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

News On AEW’s New Deal With Warner Bros. Discovery, Doesn’t Include Being The Elite

The new television deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW, in addition to the rumored Saturday night show, AEW Collision, will be announced during WBD’s presentation at The Theater at Madison Square Garden next Wednesday. 

How much money AEW will be getting from the new deal is still unclear.

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the new deal consists of all of AEW’s programming with two exceptions – ROH and Being The Elite as BTE is owned by The Young Bucks. 

“What is known is that the deal will encompass all television and streaming programming that has the AEW banner, but not ROH, which is considered a separate company. That would be five hours of wrestling programming per week, the two hours on Wednesday on TBS, one hour on Friday on TNT and the two hours on Saturday on TNT, as well as any and all spinoff programming other than Being the Elite, which is expected to be kept as something separate since it’s a property owned by the Young Bucks,” Meltzer wrote.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Current Capacity Setup For AEW All In

AEW will make its UK debut in London, England at Wembley Stadium, where they will hold the All In 2023 pay-per-view event on August 27. The venue can hold up to 90,000 fans.

The pre-sale tickets went on sale last week and sold 50,000 tickets before the general sale tickets went on sale, where they sold over 60,000 tickets. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that 65,000 tickets have already been sold for the event.

The current setup allows for a capacity of 74,000 fans, but if AEW manages to reach that target, the promotion will open up more seats. 

Source: eWrestlingNews

Impact Wrestling Preview 5/11/2023

All-new IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.

  • Impact World Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs. Rhino
  • Knockouts Tag Team Championship: Taylor Wilde and KiLynn King (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo and Jordynne Grace
  • Nick Aldis vs. Sheldon Jean
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Killer Kelly
  • The Good Hands vs. Decay
  • Frankie Kazarian sit-down interview part three

ROH TV Preview 5/11/2023

ROH will air a new episode of its weekly television show tonight on HonorClub. 

You can sign up for the streaming service here. Below is the lineup for the show: 

Anthony Henry (w/JD Drake) vs. AR Fox.

Ninja Mack vs. Willie Mack

Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler YUTA) vs. The Foundation (Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams).

Mark Briscoe vs. Shane Taylor.

The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Kaun) (w/Prince Nana) vs. Adam Priest, Lucky Ali & Victor Benjamin.

The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) vs. The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent)

Kyle Fletcher (w/Mark Davis) vs. Tony Deppen.

Vert Vixen vs. Robyn Renegade (w/Charlette Renegade).

ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Blake Christian

ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Skye Blue

Sonny Kiss, Jeeves Kay, Slim J & Josh Woods vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds & John Silver).

Tony Khan Set To Make ‘Huge Announcement’ On Next Week’s Episode Of AEW Dynamite

Let us know if you’ve heard this one before – AEW President Tony Khan will be making a “huge announcement” on next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

For those unaware, next Wednesday is the same day of Warner Brothers Discovery’s upfront presentation. At the presentation, it is expected that AEW’s new show, “Collison” will be announced and it’s expected to be built around the returning CM Punk.

You can check out a video of Tony Khan’s announcement below:

Source: eWrestlingNews