Bandido’s AEW Return Cut Short by Concussion At ROH Final Battle

After spending a year and a half recovering from injury, Bandido’s long-awaited return to AEW turned bittersweet over the weekend. The Mexican wrestling star made a surprise appearance at ROH Final Battle, confronting Chris Jericho and The Learning Tree in what was expected to be the start of a heated new storyline. However, Bandido’s moment was cut short after he suffered a concussion almost immediately upon entering the ring.

Bandido Opens Up About the Setback

Taking to Instagram, Bandido confirmed the concussion and shared his thoughts on the challenging road ahead.

“What a weekend!” Bandido wrote. “All I can do is thank God for allowing me to wake up another day after all that has happened! The blow was in a delicate area of my head, now just to wait till there is no brain inflammation.”

While expressing gratitude to his fans for their support, Bandido admitted to being frustrated by the turn of events. He described the recovery process as the “hardest battle” of his career and invoked an inspiring message, paraphrasing Rocky Balboa: it’s not about how hard you get hit, but how you get back up.

A Career Interrupted

The injury comes at a tough time for Bandido, who has faced a string of setbacks since joining AEW. His debut match in 2023 saw him take on Chris Jericho in a memorable contest for the ROH World Championship on AEW Dynamite. Unfortunately, Bandido suffered a broken wrist in June while wrestling Konosuke Takeshita on AEW Rampage, sidelining him for months.

The recent concussion not only delays Bandido’s in-ring return but also derails a planned feud with Jericho, as reported by F4WOnline. While no timeline has been provided for his recovery, the severity of concussions often varies, meaning Bandido’s time away will depend on how quickly his brain heals.

What’s Next for Bandido?

Despite the setbacks, fans and colleagues remain optimistic about Bandido’s eventual return. Known for his high-flying style and incredible charisma, Bandido has the potential to be a cornerstone of AEW and ROH once he’s fully healthy. For now, however, the focus remains on his recovery and ensuring he doesn’t rush back too soon.

Here’s wishing Bandido a full and speedy recovery

Tony Khan Confirms The End Of AEW Rampage For Now

After three years on the air, AEW Rampage is officially taking its final bow—at least for now. Tony Khan broke the news during Sunday’s AEW Dynamite taping, confirming that this Friday’s episode will be the last for the foreseeable future. The announcement, made to the live crowd, left room for a potential return down the line, but for now, Rampage will bid farewell as AEW looks toward the future of its programming.

The Final Episode: What to Expect

The final Rampage episode will feature four matches, taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The card includes appearances from fan favorites like Private Party, Thunder Rosa, and HOOK. In the night’s biggest match, Chris Jericho defeated Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed, though his ROH World Championship was not at stake.

The taping capped off AEW’s three-night stay at the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom, where they also held the ROH Final Battle pay-per-view and a Saturday edition of AEW Collision. Fans at the venue and watching at home praised the shows, signaling that AEW’s experiment with smaller venues may be paying off.

What’s Next for AEW?

While Rampage is wrapping up, speculation is swirling about what’s next for AEW’s television offerings. Rumors suggest that AEW has been in talks with another media company, with Fox frequently mentioned as a possible partner. Earlier this year, AEW trademarked the name “Shockwave,” sparking chatter that it could be the title of a new series. However, no official details have been announced.

AEW’s move to sunset Rampage comes on the heels of their new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially signaling a shift in their overall strategy. Whether this means a fresh weekly show or other innovative programming, fans are eager to see how the company will evolve its approach.

A Farewell, But Not Goodbye?

Tony Khan’s phrasing—“for the foreseeable future”—keeps the door open for a Rampage return. In the meantime, AEW’s focus appears to be on refining its other flagship programs and exploring new opportunities for growth.

AEW Christmas Collision Preview 12/21/2024

AEW Christmas Collision live on TNT from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

  • AEW Continental Classic Match – Gold League: Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay
  • AEW Continental Classic Match – Blue League: Shelton Benjamin vs. Daniel Garcia
  • AEW Continental Classic Match – Gold League: Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • AEW Continental Classic Match – Blue League: Mark Briscoe vs. The Beast Mortos
  • Kris Statlander vs. Penelope Ford
  • Adam Cole & MJF face-to-face
  • We’ll hear from Mercedes Mone

Lucha Libre Legend Rey Misterio Sr. Passes Away at 66

The wrestling world is mourning the loss of Miguel Angel Lopez Dias, better known as Rey Misterio Sr., who passed away at the age of 66. The news was confirmed in a heartfelt statement shared on Facebook by one of his sons, marking the end of an era for lucha libre.

A Pioneer of Lucha Libre

Rey Misterio Sr. was a trailblazer in Mexican wrestling, with a career that spanned decades and left an indelible mark on the industry. While most of his in-ring legacy was built in Mexico, Misterio Sr. also made appearances in WCW during the 1990s and continued to perform on the U.S. independent circuit through the 2000s. His contributions to wrestling were not confined to his own career—he played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of lucha libre stars.

A Master Trainer

Rey Misterio Sr. was not just a celebrated wrestler but also a renowned trainer, passing on his knowledge to some of wrestling’s most recognizable names. He helped mold the careers of his nephew, Rey Misterio Jr. (later renamed Rey Mysterio in WWE), and his son, Hijo del Rey Mysterio. Misterio Sr. also trained lucha libre legends like Konnan and Psicosis, who went on to enjoy prominent careers in promotions such as WCW and beyond.

A Legacy That Lives On

Rey Misterio Jr., Misterio Sr.’s nephew, became one of the most influential lucha libre stars in the world. From his groundbreaking matches in WCW to his iconic WWE career, Rey Mysterio Jr. has carried his uncle’s legacy to global audiences. His storied journey culminated in a WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2023, a testament to the impact Rey Misterio Sr.’s mentorship had on the industry.

Remembering a Legend

Rey Misterio Sr.’s contributions to professional wrestling extended far beyond the ring. As both a performer and a mentor, he played a crucial role in elevating lucha libre’s status worldwide. His passing marks the loss of a true icon, but his influence will continue to resonate through the wrestlers he trained and the fans who admired his work.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. Rey Misterio Sr. will forever be remembered as a cornerstone of lucha libre and a beloved figure in the wrestling community.

ROH Final Battle 12/20/2024 (Results) – Return Of Bandido & Danhausen

ROH Final Battle: Top Highlights, Shocking Moments, and Title Changes

Ring of Honor’s Final Battle delivered a thrilling mix of in-ring artistry, dramatic storytelling, and jaw-dropping surprises. From stunning heel turns to unexpected alliances, the event left fans buzzing. Let’s dive into the most memorable matches and moments.

Zero Hour Pre-Show

Grizzled Young Veterans (GYV) Defeated Dark Order

The action kicked off with GYV targeting John Silver’s injured hamstring, utilizing their ruthless efficiency to outmaneuver the Dark Order. Despite a fiery hot tag to Alex Reynolds and Evil Uno’s antics involving Mr. Brodie Lee’s papers, GYV capitalized with their Grit Your Teeth finisher to secure the win.

Hanako defeated Harley Cameron

Stardom’s powerhouse, Hanako, showcased her strength, shrugging off Harley Cameron’s Shining Wizard. A brutal backbreaker followed by a torture rack buster sealed the deal for the dominant Hanako.

The Kingdom Defeated The Infantry

Amid chaotic interference from Shane Taylor and Trish Adora, The Kingdom’s experience shone through. Despite a near-fall after Infantry’s Boot Camp finisher, The Kingdom rebounded with the Rockstar Supernova combo to win.

Gates of Agony Dominate Defeated Lee Johnson & EJ Nduka

Lee Johnson and EJ Nduka fell to the imposing Gates of Agony after a brutal double crucifix slam. Post-match, Johnson and Nduka blindsided their opponents in a shocking heel turn, cementing their status as dangerous adversaries.

Main Card

Atlantis Jr. Defeated Mansoor

Atlantis Jr. bested Mansoor with a picture-perfect frog splash, but the moment fans will remember came courtesy of a masked intruder—Danhausen. With a “very evil” crotch punch to Mason Madden, Danhausen tipped the scales in Atlantis Jr.’s favor, setting up a post-match curse and teeth-laden assault.

Katsuyori Shibata Defeated Tommy Billington

Katsuyori Shibata’s technical brilliance was on full display as he countered Tommy Billington’s flying headbutt with precise strikes. A well-timed sleeper hold secured a tap-out victory for the wrestling maestro.

Jay Lethal Defeated QT Marshall

This match was pure madness, with QT channeling NWO Randy Savage and Lethal embracing his Black Machismo persona. Highlights included dueling figure-four leg locks and Jeff Jarrett smashing Aaron Solo with a guitar. Lethal’s back-to-back Lethal Injections finally put QT down in a highly entertaining spectacle.

ROH Women’s World Television Championship: Red Velvet Defeated Leyla Hirsch to Retain the Title

In a physical showdown, Velvet resorted to underhanded tactics, clocking Leyla Hirsch with a hidden wrench to retain her championship. The post-match reaction hinted at a full-blown heel turn for Velvet.

ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty Defeated Nigel McGuinness

Nigel’s surprise return brought an old-school feel to the Pure Championship match. After an intense back-and-forth, Lee Moriarty forced Nigel to submit with the Border City Stretch, overcoming McGuinness’s legendary wit and rule-bending.

ROH World Tag Team Championship – Texas Bull Rope Match: Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara Defeated The Righteous to Retain the Titles.

Tied to their respective opponents, Rhodes and Guevara delivered a violent spectacle. Highlights included Dustin smashing Dutch through a barbed wire table and Sammy’s GTH to Vincent. A Dusty Rhodes-inspired cowbell shot from Dustin sealed the victory.

ROH World Television Championship: Komander Defeated Brian Cage, Willie Mack, Mark Davis, AR Fox, and Blake Christian to win the Title

Komander outlasted five other competitors in an electric elimination match to become the new champion. His dazzling high-flying offense, including a rope-walking shooting star press, earned a standing ovation as he pinned Blake Christian to claim the gold.

ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho defeated Matt Cardona to Retain the Title

Chris Jericho embraced his “Le Champion” theatrics, entering to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” before engaging in a grueling contest with Matt Cardona. Despite Cardona’s best efforts and a seven-count visual pinfall, outside interference from Bryan Keith secured Jericho’s victory. Afterward, Bandido made a surprise return to fend off Jericho and his cronies, setting up a likely title clash down the road.

ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena Defeated Billie Starkz to Retain the Title

In an emotional battle, Athena’s relentless targeting of Starkz’s knee led to a decisive victory after the O-Face flying stunner. After the match, Athena laughed at Starkz crying on the mat.

AEW Rampage Holiday Bash Preview 12/20/2024

AEW Rampage Holiday Bash tonight on TNT.

  • AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match: Brody King (6 pts) vs. Komander (0 pts)
  • Konosuke Takeshita & Brian Cage vs. Powerhouse Hobbs & Mark Davis
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Harley Cameron
  • Lio Rush & Action Andretti vs. TBD
  • We’ll hear from Don Callis

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/20/2024

WWE SmackDown will air tonight on the USA Network, taped last week from the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Bianca Belair and Naomi defends against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae
  • The Bloodline vs. LA Knight, Apollo Crews and Andrade
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Braun Strowman
  • Johnny Gargano vs. Alex Shelley

WWE NXT Level Up Reportedly Ending

As WWE gears up for a transformative 2025, the company’s programming continues to shift across networks, and it seems NXT Level Up is the latest casualty of this new era.

According to a report from Fightful Select, WWE is set to wrap up NXT Level Up this week, with Thursday’s taping reportedly marking the series’ final episode. This comes amid WWE’s broader network shuffle, as the company prepares for RAW’s highly anticipated move to Netflix in January.

NXT itself has already undergone significant changes this year. Back in October, SmackDown moved from FOX to the USA Network, while NXT transitioned from USA to The CW Network. Along with this shift, older episodes of NXT migrated from Peacock to The CW App, causing uncertainty about where supplemental content like NXT Level Up would land.

NXT Level Up first debuted on February 18, 2022, as a successor to the beloved 205 Live. The show primarily served as a proving ground for newer NXT talent—those who had yet to establish themselves on the main Tuesday night NXT broadcast. Episodes were often taped either before or after the live NXT shows, giving developmental wrestlers a chance to gain experience in front of a live audience.

Despite its role in spotlighting emerging stars, the future of NXT Level Up has felt uncertain for months. The lack of clarity on its streaming home—especially with NXT’s library moving to The CW—sparked speculation that the show would soon be discontinued. Now, with Fightful’s report indicating its imminent conclusion, it appears WWE is officially pulling the plug.

While NXT Level Up may be ending, WWE’s developmental brand remains a key focus. NXT’s move to The CW has given the brand a new home with broader reach, and WWE is clearly investing in elevating its younger talent through Tuesday night programming. With RAW moving to Netflix in 2025 and SmackDown thriving on USA Network, WWE’s media landscape continues to evolve—and smaller shows like NXT Level Up may no longer fit into the company’s long-term strategy.

For now, fans can tune in to the final episode of NXT Level Up this Thursday as WWE says goodbye to the short-lived series. It’s a bittersweet end for a show that helped develop the next generation of stars, but it’s clear WWE has its eyes set on a much bigger stage as it heads into 2025.

Kenny Omega Nearing Return: AEW Comeback Expected Before NJPW Match

After spending all of 2024 sidelined with diverticulitis, former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega is finally set for an in-ring return. Omega’s first official match back will see him face NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, 2025, in the iconic Tokyo Dome. But while fans eagerly await Omega’s return to Japan, reports suggest his comeback to AEW could happen even sooner.

According to Fightful Select, Omega’s return to AEW is likely to take place before his NJPW bout. In fact, there’s been significant internal discussion about potentially bringing Omega back at AEW’s final pay-per-view of the year, Worlds End, on December 28. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, this would be a monumental way for AEW to close out 2024 and kickstart Omega’s next chapter.

Omega’s return has been highly anticipated, and AEW has already begun building momentum. A vignette promoting his comeback aired during the Holiday Bash edition of AEW Dynamite, sparking excitement among fans. However, AEW has noticeably avoided mentioning Omega’s Wrestle Dynasty match against Gabe Kidd, raising questions about what role Omega might play upon his return.

Interestingly, Omega’s choice to have his first match back in Japan rather than AEW is reportedly part of a goodwill gesture to New Japan Pro Wrestling. Sources close to the situation indicate that AEW President Tony Khan personally approved the decision to strengthen the working relationship between AEW and NJPW. Omega himself has also spoken about the move, expressing his desire to repay NJPW for its role in shaping his career.

Before his health setback, Omega was reportedly on track for a high-profile feud with Kazuchika Okada, a rivalry that would have reunited two of the best to ever compete in NJPW. While it remains unclear if AEW will pick up those plans, Omega’s return opens up countless storytelling possibilities, especially as AEW heads into 2025 with growing momentum.

Omega’s absence this year left a noticeable void in AEW, but his return promises to reignite the fanbase. Whether it’s at Worlds End on December 28 or another major AEW show leading into the new year, the wrestling world will be watching closely to see how “The Cleaner” re-establishes himself on the AEW stage.

Stay tuned to wrestlingnewsblog.com for further updates on Kenny Omega’s return, his role in AEW, and his upcoming clash with Gabe Kidd at NJPW’s Wrestle Dynasty. One thing’s for sure: 2025 is about to get a whole lot cleaner.

WWE Reportedly Considering a ‘Tribal Chief Championship’ for Bloodline Storyline

The Bloodline saga has been one of WWE’s most captivating storylines in years, but even its biggest supporters have pointed out a minor flaw: the rivalry is built around an abstract concept. While Roman Reigns’ title as “Tribal Chief” is deeply rooted in the faction’s Samoan heritage, it lacks the tangible symbolism often seen in championship-driven feuds. However, WWE may soon change that.

According to a report from WrestleVotes, WWE is considering introducing a Tribal Chief Championship belt into the Bloodline storyline, giving Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and the entire faction something more concrete to fight over. The report suggests this championship would be similar to the People’s Championship presented to The Rock earlier this year at WrestleMania 40.

If this move happens, it could coincide with the highly-anticipated January 6 debut of WWE Raw on Netflix, where Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa are already set to clash. Their match, which Reigns officially laid out on the December 13 episode of SmackDown, will be a “Tribal Combat” Match — a stipulation that features no disqualifications and no outside interference. WWE elaborated further on Raw three days later, building anticipation for this significant showdown.

While the introduction of a Tribal Chief Championship is still speculative, it wouldn’t be the first time wrestling has seen story-driven titles designed to enhance rivalries.

  • In the late ’80s, Ted DiBiase introduced the Million Dollar Championship, a flashy symbol of his wealth and influence.
  • In ECW, Taz debuted the rebellious FTW Championship (affectionately called the “F*** the World” title) as a darkly humorous declaration of dominance.
  • In WWE’s early 2010s, Matt Cardona (then Zack Ryder) crowned himself the Internet Champion, a nod to his social media success and rising online fanbase.

These titles, while not always formally recognized, added depth to storylines and served as symbolic trophies for larger-than-life personas. A Tribal Chief Championship could play a similar role, giving Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa an unmistakable prize that embodies their struggle for leadership and power within the Bloodline.

The timing would certainly make sense. With the Netflix era of WWE Raw on the horizon and Roman Reigns’ storyline entering yet another pivotal chapter, a new championship would help escalate tensions and provide fans with a fresh visual centerpiece for the Bloodline feud.

Should WWE proceed with this plan, the Tribal Chief Championship could become a unique piece of wrestling lore — a title driven less by traditional wrestling wins and losses and more by legacy, dominance, and family pride.

Stay tuned to wrestlingnewsblog.com as we continue to cover all the latest developments leading up to WWE Raw’s Netflix debut and the ongoing Bloodline saga. Could Solo Sikoa or Roman Reigns soon hold a title that defines the true Tribal Chief? We’ll find out soon enough!