Author: John Bass

IMPACT Preview 2/10/22

Less than two weeks away from No Surrender, don’t miss an all-new IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* No DQ Match: Brian Myers vs. W. Morrissey

* IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Mickie James vs. Chelsea Green

* Mike Bennett and Matt Taven w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Rich Swann and Rhino 

* Deonna Purrazzo may no longer be the Knockouts World Champion but as the reigning AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and ROH Women’s World Champion, “The Virtuosa” is still the only Knockout that can call herself “Champ Champ”. This Thursday, Purrazzo issues an open challenge to anyone, anywhere for a shot at either of her titles. Who will answer the call for this golden opportunity?

* The action begins Before the IMPACT, streaming this Thursday at 7:30pm ET exclusively on IMPACT Plus, YouTube and Facebook. The Knockouts take center stage this week as the hardcore Alisha Edwards battles the chilling Lady Frost in a singles clash! Plus, Gia Miller, Josh Mathews and George Iceman get you ready for all things IMPACT with a recap of the latest action, a new Iceman’s Intel and more.

Tony Khan Brought Jay White To AEW Dynamite To Make Up For “Forbidden Door” Botch

The AEW debut of top NJPW star Jay White was just put together on Sunday.

As noted, White made his AEW Dynamite debut last night during a backstage segment that saw The Young Bucks and Adam Cole attack Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero). After taking out Romero with a BTE Trigger, the trio went to finish off Beretta until Cole stopped and pointed out White as he approached. They backed off as White sent Beretta flying face-first into a production truck. White then walked away, stopping to nod at The Elite and compliment Matt Jackson on his earrings.

White was later referenced in another backstage segment with Cole and The Bucks. The brothers looked ahead to defeating RPG Vice on Rampage, and Cole said White can have their backs on Friday’s show. The Bucks pointed to how White was once enemies with the injured Kenny Omega, but once you take the oath to be in The Bullet Club, it’s for life.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491592268431691776

Khan took to Twitter after Dynamite and revealed that he didn’t secure White until Sunday. He brought White in because he botched his own definition of “The Forbidden Door” when first teasing a surprise for last night’s show. In his post-Dynamite tweet, Khan said he brought White to Dynamite because he heard the fan feedback and wanted to make sure Dynamite was special.

“I didn’t secure @JayWhiteNZ until Sunday. I realized after the fact that Friday night I butchered my own definition of Forbidden Door in hyping tonight. I heard the fans’ feedback, & wanted to ensure that tonight was a special #AEWDynamite for all. Thank you everyone who watched!” Khan explained.

White will also appear on AEW Rampage this Friday night, but it appears he has not been signed to a contract.

White is currently working a storyline in Impact Wrestling with bellow Bullet Club members Guerrillas of Destiny from NJPW, and Chris Bey from Impact. The February 19 No Surrender event will see White take on Eric Young in singles action, while G.O.D. challenge Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers. White has made a few appearances for Impact since last year due to their working relationship with NJPW.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shane McMahon Apparently Still Doing Work For WWE

It appears Shane McMahon is still actively involved in WWE operations in some capacity.

Earlier this week, Marco Masotti, the owner of South Africa’s Sharks rugby team, revealed via Twitter that he met with McMahon to discuss a partnership with WWE.

As seen below, Masotti tweeted a picture of himself with McMahon and Doug Cifu, the co-owner of NHL franchise Florida Panthers. He wrote:

So grateful for a night out with brothers Shane McMahon (son of WWE Vince) and Doug Cifu (co-owner of Florida Panthers). Excited for a partnership between WWE and rugby. ⁦

Masotti’s tweet was sent on Tuesday, which would indicate that he met with McMahon the previous night.

As widely reported, Shane McMahon received significant backstage heat for his involvement as a producer, writer and entrant in last month’s 30-Man Royal Rumble Match. A recent report mentioned how Shane made a pitch to enter the battle royal at #1, until Vince McMahon stepped in and scrapped a lot of his plans. Earlier reports also noted that McMahon had been pulled from all RAW, Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania 38 plans.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

New Japan’s Jay White Walks Through AEW’s Forbidden Door On Dynamite

Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White finally made his AEW debut on this week’s edition of Dynamite on TBS.

Leader of The Bullet Club, Jay White appeared on an AEW show for the first time during this week’s edition of Dynamite on TBS.

It all went down at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. White made his AEW debut during a backstage segment featuring a confrontation between The SuperKliq and Roppongi Vice.

Trent Barretta and Rocky Romero were backstage discussing their upcoming Rampage match, in which they will face The Young Bucks in tag team action. The Bucks then approached Romero and Barretta and attempted to goad them into a fight then and there. Before Roppongi Vice could do anything, the dup was jumped from behind Adam Cole. Nick and Matt Jackson hit a BTE Trigger on Romero … and then “Switchblade” Jay White appeared.

White picked grabbed the already dazed Trent and launched him into the side of the truck that had served as the backdrop for the segment. Cole looked at White approvingly while The Bucks looked slightly confused. Later in the show, Cole attempted to convince The Bucks that they can trust White.

Jay White is a 28-year-old wrestler from Aukland, New Zealand who began his career in 2013. He began training as a Young Lion in 2015 before moving to the US to work for Ring Of Honor in 2016. On 5 November 2017, White returned to NJPW as the mysterious “Switchblade” character at Power Struggle. Last year, there were rumors that WWE was close to signing White, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be heading to the Performance Center any time soon.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion — who is currently under contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling — has already walked through one forbidden door when he made his IMPACT Wrestling debut and confronted Kenny Omega at the company’s Slammiversary pay-per-view in July 2021.

White hasn’t wrestled in Japan since last May and is currently based in the US. He lost the NEVER Openweight title to legendary veteran Tomohiro Ishii at NJPW Battle In The Valley last November.

Source: TheSportster

Keith Lee Signs With AEW, Debuts On Dynamite

Former WWE Superstar Keith Lee made his AEW debut on last night’s edition of Dynamite.

BASK IN HIS GLORY! The rumors were true. Keith Lee is officially ALL ELITE!

The former WWE Superstar made his AEW Dynamite debut on the February 9 edition of Dynamite on TBS. It all went down at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Keith Lee was revealed as Isiah Kassidy’s mystery opponent in a Face Of The Revolution qualifying match just moments before the match began.

https://twitter.com/WrestlingSheet/status/1491590521478778880

The crowd went absolutely wild when Lee’s music hit, and kept that energy going throughout the entire bout, popping for every move and taunt. The match probably went on slightly longer than necessary, but it was obvious that Lee – who got married to fellow wrestler Mia Yim over the weekend — was having the time of his life. It was Lee’s first match since October of last year (when he defeated Cedric Alexander on Raw under the name “Bearcat” Lee) but he looked as good as ever as he tossed Kassidy all over the place.

The former NXT Champion was able to overcome interference from Kassidy’s Private Party partner Marq Quen to secure the win and book his spot in the Face Of The Revolution Ladder Match at Revolution next month.

After the match, AEW president Tony Khan took to social media to reveal that Keith Lee had officially signed an AEW contract.

https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1491591759159345153

Source: TheSportster

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/9/22

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS will take place from the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

AEW President Tony Khan is promising a major debut on tonight’s show. The newcomer will sign his AEW contract tonight, and then face Isaiah Kassidy in a qualifying match for the Face of The Revolution Ladder Match.

* Tony Khan will make a huge talent announcement. Who will walk through the forbidden door?

* First qualifying match for the Face of The Revolution Ladder Match at the AEW Revolution PPV with Khan’s new signing vs. Isaiah Kassidy

* MJF will speak on his win over CM Punk

* Chris Jericho has called an Inner Circle Team Meeting

* AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page defends against Lance Archer in a Texas Death Match

Tony Khan Says “Huge” AEW Signing Sets Up Friday’s Rampage

With only a day away from AEW Dynamite, speculation continues to grow over who the free agent walking through the Forbidden Door Tony Khan was referring to last Friday following AEW Rampage. In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Tony Khan provided some more details regarding the signing, calling it huge and saying it would set up this week’s episode of AEW Rampage.

“It’s a huge signing for us,” Khan said. “I have created some debate about what it means to open the ‘Forbidden Door’ and that’s what we are going to do on this show. The fans are going to get a great night of wrestling, and I hope everyone is surprised—and comes back for the matches this sets up.

“It’s going to be a big reveal on Dynamite. It sets up this week’s Rampage and puts a lot of irons in our fire. We have created an environment in AEW where people routinely expect great wrestling matches, and we have the wrestlers to live up to those high expectations.”

Following last Friday’s AEW Rampage, Tony Khan announced that Isiah Kassidy would wrestle a new free agent signing on AEW Dynamite to determine who would qualify for the Face of the Revolution ladder match taking place at AEW Revolution. He would later elaborate that the signing would be the same person who Khan earlier in the night said would be walking through the Forbidden Door, a term usually used for talents from New Japan working in AEW or vice versa.

Since then, several names on the free agent market, New Japan and even WWE have been rumored as being the potential signing. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported on Friday that free agent Keith Lee was either in talks or had already signed a deal with AEW, making him a potential candidate. Yesterday, AEW star Matt Hardy teased that Tony Khan had bought out the rest of Jeff Hardy’s 90 day noncompete clause, suggesting Hardy could be the surprise signee.

All questions will be answered tomorrow night on the next episode of AEW Dynamite. In addition to the signing, Hangman Page will defend the AEW World Championship against Lance Archer in a Texas Death Match and the Inner Circle will have a mandatory meeting to discuss recent dissension within the group.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 2/8/22

Tonight’s WWE NXT 2.0 episode will be the go-home show for next week’s Vengeance Day special.

NXT will air on Syfy for the next two weeks starting with tonight’s show. It’s believed that there will be limited commercial interruptions with more picture-in-picture commercial breaks.

Matt Hardy Teases Tony Khan May Have Bought Out Jeff Hardy’s WWE Contract

Since Friday night’s episode of AEW Rampage, speculation has run rampant about an upcoming announcement on AEW Dynamite that will see a brand new signee make their debut and challenge Isiah Kassidy in a Face of the Revolution Ladder match qualifier.

On his Monday Twitch stream, AEW star Matt Hardy talked about the big announcement and AEW President Tony Khan’s use of the term Forbidden Door when hyping it on social media.

“Tony Khan has been teasing a big announcement, and then he made the big announcement, that the Forbidden Door is going to be opening up again on Wednesday,” Hardy said. “Sometimes people think the Forbidden Door is when someone comes from another promotion into your promotion and they can go back in. And the way he referenced this is, somebody is going to walk through the forbidden door, which means they’re coming from another promotion, and they’re going to slam the Forbidden Door. This means they’re not going back to the other promotion. That’s what that means.

“Tony is one who coined this phrase ‘the Forbidden Door.’ And it opened up whenever the Good Brothers came over from Impact Wrestling and Kenny Omega was going over to Impact and he was coming back to AEW as well. And then there were some people who came in from New Japan Pro Wrestling. People came from NWA, Billy Corgan’s organization in AEW.

“That’s kind of what the Forbidden Door was, it was basically like ‘we can all work together because there’s a big company that’s kind of monopolized wrestling for a while. So let’s all work together and try and make all of our companies as exciting as possible.’ So now there’s a lot of speculation. ‘Is this Forbidden Door prospect that he’s talking about going to show up Wednesday night in Dynamite? Is he from WWE?’ And it sounds like it’s because they say they’re going to be slamming the door behind them. So that means they’re not going back to wherever they came from.”

One name that has been floated around as the potential new AEW star is Matt Hardy’s brother Jeff Hardy, who was released from WWE in December under controversial circumstances. At first Matt Hardy suggested that Jeff would not be the guy to wrestle Kassidy, who currently is aligned with Matt Hardy in the AHFO. He quickly however clarified that it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

“As far as an update on Jeff and what’s going on, I don’t think he’s the guy that’s coming in this Wednesday against Isiah Kassidy,” Hardy said. “Although who knows? Tony Khan, Papa Khan’s got a lot of money. Maybe he bought out his contract. And maybe it is happening early. Who knows?”

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Matt Hardy’s Twitch 

WWE Announcers Were Not Allowed To Say Impact Wrestling Or Knockouts During Royal Rumble

In case you haven’t heard, wrestling has a forbidden door and apparently, it’s wide open. AEW wrestlers are competing in New Japan, Impact stars are showing up in WWE, and pretty much everyone is appearing for GCW. The most shocking of all was that middle one. Mickie James returning to WWE for one night only even though she is currently the Impact Knockouts World Champion.

James made an appearance in the women’s Royal Rumble and even though she isn’t a WWE Superstar, she had quite a good showing. She was even allowed to wear her Knockouts Title to the ring. However, eagle-eyed fans might have noticed the bottom third referred to the championship as the Impact Women’s Title. Not what it’s called, and this was no accident.

During a recent episode of Fightful’s Grapsody, which you can check out below, Will Washington reveals a few of the words WWE’s announcers were not allowed to say when discussing James during the Rumble. The big one was the ability to say Impact, but not Impact Wrestling. Not a slight on the rival wrestling company, but rather the hang-up Vince McMahon has with the word wrestling. It’s sports entertainment.

The title being given an entirely different name is also linked to words WWE didn’t want said on the air. Knockouts was one, and world was another. Unclear what WWE’s problem is with the word knockouts. Perhaps it doesn’t want fans to think wrestlers might get legitimately knocked out. As for the word world, maybe since its own Women’s Titles don’t have the word world in them, McMahon feared fans would think the Knockouts Title would be thought of as better than by more casual fans.

The ban on those words for Royal Rumble also extended to the social media team. As for the announcers, dodging words and phrases McMahon doesn’t like being said on his TV shows is an almost untraversable minefield at this point. The longer the list gets, the more respect we should all have for Michael Cole. The man gets a lot of stick from fans, but to be doing that job as long as he has with McMahon constantly in his ear, he deserves more credit than he gets.

Source: TheSportster