Tonight’s AEW Rampage is scheduled to begin at 9:30 pm ET, or following the NBA Playoffs.
During a promo on Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV, Eddie Kingston Kingston revealed he wrestled against Claudio Castagnoli at the March 31 ROH Supercard of Honor with a hernia. Kingston said he likely will require surgery. He also noted that he has been dealing with the hernia since last September. He was unsuccessful in capturing the ROH World Championship.
He was originally scheduled to square off against Gabriel Kidd at this Sunday’s NJPW Collision PPV in Philadelphia, but was pulled off the event due to injury and replaced by Orange Cassidy. This match will now be for the AEW International Title, currently held by Cassidy.
Source: WrestleView
Mickie James has relinquished the Impact Wrestling Knockouts Championship.
During this week’s episode of IMPACT! on AXS TV, Mickie James was shown in the middle of a ring inside an empty arena. She revealed that she hasn’t been cleared to compete at Rebellion and wants to do what’s right for the business and the locker room. Before leaving her title and hat in the middle of the ring, an emotional James told Deonna Purrazzo and Jordynne Grace that it was their time now.
Grace vs. Purrazzo will now face off at Sunday night’s Impact Wrestling Rebellion pay-per-view event for the vacant championship.
Source: eWrestlingNews
Latest on Jeff Hardy following his AEW return on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Jeff Hardy is back on AEW television after the best part of year, having mounted a comeback on this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite – but don’t expect the veteran to be wrestling anytime soon.
Fightful Select reports that despite his pro wrestling re-emergence, Jeff is still recuperating from a recent surgery. Thus, plans that don’t involve the 45-year-old competing have been put together for the next few weeks.
Jeff’s Dynamite appearance was his first since June 2022. The comeback angle saw him save brother Matt, HOOK, and Isiah Kassidy from The Firm, who were beating the babyfaces down. Hardy got physical in the segment, hitting a Swanton Bomb on Lee Moriarty to complete the save.
There is currently no word on the nature of Hardy’s physical situation, or how long his condition will prevent him from wrestling.
Hardy’s AEW absence came following his arrest in Volusia County, Florida last June. Facing charges of driving with a suspended license, violating restrictions placed on his license, and felony DUI, Jeff was ultimately sentenced to 38 days in prison (which he’d already served), a two-year probationary period, a 10-year suspension of his license, and more.
AEW founder Tony Khan stated, at the time, that Jeff would only be allowed to return to the company upon completing an alcohol treatment program and maintaining his sobriety.
Source: WhatCulture
18-year-old wrestling prodigy Billie Starkz has been signed by All Elite Wrestling, says veteran announcer Tony Schiavone.
Schiavone, who works as a broadcaster, producer, and special advisor in AEW, claimed that the promotion had signed Starkz during a recent episode of his What Happened When podcast with Conrad Thompson. This came as the duo were talking about Nick Wayne, whom AEW signed when he was 16 years old – and is now set to debut on Dynamite after turning 18 in July.
Starkz has wrestled in Tony Khan’s network of promotions several times since December 2022, when she served as an AEW Dark opponent for Dr. Britt Baker DMD. Most recently, Billie fell in a TBS Championship challenge against Jade Cargill, with the bout airing on the 7 April Battle Of The Belts VI special.
Billie is also 1-1 on ROH on HonorClub, facing Trish Adora and Miranda Alize at the brand’s February tapings.
A wrestler since 2018 despite her youth, Starks already has 365 documented matches on her CAGEMATCH profile. Billie has been a staple on the American independent scene for several years now, competing for such promotions as GCW, BLP, and ACTION while going through high school.
Source: WhatCulture
The Guerrero family issues continue to spill out in public.
As noted, Eddie and Vickie Guerrero’s youngest daughter Sherilyn accused Vickie’s current husband, Kris Benson, of sexually assaulting her during a cruise in early 2020 in a TikTok video.
Shaul, Sherilyn’s sister, also claimed that the sexual assault occurred.
On Wednesday, Vickie released the following legal letter via her official Instagram page.
April 12, 2023
Kris and Vickie Benson Respond to Sherilyn Guerrero’s Recent Allegations
Kris and Vickie Benson vehemently deny Sherilyn Guerrero’s recent allegations of sexual assault and abandonment. Ms. Guerrero’s unsubstantiated accusations have caused the Bensons to suffer public ridicule, scorn, derision, and humiliation. Kris and Vickie fully appreciate the seriousness of allegations of this nature and the need for public support of sexual assault survivors; however, they ask that you withhold final judgment on this matter until they have an opportunity to bring Ms. Guerrero and her claims into a court of law where judgment is based on facts and merit.
Contact
Reese Campbell
Attorney for Kris and Vicki Benson
EaDo Law, PLLC
Houston, Texas (713) 424-6653
Source: rajah.com
On the latest episode of the “FTR with Dax” podcast, Dax Harwood disclosed that he and Cash Wheeler had signed new deals with All Elite Wrestling. According to Wrestling Observer, the reigning AEW World Tag Team Champions revealed that they had inked new four-year contracts with Tony Khan’s promotion during an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone that was taped last night following “AEW Dynamite” for this Friday’s episode of “AEW Rampage.” Additionally, FTR suggested that they would retire in four years once their new deals had expired.
With their initial contracts with AEW expiring this month, there had been a lot of speculation surrounding the futures of Harwood and Wheeler, with the former recently indicating that FTR had decided on their next move without disclosing any specific details. While it had been suggested that FTR could be heading back to WWE, Harwood pointed out on the “FTR with Dax” podcast that it was “the best course of action” that he and Wheeler stayed with AEW.
Harwood and Wheeler made their debuts for AEW in May 2020 after being granted their releases from WWE the previous month; they would officially sign with the promotion two months later after initially working without contracts. FTR captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship from “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega at the All Out pay-per-view four months after debuting for the organization. They would also go on to win tag team gold in Ring of Honor, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. After being absent from AEW programming earlier this year, FTR returned at March’s Revolution event and later captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship for a second time in a Titles vs. Careers match against Austin and Colten Gunn on the April 5 episode of “Dynamite.”
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders, it’s the last stop on the road to Rebellion!
Jeff Hardy is back!
During Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite, the Charismatic Enigma made his return to make the save for his brother Matt.
Prior to Wednesday night, Jeff Hardy hadn’t been seen on AEW television since July 2022 due to being suspended following a DUI arrest in Florida.
In a segment where Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy, and HOOK were being attacked by The Firm on this week’s broadcast, Jeff Hardy’s music hit and he came out with a chair and took everyone out. He then hit a swanton bomb on Lee Moriarity.
AEW President Tony Khan said at the time of Jeff’s arrest that he could “only return to AEW upon successfully completing treatment and maintaining his sobriety.”
Jeff Hardy’s case has since been closed after he entered a no contest plea.
AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS and emanate from the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI.
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