Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, The Motor City Machine Guns, Reportedly Finished With TNA

Two of the most successful stars in the history of TNA Wrestling have reportedly finished up with the promotion. According to PWInsider, Saturday night’s tapings in Philadelphia marked the final TNA performances (at least for now) of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Guns. PWI says TNA held an emotional backstage sendoff for the veteran duo whose contracts are up on April 1. This report was confirmed by Fightful Select, who add that while “the door has been kept open” for the Guns to return, they are not currently expected to remain with TNA.

Sabin and Shelley have spent the majority of their careers in TNA since debuting for the promotion in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and they’ve seen plenty of individual success, with both men having enjoyed a reign with the promotion’s world championship. However, they are much better known as a tag team — the Motor City Machine Guns are three-time TNA tag champs and have won tag team gold in Game Changer Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Ring of Honor (prior to its acquisition by AEW CEO Tony Khan).

The Guns’ final TNA match is reportedly against Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers for the tag titles. Come April, they will be free agents and can sign with any promotion. They previously appeared in one match for AEW, teaming with Jay Lethal in a losing effort against FTR and Wardlow at All Out 2022, and Shelley has been seen on WWE television as well, competing alongside KUSHIDA on “WWE NXT” as part of the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (he also boasts an 2005 appearance on “WWE Sunday Night Heat”). WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” Brian James recently suggested Sabin and Shelley would be “good WWE superstars.” on his podcast, “Oh … You Didn’t Know,”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Hardy Gives Update On AEW Contract Negotiations

On the latest episode of the “Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, the AEW star discussed a wide range of topics. 

During this time, Hardy discussed his contract status with AEW ahead of its expiration this month. He was also at Monday’s WWE RAW after he and his wife were invited to sit in a suite by one of her friends. He said, 

“The reason it got even more buzz is people know my contract is coming up. I’m in the midst of contract negotiations. If you are trying to secure me under contract, I’m a guy you want. Whenever I work for your company, nobody waves the flag harder than I do. Whether it’s promoting the company on social media or promoting the hell out of all the positive the company offers. I do love AEW. There are some things I would like to change about my personal career there, and some of the things we’re doing, but overall I love AEW because it is very important for the pro wrestling industry. AEW needs to do well just because the pro wrestling industry doesn’t need just one huge company that is in control of everything. They need competition. Competition is what makes it thrive and what makes it better. For all the young kids coming up, competition needs to exist. I want AEW to do well and I want AEW to thrive. I want to be in a satisfactory position in what I’m doing in AEW. That’s where we’re at.

“Still negotiating and figuring things out. Once again, Tony Khan has taken great care of me. He’s been a good boss. I think Tony Khan is a great human being. At the end of the day, when it comes to making a decision about what I do next, it also comes down to making sure I’m happy and I’m comfortable with what I’m doing in all capacities across the board. There is a ton of value in both Matt and Jeff Hardy right now. If you’re online and don’t see that, I’m sorry, but social media does not reflect reality. People know who we are. I don’t want to say we’re household names, but if you’re a pro wrestling fan, you know who the Hardy Boys are. There are people I meet who are like, ‘You look like Matt Hardy, the Hardy Boys who did the ladder stuff.’ ‘Yeah, nice to meet you.’ I get recognized every day I go out in public. That’s promotion and press, you can’t buy that. I’ve been blessed with so much TV time over the years. There is huge value in Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, and the Hardys together, especially. That is when we’re at our most value. There is value in both of us. Once again, I want to be used to the best of my ability and get the most out of my value.”

Source: eWn

WWE SmackDown Preview 3/22/2024

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes to go face-to-face
  • WrestleMania 40 Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
  • WrestleMania 40 Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: The Good Brothers vs. Grayson Waller and Austin Theory
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar (LWO and LGF Banned From Ringside)

Bray Wyatt Reportedly Not Planned For WWE Hall Of Fame 2024

On Monday, April 1, WWE will air a new documentary on the life of Bray Wyatt that is narrated by The Undertaker. It’s titled “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal.”

John Cena, Becky Lynch, Triple H, Hulk Hogan, and Bo Dallas were all interviewed for the documentary. The documentary will air exclusively on Peacock.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Wyatt won’t be going into the WWE Hall of Fame this year and the doc has something to do with the decision. 

“I was told [the new Bray Wyatt documentary] had something to do with the decision not to induct Wyatt into the Hall of Fame this year, that this year they were doing the big documentary for him and would induct him later,” Meltzer wrote.

Source: eWn

Backstage Update On Jack Perry’s AEW Hiatus

Tony Khan continues to hold a grudge against Jack Perry following CM Punk’s AEW departure and that’s why he hasn’t brought him back to television.

Perry had been absent from the scene for several months after the incident involving CM Punk at AEW All In last August. This incident resulted in Perry’s suspension. Despite Perry now working with NJPW, he remains under contract with AEW. 

Perry disregarded Punk’s advice against using real glass during a TV segment. Perry performed a spot on a car windshield at All In 2023 and made a reference to using real glass on camera, which led to the physical altercation backstage.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Perry will be brought back after his NJPW run.

“The way we’ve heard it, was that he was sent home after Wembley and never heard back from Khan. He apologized, kept texting him about he never meant to cause any trouble and was sorry. He did hear from the company through lawyers. Then they talked and he apologized to Khan. But he still hasn’t been brought back. What they are doing now in Japan is storyline to lead to an eventual return,” Meltzer wrote.

Source: eWn

Tony Khan Provides Update On Kenny Omega’s AEW Status, Won’t Set Timetable For Return

AEW President Tony Khan has opened up about how former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega is doing and if a return might be on the cards for him. Omega was taken out of action indefinitely at the end of 2023 after being diagnosed with diverticulitis, an illness that could have been fatal had Omega not seen doctors when he did.

“The Cleaner” has since been spotted on Twitch where he has been streaming video games and talking wrestling, and seems in high spirits which has got a lot of people feeling good about seeing him return to the ring. Khan shares this optimism with the fans as he stated in an interview with “ComicBook Nation” that, while he would love to see Omega back in action, he doesn’t want to rush things. 

“We miss Kenny Omega very much,” Khan said. “Hopefully he will be back with us soon and certainly I think the fans will be clamoring for his return and there will be a massive ovation if and when Kenny Omega does come back to AEW. I don’t want to put pressure on it, he was really in a bad way and I don’t want to put a timetable or try to rush him back. But I’m optimistic we’ll see Kenny Omega again and certainly, it’s something for all the fans to look forward to. I think everybody’s going to go crazy when Kenny does come back, which I think we’re all very optimistic about.”

When Omega does come back, he will have to deal with the drama of The Young Bucks, who publicly fired him from The Elite on an episode of “AEW Dynamite” in March 2024 after they said he was not making any of his dates for no good reason.

Source: Wrestling Inc. credit to ComicBook Nation

Dave Meltzer Addresses WWE Talents’ Frustrations With Dwayne The Rock Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had caused some frustration among network executives and WWE wrestlers because of his language during in-ring promos. A memo was reportedly sent out to talent recently, which said they must continue to adhere to the promotion’s PG guidelines when it comes to their promos. According to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there have been discussions “among talent and outside” about a “double standard” involving the former WWE Champion. However, the report pointed out that there will always be that type of situation regarding someone with star power, like Rock.

Additionally, an unnamed individual told the Observer that nobody would question Rock because he’s a member of the TKO Group Holdings (parent company of WWE) board and generally does what he wants. Also, it was mentioned that Rock has a team of representatives, so he wouldn’t necessarily get involved with any issues. Meanwhile, there was said to be a feeling that “the era of Vince McMahon’s double standards for his handpicked stars” was over. However, since Rock’s return, that belief has changed.

Meanwhile, some talent has reportedly claimed they would be able to pick up more steam if the “handcuffs” were taken off their promos on television and social media. It’s said that despite Rock having significant freedom, stars like Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes have had to stick to the usual guidelines. “The Great One” recently responded to the complaints about his language and cursing on WWE programming, saying he’d “rather be real than not” and “talk from the heart.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

3 WWE Legends Reportedly Expected To Have Something At WrestleMania 40

With 10 matches already announced for WrestleMania 40, and perhaps several others still to be added, WWE fans in Philadelphia and across the world will have plenty to keep up with over the course of two nights on April 6 and 7. And now, according to Dave Meltzer, they can potentially look forward to three legendary names participating in some fashion as well.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer reports that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and John Cena “will have something at WrestleMania in some form.” The report also states there is no creative set in stone (specifically for Cena or Austin) currently or that, if there is, it could be a well-guarded secret. What any or all of these legends ends up doing is still predicated on several variables, including their willingness to participate and what the financial incentives might be. In Cena’s case, Meltzer says he is free from any movie obligations but “depending on what acting stuff he has and how quick after [WrestleMania] he’s filming would determine how much he can or can’t do for insurance reasons.”

Austin, of course, last appeared for WWE defeating Kevin Owens in a Street Fight at WrestleMania 38 Night One and then returned the next evening to dish out Stunners to Pat McAfee, Austin Theory, and Vince McMahon. Cena faced Theory in a losing effort at WrestleMania 39, and then returned to WWE full-time for a two-month run in late 2023, culminating in a loss to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel. Undertaker hasn’t officially competed in WWE since WrestleMania 36’s Boneyard Match win over AJ Styles, though he did appear on “WWE NXT” in October 2023, chokeslamming Bron Breakker.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ronda Rousey Says She Doesn’t Intend To Return To WWE

Ronda Rousey says she has no intent on making a return to the WWE ring. Rousey has been away from the company since she lost to Shayna Baszler at SummerSlam 2023. She has a new book, Our Fight, releasing on April 4th in which she is deeply critical of Vince McMahon and in a new interview with Never Before Told promoting the book, she was asked what kind of backstage information fans would learn from the book.

“How much of an absolute shit show it is at the WWE because they can’t hold the story over my head and hold me hostage with my own career,” Rousey replied (per Fightful). “I don’t need anything from them and I don’t intend on going back, so I can say everything that I think and feel while everybody else is still held captive by their organization.”

Rousey had two runs with the Smackdown Women’s Championship, one with the Raw Women’s Championship and one with the Women’s Tag Team Championship during her two stints in the company.

Source: 411Mania

TNA Impact Preview 3/21/2024

TNA iMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for Insiders!

  • TNA Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Tasha Steelz
  • Grizzled Young Vets vs. Time Splitters
  • TNA Digital Media Championship: Crazzy Steve (c) vs. PCO
  • Alan Angels vs. Chris Bey vs. Jason Hotch vs. Kevin Knight vs. Leon Slater vs. Jake Something – winner challenges X-Division Champion at Rebellion
  • Ash By Elegance vs. Seleziya Sparx