Author: John Bass

Update On Future Of AEW Fight Forever

Earlier this year, the video game “AEW Fight Forever” was released to generally positive feedback. Since then, the developers have added some DLC content such as the “Stadium Stampede” mode, and there are reportedly plans in place to add more wrestlers to the game’s roster.

Fightful Select is reporting that some of AEW’s newest acquisitions have been scanned so that their digital avatars can be included in the game at a later date. It remains to be seen which wrestlers will be added to “AEW Fight Forever,” but names such as Adam Copeland and Kota Ibushi will surely show up eventually now that they’re All Elite.

The latest update about the game also suggests that “AEW Fight Forever” will remain the company’s sole title for the time being. Instead of making a sequel, it’s expected that the game’s creators will keep adding updates to the release.

Despite this, the game reportedly hasn’t been talked about much behind the scenes in recent times. While there was an internal push to promote the title following its release, conversations pertaining to “AEW Fight Forever” appear to have died down in the company’s management circles, as the report states that it’s hardly been mentioned backstage or at meetings.

The game has experienced some changes behind the scenes, too. AEW referee Aubrey Edwards, who works with the company’s gaming division, recently revealed that she’s no longer involved in the development of “AEW Fight Forever.” However, she is involved with the game in other capacities, including branding.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jerry “The King” Lawler Returns To The Ring As Guest Manager

WWE Hall of Famer and Memphis native and wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler recently appeared for the special Wildfire Wrestling event which took place last Friday before the Memphis Tigers’ game against Tulane.

SportsZone posted footage to their YouTube Channel with Lawler returning to the ring as a guest manager. Lawler’s son Kevin posted a video clip and photos on Facebook.

The 73-year old Lawler has recently started making public appearances again after he suffered a stroke suffering a stroke in February of this year.

WWE RAW Preview 10/16/2023

The season premiere of WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK.

  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther (c) vs. Bronson Reed
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Cody Rhodes and Jay Uso (c) vs. Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler
  • Ricochet vs Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Also on last Friday’s SmackDown, Triple H appointed Adam Pearce as the new General Manager of Raw. Tonight is Pearce’s first night in his new role.

Details On Why Vince McMahon Backed Away From WWE Creative Reportedly Revealed

The roles of Vince McMahon and Paul “Triple H” Levesque in WWE’s creative department appear to have changed. While the latter has been in charge of these duties for quite some time, McMahon is known for having a very hands-on approach when it comes to the company’s television product. However, a report from Sports Illustrated states that Levesque is in charge in the wake of WWE merging with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings following the completion of the Endeavor sale.

According to the report, Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, is behind the change as he believes that everyone in the company should focus on the jobs they’ve been assigned. McMahon is currently an executive chairman, and his main focus for now is to oversee media rights negotiations. As WWE’s Chief Content Officer, however, it’s Levesque’s role to spearhead the creative direction of “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown.”

What’s more, McMahon is said to have an iron-clad contract that protects him financially. However, there doesn’t appear to be any clauses in the agreement that give him license to run the company however he sees fit. Emanuel has the final say over all matters.

Previously, it was reported that McMahon was involved in WWE creative prior to his spinal surgery, which led to him making several changes to the shows. That being said, it’s believed that he stepped away from the role willingly to allow Levesque to steer the ship in that department.

As of this writing, McMahon is under investigation by the federal government, presumably in regard to the hush money payments he made to several women in the past. The outcome of the case remains to be seen.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

MLW Slaughterhouse 10/14/2023 (Results)

Chamber of Horrors Match: The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner and Matthew Justice) def. The Calling (Cannonball and Talon)

A video package promotes TJPW’s Miyu Yamashita and announces that she will be joining MLW.

Backstage, Salina de la Renta is with Rocky Romero, who talks about his forthcoming Title vs. Title battle against AKIRA.

1 Called Manders since the wheel and makes the deal for a Falls Count Anywhere encounter with Rickey Shane Page later tonight

MLW World Middleweight Championship vs. NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship: Rocky Romero (w/ Salina de la Renta) def. AKIRA (c) to become new MLW World Middleweight Champion

MLW National Openweight Championship Falls Count Anywhere Match: Rickey Shane Page (c) def. 1 Called Manders

This match took place over the course of several segments as they would leave the ringside area to go backstage, before eventually winding up in a ring truck, and then back out into the arena where RSP would get the victory.

Page and AKIRA argue after the match, and Page shoves AKIRA down. Page walks away by himself.

MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship: Janai Kai (w/ Salina de la Renta) def. Delmi Exo (c) to become  new MLW Featherweight Champion

Kai was revealed as the Phantom Challenger.

Minoru Suzuki def. Jacob Fatu

Fatu and Suzuki shake hands after the bout.

MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Alex Kane (c) def. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (w/ Mister Saint Laurent)

Matt Cardona confronts Alex Kane after the match. Kane says Cardona hasn’t proven himself in MLW yet. Cardona says he’s an ECW Original, so he should be the MLW World Heavyweight Champion in Philadelphia. Cardona says he wants to save MLW.

WWE & Randy Orton Reportedly Have Targeted Return Date

It’s been almost 17 months since fans saw Randy Orton in a WWE ring, but if the latest murmurs are true, “The Viper’s” extended absence is coming to an end. Fightful Select is reporting that Orton and WWE are circling Survivor Series, which takes place November 25 in Chicago, as the date for the former WWE Champion’s return. Fightful previously reported that Orton was seen at the WWE Performance Center in September.

Orton last wrestled on the episode of “WWE SmackDown” that took place on May 20, 2022. That was the night “SmackDown” Tag Team Champions Jimmy and Jey Uso defeated Orton and Matt Riddle for the “Raw” Tag Team Championship, resulting in the titles being unified (still the case as of this writing). Orton and Riddle were beaten down by The Bloodline after the match, which served to write Orton off television. If November 25 is truly his return date, “The Apex Predator” will be back exactly one year after it was reported that he had undergone back fusion surgery.

It’s difficult to overstate how much WWE has changed in the time Orton has been gone, a period that has included Vince McMahon’s retirement, Vince McMahon’s return, and the merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings under the broader umbrella of Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor. As a result, it’s unclear what role a returned Orton would play in the current landscape — even Riddle, his tag team partner for more than a year before his injury, was recently released from the company. But it’s worth noting that creative plans for Orton before he was put on the shelf reportedly involved an Undisputed WWE Universal Champion match with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2022, and Reigns’ title reign is, ironically, one of the few things that hasn’t changed in Orton’s absence.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW’s Adam Cole Underwent Ankle Surgery This Week

Adam Cole is recovering from a broken ankle he suffered during the AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam special.

He was injured while running to the ring during the World Title match between MJF and Samoa Joe. Cole jumped off the entrance ramp to the floor at ringside and began limping.

Cole has remained on AEW television doing segments with Roderick Strong at Strong’s home. Pwinsider is reporting that Cole underwent the first surgery on his broken ankle yesterday.

During a Twitch stream, Cole mentioned that he would need two surgeries, eight screws and a plate in his ankle.

Source: eWn

Kota Ibushi Confirms AEW Contract, Details How It Came Together

Japanese wrestling star Kota Ibushi has now wrestled three matches in All Elite Wrestling, starting with Blood & Guts in July, as well as a pair of six-man tags — one in August and the other earlier this month. During a conversation with Yumehito Imanari posted to YouTube (translation via WrestleZone), Ibushi revealed that he has signed a contract with AEW. The former NJPW star also opened up regarding some of the contract’s details.

“I’m based in Japan, and I will travel for the matches,” Ibushi said. “Basically, I’m in Japan. I work in Japan. I will be active. I’ll be free to do that too.”

Along with that, Ibushi confirmed that his AEW contract allows him to appear in other wrestling promotions, though it’s unclear if there are specific promotions detailed or if the agreement is open-ended. There was also one more stipulation Ibushi requested.

“[I asked to] reduce the number of matches a little bit more,” Ibushi continued. “Because if I go too many times, my activities in Japan will be limited. … When I said that, [AEW said] that is okay, too. It’s the best deal.”

After nearly a year and a half away from wrestling, Ibushi returned earlier this year, competing in a pair of matches for GCW during WWE WrestleMania weekend. Prior to Ibushi making his AEW debut in July, there had long been speculation regarding and anticipation for his appearance, as Ibushi’s friend and former tag team partner Kenny Omega is one of the foundational members of the AEW company’s roster. The two have since reunited their tag team, the Golden Lovers.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Reported Plans For Mercedes Mone When She Returns From Injury

Mercedes Mone has been out of action with an ankle injury since her match against Willow Nightingale at NJPW STRONG Resurgence in May. As she gets closer to her eventual return, it appears there are still plans for Mone in NJPW going forward.

Yesterday’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter states that, as many have expected, the promotion is planning to have Mone challenge Giulia for the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. That title was reportedly created with Mone in mind, and she was set to become the first winner. However, that ankle injury resulted in Mone making a call on the fly to have Nightingale win the title. Nightingale would go on to drop the championship to Giulia in early July.

It’s not yet known exactly when she’ll be ready to return, but Mone is believed to be approaching a full recovery from the ankle injury. The former WWE star had an eventful few months leading up to the injury, returning to the world of wrestling at the Tokyo Dome during NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January. Mone went on to feud against KAIRI, eventually winning the IWGP Women’s Championship against her. However, Mone would drop that title to Mayu Iwatani in April.

Before her injury, Mone was reportedly set to wrestle at AEW All In, providing some further explanation for her appearance in the crowd at the Wembley Stadium event in August. Because of that, it seems likely that Mone will make her way to AEW in some capacity once she is cleared by doctors, in addition to her NJPW dates.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Introduces Nick Aldis As New WWE SmackDown GM, Kevin Owens Traded From Raw

The season premiere of “WWE SmackDown” was always set to have an announcement from Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, but what we got was a triple-whammy, with Adam Pearce announced as the new General Manager of “Raw,” Kevin Owens as the trade chip returned to “SmackDown” in exchange for Jey Uso, and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis, introduced as the new GM of “Smackdown.”

After the appointment of Pearce, who Levesque acknowledged for doing a great job as the all-encompassing authority figure on both brands for the last several years and subsequently promoted to “Raw” GM, Levesque alluded to the “SmackDown” side of things. He was interrupted by “NXT” North American Champion — and The Judgment Day’s biggest heat magnet — Dominik Mysterio before calling Aldis into the ring.

Aldis, following a handshake agreement with Levesque, fought off Dom’s interjections and the ensuing crowd displeasure, to turn the conversation back to the completion of the Jey Uso trade. That’s when Owens’ music hit and “KO” made his way to the ring. Not showing any patience whatsoever, Owens immediately Stunned Dom, putting an end to the segment and seemingly kicking off a new era for both brands on the road to Survivor Series.

Source: Wrestling Inc.