WWE NXT Gold Rush: Night 1 Preview 6/20/2023

Week one of the two-week NXT Gold Rush special edition of WWE NXT goes down tonight at 8/7c on USA Network from the Capitol Wrestling Center inside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

  • WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Bron Breakker
  • NXT North American Championship (with Mustafa Ali as special guest referee): Wes Lee (c) vs. Tyler Bate
  • Dana Brooke vs. Cora Jade
  • NXT Tag-Team Title No. 1 Contender Match: Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs vs. Tank Ledger & Hank Walker vs. Malik Blade & Edris Enofe
  • NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Baron Corbin going face-to-face
  • Thea Hail Pep Rally

Gable Steveson Reportedly Intends To Use Final Year Of NCAA Eligibility

A new article from FloWrestling states that Gable Steveson has confirmed he intends to return to NCAA competition next year.

Steveson won national titles while attending the University of Minnesota in 2021 and 2022 before retiring from NCAA competition to focus on his career with WWE, with whom he signed a Next In Line deal in 2021.

After making a few appearances on WWE programming, Steveson recently returned to freestyle wrestling this past spring, competing at the US Open and Final X.

Scheduling details are reportedly still being sorted out with WWE, but with 2021 not counting toward his eligibility due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Steveson does have one final year remaining as noted on his UMN roster page.

Source: WrestleView

CM Punk Rumored To Be At This Week’s AEW Dynamite, Not The Elite

After making his return to the ring on Saturday night, CM Punk is now rumored to show up again this Wednesday on “AEW Dynamite,” per Fightful Select.

Punk turning up on Wednesday is not officially announced, but as of this past weekend those close to Punk had claimed he was planned to be part of the June 21 show, which also happens to be in Chicago. However, his possible appearance seems to mean that The Elite will not be present, as they’re not expected to be in Chicago later this week, which was also the case this past Saturday. 

“AEW Dynamite” takes place at the Wintrust Arena on Wednesday, but Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks have reportedly already done pre-tapes to ensure that they’re still part of the show without being in the arena physically. This will allow their angles to continue progressing with the trio currently feuding against Blackpool Combat Club while Omega has issues with Konosuke Takeshita and Will Ospreay as well. 

It has previously been reported that Punk and The Elite will be getting kept separate following their long-standing issues following the infamous ‘Brawl Out’ situation. There have been conflicting claims regarding a brand split, but it appears that Punk could end up floating between both shows, even though he is being pushed as the face of “Collision.” WBD officials have been expecting Punk to be part of “AEW Dynamite,” which could be why he is turning up. 

During his promo segment on Collision, Punk took a not-so-subtle shot at The Young Bucks by saying that Warner Bros. Discovery President David Zaslav nicknamed him “one bill Phil,” due to the fact that he was authentic and draws money, unlike some “counterfeit bucks.” Punk seemed to give a mock apology by saying he is a “money maker” who isn’t “soft.” Punk said the money he makes isn’t “counterfeit bucks.”

Punk referred to the fact he never officially lost the AEW World Championship during his return promo on “Collision,” referencing current champion MJF in the process. Therefore that could be part of his appearance, meanwhile, AEW could look to set up a match for him at the upcoming AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event, with a dream match against KENTA being something that fans have speculated about.

Sources: Wrestling Inc. and eWn

WWE RAW Preview 6/19/2023

Tonight’s WWE Raw from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio on the USA Network at 8/7c.

  • Seth Rollins defends the World Heavyweight Championship in an open challenge
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bronson Reed
  • Money in the Bank qualifying match: Trish Stratus vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Non-title match: Women’s World Heavyweight Champion Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya
  • Matt Riddle vs. Ludwig Kaiser
  • Logan Paul returns

Jim Ross Apologizes For How He Sounded At AEW Collision – Stepping Away To Heal

AEW commentator Jim Ross has apologized for his performance during the premiere episode of AEW Collision.

Ross appeared during last night’s episode of Collison, mere hours after suffering a fall that resorted in the legendary broadcaster sporting a nasty black eye.

Taking to Twitter, Ross apologized for the way he sounded on commentary and announced that he would be taking time off to heal.

https://twitter.com/JRsBBQ/status/1670271806668787712

Source: eWn

The Original Concession Stand Brawl

It was announced that this Wednesday June 21, 2023 on AEW Dynamite “The Last Outlaw” Jeff Jarrett will Face Mark Briscoe in a Concession Stand Brawl.

It will commemorate the original Concession Stand Brawl that took place June 15, 19, 1979 in Tupelo, Mississippi at the Tupelo Sports Arena.

Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee versus The Blond Bombers, Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man) and Larry Latham (Moondog Spot), spills out of the ring at the Tupelo Sports Arena to become the first legendary concession stand brawl to enter wrestling lore.

Commentary: Lance Russell – Referee: Jerry Calhoun

Preview For The Debut Of AEW Collision 6/17/2023

Tonight is the debut of AEW’s new weekly 2-hour TV show Collision on TNT at 8/7C from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

  • The Return of CM Punk
  • CM Punk & FTR vs. Samoa Joe & Bullet Club Gold
  • AEW TNT Championship: Wardlow (c) vs. Luchasaurus
  • Miro vs. TBA
  • Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm & Ruby Soho
  • Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo
  • We’ll hear from The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn

AEW Collision commentary team revealed

AEW CEO, President and General Manager took to Twitter on Friday, revealing the commentary team for Collision.

Khan has announced that Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuiness and Jim Ross will be the weekly announce team for Collision.

Collision debuts tonight, live on TNT, beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

The Official Theme Song For AEW Collision Revealed

AEW President Tony Khan took to Twitter on Friday to announce that he’s licensed the music for Elton John’s 1973 hit “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.” The song will serve as the official theme song for AEW Collision.

As we previously reported here on eWn, Tony Khan also announced that Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness will be doing commentary for AEW Collision with analysis from Jim Ross.

Khan wrote,

“It’s official!

Our opening theme for Saturday Night #AEWCollision on TNT is
Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting by Sir Elton John!

While @FulhamFC and @WatfordFC will never be best mates on the pitch, you’re now a great friend to @AEW, @eltonofficial, and we salute you, Sir!”

Source: eWn

AEW Rampage Preview 6/16/2023

AEW has announced the lineup for tonight’s Rampage on TNT at 10/9C.

  • Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb & Kyle Fletcher vs. Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor & Rocky Romero
  • Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal & Karen Jarrett vs. Mark Briscoe, Papa Briscoe & Aubrey Edwards
  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Bandido
  • Taya Valkyrie vs. Trish Adora