Category: TNA

News On Report Of AEW EVPs Reportedly Losing Creative Power

Last week, it was reported that the AEW EVPs have lost creative power, and Tony Khan has been completely taken over that role. The report stated that Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes were “EVPs in name only in 2021.”

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that the roles of higher ups in AEW have remained unchanged since December of 2019. AEW President Tony Khan took more control of booking since then, but no one in AEW has lost any creative power. Khan recently said in an interview that AEW has grown stronger the more he takes on.

Khan is in charge of booking the matches and segments and tells talent what they’re involved in and where their direction is going, including the AEW EVPs and other top stars like Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, CM Punk and Bryan Danielson. However, those top stars are still allowed input into their angles and matches, and their allowed their own creative input in their promos as well.

While Khan, as head booker, decides who wins and loses matches, talent have the creative input to fill out the details of Khan’s vision. Meltzer used the example from the last episode of Rampage where Khan can tell Danielson and Matt Jackson to go out there for a 15-16 minute match, and it’s up to Danielson and Jackson to do what they want.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Heath Returns To IMPACT, Saves Rhino From A Potential Attack

Heath has returned to IMPACT Wrestling and in the process, he has prevented Rhino from being attacked by Eric Young and Violent by Design. Heath was out with an injury suffered at last year’s Bound for Glory event, but now he is back and is hoping to reunite with Rhino, but tonight was not the night as Rhino walked away from him with no confirmation of a reunion. Here is how it all went down:

VBD comes out to the ring. Eric Young says they had all the momentum, all the control, but someone made a mistake: Rhino. EY knows that Rhino knows that. Now Rhino has a decision to make. He’s either with them or he walks away (nobody walks away). “Walk away” chants. Rhino comes out. “Gore” chants as Rhino makes his decision. He gets surrounded as the pressure’s on. Suddenly, Heath comes out and he returns. Heath attacks Deaner. He lariats out Joe Doering. The ring is cleared to just him and Rhino. Heath wants a hug. Rhino exits via the barricade.

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1443749619129896965

Source: WrestleZone

Impact Reveals Digital Media Championship

Impact has added a Digital Media Title to its ranks, and it seems as if both men and women can compete for it.

Impact unveiled its Digital Media Championship this week, and it appears both male wrestlers and Knockouts will be eligible to compete for it.

Every promotion needs a core set of titles. A World Championship, Women’s Title, and tag team belts. As for what a promotion chooses to build on that foundation when it comes to other titles is up to their creativity and imagination. Impact Wrestling has always been pretty creative when it comes to that corner of the business, and it continued to prove that via the reveal of an all-new championship this week.

During this week’s episode of Impact TV, a video package aired announcing a tournament for its new Digital Media Championship. The title’s gimmick is that, for the most part, it will only be defended on shows that air online. Whether it be via Impact’s YouTube channel or on Impact Plus. The package also makes it seem like both men and women will be able to compete for the title.

While that has not yet been confirmed by Impact, the video, which you can check out below, features Knockouts like Tenille Dashwood and Chelsea Green alongside some of the male stars who will presumably be a part of the tournament. The bracket is yet to be announced, but the first matches will take place on October 5. The tournament’s final and the first-ever Digital Media Champion will be crowned later this month at Bound For Glory.

Source: TheSportster

Impact Wrestling Preview 9/30/21

Impact Wrestling is tonight at 8 pm ET on AXS TV as they continue toward the Bound for Glory PPV on October 23.

* Laredo Kid vs. Trey Miguel vs. Alex Zayne (X Division Title Tournament Match)

* Eddie Edwards vs. W. Morrissey (Street Fight)

* Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering (Number One Contender’s Match For Tag Titles)

* Madman Fulton vs. Christopher Daniels

Former NXT Star Bobby Fish Set To Make AEW Debut On Next Week’s Dynamite

Shortly after winning the TNT Championship on AEW Dynamite, Sammy Guevara revealed that former NXT star Bobby Fish would be his first challenger.

Bobby Fish’s first match since parting ways with WWE back in August will take place on the October 6 edition of AEW Dynamite.

In case you missed it, Sammy Guevara defeated Miro for the TNT Championship in the main event of this week’s AEW Dynamite. The show went off the air as Guevara was celebrating with his friends in the ring as confetti rained down from the sky, but Guevara made an announcement later in the night while being interviewed by Tony Schiavone backstage in a segment that aired dung the commercial break of the premiere episode of Cody and Brandi Rhodes’ reality show Rhodes To The Top.

Guevara revealed that former WWE NXT Superstar Bobby Fish had already challenged Guevara for his newly won title and that he had accepted Fish’s challenge, confirming that Fish would be making his AEW debut next week in the process.

After Guevara had broken the news of Fish’s imminent AEW debut, Dan Lambert and Men Of The Year (Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky) confronted Guevara and demanded title shots of their own. The altercation almost got physical but the parties were pulled apart as the segment ended.

https://twitter.com/theBobbyFish/status/1443395314740875267

As you might recall, Bobby Fish was released by WWE along with several of his now-former NXT colleagues on August 7. Fish signed with WWE in 2017 and became a founding member of The Undisputed Era alongside Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. Fish would go on to hold the NXT Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions. The 44-year-old began wrestling in 2002 and was trained by legendary WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race.

Source: The Sportster

Bray Wyatt Isn’t Joining AEW, Likely To Sign With Impact Wrestling [Report]

A new report suggests that Bray Wyatt won’t end up signing with AEW, and that Impact Wrestling is the likely landing spot.

Bray Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda) didn’t end up debuting for AEW during this week’s episode of Dynamite, and a new report suggests that he won’t sign with the company at all.

On Wrestling Observer Live (h/t WrestlingNews.co), Bryan Alvarez said the following:

“As far as the former Bray Wyatt goes, I mentioned weeks ago that I do not believe that the former Bray Wyatt is going to AEW. If you asked me, this is not confirmed because nothing is confirmed until somebody signs somewhere. The impression I have is it is more likely that he is going to Impact Wrestling. But here’s the deal, anything is possible.”

Alvarez noted that AEW dropped hints about both Bryan Danielson and CM Punk debuting with the promotion, but they haven’t done so with Wyatt.

This week’s edition of Dynamite took place in Rochester, New York — the hometown of the late Brodie Lee. The show was dedicated to Lee, who tragically passed away on Dec. 26 last year from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He and Wyatt were close friends. having worked together in The Wyatt Family stable during their time in WWE, where the former performed as “Luke Harper.”

It was previously reported that Wyatt may waive his 90-day non-compete clause with WWE, and that he would possibly debut for AEW at the Rochester show. Wyatt was released from his WWE contract on July 31.

Braun Strowman, another former Wyatt Family member, was released from his WWE contract on June 2. It is widely assumed that he will end up in Impact Wrestling, and his 90-day non-compete clause with WWE is long expired. Could we see Wyatt and Strowman reunite together in AEW? Only time will tell, but those would surely be two marquee additions for the company.

Lio Rush Returns To AEW, Debuts New Gimmick

Former WWE Superstar Lio Rush appeared on an AEW show for the first time since June and brought a new money man gimmick with him.

Lio Rush returned to AEW following a four-month absence via a pretaped vignette that aired on this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite.

In the video, Rush informed viewers that he was a businessman who makes a lot of money for himself and the companies to whom he lends guidance. Footage of yachts, fancy cars, and expensive jewelry was spliced into the video.

AEW later confirmed that Rush had signed a contract with the company and was officially All Elite.

https://twitter.com/AllElitePod/status/1443384773511163904

As you might recall, Lio Rush made his AEW debut during the Casino Battle Royale at Double Or Nothing on May 30th. Rush was under contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling, but AEW president Tony Khan claimed there was a “handshake deal” in place between all parties prior to the event. In a stroke of terrible luck, Rush sustained a shoulder injury in the Casino Battle Royale and subsequently announced that he would be stepping away from the world of professional wrestling. Rush’s intended hiatus never actually came to fruition, and the 26-year-old returned to New Japan just a few weeks after Double Or Nothing.

Rush began wrestling in 2014 and made a name for himself as an exciting high flyer. After a stint on the independent scene, Rush signed for WWE in August of 2017. He initially reported for duty at NXT but was soon moved to the Cruiserweight division where he competed on 205 Live. Rush was then moved to the main roster and was used predominantly as the mouthpiece of Bobby Lashley. He moved back to NXT and had a run as Cruiserweight champion, but in April of 2020, Rush was released from his WWE contract as part of budget cuts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rush also appeared briefly in MLW.

On its surface, Rush’s new gimmick doesn’t appear particularly original, but we’ve seen how good he can be on the mic, so there’s a good chance that he’ll be able to make it work.

Source: The Sportster

AEW Dynamite Preview 9/29/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite episode airs on TNT at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York.

* Miro (c) vs. Sammy Guevara (AEW TNT Championship)

* Cody Rhodes and Lee Johnson vs. Matt Sydal and Dante Martin

* Jungle Boy vs. Adam Cole

* Anna Jay and Tay Conti vs. The Bunny and Penelope Ford

AEW Rampage Grand Slam Preview

Tonight’s AEW Rampage Grand Slam airs on TNT from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. The show will be a special two-hour event.

* CM Punk vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

* Christian Cage & Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) vs. Adam Cole & The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)

* Men Of The Year (Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky) vs. Chris Jericho & Jake Hager

* Santana & Ortiz & Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) vs. Hardy Family Office (Isiah Kassidy, Marq Quen, The Butcher & The Blade)

* Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay

* Lights Out Tag Team Match: Eddie Kingston & Jon Moxley vs. Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki

Christopher Daniels Returned To Impact

Former four-time X-Division and two-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Christopher Daniels made his long-awaited return to Impact Wrestling last night’s episode.

Daniels helped Josh Alexander and Christian Cage take care of Ace Austin and Madman Fulton after Alexander won his scheduled bout against Austin in the main event. Because of his assistance, Daniels will have a comeback match against Fulton on next week’s show.

It has been seven years since “The Fallen Angel” has been on Impact. His first venture in the company began in 2002-2010. He came back from 2011- 2014. Currently, Daniels is part of the AEW roster. He signed with them in 2019 when they first launched their promotion.