Category: TNA

Eric Young On WWE Exit: ‘I Can’t Take Instruction And Work For A Person Like That’

It was recently reported that Eric Young left WWE in April because he didn’t want to work with Vince McMahon. The longtime wrestling promoter returned to the Stamford-based promotion as executive chairman earlier this year after retiring last summer due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Young, who returned to Impact Wrestling at the promotion’s Slammiversary event this past weekend, addressed his WWE exit in a recent interview with Denise Salcedo. 

“I can say that I signed up for one thing and then was presented with a completely different thing,” Young said. “Personally, professionally, and for me, more importantly, morally, I can’t take instruction and work for a person like that. 

“And if you would have said that nine months ago, six months ago, I would probably would have said, ‘No. I wouldn’t be back at Impact.’ Fates got a funny way of doing things.

“Like I said, I didn’t really wanna leave [Impact] in the first place, but business is business, and an opportunity had presented itself that I just couldn’t say no to. I made the move, and I don’t regret it at all. Nine-month vacation, there’s worse things that can happen to a person, for sure.”

Young went on to say that he was “very lucky” to be in a position where he had a choice to leave WWE, acknowledging that not many people within the promotion would have that same ability. The former Impact World Champion believes it was the right option for him to walk away from a “massive opportunity” and “life-changing money.” Young said that he doesn’t regret the decision he made. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Rampage Preview 7/21/2023

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT

  • TBS Championship: Kris Statlander defends against Marina Shafir
  • Royal Rampage battle royal to earn a TNT Title shot at All Out 
  • The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass vs. QTV

Nick Aldis Is Interested In Both WWE And AEW

Nick Aldis departed from Impact Wrestling after the Slammiversary 2023 pay-per-view event, where he lost to World Champion Alex Shelley in the evening’s main event. He is now once again a free agent.

Before his Impact return at its April 16th Rebellion pay-per-view event, where he was on a short-term contract with the promotion, he had interest from WWE but wasn’t brought in. 

As previously reported, WWE has expressed interest in signing Aldis again and Aldis’ name has been discussed internally among WWE management as a potential producer for the company.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Aldis has yet to sign with anything.

“Aldis has no new deal in place and is said to be interested in both AEW and WWE. Aldis did clean jobs on the way out to Alex Shelley in the title match and Eric Young on TV. Aldis is a free agent right now and had agreed to work here through this week,” Meltzer wrote.

Source: eWn

Impact Wrestling Preview 7/20/2023

Tonight’s Impact at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.

  • Fallout from Slammiversary
  • In the closing moments of Slammiversary, Josh Alexander made his shocking return after relinquishing the IMPACT World Title due to injury this past April. Alexander would go face-to-face with reigning IMPACT World Champion Alex Shelley, who successfully retained his title over Nick Aldis just moments prior. Then, Alexander uttered the words that sent chills down the spines of wrestling fans around the world, “I’m back”. This Thursday, we will receive a status update from Josh Alexander himself. What’s next for the “Walking Weapon”? Tune in to find out.
  • Impact World Tag Team Championship: Subculture (Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews) (c) vs. ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)
  • Jake Something vs. Kevin Knight
  • Dirty Dango vs. Santino Marella
  • Courtney Rush vs. Savannah Evans

Bryan Danielson Undergoes Surgery, Provides Injury Update

Bryan Danielson broke his arm during a match with Kazuchika Okada at last month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II pay-per-view event.

The American Dragon recently took to Twitter to provide an update, revealing that he underwent surgery “about two weeks ago.” He wrote,

“Also, to give everyone an update before #AEWDynamite, I got surgery on my arm about two weeks ago, where they put in a steel rod and 9 screws. Surgery went well and I’m on the road to recovery. Thank you all for the support, and check out #BloodAndGuts tonight!”

https://twitter.com/bryandanielson/status/1681787330288570368

Source: eWn

AEW Dynamite “Blood And Guts” Preview 7/19/21

AEW Dynamite Blood & Guts will air live tonight on TBS from the TD Garden Arena in Boston, MA.

  • Blood & Guts Match: Blackpool Combat Club Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli), Konosuke Takeshita and PAC vs. The Golden Elite (Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Hangman Adam Page, Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson)
  • FTW Championship Match: Hook (c) defends against “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry
  • Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Finals: MJF and Adam Cole vs. Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia

Vickie Guerrero’s AEW Contract Expires, She’s Now A Free Agent

Vickie Guerrero’s contract with All Elite Wrestling has expired and she’s now a free agent.

Back in February, it was reported that Guerrero’s contract would be expiring this month after the two sides agreed not to renew the deal. As of this week, Vickie is now free to sign wherever she’d like.

Guerrero hasn’t been backstage at any AEW TV tapings since February. She made headlines back in April after her daughter Sherilyn accused Kris Benson (Vickie’s husband) of sexually assaulting her on a cruise.

Source: eWn

Tony Khan Talks Why Doing A Women’s Blood & Guts Was ‘Not A Feasible Idea’ This Year

The Golden Elite (Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Young Bucks & Hangman Page) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta & Claudio Castagnoli), Konosuke Takeshita and PAC in a Blood & Guts match will take place tonight on AEW Dynamite. 

During the ROH Death Before Dishonor media call, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about a possible women’s Blood and Guts match. 

“It would have been an interesting idea, it could have been a great match,” Tony Khan said about the idea of a women’s Blood & Guts during the Blood & Guts and ROH Death Before Dishonor media call. “I definitely think Jamie Hayter’s injury, is probably a five-on-five there given some of the depth issues, and especially given Willow Nightingale just got back and putting her in that kind of match after she had a major head injury in Japan, probably wouldn’t be very smart. We’ve had some other major injuries there, and when there was some fan momentum for that idea, I think the Outcasts vs. Jamie, Britt, and some others, was really running red hot and Jamie Hayter was a part of that. Some of the momentum for that, when Jamie Hayter was running hot as champion, was there, and I’m not sure at this moment, given some of the injuries we had, that was feasible. Also, with so many of the women competing this week in the Owen Hart Cup tournament, it is a very hard-hitting match and there is a lot of attrition for it. Santana still hasn’t been back from last year. The women’s division is pretty beat up, they’ve been beating the hell out of each other. Probably was not a feasible idea for them this year.”

Source: eWn H/T to Fightful

Saraya: WWE Medical Staff Said ‘Book Was Closed’ On Neck Injury, Refused To Examine

It was only a year ago when Saraya, then retired following a neck injury, found herself at a crossroads as a free agent after her WWE contract expired. Now, Saraya not only finds herself wrestling again, but a prominent member of AEW’s women’s division – part of The Outcasts with Ruby Soho and AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm.

But in an interview with “Inside The Ropes,” Saraya revealed that she could’ve gone down a different path if WWE would had taken a look at her neck to see if she had healed enough. But that was never something the promotion seriously considered.

“At WWE, I asked to see my neck a few times, and the medical said that the book was closed on that, and they weren’t gonna keep checking on it, which was really disappointing,” Saraya said. “So if I wanted to check on my neck, it would have to come out of my own pocket. Her name was Stacy — that was her who said that, by the way. So it wasn’t anything to do with like Hunter or anything, it was just that medical department, which I thought was a little unfair, but it’s okay.”

Ultimately, things worked out well for Saraya following a phone call from AEW owner Tony Khan, who offered her a job and the freedom to do whatever she wanted, including pursuing an in-ring comeback. Still, Saraya admitted she’s taken this comeback slow, in order to preserve herself as a competitor long-term.

“I was like ‘I’m smarter this time,'” Saraya said. “I have to be smarter. I’m starting my thirties here and I just want to work smarter, not harder, you know what I mean?”

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to “Inside the Ropes”

Nick Aldis & Another Wrestler Reportedly Done With Impact Wrestling

This weekend, Impact Wrestling held its annual Slammiversary pay-per-view, as well as an additional set of tapings last night. According to a new report from PWInsider Elite, as of Sunday, two wrestlers have finished up their current schedules with Impact: Nick Aldis and Zicky Dice.

ldis reportedly faced returning Impact star Eric Young at last night’s taping. On Saturday night, the former NWA star unsuccessfully challenged Alex Shelley for the Impact World Championship, and it seems Aldis is done working with the promotion for the time being.

After a stint with the company earlier in his career and a handful of guest appearances over the years, Aldis made a major return to Impact Wrestling in April. Aldis became the top contender for the Impact World Championship last month at the company’s Against All Odds pay-per-view. His title match, and the TV taping that followed, seem to mark the end of his return to Impact.

Last year, Aldis had a very public falling out with NWA owner and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. Unless the two are able to work something out, it makes NWA an unlikely destination for Aldis. The former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion could opt to return to the independent scene, or may be looking for a spot in another significant promotion such as WWE, AEW, or NJPW.

Zicky Dice has been with the company since 2021, and has faced off in singles matches against Bully Ray, Jordynne Grace, and Ace Austin. Before joining Impact, Dice wrestled for MLW, NWA, and various independent promotions.

Source: Wrestling Inc.