Category: AEW

Moose To Replace Alex Shelley In The Impact Hard To Kill Six-Man Main Event

Impact Wrestling has announced a change to the main event for Saturday’s Hard To Kill pay-per-view.

TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose will be replacing Alex Shelley in the six-man main event.

The new main event will see Moose, Impact World Champion Rich Swann and Chris Sabin take on AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers.

Impact noted that Shelley informed them late last night that he is unable to travel to Nashville for the pay-per-view due to unavoidable circumstances.

“When we got the news from Alex there was no question what we needed to do,” said Impact Co-Vice President Scott D’Amore in a press release. “Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures – I personally contacted Moose and he accepted the match immediately. I know Rich Swann in particular has his issues with Moose. but this is time to put personal issues and egos aside.

“HARD TO KILL is a huge event for IMPACT Wrestling and a historic one for professional wrestling in general. IMPACT Wrestling needs to put our best foot forward. Moose fits that bill. He is a physical specimen, a five-tool athlete, and has proven himself to be a world-class professional wrestler. Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers will have their hands even more full now when they step into the ring with IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann, IMPACT Original Chris Sabin, and the TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose.”

The Impact Hard To Kill 2021 pay-per-view will take place this Saturday, January 16 from Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash (Night 2) Preview 1/13/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash (Night 2) episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* PAC vs. Eddie Kingston

* Miro vs. Chuck Taylor (If Chuck loses, then he has to be Miro’s “young boy” until after Kip and Penelope’s wedding)

* “The Waiting Room” with Britt Baker featuring Cody

* FTR (with Tully Blanchard) vs. Jurassic Express (with Luchasaurus)

* Darby Allin (c) vs. Brian Cage with Taz (AEW TNT Championship)

* Serena Deeb (c) vs. Tay Conti (NWA Women’s World Championship)

* The Elite in action

* What is Inner Circle’s New Year’s Resolution?

Don Callis Says There’s Nothing Left For Him To Do In New Japan

Don Callis has hinted that his association with New Japan Pro Wrestling may be at an end as there’s nothing left for him to do there.

Callis addressed his NJPW business dealings on Sitting Ringside with David Penzer.

“I see my business with New Japan as being done,” he said. “When I went into New Japan in 2017, they were on one level. When I booked Jericho vs. Omega at the Tokyo Dome, their entire business model changed. Their revenue went up exponentially. They’ve been riding the Don Callis effect ever since,” he continued,

Callis then suggested that his time with New Japan is probably at an end.

“There is nothing left for me to do in New Japan,” he claimed. “Anything I could do in New Japan now would pale in comparison to the game-changing nature that I did three years ago,” he said.

Despite hinting at the end of his relationship with NJPW, Callis did recently tease a program between AEW Champion Kenny Omega and IWGP Champ Kota Ibushi.

“In order for Kota Ibushi to truly evolve into the Kota Ibushi he can be, he Kota needs to get on an airplane and he needs to come from Japan and defend that title around the world like Kenny Omega does,” he told TalkSPORT’s Alex McCarthy.

As you may recall, the dastardly Don Callis recently took on the role of Omega’s manager. Callis also instigated a Bullet Club reunion on Dynamite.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Bullet Club Reunion In AEW – Will The Name Be Used In AEW?

Impact stars Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have made their All Elite Wrestling debuts and reunited with some former Bullet Club buddies.

It all went down on this week’s New Year’s Smash edition of Dynamite following the main event in which AEW World Champion Kenny Omega defeated Rey Fenix.

After the bell, Omega’s associate Don Callis got on the mic and declared Fenix’s career over. Omega was about to attack Fenix when Jon Moxley appeared to make the save. But Mox’s upper hand was short-lived.

Impact tag champs The Good Brothers then shocked everyone by making their AEW debuts and rescuing their old Bullet Club colleague. Omega, Gallows, and Anderson beat the hell out of Moxley for some time, until The Young Bucks appeared and pleaded for some decorum.

The show went off the air with all four former Bullet Club members participating in a four-way “Too Sweet” salute.

The question now is will they be able to use the Bullet Club name in AEW. Karl Anderson is a founding member of Bullet Club in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Bullet Club is still a group in NJPW.

The Good Brothers will be returning to NJPW at some point – Speaking to GameSpot’s Wrestle Buddies podcast the Good Brothers confirm that they will be returning to New Japan. In fact, there’s already a deal between the two sides to make it happen. “For sure. There’s a deal in place,” Anderson said. Gallows added, “Yeah, we’re going.”

The Bullet club name wasn’t mentioned during Wednesday Night’s episode of Dynamite. The Good Brother and Omega have mentioned the Bullet Club name on episodes of Impact. So it will be interesting to see if they will use/mention the Bullet Club name in AEW.

AEW Dynamite ‘New Year’s Smash’ Night 1 Preview 1/6/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash Night 1 episode airs on TNT at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Kenny Omega (c) w/ Don Callis vs. Rey Fenix w/ Penta El Zero Miedo (AEW World Championship)

* The return of Jon Moxley

* Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Abadon (AEW Women’s World Championship)

* AEW World Tag Team Champions Young Bucks and SCU vs. The Acclaimed and The Hybrid 2

* Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Sydal

* Jake Hager vs. Wardlow

* Sting appears

* Weigh In for next week’s Brian Cage vs. TNT Champion Darby Allin match

* Chris Jericho on commentary

* Special guest: Snoop Dogg

Chris Jericho Receives Inscribed official Stryper Platinum Album

Chris Jericho received his very own inscribed official Stryper Platinum Album for ‘To Hell with The Devil’ from Stryper frontman Michael Sweet.

Jericho wrote on Facebook:

“Thanks to Michael Sweet & @champagnesweet1 for my very own inscribed official Stryper platinum album for #ToHellWithTheDevil!!! What an honour to receive this from the band who I first saw live in Fargo, North Dakota in 1988. I even snuck into their meet and greet and grabbed a Bible…who knew that 32 years later I would receive this in the mail!!!”

Backstage Details On Brodie Lee’s Condition Before His Passing

Although Brodie Lee’s passing on Saturday was met with a lot of shock in the wrestling world, people in AEW were aware of the seriousness of his lung ailment, according to Dave Meltzer on The Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer noted that Lee’s condition was “one of those things that the few people who knew kept it quiet” even though a lot of people began questioning why The Exalted One had been off AEW TV for months. Lee was written off TV after his Dog Collar Match against Cody Rhodes during the Oct. 7 episode of AEW Dynamite. While Lee made a few appearances after that match, he never wrestled again as he was injured in storyline.

The Observer also pointed to how Brodie Lee Jr. defeating Kenny Omega to win the AEW World Championship last week [in a dark segment after AEW Dynamite tapings] hinted that “something was wrong” which led to Meltzer and others asking about Lee’s prolonged absence from AEW. The 8-year-old son of Lee jumped on Omega’s back and made the AEW World Champion tap out. Justin Roberts actually announced Brodie Lee Jr. as the new champion.

Lee had been suffering from his lung ailment “for a long time” and the condition worsened over a period of time, added Meltzer.

As noted, Lee’s wife Amanda took to Instagram and said her husband passed “after a hard fought battle with a non Covid related lung issue.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Star Jon Huber Aka Brodie Lee Has Passed Away

All Elite Wrestling star Brodie Lee (real name Jon Huber) has passed away at the age 41.

Huber’s death was confirmed on social media by AEW.

According to his wife, Huber’s death was caused by a “non Covid related lung issue”.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1343006487988342786

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

AEW President & CEO Tony Khan released the following statement on social media about Lee’s passing.

I’m devastated by the loss of Jon Huber, known to fans as Mr. Brodie Lee, formerly Luke Harper. Jon was a great man. His family came first, his loving wife Amanda & their sons Brodie + Nolan. He loved wrestling & was great at it, he loved you fans. Please keep him in your hearts.

https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1343020124895399936

WWE has released the following statement about Lee’s passing:

WWE is saddened to learn that Jon Huber, known to WWE fans as Luke Harper, passed away today at age 41.

Known as both Luke Harper and Brodie Lee in the ring, Huber found success in every stop of his sports-entertainment career, as his soft spoken yet imposing presence helped him create countless awe-inspiring moments in the ring. After a highly decorated run on the independent circuit, Harper debuted in NXT as a menacing enforcer for The Wyatt Family. Harper had a dominant tag team run with Rowan that would lay the groundwork for future championship success.

As a member of The Wyatt Family, he engaged in heated rivalries with the likes of Kane, Daniel Bryan, The Shield, John Cena and The Usos. After being set free from the family, Harper authored an impressive singles run that culminated with him defeating Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. Harper & Rowan later comprised The Bludgeon Brothers and embarked on a path of destruction that was highlighted by a SmackDown Tag Team Title victory in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 34.

WWE extends its condolences to Huber’s family, friends and fans.

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephaine McMahon also wrote a tribute to Brodie Lee on social media.

Backstage News On Plans For Crossover AEW – Impact Wrestling Match, Don Callis’ Future

This past Wednesday night, AEW presented a special edition of Dynamite titled “Winter Is Coming”. On top of the surprise debut of Sting, the show ended with Kenny Omega defeating Jon Moxley for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. Omega was assisted by current Impact executive Don Callis for the win. Following the bout, Callis announced that Omega would be headed to Impact this coming Tuesday to discuss the title win.

According to Wrestling Inc., the relationship between Impact and AEW is not currently scheduled to be that intertwined. From what we have heard, Omega’s appearance on Impact will be a one-off and was largely done as a favor from Omega for Don Callis, who is a good friend of Omega’s. Omega also requested that Don work as the commentator for his big title win over Moxley.

Tony Khan apparently liked the idea and signed off on it. Beyond Omega making a one-off appearance on Impact, it was also relayed to us that The Good Brothers will likely be coming to AEW for one match as well. Omega’s appearance on Impact this Tuesday will likely be used to setup the Brothers coming to AEW to take on a team that was not disclosed to us, however, the Young Bucks would seem likely.

Furthermore, we have heard that Don Callis’ contract with Impact Wrestling may be coming up next month. Once Callis is done with Impact, it sounds like he would move to AEW full-time to work as Omega’s on-screen manager.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW – Impact Wrestling Alliance Reportedly “In The Works For A While”

Impact Wrestling executive Don Callis helped Kenny Omega defeat Jon Moxley to capture the AEW World Championship during last night’s Winter is Coming edition of AEW Dynamite.

After the controversial finish, Callis announced that Omega would appear on next week’s episode of Impact Wrestling and explain his actions. With Omega set to appear on a different wrestling show, Impact and AEW stars have taken to social media and pondered the possibilities of inter-promotional rivalries.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, “the Callis thing has been in the works for a while” and he presumed that Callis was the person who pitched the idea to have Omega show up on Impact. In addition to appearing on Impact, Omega will also be doing an interview on next week’s episode of Dynamite.ADVERTISING

It is widely documented that Callis was the one who convinced Chris Jericho to wrestle Omega at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 12, a match which reportedly led to AEW President Tony Khan conceiving the idea for AEW. AEW and Impact could possibly use that history in the storyline and Meltzer noted that the two promotions “are going to be working together to a degree” although full details of their partnership are unclear.

It was noted that Impact Wrestling showing a match between Young Bucks and Motor City Machine Guns during this week’s episode “was more than just a coincidence” even though Impact regularly airs old matches.

Omega will travel to Mexico soon to defend his AAA Mega Championship against Laredo Kid at Triplemania XXVIII on December 12. AEW already has a partnership with NWA which allows Thunder Rosa to wrestle for AEW and Serena Deeb to hold the NWA Women’s World Title. Similarly, Meltzer said it would not be surprising if Impact’s biggest stars show up on Dynamite soon.

Meltzer said that AEW President Tony Khan’s recent tweets about “a shift in wrestling’s balance of power” were meant to be about the events that transpired on Dynamite last night — from the debut of Sting to the alliance between AEW and Impact.

It was noted that it appears as if Callis will be Omega’s manager going forward and the angle could be similar to Bobby Heenan managing former AWA Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel in the 1970s. Bockwinkel was involved in the first-ever AWA versus WWWF World Title Unification match, wrestling WWWF Champion Bob Backlund, to a double count-out in March 1979. After dropping the title to Verne Gagne, Bockwinkel was handed back the AWA Championship when Gagne retired in 1981. This led to Bockwinkel becoming one of wrestling’s biggest heels. Callis even tweeted out a photo of Heenan and Bockwinkle on Thursday morning, as seen below:

Source: Wrestling Inc.