Category: AEW

Warner Bros. Discovery Blocked Jay Briscoe Tribute Show On AEW Dynamite

This past Tuesday, Jay Briscoe, real name Jamin Pugh, passed away following a car crash in Delaware at 38 years old. 

The wrestling world has been reacting ever since. The tributes continued on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, as the broadcast opened with a graphic of Briscoe and multiple wrestlers had “Jay” armbands during their matches.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Warner Bros. Discovery did not allow AEW to do a full tribute show to Briscoe due to homophobic tweets Jay posted over a decade ago.

This is not the first time that WBD has blocked Briscoe’s involvement on AEW television, as they previously didn’t want AEW President Tony Khan to feature Jay or his brother Mark on its programming. Jay had apologized for the tweets multiple times over the years. 

Khan tapped a Ring of Honor-branded “Jay Briscoe: Celebration of Life” event after AEW Dynamite went off the air that will air on HonorClub and ROH’s YouTube channel for free.

Source: eWrestlingNews

AEW Dynamite Preview 1/18/2023

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS and emanate from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

  • All Atlantic Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jay Lethal
  • TNT Championship: Darby Allin (c) vs. Kushida
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Bandido
  • Jake Hager vs. Ricky Starks
  • The Young Bucks vs. Top Flight
  • Toni Storm vs. Willow Nightingale
  • Hangman Adam Page speaks with Renee Paquette

Wrestling World Reacts To The Passing Of Jay Briscoe

Wrestlers and wrestling personalities are reacting in real time to the tragic news of Jay Briscoe’s death.

Leading the reactions are FTR, The Young Bucks, and The Usos — the three teams that have been mentioned in the same breath as The Briscoes as the greatest tag teams of the 21st century. 

“RIP to the homie Jay Briscoe,” The Usos wrote on Twitter. “Condolences to the your family. Rest in paradise uso. @SussexCoChicken #DemBoyz.”

“I’ve been in tears since I heard the news,” wrote Cash Wheeler of FTR. “I just don’t have the words. Rest in Peace Jay.”

“I’m doing ok,” wrote Dax Harwood of FTR, along with a photo of FTR and The Briscoes sharing a drink. “Thanks everyone for checking on me. I love you, Jay.”

Meanwhile, The Young Bucks changed their Twitter header photo to that of Jay Briscoe.

AEW star Matt Hardy, who shared the ring with Jay more than a dozen times, explained why he shared a genuine love for Jay.

“Heard this tragic news while flying,” Matt tweeted. “I’m DEVASTATED that Jay Briscoe (Jamin Pugh) tragically died today. I was honored to work with him many times. I loved Jay. Jay was SO real. Jay loved his wife & kids more than anything & we shared that bond. I’m heartbroken for his family.”

AEW star Chris Jericho tweeted, “Please pray for @jaybriscoe84’s family. Trust me this is worse than you think.”

Veteran ROH announcer Ian Riccaboni, who called the action for The Briscoes’ final ROH match at Final Battle, touched upon the close friendship he developed with “Dem Boyz” over the years.

“Jay was one of a kind,” Riccaboni tweeted. I traveled often with Jay and Mark. We couldn’t have been more different but that’s what made our friendship something I’ll cherish forever. He’d give you the shirt off his back, his last dime. He was so proud of his kids. Loved his family so much.”

Others such as Moose, “The Hurricane” Shane Helms, Big Swole, Frankie Kazarian and John Silver posted their reactions as well.

Jay Briscoe never wrestled on WWE television but had many fans within the current WWE roster.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque led the tributes with a message that was re-tweeted by WWE’s official account.

“An incredible performer who created a deep connection with wrestling fans across the globe,” Triple H tweeted. “My condolences to the family and friends of Jay Briscoe.”

Shawn Michaels posted a tribute on behalf of the “WWE NXT” roster.

“On behalf of the @WWENXT community, I would like to express our condolences to the Briscoe family for their loss.”

Bayley tweeted, “I’m so sorry to hear about Jay Briscoe. To all my friends who were close to him, to all his fans, and to his family, I’m sending you so much strength and love. ❤️ #DemBoys.”

Shinsuke Nakamura tweeted, “RIP Jay Briscoe.”

GUNTHER, who shared the ring with The Briscoes at a wXw event in 2017, tweeted, “Rest in Peace, Jay Briscoe.”

Others such as Ricochet and Cody Rhodes reacted to the tragic news as well.

“This is so sad. ❤️,” tweeted Ricochet.

“I didn’t interact much with him, but upon meeting Jay I instantly understood something about him…his family was his everything,” tweeted Rhodes. “All the love in the world to them this evening.”

Meanwhile, Sami Zayn went as far as to credit The Briscoes for helping him advance in his pro wrestling career. The former El Generico wrestled The Briscoes on countless occasions for promotions such as PWG and ROH. 

“I don’t have the words right now to properly convey my sorrow,” Zayn wrote on Twitter. “I love Jay & Mark Briscoe. Always have. I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m very lucky to have shared the ring & shared so many laughs with Jay Briscoe and I’m so sad to know neither will happen again. RIP my friend.”

Finally, WWE announcer Vic Joseph acknowledged Jay’s passing during a live episode of “WWE NXT” Tuesday night.

“We were just informed of tragic news inside the wrestling community that Jay Briscoe has passed away,” Joseph said. “We want to take this moment to send our condolences to his friends and family.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Rampage Preview 1/13/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT at 10/9C

  • TNT Championship: Darby Allin (c) vs. Juice Robinson
  • Eddie Kington & Ortiz vs. Kings of the Black Throne
  • Tay Melo & Anna Jay A.S. vs. Ruby Soho & Willow Nightingale street fight
  • Promos from The Acclaimed and Paul Thomas Hauser

Tony & Shahid Khan Being Interested In Buying WWE

Tony and Shahid Khan are reportedly interested in purchasing WWE.

 CNBC is reporting that several sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the Khans are interested in merging AEW and WWE.

The report notes that the Khans would be willing to team up with a media company for the IP, which would result in a merger of WWE and AEW.

While Tony and Shahid have not spoken with Vince McMahon or Nick Khan at this point, it was noted that McMahon may not be interested in speaking with them at all. The idea is said to be “a long shot.”

Once again – no discussions between the Khans and WWE have taken place at this point. For what it’s worth, Shahid Khan has a net worth of $7.56 billion.

Source: ewrestlingnews

Major Updates On FTR’s AEW Status, Contract Expiration Date & Future

While the wrestling world is currently in the grips of Vince McMahon and his return to power, it’s easy to forget that another big story is looming this year, the free agency of FTR. The duo have made it clear that their contracts with AEW are expiring this April, and no one, including themselves, knows what’s going to happen. Sadly though, it seems fans will be seeing a lot less of FTR in the meantime. In the latest episode of his podcast FTR with Dax, Dax Harwood revealed that he and Cash Wheeler will be taking some time to consider their next move.

“We have asked and been granted the next few months off of television, so we can sit back, reflect, let our bodies heal, and figure out what we are going to do for the next few years,” Harwood said. “Because whatever we decide to do next, will be the absolute last thing we do, as far as wrestling. I don’t see myself, after I’m done with whatever we’re going to decide next, in five years going on the independents. I don’t see myself working, in five years a Japan tour, or a Mexican tour, or traveling around the world and wrestling all over places.”

“That’s why these next few months are the most important few months for us. By April at least, at most, we will have an answer. But now, again, I have to take in my health, I have to take in my family, I have to take in my creativity, and I have to take in my personal life all into consideration, about what we’re going to do next.”

Dax Harwood went on to state that he wasn’t sure if FTR would be returning to AEW TV before their deals expired, and also admitted that a lot of things will factor into their decision, including the recent corporate turmoil going on in WWE.

“I’d be lying to you if I said no, it doesn’t at all. Of course it does,” Harwood said. “But also … If I feel like we aren’t being respected the way I think we should, and I mean as entities and characters, what we’ve done, what we’ve accomplished, and who we are, I will not hesitate to explore other options. Whether those other options are taking a year off and doing things we love, that could be it. Whether those options are being presented to me in other forms? There’s a lot of things I have to weigh.”

One thing Harwood can confirm is that a decision will only be made when he and partner Cash Wheeler are in absolute lockstep. The duo, who Harwood described as never having an argument or cross word with each other, will be sitting down to discuss things soon, including opportunities outside of the ring. “I’ll put this out there, we’re looking into buildings for a pro wrestling school as well,” Harwood said. “That’s one of our things we want to open up. We also have ideas for more real estate together, and also for a future coffee shop. So there’s a lot of things we’re going to be talking about for the next few months. But, at the top of the list, is our future.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Adam Cole Is Back Bay-Bay

Adam Cole is back bay-bay. On the January 11 “AEW Dynamite,” Cole made his surprising return after six months out of action due to a serious concussion sustained at the AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling event Forbidden Door. Cole came down to the ring after a brief introduction by Tony Schiavone and promised the audience good news and bad news.

Cole spoke about how much the outpouring of support from fans over the past few months has meant to him, and the passion it invigorated him with for wrestling. And then the bad news, as Cole put it, was for the AEW locker room. The news was that he is back and ready to compete.

Heading into the Forbidden Door pay-per-view in June, Cole was already working through a torn labrum. During the four-way match against “Hangman” Adam Page, Kazuchika Okada, and Jay White, Cole suffered a concussion that hastened the match’s finish. Since then Cole had been undergoing physical therapy for his arm injury as opposed to getting surgery.

The major factor that has kept Cole out as long as he’s been out has been the concussion. There was some fear that Cole may never compete again, stemming from speculation made on “Wrestling Observer Radio” in October.

After Forbidden Door, AEW CEO Tony Khan made clear that Cole would not be competing again until he was 100 percent. Before his injury, Cole had been heavily featured across AEW programming following his surprise debut at the All Out pay-per-view in September 2021.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

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AEW Dynamite Preview 1/11/2023

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS, and emanate from the KIA Forum in Inglewood, CA, just outside of Los Angeles.

  • AEW World Trios Championship Match Best-Of-Seven Series (Esclara De La Muerte Ladder Match): Death Triangle (c) vs. The Elite – The series is tied at 3-3. If the Elite wins this final match, they will become the two-time AEW World Trios Champions.
  • Bryan Danielson vs Konosuke Takeshita
  • Hangman Page vs. Jon Moxley
  • AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Britt Baker vs. Saraya & Toni Storm
  • “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Hook (JungleHook) vs. Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
  • We will hear from the Jericho Appreciation Society

Tony Khan Says AEW Will Run Live Events

AEW has mostly only run television tapings, with the exception being a special live event, “The House Always Wins,” in April 2021. However, that looks to be changing. 

Tony Khan discussed the possibility of AEW diving into the live event business while speaking on In The Zone:

“That’s something we are talking about. We have a great live events team. It’s something we’ve talked a lot about and building out the live event business. There is definitely a lot of demand for AEW live events, and now we have this great big strong roster that wants to do these live events, so it’s something we’re going to do,” he said (H/T to Fightful).

Source: ewrestlingnews

AEW Dark Preview 1/11/2023

AEW Dark on AEW’s official YouTube channel later tonight at 7:00 pm EST.

* ROH Women’s World Championship Match: Athena (c) vs. Marina Shafir
* Juice Robinson vs. Travis Williams
* Ruby Soho & Willow Nightingale vs. Emi Sakura and Diamante
* The Voros Twins vs. Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
* Ethan Page, Matt Hardy, & Isiah Kassidy vs. Judas Icarus, Sebastian Wolfe, & Caleb Teninty
* Teal Piper & Kel vs. Anna Jay A.S. & Tay Melo
* Steve Migs vs. Jake Hager