise, with only her close team knowing ahead of time what was about to happen.
McMahon, who announced yesterday she’s temporarily leaving effective immediately, is expected to return whenever she’s ready although there’s no time frame. Stephanie said she’s leaving to take care of her family. Several WWE Superstars replied to McMahon’s announcement, supporting her decision.
The news was also picked up by several mainstream news portals.
With McMahon out for now, WWE President Nick Khan will be taking most of her duties, although Stephanie will still keep doing some minor stuff. As Chief Brand Officer, McMahon is responsible for ensuring WWE’s global brand strength and growth across all lines of business.
In related news, Dave Meltzer of the Observer reports that her husband Triple H has returned to his office job full time, around six months after suffering a cardiac event. While WWE downplayed what happened at the time, Triple H later revealed in an interview that he had a brush with death and retired from in-ring competition for good.
Speaking to WrestlingInc.com, Starrcast creator Conrad Thompson said he was disappointed by the comments that Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat gave during a Highspots live broadcast regarding the Ric Flair’s Last Match event.
Steamboat said he was offered a spot in the match but decided to turn it down, saying that he has great respect for Flair in the ring but the two lead two completely different life outside of it.
“There’s no way for me to have that conversation with you and not be negative, or hurtful or rude and I am not going to comment on it because I think a lot of Mr. Steamboat and hold him in high regard,” Thompson said, adding that he knows what really happened and Steamboat knows too and he’s disappointed that he said what he said.
“But, that’s not the whole story and what the whole story is nobody’s business,” he continued.
Despite everything, Thompson said he still respects Steamboat and will always be a fan and that’s why he’s going to stay away from any “mudslinging situation.”
Thompson said that they’re still working on getting an opponent or opponents and they had several conversations and there’s a lot of hypotheticals but nothing has been confirmed yet.
There was a bit of a disappointment for AEW at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront this past Wednesday as the company had virtually zero presence.
Initially it was reported that AEW would have a “huge” presence at the important event but everything fizzled out and apart from one banner and a very short clip in a video highlighting the shows on the network, there was no other mention of AEW.
Warner Bros. Discovery also did not mention AEW at all in the press releases sent afterward.
AEW did not send anyone to the event either and the only wrestling personality in attendance was John Cena, who was there as part of the Peacemaker series on HBO. The banner displayed for AEW Dynamite featured Red Velvet and no one else.
David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is on a mission to slash costs by $3 billion and AEW will start negotiating a new deal with the network next year, with their current deal set to expire in 2024.
What this omission from the Upfronts mean for AEW remains to be seen, but on paper, it does not look good for the future.
Dynamite this week drew 922,000 viewers, the best number since April 20 and up 82,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. The show benefited from having no NBA Playoffs in the first hour, although it did face the NBA from 9PM to 10PM. In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite did the same 0.33 rating as last week and placed #7 on the top 50 cable chart. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
