Category: AEW

Backstage Report Details Reactions To AEW All In Footage Being Aired

Wednesday night’s “AEW Dynamite” featured the controversial decision to air real security footage from the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry at last year’s AEW All In pay-per-view. Now that the dust has settled, a new report from Fightful Select provides some insight into the reaction to the video from within AEW and WWE.

The response from industry insiders regarding the footage was referred to as “tepid,” with the attitude backstage in AEW reportedly deflating following the segment. However, it’s said that was largely due to the knowledge of the inevitable online backlash rather than offense over what was shown. Some AEW performers expressed their opinion that the TV time devoted to the Punk-Perry drama could have been better utilized by someone else, but the segment was intended to promote the upcoming rematch between the Young Bucks and FTR.

Matt and Nick Jackson introduced the clip onscreen and were said to have been fine with the segment; as was FTR, who are friends with Punk and responded to the clip with a promo of their own. As for the idea behind playing the footage, it was said to have come from AEW CEO Tony Khan following Punk’s interview with Ariel Helwani last week.

Inside WWE, the decision to air the footage was referred to by some as a “self-own,” while others informed the outlet that they simply didn’t care about the development. It was stated that Punk isn’t receiving any kind of blowback from the video internally, and people inside the company are more concerned with recovering from the hectic week surrounding WWE WrestleMania 40. One source who has spent time in both WWE and AEW downplayed the segment’s controversy, stating that it was the same kind of promotional ploy used by WWE and WCW during the Monday Night Wars.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW’s Hook Reportedly Considering Free Agency

Hook, the current AEW FTW Champion and considered one of the most promising young stars in AEW, is reportedly considering his options as he becomes a free agent later this year.

“SEScoops” has reported that the AEW star may not necessarily re-sign with AEW, while a source close to WWE reportedly claimed that the TKO-owned promotion may be interested in signing the 24-year-old. Hook won’t be the first person to leave Tony Khan’s company and join the juggernaut that is the WWE if it happens as the likes of CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Cody Rhodes, and Andrade joining the company in recent years. AEW, too, has signed some big-name stars in recent months, with the likes of Mercedes Mone, Will Ospreay, and Kazuchika Okada joining the roster. 

Hook joined his father and former WWE star Taz in AEW in 2020, debuting as part of Team Taz. He quickly rose through the ranks, and even got a fun catchphrase, “Send Hook,” which the internet wrestling community lapped up. The youngster, who is touted to be a big star in the pro wrestling industry, is currently in his second reign as the FTW Championship having won it from Jack Perry at All In last year. 

In his short career in AEW, Hook has shown that he can mix it up with the best, even earning a shot at the AEW World Champion Samoa Joe earlier this year, though he lost valiantly. He has also teamed with WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam on a few occasions and is currently teaming with Chris Jericho.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/10/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS and emanate from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia.

  • AEW World Championship Eliminator Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes
  • TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
  • Mariah May vs. Anna Jay
  • Chris Jericho, HOOK, & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Shane Taylor, & Lee Moriarty)
  • Matthew & Nicholas Jackson will reveal backstage footage from AEW All In at Wembley Stadium
  • Toni Storm to toast Thunder Rosa
  • Mercedes Mone expected to appear

AEW Rampage Preview 4/5/2024

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT.

  • Malakai Black vs. Christopher Daniels 
  • AEW International Champion Roderick Strong vs. London Lightning
  • Serena Deeb vs. Trish Adora 
  • Daniel Garcia vs. Bryan Keith vs. Komander vs. Action Andretti in an Elimination match

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/3/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

  • Will Ospreay vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
  • AEW Women’s Title Eliminator: Thunder Rosa vs. Mariah May
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal: Young Bucks vs. Best Friends
  • Billy Gunn vs. Jay White
  • Contract Signing for AEW World Title Match at Dynasty with Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland
  • Chris Jericho calls out Hook

AEW’s Matt Hardy Offers Health Update For Brother Jeff

The beginning of 2024 seemed like a clean slate for former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy in AEW. After a stop/start career up until the end of 2023, matches with the likes of Darby Allin, Swerve Strickland, and Jon Moxley might not have gotten “The Charismatic Enigma” out of the loss column, but he seemed to be hitting on something of a career resurgence. Then he faced Sammy Guevara on an episode of “AEW Rampage,” which resulted in Hardy sustaining a broken nose, keeping him out of action for a number of weeks.

Speaking with WrestleZone, Jeff’s brother Matt Hardy was asked about Jeff’s health, and when AEW fans could expect to see him back in the ring, to which Matt said that he’s not far from a return. “His vision issues are good,” Hardy said. “He had to have surgery on his nose, he had some issues with his sinuses so he had surgery. I got three or four more weeks before he will be cleared to return.” Guevara was suspended from AEW following the match, as he did not follow concussion protocol, with doctors wanting him to go to the finish of his match with Hardy to check if Hardy had a serious head injury. Instead, Guevara hit his GTH finishing move (a knee to the head), resulting in his suspension.

Jeff joined his brother in AEW in March 2022 after walking out of a WWE house show in late 2021, but after a promising start that included a victory over The Young Bucks at Double or Nothing 2022, Jeff was suspended from AEW indefinitely following his DUI arrest in June 2022. He returned in March 2023, and will be hoping to keep his run of momentum going when he returns from injury in the near future.

Sources: Wrestling Inc. and WrestleZone

AEW’s Ortiz Slated To Undergo Surgery

During his appearance on Isiah Kassidy’s vlog, Ortiz disclosed that he is currently dealing with a torn pec.

At the time of filming, he mentioned that he is scheduled to undergo surgery in two weeks and anticipates being sidelined for four months.

Ortiz last wrestled on the January 20th episode of AEW Collision.

Source: eWn

Ricky Starks Provides Health Update Following AEW Collision Injury Scare

The March 30 episode of “AEW Collision” featured a reported change to Ricky Starks and Big Bill’s tag team match after the former appeared to suffer an injury. However, “Absolute” has since taken to his Instagram stories and revealed that it’s nothing to worry about. “I’m all good; everything checked out fine. Was being precautions,” he wrote.

The moment occurred when Starks didn’t kick out of a pinfall attempt that wasn’t supposed to be a three-count. This prompted the referee to stop counting, and the star was subsequently DDT’d and pinned by Darius Martin to finish the match. Worse yet, Starks and Bill were reportedly scheduled to win the match, and this loss means that they are now out of the AEW World Tag Team Tournament.

The match in question was Starks and Bill’s first on-screen appearance since they lost the AEW World Tag Titles to Darby Allin and Sting in February. Now that Starks is okay, however, it remains to be seen how he and Bill will be booked moving forward. New champs will be crowned at the upcoming AEW Dynasty pay-per-view, and Top Flight and FTR have already cemented their places in the semi-finals.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Collision Preview 3/30/2024

AEW Collision live on TNT from the Budweiser Gardens in London,  Ontario, CA.

  • Adam Copeland TNT Championship Open Challenge
  • Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Katsuyori Shibata vs. The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch) & Lance Archer
  • AEW Tag Team title tournament quarterfinal: Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) vs. Ricky Starks & Big Bill
  • AEW Tag Team title tournament quarterfinal: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) 
  • Kyle O’Reilly in action

AEW Rampage Preview 3/29/2024

Lineup for tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT.

  • AEW International Title Eliminator Match: Roderick Strong (c) vs. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard
  • Mariah May vs. Nikita
  • Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rose
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. The Butcher