Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT.
Tommy Dreamer feels that AEW star Britt Baker’s recent tweet criticizing AEW management could cause disruption in the promotion.
Baker, during this week’s “AEW Dynamite,” called out AEW on social media for not affording her promo time on AEW television in 2023. Dreamer discussed the comment by the former AEW Women’s World Champion on “Busted Open,” stating that it could be disruptive if it was a real criticism.
“I don’t think AEW needs any negative. As of today, this is deemed a negative up until [if] this is the reveal. If this is the reveal then, we all got got,” said Dreamer. “If it’s not, then it needs to be handled, and if it’s not handled, there will be more disruptiveness.”
Dreamer gave the example of The Miz as someone who made it work and has lasted a long time in WWE despite being treated poorly by his peers in his early years in the promotion. Dreamer discussed how The Miz put his head down and worked hard despite being ostracized by the locker room.
“There’s people who complained online about stuff in WWE, they were let go. There were, if I would say, hey, you don’t understand what this person went through, I did because I lived it through him, and it was The Miz. The Miz was put through hell,” said the former WWE star A different locker room, he was ostracized, you weren’t allowed to speak, it was made horrible for that young man. I like Miz, Miz’s my friend. From that, Miz has outlasted everybody. Did Miz go out on social media and say, ‘I’m dressing in a broom closet’? Miz ate it and then continued his hard work and whatever little, stupid spots he’s given, he got it over. And he’s been there forever.”
Baker hasn’t got on the mic in AEW this year and hasn’t wrestled since September when she lost the AEW TBS title match to Kris Statlander.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Ric Flair’s AEW contract has already divided opinion within the pro wrestling community — and his latest incident will only ramp up the concerns of many fans regarding the legendary 16-time world champion. After making his debut last month alongside his long-time friend Sting, the 74-year-old has made sporadic appearances alongside “The Icon,” who is set to retire at next year’s Revolution.
Last night, Flair appeared on “AEW Dynamite” in a backstage segment alongside Sting and Tony Schiavone, where they announced the date and location for Revolution. But it was as a part of the “AEW Rampage” tapings later in the night, that trouble arose. It was then that Flair would cut a lengthy in-ring promo, which involved an invitation to all the 18 to 28-year-old single women in attendance to meet in his hotel room.
While the line is expected to be cut from the broadcast prior to Friday night’s episode, it hasn’t stopped many on social media from condemning the remarks given Flair’s history of sexual harassment allegations. In a response on his own social media account, Flair would take aim at the critics and offered to “walk away” from AEW if needed.
“I am so tired of hearing all this negativity! Can’t I simply enjoy being by my dear friend Sting’s side for the next few months without so much hatred? I know I’m old, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy life,” he said. “I have earned the right to do whatever I want and I’m exactly where I want to be! I appreciate everything Tony Khan, but I’m more than willing to walk away if I am embarrassing you and your company.”
Flair signed a multi-year agreement with AEW after his initial debut in late-October, which entails on-screen appearances and the company promoting his energy drink. At this stage, there are no plans for Flair to wrestle in AEW after the Hall of Famer had his last match in 2022.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Sammy Guevara suffered a concussion at the AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view event while teaming up with Will Ospreay and Konosuke Takeshita to defeat Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi.
Don Callis announced after the show that Guevara was not cleared to compete due to his medical condition, but did not specify the reported concussion.
Dave Meltzer mentioned on Wrestling Observer Radio today that Guevara has received medical clearance for in-ring action. He was given the go-ahead about a week ago. However, due to him and Tay Melo awaiting the birth of their baby girl on Tuesday, it was decided to postpone his return until after the baby’s birth.
Source: eWn
Britt Baker is seemingly unhappy with AEW management for her lack of promo time. Soon after last night’s “AEW Dynamite” went off the air, the former AEW Women’s World Champion pointed out that she’s been afforded zero minutes of promo time in the year 2023, as compared to MJF and Christian Cage, who spoke in individual segments for nearly 20 minutes on Wednesday’s show. Baker’s post on X can be seen below.
Overall, women on last night’s “AEW Dynamite” were featured for roughly 10 minutes. While the Julia Hart versus Emi Sakura match went on for nearly eight minutes, the only other segments saw RJ City interview Toni Storm and Mariah May in the backstage area. As mentioned in Wrestling Inc.’s latest “3 Things We Hated And 3 Things We Loved” editorial, there’s been some pushback on the current direction of Storm’s “Timeless” character.
In recent months, fans and wrestling analysts alike have been critical of AEW for not affording enough TV time to its women’s division. As an example, All In, All Out, and WrestleDream all featured only one women’s match on the main pay-per-view card — Saraya versus Hikaru Shida versus Baker versus Toni Storm, Kris Statlander versus Ruby Soho, and Statlander versus Hart, respectively.
The most recent Full Gear pay-per-view, however, did include two title matches for the TBS and AEW Women’s World Championship. Yet, analysts such as Freddie Prinze Jr. have called out AEW management for “doing a disservice” to Statlander by not giving her any storylines or promo time during her stint as TBS Champion. It now remains to be seen if AEW heeds the criticism and puts its female wrestlers in more prominent spots going forward.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS from the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN.
Mercedes Mone is currently sidelined with a broken ankle that she had surgery to fix earlier this year.
She is expected to return shortly, likely making her promotional debut with AEW while also working for NJPW.
As seen below, Mone has released footage of her training for her return. It’s still unclear exactly when she will be back from injury.
Source: eWn
CM Punk made his return to WWE this past Saturday at the Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 pay-per-view event.
Fightful Select has shared additional details on the backstage reaction of both WWE and AEW to Punk returning “home” at the pay-per-view event in Chicago, IL.
Several top WWE wrestlers are expecting to speak to officials in the company for “assurances” about Punk and his role in the company going forward.
The reaction backstage in WWE has been quite muted, similar to when Punk returned for AEW Collision.
There have been rumors about talents who do not wish to work with Punk and are considering leaving WWE.
Like AEW, however, there have been no reports of anyone actually requesting his/her release over Punk’s return to WWE.
Some top talent in WWE have reportedly asked friends in AEW whether Punk was involved in the ongoing Devil storyline. It has been reported that Punk was never considered for the Devil’s role.
As for AEW President Tony Khan, he reportedly seemed more concerned with losing Katsuyori Shibata, who had to fly back to Japan, than Punk’s WWE return.
Punk’s appearance was kept a top secret in WWE, although the former AEW World Champion either told or hinted to his very close friends that it was happening.
WWE is currently using renders from Punk’s previous stint with the company including the same Titantron video.
A source at Peacock suggested that the playlist of Punk content, which went online immediately after Survivor Series 2023, didn’t require any time to compile.
Prior to Punk’s return on Saturday, WWE talent and staff were advised to ignore any Punk chants at SmackDown and Survivor Series 2023.
Source: eWn
MJF is reportedly dealing with a torn labrum.
Fightful Select is reporting that the reigning AEW World Champion took to Twitter today to announce that he got an MRI done and tore the labrum in his left shoulder. The tweet, which has since been deleted, said he’d be ready for the December 30th Worlds End pay-per-view event and closed with “I believe in AEW.”
It’s worth noting that MJF was telling people last week that he believed he had torn his shoulder. While there is no word on whether the MRI comments are legit, it appears the injury is the real deal.
Finally, it was added that the injury occurred while MJF was performing a top rope uranage at Full Gear 2023. He is currently undergoing treatment and is hoping to avoid surgery.
UPDATE
MJF sustained real injuries during the main event of the AEW Full Gear 2023 pay-per-view.
He suffered a hip injury that required popping back in and a shoulder injury, which is a torn labrum. MJF will be avoiding surgery and doing rehab instead to make sure he doesn’t miss any time, including his World Heavyweight Title defense against Samoa Joe at Worlds End.
Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that MJF is still experiencing a lot of pain in his hip and has significant swelling around it. MJF had the same tear in his labrum when he wrestled Jack Perry at Double or Nothing in 2020, but the tear is more severe this time.
Source: eWn
After his departure from AEW due to a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023, CM Punk made a shocking return to WWE following the main event of Saturday’s Survivor Series 2023 pay-per-view event.
Tony Khan recently did an interview with BBC West Midlands, where he was asked about Punk’s WWE return. The AEW President said,
“Can’t talk about that, nor do I think it’s the time or the place. But I appreciate you asking, and I’m very excited about AEW All In Wembley Stadium. Not to dodge or duck your question, it’s just not something I can legally talk about.“
Source: eWn
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