Category: AEW

AEW Dynamite Homecoming Preview 1/10/2024

AEW Dynamite Homecoming will air live tonight on TBS from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

  • 8-Man Tag Team Match in recognition of Brodie Lee: Lance Archer, Brian Cage, and The Gates of Agony vs. Orange Cassidy, Dustin Rhodes, Adam Copeland, and Preston Vance
  • 8-Woman Tag Team Match in recognition of Brodie Lee: Kris Statlander, Thunder Rosa, Willow Nightingale, and Anna Jay vs. Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Saraya, and Ruby Soho
  • Texas Tornado Match: Sting and Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs
  • Samoa Joe will speak
  • Ricky Starks vs. Sammy Guevara
  • Claudio Castagnoli vs. Hangman Page

AEW CEO Tony Khan Blasts WWE Raw Angle In Heated Social Media Posts, Talent Respond

AEW President Tony Khan has often said that he is a wrestling fan first and foremost, and that he approaches wrestling from a fan’s perspective. Khan’s focus on win-loss records apparently isn’t limited to All Elite Wrestling, as Khan has been keeping tabs on the wins and losses of WWE stars as well — including that of former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, who will wrestle Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship on next week’s “WWE Raw.”

“A double standard,” an impassioned Khan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “[Hook] 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage. Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage?”

https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1744835296007483750

Not satisfied with just one outburst, Khan then took his war against Mahal to USA Network directly.

“A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it’s been literally a full year since he won a match,” Khan wrote, quote-tweeting a post from the night before in which the USA Network’s official account made a joke about Cagematch, Khan’s oft-cited source for the quality of his programming. “You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often.”

https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1744835475901227380

Khan’s tweets didn’t go unnoticed. WWE broadcaster Corey Graves was quick to tweet in support of Jinder, much to the delight of WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray. Former AEW World Tag Team Champion Dax Harwood seemingly fired back to Graves’s tweet by sending a similar message, but in support of Hook. Meanwhile, Mahal himself took to Twitter to ask simply, “Who tf is Hook?”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

AEW President adding Eric Bischoff to the list of his victims.

The Khan/Bischoff feud started when “Eazy E” took to his Twitter account to call Tony Khan a “clown” for his tweet comparing HOOK and Mahal’s recent attempts to get their respective companies’ World Title shots. Khan wound up posting a GIF that reads, “Get out of my sight, you miserable has-been!”

https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1744843056711413829
https://twitter.com/EBischoff/status/1744864616231170299
https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1744866676347126034

Andrade El Idolo Pulled From Indie Event As Rumors Of WWE Return Continue

Rumors continue to swirl regarding Andrade El Idolo potentially returning to WWE, and they will intensify with the news he has now been pulled from this Friday’s GCW event. GCW released a statement on X to confirm it, stating, “Due to circumstances out of control, ANDRADE and MAKI ITOH will be unable to compete on Friday’s event in Chicago.” GCW revealed they have replacements for both wrestlers, with Masha Slamovich and Lio Rush set to step in, however, the news will certainly get people talking about the future of the former AEW star. El Idolo’s final match for AEW took place at Worlds End 2023, which saw him lose to Miro, and both he and Tony Khan confirmed that they would be parting ways after that point.

Ever since, there has been speculation that the former “WWE NXT” Champion is going to be returning to his former company, WWE — where his wife, Charlotte Flair also works. Of course, nothing is official regarding El Idolo and WWE, but people within the company are expecting him back at some stage. Wrestlers being pulled from independent dates has been a sign in the past that a wrestler is heading to WWE because, unlike AEW, the company doesn’t tend to allow its roster members to work for other promotions.

El Idolo is not under a non-compete clause, which means he is technically free to appear on WWE television at any point, should he sign with the company. He last worked for WWE in 2021 after spending seven years with them, and he does have a positive history working under the creative leadership of Triple H, who of course is now in charge of that department for WWE’s main roster.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Boss Tony Khan Addresses WWE/WBD Rumors

Rumors have circulated about the possibility of WWE moving “WWE Raw” from The USA Network to a Warner Bros Discovery channel, possibly TBS or TNT, which would put them in conflict with WBD’s current wrestling product, All Elite Wrestling. As a major year for media rights negotiations, in wrestling and beyond, AEW President Tony Khan is seemingly unfazed by the rumors.

“It’s part of sports. Everybody discusses contracts and free agency and things of that nature,” Khan told “Going Ringside” on News4JAX. “I think everybody’s aware that everybody’s gonna be talking to everybody in the media this coming year. So they’ll certainly be a lot of opportunities. We have a great history with Warner Bros. Discovery and continue to produce great ratings so we should be in a very good position next year.”

WBD’s negotiations with both WWE and AEW are likely hamstrung by the media conglomerate’s current negotiations with the National Basketball Association, as NBA programming has been the central pillar of the Turner Networks programming and the amount of money offered to either promotion would likely be affected by whether or not WBD retains the Basketball league. AEW has been with WBD since the beginning of the wrestling promotion, which premiered “AEW Dynamite” on WBD networks in 2019, soon adding “AEW Collision,” “AEW Rampage,” and quarterly “Battle of the Belts” specials.

WWE has already signed a deal with The CW to bring “WWE NXT” there in 2025 when its current deal with USA is up, and USA has already landed the rights to “WWE SmackDown,” which is set to move from Fox.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tony Khan Comments On MJF’s AEW Future Following His Removal From The AEW Roster Page

MJF hasn’t been seen on AEW television since last weekend’s Worlds End pay-per-view. At the time, it was reported that his contract was set to expire on January 1, leading to speculation that he could leave the promotion. MJF’s profile has since been removed from the AEW roster page, and Tony Khan is choosing to remain tight-lipped about the star’s current status.

“I can say that MJF certainly has been a great part of AEW for the first five years, Khan told Going Ringside. “And through those five years, certainly, he’s been one of our great homegrown stars, and he’s somebody we really value, and I would love to have MJF in AEW in the future, should the contractual situation allow.”

While Khan’s comments suggest that MJF has yet to sign a new deal with AEW, he might have already. It was recently reported that he extended his AEW stay before January 1, and the ambiguities surrounding his future are being played up for storyline purposes. The latest episode of “AEW Dynamite” saw Adam Cole and the Undisputed Kingdom discuss their desire to rid AEW of MJF once and for all, so there is a built-in storyline for him to return to, should his future be with Tony Khan’s promotion.

Regardless of his future destination in wrestling, it remains to be seen when the former AEW World Champion will return to action. MJF is currently injured after suffering a torn labrum, which could require surgery and put him on the shelf for six months. That said, it’s unknown if MJF will go that route or seek alternative treatment options that will allow him to return to screens before then.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Collision Preview 1/6/2024

Tonight’s AEW Collision live on TNT at 8pm ET from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

  • Sting and Darby Allin vs. The Workhorsemen
  • Continental Crown Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Trent Beretta
  • FTR vs. House of Black (Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews)
  • Adam Copeland will address Christian Cage

AEW Rampage Preview 1/5/2024

AEW has announced the lineup for tonight’s Rampage on TNT.

  • Mark Briscoe & The Hardys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs. Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade
  • Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale in tag action
  • Hikaru Shida vs. Anna Jay
  • ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Komander

Deonna Purrazzo Is All Elite, Makes Debut On Dynamite

There is a new face in the AEW women’s division, and her name is Deonna Purrazzo.

The former 3-time Impact Knockouts World Champion appeared on Wednesday’s episode of “AEW Dynamite” to confront Mariah May after May won her in-ring debut against Queen Aminata. The New Jersey audience welcomed their hometown hero with uproarious applause as she strutted to confront May in the ring. Purrazzo played to her home crowd, and claimed that if “Timeless” Toni Storm — who melodramatically expressed her disdain for, and subsequent departure from, New Jersey in an earlier segment — didn’t want to be in New Jersey, then New Jersey did not want Storm.

Purrazzo then turned her attention to May and singled out her affiliation with Storm. She issued a message for May to deliver to her idol.

“It doesn’t matter where she runs or where she hides,” Purrazzo said. “I will find her, because, Mariah, I am All Elite!”

Purrazzo was one of the free agents reported to have hit the market at the beginning of 2024. While she reportedly did briefly discuss a return with WWE, Purrazzo had previously listed AEW as her preferred promotion post-TNA/Impact. Purrazzo has only wrestled one match for AEW, when she competed in a losing effort against Mercedes Martinez in a ROH Women’s Championship match in 2022. But now, in Purrazzo’s own words, AEW is in the age of “The Virtuosa”.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

https://twitter.com/TonyKhan/status/1742729636327354546
https://twitter.com/DeonnaPurrazzo/status/1742928030358728817

AEW Dynamite Preview 1/3/2024

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS and emanate from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Fallout from AEW Worlds End – Samoa Joe is the new AEW World Champion and Adam Cole was revealed as the devil.

  • We will hear from Adam Cole
  • We will hear from Samoa Joe
  • Mariah May’s in-ring debut vs. Queen Aminata.
  • AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Dante Martin.
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Daniel Garcia
  • Christian Cage State of the Union

MJF Considering Surgery Following AEW Worlds End

AEW concluded the year with its Worlds End 2023 pay-per-view event at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on Saturday night, where AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF defended against Samoa Joe.

Prior to the match, MJF was dealing with injuries to his shoulder and hip, leading to expectations of him taking a break following the event. Joe’s win and capturing the title were always part of AEW’s plans and not because of MJF’s injuries. 

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that MJF is debating whether to do rehab or get shoulder surgery.

Source: eWn