AEW has announced the lineup for tonight’s Rampage on TNT at 10/9C.
Following this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, we now have five matches announced for the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II pay-per-view event, which takes place on June 25th from Toronto, Canada.
The updated AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II card below:
AEW World Championship Match:
MJF (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP United States Championship Match:
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Will Ospreay
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match:
SANADA (c) vs. Jungle Boy Jack Perry
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
AEW International Championship Match:
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
All Elite Wrestling returns to the place where it all began as AEW Dynamite will emanate from the Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital Washington, D.C. To commemorate the AEW’s flagships show’s return to the site of its first episode.
In a new interview with Rasslin, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about the rumored brand split ahead of the June 17th launch of Collision.
According to multiple reports, AEW wants the brand split for Dynamite and Collision due to CM Punk, who is slated to be the top star for Collision, as he has heat with several wrestlers on the roster.
“I am going to feature certain talent on certain shows, but I haven’t drawn any hard lines or locked us into any kind of split of a roster,” Khan said (h/t Fightful). “I think people are gonna be featured on certain shows, but I also think that gives us a great opportunity to showcase certain wrestlers on both Dynamite and Collision at certain times and certain stories that can cross the shows. I think the champions of AEW will be the champions on every show, and frankly, every promotion in the world. We’re not shy about the AEW wrestlers going out and taking on the top stars, top competition from other companies.”
“The roster we have is so strong, I believe we have so many great wrestlers, it’s impossible to showcase them all in three hours of television,” he added. “Now, it’s a much better opportunity with five hours of television. Across five hours of television, we can really utilize the roster much more frequently and utilize our great wrestlers more than they’ve ever been used before, so I’m very excited.”
Source: eWn
AEW producer BJ Whitmer was arrested on June 4 in Boone County, Kentucky for first-degree strangulation and second-degree burglary and bond was set for him at $25,000. Due to the arrest and the charges, he has been terminated from his job at All Elite Wrestling.
AEW’s full statement is below:
“B.J. Whitmer has been terminated following his arrest on domestic violence charges. While talent and staff are ultimately responsible for their own personal actions, this behavior is intolerable within AEW. AEW has reached out to offer support to those impacted by his behavior.”
Source: WrestlingNews.co
Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT at 10/9C.
Bryan Danielson has had a hand in AEW’s creative department as of late, and according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he has become more important as of late in regards to that.
The American Dragon has been described as someone that has added good input into any conversation regarding AEW booking, and he has been having an influence on Tony Khan himself. When the two men are in a room together, Danielson has been pushing Khan to thank harder and improve upon his thinking as he tends to add even more enthusiasm to Khan regarding this area of the business.
The June 2 episode of “AEW Rampage” was an example of Danielson’s creative abilities as he added to the overall outline of it being a Championship Friday show, and the fact that the episode was well received showcases the impact he has brought.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
While Mercedes Mone is currently out of action with an ankle injury, Tony Khan and other AEW officials were in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling about having the former Sasha Banks appear at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door II.
According to a report from Fightful Select, the two sides were speaking about the possibility of Mone appearing at the June 25th pay-per-view event. These talks took place before Mone suffered her injury at the NJPW Resurgence event.
In the past, AEW has referenced Mone on commentary. Several sources in both AEW and NJPW have said the talks may have gone as far back as January.
While there have been rumors that Mone would be facing off against Saraya at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II, that has not been confirmed.
It remains to be seen how long Mone will be out of in-ring action or whether she’ll still be making an appearance on the show.
Source: eWn
KENTA has reportedly been discussed for the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II pay-per-view event, which takes place on June 25, 2023, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
According to a report from Fightful Select, the “working plan” is for KENTA to work the show. In recent interviews, the former Hideo Itami in WWE has stated that he’d be open to working the show “if the money is right.”
As of this writing, there is no word on whether a deal to have KENTA appear on the pay-per-view event has been finalized. With that being said, both AEW and NJPW are working under the assumption that he’ll be wrestling on the show.
Finally, it is said that CM Punk may be his potential opponent. Of course, KENTA and CM Punk have been involved in a long online feud over Punk using KENTA’s finishing maneuver.
Source: eWn
Fightful Select is reporting that Bullet Club Gold is set to get at least one new member imminently, though there’s no confirmation on who it may be. Former AEW World Champion CM Punk might be heading for a feud with the group after he returns to AEW programming for the debut episode of “Collision.”
The main event for the June 17 premiere of “Collision” is CM Punk and FTR versus Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Samoa Joe, but Fightful was unable to confirm whether or not Joe is or was planned to be a permanent addition to Bullet Club Gold.
Back in Japan, Bullet Club “proper” recently made a number of additions at the recent NJPW Dominion event. United Empire’s Dan Moloney and former Young Lion Clark Connors both joined the David Finlay-led Bullet Club. Former Bullet Club member Tama Tonga is currently working in NJPW without a contract. With the previously expelled White wearing Bullet Club colors in AEW, former members like Tonga or the recently-expelled El Phantasmo are also possibilities.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
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