Ethan Page Denies Reports He’s Signed To WWE In Social Media Video Following NXT Debut

Former AEW star Ethan Page shocked the world on May 28 when he made a surprise appearance on “WWE NXT” attacking NXT Champion Trick Williams. Page left All Elite Wrestling earlier this year after his contract expired, and seems to have found himself in a brand new environment…at least for now. The day after “WWE NXT” aired, Page took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) account to reveal that, despite rumors suggesting otherwise, he hasn’t actually signed with WWE.

https://twitter.com/OfficialEGO/status/1795893384382443766

“Everybody saw what I did last night, literally everybody. We’re talking millions of views across all social platforms, that’s pretty heavy. I’d even say that’s a bit of buying power for Ethan Page, especially because, contrary to popular belief, Ethan Page is not signed to any company, or any contract, and I’m going to just assume that Trick Williams would love to get a little payback and revenge on Ethan Page. So NXT, I’m going to leave this one to you, ball is in your court, and ‘All Ego’ is all ears. I’m going to assume someone in that company has my number, I’ll wait for the call.”

Page has also gloated on social media about how he ‘whooped that trick’ with the intention of baiting the NXT Champion into potentially putting his title on the line against the former AEW star. The upcoming June 4 edition of “WWE NXT” will be the final episode of the show before the NXT Battleground Premium Live Event takes place on June 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and at the time of writing, a match for Williams’ NXT Championship has yet to be booked. However, given how Page blindsided the champion this past week, WWE might want to consider keeping the former AEW star to be Williams’ first title defense. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 5/29/2024

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite live on TBS from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, California.

  • Fallout from Double or Nothing
  • A new segment will debut on tonight’s show – TV Time with The Learning Tree Chris Jericho.
  • Casino Gauntlet Match for AEW World Title opportunity at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door III
  • Don Callis to present a contract
  • Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway will explain why they turned on Willow Nightingale at Double or Nothing
  • Mercedes Mone’s TBS Championship celebration
  • World Heavyweight Champion Swerve Strickland vs. Killswitch in a non-title bout
  • IWGP World Heavyweight title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Rocky Romero

Report – The WWE NXT-TNA Wrestling Cross-Over Is Expected To Continue

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace made an appearance on this week’s episode of WWE NXT.

During the show, it was announced that Grace will be facing off against Roxanne Perez at the 2024 NXT Battleground pay-per-view event. Grace will also be appearing on next week’s show.

According to a report from Pwinsider, the belief among those backstage is that there will be some kind of NXT representation at future TNA events as well. As of this writing, there is no word on who from WWE NXT will be coming over to make appearances. As of now, only Roxanne Perez and Jordynne Grace are involved. But that could easily change.

The next set of TNA tapings will be at the Against All Odds pay-per-view event on June 14th and a TV taping the following night on June 15th.

Source: eWn

Adam Copeland Provides Injury Update After AEW Double Or Nothing

Following his Barbed Wire Steel Cage match at AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday, there was fear that TNT Champion Adam Copeland had suffered an injury. Though AEW owner Tony Khan was unsure of Copeland’s condition immediately following the match, it seems the 50-year-old didn’t escape Sunday’s PPV unharmed. In a video posted to Copeland’s X page today, the AEW star confirmed that he fractured his tibia in the match and will require surgery.

Copeland stated that the injury was his body’s way of telling him to slow down and make better choices. At one point during Sunday’s bout, Copeland performed a dive from the top of the cage to hit an elbow drop onto opponent Malakai Black. While it has yet to be confirmed, this may have been the move that resulted in Copeland’s injury.

Copeland, previously known in WWE as Edge, was forced into retirement in 2011 after speaking with doctors about his various neck injuries. He returned to the ring in 2020, spending the next three years in WWE before making a surprise debut at AEW WrestleDream last October. Since then, Copeland spent much of his time occupied by a feud with longtime friend and tag team partner Christian Cage, whom Copeland defeated for the TNT Championship in March. Shortly after that, he began a series of open challenges before feuding against the House of Black.

Since joining AEW, Copeland has wrestled more than 20 matches, including lengthy singles bouts against Cage, Brody King, Buddy Matthews, Black, and more. Copeland recently revealed that he had signed a two-year deal with AEW in 2023 and intends to retire from wrestling when that contract is up.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Arn Anderson Leaving AEW

Earlier this week, “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry confirmed that after his contract with AEW expired on May 28, he’d be moving on from the company in order to better focus on some of his professional projects. On the latest episode of the “ARN” podcast, wrestling legend Arn Anderson announced that he too will be imminently leaving All Elite Wrestling, as his respective contract expires on Friday, May 31. The reasoning for Anderson’s departure, however, is much more personal.

“The limited time that I have left [in my wrestling career], I want to spend with [my son] Brock, because I think Brock has aptitude and attitude,” Anderson said. “I think he will be a player for somebody. And I just got to get him some experience, and that’s where I’m going to go with my time – helping develop Brock and teaching him. If he comes along like I think and hope it will, it will be sooner than later. So I just want to say thank you to Tony [Khan]. This coming, believe it or not, on double shot day, [May] 31st is the last day of my contract. I just want to say thank you. I appreciate everything, and that goes to everybody that works there.”

During his five-year tenure with AEW, Anderson notably served as a mentor, manager, and coach. Upon his arrival at AEW in 2019, “The Enforcer” was appointed as the on-screen personal advisor to “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, who resided as one of AEW’s founding members. After Rhodes exited AEW in early 2022, Anderson shifted his attention to managing the likes of Wardlow, Lee Johnson, and his son, Brock Anderson. Brock spent two years in AEW before leaving the company in October 2023.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jake Hager Reportedly Done With AEW, Mark Henry’s Status

Another name is reportedly gone from AEW after his contract recently expired. 

According to Bodyslam.net’s Cassidy Haynes, Jake Hager did not re-sign with Tony Khan’s company. Haynes reported that the decision was mutual between Hager and AEW and the former Jack Swagger is now a free agent.

The 42 year old’s last match with the company was on the February 21 episode of “AEW Rampage,” where he was defeated by Roderick Strong. He was last featured on “AEW Dynamite” at the end of December in 2023 when he teamed with The Gunns and Matt Menard in a losing effort against Billy Gunn, The Acclaimed, and Scott Taylor. He signed with AEW in 2019 and made his debut with the company on October 2 as a member of Chris Jericho’s inner circle. He didn’t make his in-ring debut until Revolution the following February. As Haynes reported, Hager hadn’t been used much on AEW programming since the breakup of the Jericho Appreciation Society, where he was a member alongside Jericho, Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker, Menard, Sammy Guevara, Tay Melo, and Anna Jay.

Prior to his run with AEW, Hager was known as Swagger in the company’s competition from 2006 to 2017. He debuted with WWE on the revamped ECW brand and won his first title from Matt Hardy in January 2009. “The Real American” was released from the company in March 2017 after requesting to be let go.

AEW’s Mark Henry also recently revealed his contract expired and he had not re-signed as well. Henry explained on “Busted Open Radio” that the decision was mutual and he would be taking more time to handle his brands. Henry worked for AEW as an announcer, coach, and scout.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ethan Page Debuts On WWE NXT

Ethan Page arrived on NXT this week, and new reports have details on his signing with the company. As reported, “All Ego” made his debut on tonight’s show and attacked NXT Champion Trick Williams to close the show. Both PWInsider and Fightful Select are reporting that Page has signed with WWE, with PWInsider noting that he had done so within the last few days. Both sites note that Page had a secret visit to the WWE Performance Center over the last week.

Page was removed from the AEW roster page at the start of the month; at this point it is not clear whether his deal with AEW expired or he secured a release. Fightful Select notes that he had told some in the industry he was looking to be a free agent by late spring and when word of his exit happened, he had been hoping it would go unnoticed until he “appeared somewhere else.”

Page is the promoter of Alpha-1 Wrestling in Ontario, and as of now it is uncertain what the promotion’s future is. Fightful Select notes that sources in WWE were “immediately pleased” with Page’s debut, and main roster sources had noted they were excited for him coming on board.

Source: 411Mania

Update On Becky Lynch’s Status With WWE As Contract Is Reportedly Set To Expire

Once again, Becky Lynch has become the talk of the wrestling world, and not just because she lost the WWE Women’s World Championship to Liv Morgan this past weekend at WWE King & Queen of the Ring. Instead, it’s because Lynch may be set to his the free agent market for the first time in years, as her contract with WWE is set to expire this weekend, with no new deal signed between her and WWE at this time.

At the moment, it appears WWE is preparing to be without Lynch for some time. PWInsider reports that Lynch is currently not slated to appear on any WWE events in the near future. This includes an upcoming live event Saturday in White Plains, New York, with those in WWE believing Lynch will not be part of the show, despite still be advertised for it.

This should not be taken as a sign that Lynch is out the door, however, as her and WWE are still said to be discussing a new contract that would keep the former eight time WWE Women’s Champion in the fold. The belief within WWE is that Lynch, who is believed to be seeking one of, if not the, largest contracts for a women’s wrestler in history, will ultimately remain with the promotion, and that she isn’t looking to go elsewhere.

If last night was Lynch’s last appearance on WWE TV for the next little while, it wasn’t the most pleasant of nights, as she was defeated by Morgan again in a rematch for the Women’s World Championship, held inside a steel cage. Fan footage from after “Raw” showed Lynch in an emotional state, adding to the speculation regarding her future.

Taking to X a half an hour after “Raw” went off the air, a fan posted video of Lynch sitting in the ring for nearly two minutes, trying to contain her emotions. She would finally get to her feet and quietly acknowledge the crowd with a wave before exiting the ring, stopping quickly to interact with a fan at ringside.

The video will surely get fans speculating on whether the former eight time WWE Women’s Champion was legitimately getting emotional about this potentially being her last match in WWE, or if she was selling the disappointment of a second straight defeat against Morgan.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace Appeared On NXT Set To Challenge NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez At WWE NXT Battleground

Last week, “WWE NXT” General Manager Ava informed NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez that the identity of her next challenger would be revealed on this week’s episode of “NXT.” Much to Perez’s dismay, her upcoming challenger was confirmed to be current TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, who came face-to-face with “The Prodigy” in her surprise return to WWE.

“Roxanne, you are a great champion, a two time champion,” Grace told Perez. “You have built your name here at NXT, the same as I have in TNA. But I’m curious, who do you think has built the stronger foundation? I want to find out. So at Battleground, I’m going to be challenging you for your NXT Women’s Championship. And I’m fully prepared to leave Las Vegas a double champion.”

As Grace alluded to, the next “NXT” premium live event, Battleground, will emanate from UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 9. For Perez, this will mark her fourth televised title defense since regaining the NXT Women’s Championship with a victory over Lyra Valkyria at “NXT” Stand & Deliver. For Grace, “NXT” Battleground will serve as the site of her third-ever match in WWE, with the first being the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Before she steps up to Perez, Grace will take on Stevie Turner on next week’s episode of “NXT.”

Over in TNA Wrestling, Grace — in her third reign — has resided as the Knockouts Champion for over four months. “The Juggernaut” began her current reign at the 2024 TNA Hard to Kill event by defeating Trinity, who officially returned to WWE as Naomi later that same month.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 5/27/2024

WWE RAW tonight live on USA Network from the EnMarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia.