Dark Side Of The Ring Season Four Broadcast Schedule

The fourth season of VICE TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring” will debut on May 30 at 10:00 PM EST.

Evan Husney and Jason Eisener will return as the executive directors. Here is the current broadcast schedule for the new season: 

Tuesday 5/30: Chris Candido & Tammy Sytch.

Tuesday 6/6: Magnum TA

Tuesday 6/13: Adrian Adonis

Tuesday 6/20: Doink the Clown

Tuesday 6/27: The Junkyard Dog

Tuesday 7/4: Marty Jannetty

Tuesday 7/11: Bam Bam Bigelow

Tuesday 7/18: Abdullah the Butcher.

Tuesday 7/25: Bash at the Beach 2000

Tuesday 8/1: The Graham Family

Warner Bros. Discovery Officially Announces Launch Of AEW Collision, Brand Split News

AEW issued the following regarding the launch of AEW Collision:

TNT LAUNCHES A SECOND NIGHT OF WRESTLING WITH “AEW: COLLISION” FEATURING HEADLINERS THUNDER ROSA, MIRO, SAMOA JOE, POWERHOUSE HOBBS AND ANDRADE EL IDOLO ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17

NEW YORK (May 17, 2023) – TNT launches a second night of professional wrestling with a new tentpole series, “AEW: Collision” on Saturday, June 17, it was announced today by Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, during the company’s 2023 Upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This live, two-hour, in-ring show will air every Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. ET and feature more wrestlers, more stories and more action to super-serve fans. “AEW: Collision” will feature headliners including Miro, Samoa Joe, Thunder Rosa, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Andrade El Idolo.

In only four years following the launch of “AEW: Dynamite,” AEW’s footprint has more than doubled across TNT and TBS. Along with “AEW: Dynamite,” Friday night’s “AEW: Rampage,” the recent follow-doc “AEW: All Access,” and now “AEW: Collision,” TNT and TBS deliver the best matches and most entertaining moments in professional wrestling today. AEW has reached 23M total viewers so far this year across all of its shows on TBS and TNT.*

“We’re doubling-down on wrestling with ‘AEW: Collision,’ which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID and HLN, linear & streaming. “AEW’s roster of talent has expanded so quickly that we felt it needed another night to bring our audience the epic rivalries, unforgettable matches and stars they love to watch. Adding ‘Collision’ to our programming mix on TNT will allow us to satisfy the massive demand we’ve felt from our hardcore fanbase and be the ultimate complement to ‘AEW: Dynamite’ on TBS.”

“With the addition of ‘AEW: Collision’ on TNT, I’m extremely proud that a Turner network will be the home of Saturday night wrestling for the first time in more than two decades,” said Tony Khan, CEO, GM and Head of Creative of AEW. “The debut of ‘Collision’ is significant across numerous sectors including television, wrestling, entertainment and sports, and reinforces AEW as the bold property we envisioned when we launched in 2019. ‘Collision’ will deliver live every Saturday night more of what fans and viewers tell us they want – athleticism, big personalities, exciting storylines and hard-hitting wrestling action, all of which have become synonymous with AEW.”

About TNT

TNT, a Warner Bros. Discovery brand, is Cable’s #1 entertainment network, known for big, lean-forward television that takes viewers on a thrill ride of electrifying stories, dynamic characters and premium events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular sports franchises and unscripted and scripted originals including “AEW: Rampage,” “AEW: Collision,” “Rich & Shameless,” and “The Lazarus Project”. TNT also presents primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NHL, NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships. Website: www.tntdrama.com

About AEW

Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, AEW is offering an alternative to mainstream wrestling, with a roster of world-class talent that is injecting new spirit, freshness and energy into the industry. “AEW: Dynamite” airs every Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS and attracts the youngest wrestling audience on television. The fight-forward “AEW: Rampage” airs every Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET on TNT, and the new “AEW: Collision” airs every Saturday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TNT. AEW’s multi-platform content also includes “Being the Elite,” a weekly behind-the-scenes YouTube series, and “AEW Unrestricted,” a weekly podcast series. For more info, check out Twitter.com/AEW; Instagram.com/AEW; YouTube.com/AEW; Facebook.com/AEW

New Report Casts Doubt On AEW Instituting Hard WWE-Style Brand Split With Collision

Despite an earlier report stating that some talent in AEW were under the belief that the company would be instituting a “firm” brand split in the near future, Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite is reporting that’s not the case. Instead, some talent are said to be exclusive to the newly-announced “AEW Collision” on Saturday nights while others stay on “AEW Dynamite,” and many will float between both shows based on storyline needs. A hard brand split between “Dynamite” and “Collision” was reportedly never even under consideration.

Sources: eWrestlingNews and Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 5/15/2023

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network and emanate from the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC.

  • WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther will make his Raw debut since now being sent to Monday nights as part of the 2023 Draft
  • Number 1 Contender Battle Royal to determine who will challenge Gunther next for the Intercontinental Championship
  • Becky Lynch will address Trish Stratus
  • Cody Rhodes will respond to Brock Lesnar’s challenge for Night of Champions
  • Shinksuke Nakamura and The Miz will square off in singles competition
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (c’s) vs. Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green

WWE’s Randy Orton Reportedly Told By Doctors Not To Wrestle Again

It’s been a while since Randy Orton was last seen in a WWE ring, but his injury troubles might be more serious than originally presumed. In an interview with WrestleBinge with Sportskeeda, his father, Bob Orton Jr., revealed that medical professionals may have encouraged “The Viper” to retire from the squared circle, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Orton plans on listening to them.

“He’s training, so we’ll see what happens; I don’t know. If he feels like going back or he feels like he’s ready to go back, I think he might. Then again, he’s pretty well taken care of. I don’t think he needs to. And I think the doctors have told him not to. But Randy will do what Randy wants to do.”

Orton has been sidelined with a back injury since November of last year. It’s been reported that he underwent surgery to fuse his lower back, but the procedure in question means that he’ll be out for a long period of time. A recent health update revealed that Orton is nowhere close to returning to WWE, though his father’s revelation has created doubts on if he’ll ever step into the squared circle again.

That being said, Orton Jr. said that his son’s determination to return reflects the mindset of many wrestlers who find it difficult to call it quits before they feel their time is up. “Wrestling, you know when you get in there and you got some people going crazy, you just love it. So it’s hard to leave,” he said.

However, while his son’s in-ring career appears to be in the balance for now, Orton’s old man said that he has a good family life. “He’s got two beautiful daughters and his wife’s a lovely lady.”

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Sportskeeda WrestleBinge

“Superstar” Billy Graham Placed On Life Support

WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham is on life support after months of health issues while in the hospital. 

The infection in his ears has caused him to be deaf. 

Valerie Coleman, the wife of the WWE Hall of Famer Superstar stated he is on life support after undergoing a recent surgery. The following was posted on his Facebook page: 

“From Billy’s wife Valerie: Please urgent prayers needed for my husband. The doctors wanted to remove him from life support tonight, I refused. He’s a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn’t. God is our hope.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

VICE Media Has Filed For Bankruptcy

VICE Media, which is the parent company of Vice TV that airs Dark Side of the Ring, Tales of the Territories, and other wrestling-related programming, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today in New York. 

This is in an attempt to make a sale of the company easier. The 24-page filing noted that a sale of the company for $225 million, including all assets and current liabilities, is expected to be completed within the next several months.

The new buyers will be a group consisting of Fortress Credit Corporation, Soros Fund Management, and Monroe Capital.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Backstage News On Why Sami Zayn Is Going To Saudi Arabia For WWE Night Of Champions

It was announced this past Friday night on “WWE SmackDown” that Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens would defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline at Night of Champions on May 27 in Saudi Arabia. According to Dave Meltzer on “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Zayn, who is of Syrian descent, decided to travel to the Kingdom with WWE for the first time since 2014 following the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria; relations were suspended in November 2011. Additionally, the report indicated that Owens opted to go to Saudi Arabia after Zayn decided he would travel for Night of Champions.

Zayn’s most recent visit to Saudi Arabia came in 2014 when he participated in a three-night house tour in Riyadh. On the opening night, which was Zayn’s debut match in the country, the former WWE Intercontinental Champion defeated Damian Sandow in a singles match. The following evening, Zayn was defeated by Cesaro – now ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli. The final night of the tour saw Zayn defeat Heath Slater.

Meanwhile, Owens will be heading to Saudi Arabia with WWE for the first time later this month. In the past, the former WWE Universal Champion had decided against performing on a major WWE event in the Kingdom, seemingly as a result of his longtime friend Zayn not being able to participate because of strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria. It was reported in 2019 that Owens’ family did not want him to travel to the Middle Eastern country. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Legal Issues Reportedly Still Ongoing Between CM Punk And Some AEW Talent

CM Punk is reportedly close to returning to All Elite Wrestling. Rumors have been swirling that the former AEW World Champion is penciled in for the debut of the promotion’s new speculated weekly “AEW Collision” show, which is supposedly going to start airing next month. However, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Punk still has outstanding issues with certain individuals behind the curtain, which are not close to being resolved. It’s said that several legal issues are still ongoing and that nobody is allowed to discuss the matter or contact either party about the situation. The report does not specify which AEW talents are involved. 

Punk was allegedly involved in a backstage skirmish with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks following the All Out post-show media scrum last year, which was his most recent AEW appearance. Following that alleged fracas at the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, which occurred after Punk had sounded off about Omega and The Bucks during the All Out post-event press conference, Punk and The Elite disappeared from television, with AEW CEO Tony Khan announcing that the four wrestlers had been stripped of their respective titles on the following episode of “AEW Dynamite.” Punk had just captured the AEW World Championship for the second time from Jon Moxley at All Out, while The Elite had become the inaugural AEW World Trios Champions after defeating “Hangman” Adam Page and The Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds and Jon Silver. 

Omega and The Young Bucks returned to AEW at Full Gear two months later. Punk, on the other hand, remained absent, as it was reported that he had suffered a torn triceps at All Out and had to undergo surgery. During his absence, Punk shared an Instagram story that targeted AEW’s Chris Jericho, Moxley, and wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 5/12/2023

WWE SmackDown will air live tonight on FOX and emanate from the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN.

  • World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Triple Threat Matches: Edge vs. AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio and Bobby Lashley vs. Sheamus vs. Austin Theory. The winners will square off in the main event later in the night. The sole winner will then move on to face Seth Rollins at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 27.
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman to appear.
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Damage CTRL’s Bayley and Dakota Kai
  • Cameron Grimes vs. Baron Corbin

Robert Roode Undergoes C4-C5 Cervical Fusion Surgery

Robert Roode took to Instagram earlier today to reveal that he underwent C4-C5 cervical fusion earlier this week on Thursday. This follows his C5-C6 neck fusion surgery in November last year.

Roode has been away from the ring since June 25th, 2022, when he suffered a loss against Omos at a WWE live event in Texas. The last time he appeared in a televised match was during SmackDown just before WrestleMania, where he participated in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Right around that time, he was a regular feature on Raw and NXT alongside then NXT Champion Dolph Ziggler.

Source: eWrestlingNews