AEW’s Adam Cole Underwent Ankle Surgery This Week

Adam Cole is recovering from a broken ankle he suffered during the AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam special.

He was injured while running to the ring during the World Title match between MJF and Samoa Joe. Cole jumped off the entrance ramp to the floor at ringside and began limping.

Cole has remained on AEW television doing segments with Roderick Strong at Strong’s home. Pwinsider is reporting that Cole underwent the first surgery on his broken ankle yesterday.

During a Twitch stream, Cole mentioned that he would need two surgeries, eight screws and a plate in his ankle.

Source: eWn

Kota Ibushi Confirms AEW Contract, Details How It Came Together

Japanese wrestling star Kota Ibushi has now wrestled three matches in All Elite Wrestling, starting with Blood & Guts in July, as well as a pair of six-man tags — one in August and the other earlier this month. During a conversation with Yumehito Imanari posted to YouTube (translation via WrestleZone), Ibushi revealed that he has signed a contract with AEW. The former NJPW star also opened up regarding some of the contract’s details.

“I’m based in Japan, and I will travel for the matches,” Ibushi said. “Basically, I’m in Japan. I work in Japan. I will be active. I’ll be free to do that too.”

Along with that, Ibushi confirmed that his AEW contract allows him to appear in other wrestling promotions, though it’s unclear if there are specific promotions detailed or if the agreement is open-ended. There was also one more stipulation Ibushi requested.

“[I asked to] reduce the number of matches a little bit more,” Ibushi continued. “Because if I go too many times, my activities in Japan will be limited. … When I said that, [AEW said] that is okay, too. It’s the best deal.”

After nearly a year and a half away from wrestling, Ibushi returned earlier this year, competing in a pair of matches for GCW during WWE WrestleMania weekend. Prior to Ibushi making his AEW debut in July, there had long been speculation regarding and anticipation for his appearance, as Ibushi’s friend and former tag team partner Kenny Omega is one of the foundational members of the AEW company’s roster. The two have since reunited their tag team, the Golden Lovers.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Reported Plans For Mercedes Mone When She Returns From Injury

Mercedes Mone has been out of action with an ankle injury since her match against Willow Nightingale at NJPW STRONG Resurgence in May. As she gets closer to her eventual return, it appears there are still plans for Mone in NJPW going forward.

Yesterday’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter states that, as many have expected, the promotion is planning to have Mone challenge Giulia for the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. That title was reportedly created with Mone in mind, and she was set to become the first winner. However, that ankle injury resulted in Mone making a call on the fly to have Nightingale win the title. Nightingale would go on to drop the championship to Giulia in early July.

It’s not yet known exactly when she’ll be ready to return, but Mone is believed to be approaching a full recovery from the ankle injury. The former WWE star had an eventful few months leading up to the injury, returning to the world of wrestling at the Tokyo Dome during NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January. Mone went on to feud against KAIRI, eventually winning the IWGP Women’s Championship against her. However, Mone would drop that title to Mayu Iwatani in April.

Before her injury, Mone was reportedly set to wrestle at AEW All In, providing some further explanation for her appearance in the crowd at the Wembley Stadium event in August. Because of that, it seems likely that Mone will make her way to AEW in some capacity once she is cleared by doctors, in addition to her NJPW dates.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Introduces Nick Aldis As New WWE SmackDown GM, Kevin Owens Traded From Raw

The season premiere of “WWE SmackDown” was always set to have an announcement from Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, but what we got was a triple-whammy, with Adam Pearce announced as the new General Manager of “Raw,” Kevin Owens as the trade chip returned to “SmackDown” in exchange for Jey Uso, and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis, introduced as the new GM of “Smackdown.”

After the appointment of Pearce, who Levesque acknowledged for doing a great job as the all-encompassing authority figure on both brands for the last several years and subsequently promoted to “Raw” GM, Levesque alluded to the “SmackDown” side of things. He was interrupted by “NXT” North American Champion — and The Judgment Day’s biggest heat magnet — Dominik Mysterio before calling Aldis into the ring.

Aldis, following a handshake agreement with Levesque, fought off Dom’s interjections and the ensuing crowd displeasure, to turn the conversation back to the completion of the Jey Uso trade. That’s when Owens’ music hit and “KO” made his way to the ring. Not showing any patience whatsoever, Owens immediately Stunned Dom, putting an end to the segment and seemingly kicking off a new era for both brands on the road to Survivor Series.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Collision Preview 10/14/2023

Tonight’s AEW Collision live on TNT from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

  • AEW TNT Championship: Christian Cage (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
  • ROH TV Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Willie Mack
  • TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (c) vs. Skye Blue
  • Komander vs. Brian Cage
  • We’ll hear from the new AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill
  • “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland to appear

MLW Slaughterhouse 10/14/2023

MLW Slaughterhouse event that will be held on Saturday, October 14 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 2300 Arena.

The updated card for MLW Slaughterhouse is as follows:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Alex Kane (c) vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal for the MLW National Openweight Championship: Rickey Shane Page (c) vs. 1 Called Manders
  • MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship: Delmi Exo (c) vs. The Phantom Challenger
  • Winner Take All match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship and the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship: AKIRA (c) vs. Rocky Romero (c) w/ (with Salina de la Renta)
  • Chamber of Horrors Match: Mance Warner and Matthew Justice vs. Cannonball and Talon vs. Matt Cardona and a mystery partner
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Minoru Suzuki

WWE SmackDown To Go Head-to-Head With AEW Collision Next Month

The latest battle between WWE and AEW was this past Tuesday between NXT and Dynamite, with NXT outdrawing the rival show in the ratings.  

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the next head-to-head ratings battle between WWE and AEW will happen on November 17. 

“The next head-to-head situations will be on 11/17, when Collision is moved to Friday from 8-10 p.m., meaning there will be a live three-hour block from the Forum in Los Angeles with Rampage at 10-11 p.m. So the first two hours will go against Smackdown on FOX.”

AEW can’t air its program in the normal timeslot because of the Full Gear pay-per-view event on November 18th. 

There will also be a head-to-head on November 25 with Collision against Survivor Series and on December 9 with Collision against NXT Deadline from Bridgeport, CT.

Source: eWn

AEW Rampage Preview 10/13/2023

AEW has announced the lineup for tonight’s new Rampage episode on TNT.

  • Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy & Brother Zay vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker & Daniel Garcia
  • Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta of Blackpool Combat Club vs. Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona of Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony 
  • Skye Blue vs. Emi Sakura
  • Trent Beretta vs. Jay Lethal

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/13/2023

The WWE SmackDown ‘season premiere’ will air live tonight on FOX from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

  • The fallout from Fastlane
  • Triple H to appear
  • John Cena to appear
  • Roman Reigns returns
  • WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso to issue open challenge
  • Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) vs. Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch)

MLW Star Davey Boy Smith Jr Undergoes Emergency Surgery

On Thursday evening, Major League Wrestling announced that Davey Boy Smith Jr could not compete at the promotion’s Slaughterhouse event and was place on the injured reserve.

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1712634302192636076

Smith Jr revealed on his Instagram that he underwent emergency surgery late Wednesday night for appendicitis and removal of his appendix. Smith further noted he then found out that he also had diverticulitis and needed part of his colon removed.

Smith Jr was originally scheduled to challenge Alex Kane for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. Instead, it will be Tom Lawlor who will challenge Kane for the Title at the event, which will take place Saturday at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

Source: WrestleView