Update on Jade Cargill’s Potential WWE Future

As previously reported, former AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is expected to be joining WWE.

Dave Meltzer provided more details in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, reporting that Cargill and AEW didn’t come to terms on a new deal.

Meltzer wrote,

“Those in WWE believed she was coming and that it would be on the main roster rather than developmental, but I could see that going either way. Another person in WWE described it to us as that her name was being talked about a lot, but the deal was not completed at press time. The money it would take to get her would have been far more than they pay those in developmental, but while she has a star look and is a great athlete, her skill set and experience level is not at WWE main roster woman levels. But good workers are there to make the less experienced and more marketable workers look better than they are.”

The Observer also reported that former major league baseball star Aaron Phillips, Cargill’s husband, was in attendance in Cincinnati for her possible final AEW match and that there were reports that it was the best match of her career.

Meltzer continued,

“One person in WWE described this as coming out of the blue, but that they do expect her to be coming in. There are several factors involved here including money. Cargill was probably protected more in AEW than she would be in WWE, but that’s not to be sure. She probably can have better matches in WWE because on the main roster the level of the women is higher. From a travel schedule, for someone with outside interests and a daughter, WWE would have her do more matches, which is probably a good thing for her long-run, but travel far more extensive unless she got a sweetheart deal on the schedule. If she has goals outside of wrestling, such as acting since she’s got a superhero look, the WWE main roster exposure would help her more.”

Sources: eWn and Wrestling Observer

Jade Cargill Reportedly Leaving AEW – Believed To Be Heading To WWE

Jade Cargill’s tenure with AEW is seemingly coming to an end, and the former TBS Champion could soon be calling herself a WWE Superstar.

Fightful is reporting that Cargill is believed to be “finishing up” with AEW, according to sources within the promotion.

Sources in both AEW & WWE believe that she will be heading to WWE when the time is right.

There is no word yet of an official offer being made by WWE and that as always, things can change in the world of professional wrestling.

It is currently unclear how long is left on Cargill’s current contract with All Elite Wrestling.

The report indicates that Cargill’s last AEW match may have already been taped, as she took on Kris Statlander Wednesday night in a TBS Championship match that will be broadcast on “AEW Rampage” on Friday.

Counting this week’s “Rampage,” Cargill has wrestled a total of 64 matches over the course of her two-and-a-half year career, all of them in AEW. If Fightful’s reporting proves accurate, she would be the second major AEW wrestler to leave Tony Khan’s “challenger brand” for the established pastures of Vince McMahon (and now Ari Emanuel), and the first homegrown AEW star to do so. AEW’s first major defection came in 2022, when Cody Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38.

Backstage Update On The All In 2023 Attendance – Did AEW Inflate The #’s?

Did All Elite Wrestling inflate their attendance numbers for the All In 2023 pay-per-view event, which took place on August 27th from Wembley Stadium?

Brandon Thurston of WrestleNomics recently reported on a public records request about the attendance for AEW All In 2023. Earlier today, the Freedom of Information office for the Brent Civic Centre responded to the original request with the following statement:

“The actual numbers registered entering [Wembley] Stadium through the turnstiles was 72,265 – this is reflective of what attended on the night and not the total number of tickets sold or no-shows etc.”

It’s worth noting that AEW has said all along that the paid attendance for the event was 81,035. If that is true, it would have been a new worldwide record for pro wrestling.

WrestleTix previously announced that the number of tickets distributed for All In 2023 was 83,131.

The WrestleNomics report states that a “typical AEW event has a drop count (also known as a “turnstile count”) that is about 80% to 90% of the paid attendance or tickets distributed.” In this case, 72,265 is 89% of 83,131.

So while it remains to be seen whether 81,035 tickets were actually sold, it is known that 72,265 people did walk through the turnstiles. With that being said, over 10,000 no-shows seems a bit high. Of course, there are also scalpers out there who may not have been able to sell the tickets they purchased.

Source: eWn

AEW Dynamite Preview 9/13/2023

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

  • AEW International Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Big Bill 
  • No. 1 Contender Fatal-4-Way Match: Britt Baker, Toni Storm, Nyla Rose, and Hikaru Shida. The winner will go on to challenge Saraya for the Title at Grand Slam on September 20.
  • Grand World Title Eliminator Final: Roderick Strong vs. ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe. The winner will go on to challenge MJF at Grand Slam on September 20.
  • Hangman Adam Page vs Brian Cage
  • Don Callis to reveal his next Masterpiece
  • We will hear from Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara

Saraya Pushes For AEW Women’s Trios Or Tag Team Titles

Saraya captured the AEW Women’s Championship at AEW All In during a fatal 4-way match in front of her family.

Saraya spoke with Women’s Wrestling Talk for a new interview, where she discussed AEW possibly adding new titles to the women’s division.

“I would love for there to be a female trios championship or a regular tag team championship for women because we do have two (women’s titles), and that’s awesome, but there are so many women on our roster, and so many women that are in tag teams. Why don’t we make a tag team championship? Who knows. Tony always has great ideas up his sleeve,” she said.

Source: eWn

AEW Collision Preview 9/9/2023

AEW Collision live on TNT from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

  • AEW International Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Action Andretti
  • Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament Semifinal: Roderick Strong vs. Darby Allin
  • Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament Semifinal: Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Samoa Joe
  • Bullet Club Gold vs. Gravity, Metalik, Aerostar & Dios Del Inframundo
  • TBS Championship Open Challenge: Kris Statlander vs. TBA
  • We’ll hear from Saraya & Ruby Soho
  • We’ll hear from The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass
  • We’ll hear from Bryan Danielson

AEW Rampage Preview 9/8/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT at 10/9C.

  • Grand Slam World Title eliminator Tournament quarterfinals: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy
  • Grand Slam World Title eliminator Tournament quarterfinals: Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Jay Lethal
  • The Young Bucks vs. Matt Menard & Angelo Parker

Thunder Rosa Is Ready To Return To The Ring

After being out of action since August of last year due to a back injury, Thunder Rosa is reportedly ready to make her return to in-ring action.

Fightful Select is reporting that Rosa has been cleared to return as soon as creative comes up with something for her.

While there is no word on whether Rosa’s return is imminent, it’s said that she could show up at any time now.

Reported Reactions, Interest From WWE & Other Promotions With CM Punk On Open Market

With CM Punk’s time in AEW having reached an acrimonious end, many are wondering what is next for the two-time AEW World Champion, with some wondering if he could wind up back at WWE, another promotion, or if he would once again disappear as he did following his WWE departure in 2014. At least a few days removed from his AEW exit, it appears there is some interest in Punk popping up elsewhere.

PWInsider Elite reports that Punk became a topic of discussion within WWE as soon as he was fired, and the response has been pretty divided. While some in WWE look at it as a chance for the promotion to make a lot of money, with one top talent even going as far to endorse the idea, many more were said to be against it and didn’t believe it would happen. However it turns out, Punk joining WWE would be a discussion saved for later, as the promotion is currently focused on finalizing its merger with Endeavor, set to be completed this month. It is also believed that Endeavor themselves would make the call to sign him. Punk had previously worked for Endeavor when he competed in UFC, and is said to have had a good relationship with top Endeavor brass.

As for other promotions, Impact Wrestling was also said to be interested in Punk, though it’s unclear if they would be able to afford him, something considered a potential issue for other promotions that may have interest. As for NJPW, it is believed the promotion wouldn’t pursue Punk, due to their relationship with AEW. It is further believed that Punk was released without a noncompete clause, which would allow him to sign anywhere at any time.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 9/6/2023

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite live on TBS from the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Fallout from All Out

  • AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Begins
  • Grand Slam World Title Eliminator: Roderick Strong vs. Trent Beretta
  • Grand Slam World Title Eliminator: Darby Allin vs. Nick Wayne
  • Le Sex Gods (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara vs. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis)
  • We will hear from Hangman Page
  • MJF will address Samoa Joe