Author: John Bass

Spoiler: Tony Khan Introduces Brand-New Championship At Recent ROH Taping

This past Saturday, after filming the latest “AEW Collision,” Tony Khan appeared during the standard Ring of Honor taping with an announcement. Khan unveiled a new championship for the promotion: the ROH Women’s Television Championship. It is the first new title introduced since Khan purchased ROH in early 2022, and now becomes the second women’s championship in the promotion. As of now, it’s not clear how the first champion will be decided. More information on the title will likely be revealed this coming Thursday on the next episode of “ROH on HonorClub.”

The announcement of the new title came just one day after the promotion’s latest major event, ROH Final Battle 2023. That show featured Athena defending the ROH Women’s World Championship against Billie Starkz in the main event, with Starkz re-joining Athena after failing to capture the title. Final Battle also saw the crowning of a new ROH Television Championship when Kyle Fletcher won the six-way Survival of the Fittest match on Friday. That title was previously vacated by Samoa Joe after a 574-day reign, with Joe now preparing to challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship.

In addition to Athena and Starkz, ROH’s women’s division currently includes Rachael Ellering, Leyla Hirsch, Taya Valkyrie, Trish Adora, and more. Having just lost her chance at the ROH Women’s World Title in a match many expected her to win, Starkz could very well set her sights on the new championship, but she’ll undoubtedly have many competitors standing in her way if she makes that decision.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Announces Charlotte Flair Will Be Out 9 Months

Charlotte Flair appeared to suffer a knee injury during her match against Asuka on Friday Night SmackDown last week, as she was spotted yelling “my knee” at Charles Robinson who was tending to her after the match. We’ve been waiting for any kind of diagnosis in the meantime and the first bit of official news to come out is not good.

Indeed, WWE announced during this week’s show that Flair did indeed suffer a knee injury on a spot coming off the ropes and she will have to miss nine months of action.

According to a report from Pwinsider, Flair suffered a torn ACL, a torn MCL and a torn meniscus after falling from the top rope. Additionally, it is believed that she suffered a strain to her neck. While the surgery has not taken place just yet, it is expected to happen in the near future.

The timing of this couldn’t be worse, considering we’re just before the holidays and WWE is gearing up for its biggest time of the year, the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania 40 push. Flair was undoubtedly going to be a major part of both.

Source: SB Nation

AEW Collision Preview 12/16/2023

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AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match:
Daniel Garcia vs. Eddie Kingston

AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match:
Bryan Danielson vs. Brody King

AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match:
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Andrade El Idolo

Updated AEW Continental Classic standings:

Gold League:
1. Jon Moxley (4-0-0, 12 pts)
2. Swerve Strickland (3-1-0, 9 pts)
3. Jay White (3-1-0, 9 pts)
4. Rush (2-2-0, 6 pts)
5. Mark Briscoe (0-4-0, 0 pts)
5. Jay Lethal (0-4-0, 0 pts)

Blue League:
1. Andrade El Idolo (3-0-0, 9 pts)
2. Brody King (2-1-0, 6 pts)
3. Bryan Danielson (2-1-0, 6 pts)
4. Claudio Castagnoli (1-2-0, 3 pts)
4. Eddie Kingston (1-2-0, 3 pts)
6. Daniel Garcia (0-3-0, 0 pts)

AEW Collision Winter Is Coming Preview 12/16/2023

Tonight’s AEW Collision Winter is Coming live on TNT from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.

  • AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy vs. Bryan Keith
  • AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match: Daniel Garcia vs. Eddie Kingston
  • AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Brody King
  • AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Andrade El Idolo

Injured WWE Star Liv Morgan Arrested For Drug Possession

Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Liv Morgan was arrested in Florida for drug possession after a traffic stop. According to PWInsider, the 29-year-old was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of drugs, possibly that of a synthetic cannabinoid, on Thursday evening. The injured star was arrested after a Sumter County sheriff’s deputy saw the Jeep she was driving cross over the white and yellow lines of the road. 

When the deputy approached Morgan’s vehicle, they smelled marijuana, according to the arrest report. According to PWInsider, a small plastic bag of marijuana and a vape pen that “held an oil-like substance” that later tested for marijuana were found in the vehicle. Morgan bonded out of jail and was released Thursday night around 10:00 p.m. WWE has yet to either comment to the outlet or release a statement.

According to a report from Fightful Select, there is no heat on Morgan within WWE following her arrest. It is worth mentioning that although marijuana is included in the Wellness Policy, WWE has not conducted tests for it in recent years.

A WWE staff member said, “Liv has not been on TV, did not alter creative plans, and was honest about the situation. There are no issues with her whatsoever.”

A top wrestler said, “Everybody liked Liv before, everybody still likes Liv. We’ll get our jokes off, and she’ll get hers off, and nobody will be thinking about it soon enough.”

Morgan has been out of action since suffering an injury on a July episode of “WWE Raw” that saw WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley attack her before their advertised match, an angle to write her off television. Morgan had just returned to the ring from a previous shoulder injury before suffering another, reportedly to her opposite side. The initial injury led Morgan and tag team partner Raquel Rodriguez to vacate the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.

Sources: Wrestling Inc. and eWn

AJ Styles Returns, Attacks Roman Reigns (But Also LA Knight) On WWE SmackDown

After LA Knight defied Randy Orton’s wishes, expressed near the beginning of Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown,” by coming down the ramp to thwart an attack from Solo Sikoa, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns took matters into his own hands, smashing Knight and hitting the ring to attack Orton.

AJ Styles Returns, Attacks Roman Reigns (But Also LA Knight) On WWE SmackDown
Christian Bertrand/Shutterstock
BY JON JORDAN/DEC. 15, 2023 10:41 PM EST
After LA Knight defied Randy Orton’s wishes, expressed near the beginning of Friday’s episode of “WWE SmackDown,” by coming down the ramp to thwart an attack from Solo Sikoa, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns took matters into his own hands, smashing Knight and hitting the ring to attack Orton.

And then AJ Styles’ music hit.

“The Phenomenal One” emerged through the WWE Universe, dressed all in black, and hit “The Tribal Chief” with a Phenomenal Forearm. But what looked to be a simple evening up of the numbers game — as well as Styles exacting revenge by association for Sikoa’s taking him out last we saw him — turned sideways when the leader of The OC turned his attention toward Knight, obliterating him with a clothesline. Styles then exited the ring and walked past the battered Bloodline, all of whom ogled him awkwardly as he went to the back without any further interaction.

Orton, who challenged Reigns earlier in the night for the Universal Championship, looked confused as most onlookers probably felt throughout these events and once Knight came to off the mat, he looked equal parts perplexed and livid while staring down the departing Styles. Though there’s no official answer as of yet to Orton’s challenge, it seems reasonable that an Orton/Reigns bout will take place at Royal Rumble and now possibly Knight and Styles as well.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Kenny Omega ‘Out Indefinitely’ With Diverticulitis

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported via X that Omega had been sick for the last week, even before his “AEW Collision” match with Ethan Page, and was hospitalized and diagnosed with diverticulitis following his promo segment on “AEW Dynamite.”

On Wednesday, Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho challenged AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks and Big Bill to a title match at the Worlds End PPV on December 30. On Friday, word came down from Omega himself that poured a jet of cold water on that idea.

Late Friday afternoon, Omega took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to announce that he is ‘out indefinitely.’ The post was accompanied by a picture of Omega in a hospital bed.

“I can’t really sugar coat this,” Omega wrote. “I’m out indefinitely. I tried to keep pushing past the pain for as long as I could until it became too much. Luckily doctors caught me when they did. I’ll be here so in the mean time, please enjoy wrestling!”

The nature of the injury, the timeline of when AEW learned about it, and any new plans for Jericho, Starks, and Bill heading toward Worlds End remains unclear. The injury comes after Omega spent November and December forming a successful tag team with Jericho as The Golden Jets, even defeating his old friends The Young Bucks at AEW Full Gear in a match for the latter team’s tag team title shot. Given that the Bucks haven’t been seen since and “Hangman” Adam Page was ambushed by the mysterious Devil figure and his minions at the end of Wednesday’s “AEW Dynamite,” All Elite Wrestling could be entirely without The Elite for a little while going forward.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

ROH Final Battle 12/15/2023 (Results)

  • Zero Hour: Taya Valkyrie (w/ Johnny TV) def. Jazmin Allure.
  • Zero Hour: The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd).
    • Kevin Von Erich joined his sons, Marshall & Ross, after their victory to celebrate.
  • Zero Hour – ROH World Television Championship Survival Of The Fittest Qualifier: Bryan Keith def. Jack Cartwheel.
  • Tony Khan appeared on the ramp to thank the fans for appearing on the show before announcing an impromptu match. It was revealed to be Daniel Garcia facing Blake Christian.
  • Zero Hour: Daniel Garcia def. Blake Christian.
  • Tony Khan was backstage, but he was interrupted by ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston. Kingston told Khan he wanted a match tonight, which led to Anthony Henry interrupting and saying that he would fight him. They agreed to a Proving Ground match for the main show.
  • AAA Mega Championship Mach: El Hijo Del Vikingo (c) def. Black Taurus.
  • ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship Match: Mogul Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona) (c) (w/ Prince Nana) def. TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste).
  • I Quit Match: Ethan Page def. Tony Nese (w/ Mark Sterling).
    • Mark Sterling tried to get involved, but he was taken out by Scorpio Sky before Page got Sterling and hit him with an Ego’s Edge.
  • Nyla Rose def. Vertvixen.
  • ROH World Television Championship – Survival Of The Fittest 6-Way: Kyle Fletcher def. Dalton Castle, Komander, Lee Johnson, Lee Moriarty & Bryan Keith to Become the new ROH World Television Champion.
  • ROH Pure Championship Match: Wheeler Yuta (c) def. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.
    • Jimmy Jacobs, Jerry Lynn & Christopher Daniels were the judges of the match.
    • Yuta hit a low blow on Lawlor after the match. He was going to continue to attack, but HOOK made the save. HOOK ran Yuta out of the ring as he checked on Lawlor, but Yuta got back in the ring and hit HOOK with a low blow to him too.
  • Keith Lee def. Shane Taylor.
  • Tony Schiavone interviewed Bryan Keith, who said that he was here to prove himself as a contender. AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy interrupted and challenged Keith to a match for the title on the 12/16 edition of AEW Collision.
  • Fight to Honor Jay Briscoe: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Mark Briscoe & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) ended in a No-Contest.
    • Mark Briscoe called out the referee for ending the match ending, leading him to demand an Anything Goes Match. Tony Khan officialized a Fight Without Honor to honor Jay Briscoe.
  • Fight Without Honor to Tribute Jay Briscoe: Mark Briscoe & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) def. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli).
  • ROH World Heavyweight Championship – Proving Ground Match: Eddie Kingston (c) def. Anthony Henry.
    • Daniel Garcia confronted Kingston on the ramp. They will face each other on the 12/16/2023 edition of AEW Collision.
  • ROH Women’s World Championship Match: Athena (c) def. Billie Starkz.
    • After a violent & bloody affair, Athena told Starkz that she wanted Starkz to be her minion. The two embraced and walked out of the arena reunited to end the broadcast.

Source: Fightful

AEW Rampage Preview 12/15/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT.

  • Orange Cassidy, Ross Von Erich & Marshall Von Erich vs. Jake Hager, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker 
  • The Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher) vs. Hunter Grey & Paul Titan. 
  • Anna Jay vs. Red Velvet 
  • Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti vs. Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander & El Hijo del Vikingo 

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/15/2023

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

  • Roman Reigns returns to handle tribal business
  • WWE United States Championship Tournament No. 1 First-Round Contenders Match: Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory
  • WWE United States Championship Tournament No. 1 First-Round Contenders Match: Grayson Waller vs. NXT Superstar Carmelo Hayes