Category: AEW

Nick Gage Debuts At AEW Fyter Fest, Announced As Chris Jericho’s Second Labour Opponent (No DQ Match)

MJF introduced AEW fans to Nick Gage at Fyter Fest, revealing he will face Chris Jericho in a No DQ match next week.

Nick Gage appeared at Fyter Fest on Wednesday night as MJF revealed he will face Chris Jericho in a No DQ match next week.

Both nights of AEW’s Fyter Fest were loaded, and night two kicked off with the first of five labours of Chris Jericho. Jericho needs to make it through all five if he wants to face MJF again. The first was a match against Shawn Spears in which Spears was allowed to use a steel chair, but Jericho could not.

Le Champion won the match with MJF watching on from the announce desk. Not impressed with the helping hand Jericho got from Sammy Guevara, the holder of the Dynamite Diamond Ring went ahead and announced Jericho’s second labour. A no disqualification match against someone who also doesn’t mind breaking the rules. A man who has stabbed one of his opponents and legitimately robbed a bank.

If you haven’t already figured out who MJF had waiting in the wings, it was deathmatch legend, Nick Gage. Gage then joined MJF on the stage, brandishing a pizza cutter and using it to signify what he plans on doing to Jericho next week. The match was described as No DQ, but it will be interesting to see how close to a deathmatch it can become on network television.

Gage has been wrestling for years but discovered newfound fame recently after he was the subject of an episode of Dark Side of the Ring. The show detailed his path to becoming one of the most famous deathmatch wrestlers of all time. He was legitimately killed in a match and brought back to life, robbed a bank, and sliced David Arquette’s neck, something else that really landed Gage on the radar.

It’s unclear right now what sort of deal Gage has with AEW if he does indeed have a deal at all. He might wrestle the one match with Jericho and be done. There is one other very obvious match waiting for him in AEW right now, however. A match against former deathmatch wrestler Jon Moxley who has shown up in GCW a couple of times and attacked Gage. Matt Cardona could return to AEW for a match with Gage too as he seems pretty peeved that he ducked their showdown recently but is working with AEW.

Source: The Sportster

Bullet Club Member Hikuleo Appears At AEW Fyter Fest Night Two

NJPW star and Bullet Club member Hikuleo made a suprise appearance during night two of AEW Fyter Fest and laid down a championship challenge for Fight For The Fallen!

During Orange Cassidy’s clash with The Blade, New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Hikuleo appeared at ringside to take in the action. Later, the 30-year-old was shown at ringside donning a Bullet Club t-shirt with commentary noting he had particular interest in the IWGP United States Heavyweight title showdown between Jon Moxley and Lance Archer.

After a brutal and bloody Texas Deathmatch in the show’s main event, Archer regained the gold from the man he’d lost it to a year and a half earlier before being confronted by the Bullet Club member. The two stared down to close the show and it was later made official that Hikuleo will be Archer’s first challenger next week at Fight For The Fallen, the former’s AEW in-ring debut!

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1418010010014130178
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1418029036006264835

Despite making his pro wrestling debut in November 2016, the 6 foot 8 star quickly made an impression across the world. Immediately joining his fellow Fifita family members Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa in Bullet Club, Hikuleo faced off against some of the biggest stars in NJPW before leaving on excursion for UK promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling. (They are the sons of Haku)

Most recently appearing on NJPW Strong, he’s picked up wins over the likes of Brody King, TJP and Fred Rosser and most notably made it to the semi-finals of the New Japan Cup USA 2021 before falling to eventual winner Tom Lawlor.

Source: Inside The Ropes

Chavo Guerrero Jr. Makes AEW Debut at Fyter Fest Night Two

Chavo Guerrero Jr. is All Elite, making his AEW debut during night two of Fyter Fest. Last night’s special episode of Dynamite saw Guerrero announced as the advisor to Andrade El Idolo. Guerrero appeared and said that while he’s excited to be part of AEW and praised the talent, none of them were on El Idolo’s level. That brought out PAC and Death Triangle, and Guerrero tried to recruit Penta and Fenix to no avail.

Guerrero returned to the ring in April at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 6, defeating Rocky Romero. He was last seen at Impact Wrestling in September of 2019 and has been working in Hollywood for the last few years, working on shows like Young Rock and GLOW.

Source: 411Mania

AEW Fyter Fest Night Two Preview 7/21/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest (Night Two) episode airs on TNT from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.

* Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta

* Frankie Kazarian vs. Impact World Tag Team Champion Doc Gallows

* The Blade vs. Orange Cassidy

* Five Labours of Jericho, Chapter 1: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Spears (Only Spears can use a steel chair)

* Britt Baker (c) vs. Nyla Rose (AEW Women’s World Championship)

* Jon Moxley (c) vs. Lance Archer (Texas Deathmatch for the IWGP US Championship)

AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest Night One Preview 7/14/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest (Night One) episode airs on TNT from the HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas.

* Brian Cage (c) vs. Ricky Starks (FTW Championship)

* Ethan Page vs. Darby Allin (Coffin Match)

* Matt Hardy vs. Christian Cage

* Penelope Ford vs. Yuka Sakazaki

* Hangman Page to speak

* Jon Moxley (c) vs. Karl Anderson (IWGP US Championship)

* Sammy Guevara vs. Wheeler Yuta

Malakai Black (Aleister Black) Debuts On AEW Dynamite, Attacks Cody Rhodes

Malakai Black ( fka Aleister Black) made his debut on Wednesday night during AEW Dynamite. He attacked Cody Rhodes to a massive reaction.

Aleister Black has made his decision… he’s officially going All Elite. No longer known as Aleister Black, he’s not even going by the name Tommy End –which we all thought was a moniker he would take after his WWE release. Instead, Black debuted on AEW Dynamite as Malakai Black.

The live crowd there to watch his AEW debut were in shock, but also extremely vocal, blaring their enthusiasm for a signing that most fans universally seem to think is a fantastic move by Tony Khan. The President of AEW hinted he had other things up his sleeve. Apparently, this was one of them.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1412944130813083650

As often happens in AEW, a new arrival made his debut by attacking Cody Rhodes. Make of that what you will, Black’s arrival seems to have caught a number of fans off guard. There was a lot of chatter about where Black might go. AEW was certainly among the possible destinations. But, after news that his wife Zelina Vega signed a multi-year contract with WWE, some thought that might be the opening to bring Black back into the WWE fold. He had other plans.

Interestingly, this might be a case where Black was released from his 90-day non-compete clause early. Based on when he was let go, he shouldn’t have debuted so soon.

Black teased earlier on Wednesday that something might be coming. He released a vignette in which he said, “My name isn’t Tom. My name is Malakai.” Obviously, that’s the name he’s now going by in AEW.

Outside of the fans in attendance being stoked for Black’s debut, social media was quick to voice their excitement, many saying this is exactly the right spot for Black who will be used properly and could become a massive star. We can only hope this turns out to be the case.

Black didn’t necessarily get a fair shake in WWE and he’s got an extremely creative mind and passion for the business. It appears AEW is going to try and tap into that and they’ve put him up against one of their biggest names right out of the gate.

Source: The Sportster

AEW Dynamite Road Rager Preview 7/7/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Road Rager episode airs on TNT at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.

* QT Marshall vs. Cody Rhodes (South Beach Strap Match)

* MJF to announce stipulations for Chris Jericho to get through to have a match with MJF. If they have a match and Jericho loses — he has to leave MJF alone forever.

* Andrade El Idolo vs. Matt Sydal

* The Young Bucks (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo and Eddie Kingston (Street Fight for the AEW World Tag Team Championship)

* Jake Hager, Santana, and Ortiz with Konnan vs. Wardlow and FTR with Tully Blanchard

* Kris Statlander and Orange Cassidy vs. The Bunny and The Blade

* Ethan Page and Darby Allin have a sit-down interview with Jim Ross

Update On Kenny Omega’s Injuries

Last month a report came out about AEW World Champion, Impact World Champion, and AAA Mega Champion Kenny Omega “hurting pretty badly” from a couple different injuries.

Omega was said to be dealing with an athletic hernia, a deep bone bruise near his tailbone, and general wear/tear on his knees. He was also coming off a stomach virus, and a sliced hand that required seven stitches. Omega himself said at the AEW Double or Nothing Fan Fest that there were days he considered retiring from wrestling, but the crowd always made him feel better while performing.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was reported the champion has been doing better — as seen in his title match victory against Jungle Boy on last Saturday’s Dynamite.

The biggest issue had been his athletic hernia, but stem cell treatment and PRP (Platelet-rich plasma) therapy have helped make “a world of difference.”

Omega has some big defenses lined up, beginning on July 17 at Impact Slammiversary against Sami Callihan. He’ll also be heading to Mexico City, Mexico on August 14 at AAA TripleMania XXIV to defend the AAA Mega Championship against Andrade.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Paul Wight Responds To Shaq’s Challenge For AEW Match

A match between NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and Paul Wight [fka The Big Show] has been rumored for years. But aside from a brief encounter during the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, the two giants have never truly locked horns inside the squared circle.

As reported earlier, Shaq told PopCulture.com in a recent interview that his match with Wight could happen “really, really soon” in AEW

“I hear Paul Wight is still talking trash,” O’Neal said. “So I’m going to work out really hard this summer and maybe we can do something really, really soon.”

Shaq added that nothing would prevent the match from happening this time around.

“There shouldn’t be any problems for us getting together now,” O’Neal said of his potential match with Wight. “Last time there was a lot of bureaucracy and red tape. Now there is no red tape. I’m still kind of sore from that table so I’m going to work out during the summer, pump these muscles up and I’ll be waiting for you, Mr. Paul.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rebel Dislocates Her Knee On AEW Dynamite

Rebel dislocated her knee on Wednesday night while competing in a tag match alongside Britt Baker.

Rebel dislocated her knee towards the end of a match on Dynamite this week, forcing her to watch on from the sidelines as her partner picked up the win.

It’s shaping up to be a bad week for freak injuries in women’s wrestling. Tuesday night on NXT, a stiff roundhouse kick to the head appeared to knock out Mercedes Martinez and resulted in the match coming to a premature end. 24 hours later, Rebel suffered a knee injury that meant she couldn’t finish her match on Dynamite.

Unlike Martinez, Rebel was competing in a tag team match. That meant her partner Britt Baker could take the reigns and finish the match by herself. The AEW Women’s Champion even managed to win, beating Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero by forcing the latter to submit to her finisher, the Lockjaw. It might stop Guerrero from screaming excuse me for a week or two as well.

As for Rebel, AEW officials tended to her at ringside before she was helped to the back. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp provided updates on her condition, revealing that Rebel was in good spirits backstage despite dislocating her left knee. A pretty painful injury by all accounts but it sounds like Rebel handled it like a trooper.

https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1410450506124869640

As for how long the injury will keep Rebel on the sidelines, that is yet to be revealed. Dislocations can be simple or they can be tricky. If the incident did no additional damage then it might have been as simple as popping it back in, although that would have likely been incredibly painful. However, it may have damaged ligaments or otherwise which could mean Rebel is out of the ring and maybe even off TV for a while.

Source: The Sportster