Major Updates On FTR’s AEW Status, Contract Expiration Date & Future

While the wrestling world is currently in the grips of Vince McMahon and his return to power, it’s easy to forget that another big story is looming this year, the free agency of FTR. The duo have made it clear that their contracts with AEW are expiring this April, and no one, including themselves, knows what’s going to happen. Sadly though, it seems fans will be seeing a lot less of FTR in the meantime. In the latest episode of his podcast FTR with Dax, Dax Harwood revealed that he and Cash Wheeler will be taking some time to consider their next move.

“We have asked and been granted the next few months off of television, so we can sit back, reflect, let our bodies heal, and figure out what we are going to do for the next few years,” Harwood said. “Because whatever we decide to do next, will be the absolute last thing we do, as far as wrestling. I don’t see myself, after I’m done with whatever we’re going to decide next, in five years going on the independents. I don’t see myself working, in five years a Japan tour, or a Mexican tour, or traveling around the world and wrestling all over places.”

“That’s why these next few months are the most important few months for us. By April at least, at most, we will have an answer. But now, again, I have to take in my health, I have to take in my family, I have to take in my creativity, and I have to take in my personal life all into consideration, about what we’re going to do next.”

Dax Harwood went on to state that he wasn’t sure if FTR would be returning to AEW TV before their deals expired, and also admitted that a lot of things will factor into their decision, including the recent corporate turmoil going on in WWE.

“I’d be lying to you if I said no, it doesn’t at all. Of course it does,” Harwood said. “But also … If I feel like we aren’t being respected the way I think we should, and I mean as entities and characters, what we’ve done, what we’ve accomplished, and who we are, I will not hesitate to explore other options. Whether those other options are taking a year off and doing things we love, that could be it. Whether those options are being presented to me in other forms? There’s a lot of things I have to weigh.”

One thing Harwood can confirm is that a decision will only be made when he and partner Cash Wheeler are in absolute lockstep. The duo, who Harwood described as never having an argument or cross word with each other, will be sitting down to discuss things soon, including opportunities outside of the ring. “I’ll put this out there, we’re looking into buildings for a pro wrestling school as well,” Harwood said. “That’s one of our things we want to open up. We also have ideas for more real estate together, and also for a future coffee shop. So there’s a lot of things we’re going to be talking about for the next few months. But, at the top of the list, is our future.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Adam Cole Is Back Bay-Bay

Adam Cole is back bay-bay. On the January 11 “AEW Dynamite,” Cole made his surprising return after six months out of action due to a serious concussion sustained at the AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling event Forbidden Door. Cole came down to the ring after a brief introduction by Tony Schiavone and promised the audience good news and bad news.

Cole spoke about how much the outpouring of support from fans over the past few months has meant to him, and the passion it invigorated him with for wrestling. And then the bad news, as Cole put it, was for the AEW locker room. The news was that he is back and ready to compete.

Heading into the Forbidden Door pay-per-view in June, Cole was already working through a torn labrum. During the four-way match against “Hangman” Adam Page, Kazuchika Okada, and Jay White, Cole suffered a concussion that hastened the match’s finish. Since then Cole had been undergoing physical therapy for his arm injury as opposed to getting surgery.

The major factor that has kept Cole out as long as he’s been out has been the concussion. There was some fear that Cole may never compete again, stemming from speculation made on “Wrestling Observer Radio” in October.

After Forbidden Door, AEW CEO Tony Khan made clear that Cole would not be competing again until he was 100 percent. Before his injury, Cole had been heavily featured across AEW programming following his surprise debut at the All Out pay-per-view in September 2021.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 1/11/2023

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS, and emanate from the KIA Forum in Inglewood, CA, just outside of Los Angeles.

  • AEW World Trios Championship Match Best-Of-Seven Series (Esclara De La Muerte Ladder Match): Death Triangle (c) vs. The Elite – The series is tied at 3-3. If the Elite wins this final match, they will become the two-time AEW World Trios Champions.
  • Bryan Danielson vs Konosuke Takeshita
  • Hangman Page vs. Jon Moxley
  • AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Britt Baker vs. Saraya & Toni Storm
  • “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Hook (JungleHook) vs. Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
  • We will hear from the Jericho Appreciation Society

Tony Khan Says AEW Will Run Live Events

AEW has mostly only run television tapings, with the exception being a special live event, “The House Always Wins,” in April 2021. However, that looks to be changing. 

Tony Khan discussed the possibility of AEW diving into the live event business while speaking on In The Zone:

“That’s something we are talking about. We have a great live events team. It’s something we’ve talked a lot about and building out the live event business. There is definitely a lot of demand for AEW live events, and now we have this great big strong roster that wants to do these live events, so it’s something we’re going to do,” he said (H/T to Fightful).

Source: ewrestlingnews

AEW Dark Preview 1/11/2023

AEW Dark on AEW’s official YouTube channel later tonight at 7:00 pm EST.

ROH Women’s World Championship Match: Athena (c) vs. Marina Shafir
* Juice Robinson vs. Travis Williams
* Ruby Soho & Willow Nightingale vs. Emi Sakura and Diamante
* The Voros Twins vs. Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
* Ethan Page, Matt Hardy, & Isiah Kassidy vs. Judas Icarus, Sebastian Wolfe, & Caleb Teninty
* Teal Piper & Kel vs. Anna Jay A.S. & Tay Melo
* Steve Migs vs. Jake Hager

AEW Dark: Elevation Preview 1/9/2023

The latest episode of AEW’s latest weekly show, Dark: Elevation, is slated to air tonight at 7pm ET via the official AEW YouTube channel. 

ROH World Championship: Claudio Castagnoli (c) vs. Josh Woods
* Bandido vs. Christopher Daniels
* Athena vs. Viva Van
* Spanish Announce Project vs. Best Friends & Danhausen
* The Bollywood Boyz vs. The Kingdom
* Marina Shafir & Nyla Rose vs. Amira & Danika Della Rouge
* Eddie Kingston & Ortiz vs. Ricky Gibson & Eddie Pearl
* Ari Daivari, Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth vs. The House of Black
* Brian Cage vs. Schaff
* Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Vinny Pacifico
* Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy in action

Full Card Announced For The Great Muta’s Final Bye-Bye Event

The full card for The Great Muta’s Final Bye-Bye event presented by the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH has been announced.

Muta will wrestle in a six-man tag match and team up with AEW stars Sting & Darby Allin.

The event will take at the Yokohama Arena on Sunday, January 22, and air live on Abema TV. This will be Keiji Mutoh’s final match as The Great Muta. However, this is not going to be his final match as a pro wrestler. Mutoh’s actual final match will emanate from the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday, February 21.

-The Great Muta, Sting, and Darby Allin vs. Hakushi, AKIRA, and Naomichi Marufuji

-Kaito Kiyomiya, Hijo de Doctor Wagner Jr., Takashi Sugiura, and Satoshi Kojima vs. Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakamjima, Masakatsu Funaki, and Manabu Soya

-AMAKUSA, Ultimo Dragon, and Ninja Mack vs. YO-HEY, Kzy, and Dante Leon

-GHC Martial Arts Rules match: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Hideki Suzuki

-Jake Lee, Jack Morris, and Anthony Greene vs. Masa Kitamiya, Daiki Inaba, and Yoshiki Inamura

-Yoshinari Ogawa, Eita, and NOSAWA Rongai vs. Junta Miyawaki, Alejandro, and Yasutaka Yano

-Timothy Thatcher vs. Masaaki Mochizuki

-Jungle Kyona and Saori Anno vs. Sumire Natsume and Maya Yukihi

-Atsushi Kotogi and Seiki Yoshioka vs. Hajime Ohara and Hi69

AEW Rampage and Battle of the Belts Preview 1/6/2023

Tonight’s first AEW Rampage of 2023 will air live on TNT ay 10/9C, and emanate from the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Immediately following Rampage will be a special live Battle of the Belts V, from the same venue, airing on TNT.

Rampage:

  • Top Flight vs. Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson
  • AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Britt Baker vs. The Renegade Twins
  • Perro Peligroso vs. TBA
  • TNT Championship: Darby Allin (c) vs. Mike Bennett
  • The House of Black will speak

Battle Of The Belts:

  • AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Kip Sabian
  • AEW TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (c) Skye Blue
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship (No Holds Barred Match): The Acclaimed (c) Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal

Dustin Rhodes Announces The Passing Of His Mother

AEW star Dustin Rhodes announced the passing of his mother, Sandra Runnels, in a post on social media yesterday. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion added an image holding his mother’s hand alongside the heartbreaking news. The announcement came after the 53-year-old tragically disclosed on December 27, 2022, that his mom didn’t have long to live following an undisclosed health battle. 

Rhodes wrote on Twitter: “I am very sad to say that I lost my Momma today. She was an incredibly strong mother who was loving and resilient to her dying day. She taught me everything, and I am the man I am today because of her. I am so saddened but so happy she is no longer in pain. Rest in Heaven.”

Rhodes revealed in an extended Instagram post that his mother had been in pain over the last month, which was tough on him and his sisters, Kristin and Mandy. He thanked everyone who had sent prayers and wanted everyone to continue praying for his family during this challenging period. 

Many personalities in the wrestling industry have since added their condolences to Rhodes’ social media post. Undefeated AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill commented, “I’m so sorry Dustin. I’m praying for you and your family,” “WWE NXT” star Cora Jade wrote, “So sorry for your loss,” while WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry said, “Brother I’m so sorry! I grieve with you. I’m praying for you.” 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On Whether Mercedes Mone Is Really Going To AEW

Last night’s “AEW Dynamite” included a sit-down interview featuring Saraya, Toni Storm, and Hikaru Shida speaking with Renee Paquette. In the interview, Saraya stated that she had the best women’s wrestler in the world sitting next to her, and chose Storm as her partner for next week, much to the ire of Shida. For some, this put the question of whether or not Mercedes Moné will debut for the company next week to rest. That includes Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, who spoke on the “Wrestling Observer Radio” podcast about the issue.

“It was very clear on the show tonight, she is not in Los Angeles,” Meltzer said. “She’s not coming to AEW. I don’t think she wants to make that commitment, because if she goes to AEW it’s a long commitment.” Meltzer’s co-host, Bryan Alvarez, made it clear that he hasn’t been told anything, but he still believes Moné is a strong possibility for the January 11 show.

“I’ve heard denials from AEW people in the match,” Meltzer continued. “That’s why they had to announce somebody this week. Because they knew that it was really screwed, because everybody was thinking it was her, and it wasn’t her.”

Alvarez is not the only one who isn’t completely sold on things being exactly as they seem. Shida’s clear frustration at Saraya choosing Storm over her, along with the “Boss” reference from Dr. Britt Baker earlier in the show, has led some to believe Moné is still a possibility, or at the very least shenanigans will take place before next week’s match to change things up. Whatever the outcome, there’s no doubt plenty of eyes will be on AEW as the company heads to Los Angeles for the second time.

Source: Wrestling Inc.